Episode 9

Duke Merrica & Co. POV

"Lord Duke!!... What happened?.... Are you hurt?..". (Knight-Captain Hughes)

Seeing the Duke appearing back in the basement worried all 15 of the knights.

"I'm fine guys….I got good news for all of us...we're going home tomorrow…". (Duke Merrica)

Duke revealed what has happened, which shocked all the Knights. All of them were relieved knowing that they were saved but enraged by the betrayal of Baron Larson, Duke also wanted all of them to know that a great noble and his force were the ones who save all of them and kill all the bandits. Duke also reminded them that, all of them need to behave and they only need to stay in the cells for only this night as all of them will be leaving in the morning.

"Sire is all the bandits were killed how come we haven't heard any sound of fighting last night?...". (Knight-Captain Hughes)

"Hughes, I've seen it with my own eyes…the piles of bodies, it was certainly real….as to how they did it…even I don't know much about it…but to be able to wipe out a band of bandits overnight without any noises, that fact alone shows how deadly their forces are... ". (Duke Merrica)

"I agreed...I supposed, thankfully they decided to sign a contract with us, I can't even fathom to imagine if they choose the bandits over us..". (Knight-Captain Hughes)

Hughes's last remarks hit duke, for one never thought about it before. If he didn't fold at that moment, he probably becomes the cause of his own death. The night becomes tranquil and silent as time goes by, all of the knights including the Duke finally asleep as they wait for their freedom tomorrow.

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"Good Morning Your Excellency….". (Elijah)

"Hn?...Morning….how's everything?...".

The one who was in charge of waking me up today was Elijah and Mina, I think they already decided on a shift for this morning routine.

"The preparations for today are all ready….Do you need breakfast? Should I prepare the dining hall?...". (Elijah)

"No need,...Here, tell Andrea to put all the powder in these packets inside this cup and put hot water in it then bring it to me..…also, you and Mina will be following me today…".

I gave Mina a packet of instant coffee and my clear glass mug which I retrieve from my own personal inventory, I already stored all the items I brought with me inside one of my platinum Storage rings.

"Yes, your Excellency…. I shall tell Andrea per your request at once….". (Elijah)

As Mina finished making my bed, both of them leave the room. As for me, I stayed in the room for a while, after finished grooming myself I leave the room and headed for the courtyard.

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Courtyard

The Courtyard was quite busy today because not only the Maidens were here, but also Duke and his Knights, both parties were working together to dispose of the last remaining bodies. There's not much left to do actually, as I arrive the last batch of bodies finally left the courtyard and are being burned on the backside of the keep.

"Good Morning Your Excellency….". (Duke Merrica)

Duke was also there instructing his men, as he saw me, he immediately comes and greets me.

"Morning…".

It's fairly useless to reply to him, he doesn't even understand if I have to say anything. Regardless I replied to him by using body gestures, hoping the message will get through.

"Morning Sir Duke…Your Excellency, your Drinks are ready…".(Elijah)

Elijah, Mina, and Andrea arrived just in time, as Usual Mina was carrying Elijah in princess carry as Andrea followed behind them with a clear glass mug on a tray. Duke saw me take the glass and drink it, it was a milk coffee, the fragrance of hot coffee were definitely pique duke's interest and so is the clear glass.

"Lady Elijah?...if I may ask what is that his excellency was drinking?...". (Duke Merrica)

"That was a special drink called 'coffee'…..His excellency like to start his day with a cup of it…it was quite rare, only His Excellency has it,…".(Elijah)

Hearing that Elijah said that I'm the only one who has it, somehow made Duke envy, I guess he was really interested in it and that also made me realize that coffee probably does not exist in this world or they probably haven't discovered them yet.

"Tell all of them to get ready…..since they got no horse, we're gonna use my Van..though it is probably gonna be a little bit cramped..".

"Van?…..is it The Angry Black beast, you ride yesterday?….". (Elijah)

"....…Angry wha??...…OWH!….ah…yes, yes, that one…".

Since I had already given an order Elijah who was seemingly worried, can't bring herself to refute, She headed over to the Duke and relayed my message. Even Duke was quite worried about it, I assume that all the worry and anxiousness was related to the Van. Can't really blame them, this world has never seen something like this before, it's normal to be afraid of it. Ignoring all the skeptical looks, I opened the van's back door and both of the front seat doors, showing that it was okay to ride them.

"Okay now…what are you guys waiting for?..Get in…".

"Y...Yes, Your Excellency…Sir Duke, His Excellency is waiting...". (Elijah)

Elijah and Mina followed me and sit in the front seat. There's actually a large space on the back, it should be able to fit all of them although there's only one back seat available, so the rest have to sit on the floor though.

