Chapter 9
The next morning.
Felicia and I came to the Adventurers' Guild with our belongings.
"Requests heading toward Belgrant…"
We scanned the bulletin board from top to bottom.
"Find anything?"
"No, this one's north."
"What about this one?"
"It's a request to deal with pests in a village."
We'd decided to head for Belgrant.
"It'd be nice if we could get there while taking requests that lead west."
"I'm looking for one like that, too."
After looking over the board together for a while, we spotted a request form off to one side.
"Oh."
"Did you find one?"
"This one."
I pointed to the request form.
【Merchant Escort】
【Destination: Karna, Capital of Rodel Territory】
【Estimated Duration: Two Days】
"Karna… That's west, just like Belgrant."
"Shall we take this one?"
"Yes."
We took the form to the reception desk and completed the paperwork.
The client was waiting in front of the guild.
"Are you two my escorts?"
He was a man in his forties.
His name was Mark.
Beside him stood a covered wagon pulled by a single horse.
"I'm Allen."
"I'm Felicia Roth."
"Good to meet you. The cargo's cloth and salt, plus a few metal goods."
Mark pointed to the wagon bed.
"It's not the sort of stuff thieves would target, but there are monsters along the road."
"Understood."
"All right, let's get going."
Mark climbed onto the driver's seat.
Felicia and I took positions on either side of the wagon.
The wagon began to move slowly.
We headed west.
◇
As we left town, the houses grew fewer and farther between.
Fields stretched along both sides of the road, with low hills beyond them.
As we went farther, the fields dwindled and the woods grew thicker.
The wagon wheels rumbled over the dirt at steady intervals.
"So this is what traveling is like."
Felicia said.
"Is this your first time?"
"Um, y-yes."
Hm? There was something more to that answer.
"I've only traveled within the territory, too."
It was sometime after noon.
"Let's stop here."
Mark pulled on the reins.
A small river flowed alongside the road.
"We'll let the horse rest here. Let's eat, too."
"Understood."
While the horse drank, we sat down beside the road.
After our break, Felicia started to pick up her luggage.
"I'll carry that."
"Huh?"
"Let me take it."
"It's all right."
"We'll be walking tomorrow, too, so you shouldn't let yourself get too tired."
"But you have your own things to carry, Allen-san."
"A little extra weight won't make a difference."
I took Felicia's luggage.
"…It really does look light for you."
"It is light."
"I've been getting tired less easily than before, too."
"Still, there's no need to push yourself."
"…………"
Felicia puffed her cheeks out just a little.
"Then, please."
"Sure."
We continued along the road.
About an hour later…
"Please stop."
The bushes ahead rustled.
Mark brought the wagon to a halt.
I drew my sword.
"Felicia-san, please watch the wagon."
"Yes!"
Three goblins leaped out of the bushes.
"Gah!"
The first one charged at me.
I stepped forward.
One strike.
I immediately headed for the second and swung my sword sideways.
"Gah!"
The second one fell, too.
The last one circled around, trying to avoid me.
"Felicia-san!"
"I see it!"
The goblin headed for the wagon.
Felicia stepped in front of it.
"Magic Bullet!"
Smack!
The first shot.
The goblin kept running.
Felicia moved to the side.
"Magic Bullet!"
The second shot.
"Gah!"
"Magic Bullet!"
The third shot hit the same spot, and the goblin fell.
【You acquired 20P】
【Your points: 80P】
"It's over."
I returned my sword to its scabbard.
Mark watched us from the driver's seat.
"…You two sure know what you're doing."
"Do we?"
"Yeah. I can trust you with the job."
Mark got the horse moving again.
◇
We spent the night at a small post town along the road.
Inns and taverns lined both sides of the street, with stables farther back.
By evening, several wagons had rolled into town.
The next morning.
We headed west again with Mark's wagon.
Before noon, we spotted a large stone pillar beside the road.
The emblem carved into it was different.
"This is where Rodel Territory begins."
Mark said.
"Rodel Territory…"
I glanced back once.
