I didn’t notice since we have this hood over us, but it’s getting dark.
“Fresa-san, we’ve arrived at a campsite,” Datil said. The cities are quite far apart, so there are campsites along the way where people can rest in safety.
So we’re camping here for today? In this world, day jobs like farming, manufacturing, and peddling aren’t nine-to-fives. The day begins when the sun rises, and ends when it sets.
✦ ✦ ✦
Also, though I’ve never measured this, it seems like a day doesn’t equate to twenty-four hours. In fact, they don’t seem to have a concept of “hours” at all—sunrise and sunset are all that matter.
“Ack, owww... Don’t stop so suddenly!” one of the bodyguards said.
“Phew, glad we didn’t run into any other monsters,” said the other.
Night shifts began when the sun set, and ended with dawn. It was all very simple. We were supposed to make our preparations to weather the night before sunset, so the fact that we arrived at our campsite as it was getting dark showed that we were actually a little behind schedule. Of course, the two bodyguards who were responsible for this delay didn’t apologize as they kept barking at us.
“Hey! You lot, walk around and find someone that can use healing magic!”
“You guys made it this far thanks to who?”
I’d like to ask you guys the same thing. How did you get that badly injured against just a few goblins? They were pretty beat up, but they did manage to win in the end.
“They didn’t even defeat those monsters. They just kind of chased them away,” Datil said.
“Who’s ever heard of passengers having to dismantle the barricade?” Fresa added.
Now now, you two. Those Rank C folks did risk their lives for us, so let’s forgive this. As a penalty, we’re not healing them, which is a pretty mean punishment, isn’t it?
“It sounds like you’re the one who’s really not forgiving them,” Grida said.
Heh, well, it’s not like those injuries are life-threatening. They should hang in there! Boys get stronger after getting hurt! Anyways, when I heard them say “campsite,” I imagined something a bit more of a “one-with-nature” kind of thing. This looks more like a fortress.
A wooden fence was staked around the campsite, complete with numerous watchtowers. Each watchtower was equipped with arrows and bowguns, as well as two soldiers apiece.
“Apple-san, it costs money to use this area,” Datil explained.
Makes sense. There’s so many people standing guard. If this were free, I’d like to know where their wages came from.
“If everything goes well, we should make it to the city in two days. So we’ll only use a campsite one more time,” Fresa said.
Once we’re past that city, we’ll need to actually camp out until we make it to Muruma. Grida and I don’t need to sleep, so it’s not like we need to take turns keeping watch though.
“All right. I’ve confirmed your payment. Welcome to Campsite #28!” The coachman handed a guard the money, and the gates slowly opened.
“Thanks for all yer hard work. This here’s a little somethin’ from me. Enjoy it all together, if ya don’t mind!” the coachman said as he handed over a barrel of liquor to one of the soldiers.
“Hey, thanks as always! Section 5, in the middle, is open for you. Relax and enjoy your stay!” the soldier said.
“Ah, thank ya!”
I knew it. That coachman knows how the world works. As we entered the walls, there were already a few tents and many people were making dinner. The carriage went deeper and deeper into the enclosure, finally stopping in front of a wooden building.
“M’dear adventurers, I’ll go ’n’ look for a healer or a doctor for ya,” he said.
Ack, you don’t need to do that! Let them search for their own stuff! If I knew it was gonna be a pain for you, I would’ve cast my healing magic on them. Maybe overheal them a little.
Grida giggled. “Then they’d get all drunk like those ants!”
A lot cheaper than alcohol, don’t you think? Look at them, they’re not even putting up tents. They’re just drinking.
“That behavior’s a bit inappropriate, isn’t it?” Fresa said.
“Well, there’s all sorts of Rank C adventurers,” Datil said.
There weren’t any buildings other than the one we stopped in front of. There were only lines to divide the clearing into sections. Each person has to set up a tent or use a sleeping bag to make it through the night. This central building served as a sort of office for the guards. In other words, it was the safest location in the enclosure.
