Chapter 49. Setting off toward the Golden Sap Forest.
After Cinderielle set off alone, she chose to go eastwards from Fortuna City. This was the most direct way of traveling toward the Golden Sap Forest.
She walked through the streets with a marching rhythm, her steps neither hurried nor slow. She didn't take long to reach the wooden walls surrounding the city where a large gate was built.
There was an open plaza with plenty of carriages of different sizes. Some carriages were pulled by animals, while others didn't have anything pulling them. Still, Cinderielle knew that those carriages were usually pushed through internal circuits.
They were quite advanced pieces of technology, so Cinderielle didn't know much about them other than they could move without the help of beasts. 'Being a driver of those is complicated enough that only Level 10s and above usually drive them.'
Of the tens of carriages in the large plaza, there were only two high-level ones. Cinderielle didn't have that much money, so she ambled toward one that looked affordable. As she approached, she had an idea. 'I can find a group that doesn't have to be high-level people and act as an escort for a while. I might even get paid instead of paying.'
"Excuse me."
A man who was resting while sitting on the side of the carriage heard a pleasant voice and looked over to its origin. He was dumbfounded as the gorgeous woman approached with a smile and a stature that was quite intimidating. 'Wow, tall. Also, that hair color… A Sylvan? Didn't this missy see that this is an all-human caravan? Well, let's answer and see what she wants.'
"Hello! What do you need, beauty?"
Cinderielle grinned at the compliment and answered. "Hello, gentlemen. I was thinking about going toward the Golden Sap Forest, but it would be my first time going. Therefore, I came to speak with you to ask if your group is going that way. If it is, I can act as a guard."
The man's eyebrow raised. 'Hm, she is trying to get a free ride. Well, does she have what she needs to do so?'
"I see. That would be interesting. There are almost never enough guards, hahaha." After a sincere laugh, he smiled with a shrewd look and asked. "What Level are you, missy? I don't want to ask rude questions, but you look quite young."
Cinderielle frowned and commented. "Look, I can tell you that my primary stats is over 50. Not to mention, my destructive capabilities as a Sylvan who controls fire are superb in the offensive. My skill set should be enough even if Level 10 monsters or bandits appear."
The man rubbed his bearded chin and commented. "Is your level so low that you can't tell us?"
Cinderielle crossed her arms and looked at him. "While it is indeed low, I've just told you that my stats are not low at all. Any Level 9, as long as they are not wearing something crazy as equipment, is not my opponent. I have three pieces of Basic Rank equipment, two of them at flawless levels as well. I can also tell you that I'm Sylvan, and I have unlocked transformation."
When the man and those behind her heard the last sentence, their eyebrows raised in surprise. "You've unlocked that pre-level-ten?"
Seeing their looks change that much, not at all the other things, but the fact that she had unlocked her transformation confused her. While it was true that Level 6 was almost the fastest that a Sylvan could get when unlocking that inborn skill, she had seen other Sylvans do the same.
This fact was like telling her that it wasn't that special. However, what Cinderielle didn't know was that 99% of Sylvans failed to unlock it before Level 15. In contrast, those Sylvans that unlocked it below Level 10 were nothing but a fraction of the general populace of Sylvans. Most of that extra one percent were Sylvans who unlocked it between Level 10 and 15.
Hence, Cinderielle, who thought that the other things were much more important, was confused by their reaction and nodded unknowingly. "Yes, it is true. What's wrong?"
The man changed his tone and smiled genuinely. "You are welcomed into our
Cinderielle blinked twice, her orange-colored eyes showing clear confusion.
Seeing the previously cool, calm, and confident woman show such a clueless expression made the caravan leader and the others behind him laugh. Cinderielle snapped out of her daze and protested. "Hey, what are you laughing at!?"
The caravan leader laughed one last time before coughing and becoming serious. "Sorry, missy. It won't happen. Also, may I have Missy's name?"
Cinderielle pondered and commented. "Just call me Cinder. What's your name?"
The caravan leader grinned and commented. "I'm called Larte. The ones behind are Aries, Doles, Maley…"
Larte presented the people behind him one by one, a total of 15 people. There were more, but the rest were customers. Caravan work was diverse as it took her time to transport both people and goods. Moreover, if the Caravan was strong enough, cities asking them to exterminate some troublesome creatures was not that uncommon.
