Chapter 05: The Road to Royal Capital

 

Having had enough of detours, Al and Colin get their bearings and head down the road to the capital.

Since they have a carriage, camping is not so difficult, but it’s not that they don’t like it. They just put up with it.

At the very least, if you have a bed, you’re better off with it,……, Al thinks. Colin is tougher in this area and a bed? It’s a good thing we’re camping out. That’s his stance.

“Colin. I don’t want to camp out in the middle of nowhere. ……?

“Master Al. We’ll be in the capital in two days, you know. Rather than spending the night in a village around here, wouldn’t it be better to rest up in the capital? The peddler also said that villages around the capital will try to undercut you and charge you extra for a simple night’s stay.”

Unfortunately, there are not many large cities in the southern part of the country, which is relatively close to …… the royal capital when heading to it from the south.

To the south of the capital, there is a vast expanse of farms and countryside, and the area is regarded as the kingdom’s great food store.

However, it is mainly agricultural, and there are only a few villages in the area.

As is expected of a region that supports the food supply of a kingdom, the roads are well maintained, security is tight, and public safety is very good. The scenery is quite idyllic, but it is certainly not a particularly pleasant place for a traveler to visit.

In each village, travelers and vendors are sometimes accommodated, but it is customary that the closer the village is to the royal capital, the higher the fee.

Those passing through for food transportation do not rely on the neighboring villages, but rather travel farther to the city.

Although there is not much difference in their lives, it is said that the pride of their village is that “our village is closer to the royal capital than other places.

‘Yeah, ……! It’s like a marching drill, and I hate it already!’

“Master Al! You’re being a little too selfish! Where’s the battlefield? I don’t know. …… really ……”

Al was getting bored. Besides, it was almost the capital. A place where, like Colin, there was no one to whom he could confide like this. He would have to spend several years there. There was also the anxiety.

I have a lot to complain about in Falconer territory, but after all, everyone knows each other, and even if I don’t feel comfortable with the brainlessness of the people around me, it’s a place where I didn’t have to worry too much. Home.

At the beginning of the journey, there was a sense of liberation in being able to leave the territory, but here, the uncertainty of what lay ahead was greater. It’s like homesickness. Although Al would never admit it.

“…… Huh? What are you afraid of, Master Al? Do you want to go back to Falconer territory?”

“No, No… That’s not true!”

Easy to understand.

As Al and Colin exchanged a few cackles, the carriage moved smoothly along the well-maintained streets.

……

…………

” Another sticky event. ……”

“Master Al! Why are you so relaxed? You have to help her!”

Colin stops the carriage and quickly jumps off the platform and runs to the girl.

He has already naturally strengthened his body.

The Falconer family does not have any secret magic, but in fact, some other families have said that the smooth “body strengthening” is already the unique magic of the Falconer family. Of course, Al has never heard of such voices from other families and is not aware of them.

As Colin ran away, Al also composed a “bullet” with a natural flow of mana.

He is a man of the Shura Kingdom. Target is already in sight.

“Hello! Are you okay?”

“…… ugh …… the water …….”

If you look at her, she is a red-haired girl with a dirty but well-defined face. She is younger than Al and the others …… and seems to be in her early teens. Weak voice and gestures. She certainly looks like she needs help.

If it hadn’t been for those connected with the Shura Kingdom …… Falconer family, the girls’ scheme might have worked. It’s no longer a meaningless assumption.

Colin takes some water out of his luggage and offers it to the girl. At the same time as ……, he does not forget to press the blade of his dagger against the neck. The movement is fluid. A blink of an eye.

“…… ah …… eh ……?”

Even the girl in question could not catch up with the situation for a moment.

“What’s wrong? Look! It’s water!”

(Colin’s got bad taste. ……)

His voice and expression were that of a naive boy worried about a girl who had fallen ill. However, the dagger he pressed against her did not move a muscle. The girl finally understands. That “She’s in Trouble”.

“Run……Runaway….”

But of course, it’s no use, You can’t escape.

Al’s “bullet” struck the feet of three boys and girls hiding on the outskirts of the street. The moment the bullets landed, the earth flew apart with a thud.

I don’t know if they were trying to help the red-haired girl whose movements were blocked by Colin, or if they were trying to escape, but they were caught off guard before they could make a move, and no one could move.

(It’s supposed to be a rich farming area, close to the royal capital, but vagabond boys and girls imitating Bandits. Hmmm. Is this another event?)

……

…………

Even those in Falconer would never harm a bunch of underage kids who are not capable of fighting properly, no matter what.

However, if they were capable of fighting “properly” in the eyes of Al and the others, they would have to be seen and killed regardless of their age…..There would have been four grave markers built next to the road.

“So? Why are you doing this? Even if you’re not a mage, you can at least use ‘life magic’, right? Did you think that a random robbery for water would work?”

“………..!”

Al and Colin don’t restrain the girls in any particular way. They are following Falconer’s style of “It’s a waste of rope to tie up someone who can be killed at any time.

It is said that magic exists in this world, and that powerful magic for fighting demons is the property of royalty and nobility and those who are related to them.

It is said that magic is a manifestation of mercy bestowed by the goddess to protect the human race and other powerless races against the threat of demons.

And even ordinary people who are not mages can use the Goddess’s blessing …… “life magic” by baptizing in a church. These are small-scale spells, such as “Create Water” “Ignition” “Create Earth” “Wind” “Vitality” “Treatment” “Clean”……, and generally everyone can handle all of them.

