Chapter 87 – Desert (1)

Two treasure chests that seemed to be worth easily thousands of gold coins, and the Lord’s recommendation letter for identification. Three spell cloaks said to block the sun and heat of the desert, and even a military map detailing the entire region of Arian.

Having extracted everything they could get from this city, Belloc’s party set off on their journey again as soon as day broke. Under the red, blazing sun, dozens of soldiers lined up in orderly fashion. Between them, four camels carrying luggage bags could be seen. Since they had a lot of luggage, it seemed they had provided one more.

“The send-off is grand. It’s my first time riding a camel, too.”

Belloc chuckled and approached the camels. Sure enough, perhaps to withstand his weight, one particular camel was exceptionally huge. No matter how he looked at it, contrary to the first impression, the Lord had good sense. While he was gently stroking the hairy creature with long eyelashes and a hump on its back, voices were heard from behind.

“Last night’s bathwater… I won’t be able to forget it. It felt like all the fatigue in my body was washed away.”

Cara, wearing slender leather armor with a robe slung over it, rotated her shoulders and tilted her head.

“Hmm… indeed.”

Adel also nodded slightly in agreement and looked at the Lord’s castle. A bathtub made of solid marble. It was a massive waste of money. Of course, it was an excellent facility nonetheless… The three soon climbed onto the camels with skillful movements. Because they had a goal now.

In a small sense, it was to rescue a captured companion. In a grander sense, it was a grand journey to stop the destruction of this world. Of course, the Lord of Altanis, who did not know this, struggled to hold Belloc’s party back somehow.

“Must you really not stay longer? I do not doubt your skills, but crossing the desert is by no means an ordinary task. Your feet could suddenly give way, dragging you into the sand, or monsters of unknown identity could attack from beneath the ground or the sky. And that is regardless of day or night. So, I mean you should live here for at least a few weeks to adapt to this climate.”

He did not even think about bringing these outstanding warriors under his command. He only wished they would stay in the city a little longer to suppress monsters that his army could not deal with if they appeared. Since last night, he had heard from Belloc’s party about the identity of the mysterious figure and the various conspiracies taking place in Arian!

“I am sorry. Because we have something we must do.”

Belloc declined the Lord’s proposal with a short shake of his head. Shit. Would Belloc dislike a comfortable life? He also hated having to wander the world just when he was about to settle down. If he spent his current strength and wealth lavishly, he could build a mansion in a decent place and live there. He could also obtain laborers or serfs. Becoming a local influential person of a region, not a wandering knight. However…

This shitty world would not leave him alone. It only whipped him to leave for somewhere, to kill some monsters. As Belloc’s expression soured, the Lord’s expression was also not good. However, he soon put on the skilled mask of a ruler and spoke.

“I understand. It is regrettable, but it cannot be helped. At any rate… thank you. The facts you have informed me of, I will definitely inform other lords as well to make preparations. To think there is a group trying to commit such an absurd act in this world. Had you not told me, it would have been hard to believe.”

Indeed, would the other lords believe the Lord’s words? Would a letter bearing a seal work on them when they were busy catching and killing monsters beneath their walls? Belloc was skeptical, but well, he thought it was better than doing nothing. The party nodded and rode the camels. A clattering sound came from behind them. Soon, a resonant voice rang out.

—Salute the heroes who saved Altanis!

—Loyalty!

They are making quite a fuss. The soldiers must have had a hard time preparing. Belloc smirked, and Cara and Adel puffed out their chests. They soon left the Lord’s castle, crossed the main road, and began running toward the gate they had passed through.

Porters carrying loads and sweating heavily, pot-bellied merchants wearing turbans, middle-aged women holding shopping baskets, and even fruit sellers displaying their stalls and peddling fruits. All kinds of people passed by the party.

Among them, one person in particular stood out. A man a few heads shorter than the others. A bearded dwarf. He muttered something and waved his hand. Belloc read his lips.

—You became a big shot in an instant. Thank you.

Not at all, we are more grateful. Belloc also waved his hand back. Watching this, Cara remarked.

“The artisan who repaired our equipment last night was that dwarf, right? Since the misunderstanding has been resolved, would his treatment have changed a bit?”

“I hope so.”

“Isn’t it that human hearts cannot see even a step ahead? The Lord might change his mind at any time. Or, that rogue son of his might act violently again.”

Belloc nodded at Adel’s words. Nothing could be concluded. In the end, it was oneself who decided one’s own life. Well, he would live well on his own. The party crossed the gate like that.

Soon, rather than a paved and sturdy road, the desert sand in which their feet sank heavily welcomed them. Perhaps because there were no plaster walls, tents, or castle walls, it was a hell of heat without a single shade.

“It has started. My heart is already beginning to weaken.”

Cara, narrowing her eyes, muttered something trivial and pulled up the hood of the cloak she was wearing. Soon, a dark shadow was cast, leaving only her mysterious brown eyes visible. Belloc and Adel also pulled over their hoods. After that, the three were impressed.

Sure enough, it was an item worthy of the Lord’s confident talk. The heat plunging down on their bodies was slightly subdued. ‘At this rate, meat placed on the armor wouldn’t cook.’ Adel rummaged through the luggage bag hanging on the camel. Soon, she took out a rolled-up map and pointed with her finger.

“Where we are right now is Altanis. The Rungen Great Desert is past the capital of Arian, beyond several more cities. It is almost at the edge. However…”

The moment Adel trailed off, a yellow sand wind blew. The map fluttered violently, and sand blew into her mouth.

