Chapter 201: On the Carriage Along the Way and the First Village

Even though pulling a large carriage the two horses walk the highway lightly.

I sitting on the driver’s seat enjoyed this scenery where 360° horizon can be seen.

If the weather were good there would be nothing to say but unfortunately the clouds are becoming suspicious.

"Rare."

"That’s right. It is still early for the rainy season."

Muriel sitting beside me operating the two horses responded to my monologue.

This morning when we left the royal capital the weather was still good.

"That’s right. I want to somehow arrive at a village we can stay before rain falls."

Certainly rain falling at this time is rare.

Or rather I myself have almost never seen rain fall.

Before that I want to arrive at the first village.

This road connecting the royal capital and Lübeck town has many people coming and going.

Therefore on this highway villages that should be called post villages are dotted at distances not even one day walking.

In other words we can go from the royal capital to Lübeck town without camping.

Until that first village about one more hour perhaps.

"If rain falls please return inside the carriage. You will get wet here."

Muriel said that to me.

The driver’s seat has a roof for now but it is small so it did not seem very useful.

"Got it. Thank you."

I quietly, no, master-like nodded at Muriel’s words and thanked.

To speak honestly I do not mind staying here at all.

Muriel will also get wet and Sara and Rosina walking watch on both sides of the carriage will also get wet.

And inside the other Dules bloom conversation so I also do not want to disturb that.

But well I will receive Muriel’s goodwill.

"...The village came into view."

Soon after that conversation on the distant horizon something like a wall was seen potsuri.

"Eh!? Where?"

From behind Cathy put her face out.

The carriage is covered and the part corresponding to the driver’s seat and cargo bed is partitioned by a curtain.

Cathy peered forward from there.

"Look, on the hill straight this road."

I brought my face close to Cathy and pointed where the village can be seen.

"...I cannot see anything."

...Is it still far.

"A, I also want to see! " "Me too!" "...I don’t want to see... it’s not that I don’t want to. Do!"

Sophia and Rine and the others push and shove.

The composition of Cathy blocking that.

About one person the instant she put her head out she received a backfist from Sophia.

"A, I saw it!"

Cathy who defended the special seat to the death shouted looking happy.

"Cathy, if you saw it give way to the others."

"Yes."

Receiving Muriel’s caution Cathy reluctantly sugosugo lowered and instead next putting her head out was Sophia.

"E~, where where~, I cannot see~."

Sophia rubbing her head against my shoulder shaking her head looking happy.

Her ears rotate drawing circles so she is quite happy I suppose.

I almost unconsciously floated a wry smile at that deliberate gesture but I immediately froze that expression.

"Sophia? You should already see it right."

Muriel filled an ice-like beautiful smile nikkori and quietly said turning only her head toward Sophia.

Sophia’s face paled and her ears pointed different unexpected directions left and right remaining frozen.

Facing straight forward she seems unable to look at Muriel’s face from fear.

I too ended up looking directly at Muriel’s face and even though I did nothing cold sweat burst out.

"If you’re done sit quietly."

"Y-yes!"

Sophia whose rigidity released at Muriel’s words answered in a large voice and at the same time pulled her face in.

"Fuu. Master too you have to be a little stricter."

Muriel who returned to normal cautioned me.

"A, aa. That’s right."

I who was swallowed by Muriel’s intensity unconsciously responded.

While doing that the village entrance started clearly coming into view.

The gloomy cloudy sky looked about to cry any moment.

...

"...Was this place like this?"

Fifteen years ago when I visited the ruins requested by Mateus for ruins investigation I came once but at that time it overflowed with vitality as a post town.

But now in front of my eyes children crowding us wanting food and adults sitting on the roadside waiting to be given food or money.

Both appearances are dirty and I can tell they are thin.

"Something to eat..."

"No good! If you give food it will become unmanageable."

Cathy perhaps unable to bear tried to give food to the children but was immediately cautioned by Rosina.

From the driver’s seat I cannot see Rosina’s face but she probably floats a pained expression.

"Cora! Move, brats!"

From the front a middle-aged woman approached us while swinging a broom chasing away the children.

"You guys looking for an inn? There’s a good inn over there. Won’t you go?"

...

Anywhere was fine so we tried coming to the inn that woman said but...

"Five silver coins is too expensive!"

"If you cannot pay get out already! I have no use for guys without money!"

Cathy and the inn landlady argue.

The lodging fee is quite high apparently.

Certainly the inn we stayed when we went to pick up Helma before was 50 copper coins and the inn same five silver coins as this inn was without offense incomparably more luxurious.

"Isn’t the market price around 50 copper coins?"

Muriel interjected with a feeling of unable to bear.

"Here this is the market price! If you don’t like it go elsewhere!"

There is no island to cling to.

Muriel floated a wry smile and Cathy while reddening her face in anger turned her face toward me.

"Fuu..."

I sighed and nodded.

Being this strong-willed the other inns are similar I suppose.

One month since liberation from the Demon Kings.

The outside state too still far from reconstruction perhaps.

"Understood. Then please."

With dissatisfied-faced Cathy in the corner of her eye Muriel told the landlady we will stay.

"Advance payment. Don’t mess up the room. Take meals outside. Though nowhere will feed you."

When Muriel passed five silver coins advance payment she cautioned bluntly and at the end said laughing as if self-mocking.

For now we have secured food but...

"I did not think it was this far."

Cathy said to me grimacing her face.

I also expected meals would come out at the inn.

"Because they were dominated by the Demon Kings... It will not return overnight."

Muriel who received the key from the landlady and returned explained to Cathy in a small voice.

"But the royal capital..."

"The royal capital is supported by the Anirofe order~."

Rosina who entered the inn at some point entered the talk.

She watched the carriage together with Sara.

"But hands cannot reach other towns and villages~. By the way, decided~?"

"Aa, decided here. Go deposit the carriage."

"Got it~."

When Rosina answered she went outside again.

She went to deposit the carriage in this inn’s carriage shed.

"Hurry up."

Because I and 11 Dules, Birga, Rine stood holding luggage in the not very wide lobby I suppose.

The landlady said that irritably.

With Muriel at the lead we went up the stairs.

"We rented two rooms. One please use Master. The remaining one we will use."