Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: To the Capital. (2)
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Stretched inside the jostling carriage.
"Yawn..."
My stiff muscles screamed in protest as they finally loosened up. Romance was short-lived; carriage travel was definitely boring.
I pulled a piece of jerky from my leather pouch and chewed it noisily. The salty tang danced on my tongue, jolting my foggy brain awake.
"Lord."
[...]
"Lord? You okay?"
I whispered secretly into the empty air.
'Was the shock of being treated like a spirit by the merchants that big?'
Rodentia was huddled in the corner, stubbornly showing only her back.
Hmph. I'm fine! I am the Lord of the Hamster Wheel...! I'm not some petty god whose feelings get hurt over something so trivial...!
Her words flowed smoothly, but the way she sneaked a sidelong glance at the jerky I offered was all too small-animal-like for a goddess.
"Nice weather."
I turned my head to the window. Mani sat in the driver's seat, humming a tune as she gripped the reins.
Her red twin braids fluttered in the wind, sparkling like flames in the sunlight.
I checked the Acorn Merchant Company's carriages trailing behind us. They followed peacefully in rhythm with our bumpy pace.
"Loti! Sleep well? Great weather, huh?"
Polly, right across from us gripping her reins, waved energetically. Her bushy squirrel tail swayed in the breeze behind her.
"Yeah, it's definitely warm."
"Usually rains this time of year. We're lucky."
Polly chattered on for a while after that. First Ratkin adventurers she'd met, how was that crossbow built, and so on.
Way more sociable than expected. Calling me familiar already after just meeting—she was definitely what my past life called an "extrovert."
"Oh, lunch at the Old Oak Inn today! What do you say?"
"Old Oak Inn?"
Polly tossed out the unexpected suggestion.
Hesitated, thinking inn food might be pricey, but she waved it off.
"No! Cheaper than you think! Generous portions too! Their stew is to die for. Fills you right up."
Tempted, Sena unfolded the traveler's map and traced the road with her finger.
"Let me see... Map says around noon."
There on the map, in bold letters: Old Oak Inn.
Even a short note: A historic rest stop built beneath an ancient oak.
"Sounds good. Let's check it out."
Polly's face lit up as I accepted.
"Great choice!"
The view from the carriage was just forest, fields, and occasional farmhouses. Perfect timing for a proper break from the boredom.
"Prfffrrr!"
The ponies up front snorted roughly. Time to give these guys a rest too.
My simple hopes for stew shattered against the stench stabbing into my nostrils.
"Wait... something smells off."
Noon. Sena wrinkled her brow and slowed the carriage.
I instinctively flared my nostrils too.
"Fire...?"
A strange acridness drifted over the hill ahead on the wind.
I raised my hand to signal Polly's carriage behind us to stop.
"...Hold up, Polly. Let's stop."
"Why? What's... huh?"
Soon the Ratkin girls on the merchant carriages poked their heads out, sensing the unnatural air.
Rodentia, napping in the cargo hold, was already up.
Our eyes met, and she swept her hand toward the carriage ceiling with a serious expression, mischief gone.
"Chit!"
A Horned Rat materialized in midair and landed on my shoulder.
"I'll scout quick. Wait here."
I grabbed my bowgun and cautiously climbed the hill.
With every step, the acrid smell thickened. The harsh stench of burning wood and irritating soot filled the air.
They'd said the inn was right over this hill.
'No way.'
At the hilltop, with the view opening up, a horrific sight unfolded.
"Ugh."
The oak symbolic of the inn was half-burned into a grotesque charcoal stump.
Beneath it, the stately two-story wooden building stood skeletal, belching black smoke.
The Horned Rat raced ahead, sniffed, and signaled safe. I approached the ruins.
The proud Old Oak sign lay split in half on the ground. Untouched pillars and doors bore sharp axe and sword marks.
Clear signs of looting and arson.
I turned back to the group.
"Burned to the ground. Looks like they were raided."
Polly and the merchant girls paled at my report.
"Gasp! What do we do... bandits..."
"Anyone hurt? The old lady owner was so nice! Waaah!"
As one girl sniffled, panic spread like a plague.
I cut through firmly.
