Chapter 3: Unfortunate Escorting — Part 1: Escort's Reward
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Warning: This content may contain explicit or mature themes and is intended for viewers 18 and older. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.
Volume 1: Witch Carly Arc
Chapter 3: Unfortunate Escorting
— Part 1: Escort's Reward
Aurelius and Magnolia faced various challenges and spent over thirty days traversing through the Kingdom of Romero.
Next was the Kingdom of Tango.
The Kingdom of Tango worships the God of Darkness.
The God of Darkness reigns over death and the afterlife.
One might find a country that worships such a god frightening, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
Among the fifteen nations, there is not one without a temple to the God of Darkness.
In fact, there are so many temples and priests that you could say they're in every town.
After all, everyone will inevitably die someday. When that happens, funeral rites and burials are conducted by priests of the God of Darkness.
Furthermore, the afterlife is said to be the domain of the God of Darkness, potentially longer than one's life.
Though a moody deity, as long as one doesn't forget to visit their ancestors' graves a few times a year, there's no need to fear.
Priests of the God of Darkness from across the continent visit the Kingdom of Tango every few years, so Aurelius and his companion often encountered them on their travels.
Since priests of the God of Darkness are recognizable by their shaved heads, they stood out at a glance.
Aurelius felt uneasy during his first visit until he got used to it.
About ten days had passed in the Kingdom of Tango, and they were already halfway through their stay.
Their journey in the Kingdom of Tango was smooth without any unnecessary troubles. Understanding Aurelius and Magnolia's patterns was a big help.
That day, they planned to stay overnight in town.
Magnolia was fine today, but she felt she might need to offer prayers to the gods tomorrow.
"Excuse me, may I have a moment of your time?"
A young man stood nearby and spoke to them.
Magnolia was slightly annoyed at the interruption, but it didn't bother her too much. It was just another peaceful day in their routine.
The young man who spoke was polite, neatly dressed, and didn't seem particularly imposing.
Given that he came to such an adventurer's inn, he likely wasn't a nobleman.
He was probably a traveling merchant.
"What is it?"
"I'm a traveling merchant, scheduled to transport goods to the neighboring town by carriage tomorrow.
However, lately there have been many attacks on carriages along that road. I must deliver the cargo, but being attacked is troublesome.
As I was pondering what to do, I happened to overhear your conversation.
It seems you're headed to the same town tomorrow. I thought, perhaps I could ask for your escort.
Of course, I won't ask for free.
Could I trouble you with a single gold coin each, though it's a small sum?
I understand it might not be enough to hire adventurers as distinguished as yourselves.
But please, won't you consider helping me—not just me, but the people in the town waiting for my cargo?"
"I understand your situation.
But I have a few questions."
Aurelius spoke haughtily.
"Why did you approach us? There are plenty of other adventurers around.
Was it a divine message from a god?"
"A divine message from a god? No, nothing like that.
Actually, I approached several groups of adventurers.
However, I was either turned down or they demanded too much.
Among them, I happened to notice the unusual combination of a beautiful swordsman and a mage.
I thought you two might be suitable, so I decided to ask for your help."
It seems the merchant doesn't understand the concept of divine revelation. He's genuinely seeking an escort.
"What kind of goods are you transporting?"
"Food, leather, salt, and farming tools.
It's just enough for one carriage load, not too much."
"Isn't it a loss to hire escorts for one gold coin per carriage?"
"No.
As I mentioned earlier, carriages traveling on this road are frequently attacked, causing shortages and driving prices up.
By transporting these goods, I can make a profit and bring joy to the people in the town."
"I understand your situation.
Can we verify your reputation with the guild first, then discuss this between the two of us?"
"Yes, of course.
However, since I'm a new merchant, I'm not sure what my reputation is at the guild."
Aurelius's expression softened.
"I thought as much.
Because you're too honest.
Most merchants wouldn't be so forthright; they'd lie or try to deceive.
I can tell you're not lying.
Magnolia, I'd like to accept his request. Is that alright?"
"If Aurelius thinks it's fine, then I'm okay with it.
I don't understand complicated things.
I've always gone with my gut feeling.
And my gut feeling tells me he's not a bad person."
"Perhaps Magnolia's gut feeling comes from experience and knowledge.
I think she's really thought it over.