In particular, “Cleanse” has the effect of bathing and washing in an instant, and Al was thrilled, “This is more convenient than my previous life!”

To begin with, there is little need to worry about drinking water due to the “Create water” of “life magic” that can be used even with a very small amount of mana.

“…… You’re not accustomed to imitating a wild thief if you’ve done something so dumb after really thinking about it, are you?”

“…… This is the first time I’ve …… done this.”

Four boys and a girl.

The oldest is a red-haired girl who plays the role of a stray. The others are two boys about ten years old. The remaining one is an even younger girl.

The other three are even more frightened than the red-haired girl, so Al and the others decide to ignore them, seeing no need to scare them further.

The “bullet” from earlier. The actual magic …… “magic to fight demons” seems to have left them scared that it was aimed at them.

“I’m sure you guys have your reasons, but …… in cases like this, they usually just kill you and throw you away …… to the side of the road, and that’s it, okay? There is no blame on us for killing you. You may even receive a reward……. Did you know that?”

“……E……?”

These children have no common sense. Even Al, who has memories of his previous life and grew up on the frontier, understands the common sense of this world.

This is already a road leading to the royal capital. It is under the control of the royal family, and a thief on this road will usually be killed without question. There is even a possibility that the person who let the thief escape will be punished.

On closer inspection, the girls were dirty, but they were not poorly built. In fact, they are well-developed. At the very least, it’s not as if they were vagrants from a much younger age. And this world is not so dirty even for vagrants. Because there is a “Clean” spell.

So, it’s as if you’re telling people that dirty means there’s some kind of situation …….

And an older, red-haired girl. Al has a hunch that this girl is a mage. Even now, she is carefully following Al’s mana flow and is concerned about the activation of magic. She thinks she’s hiding it, but it’s obvious.

Despite her timid demeanor, she’s keeping a close eye on Al’s behavior.

It’s a shame. If you were a little bit more skilled at this, …… no, if that were the case, Colin would have already killed you in the exchange just now. ……)”

It’s a shame, Al reminded himself. The girls are alive because they don’t have the strength to fight.

(Hmmm… …… is it …… plausible that these kids are illegitimate children of a nobleman? …… No, no, no. Is it dangerous to tie everything you see and everyone you meet into the game? In addition, these children are not in the regular storyline,……, I think,……, It’s a multi-story after all, so it’s not entirely reliable. I don’t care if it was a completely different era. If the difference of a few years covered the main game, these kids were one of the main characters! It could be …… or something like …..huh.No point in thinking about it.)

Al’s habit of thinking is both good and bad.

Finally, Colin took over and asked.

“Do you guys have a place to go?”

“No! …… No, there isn’t!”

Is there one?

Who are these children?

Not born vagabonds, but one of them is a member of the nobility. And they are not familiar with common sense and are bad at lying.

Al keeps thinking about it, but it becomes troublesome.

“…… Colin. It’s too much trouble. Let’s just head to the capital. I don’t care enough to get involved.”

“Sigh. If that’s what you want, fine. …… Leave these kids alone? Even though it was an attempt, it was still a thief in royal jurisdiction?”

“It’s fine. It’s not like anyone is watching. ……”

“There they are! Get them!”

Huh. What the hell is ……?

……

…………

” Hand over those children to us!”

For some reason, the girls are positioned behind Al and Colin, making it look like Al and the others are protecting them from the people who are calling out.

(This …… You’ve done it. Maybe this was your goal ?)

Al glanced at the red-haired girl but was quickly turned away. I’m not sure what to make of this.

Al and Colin were caught in a situation where there was completely some circumstance The first thing Colin does is to get on the defensive and see what the other side does. As “fighters,” they were not much to look at. However, all five of them were on horseback, and if they were knights, they would be nothing but trouble, regardless of whether they were ordinary or magical. It doesn’t look like they are simply exterminating Bandits.

The first thing Colin does is to get on the defensive and see what the other side does. As “fighters,” they were not much to look at. However, all five of them were on horseback, and if they were knights, they would be nothing but trouble, regardless of whether they were ordinary or magical. It doesn’t look like they are simply exterminating bandits.

“This is none of your business! Hand those children over to us! That’s your only role here and now!”

Al confirms. The mana flow is thin. They are ordinary soldiers, these guys are not mages. They are not regular knights or soldiers belonging to the country in terms of etiquette. At best, they are private armies of noble families.

“Huh, ……, But As long as I don’t know your affiliation, I can’t help you. …… Once again, my name is Colin.”

“Yes! You! You want to be beaten to death here?”

The one who seemed to be the leader of the group drew his sword.

( What an idiot, this guy. Anyone in the royal jurisdiction who does not respond with their name and identity: ……I don’t care if it’s only a threat, but to suddenly pull it out? So this is the private army of a noble family? You’re missing a lot, aren’t you?)

While Al and Colin were silent, the man on the horse decided that they were trembling at the sight of the sword.

“Come on! Get out of my way! …… Hey! Get those kids!”

“Yes!”

Two of the five dismounted and attempted to seize the children. In their hands were a rope and a burlap sack, and it could be seen that they had made preparations.

“…… Baron Albert Falconer, son of. What is your name?”

“…… Hmm?”

Al says his name, and asks, who or what he is to the man on the horse.

“…… Okay, Colin. This guy didn’t say his name, did he?”

“Yes, sir. The man has not responded to Al’s request for a name. He still hasn’t said his name. In the direct jurisdiction of the royal family, those who do not respond to the name are bandits.”

The head of the man on the horse is blown off.