The Road Home
The point when I decided to bring up the story was at the beginning of the new year, when the chill of winter hadn't yet faded. A day when new plans and new resolutions made both body and mind feel reverent.
When I first set foot in the royal capital, it was around autumn. I had said roughly two years, but precisely speaking, it was a bit more than two years. Though I hadn't officially registered, as time passed, I had grown quite a bit.... Through Vitality Succession... that is, leveling up to some extent, I had gained quite a bit of confidence.
I swallowed dryly and spoke a few words to Reina noona.
"Um, would it be okay if I went down to my hometown for a bit?"
"Hometown?"
Upon hearing the word 'hometown,' Reina noona tilted her head with a face that seemed to say, 'What do you mean by that?' She probably didn't want to say it out loud for fear of hurting me.... But it was written all over her face, the answer 'Weren't they dead?'
After a couple of fake coughs, 'Ahem, ahem,' I told her the truth.
Reina noona, who had been listening quietly, after hearing the whole story, pointed at me with a displeased expression as if scolding me.
"No, but why haven't you mentioned that until now?!"
"Well, because you never asked...."
I replied nonchalantly, pretending not to know anything, saying she had never asked. Of course, I had noticed from the first day that Reina noona was completely misunderstanding. She avoided family topics as much as possible and tried to keep me occupied with something; it was easy to tell from that attitude. From my perspective, I desperately needed freedom and growth, so it couldn't be helped.... But anyway, lying was lying.
Reina noona, thoroughly sulking, took over the long sofa and lay down with her back turned.
"...Do as you like."
Though her appearance looked cold, she was surprisingly full of emotions. I had received permission, though not really permission, but a corner of my heart felt uncomfortable. This feeling poking at my conscience was definitely guilt.
Looking at the back of her head with her short ash-gray hair swaying, I left a few short words.
"I'll bring back a gift or something...."
...No reply came. It meant she was sulking more than usual. It was a side of her I had only seen when she went out for mercenary work and I went outside, got absorbed in hunting, and returned the next morning. Well... after all, we've known each other for two years like that. It's not strange if she feels betrayed beyond just being deceived.
I said it even though I knew it would turn out like this, not for any special reason. ...Because I felt I was somewhat prepared. And because I had trained myself enough to survive even if Father hit me.
"Haah...."
Nevertheless, a sigh that only deepened with worries as heavy as a mountain. When I return, what kind of scolding will I hear? I might get beaten until I die. Along with vague worries, I twirl my finger between the blade and handle of a strangely shaped dagger with a round hole between them.
This dagger was a weapon I thought I would never obtain, the early-game item from the royal capital. It was a weapon that could only be obtained by entering a specific building 'without carrying any weapons.' But for some reason, the blacksmith who gave this weapon was selling it for money. There was only one quantity limit, and it was quite expensive compared to regular weapon shop daggers.... But anyway, I succeeded in acquiring it at a bargain price relative to its performance. I don't recall hearing about such an acquisition method. Should I consider this a realistic element too?
'Hmm....'
I let out a groan inwardly and tilted my head with my arms crossed. Some things can be called overly 'game-like,' but others are overly 'realistic'—this place is full of such phenomena. I thought it was a world I knew well, but as time passes, it feels like I'm knowing it less and less.
As if to erase that anxiety, my steps move even faster. I buy my share of provisions and head to the outskirts of the royal capital where carriages are lined up. Rather than preparing provisions exactly on schedule, it's better to have one or two extra meals' worth. It's the people of this world's way of preparing for sudden heavy rain or snow during travel. Of course, if nothing happens, you just have to eat it all.
After walking and walking, I arrived at the outskirts of the royal capital. The familiar smell of horse dung strongly poked at my nose. Pinching my nose with my right thumb and index finger, breathing through my mouth, I continued with the question.
"Do you have a carriage going to Windren?"
"Windren, if it's Windren... go to that carriage over there."
"Thank you."
After hearing the answer and replying in awkward pronunciation, I walked past the coachman who sat nonchalantly as if the smell of horse dung was nothing, toward the indicated carriage.
Familiar is familiar, but disgusting is a separate issue. The reason I was looking for a carriage to Windren was because there wouldn't be a direct carriage to Pardin, which even letter delivery carriages don't go to.
"Welcome."
"Is this the carriage going to Windren?"
"Yes~"
After paying the appropriate fare to the drawling coachman's answer, I boarded the carriage inside the tent, slightly avoiding the horse dung smell. The smell still wafted strongly... but whether my nose had gone numb or my sense of smell had dulled. I released my tightly pinched fingers and reluctantly accepted the smell.
Not long after, two more people boarded the carriage. One woman, one man; judging by their appearance, ordinary citizens of the royal capital. After that, no more people boarded, and the carriage wheels turned, leaving the outskirts of the royal capital.
