“Oh, so you are old enough to travel?” she asked and I didn’t reply to her because I knew for myself that I didn’t actually have my father’s approval on this trip. I breathed out and looked at the empty ceiling before I closed my eyes. 
    Morning that time, and we went out. We gathered information and made sure that we gathered everything important before I supplied my father an Intel about my fake circumstances.
    Though we don’t have much time needed, we need proof and Intel about the bandits' hideout. We aren’t sure where to find them but some of the information we gathered told us that there is a chance that the bandits' hideout is neither hidden nor cannot be reached by mere humans.
    I thought about this, if there is a place where humans cannot reach. That would be a place like forest or dead forest that would be like a haunted cemetery in the middle of the woods and dungeons. But I’d rather take my chances in the forest or woods, there might be hidden caves around.
    I am currently looking at the maps right now, I took the map from the baron before we left yesterday. There is a flat guess I have in the forest and woods around this part, so when I pointed out the obvious, Dores put a wood on the one I pointed.
    “My lady’s insight is unpredictable sometimes,” Dores complimented and before I knew it, he patted me like a child that made me glare at him the way I intimidate my former men. “Touch me and I’ll make sure that your hands will be rolling on the floor.” 
    I know, I sounded rude considering that I wasted their time for my selfish desire but the more he does that, the more it will be annoying for me in the future. Eliminating the threat is better besides they need proper discipline— or so I thought. 
    Because Dores didn’t stop, he continued violating my privacy and even the threat didn’t work on him. “My lady sometimes sounds like her cold blooded father, I worry for her, she might not become as cute as now with the marquis interrupting my imagination.” 
    What the hell is he talking about? I looked at him confused then I closed my eyes and an emerging fire almost blew up the entire streets, good thing I stopped beforehand. “Talk no more Dores, you are annoying me and the more you do that, the more I want to cut off your tongue.”  
    “You really like threatening me, but now I understand that angering my lady will end up me being blown up.” I see, I am glad he understood but that was really close to blowing up Dores, because I am not in my former body, I have no control over my artificial ability but that was fine as long as I have the manual of controlling the ability, it will only take me some time to control them. 
    Right back to the topic, we will go to find the hideout. Yet, looking at each forest will take me some time or day so I decided to use my knowledge. 
    
    Let's see, there is a forest to the west and east, while north is the location of the town. I see a dead forest at the western east, and a haunted forest at the southern west which is opposite of the other side of the forest. 
    
    I have a conclusion that it is neither of the two locations but I highly doubt the dead forest more than the dead one. If you look closely, the forest is alerted and I wonder what's the difference. "Dores, do you see this? " I pointed out the dead forest and when he looked he immediately nodded.
    
    "Yes, my lady but I have no knowledge of it. " Is that so? Then we need an informant, not knowing the enemy's turf is the worst that could happen. No chance, will have to gumble with the forest that I think is where the bandits hide. 
    
    "Fair enough, " then I once again pointed to the haunted forest at the opposite side. "This is our best choice, we will hunt them down on the Haunted Forest at Southern West. "
    
    They both looked at each other before they looked at me and nodded. For a few seconds, they hesitated but their resolve in following me was strangely stronger than the regret they felt inside and I was happy to see that. 
    
    A man's honor comes from a man's pride and bravery to be better. 
    
    I like it!  
    
--+-•-+--
    
    After the long planning, we went to various stores to prepare for our trip. Including extra food and filling our stomachs, we were buying a weapon and armor because we left the sword back at the baron's mansion.
    
    What remains is... Unfortunately, I have to disguise myself as a man since I'll be holding swords and seeing women wield weapons or carry them will alert the citizens and they might think I'm a witch. So, Sain bought me a small white blouse and long jeans that have less decoration than the way I usually dress myself. 
    
    It's a lot comfortable considering it as a commoner's clothes but surely it didn't bother me much. Then I was able to buy a sword to my liking, it was a long bladed rapier than is edgy and spikey, the design was average at least but they said the sword was enchanted with magical stones and amplifiers. 
    
    If the welder has a strong mana capacity, the average of the sword would berserk and the sword will become stronger. Yet if the welder is weak and has less mana capacity, the sword will be the average of its own strength. The blacksmith told us that the sword was sold to him by a shobby, wrinkled and average man who went nuts after a few days. 
    
    He said no one likes the sword so they only use it as a decoration but I know full well how to judge weapons not based on feedback but based on my own potential that I was able to find strength in this sword. 
    
    I could feel it. The merge of my aura to the sword, that lights up the sword and turns red. The sword that was merely average became so strong in my hand, and I think this sword is a blade made of contract. 
    
    How can I tell? The sword has a symbol written over the part of the guard. All symbols have their unique understanding, but there are few symbols that are written in a Mongolian Language that was part of the ancient ages. 
    
    Which I highly doubt and understand.
    
    Overall, I love the design and it is made of magical stone steel which I could tell based on the materials used to make this weapon. Just like a curse sword, only blinded by a strong user. 
    
    "Do you really like such useless swords? " I stared and looked at him with a dire face. 
    
    "It seems that the captain of Byrne Troops is such a failure that does not understand the potential of a weapon, " it was insulting indeed but I couldn't help it. They are trained by my father and I had to learn father's sword play, yet despite having such a good teacher they can't even properly learn moral discipline. 
    
    "Pardon me, my lady? I know, we are failures in your eyes but we are doing the best we can to make sure not disappoint milady. " 
    
    I smiled and snored. "Then why not learn the proper etiquette of moral discipline? Even commoners have manners, and discipline but you and your companionship is disappointing. "
    
    Don't worry, harsh words help people mature. These are things they won't be hearing from other people including my father if you think so. Averageness is unacceptable, while weakness is only the curse of failures. That is why without these two, pray to the gods to have mercy upon you. 
    
    "I am deeply sorry, if that was the case. Will you lead us then? " I was dumbfounded and ended up looking at him in surprise. 
    
    "Are you sure about that? If I remember, my method is ruthless and cold. " There's no way, he said that because of what I said. Expectation is ridiculous and pointless, yet that was an unexpected turn of event. 
    
    Who would have thought that expectation is manipulative and surprising. 
    
    The face of both Adrian and Dores was neither insulting. It was perhaps the face of defeat, one that understands their mistake and a person who accepts failures. 
    
    "We realize that after seeing milady, we couldn't help but to get confused whether we are trained or not. Everyone of us in the troops felt that the lady can teach us to become a better knight, so if my lady sees ruthless and cold as a way to change us. Then please make us stronger than ever before. "
    
    Determination is one that I can see fit with my education. I see a bright future amongst these men, and even if they fail then I have no choice but to force them to the best of my abilities as the one that would hold and train them. 
    
    Things are getting better and I am more fascinated by the future of these people. To where those future lead them, and I guess even mine too.