Demonic Dragon: Harem System

"Cristine sent money this morning and a letter for you," he said, pulling out a letter from his pocket that looked far from noble, more like crumpled paper. After all, she was an assassin, not a grand duchess or something like that.

Strax glanced at his hand and took the tattered letter. Unwrapping it, he noticed Cristine's quick handwriting. He began to read silently, his expression changing as he absorbed the words.

Dear Strax,

Well, I'm currently on a mission, so I won't be able to keep in touch with you. I know I should have warned you earlier, but on the same day we met, I had to go to a meeting. In short, there will be a dangerous auction that our Main Guild has been tasked with providing security for. Things have been busy here, but nothing I can't handle.

Be vigilant on the roads; I've heard rumors that they are being taken over by a guild called Zaratz.

Be careful, and remember not to trust anyone blindly, even if they seem to be working together with you or something like that.

PS: I sent money because dealing with that insufferable Carlos deserves real payment, sorry about that. Did he offend you? Probably... Anyway, have a good trip and take care.

Cristine

As he finished reading the letter, several thoughts crossed his mind. He was now quite interested in what might happen when he met her again. "An auction, huh..." Strax murmured as he saw the girls getting into the carriage.

The morning sun was already high in the sky, it was a calm morning, and everything was ready for them to continue their journey. The carriage began to move through the wide streets of the quiet village. Strax was still deep in thought about what he had read. "Roads taken over, huh..." he murmured while mounted on Apocalypse, following alongside the girls' window.

As the carriage moved on, Monica turned to Strax, observing him with concern. "What did the letter say?" Strax looked at her, pondering whether to share everything. He decided to be honest. "Cristine warned that the road is taken or being watched. We need to be extra vigilant."

"Okay, we'll stay alert." Monica nodded. Beatrice and Samira, who overheard the conversation, exchanged glances and nodded as well.

The carriage moved slowly along the dirt roads, surrounded by green fields and small hills. The sun was high in the sky, and the morning heat was starting to make itself felt. Monica, Beatrice, and Samira chatted among themselves, trying to keep the mood light despite the concerns. The conversations were simple, about small things they could improve in battle.

None of them wanted to fall behind, even Samira, who was theoretically the strongest, doubted her strength, especially when accompanying this man.

Currently, her only concern was: I can't fall behind.

"So, Cristine is involved in a dangerous auction. Why do I have the feeling that my husband is dying to see what this auction is about?" Beatrice said, laughing.

"And she even bothered to send money to us. It must be a really important mission," replied Samira and continued, "Auctions in Eldoria usually involve serious things. Just the fact that she is one of the people in security raises her status a lot. I thought she was just a weird nun." She shrugged.

Monica looked at Strax through the window. "What about you, darling? Are you worried about this Zaratz guild? I mean, if Cristine warned us, it must be pretty well-known and important, right?" Strax, still mounted on Apocalypse, shook his head. "Worried isn't the right word. I think it's more about curiosity.

Well, if they show up in front of me and want a fight, it's best to just kill them. We'll deal with that crap just like we always have," Strax said nonchalantly. Depending on the level, he would just kill them all and loot their bodies.

Carlos, who was driving the carriage, looked at Strax and the girls. "He's right. The road might be taken, but we have the advantage of knowing that now. We can plan our next steps."

Strax nodded. "Exactly. Let's keep our eyes open and our senses sharp. We won't be caught off guard."

As the carriage continued to move forward, the scenery around them began to change. The open fields were gradually replaced by sparse trees, which became denser as they progressed. The forest ahead appeared much denser and darker than the first one they had traversed.

Samira looked out the window, observing the changing landscape. "This forest seems... different. Darker and more enclosed."

Beatrice agreed. "Yes, it has a strange feeling. Like something is watching us."

Monica, always the most practical, placed her hand on the dagger she carried at her waist. "Let's stay alert. It might just be our imagination, but we can't take any risks."

Strax looked at the forest ahead, his eyes narrowing. "Let's slow down. I want everyone to stay vigilant. Carlos, keep the carriage on the main trail and let us know if you see anything suspicious."

As they advanced, the forest became increasingly dense. The tall, twisted trees blocked most of the sunlight, creating a dark and silent environment. The sound of the horses' hooves and the creaking of the carriage wheels were the only audible noises, breaking the oppressive silence of the forest.

"There's something wrong with this place," Beatrice murmured, looking around with distrust. "It feels like we're being watched."

Monica held Beatrice's hand, trying to calm her. "Calm down, we have a strong team here, nothing will happen." Monica said, but Beatrice replied, "I'm not scared, I just feel a very strange sensation..."

Carlos remained alert, his eyes constantly scanning the surrounding vegetation. "We're almost at the heart of the forest. Stay ready for anything."

Carlos abruptly stopped the carriage, raising his hand in a signal of alert. "There's something on the road ahead," he whispered. "Something big."

Everyone fell silent, trying to hear any sound that might indicate the presence of danger. The silence was almost deafening, increasing the tension in the air.

Strax dismounted from Apocalypse and approached the carriage. "Stay here. I'll check."

Monica grabbed his arm. "Be careful."

The mana in the environment was somewhat scrambled, and even expanding his mana, it was impossible to identify what was around... as if a barrier was preventing them from getting closer.