The northern climate was rarely peaceful, with snow falling almost year-round, and it was currently peak season. Blizzards occurred with high frequency, causing Asahi's path to be completely buried under deep snow.
Furthermore, the Imperial Army was currently at war with a northern ethnic group, and the fires of battle were burning fiercely. This meant there were even fewer viable roads for travel. Consequently, Asahi had to choose a rather long detour. While they could have taken the old road, no one wanted to spend several hours every day simply shoveling snow to clear a path.
The coachman mentioned that on the way back, they would pass through a large town to restock supplies for the remainder of the journey. They were expected to reach it in about three days.
The solitary carriage began its trek through the wind and snow. Sitting inside, Asahi pulled a green, oval-shaped object from his coat pocket. It was the Teigu: Spected, taken from Zank the Executioner.
After burying the man, Asahi had retrieved the item, but he had no intention of using it himself; it didn't suit his style. He planned to give this Teigu to Tatsumi once he returned. Tatsumi was now an assassin and would certainly benefit from the power boost Teigu provided.
The first two days of travel were quiet and uneventful. However, on the morning of the third day, they came across a convoy being raided by bandits. About a dozen soldiers were desperately fighting off the attackers. Since there were soldiers guarding the carriages, the person inside was likely an official or someone of high status.
In the Empire, officials usually traveled with a great deal of wealth, making them a prime target for bandits.
The bandit group numbered over thirty, all well-armed—double the number of the defending soldiers. The guards were struggling. A few idle bandits spotted Asahi's carriage and moved to intercept, but Asahi leaped out and kicked them into the dirt before they could get close.
"Sir, stay in the carriage," Asahi instructed the coachman.
Whether it was to clear the road or save lives, he had to take down these bandits. Asahi didn't even draw his swords, using only his bare hands to neutralize his opponents' ability to fight.
The first three attackers screamed in pain before collapsing, drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield. Asahi chose an angle to pierce into the heart of the enemy lines. He had plenty of experience in group combat; after all, the number of Doom Cult members that used to surround him was never less than ten.
Taking down opponents who were already engaged in combat was even simpler. When a bandit was busy clashing blades with a soldier, Asahi would swiftly appear behind them and deliver a powerful strike to the nape, temple, or head. They would be stunned or knocked unconscious, leaving the soldier to finish the job.
Diving into the middle of an enemy force sounded dangerous, but against a disorganized mob of bandits who lacked training and coordination, Asahi found it easy to "glide" through the fray.
Asahi's Combat Tactics:
Arc Formation: Charging into thirty people didn't mean fighting all thirty at once. He focused on the three to five immediately around him, neutralizing one and repositioning so that his back was clear and the enemies faced him in a semi-circle rather than a full surround.
Constant Mobility: He remained in perpetual motion, shifting positions to prevent the enemy from encircling him in multiple layers. This "fluid" style was perfect for dealing with a disorganized rabble, though it wouldn't work as well against elite troops.
Asahi knocked down another bandit, thinking to himself that if he studied formal martial arts, his hand-to-hand capabilities would reach a whole new level.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
The sound of killing approached from behind. Asahi glanced back and saw a young woman with blonde hair, wearing a fur hat and a thick red-and-white fur-trimmed coat. She was expertly swinging a weapon, cutting down the surrounding bandits. Her skill was impressive.
Her weapon looked like a large glaive or a greatsword but with sharp, angular edges at the tip. Instead of a traditional hilt, there was an opening in the middle of the blade's body where a handle was attached.
The blonde girl approached Asahi, and they stood back-to-back.
"I am Liana. You're brave, jumping into the middle of a mess like this alone," she said.
"Asahi. You're not doing too bad yourself," he replied.
With someone covering his back, Asahi could let loose. The tide of battle turned instantly. The bandits were quickly routed, with only about ten survivors managing to flee into the woods.
Asahi straightened his clothes, intending to return to his carriage, when a voice called out from behind.
"Mr. Asahi, are you headed to the town?" Liana asked.
"I am."
"My father would like to invite you into our carriage to travel with us for a while."
Asahi didn't answer immediately. He looked at Liana with suspicion. Her father was likely the official in the carriage—a member of the Imperial bureaucracy. On the surface, he wanted nothing to do with such people.
"We don't have any ulterior motives," Liana explained, sensing his doubt. "We simply wish to thank you."
Asahi agreed. He wasn't afraid of malice; he could summon his Rider Belt and transform at any moment if things went south.
His carriage followed the convoy toward the town. Asahi entered the main carriage, where an elderly man sat. Despite being an official, he wasn't dressed ostentatiously. He wore a simple brown fur coat that looked almost like a commoner's garment and leaned on a wooden cane.
"Mr. Asahi, thank you truly for your help."
"It was nothing. The bandits were attacking me as well."
Liana and the old man sat on one side, with Asahi opposite them. Through introductions, Asahi learned that this man was the Governor of this region. He, his daughter, and their soldiers were transporting relief grain to several starving villages near the town.