Chapter 32 (1/2)

【Azul Kingdom, Royal Capital]

「Oi, have you heard?」

When a man who wore a turban said that and brought near his face, a gray-haired man, who was checking the luggage on the wagon’s luggage carrier, nodded solemnly.

「Yeah, about the guy Hundert? He said, he flew up to the sky with his wagon……」

「Right, it’s an absurd rumor.」

When the man in the turban agreed, the gray-haired man frowns.

「If you think it’s fake, why are you bringing it up?」

「It’s because it isn’t fake.」

When the man in turban declared that, he excitedly took something out from his leather bag that is hung on his waist.

「What do you think is this?」

When he said, the gray-haired man looked at it and a leaf is lying on the palm of his hand.

「…… What with that leaf?」

「Try to sniff its scent」

「…… It has a strange scent. What’s wrong with this?」

When the man, who brought his nose to the palm, raised his face and asked that, the man in the turban picked up the leaves and raised it.

「It seems to be a leaf called Peppermint. It has a strong smell and it can also be used in cooking. It is said that he also has a variety of unusual things besides this.」

When the man in the turban said that, the gray-haired man looked at the Peppermint leaf excitedly.

「…… In other words, it’s something he obtained on the rumored flying island. That guy will really make a profit. However, is that real?」

「It’s not fake. If he collected rare things somewhere in the remote region, the leaves will be too fresh. Besides, just three days ago, I just saw that guy Hundert in the Royal Capital. He probably doesn’t have the means to replenish his stocks.」

「….. Anyway, whether or not he went to the flying island, goods that can’t be obtained elsewhere are attractive. But if you’re not careful, you will be completely deceived by a poor guy like Hundert.」

When the gray-haired man said that with a smile that has a hidden meaning, the man in turban sighs and smiles wryly.

「Well, there’s probably no need to worry about that.」

【Hundert]

Two days after the Imperial Army had withdrawn from the Royal Capital.

There was a figure of a man who drives a wagon outside of the city. It was a thin man with hunchback characteristics. Although he is in his forties, his worn-out look made him look much older than his age. He also had an appearance of light brown eyes and pale black hair, overall it is a man who gives a vague impression.

「Hundert. You have no choice but to do it. If you can’t sell in the Royal capital, you can just sell in another big city. There’s no problem in your goods. Rather, it’s a high quality products, so the feudal lords of the small rural towns will definitely be attracted.」

That man, Hundert muttered that in order to persuade himself and drives his wagon to the highway.

Hundert advances while minding his surroundings and occasionally shifting his attention to the luggage carrier of the wagon.

「Is there no remnants of the Imperial Army? No no, anyone will surely run away if they saw that mysterious golems. After all, even all my fellow merchants are too scared that they don’t even want to go out of city……」

The highway near the large Royal Capital. It’s a bustling highway where people with various occupations usually come and go, but there was no sign of people and carriages anywhere.

It’s only Hundert and his wagon who are there. Hundert, who behaves suspiciously because of anxiety, is only paying attention to his front, back, left, and right, and didn’t notice the shadow that approached from above.

Suddenly, the wagon floated up, and Hundert blinks his eyes and looks down to the ground.

「Eh?」

As the ropes that connects the horse and wagon stretches, Hundert became confused, another shadow descended and hugged the horse from its side.

「UWAA!?」

Seeing the sudden newcomers, Hundert was taken aback while raising a scream and turns around to escape towards the luggage carrier.

And, he notice the huge figure who was behind the wagon and raised a scream.

「A, a, a golem…. GOLEM!?」

Hundert’s scream which echoed from the wagon that floats up to the sky, have even reached far away up to the Royal Capital’s gate.

After reaching flying Heavenly Country, Hundert was looking down absentmindedly from the wagon to the horse that fainted.

「This, this place is……」

He look around absentmindedly, but the two robots standing nearby didn’t even pay any attention to him, so instead he turned his eyes to large sized trees.

However, seeing the castle at the highest place of the island, strength returns to the eyes of Hundert.

「…… I wonder why there’s a castle here? Is this heaven……? No, I can see clouds right next to it…… In addition, these golems are……」

While muttering with a shivering voice, Hundert got down from the wagon.

He turned his attention to the scenery around him once again and opens his mouth.

「No way, the ally announced by the Kingdom……」

「Oh man, sorry for bringing you here without consent. Were you scared?」

Hearing a voice all of sudden, Hundert let out an idiotic voice and fell on his butt.

When he raised his head, he saw a figure of a simple but kind-looking young man. The young man looks at Hundert and the wagon, and opens his mouth.

「Maybe because it was right after the war, I was troubled because there was no merchants at all, you see. You’re a merchant, right?」

Hearing that, Hundert responded while standing up hurriedly.

「Ye, yes! I, I am called Hundert…..! Are you perhaps, one of the Great Magician-sama……?」

While looking at the young man in unusual attire up and down, Hundert asked that. Hearing that, the young man smiled wryly and tilted his head.

「Is that the rumors? Just what kind of rumors did you heard?」

「Ah, umm, they said, there’s a country called Heavenly Country on the island that floats in the sky, and there are 10 Legendary Great Magician-samas and more than 200 magicians who are their disciples……」

「O, ooh…… did you hear such amazing stories?」

Hearing Hundert’s words, the young man with amazed expression smiled wryly as if it was hopeless and pointed at himself.

「I am Taiki. Nice to meet you, Hundert-san.」

The moment when the young man extended his hand while giving his name and Hundert receive it with both hands reflexively, he saw that some figures of people are concealing themselves while crouching low like a tiger behind Taiki.

Seeing Hundert who gasped and becomes stiff, Taiki said “Ah” and turned around.

「Everyone, please don’t glare at him too much. He’s already scared because he was brought up to the sky.」

「Yes, we understand」

Responding to Taiki’s words, a young man and woman of cat beastmen stood up. Hundert, who is completely scared, opens his mouth while glancing repeatedly at the cat beastmen.

「U, umm, what can I do for you……?」

「Ah, right. I haven’t said it yet.」

After saying that, Taiki pointed at the wagon owned by Hundert.