For a second, nobody moved.
Bandits lay scattered on the road, blood soaking into the dirt. The recruits were panting, blades shaking in their hands. The horses snorted nervously, hooves scraping the ground.
The wind carried the iron smell of blood.
My outstretched hand was still there between me and the older soldier.
"I want my reward," I repeated calmly.
The soldier blinked, as if waking up from a dream.
Alice: Leo, your tone is a little intimidating.
Good, I thought. Makes things simpler.
The older soldier looked from my hand to the corpses, then back to my eyes. I saw the moment his training beat his confusion.
"...Right." He sighed. "Of course. You saved our lives – and the madam's life. You deserve it."
He turned and shouted to one of the recruits:
"Check the bandits' bodies. See what they have. We'll compensate this young man."
One of the younger soldiers nodded and went around looting the corpses.
While he worked, I walked calmly over to the last bandit's body and pulled my dagger out of his head. I wiped the blood off on the dead man's clothes without hesitation.
The older soldier watched me for a moment with a serious expression.
"You… have experience," he muttered.
I just shrugged.
From inside the carriage, I heard a woman's voice.
"Captain, is it over?"
The soldier straightened his back immediately.
"Yes, madam! The threat has been eliminated."
Another voice, younger, followed.
"Mother, can we see? At least our savior?"
"No, Alyssia, there might still—"
"Madam," the soldier cut in carefully, "it is safe. And… I believe you should personally thank him."
There was a pause. Then the carriage door opened.
First, I saw a delicate hand move the curtain aside. Then a noblewoman stepped down with practiced grace. She had long, dark green hair tied up, eyes like polished emeralds, and pointed ears: an elf.
Behind her, a girl my age peeked out.
She had the same green eyes, but her hair was lighter, almost silver-green, flowing past her shoulders. Her ears were a bit smaller, but still clearly elven. She hesitated before stepping down, gathering her dress so it wouldn't touch the blood.
So these are the "madam" and "young miss"…
The older soldier immediately bowed.
"Lady Elenora, Young Miss Alyssia."
I didn't bow. I just watched them.
Alyssia's eyes went to the bandits, then to me. Her gaze lingered for a second on my red hair and black eyes. I saw a small shiver run through her body – not quite fear, not quite fascination.
Lady Elenora approached me, holding her dress away from the nearest corpse.
"Were you the one who defeated these men?" she asked.
"Yes."
I didn't add anything else. She seemed a little taken aback by how short my answer was.
"Mother, he's covered in blood…" Alyssia whispered behind her. "And his eyes… they're so—"
"Sharp," Elenora finished quietly, studying me. "Like someone who has seen too much."
She looked down at my simple clothes, then at the dagger in my hand.
"You don't look like a soldier. What is your name, young man?"
"Leo," I said. "Leo Vampir."
Her expression flickered for a moment at the surname, as if it sounded familiar, but she let it pass.
"Well then, Leo. On behalf of House Everleaf, I thank you for your help."
She turned slightly.
"Captain, his reward."
The older soldier nodded. The recruit who had been searching the bodies came over with a small pouch.
"Madam," he said, "the bandits had some coins, a few cheap weapons, and… this." He handed the pouch to the captain, who weighed it in his hand, then passed it to Lady Elenora.
She opened it, glanced inside, and closed it again.
"This should be a fair amount," she said, then extended it to me.
I took the pouch and gave it a quick look.
Alice: 24 copper coins and 3 silver coins, Leo. Enough for food and cheap inns for a while.
Not bad.
"Thank you," I said simply, tying the pouch to my belt.
The captain frowned a little, as if expecting some kind of polite speech, but I had never been good with fancy words. Kill. Get paid. Move on. That was my old routine.
But this time… I wasn't going to live like that forever.
Lady Elenora studied me for a moment longer.
"Leo," she said, "what are you doing alone in a forest near the border? Bandits are common here. Most peasants avoid this road."
Time to use the background Alice gave me…
"I'm heading to the city," I replied. "To take the entrance exam for the Magic Academy."
Alyssia's eyes widened.
"Mother! He's going to the Academy too!"
I glanced at her.
"You're also going?"
She straightened her back, a mix of pride and shyness in her expression.
"Yes. I… I am Alyssia Everleaf, daughter of Lady Elenora. I was accepted into the Elven Royal Magic Academy as a new student."
Royal Magic Academy, huh… So that's the place.
Lady Elenora nodded.
"We are indeed heading to the city of Lethrion, where the Academy is located. It is still some days away, but we will rest tonight in the nearest town."
She looked at the bloodstained road and sighed.
