Chapter 38 – Preparation (4)

Even though the archdemon’s army was chasing behind them, the actions of the three did not change. They just slept a wink and walked again along the main road.

Though it was a flaw that they had to shoulder even the luggage the horses had been carrying, making their bulk twice as large, and causing their dignity as knights and a mage to vanish.

“Lord Velloc. Even now, how about you give the luggage to me and preserve your stamina…”

At Adel’s worried tone, Velloc slightly turned his head. He saw his squire waddling, hung with luggage and armaments.

It was a size exceeding her small head. Speaking in such a state, it lacked persuasiveness too much…

“It’s fine.”

Velloc immediately shook his head. Of course, Velloc was also in the same state as Adel. Since he had carried even Cara’s share, whose physical condition was poor. Cara, who was walking next to him, muttered in an apologetic tone.

“I told you I can carry it…”

“You too, just worry about your own physical condition. Since if you collapse, I will have to carry you on my back.”

“Really… unlike your appearance, you are delicate.”

Cara, who smiled slightly and shook her head, pulled the robe she was wearing all the way over her head. Shadow cast over her face, partially blocking the pouring sun.

Inside the robe, the witch’s brown eyes shone dimly. In fact, as he said, she was not in good shape. Because the forced march was continuing without rest even before her body could fully recover. However…

‘There is no time.’

Even now, the pursuers’ steps must be directed toward the party. Whether due to the heat or tension, cold sweat trickled inside the robe. However, Cara grit her teeth and moved her feet.

Even while the three of them were on a life-or-death adventure, the world was peaceful.

Bandits who extorted the money and lives of travelers were not even in sight.

Even merchants on trade routes or mercenaries wandering each region in search of work were not visible.

Only the three of them were tramping along this quiet land.

Beyond the fluttering dust, Velloc clicked his tongue. Normally, if he saw people on horseback among those he met on the road, he intended to obtain mounts from them.

Be it with money or military power, using whatever means. But to not even see a single ant. ‘What is this? Is it some special day today?’ Around the time he had such thoughts, Cara spoke.

“Hey… speaking of it now, is it really okay for us to go like this?”

At the question mixed with concern, Velloc, who was walking slowly, asked back.

“What do you mean?”

Cara said restlessly.

“No, the enemies are pursuing us, aren’t they? Shouldn’t we move more stealthily or faster?”

Ah. That was what she meant. ‘What’s wrong with this witch? Did she get heatstroke?’ Velloc smirked.

“Didn’t you say so with your own mouth?”

“Huh?”

“That as long as there are eyes of the kingdom and the church, they won’t be able to move openly.”

“That may be so, but…”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to move along the conspicuous main road rather than going into the deep mountains where there is little sign of human presence?”

“…That’s true.”

Cara, who thought deeply, slapped her forehead. ‘What an idiot. A mage like me getting scared and not even knowing how to assess the situation.’

“Besides, increasing our speed even more here?”

Velloc looked up at the sky. It was terribly sunny. His back was already soaked with sweat. Velloc shook his head.

“We know nothing about what abilities those guys possess. Maybe there is someone else who has expertise in tracking like the elf from last night. If we push ourselves too hard in this situation, we won’t be able to respond properly when they actually ambush us.”

The distance to the destination is still far. We cannot give up anything, whether food or equipment. If so, rather than running away in vain fear, it was much better to pace our stamina and prepare for an ambush.

“Those are truly correct words.”

Adel, who was walking while waddling, nodded. Perspiration had formed on her face as well before she knew it. However, Adel still made sure to say a word to Cara.

“If you understand, stop whining, witch.”

At those words shot at her, Cara widened her eyes.

“Wh… What?”

Soon, Cara trembled all over. Perhaps because her body and mind were tired, she could not tolerate words that she would have normally let slide.

This young lady had been like this since they first met. ‘Why is she so anxious to eat me alive?’ Cara replied in an annoyed tone.

“I was just talking about a contingency! At times like this, we should put our heads together and discuss!”

“We only need to follow Lord Velloc’s words.”

When Adel snorted, Cara pointed a finger at her.

“You! That is a very dangerous thought, you know? Blind followship only brings ruin. As a human, you should live with a free way of thinking, always harboring doubt and vigilance in your heart…”

“Ugh, shut up!”

Seeing the two bickering, Velloc shook his head. Although the head count had merely increased by one, the quiet journey had suddenly turned into a marketplace. However, this kind of thing was not bad either. Because Adel’s stubborness might be stripped away by the talkative witch.

Leaving the voices of the women reaching his ears behind, he looked at the sky. Before he knew it, the sun was covered by clouds.

A clear, pastel-toned landscape painting welcomed him. It was a product of nature born because there was no fine dust or exhaust fumes.

But Velloc smiled bitterly. The current situation felt like the calm before the storm.

Making the party’s worries useless, a peaceful journey continued for the past few days.

There was only about half the distance left to reach Karben, the city near the Flowing Forest. However, to put it another way, half the distance to the destination was still remaining.