So, we'll take on the escort for tomorrow.
Is it alright if we meet at the town square at the first hour of the morning?"
"Eh, you'll accept?
Thank you very much."
The merchant shook Aurelius's hand with both hands and did the same with Magnolia.
At one o'clock the next day, Aurelius and Magnolia headed to the square.
Aurelius, as usual, in his tunic and trousers with a short cloak, while Magnolia wore not a casual short yukata but leather armor with plates on her chest and shoulders.
Soon, a merchant who had found them hurried over.
"Good morning.
Please be my escort for the day.
My carriage is this way."
The merchant pointed to a horse-drawn carriage being pulled by a fine horse.
"This is my prized horse."
Though the carriage was loaded with many goods, this horse could pull it.
"Counting on you."
Aurelius also patted the horse and greeted it.
"Now, please get on.
Let's depart."
As soon as the two boarded the carriage, the merchant promptly urged the horse forward.
Once they left the town, a flat road stretched ahead.
This would be easy for the horse, and despite its leisurely pace, it was considerably faster than walking on foot.
The peaceful journey continued.
"I'm truly grateful to have you both with me.
I've heard you're both strong.
Aurelius, being a mage, must be quite powerful.
Magnolia, she looked lovely in her short yukata yesterday, but she looked even more dignified and wonderful in her leather armor.
Are you two lovers?"
"Yes, we are."
"I'm envious that Aurelius has such a wonderful woman like Magnolia as his lover. I'm just a humble traveling merchant, and I can't even get a girlfriend, let alone a wife.
I'm probably older than Aurelius too.
I've often wished I could use magic, but there's nothing I can do about my lack of talent."
"Everyone has their own talents. A magician has the talent for magic, and a merchant has the talent for trade.
I can't do anything but magic, so I rely on Magnolia for everything."
"Having such a wonderful lover makes me really envious.
I don't even get a chance to get close to such a beautiful person."
"Well, why don't we switch places midway? Magnolia can sit here, and I'll go to the back.
But be careful, she's strong-willed and a skilled swordsman, so don't do anything foolish."
"Who's strong-willed? I don't want to hear that from you, Aurelius."
Magnolia, who was in the back, could hear their conversation.
"That's what I love about you, Magnolia."
"Hmmp, Aurelius."
"I'd like you to switch places and sit next to the merchant later, is that okay?"
"Well, if it's just sitting, it's fine."
Magnolia agreed.
"Thank you. I'm really happy."
The merchant looked genuinely pleased.
As Aurelius watched the merchant cheerfully guiding the horse, something caught his attention.
"What is that hanging from your chest?"
A large metal ornament was swinging in front of the merchant's chest. It was too conspicuous to be a amulet, and it was unusual for a merchant to wear such an accessory.
"Oh, this?
This is a butterfly amulet.
It's an amulet I inherited from my master.
My master often said that the butterfly, a symbol of freedom, was fitting for a traveling merchant.
When we were attacked by monsters during our travels, my master saved only me, and this amulet was the only thing left."
"There's such a story behind it.
So, do you pray to the butterfly amulet?"
"I pray for a safe journey before leaving a town and give thanks when I arrive safely."
"It's like a god was watching over you."
"It's not such a grand amulet."
Magnolia, who was behind, made an odd movement at the words "pray" and "god."
She probably imagined someone using "praying to god" as an excuse for having sex with another man.
And tonight, in the next town, Magnolia would probably go "pray to god."
After traveling for about two hours by carriage, Aurelius noticed something unusual.
"There's something out there. I think it might be Black Wolves."
"What? Where?"
The startled merchant looked around but saw nothing.
"They're still quite far away, so you can't see them yet. There are about seven of them. They haven't noticed us yet, so we might pass by without incident."
"I hope so. If there are seven, even the two of you couldn't handle them."
"Ah, it looks like that might not be the case. The Black Wolves have noticed us."
"What? Where are they coming from?"
"They're coming from the right and slightly behind us. They seem intent on attacking. They're running at full speed."
"We need to escape quickly then."
The merchant whipped the horse, urging it to run faster.
"Magnolia, if the Black Wolves really appear, throw out one of the boxes with the red cloth attached. There's meat inside, and the Black Wolves will be distracted by it. We'll use that time to escape. If they keep following us, throw out another box."