"Allen-san?"
"Let's go."
"Yes."
We continued on, passing the stone pillar.
That afternoon.
Three gray wolves appeared on the road.
I cut down one of them.
Felicia's Magic Bullet took down the second.
The last one leaped at Felicia.
"Allen-san!"
"Yes!"
I stepped between them and swung my sword.
【You acquired 30P】
【Your points: 110P】
As the sun began to sink, a large city wall came into view.
"That's Karna."
The capital of Rodel Territory.
Wagons lined up in front of the gate, while soldiers bearing the Rodel crest checked everyone coming and going.
"We made it. Thanks for your help."
Mark climbed down from the driver's seat.
"Thank you, too."
"Take this to the guild."
Mark handed me the request form, signed by him.
"It's proof that the escort job's complete."
"Thank you."
"If we meet again somewhere, I hope you'll help me out."
We parted ways with Mark and headed to Karna's Adventurers' Guild.
I presented my Adventurer's Card and the request form at the reception desk.
"I've confirmed everything. The escort request is complete."
【Request completion confirmed】
【You acquired 100P】
【Total P Acquired: 1,270P】
【Your points: 210P】
◇
That night.
I opened Membership in my room at the inn.
【Your points: 210P】
"That gives me three uses."
【You purchased Strength Enhancement (Medium)】
【Strength: 140 → 170】
【You purchased Endurance Enhancement (Medium)】
【Endurance: 130 → 160】
【You purchased Agility Enhancement (Medium)】
【Agility: 180 → 210】
【You used 150P】
【Your points: 60P】
The next morning.
As we left the inn, Felicia took a few steps, then looked over at me.
"…Did you raise all your stats last night?"
"How did you know?"
"I could tell as soon as you started walking."
"I raised Strength, Endurance, and Agility once each."
"So, all of them…"
Felicia looked at her hands.
"I guess I need to get used to how my body feels different every morning."
"Is it hard?"
"I don't mind it."
Felicia smiled.
◇
We looked for another request heading west at Karna's guild, too.
"How about this one?"
Felicia pointed to a request form.
It was an escort job to transport a small shop's goods to a post town farther west.
"Will it take us toward Belgrant?"
"It's a bit of a detour, but we'll still be heading west."
"Then let's take it."
"Aren't you in a hurry?"
"There's no particular reason to rush."
"You seem like the sort of person who'd enjoy traveling this way, Allen-san."
"If we keep taking requests along the way, we can earn money for the trip, too."
"I knew you'd say that."
"It's important, isn't it?"
"It is, but…"
Felicia laughed.
We took a second escort request and set out west again.
◇
The third day.
By the time Karna's walls disappeared from view, we were surrounded by fields of wheat.
The wheat swayed in great waves whenever the wind blew.
We encountered a group of goblins along the way. I defeated three, and Felicia took down two.
【You acquired 30P】
【Your points: 90P】
The fourth day.
We crossed a stone bridge and passed through several small villages.
Gray wolves sprang out from the woods beside the road, but Felicia and I each took one down.
【You acquired 15P】
【Your points: 105P】
By evening, we reached the post town to the west.
We delivered the cargo safely and received proof of completion from the client.
We took it to a nearby branch of the Adventurers' Guild.
【Request completion confirmed】
【You acquired 100P】
【Total P Acquired: 1,415P】
【Your points: 205P】
That night, I used P again.
【Strength: 170 → 200】
【Endurance: 160 → 190】
【Agility: 210 → 240】
【You used 150P】
【Your points: 55P】
◇
The next morning.
"I'm fine carrying my things today."
Felicia said as we left the inn.
"I haven't said anything yet."
"You got stronger again yesterday, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Then I've gotten stronger, too."
Felicia picked up her luggage.
"See?"
"Tell me if you get tired."
"I will."
The fifth day.
We found another escort request heading west.
This time, too, there was only one wagon.
Our destination was a town along the road to Belgrant.
After noon, we entered a road running between low hills.
We heard a cry from up ahead.
"Gah!"