So the party first decided to stop by a small village in sight to reorganize.

“Are we staying here for today? If so, I can wash up, right? We can enjoy a warm meal and a bed!”

Cara, throwing back her dirty robe, shouted with joy. Velloc threw cold water on her, who had completely let her guard down.

“No, we leave as soon as we replenish food. If we can get horses, it would be good to get a few.”

“Wait, isn’t that too tight? At least a meal…”

As Cara argued with Velloc, Velloc silently gestured toward the path they had walked. Cara’s head turned.

“Ah…”

Cara’s raised voice tone lowered again. The smile on her lips vanished. She slowly nodded.

“Right… we were being chased. Yes. We can’t drag innocent people into this. Because I don’t want to see the tragedy of Hameln repeated.”

Cara put the thrown-back hood back on. The witch’s vision narrowed again. The three headed toward the entrance of the village, avoiding the loosely stacked wooden palisades.

It was a typical rural village. Normally, those living in such places had severe rejection of outsiders to protect themselves.

It was a kind of defense mechanism. However, that was a bluff that only worked on mediocre mercenaries or pot-bellied merchants. Though stained, the armor worn by the two knights and the mage’s robe were real.

Besides, look at those eyes shining fiercely. They looked ready to draw swords if things went wrong. The vigilantes guarding the entrance quickly cleared away the spears they were holding and shouted in loud voices.

“H-Honorable lords! Welcome to Wild Strawberry Village!”

Leaving the crude greeting behind, Velloc asked.

“Is there an inn in this village?”

“There is! The biggest house here after the village chief’s house is the inn!”

“I see. Good work.”

“Thank you!”

Wild Strawberry Village. A land where the quality of strawberries from the nearby forest was excellent, and the liquor brewed with them was the village’s specialty. However, to the three who would soon leave the village, it was irrelevant information anyway.

The party walked straight toward the inn. It was a tiny village, with roads not even paved. There was no way city civilizations like general stores or grocery shops would exist here.

“Thomas! You rascal! I won’t let you off if I catch you!”

“Father, just one hour! Just one hour! I’ll play a little and come back!”

A child running away because he did not want to help with household chores, an old woman sewing while sitting on a rocking chair in the yard, a farmer maintaining a plow for the upcoming harvest, and so on.

Many people passed by the party. Of course, their faces also hardened when they encountered Velloc’s party.

Seeing this, Cara shook her head.

“Somehow I feel like a villain.”

Velloc smirked.

“Greedy knights and a hook-nosed witch attacking a peaceful village?”

Adel let out a chuckle, and Cara scratched her head.

“A hook-nosed witch… that’s too classic.”

As they shared trivial conversation, they were suddenly in front of the inn. Opening the ungreased door and entering, they saw the owner sleeping with his head buried on a table. Perhaps it was still early, as he did not seem to be open for business. Cara raised her staff and spoke.

“I’ll try using a spell. A minor shock magic…”

“Why do such a troublesome thing?”

Adel, tilting her head as if she did not understand, approached the innkeeper. Soon, she smacked the back of the sleeping owner’s head.

Smack!

A cheerful sound rang, and the owner, with saliva on his mouth, woke up with a start.

“Wh… What? It’s not opening hours yet… Gasp! K-Knights, why are you here?”

After failing to gather his senses for a moment, he soon met the eyes of the female knight in front of him and was startled. Adel, not even caring about the owner’s reaction, spoke arrogantly.

“You. Bring the food in the shop right now. Preferably preserved foods.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Can’t you hear me? I said bring travel rations.”

As the owner asked back in the sudden situation, Adel fidgeted with the sword at her waist.

“Y-Yes! Understood!”

At this, the owner was terrified and quickly sprang up. Rustling and clattering sounds echoed from inside the shop. Watching this, Adel turned her head and smiled proudly.

“See, mage? This is how it’s done.”

Wearing a sour expression, Cara looked at the two.

“You guys… have you been traveling like this all this time?”

The two knights replied nonchalantly.

“Isn’t it convenient?”

“We don’t skip out on paying.”

“These guys are pure gangsters…”

While Cara, who trailed off, held her forehead, the innkeeper came bringing several bundles, gasping for breath.

“Pant, pant. Here they are, lords. It should be enough for at least a week.”

“Good work.”

Adel, putting the bundles into her backpack, tossed a gold coin. At the glittering gold coin, the innkeeper’s expression completely changed.

In his mind, his evaluation of Velloc’s party transformed. Not as ruffians who illegally trespassed into his shop, but as merciful and faithful knights.

“T-Thank you!”

He bowed deeply, seeing the three off.

“By the way, come to think of it, where can we get horses here…”

The moment Velloc was about to throw a question, the door of the inn slammed open. The party’s gaze directed toward the entrance.

Under the setting sun, the opponent’s plate armor shone smoothly. The embroidered cross pattern and the sword at his waist also glittered. A heavily armed knight growled while looking at Velloc’s party.

“I have finally found you. You minions of the demon.”