Chapter 14: Demon’s Lair – 07
After walking along the highway for about thirty minutes…
“Ryusha, are you feeling alright?”
I checked to ensure no one was around before speaking to the bag on my back.
“I’m fine. However, I think it’s better if you drop the honorifics. Just call me Ryusha and speak normally, please.”
Indeed, it would be problematic if anyone recognized that Ryusha was of noble birth due to my manner of speaking.
“Understood. I’ll speak normally until we reach the marquis territory. We’ll take a break after walking a little further, so please bear with me until then.”
“Got it. Honestly, it’s quite comfortable, so you don’t need to worry.”
Hearing that, I quickened my pace slightly.
The road we were currently on was the same one we had taken after emerging from the Hole to Another World. If we headed in the opposite direction, it seemed we would reach the marquis territory.
It was said that it would take three days to walk to the marquis territory, but with my stamina, I could probably make it in two. The road itself didn’t appear to be blocked, but I had no idea who might be watching us. I kept my Presence Detection skill at full alert, paying attention to the occasional passerby as I hurried along the highway.
After another thirty minutes, I set my backpack down in the shade of a tree, away from the road.
When I opened the bag, Ryusha stood up and stretched, having been curled up inside.
In the sunlight, he was a beautiful boy with radiant silver hair and a rosy complexion. He was perhaps a bit shorter than average, and at first glance, one might mistake him for a girl.
“Phew, just sitting still can be surprisingly tiring. But I was a bit startled at the castle gate. You handled it so calmly, Soushi. I think that’s impressive.”
“To be honest, I was quite flustered. The soldiers seemed unmotivated as well.”
“That’s true. The treatment of the soldiers seems quite poor, so I think everyone has lost their will to fight.”
“If they continue with such politics, the Royal Capital will be in serious trouble sooner or later. This situation didn’t just come about overnight, right?”
“Yes, of course. During the reign of the previous king, things were completely different, and the city was thriving. It all changed two years ago when the king was replaced.”
“To go from that to this in just two years is quite something. Oh, by the way, do you want some water?”
“I would like a little, please.”
I retrieved a water bottle and a cup from my Item Box and handed it to the boy. After he took a sip, he let out a satisfied sigh.
“So this is the Item Box. It’s my first time seeing it, but adventurers really are amazing.”
“I don’t fully understand how I obtained this power myself, but it is indeed convenient. I can store anything in it.”
“How strong are you, Soushi? I heard you’re B-rank.”
“I’m not entirely sure myself, but I’ve been told I’m quite strong. I can handle most monsters, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Danken said you were strong too, so it must be true.”
I had exaggerated a bit to ease his worries, but it seemed to have worked as the tension in Ryusha’s face relaxed.
After resting for about ten minutes, I asked the boy to get back into the bag.
“Let me know if it gets uncomfortable. I’ll walk faster than before.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
I returned to the highway and began walking south once more.
That day, we walked until just before sunset and decided to spend the night in a forest off the road.
For lunch and dinner, we ate from the supplies in my Item Box, and it seemed Ryusha hadn’t had a decent meal in a while, as he repeatedly exclaimed, “This is delicious!”
At night, I let Ryusha sleep in the sleeping bag while I kept watch.
The next day, we continued our relentless march from early morning.
The path from the Royal Capital to the marquis territory was mostly flat and easy to traverse. If a civil war were to break out, the army would have no trouble marching through here. It also meant that warfare would be easier, which was a double-edged sword.
Around midday, I noticed a subtle change in the road’s construction. The material of the stones seemed different. It likely indicated that we had entered the marquis territory.
“It seems we’ve entered the marquis territory. But please bear with me a little longer.”
“Understood. I’m fine.”
As I confirmed this with Ryusha, I suddenly heard the sound of metal clashing in the distance. The intermittent sounds suggested a battle was taking place. Perhaps someone was fighting.
As I moved closer, my Presence Detection skill picked up on a disturbance. About fifteen people were entangled off the road. I turned my gaze to see a four-wheeled covered wagon parked nearby, surrounded by five adventurers engaged in combat with twice their number clad in black. One of the adventurers lay on the ground, but he still seemed to be alive. On the other side, two of the black-clad figures were down, but their status was uncertain.
“Ryusha, it looks like someone is fighting. The ones in black are wearing dark clothing—do you recognize them?”
“No, I’ve never heard of them. What should we do?”
“Then they might be bandits. The other side seems to be adventurers, so I’d like to help them if possible.”
“Then please do so. Should I get out?”
“No, it should be fine.”
As I said this and ran toward the fray, two of the black-clad figures noticed me and charged at me.
I couldn’t tell who the real villains were, but since they were attacking me, it was safe to assume the ones in black were indeed bandits. They moved like Awakened Ones, perhaps former adventurers who had fallen from grace.
I deflected their blades with my arms and struck back with powerful punches, sending them flying. If I hit them just right, they might survive, but that was none of my concern.
Two more lunged at me, but they met the same fate. Even B-rank opponents were no match for me. Fallen adventurers turned bandits were nothing to worry about.
With my arrival, the tide of battle shifted, and the adventurers began to cut down the remaining black-clad figures.
As I waited, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the leader of the adventurers approached me.
“I apologize for the trouble, and I appreciate your assistance. Are you an adventurer?”
“My name is Soushi. I’m a B-rank adventurer. I happened to notice the commotion and rushed over.”
“I see. You’ve saved us. These scoundrels are Slave Hunters. There were more of them than I expected, and we were in a bit of a bind.”
“Could that be you, Earthlin?”
The voice that came from the bag was, of course, Ryusha.
Upon hearing the name Earthlin, the leader of the adventurers widened his eyes in surprise.
“Could it be… Ryusha-sama!? Where are you speaking from?”
I set down the backpack and opened it, allowing Ryusha to emerge.
The boy stood up and stepped forward, bowing lightly before Earthlin.
“It’s been a while. Thanks to Danken from the guild in the capital and this gentleman, Soushi, I managed to make it this far. Please take me to Marquis Lagantz as soon as possible. I would appreciate your help.”
“Yes, of course!”
At Ryusha’s words, Earthlin and the five adventurers knelt and bowed their heads in unison.