Chapter 262: Day of Departure (1)
Several days after Lorenzs visit, the day of our departure finally arrived. Just like when we arrived in the royal capital, we left the royal castle aboard a carriage without any ceremony to bid us farewell. This was partly because we had not wished for one, but more so due to a consideration for the nobles who harbored prejudice against demons.
The prejudice against demons that Leo was attempting to change is not something that can be easily eradicated. It is an undeniable fact that those who are willing to treat beings synthesized with other creatures as part of the same human race are in the minority.
Even so, its unexpected that not just Bolts but also Zald and Sophie have decided to stay behind.
Its good that its not just Leo.
In agreement with Leos intention to eliminate prejudice through communication, two individuals had also decided to stay behind. They were Zald and Sophie.
Zald who had once led the Kadaha Squad when they were atonement soldiers, and Sophie, who had been his second in command, represented a big loss of strength with their decision to remain. However, their determination was firm.
It cant be helped because they sympathize with Leos ideals. Its not as if this is a farewell for life. Once weve established a place to live in, well likely visit back and forth.
After we cross the Shumie Mountain range and build a settlement there, it was certain that we would frequently travel back and forth to the Harlasia Kingdom. This was because, officially, we were under the command of Lieselotte, and once we established the settlement, it would be governed by us as her servants. In essence, the settlement would be treated as an exclave of the kingdom.
To maintain communication, it would be necessary to send people between the settlement and the kingdom, and we could visit each other during these exchanges. Therefore, there was no need to be sad. Instead, it was better to look forward to the stories we could share at our next meeting to avoid becoming melancholic.
We moved slowly through the capital while hiding our inner feelings. The streets were crowded, so it was impossible to hurry the carriages. Our group of carriages, bearing no noble crests, probably looked like a merchant caravan to the citys residents, and with my unusual appearance, I might have looked like a bodyguard hired by the caravan.
Incidentally, we were granted passage through any town easily, thanks to the pass issued by the king. It was an upgrade from the authority of the Lieselotte Counts family to the authority of Carls royal family.
However, among us were demons with frightening appearances like Asumi. So even if King Carl were to notify his people, it would definitely cause trouble. We generally avoided entering towns unless necessary and chose to camp out instead. This had been our norm and it posed no issues for us.
Bolts seems to be an exception, though.
He comes from one of the few wealthy backgrounds among us. He probably prefers city life.
However, Bolts who expressed his intention to remain did not necessarily agree with Leos ideals. He had bluntly stated his preference to stay in the city if possible.
Really, is the city that great? I find it unsettling Ah, someones coming.
Ah, I made it in time.
The one who approached us while walking through the waves of people was Lorentz who had requested to accompany us. We had discussed his joining with our comrades at the forest campsite and decided to accept him.
We arranged for Lorentz to meet with our comrades in the royal capital, and we reached a decision based on the impressions gathered from that encounter. The decision was influenced not only by the impression of his character but also by the fact that Lorentz was not suited for harsh tasks. While it might be challenging to instill a sense of camaraderie from the beginning, I hoped that Lorentz would make an effort in this area.
The main reason I had personally allowed Lorentz to accompany us was because he had promised to document the true nature of demons in the travelogues he planned to write. We hoped to show that we were not objects of disgust but beings with hearts, despite our physical differences. This, I believed, could serve as support for Leo and the others who remained in the royal capital.
Good morning, Mr. Lorentz.
Morning, Mr. Chirik. Ill be in your care.
Lorenz was dressed in easy-to-move clothes, a thick cloak, well-worn but well-maintained boots, and a shoulder bag. He mentioned he had some experience traveling outside the town for trade, though not as extensively as his grandfather, so his comfort with travel came naturally.
After greeting Chirik cheerfully, Lorentz climbed into the cargo bed of our carriage with a smile. The carriage moved slowly enough that boarding was simple. But if a thief attempted to climb aboard, I would not miss them with my ability to sense vibrations and rear compound eyes.
No one to see you off? Thats surprising.
Hahaha. Joining you is merely a leisure pursuit for me. Sadly, my wife has passed away, and fortunately, Im retired at this age because I have a capable son. Im quite the free man.
He casually revealed the loss of his spouse while boasting about his son, which made it seem like he had come to terms with his personal circumstances. It appeared that if the conversation were to delve deeper, it should perhaps focus on his pride in his son rather than his late wife.
What about your son?
He thought I was foolish but at the same time told me to do as I pleased. Hehehe, Ive got his consent.
Although he mentioned his son was exasperated with him, it seemed more likely that his son knew of his fathers desire to fulfill a legacy entrusted to him by his grandfather and had sent him off with his blessing. This reminded me of the recent argument between Tigar and Leo, a father and son who clashed precisely because they cared deeply for each other.
