The horse-drawn carriages drove through the cold air just after dawn.
It was a long journey to the mining town of Alvis. The road is rough. Potholes and stones caused the carriage to shake so much that our butts bounced up from the seat.
“Ouch!”
I don’t know how many times I’ve hit my head against the window. But I can’t stop looking out.
“The sky is so vast……!”
My breath turned white and quickly flowed backwards.
So this is what it looks like when there are no walls or buildings huh.
First off, the air is different. There is no obstruction, and the wind travels everywhere. The land as far as my eye could see is covered with greenery until it disappeared from view across the river. The morning sun also illuminates the landscape rippled by the wind.
My heart feels warm.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Felix-san chuckles.
“Rion-san, your forehead is red.”
“……yeah”
I sat back in my seat.
“You seem to be very curious about the outside.”
“Y-yes…… I only heard about it from Father’s stories you see.”
Felix-san narrowed his eyes.
“Every journey can only be made once, so adventurers should enjoy the journey to the fullest……”
For me, it was my first time.
This is my first journey.
But of course, I can’t just have fun and get carried away.
I calmed down and look inside the carriage. The Raven Warriors provided five wagons and two boxed carriages. Our group disguised as a combination of traveling merchants and escorts. In reality, we are all adventurers. There are five people in this carriage by the way.
It was more like a small room than a cargo bed, and the seats were set up so that the seats were facing each other along the left and right walls.
Across from me is Felix-san, who checks the itinerary just in case.
“Are we heading north?”
“That’s right. Alvis is upstream of the river, so a horse-drawn carriage would be a good way to get there.”
I could see a boat on the river bathed in the morning sun. Heavy weapons and ores must be transported by water.
“There are a lot of merchants who go through the same route, so it’s a good way to blend in.”
None of us wore the cloak with two ravens on it. The position of the Raven Warriors is a secret after all.
Felix-san is still wearing his usual coronet and he got his staff, but he was clad in thick, earth-colored robes. He was dressed like an adventurer magician.
Mia-san also wears a dark green cloak. Underneath is a black leather armor. She had a chain wrapped on her right arm, and the end was tied to an axe. Her red hair is tied up like a cat’s ears.
As for me—I’m wearing the gauntlet that Lu made for me, and the rest of my clothes is light. However, part of my chest was covered in white armor. The leather of the monster bird cockatrice is reinforced and finished with magic-resistant paint. The clasp of the cloak is also decorated with white feathers. I liked its combination with the grey cloak.
A cloak is a necessity for long trips, but it was also a longing for me.
The other warriors also wear armor and light clothing, and are equipped as they please.
Felix-san held up his finger.
“There is also the matter of the golem found in the Western Dungeon. There are not many people available from the Royal Capital, but this is also a good way to sneak in and head there.”
I nodded my head in understanding.
“So that’s the plan then?”
“Yes. I think the golem is a kind of diversion set up by the slave traders. The magical city of Toledo, which is east of Alvis, is famous for its golems. There is also a dungeon there. So we’ll investigate that area extensively while we sneak in to Alvis—which would be dead on target.”
I guess it’s a strategy to pretend to be caught by the other person’s invitation. While I was at the temple of Odis, Pauline-san and the others were discussing about it.
The feeling of elation I had earlier is now replaced by a sense of tension.
『Rion』
I was surprised by the voice.
It was Solana who spoke from the coin in my pocket.
『Show us the outside.』
I smiled a little.
The coin case that Lu made for me is tied to my jacket with a string. And even with the gold coin in it, the top half of the coin was visible outside.
I guess she deliberately made it so that the Gods in the gold coin could see outside too and at the same way, so I could easily touch it to “unseal” them.
“Got it.”
With a smile, I held the coin up to the window.
『『『『『Oooooh!』』』』』
God’s voice echoed in my head.
『Nature is reviving! The fact that there is such a big river means that there are magnificent forests and mountains!』
『Is that ship carrying weapons? Hammers perhaps?』
『There must be medicinal herbs that can only be found in this era, if the world is so rich that is.』
『……Guys, can you let me see it too? Don’t take it for granted, and just use me as a stepping stone, you know.』
I imagine the Gods rushing to the window and Loki being stepped on underneath. It was disrespectful, but it made me laugh.
There are also birds flying in the sky.
Before I knew it, the sun was rising higher and the gods went quieter. As I gaze at the clear blue sky, I remember the voices I heard from there.
“…… I wonder if Odis-sama can see it.”
If he is still the main god, and if he has sent the whole message, he may be able to see it.
『……If you’re expecting help, you’d better not do so.』
Solana’s voice came.
It hit the nail on my head, so I stammered.
『Maintaining the seal and the skill to bestow upon people. That alone must use a lot of power.』
“……That’s right. If he comes down here and got defeated, then….”
『There is a risk that those two powers will disappear, so he will not come down lightly.』
A god is a god, and it seems Odis-sama has his own thoughts about it.
『If there’s no help, there must be a good reason for it ―that’s what we’ve decided to think.』
Solana looked a little lonely.
……That’s right. She was sealed without being told anything.
“Yes, please help me when I’m in trouble, Goddess-sama.”
“Mm!”
For now, we have no choice but to trust the power at hand and move forward.
Without encountering any monsters walking outside, the carriage ran smoothly and we reached today’s destination.
Mia-san was amazed that I never got bored, and with a red spot on my forehead spreading, I made it through the first day of my journey.
We arrived at a large city along the river. There is also a city wall in front. Dozens of merchants’ carriages were lined up outside.
“Kalmar huh.”
Mia-san stretched. While scratching her eyes, she said,
“Hmm… I guess we’ll be sleeping in this carriage tonight huh.”
“That’s the plan.”
Felix-san nods, and I tilted my head.
“Eh? We won’t go inside?”
“There is not enough room inside the city to accommodate a large number of carriages, and the walls of most cities are full of houses inside.”
Oh, that’s right……
Come to think of it, there aren’t many walls as wide as the Royal Capital.
“If you’re in a caravan with an escort, it’s more common to spend the night outside the walls. Besides, there’s a village outside the walls and something like a simple town has been established there as well.”
Except in the bitter cold season.
Felix-san shrugged.
“Being an adventurer is tough. Warriors are pretty tight on the pockets too.”
“Heh….…”
Oh, I see….…
There’s a place near the city walls where carriages gather, and it looks like we’ll be joining them there. Trails of smoke from the bonfire are rising into the sky.
“Outside the wall huh……”
I hope there isn’t any. But I could hear the roar of beasts from the forest in the distance, and I flinched a little.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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