After spending the entire day preparing for our journey, we finally had everything ready. From chairs to clothes, I brought all my power as a middling, no-name craftsman to bear as I made things like mad.
For our new clothing, I used leather as a base for both our tops and bottoms. I fashioned fur jackets with monster pelts and made belts to fasten them.
Monster fur provided warmth as well as protection against attacks by both blade and fang. I thought adding a beast skull to the shoulder might look pretty cool, but I stopped myself—that would’ve screamed cliché barbarian.
The belt had a space to tuck a knife neatly in. I added a small, sturdy case as well, for good measure. Inside that was a variety of potions along with a single bottle of elixir—for an emergency.
I had also crafted undergarments to wear beneath the leather attire and a bangle that rested on my wrist. This defensive accessory could afford two instances of revival, and it also boasted improved resistance to magically inflicted damage and status afflictions. The prince also had the Royal Diadem equipped, so his resistances were improved as a result. Anyway, to keep the bangle secured in place, I wound a wide leather strap both over the bangle and up the sleeve, securing it at the elbow.
In terms of footwear, I crafted leather boots with thick soles for us. These were secured in a similar way to the bangles, as they were tied with leather straps wrapped around our legs that reached just below the knee.
Generally speaking, for travelers, the straps weren’t meant to be untied at any point during their journey. The leather wound around your hands stayed on even when washing up, and the boots stayed on whenever people slept outdoors.
People here, by and large...didn’t change their clothes. They just wore the same underwear forever too...
Because the threat of being attacked by monsters was a constant concern after leaving settlements, travelers always kept their equipment on during their journey out of self-preservation.
Clothes could be washed once reaching a safe area, such as an inn where weary wanderers could stay the night. Since additional clothing was only excess baggage to a traveler, they usually only had the one set of clothes on their backs. As they’d wash their laundry and hang it out to dry overnight, they’d sleep in the buff.
I used to be Japanese, so I couldn’t stand such atrocious hygiene practices. That was why I used a lot of bug and monster repellent—that way, I would be able to change my clothes in peace. But anyway, enough of that.
I crafted a hooded, waterproof cloak to wear over our fur jackets.
And last but not least, I had made a pack that could be slung easily over my shoulders. It was stuffed full with supplies, complete with a blanket securely lashed.
Standing before me was a raven-haired boy wearing an identical outfit to mine.
I had asked him to braid my hair, which he did with the addition of a thin leather cord. That accessory subtly made my hairstyle match my clothes.
“Well, this is how hunters from the mountains dress when they venture out to common society. We’ll be wearing these for a while as we trace the Northern Ridges eastward.”
Wald nodded at my casual, unadorned words. I continued.
“If we continue traveling east, we’ll eventually come across a wide river. From there, we’ll follow it south and look for a town. I’d like to buy the supplies we’re still missing there.”
Wald nodded again and, after a moment of thought, spoke. “I’d also like to send a letter. I need to inform Catharine and Lucian of my well-being in more detail.”
His survival could be confirmed at the Right of Rule, but regardless, he seemed eager to report on his current situation. It would be risky, but we had no choice. Tiuccia must’ve been thrown into a state of turmoil with its heir apparent missing.
According to Wald, the royal family had its own secret means of communication, so we decided to make use of it to send the letter. In the game of my old life, letters could easily be sent through the adventurer’s guild...but even if they still handled mail in this world, there was no way we could use them.
“Okay, let’s get going now— Oh, you can put our supplies down. I just wanted to check how heavy it’d be on you.”
“But I can carry my own share of the luggage,” Wald said.
“It’s pretty tough to get used to hiking out in the brush, just saying. As long as no one’s around, I can just toss it all into my storage, so let’s just keep water flasks on us for now; you can get one out from your pack and tie it onto your belt. We’re probably going to be camping outdoors for a while, so let’s get you used to living outside until we reach a town.”
If one could reach a town in just a few nights, there would have been someone living in this orange grove. But if this place had only been constructed for the purpose of collecting honey from the grove while its harvesters were en route between places, then the nearest village was a long way off.
“Once we make it out of the woods and reach a flat plain, we can take advantage of Jump to move as well,” I said.
I smiled at the prince, who had only nodded along quietly. Once I checked my compass to confirm which direction east lay in, we set out.
We passed several old stelae covered by earth and left the orange grove. The forest soon gave way to a vast wilderness that had yet to show any sign of new plant growth.
Overhead, a blue sky stretched out forever in every direction. The land that spread out before us was a gentle rolling hillside dotted with boulders of all sizes.