The Warrior on the Bridge

Once again.

I am here.

Every day of my life was and is going to be spent here.

Guarding the bridge to the castle of the Princess.

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Bandit Boss: "Hoi!!! Hurry up! They say mountains of treasures are hidden there!"

Bandit: "Right away boss!"

A group of bandits was climbing up a mountain path. At the end of this path, is a bridge and once they've crossed that, legends have promised them unimaginable riches.

Bandit: "To think it was just right here, boss!"

Bandit Boss: "Hehehe... Now, time to get rich!"

Mountains have surrounded this area, and there were no other paths aside from the one the bandits have taken.

Once they came out of the mountain path filled with trees, they could see a massive castle beyond a bridge.

And at the end of the bridge. There was a guard.

He was just one. He was huge. He was like 10-ft tall,

Guard: "Go back now. You'll be spared."

Bandit Boss: "Are you kidding me, big guy?"

Bandits: "Ahahahah!"

Bandit Boss: "Check this guy out! He thinks he can take all of us out by himself!"

The bandit group was made up of 20 men. They were all veteran bandits. They defeated rare monsters and legions of soldiers before.

Bandit Boss: "You think you're so tough, huh!? Charge!!!!"

They charge all at once. Five men were ahead.

Guard: "As always, you people give me no choice."

The guard took out his weapon. It was a greatsword. He had no shield, but he was wearing armor that covered his entire body and a full helm that covered his face.

He readied his sword and once the enemies got in range.

Bandit Boss: "Hah! You think we're stupid!"

The bandit leader threw something at the guard. It was a grenade.

It exploded near the guard's face. Smoke covered his vision.

But He already swung his greatsword even while he took the explosion.

Bandits: "UGHHHH!!!"

The sword hit the group of five with one swing. Throwing the enemies over the bridge and into the fast-moving

river.

Whether they died or not didn't matter, the bandits won't rise from a river that brutal. It was a river going straight down to a waterfall. The current was powerful.

Bandit: "This bastard!"

Bandit Boss: "Use ranged attacks on him!"

! !

They aimed at the space on the helm for the eyes, but the guard won't let them have their way.

He moved his gauntlet to block the arrows that were about to hit his face. His armor was so durable that this kind of attack isn't going to do any damage.

Bandit: "Arghh!!!"

The 15 bandits left was now standing still, staying away from the guard.

Bandit Boss: "Use spells!"

! !

The spells were like rain on rock. It did not affect the guard.

Guard: "Feel like surrendering now?"

Bandit Boss: "Grrr!!! Let's do it the old fashion way, boys! Smash this guy to pieces!"

The bandit group now continued their charge, not thinking about their safety anymore. They knew not all of them were going to come back alive, but at least they helped defeat the guards.

One guy was intentionally put in front to lure the attack of the guard. He makes strong attacks, but it was slow.

Guard: "Hmmm..."

Once the guy in front gets in range. The swing from the greatsword came. The bandit in front tried to block it with a magic shield of his, but he was blown away.

Bandit Boss: "Now! Move!"

Now that the guard was supposed to get ready for his next attack, the bandits tried to rush their way to him.

Bandit Boss: "Once we cross the bridge, let's surround him and kill him!"

But-

Guard: "Who told you I only make slow attacks?"

The next second after the first bandit was taken out, the guard drew back his greatsword so quick that it looked like it disappeared. He was already making his second swing.

The following group, which consisted of 4 men, was hit altogether. 4 of them was cut down and thrown away into the river.

Bandit Boss: "Shit!"

But the ten bandits had close the distance after the second attack. They jumped at the guard to try and take him out.

They slashed and smash at the armor, but they were not doing any damage.

Guard: "You see... This armor, can't be damaged by your weak attacks."

The guard roared while he took out every one of the bandits near him.

The bandit leader could not do anything but watch the rest of his group get destroyed.

Bandit: "Boss! Let's get out of here!"

After one of the bandits said that, the guard suddenly appeared in front of the two.

Guard: "You two are the last one left. Any last words or letters to give to your love ones? I can send them for you."

The guard was sincere.

Bandit Boss: "This bastard!"

The leader lost all his fear and nervousness. He was just filled with anger.

He leaped at the guard and tried to bury his enchanted daggers into the neck of the guard.

These daggers were called the Poisoner's Teeth. It has high penetration, and once it hits the skin of the victim, the deadly poison will spread over the body almost instantaneously.

