Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Carriage
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Shortly after the carriage started moving, Garam began airing his grievances.
"Isn't the carriage broken? Why's it creaking like this?"
"Who knows. Maybe that werewolf from the attack tried to chew through it?"
Garam grumbled often, but he wasn't the type to nitpick over nothing.
This complaint had real weight to it. Even Tae-jin thought the carriage's jolting had gotten worse.
Every time it moved, there was a suspicious screech...screech...
Had the werewolves rammed it with their bodies or something?
The shaking got so bad that Garam and Renata even started feeling carsick.
"Hey, Tae-jin. My stomach's churning more and more. What do we do?"
"Is this normal for carriages? I've never ridden one before... Ugh!"
With lightning reflexes, Tae-jin shoved Renata's head out the side of the carriage, preventing the interior from getting covered in vomit.
In the end, the carriage didn't go much farther before grinding to a halt. If they'd kept on like that, not just Garam and Renata, but even old man Richer and Tae-jin might have started feeling queasy.
The coachman uncle stopped the carriage and crawled underneath it. Fortunately, when he emerged a moment later, his expression wasn't bad.
"The rear axle's bent. Good thing the main axle's intact. We can get it fixed in the nearest city."
"Fixed? Hope it doesn't cost a fortune."
Tae-jin's concerns naturally turned to money. All they had left in their pockets was a few dozen silvers.
They could scrape together a bit more by pooling their pocket change, but whether it'd be enough to reach the capital was anyone's guess.
Sure, he could sell the Polaroid camera in some random town and make money, but he'd never get full price.
It'd be lucky to fetch even a tenth of what he'd get selling it to an imperial noble. Dumping it at a huge loss wasn't Tae-jin's style.
"It won't cost that much. It's not like multiple parts are busted—just the one axle. A skilled carpenter could fix it in a day or two."
The coachman gave an optimistic prognosis. If a carpenter could handle it in two days, even at top rates, it shouldn't exceed ten silvers.
"That's a relief. So where to?"
"Back to the village where we bought the horse. It's not too far off the route. I'll take the carriage and follow slowly on my own, so you five walk ahead."
"Got it. Take your time."
Strictly speaking, there were only four people walking. Tae-jin, Richer, Pavilion, and Renata would go on foot, but Garam was riding in a piggyback carrier.
And the unlucky one carrying that load was, sadly, Tae-jin.
The reasons were simple. Pavilion's side wound hadn't fully healed, so using his strength might reopen it. Old man Richer was, well, elderly.
And Renata, who looked no older than an upper elementary or middle school kid, couldn't be expected to carry Garam.
That left only Tae-jin. He hoisted the emaciated lower half of Garam—whose legs were skin and bones below the knees—onto the carrier and trudged along the forest path. Garam was so heavy he needed weight reduction magic just to manage.
"Hey, walk steadier. I got off the bumpy carriage, and now the carrier's shaking even worse?"
"Then why don't you just ride in the carriage again."
"I'd puke for sure. And handing Viscount Helio back a carriage that reeks? He wouldn't be thrilled."
Tae-jin had always known it, but this guy had a knack for phrasing the same old gripes in the most annoying way possible. It was convincing enough to argue back against, but agreeing felt like admitting defeat.
"So what do you want me to do?"
"What else? Walk carefully and carry me in comfort."
Tae-jin recalled a fine old custom he'd read about in a book as a kid.
"Garam. Back when you lived in Busan, did you ever read any books?"
Despite his rough appearance that screamed "not a reader," Garam nodded readily.
"Books? Yeah, tons. Probably a few dozen at least."
"Ever hear of gyeoryejang? Origins are debated, but it suits your situation perfectly."
"You better think twice. I could sacrifice a finger or two and give you alopecia or some killer athlete's foot."
Of all the passengers, the one on his back had to be the biggest pain imaginable.
Tae-jin trudged on, feeling wronged, until a good idea struck him.
This situation might actually be an opportunity. He'd put off talking about it amid all the urgency so far, but recruiting Garam wasn't about broadening his shamanic horizons.
With this guilt trip in play, wouldn't he agree readily to a favor?
"Hey, Garam. Remember that illusion ritual you cast on the mountain before?"
