◈ The Saviour Embarks on a Nameless Journey
Chapter 3: Departure.
“Now then, where shall I go first?”
As I left through the royal capital’s gate, surrounded by wheat fields, I gazed at the environment while passing through the town that overflowed beyond the city walls. I pondered about the three-way intersection right in front of me.
In the end, after Lord Shation’s call, I began my journey from the royal capital. The few days I spent in the royal palace were headache-inducing, but meeting my eldest son, who serves as the captain of the chivalric order, my daughter, who became the queen, and my granddaughter made it worthwhile.
My hair was dyed in black, but as one would expect, the swordsman of the Hero’s party would be very recognizable. Embarrassingly, my portraits and statues are everywhere, but since I have often been seen as an old margrave, it would be hard to associate me with the Hero’s party.
Why the color black, is something I don’t want to talk about. His Majesty Shandor was tremendously apologizing to me, and in the end gave me a magic cloak as a farewell gift. It is said to provide some protection against projectiles and magic.
The equipment I used from the time of the demon king’s subjugation which I borrowed from the country back then has been returned, and many of the pieces of armor became unusable due to the battles. The only thing I own right now is my sword, and I’m thankful for that.
The journey to defeat the demon king also started from the royal palace. That area around the royal capital was still peaceful and carefree compared to the place I lived in. I remember being terribly irritated by the leisurely and laid-back people who held the event to send off the hero. I often clashed with Shato, a member of the royal family.
Now that I have done work as a margrave, I understand that the prosperous events were done to calm down the people’s hearts. Behind the scenes, groundwork was being laid in various directions, and preparations such as dispatching the knights took time, not just for us.
Truth is, the journey to defeat the demon king was tough, but when we approached the village within the kingdom amidst the devastation by demons, they provided food and accepted supplies left by envoys.
I intend to retrace the journey of the demon king’s subjugation, but the memory of the first month after leaving for that journey is somewhat faint. The journey began alongside the chivalry order dispatched to the afflicted cities. We traveled in a carriage and camped in tents.
There were inns in the towns we stopped by, but none that could accommodate all of us, so we entered and managed to secure supplies and water only. The high-ranking nobles within the Chivalric Order went to the inns, and the invitation was extended to us, including Shato, who declined.
The closer the towns were to the royal capital, and the more developed they were, the less damage there was from demons. Soldiers converged from these relatively secure cities, then promptly split up to head towards more heavily affected areas.
The flying types of demons appeared in places one can’t think of. The Chivalric Order and we fought them together multiple times. At the beginning of the journey, the impression of the knights I fought alongside left a stronger impact than the places we traveled through.
My memory of four people’s activities who started from a small village in the royal capital. I set out with the intention of aiming for that place first. Among the three-way intersections were the right and center paths, going whichever way would be the same, as they all have the same distance.
“Oh, young man! Three copper coins for some information about Telma, how about it? Just as I was about to settle down with a stick-knocking game, a voice called out from a cart traveling down the highway.
Telma was a town located ahead on the right road, if I recall correctly. Seems like my path forward has been decided.
“I’ll rely on you”
The coachman stopped the carriage after hearing my reply.
I paid the three coins, and got on. The carriage’s bed held several wooden crates, perhaps purchased in the royal capital, and two previous passengers.
One guy was completely covered with a robe. Whether they were acquaintances or passengers who paid to ride like me, they did not seem particularly close to the driver. The other guy was probably an adventurer who was employed as a guard.
They seem to be on a return trip after delivering something to the royal capital. The carriage had iron wheels and, though not as fancy as those with a canopy, it was good enough. It did look a bit old, but it seemed well maintained, and the luggage holder didn’t seem as if it was about to fall apart either. I wonder if things heavier than wheat could be transported.
The guy who resembled an adventurer carried a sword while leaning on a wooden crate to sit. He was staring at me with a look of disapproval, and eyes of which were trying to figure me out. I understand how he feels.
Don’t just pick up anyone who’s carrying a sword of unknown origin! What would you do if they happened to be a thief of no popularity! Right, as if.
I remember the good-natured Shato inviting obviously suspicious people to join us to the next town several times, causing me quite a few headaches.
Not much happened most of the time, but we had solo luggage thieves along with their companion bandits leading them several times, even a subordinate of the demon king once too. How nostalgic.
“Good work, I’ll be counting on you.”
I spoke using a few words, and sat next to the guy with the robe, facing the guard.
“That person is of the ‘Oracle’ too. I won’t pick them up anymore.”
“What then, you should’ve said so earlier.”
We heard a carefree voice of a man from the coachman’s seat, which caused the guard’s shoulder to lose strength.
These days, everyone and their cat use the ‘Oracle’ to settle things. Although I doubt if that ‘Oracle’ really exists, I don’t doubt the concept of the ‘Oracle’ itself.
The ‘Oracle’ is rooted in the belief that it is the guidance and will of the benevolent Goddess Lānu, and following it directly benefits oneself and the world.
“The ‘Oracle’ sure comes down on anyone these days. It’s all about business after all.”
Saying that, the man who had been wearing a hood covering their eyes took it off.
I remember hearing this voice before—
“Wait, you—!”
“Fufu, I’m not aware of what’s going on, but I won’t let you get a head start.”
Marius Club Telvan. The man who climbed to the highest rank of the temple, laughed atop the humble carriage against the backdrop of lush green wheat fields.