"Goblins!"
There were four of them.
Then a large shadow emerged from behind them.
"An orc…"
Felicia readied her staff.
"Let's take out the goblins first."
"Yes!"
Two of them charged at me.
I cut down the first, then swung my sword at the second without losing momentum.
【You acquired 20P】
Felicia was firing Magic Bullets at the two remaining goblins.
"Magic Bullet!"
One of them fell.
She quickly took down the last one, too.
"Bwooooh!"
The orc kicked off the ground.
"I'll go in from the right!"
Felicia ran.
"Magic Bullet!"
Its leg.
"Magic Bullet!"
The same spot.
The orc faltered.
I closed in on it.
"Hah!"
I swung my sword through.
The giant body crumpled to the ground.
【You acquired 100P】
【Your points: 175P】
"It's over."
Felicia ran over to me.
"Are you hurt?"
"No. What about you, Felicia-san?"
"I'm fine, too."
"Then let's go."
"Yes."
We returned to the wagon we were escorting.
◇
The sixth day.
The road was gradually getting wider.
We were also passing more wagons headed east.
A little after noon, we arrived at the town we were escorting the wagon to.
We completed the request.
【Request completion confirmed】
【You acquired 100P】
【Total P Acquired: 1,635P】
【Your points: 275P】
That night.
【Strength: 200 → 230】
【Endurance: 190 → 220】
【Agility: 240 → 300】
【You used 200P】
【Your points: 75P】
The next morning.
As Felicia descended the inn stairs, she suddenly grabbed the handrail on the first step.
"Whoa, that was close…"
"What happened?"
Felicia looked at me.
"Did you raise your Agility twice last night?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me beforehand!"
"Did something happen?"
"I almost skipped two steps at once."
"Please be careful."
"You're the one telling me that?"
She gave me an exasperated look.
◇
The seventh day.
From here on, we decided to head to Belgrant without taking any requests.
There were clearly more people walking along the road than before.
Merchants and travelers.
Adventurers carrying swords and spears.
We also passed several large wagons pulled by two horses.
"There are a lot more people now."
"That's because we're getting close to Belgrant."
Felicia looked ahead.
"It's one of the Kingdom of Sahar's major trading cities."
A little after noon.
Three gray wolves attacked us a short distance from the road.
"I'll take the one on the left!"
"Please do!"
Felicia drew one of them toward her.
I cut down the other two in quick succession.
【You acquired 30P】
【Your points: 105P】
By evening, we reached the last post town.
Belgrant was only a day away.
I opened Membership in our room at the inn.
【Your points: 105P】
【You purchased Endurance Enhancement (Medium)】
【Endurance: 220 → 250】
【You used 50P】
【Your points: 55P】
After dinner, Felicia gazed outside through the inn window.
"Tomorrow, then."
"Yes."
"Belgrant."
Even after dark, wagons continued along the road.
"I wonder what the city is like."
"It must be huge."
"There's no doubt about that."
"I'm starting to get excited."
"Me, too."
◇
The eighth day.
We headed west from the morning onward.
The road grew even wider.
Two wagons could travel side by side with room to spare.
Shops catering to travelers were beginning to appear along the road, too.
Before noon.
Two gray wolves sprang out from beside the road.
Felicia drew one of them toward her with Magic Bullet.
The other came at me.
I stepped forward.
I swung my sword.
【You acquired 15P】
【Your points: 70P】
I turned around.
Felicia had finished, too.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes."
We continued west.
That afternoon.
Felicia reached the top of a long hill first.
"Oh…"
She stopped.
"What is it?"
"Allen-san."
Felicia pointed ahead.
"I can see it."
We reached the top of the hill.
"…That's incredible."
A massive city wall stood in the distance.
It was on a completely different scale from any town we'd seen so far.
Wagons lined the road leading to the city wall, and even from here, we could see the crowds streaming along it.
"That's…"
"Yes."
Felicia smiled.
"The trading city of Belgrant."
After eight days, it had finally come into view before us.
Total P Acquired = 1,680P