Once upon a time, here we go!
I casually tossed a scarecrow with holes all over it into the corner and grabbed my backpack.
Time to hit the road!
I closed the secret passage of the workshop and took one last look around before closing the door and stepping outside. No one would be entering the workshop for about a month, so when I returned, I expected to find a thick layer of dust.
Just in case of unexpected issues, I had told the servant not to clean the workshop, so I planned to have a major cleaning session upon my return.
If I come back in one piece, that is.
Anyway, I wondered if the kids were paying attention in class. I locked the workshop door and gazed at the Academy in the distance. The sun blazed brightly, blinding me, but I stared blankly at the Academy.
It’s a strange feeling to be leaving when I’m not even a student.
It’s just a month-long trip, after all.
Have I really broken free from that deserted island mindset? Back when I lived on the deserted island, changing homes just to survive was quite common. I did all sorts of crazy things to stay alive, so in retrospect, it makes sense.
But now, it feels unusual.
“…I hope I can return safely.”
If everything goes according to plan, I should be able to return without trouble in a month, but if not, it might get complicated; especially considering I’m not just a lazy bum, with knight protection duties and prosthetic arm crafting in the mix, the chances of falling behind were high.
The real issue is that if it takes too long, I might have trouble joining the war.
…Nah.
What’s the point of thinking about that now? Let’s get moving.
I strolled leisurely towards the Academy’s main gate. The usually bustling Academy was quiet, creating a strange mood.
Am I going to miss the Academy for a while?
I hope those kids don’t get into trouble. I’d hate for them to get caught up in an incident.
I had already informed Principal Merlin, but I was worried about Karina, who might get involved in upcoming events. With Renny sticking close, it wouldn’t be easy for anyone to approach her…
But it’s not like they would approach with bad intentions, right?
They’re just trying to swindle Karina into becoming student council president.
Thinking about how Karina would feel pressured, I wanted to break some legs…
Well, whatever. I can’t solve everything myself.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“See you later.”
I left the Academy gates and strolled towards the spot where the carriage was waiting.
—————-
Maybe I should have just taken the portal.
I tried to ignore the aching pain in my backside while gazing out the window. All I could see were dense trees filling my view, but if I didn’t at least look, I couldn’t bear the boredom.
Should I be thankful I’m alone for now?
At least I can sit comfortably without worrying about others.
[Contractor, is every carriage like this? I feel dizzy-]
“I didn’t think you had a concept of dizziness.”
[This may look simple, but it’s a delicate magic book. Hmph, maybe the master doesn’t know.]
“How would I know since I’m not a magic book?”
There are hardly any magic books with such a strong sense of self-awareness. Come to think of it, I wonder if anyone has touched that magic book gathering dust on my bookshelf…
Since it just looks like an old book, I figured no one would be inclined to steal it unless they were looking for trouble.
Anyway, what’s important right now isn’t the wish-granting magic book.
[Ugh, I’m so bored…]
“Why don’t you look around outside instead?”
[But I already had my fill of looking around earlier.]
Rue, sitting across from me, complained as she tapped the window with her tentacle. Every time her tentacle left a suction mark on the window, a slurp sound echoed in the carriage. That was annoyingly bothersome.
“…Just hang in there.”
[A little more has already turned into half a day.]
“If you hang on for just a few more hours, we’ll reach the first stop, so hold on tight.”
[Haah… Fine. Then I’ll take a nap…]
What a strange magic book or puppy this is. I stared blankly at Rue, who wrapped herself up in her tentacles and fell asleep, feeling like I might get motion sickness, so I turned my gaze back outside.
When on earth will we arrive…
U…ntil when…
“Hey! We’ve arrived!”
Ah, did I fall asleep?
I wiped the drool from my mouth and hoisted the sleeping Rue up, securing her at my waist.
[Hmm… Are we there?]
“Yup.”
Is this the first stop, Stein Village?
A town that seems small for a city compared to Kalon, one of the top cities on the continent, but it’s still a bit too big to be called a village. It was definitely one of the thoroughfares heading north, as I could see numerous visitors coming and going.
