Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: On the Road to the East (1)
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Leaving the Sun Archipelago and heading to Nijerte had been on someone else's ship, so this was truly his first solo journey in every sense of the word.
That's why Galen had sought advice from Terti, the travel expert, the day before departure, and Terti had gladly helped out.
"Even just counting the pay from this commission, that's twenty gold coins, and you lounged around for two months before I arrived, so money shouldn't be an issue."
"No worries about travel expenses."
"Do you know how to ride a horse?"
"I've learned a bit. Not like a cavalryman, though."
"Plenty of folks have zero riding experience. Buy yourself a horse this time."
"A horse?"
"If you were broke, it'd be different, but since you've got the coin, riding's way more convenient. No question."
Terti led Galen to the shopping district and explained as they walked.
"You're just a regular guy, right? I mean your physical abilities, excluding magic."
"That's right."
"It took me a month to walk from Abaka to Nijerte. By my standards."
"I'll take the horse."
"Smart choice."
Terti was a seasoned warrior who could walk faster and longer than most, with the stamina to do it every day.
But a regular person? Factoring in the slower pace, it'd be more like a month and a half. Push it daily like Terti, and you'd end up sick. You'd need to shorten daily distances or take rest days—minimum two months.
Before the Narok Family commission, he might've hesitated a bit, but not anymore. For convenience, Galen was happy to spend the money.
"This one's looking good."
Terti shared tips on picking a solid horse and even demonstrated.
It wasn't for combat, so a packhorse would do. Just for Galen riding solo, no need for a powerhouse. Big ones ate more anyway. A medium build, docile breed, healthy—that was ideal.
Including tack, they settled on ten gold coins. No wonder common folk didn't ride; it was pricey.
"This'll do. You don't need to haul water, so even lighter's fine."
"Thanks for the help."
"Always stay cautious. Avoid camping alone as much as possible."
Thanks to him, Galen prepared thoroughly and set off from Nijerte, heading first upstream along the river.
Wherever there was water, villages big and small sprang up—even if not full cities. Easy spots to rest along the way.
Especially since his spirit needed more water, following the river made perfect sense.
Even at level 1, the spirit held more than a water cart. Each level-up exponentially boosted capacity, so it needed refills constantly.
At first, he thought keeping it topped up would be a chore, but Galen changed his mind.
'Fill it once, and it's no big deal after that. Recyclable too, so waste won't be an issue. And honestly, it's not as much as it seems.'
No liters in this world, but roughly, one jar held a few dozen. A water cart loaded with them? Over a thousand.
Earth's local pool took tens of thousands. Olympic-size? Millions.
Even hundreds of times bigger, the spirit couldn't fill a pool. Sure, pools held a ton, but the gap between vague "lots of water" and actual units was huge.
'That's the max it can hold—not what it can spit out at once, which has limits.'
But with Water Flow Manipulation and Spirit Creation levels closing in, water was already overflowing. As long as he didn't forget to feed it regularly, shortages were off the table forever.
After two days tending the spirit and traveling, Galen veered off. The upstream river bent west; no point following.
Ten days north, referencing a crude map and the sun for direction.
"Damn it, where the hell am I?"
With the red sunset on a low ridge to his left, Galen muttered complaints as he trudged along on horseback.
By the map, he should've reached a village ages ago. But two hours, no sign of people.
Roads here were rarely paved, but well-trodden dirt paths should've been normal. Lately, even those vanished.
'Missed a turn? Map's not that off. When did I go wrong?'
This world's maps were junk. Exaggerating, a national park souvenir handkerchief might be more accurate. Surveyed? Doubt it. No way it'd be that bad if so.
But others navigated with them, and Galen's had worked okay till yesterday—no phantom villages or missing ones. Useful enough.
Today, he figured it'd show up eventually. Nope. Even a crappy map meant something was wrong now.
'Check up to there.'
Spotting a slightly higher hill, Galen headed that way.
Scout it; if no good, prep to camp. Hated solo camping without a watch, but what choice?
"Huh?"
But look—people in the distance. Tiny dots, barely visible. More than one or two; he'd have missed a pair.
Galen spurred his horse.
Closer, details emerged.
'Setting up camp. Twenty people. Most mercenaries. Four wagons loaded with goods. Merchants, probably.'
Multiple wagons screamed merchants; mercenaries for escort meant peddlers.
Inter-city traders were mostly peddlers; big guilds with branches hired their own guards, no full merc crews.
'Hope they're friendly.'
Mercs had wary eyes once faces were clear. Galen slowed to avoid alarming them.
"Whoa, whoa."
Dismounting at a safe distance, Galen raised both hands.
"Excuse me."
"Who're you?"
"Just a traveler passing through. Mind a quick chat?"
"Speak. From there."
Good—they were cautious but not hostile or rude off the bat.
"Know any nearby villages? Map says I should've hit one by now, but nothing."
"Where you coming from?"
"I'll grab my map."
Galen pulled it out and waved it. The talking man stepped closer.
"Left here this morning, thought I was heading this way..."
"Map's off. Path markings too."
"Pardon?"
"Wrong mountain. Right instead of left, and you'd hit the village."
"That one?"
Galen pointed to the mountain left where the sun was setting. The man nodded silently.
"Ah, damn it."
Selling this trash for silver. Curse the maker. Galen muttered under his breath.
Sun setting soon—no backtracking, no straight through mountains on foot with horse. Camping confirmed.
"Any chance I could borrow your fire... just for tonight?"
"That's tricky."
Quick as a blade, refusal hit before Galen finished asking to join. Not like the helpful map explanation.
"Sun's almost down—how's it not work? I'll pay."
"Not about pay... Fine. I'll ask the boss. Don't get hopes up."
The man vanished into camp, returned soon. His face said it all.
"No go?"
"You can camp nearby—no blocking that. But inside the site? No."
"Ugh."
Galen groaned. The man glanced back, lowered his voice.
"Sorry. Boss is paranoid right now. Can't help it."
"About me?"
"Nah. Bandits."
"Bandits?"
"Peddlers hit a few times around here lately."
Hard lives turned folks to banditry often enough.
But this world's bandits had it rougher than Earth's. Hide in tough terrain to avoid capture, but that's monster turf. Survive monsters? You'd never stoop to bandit.
So they hunkered in easy hills—until a Silver-rank purge squad showed. One could shred dozens. No terrain edge, no skill—done quick.
Still, they kept popping up. Gaps formed. These peddlers got unlucky.
"Guy with his own horse wandering solo? Boss eyes it suspicious. Honestly, you ping my radar a bit too."
"Well, if I were a bandit scout, it'd be one rich crew..."
"...Wasn't calling you a bandit. Just not ordinary."
Not ordinary—yep, wizard.
Bandit news sealed it; solo camping out.
But if the boss refused from fear, not prejudice? Perfect. Reveal magic, attitude flips 180. Bet on it.
Galen opened his mouth again—
"B-bandits!"
A frantic shout erupted. Galen and the man whipped around toward it.
The undeveloped woods nearby—shady spots too numerous to watch every one.
Dozens burst from trees, charging this way.