"The one where I sacrificed a deer?"
"Yeah, that. Can you do it again?"
A playful lilt crept into Garam's voice.
"Liked the illusion that much?"
Tae-jin glanced around cautiously before replying.
"Oh, it was amazing. Made me think shamanism might outshine magic."
Garam shrugged smugly.
"What'd you see in it?"
"What? Isn't it supposed to show a scene you set?"
"Nah. It shows the scene you desire most strongly."
Then he absolutely couldn't mention nearly sharing a steamy moment with a beautiful rabbit beastkin. Social suicide.
"Makes sense. I saw an illusion of reuniting with my family back home... I wanna see it again..."
Tae-jin fudged it and took a hit.
For five years living by the gate, he'd dreamed every moment of crossing it. The sense of deprivation piled up, and thoughts of returning home grew stronger.
Yet what he'd seen in the dream wasn't himself crossing the gate.
But Tae-jin accepted it quickly. Hadn't countless people said love was greater than anything?
He rationalized it neatly, but Garam's response wasn't what he'd hoped.
"Yeah? Can't do it right now, though."
"Why not?"
"First, I'm not confident I can pull it off consistently. It worked because the stars aligned. Second, no materials."
"Can't you just use your body as substitute?"
Garam shot him an incredulous look.
"What, blow off limbs for one illusion?"
He couldn't say something dumb like, "You're a troll; it'll heal quick." He'd be treated like trash the whole journey.
Better manage his image to boost chances of seeing the illusion later.
Tae-jin apologized with feigned politeness.
"Fair enough. I was too casual about it."
Thankfully, Garam didn't seem too bothered.
"Even beyond limbs, it needs a key ingredient."
"You used it all up?"
Garam nodded.
"When the werewolves attacked, I used it to make them hallucinate and fight each other. Burned through everything."
"What ingredient?"
"Dreamweed petals. Not easy to get. All I had was from my master. But if you fetch some, I'll consider it."
"Got it."
Dreamweed petals. Dreamweed petals. Tae-jin muttered it quietly.
Then, looking ahead, he spotted city gates. It was Merca City.
Merca City was an unusual place.
Unlike other cities focused on practicality with their simple layouts, this one looked extraordinary from the outset.
Flowers bloomed everywhere they could be planted, and vacant lots were turned into vibrant gardens.
Geometric statues dotted every corner, and street vendors hawked snacks all around.
Over half the people milling about looked like tourists, and there wasn't a single ugly building slathered in crude plaster.
Only clean wooden structures or sturdy brick ones filled the streets. It was the first tourist city Tae-jin had seen since crossing the gate.
"What kind of city is this? The vibe's so weird."
"Dunno. Some festival going on?"
Pavilion answered.
"Asked when we bought the horse. Apparently, they've got one coming up soon. They throw festivals year-round on every excuse."
Not great news. Cities banking on tourism meant high prices.
The swarthy men showed no interest in the festival, but Renata's face lit up with curiosity.
She was so excited her previously drooping ears stood straight up, blocking Tae-jin's view.
According to Pavilion, Renata had entered human villages fewer than three times, and those were small ones. This was her first real city.
But contrary to Renata's expectations, the group headed straight for an inn upon entering Merca City.
Pavilion naturally vanished into the kitchen back, selling off a few instant soups, while old man Richer booked three rooms.
One for Pavilion and Renata, one for Garam and the coachman, and one for the two mages.
"Rest up first. Handle your own meals."
With that announcement to the group, Richer dragged Tae-jin straight upstairs.
"Alright, Tae-jin. The time has come."
"Time for what?"
"Mana cell. Try deploying it from memory."
"Whoa, springing it on me like that is kinda startling. Shouldn't I prepare mentally first?"
But Richer's expression was dead serious.
"Time's shorter than you'd think. Before we reach the Empire, I want to teach you some basic combat spells and the mana cell."
"Didn't you swear not to teach me the mana cell?"
"I'll teach it on the sly. Can't just leave you be when you might explode otherwise."
It was appreciated, but left a slightly uneasy feeling. Hope it wouldn't cause issues if the Empire found out later.
Tae-jin slowly recalled his memory of using the mana cell.