Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Survival Arc (1)
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I overslept.
It was something that hadn't happened even a few times in the past six years. And even those few times, Dregs had come to wake me up, so I never actually managed to sleep in.
Sitting up in bed, I looked around. Kiru was already gone, leaving the spot next to me empty.
'Waking up somewhere other than the laundry room feels so awkward...'
I sat there quietly, sensing the outside world.
Even inside the tent, I could feel the sunlight, hear the wind, and catch the sounds of people.
I was gradually realizing that I had truly escaped that place. I still couldn't let my guard down completely, but as unfamiliar sights came into view, it started to feel real.
I cleansed my body with magic, stripped off the servant uniform, and changed into the clothes provided yesterday.
They were loose gray pants and a tunic.
It felt oddly awkward wearing something other than my usual garb for the first time in ages.
'My body feels chilly. The clothes are thin too.'
It was late February, the tail end of winter.
I cast Warms to warm myself up, then stepped out of the tent.
The camp was already bustling.
Meal time had probably passed, and it seemed like they were cleaning up now.
A few more wagons had joined the tents I'd seen yesterday, and horses tied to trees here and there were munching on grass.
The first place to head after waking up in the morning? Obviously, the bathroom.
I quickly headed to the portable toilet and took care of business.
'Do Green Mages handle the water here?'
With that thought, just like at the Magic Trading Post, I quenched my thirst with water from the sink.
Before drinking, I glanced around to make sure no one was watching. It might seem weird to the people here.
Afterward, I set off toward the center of the camp to find Kiru and Nellin.
Taking slow steps and observing everyone's busy morning routines, I spotted them walking toward me from between some other tents.
"You're up. You were sleeping so soundly, I didn't wake you."
"Aroin, good morning!"
Nellin's speech felt a bit more relaxed after just one day. She probably didn't need the formal tone anymore.
"Yes, good morning. Nothing happen while I was out?"
I could speak a little more casually with them too.
"The main force of the diversion returned late last night. About thirty people got off four wagons."
...Weren't you sleeping? It seemed Kiru had heard them return, gotten up, and checked with his own eyes.
"Luckily, no one was hurt! We had plenty of Holy Mages, and the Shadow Merchant Guild suddenly turned passive. The fighting died down into a stalemate, and they slipped away easily."
Did Nellin stay up to watch too? Her face was bright, though. She must have been worried someone might get hurt rescuing us.
"Probably because Mere pulled out midway. Losing their Holy Mage likely made them hesitant to fight."
"That makes sense. Hmm, Nellin. Is there anything for Aroin to eat?"
"Oh, right! Meal time's over, so I'll get you something simple."
Nellin had changed out of her servant outfit into something like a workshop craftsman's work clothes.
The pouch was stuck to her belt like a magnet. A slight flow of mana detached it.
She set it on the ground and infused it with mana. The pouch expanded in real time, growing to two meters tall.
"Whoa... How is that even possible?"
Nellin beamed at my reaction.
"That's how they were able to come rescue us like this. I'm the only one who can make Transforming Magic Tools right now."
As she'd mentioned before, Acrom couldn't afford to halt production of Transforming Magic Tools without her. It matched my thoughts from last night.
"That elder from yesterday is the chairman of the Acrom Workshop Alley Alliance and Nellin's uncle. Most of the main force are personnel he unofficially pulled from the Acrom Council."
Kiru rattled off the info, clearly having heard it from Nellin.
"Here. Apples and nuts. I'll show you the water later."
She'd brought water yesterday too. There must be some storage somewhere.
Taking the food, I decided to ask just in case.
"Is it okay to drink the water from the sink in the portable toilet?"
"It's not a problem, but the portable toilet recycles purified water from used water or decomposed waste... so it might feel off?"
"...I see."
Ah. Um.
An awkward silence followed.
Something must have shown on my face, as Nellin and Kiru's mouths fell slightly open.
"W-water's in the Transforming Water Canteen... I-I'll get some!"
Nellin dashed off.
"Uh, well, um. The food'll get cold. Sit by the fire and eat."
Apples and nuts don't get cold.
"Yes... before it does..."
A short time passed. I filled my stomach lightly and cast Warms and Dirt Clear on Nellin and Kiru as well.
There was a shower area made with Transforming Magic Tools and Green Magic, but the line was long, so both had put it off.
"Dirt Clear is the best, Aroin."
"Agreed."
Afterward, the three of us moved to the tent Kiru and I had been using to discuss what came next.
Sitting inside brought back memories of our laundry room meetings.
We'd sat in a triangle like this back then too.
It was narrower now in the two-person tent, but my heart felt more at ease.
"It took a year and three months to get here. You two really went through so much. Thank you."
Nellin bowed her head in gratitude.
I bowed back in response, and Kiru followed suit a beat late.
"Without you, Nellin, we couldn't have even started the plan. I should be the one thanking you."
"Same here. Nellin, without you, this day wouldn't have come."
"It wouldn't have been possible without any one of us."
Smiles bloomed on all our faces.
This place, neither the laundry room nor the Magic Trading Post.
We had finally returned to the world after escaping the exiled city of Vera.
"When do we head to Acrom? Will the Shadow Merchant Guild chase us?"
Kiru answered my question first.
"The Shadow Merchant Guild won't leave Vera's front yard. Combat isn't their main focus anyway."