However, for us, Lorentzs lack of obligations was a relief. The place we are heading to now was a harsh location that few visited and where even fewer could settle.
To be honest, since we were going to such a place, I couldnt guarantee Lorenzs life. His death might sadden his son but it seemed unlikely to result in blame for us.
Alright. Then lets head out.
When we return to this royal capital, Im sure it will be a triumphant return with a splendid travelogue in hand.
This might sound rude to say but Lorentz seemed unusually excited for his age. Even though he wasnt alone, he was embarking on a grand adventure that his grandfather had been forced to abandon. It would be hard to blame him for his excitement.
By the way, beyond the Shumie mountain range, theres a desert, right?
Thats what they say.
Just out of curiosity, but there are people who travel back and forth, right? Why not just ask them about the route?
Chirik asked Lorenz the question he had probably harbored for a long time. Surely there must be some way to get to the desert. This was because the desert was my hometown, where I was born as a scorpion, and at the same time, it was also the hometown of the Sovereign Dragon Snake that I killed in the main battle of the rookie tournament.
I had always been curious about this matter and had done some research. However, it was Lorentz who responded to Chiriks question.
Thats a good question. Certainly, there are those who know how to cross to the other side of the Shumie mountain range. But they would never share that information with others.
Why is that?
Because that information is their most closely guarded secret. After all, they make their living by bringing back goods from the other side of the mountain range and selling them at high prices.
Not just in the Harlasia Kingdom, but only a handful of people in the world knew the way to the southern part of the Shumie mountain range. The reason these people ventured into the barren desert was because it was their place of earnings.
Their job involved bringing back exotic items and creatures from the desert. It was such individuals who had found what must have been my egg in the desert and brought it back to the Harlasia Kingdom.
Although it was fraught with danger, the collection of these desert rare goods was rewarded with substantial sums of money. Those who knew the safe passages kept this information secret to monopolize the rewards.
Just to add to that, even if those people were to share their secret passage with us, we likely couldnt use it. Rumor has it that theyre mostly passing through an underground cave.
Our carriages probably couldnt make it through, right?
The exclusive passage monopolized by these individuals remained just a rumor, but it was almost certain that it involved traversing through an underground cave. These underground caves were narrow and intricately woven like natural mazes. They werent suited for groups like ours to pass through.
Furthermore, it appears that those who monopolized this route never brought back large quantities of goods at once, nor did they bring back anything particularly large. This means that the cave might not be very large.
And so based on these predictions, we decided to develop a route over the mountains. There might not even be a trace of an animal trail, but fortunately, I am an expert in sand spiritual arts. Even on mountain paths, I could create a way for carriages to ascend, so there was no sense of danger in crossing the mountains.
What we needed to be wary of were the creatures dwelling in the mountains. The further away from human-inhabited lands, the more likely it was to encounter powerful creatures. There was almost certainly going to be strong wildlife in the mountains, and we needed to be prepared for their attacks. I believed our demons combat abilities would suffice, but we should never let our guard down.
Have we finally made it out? That was long huh?
A while after meeting up with Lorentz, we managed to exit the bustling main streets and finally made our way out of the royal capital. Thanks to the royal familys pass, our entry and exit were incredibly smooth and it was even very quick compared to the long wait time.
Just outside the city gate, my compound eyes spotted a familiar carriage located a short distance from the main road. It was the carriage of Liselotte, who had been with us all the way here.
What brings you to such a place, young lady?
Of course, Ive come to see you off, Antares.
We stopped the carriage in front of Liselotte, immediately got off the carriage, and knelt on one knee on the ground. Although such formality would be unnecessary if we were not in public view, we were just outside the city walls. It was important that we, who were under her supervision, did not display any disrespect towards her.
Indeed, Liselottes intention was likely to bid us farewell where people could see her. It must be to give the impression that we demons have good manners as well. As expected, Liselotte was a kind-hearted yet smart girl.
Only Hilda and Chris stood behind Liselotte. By now, Leo and the others who decided to stay behind should be bidding their farewells to their comrades at the campsite.
It is an honor, my lady.
The path you embark upon will surely be fraught with challenges. I pray to the gods for your safety But prayers alone are not enough; practical support is necessary. Chris.
Yes!
Chris stepped forward before her master as if she had been awaiting Liselottes command. She didnt seem surprised at all by her call as if this was an expected course of action between them.
Liselotte was to provide practical support, but what could it be Dont tell me!
Chris. As one who serves the Goddess of Protection, you are to protect Antares and his companions from this day forth in my name.
Yes. I accept the command.
Chris bowed her head respectfully and sent a telepathic message to me that said, I look forward to working with you in the future. It looked like she would be accompanying us from now on. And for some reason, I felt my heart flutter.
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