14 Chapter 15: Travels (1/2)
The carriage owner, who had remained quiet the whole time, finally decided to turn around and check where all the noise was coming from.
”Hi!” I said as he faced me
”What the!?” He shouted
Ah, sorry..
”Sorry for the jumpscare.. Is everything alright?”
”Everything Alright..? I Have a kid on my carriage and i didn't even notice!”
”Yeah.. about that.. 2 kids actually”
I pointed at Ariel who had been staring at her new necklace and she waved at him
”W-when did you 2 get on..?” The man asked with a perplexed expression
”That's not important, sir. Why don't you have any adventurers guarding your carriage?”
”No, i think that is important.”
The man let out a sigh before continuing. ”I'm a merchant kid. I made a request in the guild to be accompanied but no one accepted. I couldn't wait any longer so i decided to leave everything to luck.”
”I see..”
”Look kid, Carriages without adventurers protecting them usually get targetted by bandits. They're uncommon in this area but they still appear. If we're lucky, they won't appear. If they do i'm afraid i won't be able to help you. They'll capture you and your friend and sell you off to slave traders”
”Mhm.. Hey sir, what's the reward for that quest?” I Asked
”10 Silver coins” He replied.
”Hmm.. Then since i'm already here, i might aswell accept it. I also get a free ride so.”
”Wait a minute. You kids are adventurers?”
”How do you think we got on without anyone noticing? We're both F rank adventurers”
”F?! That's pretty low. I don't think you'll be able to handle bandits.”
”Ah.. About that.. Don't worry, look. Glacies”
I pointed up and an ice spike had been formed slightly above my finger
”Magic?!”
”Mhm. She can use it too”
The man let out a laugh after he realised something. ”I see., not to mention how you didn't use any chants. You're a strange kid, but you're hired. My names david, you are?”
David looked to be in his 60s, he had a long white beard. A sword on his waist and pony tail tied white hair. He was also slightly taller than me, around 165cm while i'm around 155cm.
”It would be rude not to properly introduce myself to my benefactor. My name is John Fox. And this here is my partner”
Ariel who realised that it was her cue, got up bowed her head and introduced herself. ”My name is Ariel Rivera. I'm John's p-partner.” With a smile on her face, she sat back down
”Nice to meet you john and Ariel.” Said david
We both nodded at him
”That being said.. Aren't you the lucky guy? Travelling around with such a cute girl.” David whispired
”Very!” I said as i nodded
”Wha- I wasn't expecting that reaction..”
”But it's the truth?” I said with a perplexed expression
It's been around 3 hours since the carriage left the kingdom and the sun set an hour ago. The reason that he didn't notice us all this time, is because kept 'Furtim' Activated between me and Ariel, and would occasionally use Silentium when he turned around.
I decided that it would have been best to tell him After we were moderately far from the kingdom, so that he wouldn't be able to go back.
”Alright. I replied
he moved the horses out of the road, onto a nearby plain with trees.
”This should be able to keep it out of sight.. The only problem is that monsters are quite common here.” Said David
Next to the road we were in, there was the forest that i went to with Ariel for the goblin extermination and the Giant boar. Despite travelling for 3 hours by carriage, i still couldn't see the end of it.
The forest also looked much more deeper here compared to the entrance, apparently it was because people cut trees in the entrance of the forest to use for the kingdom.
”It'll be fine as long as we're not inside of the forest right? We're still out in the plain, we're just taking cover with the trees near them.”
”No, i've travelled this path many times, there's always going to be a pack of wolves that will appear, i was planning on taking a short break then keep travelling by night, but that would be more dangerous. And since i hired adventurers, let's see what you're capable of.”
”Agreed, i'll keep watch, you can get some rest along with the horses. Let's continue tomorrow morning. Wait.. I FORGOT! Where are we going again?” I asked
”Huh? You didn't even know that? Then why'd you hop on to my carriage..? You're pretty strange kid.. We're heading north to one of the ports where adventurers go to travel by boat to the kingdom of atlas”
Ah, that's right, kingdom of atlas was north of the kingdom that i was in
”I thought you guys got on my carriage because you knew that.. It's also quite a famous place for adventurers.. No, in fact, Many adventurers go there.” Said david
”Why is that?” I curiously asked
”Well, there are 4 Dungeons surrounding it.”
”Dungeons.. Can you tell me more about dungeons?”
”Huh? You're an adventurer and you don't know what dungeons are!? Listen.. Thousands of years ago, dungeons just appeared out of nothing. Inside came out monsters which caused a massive amount of casualties and deaths.”
I listened intently with dimly lit eyes as the man continued to explain the origins
”In an attempt to find out, what was the cause of all the monsters appearing. Humanity created exploration groups to explore the dungeon, Thousands of treasures and magical items were found inside and these helped strengthen humanity.”
Wow.. I never realised history could be so interesting.
”The exploration groups resulted in the creation of the adventurers guild. It's an adventurers job to suppress monsters and explore dungeons. Because they explore, they're able to experience many new things. Each dungeon is different, so adventurers tend to travel around and see each one.”
”Wow.. So that's what it means to be a true adventurer. You say they travel around to see each one, does that mean that they've completed the previous one? What happens when they do, does it reset?”
”Completed? Haha, you're funny kid. In history only 3 dungeons were recorded to have been completed. In order to complete it, you'd have to reach the final floor and beat the final boss. As a result you gain unimaginable riches and ancient loss scrolls containing powerful spells. Do you get it now kid?”
”Ah.. so the reason they travel around is to find an easy one which they'll be able to complete?”
”Haha, you didn't have to put it like that, adventurers have their pride you know. But yeah, that's the case. Anyways, We're continuing tomorrow morning. It'll take us a week to reach Atlas following this pattern, so try to get as much rest as possible”
”I see.. Thanks for the information! I'll be fine.” I said as i made my way towards Ariel
It sounded a little ungrateful but i'm sure he understood why i was in a rush.
”Ariel, how are you?”
”I'm good and you?” She asked