Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Roughly Another World's Finest Episode 68
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"We've run into a merchant caravan procession.
They say they're in a hurry—should we pull our carriage aside?"
"Hmm..."
From a quick glance, there were eleven baggage wagons.
What rotten luck. In this vast plain with hardly anyone around, how do two carriage processions meet right at a crossroads?
It'd be more likely to run into a band of thieves trying to rob carriages.
Still, what's done is done.
They're not in that much of a rush, so we should let them go first.
No way do I want to take the lead and have that long line tailing us—it'd be exhausting.
"Yield to them. Tell them to go ahead."
"I'll relay that."
Noah spoke with the driver at the head of their baggage wagons,
and we pulled our carriage back to let them pass first.
That was when it happened.
"Whoa!"
One of the baggage wagons up front in their procession had its wheel buckle, tipping precariously and spilling crates from the cargo hold.
"Ugh..."
It was the kind of sight that made you want to cover your eyes even as you watched.
Whatever it was, the damage was obvious at a glance.
Crates burst open or shattered as they tumbled out, and fist-sized red fruits inside were crushed on impact, staining the dirt red.
"Oh no!!"
The driver cried out in shock, and everyone watching let out a collective sigh.
"Oppa. What's going on?"
"The lead baggage wagon spilled all its cargo. Looks like fruit."
Karen poked her head out the opposite window to check.
"Isn't that Kelip?"
"What's Kelip?"
"It's super rare fruit. First time I've seen that much piled up and being transported. And now it's all over the ground..."
As Karen was speaking, our carriage suddenly jolted.
"What the—?"
Emergency stop followed by a sudden lurch forward? Were we about to flip too?
"What the hell is— Ugh!!"
I bounced up and smacked my head before the shaking finally stopped.
What was that? Their wagon flipped, so why was ours shaking?
I kicked open the carriage door and jumped out.
I knew exactly what had happened the moment I saw the scene.
An invisible but thick, suffocating fruit fragrance hung in the air like fog.
Just a few breaths, and a strange taste lingered in my mouth.
It was the scent of the premium fruit "Kelip," smashed into the dirt.
And that fragrance drove the horses mad.
Our normally calm horses lost control and charged straight for the pile of fruit. The crossroads turned into a multi-vehicle pileup of chaos.
Horses breaking free from their procession and carriages veering off tangled wildly as the animals buried their heads in the ground, devouring the Kelip.
What the hell? This hopeless mess?
Our side and their procession alike could only stare blankly at the horses enjoying this unexpected feast.
"Decal-nim. I'm sorry. I should have kept more distance."
Noah said.
"Who could've predicted this? It's not your fault. How do we fix it? We need to pull the horses off first, I guess..."
They weren't going to come quietly.
What kind of fruit makes beasts go this berserk?
Interrupt their meal, and we'd probably get kicked hard by hind legs.
"...It might be faster to just clean up the spilled Kelip on the ground."
Noah's words rang sadly true.
"What is this?!"
That's when a young woman's shrill voice pierced my ears.
I instantly knew she was the head of their caravan.
Her outfit was a flashy evening gown suited for a ballroom, not travel.
Even twisting her face in fury, you could tell she was raised in high society.
She had meticulously styled pink hair down to her mid-back and sparkling blue eyes.
Top-tier looks, but... how to put it.
She seemed immature.
The situation was a disaster, but her raw emotional outburst made her look like a spoiled girl, not quite a lady.
"Ahh! The Kelip. It was a gift for Father!"
People rushed to support the shocked girl, who could barely stand.
"Miss Diana! Calm down."
"How can I calm down? Father was so looking forward to this! Who's responsible for this mess?!"
Why did this feel like blame was about to fly our way?
Diana soon gathered her caravan people, listened to reports, then...
marched straight toward Noah and me.
Her gaze stabbed like a spear. She wanted to talk to me.
Just as I'd pegged her as their caravan leader,
she must've pegged me as ours.
We naturally faced off.
The last situation I wanted.
Diana put her hands on her hips, glared up at me threateningly, and said,
"You. State your name and family!"
Name's one thing, but family?
Noah stepped forward, sensing something.
"Decal-nim. Allow me to handle this."
"Executioner, stand down. I asked this man."
Spotting Noah as an executioner at a glance? City folk from the capital?
Bossing around people twice her age with a chin flick showed her family's power.
I responded as politely as possible.
"My name is Decal. No family—just a simple adventurer."
"Hah."
Diana scoffed in disdain.
Like she'd realized I was the kind of nobody she could look down on.
She crossed her arms, scanning me with contemptuous eyes.
"An adventurer? You lowly drifter dared block the Vanguard family procession?"
"I regret the unfortunate accident."
"Regret?"
Flames shot from Diana's eyes. She looked ready to devour me.
"Our people say your horses suddenly bolted, startling our wagon into flipping.
If that's true, you should be the one full of regret."
"..."
Diana glanced at our carriages, then continued.
"From your clothes and carriages, you're no ordinary adventurer. Some fallen, nameless family, huh? How do you plan to compensate?"
Sigh. Our horses bolted and startled them?
Looks like their driver covered with a lie.
"It's a misunderstanding.