Because of culture and the existence of World Trees, almost the entire planet's lithosphere was covered in forests, and tight but protected roads connected different civilizations.
These roads were treaded by caravans that knew the routes, and fees were to be paid. Traveling alone was not against any rules, but coming into contact with certain beasts or lacking strength during the travel could lead to a graveless death.
Speaking of graves, the way people buried others was interesting, as the objective of the current culture was becoming one with nature after death. Hence, most people had the tradition of burying their loved ones below trees, gardens, or other places where nature would slowly decompose and assimilate them.
Hence, a "graveless" death was usually considered one where the corpse couldn't be retrieved. In the most objective sense, being eaten in the wild by monsters was the same as what people did. However, the emotional value and sentiment of a creature's desire to grieve their deceased was prevalent even in this world's culture.
Still, thanks to the "returning to nature" culture, those who approached a natural death didn't fear it as much. The habit of looking at things as part of a more significant cycle was prevalent.
This naturally didn't take away from the fact that people feared non-natural deaths.
I digress.
Larte commented as she saw Cinderielle walk toward the front. "Are you really that eager to participate as a guard?"
Cinderielle scratched her cheek. "More than eager, I still don't understand why the change in attitude. The only reason I'm even coming without suspecting you is because of that."
Cinderielle pointed at a symbol on the carriage's side, an honor badge from the Explorer Association. These were only given to groups that had committed no felonies for one hundred missions and upheld morals. In short, someone with this mark was considered trustworthy.
Larte laughed. "Well, I guess it's expected to be confused. However, I can tell you that the fact that you can transform so young and early is better than you being able to fight Level 15 or higher creatures."
Cinderielle nodded, keeping it in mind, but she didn't continue asking. 'I'll ask teacher Eila when I come back.'
Larte looked around and shouted in a deep tone. "If everyone is gathered, start preparing because we are departing in one hour! Those who are not ready by then won't be missed."
Cinderielle saw someone with a list approaching and whispering something into Larte's ear. The man nodded and then spoke aloud again. "We are departing in two hours! Sorry for the delay. Everyone present will receive a 3 percent discount or pay rise for this travel!"
'Ho? What made his attitude change so abruptly? Well, I'll have to wait to know.'
After one and a half hours passed, Cinderielle could see Larte's feet tapping the ground quickly and impatiently. 'They are not here yet? Quite a way to make people wait.'
She could see that most people in the group were showing dissatisfaction in some way, which made the atmosphere quite tense.
After ten more minutes, a group of people approached with slow steps. Cinderielle looked over, and her face became solemn. 'Strong.'
Larte didn't seem to care much, though. He approached and spoke with a clearly restrained tone. "Lord, can you speed up? We are already half an hour late from our departure."
The man smiled. "What's with this attitude and all this haste? Half an hour late is nothing; stop complaining about such small things." Larte held back from slapping his face with all his being and turned around without looking while shouting. "We are leaving!"
Cinderielle walked toward the front, only to be interrupted. "Oh, Miss, are you the only Sylvan in this caravan?"
Turning around, Cinderielle saw the man who had arrived late approaching her with a broad and handsome smile. Cinderielle answered with a cold and somewhat sneering tone without registering his handsomeness or anything similar. "It seems that you have eyes."
One of the guards placed his hand on the hilt of the sword, but Larte stopped him. "If you draw that sword, I don't care if the person you are protecting is important or not; he will have to search for another caravan!"
The man looked at him with disdain, but he retreated for now, leaving one sentence behind. "Well, miss. If you want to talk, call me later."
Cinderielle ignored him and walked toward the front.
Feeling another person approaching, Cinderielle had to consciously stop her face from twisting with annoyance. "Hello! Is this your first Caravan?"
The woman who approached had a reassuring and refreshing smile. Like the rest, she was human. However, her height was a bit short for a human woman. Cinderielle was more than a head taller than her, forcing her to look down to talk with her.
The woman, looking up, smiled wider.
'What a stupid face.'
Of course, she didn't say it aloud and commented. "I'm focusing on the guard duty. Can you leave me alone for a few minutes?"
The woman laughed. "Don't worry, nothing happens around these areas. I've traveled with the
Cinderielle moved her gaze in the direction she was pointing at, only to see a man sleeping by the side of the carriage driver seat. Her eyebrow couldn't help but twitch with annoyance. 'Should I have come alone?'