The Pilgrimage—What Are You Doing Here Again? (2)

Waaaaah—.

Long live Prince Loen! Long live the Dikram Empire!

The streets rang with repeated cheers for Blanc.

Amid them, the names of Fulcare, Iseria, Theodore, and Laurent could also be heard from time to time.

After more than four years of war, the four who had defeated the Demon King were the Empire's hope and glory.

‘…My name isn't there.’

Vieta bit her lip to hide her bitterness.

Who would like a Hero who had gone mad over gambling and been confined on the outskirts of the capital?

Still, she couldn't help feeling depressed whenever she encountered signs that her existence as the Hero was being erased.

The goddess and the Emperor had created a scarecrow in Vieta's image to completely erase the Hero's identity, then imprisoned it on the outskirts of the capital.

In a way, it had worked out well for that person. The Imperial family had taken in a homeless person from the streets—someone who might have died there—and was now caring for them.

The citizens' cheers continued without end, and just as everyone's ears in the carriage were beginning to grow weary, Adrienne spoke.

“I'm thirsty.”

Vieta glanced at Adrienne's face. She was a fairly cute woman, with freckles that added to her charm. If she hadn't caused such an uproar today, she could easily have married a decent man.

“What am I supposed to do if I'm hot already?”

Freckled Adrienne kept fanning herself with her hand, her face flushed bright red.

Yet everyone merely gauged Adrienne's mood, and no one answered. They had good reason: whenever trouble arose, Adrienne wielded the word “commoner” to crush everyone else's self-esteem.

Unfortunately, everyone except Adrienne was a commoner. Commoners had to go through several procedures to participate in the pilgrimage.

Since they would be serving a prince at close quarters, even those with good reputations in their villages needed letters of recommendation from the local lords just to apply.

However, no matter how carefully selected they were, even people with a lord's recommendation could not overcome the limitations of their lineage.

“I said I'm thirsty.”

Freckled Adrienne poked Vieta's forearm with her finger.

“Go drink. If you're thirsty, then drink.”

At Adrienne's continued condescension, Vieta suppressed the urge to break her finger and pointed at the water canteens provided in the carriage.

“What foolish commoners—you mean I have to draw my own water and drink it myself?”

At Adrienne's shrill voice, another woman frowned deeply and poured her some water.

“You should've done that sooner.”

What a piece of work.

Just as Vieta was slowly shaking her head and clicking her tongue, the woman who had handed Adrienne the water leaned over and whispered into Vieta's ear.

“Just put up with it. If you butt heads with her again and she makes a scene about nobles and commoners, it'll only be more painful. The fact that a noble has come this far says it all. She's obviously a fallen noble with no territory of her own.”

The woman gave a wry smile, sat back down in her place, and closed her eyes. When Vieta looked around, she saw that everyone there wore a similar expression.

Adrienne drained a cup of water in one gulp, then suddenly pulled a snack from the provisions and began eating it.

“Is she really a noble...?”

Despite someone's muttered comment, she doggedly stuffed every snack she had taken out into her mouth.

*

The carriage's lavish interior and soft purple cushions made up for its rough ride.

“It's a little hot.”

At Blanc's words, the attendant traveling with him opened the carriage window slightly.

A breeze brimming with the freshness of early summer gently tickled his forehead.

‘I wonder if Vieta's all right.’

Watching the scenery flash past outside the window, Blanc let out a sigh.

She had to be somewhere, yet he hadn't even caught a glimpse of her face, which frustrated him.

“Are you uncomfortable? If you'd like something to nibble on, would you care for a snack?”

The seasoned attendant keenly sensed his master's discomfort and opened a case of snacks for Blanc.

“I don't feel like any. You must be tired from this morning, so have some yourself.”

They were colorful and pretty, but Blanc had never particularly enjoyed sweets, so he didn't feel like eating any.

Perhaps his blood sugar had been running low, because the attendant quietly set aside a cookie for himself.

“We plan to have lunch when we reach the Mayurian Junction. Would you care to take a walk then?”

Once they passed the Mayurian Plains, they would truly be leaving the capital behind.

“That sounds fine.”

Since it was a rest period, perhaps he could look for Vieta then.

Though he was in the middle of a conversation with the attendant, Blanc's thoughts had already become filled with Vieta.

At first, Blanc had found this version of himself incredibly awkward.

No matter what he did, he kept thinking of Vieta, and he had wondered whether he was going mad.

But now it no longer bothered him. After that night, Blanc had decided to acknowledge his feelings.

He still didn't know whether it was like or love, but right now, he simply wanted to see Vieta very badly.

“Pack some of those snacks separately for me. And gather the documents related to Marquis Ahan as well.”