"Lunch at noon, depart at one. Hmm, it's a bit past ten now, so less than three hours left."
Nellin checked the time on a pocket watch she'd somehow acquired.
"Could you give me a ride on the way? I plan to get off somewhere near the Rock Forest."
It was more courtesy than anything—permission and sharing my destination.
I hadn't seen a map, but from what I knew, heading to Acrom from Vera meant going west first. And west was the Rock Forest.
It'd be a hike from a midway drop-off to the forest, but sharing the direction was lucky enough.
"Of course we can. But Aroin, are you really going back to the forest? I heard from Kiru, but I'm worried."
The two had already talked this morning.
I knew what worried Nellin. Kiru felt the same.
After all that suffering, they feared I'd get hurt again in the forest we'd finally escaped. Kind hearts worrying for me.
"If it doesn't work out, I'll come to Acrom later."
Even if it did, I'd visit someday. After Grandmother, they were precious people now.
"Got it. Aroin, you have to come. Kiru and I will be waiting."
"As I said, I'll be thriving in Acrom. I'll wait for you."
We nodded, gazing at each other.
We weren't parting yet, but Nellin's eyes reddened.
"Getting older makes you tear up more, huh."
I stared at Kiru—what was that supposed to mean?—and Nellin smacked his thigh with a sharp slap.
"Kiru, are your legs healthy? Seems like you don't want to ride the wagon. It'll take quite a while to walk."
Silence fell at Nellin's words.
Kiru hesitated, then spoke earnestly.
"Even now, you worry about my legs first. Your kindness makes me so grateful you're with us."
...What was he saying?
The wagon rattled along the dirt road.
The vibrations from the hard seat were still unfamiliar.
Inside were the same people as when leaving Vera.
Kiru, Nellin, and I on one side; Zarek and the other servants opposite.
I broke the awkward silence.
"Zarek, what are your plans now?"
He gazed out the window before answering.
"I'm heading to Acrom. Nellin said she'd help me find work as a footman. The others will go as far as the Empire, then part ways."
"The Empire... via the Arcana Empire, huh. What's a footman?"
"It's what they call a general male servant. It's the only work that comes to mind, given my experience."
Kiru asked indifferently at Zarek's reply.
"What about Bark? Didn't see him during the escape."
"He'd disappear for days sometimes. Probably on an external mission."
I pondered Zarek's guess in silence.
Bark. The one who'd ambushed and dragged me to the Magic Trading Post. But otherwise, he'd treated me in his own way.
During the first experiment, he'd hurriedly undone the restraints before Mere finished speaking. Afterward, he'd wiped me down and changed my clothes. When walking was hard with one eye, he'd matched my pace. When learning Dirt Clear, he'd seemed genuinely sorry for me.
If we met again someday, what face should I show him?
I didn't know now. Time would tell.
As we talked, the sun set, and the wagon stopped. Camp time.
Kiru and I set up our two-person tent and bedding from yesterday. Nellin went to check on her workshop colleagues briefly.
Amid the bustle, bonfires rose in the organized camp.
"First time seeing Red Magic."
A Short Stature Red Mage had lit the fire.
Nearby braziers boiled stew, their aroma filling the air.
The bonfire drew dozens of people. We three sat a bit apart, eating stew and bread.
"This taste... it's moving again today."
Kiru nodded in agreement. Anything but rice balls would move him.
The bread was preserved and dry, but soaked in stew, it was delicious.
After dinner, Nellin pulled out a sheet of paper.
My first look at a continent map.
"Seven more days, and we'll reach this small village. Where you'll get off, Aroin."
She pointed to a place called Greenleaf.
"Rock Forest is about two days north of there. The path looks flat, and it's on the continent's outskirts, so just watch for wild animals."
"Got it. Thanks for checking."
Nellin and Kiru stepped away briefly for some errand.
I strolled the camp to settle my full stomach.
People chatting quietly by the fire, feeding the horses. Peaceful.
Then I spotted a lone Short Stature warrior polishing his weapon. The grateful one who'd survived to guide us.
I approached cautiously.
"Um, if it's okay, could I cast Preserve on your weapon?"
He glanced at me, then nodded.
"A Blue Mage, eh. Please do."
He knew the magic as a warrior and agreed readily. I cast Preserve on his sword. Objects don't need consent like people, but permission from the owner is proper.
Confirming the magic take hold, I asked something I'd wondered.
"Don't warriors wear armor? Your clothes look sturdy, but not like armor."
He looked down at his outfit and chuckled.
"Armor just gets in the way for mana users. It slows you down and drops your speed with the weight. Mana Coat's enough, and mana-infused weapons tear through iron like paper anyway."
Clear answer.
My twenty years in the forest and six at the Magic Trading Post left me lacking in worldly knowledge and common sense. Yesterday's portable toilet... ugh.
So, before reaching Greenleaf, I'd ask about knowledge and basics during wagon rides and camp.
I thanked him and returned to the tent.
I trained mana control and body strengthening while waiting for Kiru, but even as night deepened, he didn't return.
Were the two up to something?
Probably private. No need to pry.
I cast Dirt Clear and Warms on both bedding sets, then turned in first.
Too preoccupied for deep sleep, I only dozed off fully after hearing him enter at dawn.