The Greatest Adventurer

Robin was left in the mansion to get treated for his injuries and cleaned up. Tristan and Frederick left the tight halls of the castle dungeons and moved to the high streets of the noble district. They were given a map to where they should be able to find Darakota, as ‘he would only be in one of three locations,’ so now they were here. However–

“What are you doing, Frederick?”

While they should have been on their way to the three locations, they stopped by a tree. The reason was almost too comical: a cat was stuck on one of the branches, making Tristan roll his eyes.

“Come here, it’s okay…” Frederick said, reaching out.

The cat clearly hadn't taken a liking to him. It scratched his face and tried to bolt, but Frederick managed to set it down safely.

And soon enough, it found its owner, two children who just waved at Frederick.

“Thank you, Mr. Knight!” they said.

Frederick just waved back with a smile.

“We wasted time,” Tristan said.

“Sorry, I got caught up.”

Tristan just sighed in response, looked at his time crystal and shook his head.

“Let’s split up. These two locations are in opposite directions. We can search them separately, and whether we find him or not, meet up at the middle spot later. Sound good? ”

“Yeah,” Frederick replied.

“Are you sure? I have a bad feeling about this.”

Tristan’s concerns weren’t unfounded. This was Frederick’s first time in the noble district. And if anyone knew Frederick for as long as Tristan has, something would most likely get in his way, almost like a curse at this point.

“I’m sure!” Frederick replied, grabbing the map. “Here, I’ll even take this with me just so I can be safe.”

Tristan just sighed. “Alright, then. See you later.”

“Yeah.”

*******

About an hour had passed since Frederick and Tristan parted ways, and somehow Frederick hadn’t made it to his first destination yet. It would only make sense, after all… he got lost.

“I’ve never been to this side of the kingdom before…”

The reason was simple, the knight just simply had to stop at every opportunity he got to help anyone he saw. When there was an elderly lady trying to cross a street, he would assist her. When there was a man offloading crates of vegetables and fruits for his store, he carried some himself. And when there was a group of children lost, despite not knowing where he himself was, assisted them in finding any sensible adult who did.

He came out largely happy, not a dissatisfied look in his face at all, but deep down he knew well enough…

“Tristan’s going to be so mad at me, huh…”

Walking around the streets right now, he was in what could only be described as a maze for the wealthy.

Here, the nobles of the kingdom dressed lavishly, and the streets were clean to the point that some folks over in the slums would gladly eat off the polished stone pavement. With how everyone rejoiced, the skies almost seemed cleared as though there was nothing wrong with the world.

As he walked by an alleyway, suddenly a young boy wearing a restaurant server’s clothes bumped into him all fidgety and drenched in sweat.

“Guh!? Ah–? AH!”

“Wait, calm down!” Frederick said, holding the boy in place. His eyes were still darting elsewhere, even after seeing Frederick. “What’s wrong?”

“A… knight–? A knight! Knight! Sir Knight! The pub, pub–!”

“Pub?”

“Th–There’s someone! He’s got my sister!”

“Show me the way,” he said without pause, instantly shifting to a serious expression.

With a nod, the young boy bolted so fast that Frederick had difficulty keeping up. And soon, they arrived at the pub, and it had almost been completely destroyed.

The tables had all been flipped over. The wooden flooring filled with holes and cracks. Bodies of unconscious nobles, guards, and other people almost numbered the shattered glass and dented silverware that now infested the pub. And in the middle of it all was a large man. His skin was dark and his long hair braided, marking him as clearly someone who did not come from these parts. His exposed neck bore a snake tattoo, and his muscles that practically burst out of his thick yellow hide clothes were covered with scars. There was no doubt, this man was a powerful warrior, but that still didn’t explain why he was there.

He had pinned a young fair service lady against the wall.

“Come on, ya seriously gonna resist after all this? Y’know who I am, don’tcha?”

He placed his large hands against her shivering cheek. Her eyes had fogged up with tears streaming down–

“S–Sis!” the boy shouted, but even before he could finish, the man already had a sword pointing towards him.

“Release her, now,” Sir Frederick said.

“Huh? Who the hell are you?”

“Sir Frederick of the Royal Knights Order. I order you to let go of the young maiden right this instant.”

“Frederick–? AH! WA-HA-HA-HA!” the man left a hearty laugh. “I see, so yer the Kingdom’s proudest dog, ain’tcha? Well, ya see, I got a pass ‘ere. This whole thing was their faults. I was just mindin’ my own business and they attacked me. Come to think of it, why don’tcha arrest ‘em instead of pointin’ yer blade towards me, eh?”

It wasn’t just his looks, but even his manner of speaking was not of this region.

“It matters not who caused this, if you will lay your hands on that lady one more time, there will be grave consequences.” Frederick stood firm.

“Tsk–” the man clicked his tongue. “Ya really don’t get it, don’tcha…”

A moment later, the pub burst open, causing the onlookers outside to gasp. The knight was blasted out of the pub gates and crashed onto the carriage. Quickly, he shook his head and got back on his feet while the large man stepped onto the outside road.

“Lemme introduce myself for ya! M’name’s Darakota the Brave, the greatest adventurer of this Kingdom!”

Frederick could only watch stunned at the events that unfolded.