"It's a waste to throw out the cargo. It's valuable merchandise."
"Aurelius, our lives are more important than the cargo. If we survive, we can worry about money later. Oh, they're really coming."
The carriage started running unexpectedly fast, causing the Black Wolves to chase from behind. Probably, they would have attacked from the side.
"Magnolia, throw the meat."
"No need to throw it."
Aurelius lightly leapt from the driver's seat over the cargo and landed next to Magnolia.
"It's shaking quite a bit. Looks like you might fall."
"Should I hold on?"
"Yes, please."
Magnolia clung tightly to Aurelius's waist.
A black wolf immediately leaped forward.
Aurelius casually waved his hand, firing a magic bullet that struck and repelled the wolf.
"Oof!"
The black wolf, hit directly by the magic bullet while airborne, flipped over and crashed to the ground.
More black wolves kept attacking, unaware of what had happened, but Aurelius calmly shot down each one.
"It's safe now. I've taken care of all of them."
"R-Really?"
The merchant pulled the reins to stop the horse.
"You defeated seven black wolves? I'd heard you were skilled, but this is beyond what I imagined. Truly impressive."
The merchant gazed in disbelief at the fallen black wolves scattered in the distance.
The horse, having been pushed to its limit, was visibly exhausted.
Had it gone on for another three minutes, the horse might have collapsed.
It needed substantial rest—continuing to pull the carriage would be challenging.
So, they moved to a nearby watering spot and allowed the horse to rest leisurely.
"Were those wolves attacking the carriage?"
"Hard to say.
With only seven black wolves, the damage shouldn't have been severe.
Eating one horse would sustain them for quite a while.
There might be something else around."
"If anything else shows up, I'll count on you and Magnolia, Aurelius."
"I'm not as strong as Aurelius. Five black wolves would be my limit."
"That's still more than strong enough.
Meeting both of you was incredibly fortunate."
"A guidance from a god, perhaps."
Aurelius gave a knowing smile, and the merchant seemed taken aback.
Having rested fully, and with the horse recovering its vigor, they resumed their journey.
But noon was approaching, and they couldn't afford to delay any longer without having a meal. Being far from town, they weren't sure of the exact time, but their stomachs were growling.
Although their planned destination by noon seemed quite far, they couldn't skip a meal.
From his usual stash, Aurelius retrieved soft bread stuffed with fresh vegetables and freshly baked meat from the storage box.
As a courtesy, he offered the same bread to the merchant.
"You're sharing this with me? Thank you so much. I never thought I'd eat such delicious bread on the journey."
The merchant rejoiced extravagantly.
They also gave the horse a brief rest with a little fodder and water.
They had only just rested a short while ago, but since they had to walk for another half day, rest was necessary.
After finishing their meal and taking a break, the carriage started moving again.
As promised, Magnolia sat in the driver's seat, with Aurelius sitting behind.
The merchant happily talked to Magnolia.
"Ah, I see.
Well, then."
Magnolia just nodded, not in a bad mood, but simply curious about what Aurelius had said.
However, by some twist of fate, the journey that day was plagued by misfortunes.
The sky suddenly became covered with dark clouds. The wind picked up, and the air grew heavy.
The weather suddenly turned bad.
Though they hoped it wouldn't rain, everyone looked up and soon felt raindrops on their faces.
"Damn, is it raining?"
The merchant stopped the horse and covered the goods with a tarp. Of course, they all pitched in to help.
However, since the tarp had gaps, rain still seeped through, but it was better than nothing.
Then, the merchant put on a hat and draped a raincoat over his shoulders.
During that time, Aurelius took out two thin, bag-like items and handed one to Magnolia. In a spot hidden from the merchant's view, they each pulled the bags over themselves, sticking their heads and hands out through pre-made holes.
In fact, the fabric Aurelius had was enchanted with magic making it water-proof preventing their bodies and clothes from getting wet in the rain.
Plus, being lighter than a raincoat allowed them to move freely.
"You have something like that? That's impressive. The rain's bad, but since we're late, let's push forward a bit."
Once the three got back on the carriage, they proceeded slowly through the heavy rain.
"This rain is terrible. I rarely see rain this bad."
The merchant glanced at Magnolia sitting beside him.
"That looks good. It looks light and doesn't seem to add much to the load."
