Chapter 4 - Strawberries and Charter Ride
Alec, who is always late in the morning, had breakfast with us today, probably because it was our departure day.
「Old man, I didn't order any fruit.」
A delicious-looking strawberry dessert was served at the inn's breakfast, but Alec glared at old man and said that.
「It's service, Alec-san. It's been less than a month and you've paid me well with no trouble. It's a good omen that you've risen to the occasion to receive a reward from the king.」
The innkeeper said with a smiling face. Hmm, so Alec has been paying his bills. I thought he might have overstayed his welcome.
「Oh, well, I'll introduce this place to a good customer when I get a chance.」
「Thanks.」
I threw a strawberry into my mouth, and the right amount of sourness and sweetness spread to my mouth.
「Mmm, strawberries, cold and delicious!」
「Mm-hmm!」
Everyone seemed to be very satisfied with the nifty service.
After finishing the meal and relaxing a bit, I went to Alec's room.
「You ordered a carriage, didn't you?」
I checked with Alec.
「Yes, I did. It's been chartered.」
「That's great, Master. I've only ever ridden in a regular carriage.」
Meena said, but I guess chartered carriages are more expensive.
「Alec-san, the carriage is here.」
「Oohhh, then, let us go.」
What kind of carriage will it be? We all went downstairs, a little excited.
「You must be Alec-san. Nice to meet you, I'm Nick, your coachman. I look forward to working with you from today.」
He introduced himself with a smile and bowed politely, and seemed to have a good personality. He was still young, probably around 20 years old.
The carriage he brought with him was covered and pulled by two horses. The carriage was rather large. The inside of the carriage is also spacious, and there seems to be enough room for the five of us and our luggage.
「Right, I'm looking forward to working with you.」
「Now, let me take your luggage.」
With Nick's help, we carried our personal belongings that we had left at the inn into the carriage. But it was only a change of clothes, and it was all in one bag.
「Is this all of your luggage? You didn't forget anything, did you?」
After carrying in the luggage, Nick checked carefully.
「No problem. Even if there is, there's no need to go back for it.」
「All right. Then we'll be off.」
The five of us on the carriage were me, Alec, Meena, Ione, and Lily.
According to Alec, a regular ride would be too cramped, or if there were snorers, it would be a bad trip. I see, that's why they chartered the ride. The fare was 2500 gold for five days, ten times more expensive than a regular ride, but it might be easier if we only had members who knew each other. It's a bit like camping.
The only difference is that we'll have to provide our own escort for this carriage, whereas the merchant's carriage will have an escort.
This is a world where there are monsters and bandits along the way.
◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
We left Erland, the royal capital of the Varnia Kingdom, and headed for Spagna, the royal capital of the neighboring country of Grandsword.
The trip was scheduled for five days, but Alec said he had made arrangements with Nick, the coachman, to allow for a few days of delay. In this world, you can't just fly in a plane, and there are no trains.
「Well, we'll be right behind you on the regular rides, so please wait a little longer.」
According to Nick, chartered ride that are in a hurry can leave at any time, but if there is enough time, they will follow the regular ride.
This way, we can count on the regular ride's escort in case we are attacked by bandits or monsters. The same is true for the regular mail, so it is customary for them to accompany the coach.
「Yoo, I'm Badge, an escort hired by the regular carriage. Are you adventurers?」
A strong-looking warrior peered into the carriage.
「Yes, we are.」
「Heeh~, yeah. Are you going to load the luggage now?」
「No, we're not. We're the luggage.」
「Hmm?」
「Badge-san, this carriage is only for Alec's use」
Nick explained.
「Oohhh, so it's a rich party carriage. I'm so jealous you got the whole place to yourself.」
Badge narrowed his eyes and smiled.
『This person's level is 22. Well, he's not useless, but you can't rely on him too much.』
Heruko seemed to appraise the situation and said that, Well, we've got the numbers, so I think we'll be fine.
From what I gathered at the tavern, the monsters in this area are not that strong.
He was wearing an iron breastplate and a broadsword. His breastplate was rusty and reddish brown in places, and his sword was still on the edge.
I wonder why adventurers in this world don't pay attention to fashion? Isabelle and Ai were fine, but I wish men would pay more attention to fashion. Especially Alec.
「So, you're going to Spagna, right? I'm counting on you, brother.」
Alec also raised his hand in greeting, though silently.
「Ohh, Mom! The seats in this carriage are all empty!」
This time, a boy of elementary school age peeked in.
「You cant' go there, come here. That's the wrong carriage.」
「Ehh?」
「I feel a little sorry for him.」
How could a little boy like him not get a good carriage?
「No, not at all.」
That's what Alec says.
「What?」
「Think about it. If we hadn't been there, they would have left in that carriage without a second thought. If we had a nobleman's box carriage beside us, they would have felt sorry for us.」
「Well...........That's right, I'm fine with this even if there's a nobleman's carriage beside us.」
The important thing was not which carriage was better, but where it was going.
A whistle sounded, which seemed to be the signal, and the carriage in front of us departed.
「Then we'll leave too.」
「Yeah.」
The carriage starts moving.
Alec, who was lying down, frowned at the severity of the shaking and sat back down on the couch at the end of the carriage. As expected, the ride is not much more comfortable than a modern car. The rattle and rattle of the wheels vibrated against my buttocks.
It was a good thing I had bought the cushion that Alec had told me to prepare.
「I knew there would be vibrations. I wonder if they ever invented suspension.」
「Maybe not.」
Then why don't we develop one and spread it around?
But would it be okay to change the level of knowledge and technology in this world?
Well, I don't think it would be like revising history. ......
Alec doesn't mind the idea of another world, but it's a strange place.
There are monsters. It's like a game.
I wonder what the Kingdom of Grandsword is like. According to Ione's story and what I heard at the tavern, it's a more lively place than the Kingdom of Vernia.
I heard that the first king was a swordsman, so I wonder if there are many sword fighting dojos there.
I think I'll learn a little sword fighting when I get there.
As I thought about random things, I looked at the new scenery outside from the carriage.
The journey had just begun.
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