Unfortunately...

Clink! The daggers broke.

The guard grabbed two of them in the necks.

Guard: "You greedy men have been warned but refused to flee. Death is the reward for your transgressions!"

He smashed the two remaining bandits to the ground. There was a strong shockwave, and the bodies were unrecognizable.

There were no cracks in the bridge since the materials used were ancient magical items. There was no known weapon or spell that existed in this time to destroy these materials.

Guard: "Once again... Lives lost because of greed."

It was just not greed, though. Countless people lost their lives here while they were chasing fame, power, treasures and the princess that resides in the castle.

For five years... I have guarded this bridge. And all of those years, different warriors from different countries try to defeat me.

I don't know how or why but rumors of treasures and hidden powers were being spread around everywhere about this

place.

The only thing here was just the Princess. I haven't met her before. She was thirteen when I started guarding this bridge.

That was the time when the King decided to take all of his soldiers out for a campaign.

None of them came back.

We weren't a vast country in the first place. Nearly all the villagers were part of that campaign, and because none of them came back, only a few servants of the princess remained.

Still, there's no assurance that they were dead. As long as I live, I will guard this bridge because that is the order of my King!

He said to me...

King: "Atup. You shall guard this bridge with your life. You will guard it until we return."

Atup: "Yes, Your Majesty!"

I could still see his red cape dancing in the air while he rode on his horse and leading the army through this bridge. That was five years ago.

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Chapter 1: Guard

Knight: "Die, you villain! I will take the Princess and be a hero!"

A gallant knight charges at me and stabs me with a lance.

Knight: "You have imprisoned the Princess for too long, you monster! Time to die!"

While I was impaled, he was preparing a spell in his shield arm. It was going to be the spell that will kill me.

Knight: "DIE!!!"

NO!

Atup: "Hahhh.... hah..."

I woke up from my nightmare.

That knight... How long has it been since I fought him?

He was the one who put me on the verge of death. He had this terrifying fervour that prevented him from feeling pain and feeling fear.

No matter how strong the hits I made back then, it was not a problem for him.

What was his name? Ah... He never gave it to me.

He thought I was some kind of monster incapable of human speech.

I look around.

I'm still sitting in front of the bridge. To my right side, on the riverbank, countless swords and helmets were planted on the ground. It was the same on the left side.

This equipment belonged to the intruders that I have defeated.

I tried to look for the gallant knight's spot. You could see it quickly. There was a shining helm hanging on a pure white lance.

His armor was not there because it's the one I'm wearing right now.

It gives you 25 % resistance to all elements except for dark element which was the counter for this armor.

I looked at another spot; there was a helm planted on the ground. There was no weapon in that spot because I wielded it right now.

He was a giant with a greatsword. He was a stupid opponent, but he packed a lot of power. I used the strength of his attacks against him and killed him with a spear counterattack which impaled him.

As for my helm... This helmet is my own. I liked it because it covers my whole face. It's a helmet which has small holes for me to breathe out and a little space for my eyes to see.

There was no one to see it, but I don't want to keep my face exposed. It was ugly. Filled with battle wounds and

burns from hundreds of battles.

Sometimes enemies would use fire spells, and the heat would go through my armor and burn my skin.

My face was that of a monster.

Atup: "It's a good thing that the Princess doesn't come anywhere near here."

I said that while lying on the ground gazing at the clouds.

Princess: "Why?"

I was surprised. A girl's voice suddenly answered me. I quickly grabbed my greatsword and got ready for battle.

Once I turned around, there was nothing.

Princess: "Hey!"

Then I looked down.

Atup: "Ah!"

The Princess was there.

Princess: "That's rude! Getting all surprised."

"I-i'm sorry, Princess."

This is bad. I haven't talked to anyone in years! I mean, how do you even speak to someone? All I do for talking is repeating a threat to intruders which I memorized. How would I not remember something I've said for hundreds of times.

Princess: "So... What's so bad around here that I'm not allowed to go here?"

Atup: "Umm... You see, there's Ummm... ah... Monsters and bandits that might attack... You might get caught in the battle."

Princess: "I see but wouldn't be okay if there's no battle?"

Atup: "Hmm... You wouldn't really know when a battle is going to happen. Sometimes they come in the morning and sometimes at night using the cover of darkness."

Princess: "Okay, I understand. Why don't you come to the castle?"