"Traveling alone is dangerous, Leo. Do you have any family waiting for you there?"
"No," I replied. "I'm alone."
That was true – in this life and the last.
She was silent for a second.
"Then allow me to make another offer," she said. "You may travel with us in the carriage until the next town. From there, if circumstances permit, we may help with your registration at the Academy."
Alyssia blinked, surprised.
"Mother, that's—"
"He saved our lives," Lady Elenora said calmly. "If he wishes a normal life as a magician, that is something I can respect."
Normal life.
Those words hit something inside me.
That's all I ever wanted.
I nodded.
"I accept."
The soldiers began dragging the bandits' bodies to the side of the road. They stacked them together, took what was useful, and covered the rest with branches. Wolves or other beasts would probably take care of them overnight.
I watched without emotion.
Killing, corpses, disposal – it was all familiar.
But this time, I had chosen to get involved. Not because someone ordered me to kill, but because I saw a chance to earn money and build connections for this new life.
Alice: Leo, you are adapting well.
I'm just doing what I know, I answered in my head. But I'll use it differently this time.
When the road was clear enough, the captain approached.
"Madam, the way is ready. We can depart."
Lady Elenora nodded and turned to me.
"Come, Leo. You can sit with the driver for now. Once we reach the town, we'll arrange lodging."
"Fine by me."
I climbed up to sit next to the coachman. The horses snorted as we started moving again, wheels rolling over the dirt.
The forest slowly began to pass us by.
"Leo," Alice's voice echoed softly in my mind, "while we travel, would you like to check your current status?"
Yeah. Show me.
A translucent window appeared in front of my eyes, visible only to me.
[Status Window]Name: Leo VampirRace: Original Vampir (High Vampire)Title: Descendant of the Blood Emperor
Age (Physical): 16Mana Core: Basic Wizard Apprentice (Early Stage)
Attributes (Human Standard):Strength: HighAgility: Very HighEndurance: HighMagic Power: Very HighMagic Control: High
Bloodline: Blood Emperor Lineage (Sealed – 93%)
Skills:– Mana Cultivation (Basic)– Blood Manipulation (Basic)– Blood Arrow (Basic)
Passives:– High Regeneration– Enhanced Night Vision– Reduced Damage from Holy Attributes– Sunlight Resistance
I whistled quietly.
Not bad for a few hours in this world.
Alice: Compared to normal people of this world, you are already far above average, Leo. Even many experienced soldiers are weaker.
"Like the captain?" I muttered under my breath.
Alice: The captain is around Average Wizard Apprentice in physical strength and has very low mana sensitivity. Without you, the bandits would have caused serious damage.
I looked back at the soldiers marching behind the carriage. They were talking quietly, occasionally glancing toward me.
One of the recruits met my gaze and quickly looked away.
So they're already afraid of me…
That was fine. Fear kept people from doing stupid things.
But if I wanted a "normal" school life, I couldn't scare everyone all the time.
I would have to learn how to smile properly.
…That might be harder than killing bandits.
Inside the carriage, Alyssia lifted the curtain and peeked forward. From her angle, she could just see part of my profile as I sat beside the driver.
"Mother," she whispered, "do you really think it's safe to bring him along?"
Lady Elenora folded her hands in her lap, eyes half-closed in thought.
"He killed those bandits without hesitation," she said softly. "His movements were clean. No wasted motion. That is not something a simple peasant learns."
"So you think he's dangerous?"
"I think he is used to danger," Elenora replied. "But he asked for a reward instead of more blood. That means he has goals other than killing."
Alyssia bit her lip, still watching me.
"He looks… lonely."
Elenora opened one eye and smiled faintly.
"Then perhaps the Academy will be good for him. Besides, if he truly is strong, the Royal Magic Academy will want to keep an eye on him. Better inside their walls than outside."
Alyssia leaned her cheek against the window frame.
"Leo Vampir…" she murmured. "Red hair and black eyes. I've never seen eyes like that before."
The carriage continued down the road, the forest slowly thinning.
As the sun began to set, the trees opened up, and I saw it in the distance:
Stone walls. A watchtower. Smoke rising from chimneys.
Our first stop.
Alice: Leo, the nearest town is called Greendale. Population: small, but with an Adventurers' Guild and a small magic supply shop. It will be useful for preparations.
Good. One step at a time.
New world.New body.New identity.
And the first town of my new life was waiting ahead.
I tightened my grip on the dagger at my waist, then forced myself to relax.
This time, I wasn't arriving as a weapon.
This time, I was arriving as a future student.
Or at least… I hoped so.