Vol 1 Chapter 11 (1/2)

1st Volume, 11th Chapter 【The Port Town, Pascam】

In the southern part of Merville town is the Commercial district which I’m familiar with.

In the eastern part is the Industrial district where craftsmen and artisans have their workshops.

In the northern part is the Residential district where people abide in.

And then, in the western part is the junction of Commercial and Residential districts, making it bustling.

In Pascam port town in the west, a variety of items is imported via sea route.

Items of daily necessities, utility items, raw materials such as ores and leather, and variegated items are transported to Merville town, and are then delivered throughout Lech.e.l.le kingdom.

It’s logical for the western part to be bustling for it’s a gateway.

I, who had yet to visit this part of the town, had my heart racing when I visited as a Pascam escort.

Hey world, wait for me!

Oh well……I arrived at the west gate ahead of time and was now waiting for others.

After a while, Arnold-san and Lim, Bays-san, and Batteau-san arrived respectively.

Batteau-san arrived in a large, hooded carriage drawn by two horses. To possess such a carriage, Batteau-san seems to be a successful merchant, don’t you think?

As expected of Merchant Lv2.

Earlier, Batteau-san said that he was going to Pascam in relation to procurement. However, if you looked at the items inside the horse-drawn carriage, you could guess that he intended to export, too.

Because we were escorts, I was behind the carriage.

The beastkin parent and child were on the left and the right.

Bays-san was sitting leisurely with Batteau-san on the coachman’s rack.

Oh well. This time, he’s an examiner and accompanying us for free, is that why? However, is that really fine?

As far as the front is concerned, as long as Batteau-san calls out to us if anything happens, there’s no problem.

Bays-san, who demanded to be treated as nothing more than air, gave me just one piece of advice.

According to him, there have been incidents of horses.h.i.+t triggering land mines, so I have to be extra careful.

I hate him already~.

Was the one who nonchalantly advised me to guard the rear not you, Bays-san~?

Someday, I’ll make you pay.

After leaving Merville town, we headed straight to the west.

When the lush green filled my view and the silhouette of the town faded, I started feeling homesick even though I hadn’t even spent 10 days there.

The speed of the carriage was pretty fast.

According to the feedback from my body, I think it should be about 6~7km per hour.

Walking on foot at such a pace was quite tiring.

If I didn’t have the Physical Abilities Enhancement skill, I would most likely be smeared in horses.h.i.+t by now.

Since the two guarding the left and the right had naturally more strength than a human, they were doing fine.

As for Bays-san, I couldn’t see him……He must surely be asleep.

When the shadow cast by the sunlight shrinked, indicating that the sun had reached its zenith, the carriage came to a halt in order to take a short break.

Because the place was slightly inclined, it seemed to be a small hill.

I sat on a rock, where the view was nice, opened the water flask and rehydrated myself.

Whether it was an illusion or not, the soothing view was was.h.i.+ng my fatigue off.

When I looked up, the cl.u.s.ters of clouds were gently drifting across the blue sky.

When I lowered my gaze, I could see the far, far away horizon.

When I lowered my gaze further, I could see a forest on the left. The very forest which was my hunting ground — the south forest.

On the right, I could see plains stretching and a river flowing.

The Pascam highway seemed to pa.s.s through there.

There was still quite some distance left. However, there seemed to be a post station along the highway.

……According to Batteau-san, we will be having the lunch there.

Built at the post station along the highway is a plain and simple inn for travelers’ and merchants’ use. It’s managed by the villagers who live nearby.

There was a small road branching off the post station to the right. It must lead to the village. It wasn’t visible, though——

「Did you find something……?」

——!? The sudden question surprised me so much that the water in my throat shot up my nose.

It was Lim.

「No, I was just thinking how beautiful the scenery is.」

「Is that so? The village where I used to live was just as beautiful……I so miss my village.」

Lim’s dark brown hair, bathed in the sunlight, was s.h.i.+ning golden just like her eyes.

Her expression was sorrowful. Was she reminded of the demons’ invasion of her village?

It was bad of me. But I had no idea that my words would have this effect.

「My pocket is getting too heavy……」

「Eh? Did you say something?」

……This beautiful scenery and Lim’s tragic past; I can’t take both at the same time, is what I meant but I couldn’t say it.

「——The carriage should be leaving anytime now.」

「Un」

I was rather fortunate that Lim didn’t get what I said.

Was my mind off because of walking so much so fast?

『What do I do? I’m ashamed to death.』

Is what would have happened.

A while after descending downhill——

We arrived at the post station. It was lunch time.

Batteau-san and Bays-san planned on having the lunch inside.

I and the beastkin family decided to have the lunch, which we brought with us, outside.

It was also our duty as escorts to guard the carriage from those who were up to no good.

I bit into Dario-san’s 『Alma Chicken Roast Mille Feuille』 style pastry.

Because I was told that it would taste even better if warmed, I had someone in the inn heat it over fire.

Is that how it was made on Earth, too?

The pastry comprised several layers. Each layer had a different seasoning, with meat stuffed between layers.

The first layer contained salt and pepper — hors d’oeuvres.

The second layer contained bouillon like sauce. It had a strong taste — main dish.

The third layer——……

「……Dario-san, you’re a G.o.d, seriously.」

After I was done with the lunch, I took out the fruit pie which I received from Dario-san.

One of the two, who were having their own meals, twitched——which didn’t go unnoticed by me. It was Lim.

I decided to eat one myself and offer the rest to Lim.

「Is it really that good?」

I tried to ask again but the pie had already been s.n.a.t.c.hed from my hand.

「Aah, you’ll have to share it with Arnold-san this time, however.」

「……Un」

Her expression was so funny, I couldn’t keep myself from watching. *gununu*……was her expression when she was handing half the fruit pie to Arnold-san.

It was such a charming sight.

——Once again, we coursed to the west.

While we were advancing along the highway, we could see the silhouette of a dense forest on the left.

Because there were only plains on the right, we were required to be cautious of the left.

I would hate it if thieves showed up.

Killing humans……I’m not sure if I can do it.

Oh well. According to Batteau-san, thieves don’t take unnecessary risk of raiding escorted caravans.

I’m probably overthinking because of fatigue——

「——Pugiiiii!」 「Pugyuaaa」

Un, it was the monsters that attacked.

Coming out of the forest were four Orcs.

As for their appearance, there was nothing notable. They looked just like a bipedal pig.

Their skin was a mix of ash and mud. Their height was same as an average human. Drool was dribbling down the corner of their mouths as if they were excited.

They were holding clubs in their hands.

As for their skills——《Stick Arts Lv1》.

They had varying skill points （6~8/10）.

Stick Arts, huh?

There’s no harm in having one more skill. Should I steal then?

「Seiji, Lim! Take on a monster each. I’ll take on two.」

Arnold-san, who was guarding the left of the carriage, charged first.

Followed by me and then Lim.

I pulled the whetted Baselard out of its sheath and closed the distance while observing the swinging club of the enemy.