Atup: "There would be no one to guard the bridge then, Princess."

Princess: "Hmm..."

The princess looked annoyed, and her cheeks were puffed.

Then some distance away from us, I saw old man Ric running, out of breath.

Ric: "Your M-majesty! Huff. Let's go back! It's dangerous around here."

Atup: "Yes, you should go back to Mr.Ric"

Ric was the butler of the Princess. He also takes care of me by giving me food from the castle now and then—some vegetables and bread.

I have my plants here and some trees, but I don't know how to make bread or any good stuff to eat. I roast beasts sometimes.

Ric: "Oh, Sir Atup. Thank you for taking care of the Princess. We'll take our leave now."

Princess: "Bye."

The Princess waved her hand slightly. Her blue hair was dancing in the wind.

She was the most beautiful thing in the castle. I mean in the whole area. There aren't any other pretty things here, so I'm not sure about my tastes.

Atup: "Take care."

Then they left.

Atup: "It's time to go back to work then..."

Once I looked behind, I could see a man pulling a cart. He was going to come here. He looked like an old man carrying heavy stuff.

It looked like it was some tools and materials. What is he? Some kind of new warrior? Hmm... We could never be too careful.

I fought old men before. Some of them were mighty wizards. I had a hard time fighting them, especially before I got this armor.

I ready my weapon and take my stance.

Wait for it...

Wait for it...

What?

He was still having a hard time pulling the cart. Sure it was a long bridge but 10 minutes have already passed!

What's his deal?

I take a closer look at him... then he fell. You could see him massaging his legs. He looks like he's in pain.

Is he a normal, old man? Oh...

I walked to him slowly because it might be a trap.

Then when I got close...

Carpenter: "Oh, hello there. Sir Knight, can you help me carry all this stuff? I'm a carpenter, and I would like to work for your kingdom."

A carpenter? I circled him checking for any hidden weapons. There was none.

Atup: "Hmm... How would you know about this place? We're not even a kingdom. We won't even pass for a village. There's barely around 15 people here."

Carpenter: "That's better! I never wanted a place with a lot of people. Once I heard about this place from my acquaintances, I began my journey right away!"

I saw his body; It was full of scratches and bruises. He was lucky he did not encounter the bandits or any monsters in the area.

Carpenter: "It was a long, long... journey, but now I'm here, it feels worth it already. This bridge was the most beautiful structure I have ever seen in my life."

It sure was pretty. Strong too. It was the kingdom's most valuable treasure.

Atup: "Okay, old man. I'll let you in and help you, but you'll only work for me first. I have to ask the castle if they would need a carpenter. For security purposes, I need you to stay in my sight for the next three days. Are we clear?"

Carpenter: "Clear as the summer sky."

Atup: "Good. Now get on your cart."

Carpenter: "What?"

I put him on top of the cart and carried it to our side of the bridge. I took him to my house. It was a huge cave with a bed made of hay.

Ric could not find a house big enough for me, so I just stay in this cave.

"This is where I live. You can place your belongings anywhere you want. You can begin your work anytime you want too."

Carpenter: "Hmm, This ain't a house! It's a cave!"

I know, old man.

Carpenter: "I'll make you a house! As payment for letting me in, let the great Nai create a masterpiece for you!"

Atup: "Eherm. We haven't introduced ourselves yet."

Nai: "Oh yeah! Sorry about that, Sir Knight. I'm Nai. I came from a craftsman village near the foot of this mountain."

Atup: "I am Sir Atup. I'll tell you our circumstances since you're already a part of us. I am the only knight here, and everyone else asides from us are the Princess and her attendants."

They have gardeners and cooks but no fighters.

Nai: "Oh... That's why there aren't any other guards. Is it okay? I mean, you're the only guard here."

Atup: "Of course, I'll guard this place until the king comes back."

I look at the sky. It was clear. No clouds or anything. Just the blazing sun.

Nai: "First! For the house, I need huge trees! Sir Atup, can you do this for me?"

You just came here, and now you're giving me orders? (Sigh)...

Atup: "Okay... If you really want to make one, I'll help you out."

A house, huh? That would be good...

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Huff...Hah...

This construction thing is hard work!

Old man Nai taught me how to be a carpenter. He needed help to make a house big enough for me so.

I was like 9ft. or 10ft. So the house needs to be at least 15 o 20 ft to be comfortable.

