Ataraxia Abyss
Chapter 16: Snakes on the slopes of the mountain

While completing the mission, Regal thought about the future of this kingdom. This kingdom was completely chaotic, 7 Demon Lords had already started to make their preparations and Wimbledon had just gathered an alliance.

"Humans will not be able to overcome this alone, they must ask for the help of other races to survive..." Regal said while drinking grape juice in a public bar.

For a Mecenary to get a contract, it has to pass someone who offers, and the bar is the most suitable place to do just that.

"Hello young man, are you free?" There were two women coming to Regal's table at the moment, Regal sighed and smiled at them. "Can..."

———

"Ugh~" Regal wakes up in his inn room with two women he met at the bar now in his bed.

"The nature of the fucking Incubus..." Regal got dressed and went to prepare, he was partying yesterday but he got a contract.

Now that Regal was in front of a shop, it was a herb and herb shop. Regal gets a mission to protect the cargo they will deliver to a hidden place.

But Regal saw that not only was he the only person there, there were 2 groups of Mercenaries. Well, Mercenary might not be tied up in any Guild yet they could form a group.

"Old man, it looks like I'm the only single Mercenary." Ask Regal to Kaiman, the merchant who gave the contract.

"Calm down, did you see that group wearing red leather armor? They are the Red Viper. They are all good people, so approach them.

I'm not suggesting you approach the other group." Regal and Kaiman looked towards the other Mercenary group.

"They are Black Cliff. They run dark contracts more often than clean ones. Plus they hate working with other groups."

Regal then asked Kaiman. "Then why did you hire them?" Kaiman sighed and said.

"They were forced to come along, they offered a very cheap price for the job this time, they must have been desperate because of the absence of a contract that came to them."

"Is that so?" Regal looked towards their leader, a large man with black heavy armor enveloping his body with a large sword as his main weapon.

Regal paid him no heed and went towards the Red Viper group. There he visited their chairman and vice-chairman.

"ah! You must be the only Mercenary Klaus talked about?" Unlike Black Cliff, the leader of the Red Viper warmly welcomed Regal as a single Mercenary.

"Well... My name is Regal, hopefully we can work well together." Regal politely introduced himself, the Red Viper leader and deputy leader smiled at the sight.

"Ah Regal cleaned the Undead tomb huh? Nice to meet you, I'm Anne and this is my sister Finnley."

Well, it's been 3 months since Regal became a single Mercenary. He has made a name by completing missions from famous clients who are amazed at the level of success of his mission is very high.

Regal was obviously glad they were so friendly, at least he already knew which side to choose in a precarious situation. And which side does not...

"Isn't this the magical boy that people talk about so much? The boy who completed his missions perfectly, my goodness you must have been very lucky."

The man with the annoying face was from Black Cliff, he was the vice-captain of Black Cliff, Hayes.

"Stop Hayes' provocation, we're here to work together." Finnley defended Regal, but at times like this Regal did not feel threatened.

"Vice leader Hayes. You're shorter than I thought." Indeed Regal was still 14 years old, but his body was already 174 cm high, it was the same height as Hayes today.

"Buckoo..." Hayes tried to pull out his weapon but he suddenly turned back, from behind Brooks the leader of Black Cliff looked towards him.

"Lucky boy..." Finally the problem just finished. Anne who saw that laughed out loud.

"Geez, I don't think you'd dare go find trouble with Black Cliff." Regal who saw Anne immediately said.

"Black Cliff doesn't matter, their leader is the problem." Of all the people in Black Cliff only Brooks feels that Regal will be a threat.

Regal stops seeing Brooks when Kaiman rings his bell. "We're leaving!" The signal from Kaiman made everyone move. Finally their journey to deliver the cargo began.

———

"It is fitting that he accepts Black Cliff's request. Finnley, how's the formation?" Finnley who heard Regal ask finally replied.

"This place is the Death Forest. The most dangerous forest Wimbledon has. Therefore we have decided, Black Cliff which contains heavy infantry will escort the train directly while we who contain light infantry will act as Vanguard."

Regal made a face of confusion. "Wouldn't it be better if the position was exchanged? Either way you're the one who's gonna be attacked first."

Finnley smiled. "Well, how else? Hayes the son of a bitch persuaded Kaiman."

Regal then saw Hayes talking to Kaiman, the man was a merchant but he was very innocent. Regal became doubtful how he could run his business smoothly.

As Regal observed the situation, he could feel a horde approaching.

"The monster!" Regal shouted alerting everyone, The Red Viper was instantly on guard but the Black Cliff was not at all.

The monsters that came out of the forest were Kobolds, ferocious half-dog humans. They surrounded the front of the Red Viper. Red Viper who looks weaker is clearly an easy target, especially their position in front.

However looking at the beleaguered Red Viper, the Black Cliff had no preparations to help at all. "Regal retreat, we'll take care of this." Anne warns Regal not to interfere, and the fight begins.

All 25 Red Viper members started fighting with 30 Kobolds. Regal who saw the Red Vipers have Aura and also good fighting experience can fight on balance with the Kobolds.

Especially Finnley and Anne. Finnley continuously damaged the enemy formations with her spear while Anne continued to help her comrade with her bow and arrow. Regal who saw their formation of course already knew who the winner was.

The remaining Kobolds returned to the forest, they all nearly died but the Red Viper suffered nothing but minor injuries.

"We continue walking! We can't set up camp in the Kobold region active at night!" Everyone immediately rushed over, they were all racing against the sun that was about to set.

Until they finally passed through the Kobold territory. Everyone was preparing to set up a tent, Regal helped Red Viper to cook and also set up a tent.

As the Red Viper troops ate Regal's cooking, they were all amazed by the taste.

"Good boy! Is this really meat soup? You just put in some ingredients and salt."

Finnley was surprised by Regal's cooking skills, the sharing of cooking was something he always wanted to learn because Regal always made his own food with makeshift ingredients. So Regal was taught cooking by the maids in the Abyss.

"The key is in the temperature of the fire and the way you stir." Regal said with a smile. The Red Viper ate like they were partying with a sumptuous meal in their hands.

The Black Cliff side eats the same dishes but with different chefs. The taste of the food was so bland that they could not taste the salt and could even still smell the blood on their flesh.

"Look at the Red Viper. They party like they've won completely."

"True, I'm so impatient with what will attack the next 6 days..."

Their cynical views were not cared for by the Red Viper, but there was someone who could sense that view. That person was Regal, he could see them eating while looking at him.

But among them there was only one person who moved, that person was Hayes who knocked on the door of the horse carriage from Kaiman. Just by looking at it Regal already knew they were going to plan something.

"All right, I'm full! Regal, you want to come?" Anne hugged Regal closer to her chest. Regal with a confused face immediately asked.

"Eh...? Where's where?" Anne smiled hearing Regal's innocent face, herself then replied in a seductive tone.

"Where else are you after eating? We will***shared password****..."

Hearing those words, Regal already knew that he was in danger...

...***...