"Aurelius made it. Since only Aurelius can make them, they don't sell well."
"Is that so? I'd like one too, but it seems expensive, so I'll give up."
While saying this, he glanced at Magnolia from time to time.
"Were you watching?"
Magnolia said out of context.
"Well, it was far away, so I couldn't see it well."
"Then you must have seen it."
"Well, just a little. It caught my interest."
The merchant looked at Magnolia's legs. Before the rain, she wore leather pants, but now she had nothing on.
"Um, what about inside?"
"Leather armor is difficult to maintain when wet, so I took it off. If the under armor gets wet, I can't wear leather armor on top, so I took it off. Yukata loses color if it gets wet, so I didn't wear it. That's all."
Indeed, under the rain cover, Magnolia wore only thin cloth and loincloth.
While the reason she gave to the merchant was truthful, it wasn't entirely true.
Maintaining leather armor on your own is tough, but you can have an expert do it.
If a yukata gets wet, as long as you don't mess up how you dry it, the color won't fade.
However, Magnolia had only a rain cover cloth over her underwear because Aurelius asked her to.
The merchant admires Magnolia, so he wanted to have a little fun with her.
Also, he asked because he has a reputed amulet.
Even though it was thin cloth, her underwear couldn't be seen, so Magnolia did as Aurelius said.
"Um, well—then, what about inside?"
"Do you want to see?"
Magnolia lifted the rain cover cloth down to her knees, revealing her thighs.
The merchant realized he was holding his breath.
"You need to keep your eyes on the road, especially since it's already bad with rain."
"Y-yes, you're right."
The merchant moved the carriage forward while worrying about Magnolia's exposed thighs.
However, the rain intensified, making it impossible to see ahead.
"It's too dangerous now. Let's take a short break."
The merchant decided it was too much and stopped the horse under a tree for shelter.
"This rain is terrible."
"Absolutely. I don't think I've seen rain this heavy before."
Aurelius entered under the same tree as the merchant with Magnolia in between.
"But if the rain is this intense, it should clear up soon."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it happens quite often."
While answering, the merchant looked not at Aurelius but at Magnolia's chest.
"You'd understand if you were an adventurer."
Magnolia leaned into Aurelius, pressing her breasts against his arm.
The merchant's expression became complicated.
Before long, the rain stopped and the sun shone as if it were a lie.
The merchant quickly removed the mat from his luggage and prepared to depart.
"We're delayed again. We have to arrive today, even if we have to."
"Do you have an appointment?"
This time, Aurelius sat in the driver's seat. Magnolia returned to her leather armor and sat in the back seat.
"No, it's just that the promise was meant only for today with Aurelius and Magnolia.
In addition, it would be better not to have to pay an extra gold coin for another day of escort.
Well, maybe it was my fault for using a gold coin for something else last night.
But if nothing happens now, I think we can reach the city today, despite the delay."
"It's not the fault of the merchant who was late, so a gold coin for everything is fine.
Also, I don't mind camping.
But was it worth using a gold coin for something else?"
"But because of my low credit, I don't know if it's genuine. But if so, I'd be very happy."
"So it was a gold coin after all."
"Yes, it was a gold coin."
For a while, the carriage progressed smoothly.
"I hate to say it, but it looks like we won't make it today," Aurelius suddenly remarked.
Aurelius spotted a creature lurking well ahead of the carriage.
"What? Please don't tell me another Black Wolf is coming."
"No, it's not a Black Wolf. It's Goblins."
"What? Really?"
As they debated whether to speed up and flee, five Goblins leapt out in front of the carriage.
Goblins are the size of human children, walk on two legs, and are green-skinned beings.
They have low intelligence and possess what seems like a form of language, but to humans, it sounds like mere screams.
They have savage and brutal personalities, often attacking humans to obtain food.
If armed, it's usually with stolen swords—otherwise, they swing animal bones or wooden sticks. They wear little more than leaves or skins around their waists, certainly no armor or proper clothing.
One Goblin could be defeated by a grown man. It wouldn't be a problem for an experienced adventurer.
However, Goblins move in packs and attack indiscriminately.
They are formidable opponents not to be underestimated.
And now, five Goblins had appeared. If there had only been one merchant, it would have been quite dangerous.
"With five Goblins, the two of us can take them, right?"