"Calm down. No signs of people. No bodies, so they probably evacuated. Raiders already looted and left."
I spoke calmly, but heavy silence fell over the group.
The charred inn ruins sent a silent warning.
The romantic journey ended here.
The highway was bandit territory.
We hurried past the ashes, driving the carriages onward. Anxiety that the bandits might still lurk nearby spurred us on.
Detour cost us time; the sun was already dipping low.
Judging further travel risky, we parked at a forest-edge clearing.
"Guess we camp here tonight..."
Sena's ears drooped sadly. She'd hoped for soft beds and warm stew, so disappointment hit hard.
"No choice. I'll take first watch till dawn. Wake me halfway."
I pulled an iron cylinder and square parts from the cargo hold. Assembled them with familiar motions.
Clank! Clank!
The metal cylinder and squares interlocked into a unique L-shaped metal stove. Mani's eyes sparkled watching.
"Finally testing it! That good, really?"
"Amazing. You'll see."
Oakwood blueprint I'd given Mani to build—perfect chance for field test.
"What's that scrap heap?"
Polly blinked wide-eyed.
"Rocket stove."
I stuffed dry twigs into the inlet and lit them.
Whoooosh!
Soon, air sucked in with a hiss. Flames roared vigorously atop the stove. Barely any smoke.
"Whoa! Loti, you were right! No coal, but this heat?"
Mani tilted her red braids, peering in wonder.
"Dunno the why, but they say it makes firewood burn hotter and more efficient."
"Cool!"
Past-life trivia shining in this world.
We set a pot on top, tossed in sausages, cheese, potatoes—simple meal.
"Mmm... delicious!"
Nom nom.
A pack of Ratkin and one dwarf girl shoveled steaming food from wooden plates, filling bellies hungrily.
Warm food thawed the mood a bit.
"No stew, but... this homemade stuff's not bad."
Polly's earlier worry washed away.
Next morning, eyes open, our party and Acorn caravan saddled ponies and donkeys, hitting the road.
Forest thickened; road narrowed, tree shadows stretched long.
"...Creepy."
I fiddled with my Rapid Bowgun, peeking under the tarp. Broad daylight, yet forest dim and silent—no birdsong.
Even a Torani herd popping out would be reassuring...
Yeah, too quiet.
Agreed, Apostle! Places like this were bandit havens back then and now!
"Hearing the Lord makes it worse! Loti, weapons out."
"Got it. Lord, summon Horned Rats too."
So be it!
Mani, oiling her bowgun, swiftly checked balista parts.
Ominous feeling hit reality spot-on.
Crackkk!
Sudden tree-twisting snap ahead.
Thud!
A massive tree crashed across the forest path, blocking it.
"Hiiing!"
Sena yanked the reins hard.
Caught off-guard, her ears and tail trembled like struck by lightning.
"Sena, Loti, gear up!"
Party members gulped, gripped weapons at my word.
Rustling preceded figures emerging between trees.
Over a dozen men on horseback blocked our front.
Ragged leather vests and coats, bushy dirty beards.
Classic mountain bandits.
Their eyes gleamed with feral hunger.
"Well now, Ratlings on a picnic?"
The one-eyed boss, axe with missing tooth slung over shoulder, grinned sleazily.
"Caught on quick, eh? Got tolls? Nah, your cargo and lives'll do!"
Bandits cackled at his threat.
"We're poor weak travelers. In the Pantheon Temple's name, please let us pass mercifully!"
Sena spoke as politely as possible, but they tilted heads then burst laughing.
"Poor weak travelers! Puhahaha!"
"Weak? Sure. Poor? That carriage shine screams money. Plus..."
Greedy eyes swept Polly, merchant girls, us.
"Folks lately buying Ratlings like you pricey. Catch alive, name your price."
"...!"
Guildmaster's warning days ago shot up my spine.
'Human traffickers?'
Not just bandits—professional kidnappers.
"Ready."
Mani and Sena nodded subtly at my whisper.
"No more talk! Get off nice!"
Bandits tightened encirclement. One step, two. I raised weapon hands, feigning meek bow.
"...Now! Chitchits! Rat-roll!"