"Ah….a…yes…..Guys!, get in….and..sit down….". (Duke Merrica)

"Sir….are you sure?…". (Knight-Captain Hughes)

"Well, do we look like we have a choice?…..riding that Black Box beast is our only way to get home…so…just get in…". (Duke Merrica)

Duke and his Knights one by one enter the van, Duke and his knight captain took the back seat while the rest, sit on the floor. It was quite packed at the back, I do feel annoyed looking at all of them still wearing their armor, That metal armor was taking up a lot of space, and the 3 captives were also stuffed in the back.

"Your excellency is something wrong?..". (Elijah)

"Nothing....it just that, if they take off their armors they probably feel more comfortable…..I just hope that their stupid armor doesn't scratch my van…".

"That's just how it is with Knights…they quite proud of that armor of them…Should I told them to take it off?…". (Elijah)

"Just leave it…..I'm gonna start the engine now, we're going to depart now…".

Elijah told everybody that we will start moving and asked everyone to stay calm.

<VVVRRRROOOMMMM!!!>

"OH LORD GOD!!!... WHAT IS THAT LOUD GROWL??!!….". (Knight-Captain Hughes)

As soon as the engine start, knights on the back start to pray. Including the Duke, although he doesn't speak his expression clearly says that he was extremely nervous.

It was a great day here in Fantasma, the driving here was quite good, unlike my drive from Drachma Forest to the Keep, the drive from keep towards Merrina Town was much faster and less jumpy because there's a big dirt road here. Tri-Nation Road, it's a big road that connected three nations, traveling peddlers and merchants frequently use these roads.

"It was quite comfortable in here, the seat was quite soft and the air was cold…..who would've thought the Black Box beast was a pleasant mount…and quite fast….". (Duke Merrica)

I supposed all the guys in the back finally feel calm, I can even hear some chat among the knights. Duke finally lands his back on the seat and appreciate the outside views from the side mirror next to him.

"Wanna listen to some music?..".

feeling a little bored, I turned on the radio player.

"Music what is that?….". (Elijah)

"you know bard?…wait does this era even have a bard?..".

"yes of course!…. I know about bard…..Do you mean their poem and songs?..". (Elijah)

"Ermmm…..Kinda?…anyway just listen…".

It was a bother to explain them any further, I connect my thumb drive to the Van audio system and play my top ten playlists. The first song that came out was '*eptember' by #arth,wind & $ire.

"What is this sound?!!...…. Hn?...it's…good?!….". (Duke Merrica)

"Amazing!….the Black beast was no longer angry!…instead it was singing?~~.....what a weird song…..it's very pleasing..". (Knight-Captain Hughes)

Everyone was shocked by the sudden music that came out blasting, but after a few seconds, all the passenger starts to sway to the beat. The tension changed to an enjoyable ride.

"I never thought the beast was able to sing!.....as always you never cease to stun me, your Excellency..". (Elijah)

"huh?...…..it's not the...(Technically, she's correct)…".

[Wow, what a responsible Master you are….at least explained the mechanism, Elijah was quite smarter than you think you know..].

"(Please keep the comment for yourself T.A.S….. it is not like I don't want to, but you know…Appropriate times...)".

As always T.A.S never stops to amaze me with his cynical rebuttal, after 4 hours of driving and 15 kilometers of continuous green scenery, we finally arrived at the outskirts of Merrina Town. It is my first time seeing such scenery, it was almost like what I imagined, ALMOST.

"(It was picturesque...at least, The Mudhouse with a thatch roof, patches of the golden wheat field,...….…)".

[Wow how judgemental of you...this is medieval, and a fantasy world….it's obvious that it wouldn't the same as the novels you read…].

Like T.A.S Said the views of towns before me were really a wake-up call for me. It was a real scene of medieval times, the road was full of puddles and holes. The house was badly built and it looks like it can collapse at any second, and the people were barely wearing clothes, tattered rough hemp clothes full of holes. Children running around with only bottom hemp loincloths, the poor scenery really destroyed your imagination of a fantasy world.

Although this is probably a normal scene of low caste people in Fantasma, but to me, it was like a slap of reality. Seeing all of this made me realign my expectations for this world. We drive through several hundred meters north and as we were nearing the town wall, the people start to scream and ran away in panic. It was quite a scene actually, I was actually wondering when it will happen, and honestly, I enjoyed looking at it, it was quite funny to see people running away from my van.

[I wouldn't recommend scaring people off like that.....And, there we go..].

By the end of T.A.S's comment, an army of guards comes running out from the gates and surrounds my van that is parked right outside the town gates.