Look at your wagon's wheel. Your wagon tipped first, and our horses were just drawn by the fruit scent."
"Misunderstanding? Spare me the nonsense. Even if true, this isn't something we can just let slide."
"Hmm..."
I pressed my temple and said,
"It's just an accident. Let's resolve it without hard feelings, Miss Diana..."
Smack!
I was stunned.
Diana had suddenly slapped my cheek.
"I never permitted you to use my name! You rude bastard!"
"..."
Noah wedged between Diana and me.
"Miss Diana. Violence will only worsen things."
"An executioner talking back to me? Is that man worth more than your life?"
"Darling!"
Esty ran to me.
She inspected my cheek with a teary face.
"I'm fine."
"But..."
That girl packs a punch.
Felt like fireworks in my mouth.
Even Noah was flustered, so she must be someone big.
"Noah. Back off."
"Decal-nim."
"No point trying to settle nicely anymore."
"You planning to lay hands on me? Touch me, and you're dead instantly."
I gazed steadily at Diana.
Wondering how to make her atone...
While thinking that, quietly.
"Wh-what?"
Diana sensed the ominous vibe and stepped back.
That's when it happened.
"Diana!"
Someone called her name and approached.
"Sis!"
A woman arriving late from the rear of their carriage procession.
Looked like Diana's older sister. Pink hair, bright blue eyes.
But their vibes were total opposites. Diana was a flower in a greenhouse; her sister felt free-spirited.
Her hair fell naturally, no makeup on a sharp-featured, clear-skinned face—still stunning.
Tall for a woman, over 170 cm, with a model-slim figure that caught the eye.
She gently pushed off her clinging sister and approached me.
"My sister was rude. Sorry about that."
"..."
Her sincere apology cooled my rising anger a bit.
Not enough to let it go, but worth watching how this played out.
"Sis, no need to apologize to scum like them!"
"I get you're upset, Diana. But you can't just hit people."
Diana, who was raging, shrank back.
"Sorry. He overheard my name and used it casually, so I just..."
Apologize to the one slapped, not your sister?
Unbelievable.
"Amusing."
Diana's sister scanned us and said,
"An adventurer traveling with an executioner and an elf.
Didn't know not to use a noble's name casually? Or just fearless?"
"That's all you have to say?"
I replied flatly.
"I'd love to just let you go, but we've suffered losses too.
Your horses devoured our Kelip, so Vanguard honor is at stake. Can't call it unrelated, right?"
So even beasts eating fruit freely means they claim ownership and demand accountability.
Her intent was clear.
"You want compensation? For the spilled Kelip or whatever."
"Hmm~ Compensation would be nice,
but an adventurer's income couldn't cover it. Current market's 6,800 gold."
Six thousand what?
Fruit that pricey?
"Honestly, that amount's pocket change for us.
Just help clean up, and we're good."
"Clean up?"
"Yeah. So... if you hand over your horses and one coachman head, it'd about balance. Right, Diana?"
"Chop all their heads off. Scum like them."
"I'm no murderer, that's a bit much."
Lose 6,800 gold, so kill all our horses and pin it on one coachman to end it.
Her words shocked me a little.
She was my age or younger, yet said something so brutal casually.
First time since arriving here I felt this way.
Like meeting someone truly from another world. Our thought processes, upbringings—worlds apart, skin-deep.
What was I doing at that age?
Killing people or horses for accountability? I couldn't even watch daily cattle or pig slaughter.
All eyes turned to me.
Everyone awaited my words—not just the fancy Vanguard sisters, but Noah, Esty, Karen too.
No tension, though.
I'm a hypnotist. I've casually uttered words that ruined lives.
For my pleasure alone.
Yeah. Let's enjoy this. I'm just dipping into a gift box now. No one knows what's inside. That thrill—this is the sisters' gift to me.
"No?"
"What do you mean?"
"If we don't hand over horses or coachman—not to mention see genuine atonement from you—we can't accept it."
"Ahaha!"
The sister laughed heartily.
"Wow. From another world or what? First time anyone's said that to me."
"That's why country bumpkins are scary. Clueless."
Even the sister chimed in annoyingly.
They don't know hypnosis, fine.
But even force vs. force, we're way stronger— what makes them so cocky?
I even felt a touch ridiculous.
"I like your guts. Proper intro time. I'm Tillia. Tillia Vanguard. Melbrit hero candidate."
Melbrit—the hero academy?
"You can use my name since I said it myself."
Tillia said refreshingly.
"Never guessed a senior. I'm Decal."
"Wasn't it hero candidate selection period? That's why the executioner's with you?"
"Yes. Decal-nim is an emergency mission achiever."
"Good. Diana. Fetch my sword."
"Yes, Sis!"
Diana scampered off excitedly.
What, sword dance now?
"Decal. You look confused. We disagree, but you want something. So, duel it is."
"Duel?"
Soon, a subordinate followed Diana's order, bringing a strangely thin two-handed sword and knelt before Tillia, offering it with both hands.
The blade curved like a katana.
"If I win, I take your horses and coachman's life. You win, we apologize as you wish."
"..."
Finally, crystal clear.
I grinned happily.