The checkpoint I always passed through to hunt monsters. It was the same road as usual, but today the feeling was quite different.
"What should we do in Windren?"
"Well, first let's find a delicious meal... and a good inn? Hehe."
"Oh, what~"
As the carriage began entering the dirt road, the two began their conversation in their own world. The carriage, where only the sly laughter spread, didn't feel an ounce of tension. It seemed they weren't even thinking about the carriage being attacked.
But then again, that made sense.... Just like merchant carriages, carriages for travel purposes had low risk of being targeted by thieves or bandits. After all, it wouldn't be profitable. Even if there were no escorts, they carried minimal luggage to move quickly. Whether it contained food to steal or good weapons and armor.... Unless they were targeting the people inside the carriage, there wasn't much reason to rob it. Rather, in this world's harsh winter where living is tight, wasting energy and weapons like that was a suicidal act. Even for bandits, there weren't that many opportunities to rob a carriage, not knowing if there was a woman or not, just for momentary sexual pleasure.
That said, it wasn't like attacks on these carriages never happened.... 'The probability is just much lower.'
With that thought, I leaned back against the tent leisurely and let out a long breath. As the tent slightly pressed and the wrinkles smoothed, the coachman's voice came from the front of the carriage.
"Hey, don't lean on it."
"Ah, sorry...."
I apologized to the dry scolding and had no choice but to hunch over and sit. Whether then or now, crouching in a carriage was very uncomfortable. After growing a bit taller, the discomfort felt even more pronounced. Maybe because I've lived the past two years without riding carriages in the royal capital? Come to think of it, after being attacked once, I hadn't ridden a carriage at all. It wasn't trauma or anything like that; I just had no reason to ride carriages. Therefore, the roughness of this seat felt awkward after two years.
Twisting my body this way and that....
"Where is that young fellow going?"
"Huh?"
After doing that for a while, the lovers' conversation that had been going well turned this way. The one who spoke first was the man.
"Your clothes don't look like you're just traveling."
At the mention of clothes, I lowered my gaze to my own attire. Unlike the two who wore everyday clothes only for warmth, I had a dagger sheath tied over thick leather clothes and leather padding covering vital points like the heart. At least, it was an outfit from which one could infer I wasn't an ordinary person.
"Yes, I'm doing some mercenary work...."
"Whoa, you look too young for that? How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"What? Then you haven't officially registered yet? I know, there was a time when I wanted to look cool like that too...."
The man started talking on his own as if he knew all about mercenary work. Occasionally, his lover beside him reacted with things like 'Wow, really?' or 'That's cool~' to each of the man's words, to the point where it could be called attentive. He probably wanted to show off his knowledge in front of his lover. Whatever, it was good because it wasn't too lonely, like having the radio on.
While holding the water bottle at my side, opening the lid and pouring lukewarm water into my mouth.
"Hey!"
"What is that...?"
In the middle of the carriage road, seeing a large man standing there, the coachman made a puzzled sound. The man waved both arms toward the sky as if asking for help. He had a fairly large build and looked dirty, as if he hadn't washed for several days. With the sudden appearance of a wanderer, the inside of the carriage became chaotic too.
"What is it?"
"Is he a stranded person...?"
A familiar method that gave me déjà vu. Standing up from the moving carriage, I approached the coachman step by step. Since it wasn't a loaded cargo carriage, it would be light enough for the horse to run. Sticking close behind the coachman, I whispered in his ear.
"It might be bandits. Let's speed up and pass by."
"Ah...!"
At the word 'bandits,' the coachman came to his senses and grabbed the reins. He gradually increased the carriage's speed, then soon whipped the reins like mad and ran past the man.
"Kyaaak!"
When the suddenly speeding carriage rushed toward him, the man, thinking he would be hit, screamed and threw himself to the side. Then, from inside the bare, bony tree trunks on the forest path where our carriage had just been....
Armed people appeared.
"Damn it, catch those guys!"
The man who had thrown himself to the ground shouted loudly, as if the plan had gone awry. I had said it just in case, but it seemed I was right. The problem was, even if it was a horse running, the cargo area behind had four people including the coachman. Even the pursuers running at full speed without ranged attack means could easily catch up at that speed.
As the bandits got closer, the terrified lover fell into a panic.
"What do we do, what do we do...!"
"Can't you go any faster?!"
The woman was startled and trembling, and the man urged the coachman to go faster. The coachman was also doing his best since it was a matter of his own life....
"This is the max!"
The carriage's speed wasn't much different from a person running. Balancing on the shaking carriage, I ran toward the back. My hand was already gripping the dagger's handle, as if it knew what it had to do. There was no time to hesitate.