My strength was one of the things I'm proud of, but this work wears me out.

Nai: "Oi! Your hands are getting slower!"

Atup: "Sorry, Sir!"

Before I knew it, I was his apprentice. This was only a for a few hours because I still need to guard the bridge.

I glance at the bridge from time to time so that no one would get past unnoticed.

My cave was not far from the bridge so I can still see it.

Hmmm... It seems clear... Oh! The usual trolls.

Trolls lived around here. Our kingdom was in the mountains, so we expect a lot of monster neighbours.

Atup: "Old Man! I'll take a short break. Trolls are coming from the other side of the bridge."

Nai: "Okay!"

Nai was still doing his work without any worries.

I took my greatsword that was resting near the tree and went to the bridge.

Atup: "Oi, you! Go away!"

Sometimes, if the trolls are still young, they would run away. But these looked like they were old enough to fight.

Troll: "Augh! Grah!"

They would always try to talk first. I wished I knew how to speak to Trolls. Even though I said that they fight with me, I wouldn't kill them.

They just come here from time to time to fight with me.

Once one of them gets defeated or all of them, they would run away.

"Let's start, shall we?"

There were 3 of them. One went in front.

He was the first challenger.

It dropped his usual troll club, and I put my greatsword behind me. We would do it as always.

With our fists.

The troll there a straight at me, I didn't even guard. I countered him.

Trolls have enormous strength, but it's not enough for me! I took the hit but was also able to land mine.

Troll: "Ughhh..."

It fell down.

Troll 2: "Ahhhhuuu!!! Agggg!"

They would sometimes look like they were laughing when one of them gets beaten like this. The other two went at me with the same tactics, but they were beaten too.

Atup: "Heh..."

After a few minutes, they would wake up and run. They got knocked out by my punches.

I get back to my cave to continue my carpenter work. But suddenly I could hear something from behind.

One of them was awake already. It was trying to say something. It was kneeling.

Troll: "Aguhububu. Arbu. Arhu!"

Atup: "Uhh.. Okay."

Troll: "Aguuuu!"

After that weird conversation, he carried his friends away from here. Probably back to their home.

I wonder what was that about?

When I got back, Old Man Nai was still working, and he had a lot of work waiting for me.

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Nai: "It's finished! Hooo!"

Master Nai was contented at the work he did. Even though most of the physical labour was me, the design and the way do make the house came from him.

Atup: "It looks brilliant. I never thought I'd see a house like this. Now I won't have to be cold in winter!"

Nai: "What? Really? You've stayed in that cave until now?"

Atup: "Yep, five whole years."

Hmm... I never felt bad about it. No matter how cold it got or how much Mr Rick asks me to stay in the castle, I chose this cave.

It's near the bridge, and I still need to do my job.

If even one got past the bridge, hunting him down would be a huge pain. There was a large field before the castle, some small forests too.

Nai: "You're amazing!"

Atup: "What? No, sir. I merely guard this bridge. There's nothing special about that. It's something I must do."

Nai shakes his head.

Nai: "No, Sir Atup! Any other knight would've given up after that!"

We'll never know because I'm the only knight here.

Atup: "Anyways, let's check the inside."

Nai: "Of course!"

I mostly did the work for the walls and foundations of the house. The roof too but Master Nai was the one who made the furniture. He said those things need skills to build.

When we got inside, I was shocked. To others, it might seem a simple room with a chair, table and a bed made from wood and hay BUT! This place was the right size for me.

Atup: "Thanks, Master Nai!"

Nai: "You don't need to thank me! It's a payment! I'll be this kingdom's carpenter, okay?"

Atup: "We're still not sure about the castle people, but you certainly got my approval!"

Nai: "Hehe!"

He stuck his thumb out and smiled wide.

I never realized it, but... It's been a long time since I was happy.

Before... days... months would pass by with me sitting in front of the bridge.

It would rain, it would storm, sometimes blizzards come too. Mages even made other disasters, so it was much harsher.

They would try to put me in a harsh environment, thinking I would give up. I'd always prove the intruders otherwise.

Yeah, maybe... this thing isn't so bad. Just Mr Nai would be an excellent addition to the kingdom.

While I thought that, a person was on the bridge.

Kid: "OI!!! Can you help me out here!?"

There was a kid on the bridge, carrying cooking tools.

Oh... What!? Another one!?