Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Journey
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Three days had already passed since they began their carriage journey. It wasn't a perfectly paved asphalt road, but the forest path was reasonably well-maintained.
The clean, simple-designed carriage leisurely rolled along the spring forest trail.
'Yeah, this is the kind of trip I dreamed about at first.'
The journey Tae-jin had originally envisioned wasn't a grueling march dodging pursuers mile after mile. It was supposed to be a relaxed ride to the Empire's capital in an armored vehicle or Retona provided by the military.
In a world where even a carriage made kids' eyes go wide, what kind of faces would people make if he rolled into town in a car? No doubt it'd be way more explosive than spotting a multi-billion-won supercar on a Korean highway. Just stepping out of a rattling military Retona would feel like a massive flex.
'But this carriage trip is plenty satisfying.'
The carriage jolted nonstop, but compared to the past few days of walking, it was incomparably comfortable.
They'd shaken off the trackers crossing the border, so his mind was at ease. No more blisters from endless trudging. No starving stomachs lulling him to sleep, no waking up soaked in dew.
During the day, he lounged in the plush—if not luxurious—seats, doing mental imagery training for magic or chatting lightly with his companions. Garam's speech had grown noticeably friendlier lately; she might even ask for an illusion show soon.
When the warm spring sun streamed through the window during their idle talks, he'd bask in it, dozing off. Even just napping like that, they were heading to the Empire several times faster than on foot. How could he not enjoy it?
As delightful as the carriage ride was, there were only three people inside the compartment: old man Richer, Tae-jin, and Garam.
Pavilion's mood had lifted day by day since the trip started, to the point where he spent more time on the driver's seat than inside. He even took the reins now and then, driving in place of the coachman.
Sure enough, the sun set, and the group prepared a simple dinner.
They just tossed some ingredients and seasonings into boiling water and simmered it thick, but a hearty stew like that turned out pretty damn good when you didn't skimp on the materials. A savory aroma wafted from the pot, and Garam would taste it once, then add some mystery ingredient to balance the flavors or kill any off-tastes.
Paired with the salty sausages from Helio City, it was a dinner that suited Tae-jin's palate, honed on stimulating capitalist flavors.
Richer set up his alarm magic, and the group turned in for the night.
A mage who could conjure water and cast alarm spells was plenty useful on the road, or so they'd say. No need for night watches even—it was way more comfortable than army camping.
Tae-jin spread out his blanket to sleep and closed his eyes, but slumber wouldn't come.
Maybe it was the deafening chorus of crickets piercing his ears, or worries about how his life would unfold from here.
Or more likely, the hours-long nap he'd taken sprawled out in the carriage that afternoon.
Unable to sleep in the end, Tae-jin opened his eyes and sat up. But he wasn't the only one tossing and turning—a silhouette flickered by the campfire. It was Pavilion.
Tae-jin staggered over and flopped down beside him. The fire crackled steadily as always, bathing their faces in a ruddy glow.
"Can't sleep?"
"Yeah. Too many worries."
"Worries? What worries could a War Mage's disciple have? Your life's set, kid. You've got that fancy house by the Gate, right?"
Only old man Richer knew Tae-jin had set out to find a way back home. The others thought he was just traveling to register at the Empire's Central Tower.
Pure envy colored Pavilion's words, unfiltered.
Fair enough—from this world's perspective, who wouldn't envy Tae-jin's spot? A prodigiously talented mage, mentored by one of the Empire's top ten sorcerers, plus enough money to last lifetimes.
The cash might be in won, but exchanging it at a fair rate was no issue. Mages and nobles lined up to trade heaps of wealth for Gate-side goods. The only hitch was that Tae-jin's bag and pockets were empty right now.
To them, he looked like someone with talent, connections, and riches—all boxed up in one perfect package. A life of utter bliss and abundance, zero regrets.
Tae-jin chuckled wryly at the disconnect.
"Who in the world has zero worries?"
"True enough, I suppose."
Pavilion gave a curt reply and stared blankly into the flames. The dancing fire had that hypnotic pull. Beyond the crickets, a beast's howl echoed from somewhere distant.
"Why've you been hanging outside the carriage lately, sir? Too cramped inside?"
Pavilion shook his head.
"Nah, not that. It's a bit snug, but not uncomfortable."
"Then what is it?"
"Dunno. Homesickness creeping in now that we're closer? Or maybe just loving this spring weather. Feeling restless."
It was dark night now, but as Pavilion said, the weather lately had been ideal.
The continent's seasons didn't vary wildly compared to Korea, but this was one of the best stretches.
Still, the weather had been consistently nice since they met Pavilion, so his sudden outings were probably more about nearing home than the sunshine.
"Where'd you say your hometown was again?"
"Like most villages, it doesn't have a proper name. Southwest Volterio Kingdom."
"What's it like?"
"Beastkin and folks married to 'em live there. In the woods, but with space for small farms. Soil's rich—anything grows. Downside's the poisonous weeds nearby; folks always get tummy troubles eating the wrong stuff."
Pavilion chuckled through it.
"How much farther to the village?"
"Hard to say exactly without carriage experience at this pace. But at this speed, we should pass by in a day and a half."
"Why live in a separate village outside the city?"
"Living in town invites trouble you don't want."
"What kind of trouble?"
Pavilion shrugged wide, arms out.
"Slave hunters targeting beastkin, mostly. One wrong move in the city, and you're snatched before you know it. Warriors might hold their own, but civilians wandering alone? Risky."
"Targeting beastkin? For what?"
"Rabbit beastkin fight decently, so males often end up as gladiator slaves."
"And females?"
"Not my place to say as a guy married to a human, but there's no shortage of suspiciously rich pervs. Rabbit beastkin are popular with depraved nobles, apparently."
Tae-jin felt a weird mix of guilt and disgust but shook it off quick. His tastes ran to 'convenient fantasy beastkin,' not the real deal.
"Can't wrap my head around it. Why target over humans?"
Pavilion sighed deeply at the question.
"Who knows—only they do. You said no slaves back home?"
"People joke they're slaves to their jobs, but legally? No slavery."
"That explains how everyone mixes freely... Here, slaves exist, so beastkin banding together outside cities is safer. They can chase off outsiders easy."
"So you make all your own daily goods? Living off the land?"
Pavilion laughed, shaking his head.
"Not quite. We make the basics, but for stuff we can't or run short on, beastkin like me fetch it outside. Males take turns as mercenaries or free traders. My turn now, that's why I'm out here."
"Hmm."
A life where you took shifts earning outside to support the village. Versus the constant anxiety of city life, never knowing when you'd get kidnapped.
Not the cheeriest tale, but Pavilion grinned through it all. For him, it was just everyday stuff—no mood-killer.
Tae-jin pressed on.
"So you're heading back to the village sooner than planned? With shifts, you must have a rough return date."
"Nah, not straight home. Still got trade goods left—gotta offload 'em in the Empire first, then head back."
Passing the village but not stopping? Tae-jin couldn't parse it.
"You said we'd pass by tomorrow or the day after?"
"Yep. But swinging in casually makes it hard to leave again. Might as well max out profits while we're out."
Pavilion's face beamed with smiles, and the warm spring night felt utterly serene.
But as always, trouble strikes without warning.