176. Eight swordsmen
The carriage trip after a long time gave me a different feeling than when I was a human. There is no pain in the butt from the rattling wagon, and no back pain from the hellish ride.
The space is small, but I don’t really feel it because I’m always hanging from the waist of the cream, and I’m in the scabbard. Thanks to the handle being pulled out of the scabbard, there is no problem in enjoying the outside scenery.
Of course, I am fed up with the forests of the kingdom that have not changed for hundreds of years, but the roads of the empire, which have been maintained to a level that is not suitable for the level of civilization in another world, came as a fresh scenery to me.
“Wow.”
Isn’t Cream showing a rare expression of admiration? Well, that must have surprised me. He’s spouting exclamations, but his expression is the same as usual.
Of course, this isn’t some kind of ancient ruins or artistic architecture, it’s just one of the far and wide roads of the empire, so it might feel like an exaggeration to go this far.
But transcendentalists, no. Regardless of transcendence, anyone with a certain degree of sensitivity will be left with a deep impression on this gray road.
“There is no sign of life.”
Yes, as Choco said.
I looked down at the road, where not a single wagon wheel mark was left. Yeah, it’s hard to believe, but it reminded me of something from the modern day. Asphalt.
Of course, there is no technology for handling oil in another world, so it should be regarded as something else with similar properties. I smelled the familiar smell of death within it.
[Anyway, this world is pretty much the end.]
[Whoops, do you think so?]
Well, it’s just a little curiosity, no big interest. Seeing that the smell of death is so faint, it’s not like the ruins of the dark church were smeared with ghosts. It seems to have been used within the legal line.
But the reason why this area is so quiet seems to be the influence of the road. The monster was subdued. Non-monster beasts must have felt instinctively reluctant and fled from this place.
There are quite a few plants, but most of them are somehow not fresh and withered little by little, and all of them were too small and insufficient to form a forest.
“Hey, I…”
[What is it?]
In the silence, only the sound of wagon wheels rolling was loud. While admiring the exotic scenery of the empire, Sang Sang Sang, who was whipping the horses with a deadly face in the driver’s seat, timidly brought out his horse.
His appearance was in tatters as the flashy clothes he wore were colorless. No matter how well the roads of the empire are maintained, the class in the other world doesn’t go anywhere. There were a lot of broken roads everywhere.
“How long can I serve you?”
I gritted my teeth and spoke politely in my own way, but I couldn’t help but feel the emotion in my voice. Well, that uncle is also suffering a lot.
He was just a good and ordinary slave trader. As usual, he came to sell the people of the kingdom to the empire, and then got entangled with us and became a coachman like this? No one would be able to sympathize with him if they knew the pitiful situation.
[Why do you want to break up with us?]
“Oops, could that be? Family glory…”
[I don’t want to see an ugly face like you for a long time.]
The head of the upper house was distorted. Giggling at the sight, I spoke in a soft voice as if comforting him.
[Don’t worry. As long as you reach the city, I will let you go even if you don’t want to go.]
You should be kind. First of all, he is a collaborator of our firm, and if we return to the empire in a normal way, this fat man will be useful even then.
“Imperial city…”
[Are you asking us, who are new to it? Let me guide you to the nearest city.]
“Okay. Then, let’s head to Alkane first.”
The inspection process is difficult as it is near the border, but we had already traveled a considerable distance by wagon. A situation that has completely entered the interior of the empire.
But just in case you don’t know, take him with you until you enter the city… There won’t be any problems after entering the city. Well, my plan is perfect too.
Actually, considering the situation, Cream is the one who should lead the party now, but in my opinion, she doesn’t say anything, so it’s not the wrong direction. Maybe.
Well, once you go, you’ll understand.
[Haam, this is boring.]
In order to do that, I’ll have to end this slow wagon trip first. As Cream and the others have adjusted to the speed at which they are moving, this normal trip now feels very slow.
It will take another few days to arrive. In the meantime, should I go into the abyss of unconsciousness and sort out the ghosts? As I was thinking those leisurely thoughts, Cream put a hand on my doorknob.
“No.”
[Huh?]
“Yes, no need, no.”
The moment I was about to ask what I was talking about, my gut feeling caught a new movement. Detecting them was much easier than usual, as there were no other lifeforms to speak of in this area other than us.
I’ve already said it all the time, but to emphasize once again, there are no monsters in the Empire. But that doesn’t mean the Empire is free of “Dangers.”
Brush.
The sound of footsteps.
The way the monsters disappeared, now humans are armed to be safe from the same humans.
Refugees and masterless slaves are at the level of goblins at best. Deserted soldiers and slave gladiators who could still put up a good match against the orcs. And.
“Really, these days…. You don’t know how scary this world is.”
“Ha ha! Isn’t that what gave us this opportunity, Captain?”
Trolls. A group of mercenaries dreaming of side income and knights who have lost their honor with a level of danger beyond low-level to mid-level monsters. What we encountered seemed to be the latter.
A deserted road. A wagon crossing over it. There is a sign at the top, but other than that, there is no escort or procession.
Even if the owner of the land you are stepping on changes, the way people behave doesn’t change. How tempting would this wagon seem to looters?
Of course, their lack of discernment will not be an indulgence in the face of death.
“Wait a minute, you guys…”
“Hey, long time no see. Brother.”
More interestingly, the looters who came to visit us this time and the Strawberry and Strawberry Merchants seemed to know each other. Looking at the flag of the sand wolf waving, Sang Sangju wrote an evil expression with an unfair expression.
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“Still, I thought one skill was good among mercenaries! You betray your trust so easily!”
“Let’s talk straight. Are you betraying your faith? The request has already been completed. Now, Hyung is not our client.”
“Shameless! You bastards don’t even know business morality!”
It didn’t take long for the title of you to become you. The looters were laughing viciously as they looked at Sangdanju, who was screaming like a piglet.
Scimitar in a turban. The members of the Sand Wolf Mercenary Corps had strong characteristics of desert tribes. As the captain smiled, his white teeth smiled as sharp as daggers in his tanned skin.
“I don’t know about commercial morality, but I know about morality. Yes, for instance-“
Sangdanju was unable to properly escort them as they were preparing hastily for our pilgrimage. It was embarrassing to think that he had to play the role of coachman himself.
Because of that, now, when the sand wolf mercenaries aimed their bent swords, there was not a single armed slave to protect him.
“-All the bastards who sell people deserve to be killed.”
The rough but harmonious lives emitted by the mercenaries in the desert were intertwined and shook like a haze. Those whose skills and motives are too clear to be regarded as mere thieves.
I never thought I would get caught up in such an interesting incident as soon as I came to the Empire. Sang Sang-joo, who looked around with urgent eyes, soon realized that we did not seem to be willing to help in the slightest, and put on a dejected expression.
“hehehe. Please don’t look so anxious.”
“Yes. As much as my sister’s share… I will make you very cute.”
“Didn’t I tell you! I am not the one who put you and her sister up for her auction!”
The merchant exclaimed urgently, looking at the atmosphere where it seemed that Satan would rise at any moment. But all that came back was cold mockery.
“The only good slave trader is a dead slave trader.”
As if they had no intention of continuing the conversation, the mercenaries, dressed in a heat wave, approached with their swords raised. Since we were at the back of the carriage, it seems that we are not visible in the composition.
Thanks to that, I can watch from the special seats like this. How will the fat man overcome this crisis?
“Wait!”
The mercenaries approaching at the shout of the upper class hesitated. In that brief gap, Sang Sangju closed his eyes tightly and shouted as if squeezing them.
“It’s unfair! I’m not the only slave trader here!”
But this bastard is trying to sell us out?