Adel pulled the front of the hood she was wearing up to her neck. Soon, coughing lightly, she spoke.

“Since it is only sand wherever we look… I am not sure if we can hold the direction properly.”

“We should have asked for a guide.”

At Adel’s lack of confidence, Belloc also scratched his head. Having come all this way, did they have to go back?

“Requesting companionship on the way to kill an archdevil… Would there really be anyone to follow? Even if there were, they would be a half-mad bastard. We would have to hand over quite a bit of hazard pay to such a guy. Furthermore, if a strange face is mixed in, it’s also uncomfortable. How about we just go as far as we can for now? We have plenty of food, too.”

Did she have something to rely on? A new spell? At Cara’s carefree words, the two nodded. Because there was no other way for now. Gripping the reins of the camels that were sticking out their tongues with a snort, the three set off following Adel’s guidance.

Did Adel have a talent as a guide? Or did the detailed military map show its value? Although they stumbled, the party was roughly able to cross the desert path.

After passing a few cacti and inspecting the sparse weeds and trees skinny without a single leaf, the day was setting before they knew it. Instead of the suffocating heat, a biting cold that seemed to cut the skin arrived.

The party found a relatively flat ground and settled down. Soon, Adel drove the shaft of her axe into the ground and tied the camels’ leashes to the shaft. Then, they used them to build a wall.

“Ugh. Shitty weather. I can never get used to this.”

Cara, complaining, busily moved. Soon, the firewood in her hands was stacked on the ground. Adel rummaged through the luggage bag hanging on the camels, taking out smoked meat, dried fruit, cheese, and laying them out on the ground. Soon after, Belloc joined in, and the preparations for camp were quickly finished.

“I would like to boil some stew, but… looking at the surrounding situation, it seems completely impossible. Please understand.”

Adel said as she skewered the beef jerky on a thin metal skewer. Her steel greaves reflecting in the firelight looked somewhat different for some reason. Belloc waved his hand and bit into a dried apple.

“This is better than eating a stew full of sand.”

“I agree. Besides, the quality of the dried food the Lord packed is quite good. It seems spices were heavily added… and it’s rich in juice.”

Cara also helped Adel place the skewered jerky by the fire and bit into some fruit. The party filled their stomachs like that, chewing. If sand wind blew in between and got on the food, they shook it off with their hands and ate.

Dammit. The fantasy I wanted wasn’t like this. Reality is always harsh. Belloc complained slightly, but still, the jerky that was not a lump of salt was very delicious. Now that he had a lot of money, he could buy steaks whole and carry them around. Indeed, that was the scale of his wealth. Would he be able to spend it all before dying? While he was thinking that, Cara spoke.

“In the end, it turned out like this again, didn’t it? The beginning of a journey to hunt monsters. Another archdevil…”

She was quietly looking at the bonfire with the robe draped over her shoulders. ‘Another session of emotional venting.’ Belloc thought so for a moment, and then recalled the promise he had made when he first met Cara. Enduring the uncomfortable feeling for some reason, he spoke.

“If you want to leave, you may leave.”

Cara’s eyes widened. She turned her head sharply and looked at Belloc. Her brown eyes were filled with a sense of betrayal. Cara spoke in a low voice.

“Are you serious about those words? Saying you will abandon me now…”

Whoa, whoa. Belloc hurriedly waved his hands. Then, as if making an excuse, he spoke.

“When I first accepted you as a companion, I didn’t know things would get this big. Meaning, I didn’t know we would go to kill another archdevil. I recruited you as a price for saving your life, but you have done more than your share. So, I meant you do not have to follow me out of a sense of obligation.”

Cara’s stiff face relaxed slightly. Resting her chin on her hand, she looked at Adel once and Belloc once, and spoke.

“Ah. That’s what you meant? I wondered what… You heartless man. In the middle of this desert, where would I go? The Kingdom of Adria is the same. By now, the Duke who became king must be looking for us with eyes wide open. Therefore…”

Cara’s two eyes stared intently at Belloc. As if casting a spell, she slowly moved her red lips.

“I will stay by your side.”

“…”

For a moment, he did not say anything. Just as he stammered to say something, Adel beat him to it. She handed the other pieces of jerky placed by the fire to the two.

“It’s going to burn. Eat quickly. Cara, you too.”

“Oh, yes? Right. Yes, I must eat! That way, tomorrow we can summon our strength again to go look for Isabel! And kill the archdevil while we’re at it!”

Startled by Adel’s action, Cara hurriedly brought the meat to her mouth. Then, she made a big fuss, burning her tongue and shedding tears. Watching her, Belloc chuckled. However, internally, he was thinking that he had to define this ambiguous relationship.

‘When? What will you do if you leave them behind and return home? Just run away after abandoning your responsibilities? You piece of trash.’

He thought to himself as he took a bite of the meat. The embers of the bonfire crackled, and the wind blew with a whoosh. In between, the sound of camels stamping their feet was heard. As the desert night deepened, Cara spoke. Her voice was much calmer.

“You know, I couldn’t speak because I was distracted all this time, but I think we should review this once…”

Cara, trailing off, took out a handkerchief and wiped her oily hands. Soon, she spoke with sparkling eyes.

“How much is our current capability? Also, what are the spells or powers we can use? I think it would be good to compile them. If we know about each other clearly, dealing with future situations will be much easier.”

It made sense. Besides, it was also a necessary task. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Belloc nodded readily. Soon, he muttered inwardly, ‘Status window?’