Vieta would surely receive dessert too, but Blanc wanted to give her at least one extra treat.

***

“Ugyagyagyagya.”

Vieta stretched as hard as she could, heedless of who was watching.

After hunching herself in the carriage for nearly three hours, her whole body was so stiff that she felt as though she might die from the discomfort.

“How uncouth.”

Adrienne picked a fight after seeing Vieta like that, but Vieta ignored her without a word. She was beyond annoyed and had reached a state of near resignation.

“Maids assigned to the various groups, distribute the lunch boxes quickly.”

When a man with a scar over his eyebrow pointed toward the mountain of lunch boxes and assorted supplies, the people in the carriages hurried over to sort and distribute everything.

“Can you really carry all that?”

“Of course.”

When Vieta picked up more than five lunch boxes at once, the man distributing them stared at her in astonishment.

Regardless, Vieta leisurely carried the lunch boxes, drinking water, and desserts over one after another.

“Bring them over here!”

A young mage waved his hand. Sweat beaded on his forehead, suggesting that he was somewhat tired after riding for a long time.

“Are there no separate desserts?”

“It seems they'll be handed out separately later.”

The mages chatted among themselves and began eating.

It was a simple lunch consisting of plain rice balls, three kinds of fruit, and a few cookies, but everyone looked happy as they ate, clearly famished.

“We should eat too, right?”

As Vieta caught her breath, Laura—the woman who had poured Adrienne's water—came over and whispered to her.

“Your name was Vieta, right? Thanks to you, we finished quickly. I've saved us a spot, so hurry.”

Vieta had been about to refuse, thinking she might eat alone, but it seemed strange to keep declining, so she followed Laura.

Everyone except Vieta and Laura had gathered in a quiet spot shaded by trees.

“Um... what about Freckles?”

“She'll eat on her own. If we told her she had to eat with vulgar commoners, she'd refuse anyway.”

A maid sitting on the mat imitated Adrienne, and everyone burst out laughing.

“Let's sit too. You worked hard, Vieta, so you need to eat plenty.”

Laura pulled Vieta down onto the mat and even stuffed a rice ball into her mouth.

Vieta was briefly flustered by the unexpected kindness, then quietly took the rice ball in both hands and began eating.

“How is it? Tasty?”

“It's nice and salty.”

At Vieta's words, everyone began eating, their faces full of anticipation. Even so, none of them stopped talking throughout the meal.

Vieta found it astonishing that they had somehow managed to keep their mouths shut inside the carriage.

“Why did you apply for this job, Laura?”

The conversation, which had begun with simple introductions, gradually shifted toward more personal topics.

“I needed money for my wedding.”

The other women's eyes lit up. They chatted at length about Laura's wedding, telling her they would definitely come when she got married a month later, until the conversation eventually turned toward Vieta.

“Aren't you getting married, Vieta? If you don't have a boyfriend, my older brother is pretty handsome. Should I introduce you?”

“Ah, I haven't thought about it yet.”

Vieta gave an awkward smile.

Although it had been nearly eight years since she had fallen onto the continent of Rodina, Vieta had never attended a wedding in this world. She had never traveled, let alone attended a wedding, and she had never had any friends besides her companions.

It was the common sorrow of an otherworlder.

“What a shame. Someone like you would be incredibly popular, Vieta.”

“A woman who works hard is the perfect bride.”

“Then doesn't that disqualify you?”

As they chatted on for quite a while, a horn sounded to mark the end of their brief, hour-long lunch break.

The maids quickly tidied the area and returned to the procession.

***

Time passed quickly, and before they knew it, the first night arrived.

According to the schedule, they had to camp out tonight. It would take about three more days to reach the next major city, so they would have to sleep outdoors for at least four nights.

The maids entered tents assigned to groups of four and went to sleep. Since neither Adrienne nor Vieta was assigned to the night watch, they went to bed early.

It was stifling.

Lying on the cot, Adrienne suddenly began gasping as a pain surged through her chest.

‘I thought I was going to die.’

Adrienne quietly steadied her breathing and patted her chest. The pain had vanished quickly, but it had been intense, as if her stomach were being crumpled inward.

After sitting on her bed for a long while, Adrienne's eyes, accustomed to the darkness, caught sight of an irritating green head.

Adrienne clicked her tongue—'Tsk.'

With her sullen expression, which made it impossible to tell what she was thinking, and her refusal to lose face even with a noble before her, she was a woman Adrienne disliked from head to toe.

‘Let's just sleep.’

Offended, Adrienne pulled the blanket all the way over her head.

Now wasn't the time to concern herself with some strange commoner; she needed to get at least a little more sleep to prepare for tomorrow.

She patted her slightly uncomfortable chest a few more times, then closed her eyes and tried to sleep.