We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
First Errand
Things turned out to be tough.
It became my first long trip because I couldn’t keep my promise with Ruiseine.
Ruiseine seems to have business at the Great Shrine in Ambis, the sub-capital of the Armēdo Kingdom.
The sub-capital Ambis is located about three days east of the capital city.
Actually, the sub-capital is the administrative center of the Armēdo Kingdom.
The capital city is dangerous, and wyverns occasionally attack from the wyvern hunting grounds to the north, so important facilities are located in the sub-capital.
As an ordinary person, I think they should just move the capital to the sub-capital, but I heard that they can’t move it due to various circumstances.
By the way, the King seems to move between the capital and sub-capital regularly, staying in each for a set period.
So, today.
Early in the morning, three days after Ruiseine notified me, I came to our meeting place, the East Triumphal Gate.
When I tried to go to the Great Shrine to pick up Ruiseine, she told me to meet her here.
I wonder why.
I had a tough time for the three days leading up to today.
First, I told my mother that I would help Ruiseine, who is a shrine maiden and my classmate, to go to the sub-capital.
She was very surprised that someone like me, who’s an idiot that immediately lost the sword I bought with important money in the Dragon Forest and instead cherishes a wooden sword I picked up, would help a shrine maiden.
Even so, she prepared various things necessary for the trip.
It’s a six-day round trip to the sub-capital, three days one way. It requires quite a lot of preparation, and selecting what to bring was tough.
Next, I informed Old Man Sleigsta and Mistral that I wouldn’t be able to come while I was away in the sub-capital.
As usual, Old Man Sleigsta teased me, and Mistral gave me a cold stare.
Priscilla-chan and Nimia’s eyes welled up with tears, and they hugged me, which only made Mistral more displeased.
I desperately tried to persuade Mistral. In the end, she seemed to understand, but it seems like it will be difficult later if I don’t buy her some souvenirs.
Speaking of which, did I come a bit too early?
Ruiseine’s figure was not yet at the East Triumphal Gate.
I looked up at the giant structure before me.
The people living in the capital of the Armēdo Kingdom all call this structure the East Triumphal Gate, but it’s actually a remnant of an old outer wall.
Long ago, when the kingdom was founded, the capital city was surrounded by a magnificent stone outer wall to defend against enemies from outside, mainly monsters and magic beasts.
However, due to wyvern attacks, erosion over many years, and population growth in the capital, the outer wall was dismantled. Only the gate remained, and it is now preserved as a historical structure.
So, it looks old-fashioned and plain, just a gate.
Now, the scenery of the capital continues on the east side of the East Triumphal Gate, but it has become a gathering place for people departing to the east.
Or rather, neither the north nor the south are suitable for travel, and the west is Dragon Peak, so going there is only dangerous. Therefore, everyone who departs from the capital city heads east.
As I was gazing at the ancient East Triumphal Gate, Ruiseine arrived.
Her long, emerald green hair was dazzling in the morning sun.
And, as always, her miko’s attire.
Shrine maidens and priests wear special clothing. The upper garment is a robe that folds over in the front, and the lower part is a peculiar outfit that is fluffy and flares out at the hem.
It seems to have been their attire for a very long time, and it looks drastically different from the clothes of the current era.
Therefore, clergy members can be recognized at a glance, even from a distance.
Also, Ruiseine was holding a naginata that was longer than her height, making her very noticeable.
According to what I heard, the weapon of a battle priestess is a naginata.
She hadn’t brought it during the ruins investigation training, and apparently, she didn’t bring it then because she was providing support from the rear as a shrine maiden.
Before Ruiseine noticed me, I had already spotted her and waved to greet her.
“Good morning. Sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“Good morning. I just arrived myself.”
We greeted each other with polite bows. Ruiseine is always polite in her words and actions, and I found myself becoming polite as well.
Ruiseine smiled, “Fufufu.”
“Well then, shall we depart immediately?”
Urged by Ruiseine, we set off immediately.
“Ruiseine, you don’t have much luggage.”
My gaze first went to the naginata Ruiseine held in her right hand, but I also noticed her small amount of luggage.
She had less than a fraction of what I had.
“As for Elnea-kun, you have quite a lot of luggage, don’t you?”
“That’s right, it’s a six-day round trip. I’ve already cut down quite a bit.”
I’ll be in trouble without water and food, you know. It’s the minimum amount, but my backpack was still quite large and heavy.
In contrast, Ruiseine’s luggage consisted only of a small backpack, a drawstring pouch hanging from a long cord around her neck, and her naginata.
Why so little?
As I pondered with a question mark on my face, Ruiseine looked at me with a puzzled expression and tilted her head.
“It’s true it’s about six days round trip, but do you really need that much luggage?”
“What are you talking about? I need food and change of clothes.”
Upon hearing my answer, Ruiseine’s expression turned troubled.
“My, my.”
Hmm. Did I make a mistake?
Ruiseine, seeming to have difficulty speaking, said to me, looking up at me.
“Well… if we follow the road, there are convenient post stations to the sub-capital, and we can eat there… For clothes, we can wear the same ones for three days, and then change when we get to the sub-capital… By any chance, is this Elnea-kun’s first trip?”
“…”
Wha-what did she say?!
I was so astonished that my eyes widened, my mouth opened to its limit, and I froze.
I-I didn’t know.
I had mistakenly assumed that traveling meant trekking through rough wilderness with hardships and difficulties.
Seeing as my mother, who helped me prepare, didn’t say anything, she must have made the same mistake as me.
