Volume 7 - Chapter 12 – To the Ancient Ruins (1/2)
07-12 To the Ancient Ruins
The day Jin’s group would head to Keine Village, the weather had been clear since morning.
As planned, they departed towards Keine Village with Jin’s carriage. The lineup was Jin, Reinhardt, Elsa, and the butler Claude.
Reiko sat in the coachman’s seat.
Just like it had been said, the road was rather poor. It was of course uneven, there were abrupt slopes, places where it got narrower and large rocks were strewn about.
In spite of such a bad road, Jin’s carriage kept going and they arrived in Keine Village before noon.
“We’re early, eh? Just as expected from Jin’s carriage!”
Reinhardt commended the carriage again.
“Alright, now where could the so-called ancient ruins be?”
After parking the carriage in a suitable open space Jin observed the surroundings. This Keine Village had the atmosphere of a deserted mountain village. It was much more declined compared to Kaina Village.
“Are there really something like ruins here?”
If there was such cultural heritage-like thing here wouldn’t it be better for this place to be a little more populous, Jin thought.
“Hey you, you came here to see the ruins, right?”
Jin turned to face the voice, and there stood an old person with a crooked back leaning on a cane. They seemed to be from this village.
“Uh, yeah. The ruins of…Keuwan, was it? Certainly we thought we’d want to have a look.”
Jin explained their reason for coming here and,
“Oh-hoh, I thought so. The ruins, eh. Ya got some strange tastes.”
The elder said with a slight accent and laughed,
“In that case, over here. I got spare time anyways, so I guess I’ll be yer guide.”
They then began to walk towards the mountain.
Jin’s group exchanged glances.
“What do you want to do?”
“Well, how about we try going along?”
“Mm. I think that’s fine.”
“There doesn’t seem to be any danger. I couldn’t feel any bloodlust or ill will from that person.”
Apparently the butler Claude was a top-class swordsman in the past, and he judged the elder to not be a danger.
“Alright, in that case shall we go? Oh yeah, Jin, will the carriage be fine?”
Reinhardt asked worriedly, but Jin just smiled and siad it’ll be fine.
“I locked it, so.”
Far from just a lock, secretly the SP were standing guard so Jin could leave behind the carriage without a worry, but Jin couldn’t say that.
“Oi, what’s wrong?”
The elder at the end of the road turned around and yelled. Jin quickly took out the luggage and,
“Okay, let’s go.”
He began to walk. Reinhardt and the others also started walking. Elsa noticed that Jin curiously had luggage this time so,
“Jin-kun, that, what is it?”
She was interested and asked. Jin replied with a smile.
“This? Various necessities.”
He said and began to explain.
“Light, water, food, and rope are packed in there.”
After that clarification, Claude raised his voice in approval,
“Oh my, Jin-sama has thoroughly prepared, haven’t you. Unlike yesterday’s sightseeing in the mines, ruins receive practically no maintenance, you see. Illumination and water are necessary for sure.”
He said and pointed at his own luggage. Apparently Claude also made his own preparations.
This time for the first time in a while, Reiko was walking by Jin with ‘Peach Blossom’ in hand, as if to prevent being separated.
“You guys, you brought a lot of stuff but there’s no need for something like that.”
The elder who went in front of them absent-mindedly said.