“There are quite a few people around.”
“Of course, at this time, people are bound to be everywhere. It’s time for the northern territories to start stockpiling food. So, merchants and mercenaries are ferrying supplies to the north.”
“Do you know much about the north?”
“Of course. I was born and raised in the north, you know?”
The burly coachman, whose scruffy beard concealed his chin, pulled out a pipe from his pocket and put it in his mouth. Then, glancing at me, he asked.
“Do you need a light?”
“I don’t smoke, you know.”
“When I was your age, I smoked all day long.”
“That’ll ruin your health.”
“Well, in this world, how much longer can I expect to live anyway? I plan to live short and intense.”
The unnamed coachman chuckled as he lit his pipe and took a deep puff.
I stared at the sight blankly, then turned my head to scan the village. It felt like something out of a medieval movie.
Since we’re here on the outskirts of the central region, will I see buildings styled for the north when I get further north? I heard northern buildings have a rather unique shape.
“Ah, nothing beats a smoke after a journey.”
“Do you know of a decent inn?”
“Hmmm. The Golden Goose Inn would be the best. It’s reasonably priced and tucked away, so it’s not crowded.”
“Well, I’ll stay at that inn then.”
“You’re not even considering finding another place, huh?”
“Principal Merlin recommended it; would I stab myself in the back?”
If I did, I’d just smack my head back in retaliation.
Seeing that my answer pleased him, the middle-aged coachman with the pipe let out a small chuckle and said to me, “You won’t regret it.”
—————–
“It’s quite old.”
“I started working as a coachman here a long time ago. The beer here is nothing short of amazing.”
“Since I’ll be leaving tomorrow, I can’t overindulge.”
“I’ll just have a drink for a toast.”
“If you end up capsizing the carriage, I can’t take responsibility.”
I could roll with it if it tipped over, but the coachman’s neck would snap it like a twig.
“Haha, my friend. I have twenty years of experience as a coachman, you know? I know my drinking capacity better than anyone.”
Isn’t that a classic line from a drunkard? I let out a small laugh at his words and asked the lady at the counter for a room for the night and dinner.
[Ugh, if I had a mouth, I’d want to taste the food too.]
You have sight, touch, and hearing, but no mouth?
I gave the odd magic book a sideways glance and started watching the food being served on the table. A beautifully cooked steak full of meat. And a salad that seemed mixed just right.
It may not be a banquet, but it looked filling enough. I took a spoonful of the soup to start.
“It’s delicious.”
“Right? I don’t just come here by chance when I visit this village.”
“It’s worth the recommendation.”
I could tell the experienced coachman had a decent pick. We wolfed down the additional orders to fill our bellies, having barely nibbled on our portable food before.
In the end, it was after ordering twice more that we finally finished our meal.
“You’ve done well to keep the portion up.”
“You were eating well too, you know.”
“Just call me Tom.”
“Understood. Tom.”
“‘Sir’ what? Just call me Tom.”
Looks like our coachman-guide Tom doesn’t like having “sir” tagged onto his name. He shuddered as if the mere sound sent chills down his spine.
“Tomorrow, where are we heading?” I asked.
“Hmmm… It will take about a week to get from here to the next stop, Snowville.”
“That’s a long journey.”
“It is long. But we have roads leading to the north, which helps shorten the time. Without roads, a ship would take even longer.”
Is it that big of a difference? I suppose unpaved roads must be bumpy and tough to get through, so it’s only natural. At least on paved roads, the carriage likely wouldn’t tip over.
“By the way, what’s your business in the north?”
“I’m looking for something.”
“While I wouldn’t say, it’s a barren place, there’s not much that could be found in the north.”
Should I spill the beans?
After mulling it over for a moment, I decided to confide in him.
After all, he might know something I don’t. And since we’re in the same boat, he deserves to know somewhat.
“…What I’m looking for isn’t a thing.
What I’m looking for is… a Divine Beast.”
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