But now that I think about it, it makes sense.
The capital and the sub-capital are not far apart. The road connecting the two must be bustling, so there are naturally inns and eateries.
If that’s the case, I don’t need to carry food, and I only need to endure wearing the same clothes for a few days.
Our family is not wealthy, and we have never traveled, so none of us realized this basic fact.
I felt a surge of fatigue before we even departed.
Am I going to travel for six days carrying this excessive luggage?
Oh dear.
“F-first of all, let’s put that aside. We can think about Elnea-kun’s luggage along the way.”
Ruiseine tried to encourage me with concern, but my feet felt heavy.
I had made a fool of myself in front of Ruiseine. I honestly wanted to run away from here right now.
“W-well. Perhaps there will be merchants along the way who will buy unnecessary items.”
“Ugh. Ruiseine, you’re convinced that my luggage is unnecessary.”
“N-no, that’s not it. Everything Elnea-kun has prepared will surely be useful. It’s just… merchants are always interested in various things. Perhaps you could sell them to the merchants…”
I felt a little relieved by Ruiseine’s rare fluster.
I can’t bully a shrine maiden.
I pulled myself together and started walking east along the road.
With a sigh of relief, Ruiseine followed behind me.
Although it was still early morning, the road was already bustling with people coming and going.
We were still within the capital city. The road was wide and well-maintained, lined with various buildings.
Some shops had already opened and were attracting customers.
Everything looked new and fresh to me. What were they selling at the street vendor stalls? What was available in shops open so early? What was the merchant with the cart carrying? What kind of adventure were the spirited adventurers setting out on?
I looked left and right. I noticed Ruiseine watching me with a smile as I walked around, drawn by my gaze.
How embarrassing.
“Elnea-kun looks very happy.”
“Is… is that so?”
I blushed and smiled shyly.
Am I getting carried away? Perhaps I am.
It’s my first long trip, and I’m with the beautiful Ruiseine, alone.
Where did that heavy feeling from earlier go? I was already enjoying the journey.
“I’m glad. I was worried, thinking, what if Elnea-kun didn’t want to go.”
“I don’t dislike it at all. Besides, this… service work? happened because I broke my promise.”
I’m curious what kind of service work accompanying Ruiseine to the sub-capital will be, but this is my fault. There’s no way I’d feel bad about properly escorting Ruiseine on this journey.
“I’m grateful to hear you say that. However, this service work and the promise are separate matters. Please tell me the secret properly.”
“R-right. I’ll tell you properly. I’ll tell you when there are fewer people around.”
“My, my. You’ll finally tell me?”
Ruiseine smiled happily.
Of course, I’ll tell you. This time, I’ve even gotten permission from Old Man Sleigsta.
He said that if Ruiseine is someone I can trust, it’s up to me what to tell her.
Ruiseine is a shrine maiden, so she is undoubtedly a trustworthy person.
However, if what I tell Ruiseine gets passed on to Kiiri and Inea, and then to Listea… that might be acceptable, but it would be bad if it spread to many other people from there, so I need to make sure she promises to keep it a secret.
By the way, I’ve always wondered, why is accompanying Ruiseine on this trip considered service work?
Ruiseine clearly looks like a shrine maiden.
And shrine maidens are generally not in much danger.
Humans, old and young, are all devout followers of the Goddess of Creation. Even the most wicked people believe in her, so they are not attacked by humans.
There is danger from monsters, but Ruiseine is a battle priestess. Among shrine maidens, she is a clergy member experienced in combat.
I didn’t understand why I, of all people, needed to accompany such a safe and reliable person like Ruiseine.
So I asked her.
“Um, that’s because…”
Suddenly, Ruiseine blushed and looked down.
“Is it… is it okay to talk about it later? I will tell you properly as well.”
Saying that, Ruiseine hurriedly walked ahead of me.
I quickly followed after her.
What is it? Is there a secret to this journey? She said she’d tell me later, so I should trust her.
I caught up with Ruiseine and changed the subject.
I don’t like awkward atmospheres.
It’s a long journey, and it’s less tiring if the trip is enjoyable.
Ruiseine and I continued east along the road, chatting merrily.
Before long, the buildings along the road became fewer and the fields became more prominent.
To the east of the capital city lies a vast breadbasket. The land to the north, south, and west has no room for expansion, so the east was the only option, which I believe is the reality.
However, this grain-producing region is very fertile and is exported not only to the Armēdo Kingdom but also to the neighboring Yorttenitos Kingdom.
In return, they import a lot of meat, such as beef and lamb, from the Yorttenitos Kingdom. My teacher told me this in class.
Villages and towns are scattered across the fertile plains of the breadbasket, and many branch roads extend from the main road.
However, we just kept walking straight east.
Ruiseine explained that the breadbasket region would continue all the way to the sub-capital.
Ruiseine occasionally travels to the sub-capital on temple business. Usually, she goes with Kiiri and Inea as a trio, but those two are currently accompanying Listea, the hero.
I’ll ask Listea about what they’re doing when she returns.
Buildings became more sparse, and as we walked past the golden fields shimmering before the autumn harvest, we saw a resting area ahead.
It seemed there were several resting places along the road where travelers could take a break.
Some were areas where a plaza was created around the shade of a large tree, while others were properly maintained with roofed buildings.
The one I saw ahead was a simple place with a bench for a few people to sit under a large tree.
And sitting on that bench were a mother and child, looking at us.
A mother and child?
Is it my imagination, or do I feel like I’ve seen them before…?
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