I guess that coachman gave them alcohol to secure the safest area for his passengers. Huh? That’s weird, the luggage area is...
“Over here! Ah, ’scuse me, sirs! A water magic user is here for ya!” the coachman said.
That was quick! He’s back already!
“You took your damn time!” said one of the pair.
“Over here! Hey granny, help us out!” said the other.
Wait wait wait! They’re so rude! Why’s this coachman all smiles?
“Huh, you heal pretty well.”
“Looks like you made decent use of all those years!”
After the water magician healed the two, she received payment from the coachman, bowed her head, and walked off.
Huh, he has to pay for that too?!
“It’d be awful if everyone assumed that all adventurers are like these two,” Datil said.
“I’m a bit embarrassed that I’m lumped in with them,” Fresa said.
Whoa, those Rank C goons better watch out. Looks like Fresa and Datil are running out of patience.
“The back o’ the carriage is open to the old folks and the kids. I really would appreciate it if the rest of y’all set up a tent or a sleeping bag,” the coachman said.
“Jeez, it sure was a pain to babysit these low rankers!”
The other adventurer laughed. “For sure! I’m beat!” The pair followed the coachman inside the tent.
Datil glared at them out of the corner of his eye. “Maybe we should say something,” he muttered.
“Wait, don’t do that! We can’t, like, cause a ruckus here!” Fresa said.
She’s right. If we make too much of a fuss, it might get in the way of our journey. Besides, those “higher rankers” almost died to a few little goblins. We should let them sleep for the road tomorrow.
“But Fresa-san, they’re...”
“Okay okay. Calm down. Let’s set up our tent and go to sleep.”
Good idea. We’ve still got a long way to go. Well, we don’t need to sleep though, do we, Grida?
Grida giggled. “What should we play today, Furutsu?”
Grida and I usually spend the night talking or playing board games to the best of our imaginations.
“Oh, let’s play Reversi! I’m white!”
Wait a sec, Grida. There’s something I’d like to confirm before that.
“And what’s that?”
There’s something I’m a little curious about.
✦ ✦ ✦
The sun had completely set, and darkness and silence settled over the campsite. I quietly left the tent so as to not wake Fresa and Datil.
Roll...Roll...Roll...
“Furutsu, where are we going?”
Just over there. Roll...Roll...Roll... See, we’re here.
“Isn’t this the coachman’s tent?”
Grida, is there anyone inside?
“Huh? Nope, it’s empty. Where are they off to so late at night?”
I knew it. Could you check and see if they’re anywhere in your area of vision?
“Uhhh, oh! I found them! They’re in that tent over there!”
Nice job! You’re amazing, Grida! Let’s see... I rolled over to the lone tent, set up two sections over, and tried to eavesdrop.
“Heh. As we discussed, I’ll leave this to you,” said a voice.
That sounds like the coachman.
“Huh? But he sounds completely different!” Grida said.
You’re right. He doesn’t have an accent at all. In fact, he sounds very dignified.
“As you wish, Chief. The moment you pass this point, a wave of magic will be fired at the driver’s seat. Please do be careful so as to not be burned alive.”
The coachman laughed. “Your jokes never cease to amuse. How long do you think I’ve been in the bandit business?”
First goblins, now bandits. Datil’s really gonna think that I wished for all this.
“Furutsu, how did you know the coachman was a bad person?”
Because of the booze.
“The booze?”
Yeah. He only had the one barrel. We’re planning on stopping at one more campsite before the next city, aren’t we? Then at the very least, he should have one more barrel prepared.
“Oh, I see!”
Not to mention, he has a very good eye, but he chose clearly the worst adventurers possible—those weak goblins beat the crap out of them. They messed up, and they still talk big, but they haven’t been fired anyway. I’m sure they were very carefully and specifically picked as the worst adventurers ever.