"Two against five Goblins? Maybe. Magnolia, can you handle it alone?"
Even Magnolia would have a hard time with five Goblins alone.
They attack without regard, making the fight a struggle to protect their cargo.
"We have to do something. You should help, too. Protect your own cargo."
Magnolia handed a spare sword to the merchant and took up a double-edged sword.
"Me? But what about you, Aurelius?"
"I'll take care of this end."
Aurelius switched places with Magnolia and headed toward the rear.
There, more Goblins appeared. Six of them, including one notably larger, seemed to be their leader.
It seems they planned to feint an attack from the front, divert the guards forward, and then strike from behind.
For goblins, they're surprisingly clever.
However, Aurelius saw everything with his magic.
"Magnolia, does the Adventurer's Guild buy goblins?"
"They only pay for subjugation. Bring back just the right ear, and you'll get a silver coin for two. Better than nothing."
"Got it, I'll try not to crush them too much."
As Aurelius stepped forward, the goblin leader shouted something.
It appeared to be an order, as four goblins immediately charged. Aurelius knew his magic bullets might not arrive in time if they attacked simultaneously, so he caught them with a numbing net.
"GYAA, GYAAUN!"
The goblins fell in pain on the spot.
Seeing this, a goblin about to rush in from behind stopped in surprise. To prevent its escape, Aurelius entangled its legs with a numbing rope.
Even that was a decoy as the leader circled around to the right.
This leader wasn't wielding a stick but a sword. It was probably stolen from a human attack, quite rusted but still usable with repairs.
Aurelius calmly fired two magic bullets. The first struck the right hand, knocking the sword away. The second hit the stomach, halting its movement. Then he wrapped a numbing rope around its body to capture it.
Wild creatures could be immobilized and released, but goblins were a menace.
Releasing them meant they'd likely attack humans again.
Their breeding prowess was strong—no one knew how they multiplied, but no matter how many were defeated, their numbers didn't diminish.
Rumor had it they attacked human women, using them as breeding grounds.
To prevent such victims, they had to be killed.
Without hesitation, Aurelius magically severed the heads of the six goblins.
With the rear cleared, he moved to support Magnolia.
But just as Magnolia defeated the third goblin and the merchant took down the last one trying to escape, Aurelius fired a magic bullet.
Magnolia could have handled it, but chasing after a fleeing goblin would take time.
"Is this the end?"
"They're gone now."
Magnolia's breath remained steady.
"HAA, HAA, HAA."
The merchant seemed desperate, breathing heavily.
"You're strong too."
"I-is that so? I was desperate to protect the cargo."
Magnolia took the sword and stored it in a box.
"A gift for your efforts, merchant."
In return, Aurelius handed over the goblin leader's sword.
"If repaired, it should be usable. Selling it could earn you some income."
"T-thank you very much."
The merchant still seemed unsettled.
Then, they cut off the goblins' right ears and packed them in a bag.
Aurelius used magic to throw the remaining bodies far from the road, fearing they might attract unwanted creatures.
"We won't reach town by today."
Aurelius told the merchant.
"Yes, I'm sorry, but it seems impossible."
"Facing such troubles consecutively is a first for me. Having even one is rare, let alone three."
"You've just had bad luck. It's not your fault. Is there a safe place ahead?"
"We should camp where we can see our surroundings well. Even one tree would be enough."
"Understood, let's go a little further."
After a while, they found a clearing by the roadside with two suitable trees.
"We'll camp here tonight."
"Yes, that sounds good."
The sun hadn't set yet, but if they couldn't reach town today, it was best not to push themselves.
The merchant tied the horse to a tree, fed hay and water, and let them rest.
Meanwhile, Aurelius set up a table and prepared dinner.
Magnolia gathered firewood and prepared to start a fire.
"Aurelius, did you bring a whole table? You seem to have everything.
And you had this dinner ready too. It's just like eating in town."
The merchant was surprised by the dinner Aurelius laid out.
With plenty of bread, meat stew, and a vegetable salad, it was a meal fit for an inn.
Aurelius could have made it more lavish, but this was enough.
Then, Aurelius set up a tent—not as large as the cabin for Magnolia and him, but a two-person tent about the height and width of a person.
He hung it from tree branches and secured it with stakes to keep it from moving.
With that, they were ready to take turns sleeping once it got dark.