Chapter 84: The Impoverished Viscount’s Second Son Searches for Eyes 6
*
We were attacked by Monsters about twice.
As is customary for adventurers using a carriage for transport, I was the first one out of the carriage to fight on both occasions.
What surprised me was that for adventurers working as carriage guards, the Subjugation of Monsters wasn’t their primary objective.
If they scattered the Monsters, their job was done at that point.
When I chased after a Greatooth Wolf, a deceptive Monster that had ‘wolf’ in its name despite having a face like a horse, I got yelled at to hurry back.
I was told that the caravan’s progress was the top priority.
That’s strange. On the guard missions I took several times in Faltar, annihilating the Monsters was standard practice, wasn’t it?
Thinking that, I asked John, the guard leader, and received the reply that if you only drove back Monsters in Faltar, they’d just keep targeting you endlessly, making things worse.
I’ve started to understand recently, but it seems Faltar’s common sense isn’t common sense elsewhere.
The face of the Sister who often calls others unreasonable, idiots, or denizens of the Demon Realm suddenly came to mind.
Even though I’m a noble working as an adventurer, I thought I was in the category of worldly, sensible people, but to think Shara was actually the sensible one.
I thought she was someone who got surprised easily, but I see, I was the unreasonable one, huh.
“Oi, it’s come into view.”
John probably went out of his way to say that for Ezz and Pal, who were also outside adventurers and thus had jumped out of the carriage first alongside me.
The faces of Ezz and Pal, who had been thoroughly tossed about by horse-faced wolves and cows that rolled up like balls during the unfamiliar carriage journey and were utterly exhausted, brightened up.
The employer seemed to know what they were doing, as the carriage was surprisingly comfortable, unlike what you’d expect for transporting guards.
Still, it’s tiring if you’re not used to it.
Seeing the two relieved that the short journey to the next town was ending safely, I couldn’t help but smile under my Mask.
I had times like this too…
Hm? Huh?
No… I never did.
When my master carried me on his shoulder, covering a two-day carriage journey in just a few hours, any kind of carriage travel, whether it was my first time or I wasn’t used to it, felt like heaven.
I envisioned a phantom version of myself from a sad past that probably never existed and felt needlessly dejected.
If my Longdagger Family were ordinary nobles, traveling by carriage would have been an everyday occurrence.
Unfortunately, my family is poor.
Even my old man walks to the castle for work.
The day I realized I had neither money nor common sense—in other words, two days after leaving the City of Hecate, two and a half days after parting with Erica.
I arrived in Noel Jeun, the second city of Margrave Makikomarkrow, located south of Hecate.
*
“Did you manage to conserve your strength?”
The one asking me this was John.
I answered his question merely by shrugging.
Apparently, he’d noticed I was holding back even when just driving off the Monsters.
“Well, it’s fine. You did your job properly. I’ve got no grounds to complain.”
Besides, there’s no other reason for guys like you to use a carriage.
I didn’t know who John had in mind when he said that sarcastically.
Really, okay? I wasn’t thinking of my master or anything.
I suspected he was probably one of the victims too, but I didn’t feel like confirming it.
Because if I found out, I’d feel like apologizing.
“Well then, see ya. If we meet again, let’s work together.”
After watching John’s back as he said that and left, I turned around.
Apologizing for the discourtesy of making him wait after I had called out to him, I offered the letter I had written in the carriage.
Showing a dubious expression at the proffered letter was the Merchant employed by the owner of this caravan.
In other words, a capable man employed by the “super-capable person” who owned multiple Freight Wagons made with unbelievably expensive Refrigeration Magic Tools.
Seeing the crest displayed on the carriage, I realized who that super-capable person was.
I hadn’t aimed for it specifically, but had chosen this caravan thinking ‘maybe,’ and it turned out to be a hit.
“Please give this letter to Jenniferlin Pantile. Also, tell her that Shin Longdagger sends his apologies.”
She’s probably furious.
Because I left without saying anything… or rather, without being able to say anything.
Imagining my friend, who was likely back home unleashing a storm of curses, I felt a pang of nostalgia and couldn’t help but laugh.