Horses went berserk at my signal.
"Hiihiiing!"
"What! What's wrong with this nag?!"
Simple reason.
"Chit!"
"Rats! The horses are spooked by rats!"
Stealthed Horned Rats savagely bit horse ankles.
Panicked horses bucked in pain, shattering formation.
Bandits yanked reins in chaos—our chance.
I snatched Rapid Bowgun, aimed at boss.
Thwang!
"Grahk!"
Bolt pierced shoulder; boss screamed, dropped axe.
"Polly! Now! We'll cover—break side, run!"
"What? Forest!"
Polly shrieked.
"We're small! Squeeze through trees!"
Normal carriages impossible, but our lightweight and Acorn cargo carts narrow.
"Hyah!"
Acorn and our carriages whipped reins into forest gaps.
Bump! Crash!
Carriages rocked wildly, but ponies bravely plunged through brush.
"Grab 'em! Skin the bastards!"
Furious yells behind.
We bypassed log, burst opposite road.
Thud!
"Hold tight!"
Carriages full speed.
Too soon to relax.
Dududu!
Some bandits calmed horses, chased kicking dust.
"Stop, you Ratlings!"
Fwhoosh!
"Duck!"
Blue magic arrow grazed roof. I fired back hastily.
Next instant, white smoke rose from bandit's horse.
Bang!
"Eek!"
Me and Mani ducked instinctively. Bullet hole dented roof pillar.
"They got guns!"
"Damn bandits! Rodentia! Killing them self-defense, right?"
Daring to touch our fragile children! Apostles! Smite them fiercely! Kill if you must! Permitted in the god's name!
Rodentia raged.
"Good! Mani! Roof off!"
Reloading bowgun, turned—Mani done assembling mount.
"Got it! Balista ready!"
Mani yanked rope, peeled back roof tarp.
Flap!
Round hole center top; rotating mount and balista poked out.
"Mani! Fire!"
"Gotcha, sending you scum to the gods, bandits!"
Mani gripped handles, pulled trigger.
"Loose!"
BOOM!
String screamed; heavy vibration as balista spat bolt.
Special ammo: bundle of arrows instead of single large bolt.
Unraveled midair, fanning shotgun-like barrage.
Pew-pew-pew!
Arrow hail blanketed pursuers.
"Eeeek!"
"Horses! The horses!"
Arrows impaled bandits and mounts mercilessly.
Horses writhed, collapsed. Bandits tumbled, trampled.
"Aaaargh! Crazy Ratlings!"
"Damn! Cannon!"
One balista volley broke their will; no more chase.
"Yay! We shook 'em!"
Mani and Sena high-fived.
I sighed relief, stowed balista. Palms slick with cold sweat.
Hours later, at sunset, safe roadside village entrance.
"Haa... haa..."
Polly and girls ghostly pale.
"We... can't go farther. Capital's too much!"
Polly trembled.
"Sell goods cheap here, head home. Bandits!"
"How home?"
Polly sighed deeply.
"What else? Hire local adventurers back... costs, but cheaper than lives."
I nodded bitterly. Saved body and goods, but plans ruined; Ratkin girls sighed heavily.
"Anyway! Thanks so much, Loti! Without you, we'd be looted—or captured."
"Yeah, get home safe."
Polly smiled weakly at farewell. As they turned dejected, she remembered something, dashed to carriage.
"Wait! Loti!"
Rushed back, shoved scribbled paper bundle.
"What's this?"
"Heading to capital, right? Reliable Dunholm merchants, eats, budget inns I know!"
Polly beamed, unfolded papers.
"These inns have killer dinners, this smith grumpy but quality gear. Oh, back map? That alley's black market entrance."
"Black market?"
"Adventurers, right? Hard-to-find stuff, go. Password so no rip-off."
Unexpected haul.
"This... exactly what we need. Thanks."
"Thanks? I feel worse—nothing else to give. Meet again, my treat, feast!"
Short goodbyes, parted. Watching receding caravan, I pondered.
"Buying up Ratkin..."
Bandit boss's words echoed.
Road to capital far more treacherous than thought.
Carriage wheels rolled heavily onward.