Special Chapter I - To The South (part 2)

"Ah, sorry. Where is this Amila family grouping?"

I missed that detail and got very busy trash-talking with him about nobles. He checked the book again and answered.

"Let's see… It's on the western main road. They are going with multiple extra carriages, so you can order a ticket right here and give it to them afterwards."

"I see. Give me the ticket."

The young boy gave a ticket to me, and I read the text written on it. The print does say Amila, so it must be legit.

"That will be three hundred."

I gave him the stupidly expensive payment without asking. As a result, he just stared at me surprised when he saw how easily I just gave away three hundred Jules to him. Three hundred wasn't such a small number after all.

"Thank you very much. Talk with the carriage driver and give him the ticket. He should let you hop in."

"Okay."

"Remember, your cart is the one that doesn't look fancy. There will be multiple carriages, so find one that doesn't look like it belongs to the noble."

"Gotcha."

I left the boy and headed to the western main gate. The group of adventurers who were waiting began ordering a ticket. Sorry to keep you guys waiting, the boy was rather chatty.

The skies weren't exactly bright. The sun is covered by the dark clouds, as if very ready to pour down rain. How is it that in a freaking summer, rain seems to happen very often?

Well, in this waterproof coat, I can handle the rain. What I can't handle is my annoyed point of view because of the falling water if combat happens.

After walking for fifteen minutes, I finally arrived at the group of carriages waiting right next to the church. I can see the church's front door is open. I guess it's open to the public on weekdays.

Oh god, what day is this?

I forgot to inform the church about me going out. Let's hope there is someone inside.

Before going inside, I went to a nearby dark alley and removed my robe and mask. Once I placed them back on my mask, I went inside the church.

"Rize?"

The elder nun is here, and she seemed surprised when she saw me.

The priest who opened the door to me excused himself as he continued sweeping the floor, which seemed to be what he was doing before I arrived. I waved my hand to the elder nun as I approached her.

The elder nun noticed me wearing my adventurer's outfit, and she quickly knew why I'm here.

"Ah, right… That's today, isn't it?"

I nodded firmly to her, and I came here to bid farewell. I also wanted to thank her for looking out for me during the meeting, which I wasn't really expecting. Hell, I wasn't even expecting her to be there.

Who would have thought a higher member of a church is an ally to the Office?

"I came to say goodbye. And… also to tell everyone that I will be gone for a long time."

"It's okay, I can relay the message. We will all definitely miss your saint-like heals."

The elder nun commented, and I laughed a little hearing what she called my healing magic.

"How are your preparations going?"

She asked after we both sat down on a nearby long chair, and I pointed at my clothes.

"All set. I will be gone after the second bell. I have a carriage going out from this west gate."

"So quick... I pray that you won't feel sick during the trip. Veldonia is a long journey to reach."

"Thank you, madam. How is Khel doing, nowadays?"

"Well... quite the embarrassing one, actually."

Since she was the only one present inside the church, I talked with her for a bit. She will tell everyone that I will be gone for a few weeks, and we talked about various things the church is dealing with. Even Khel's story about how she lives here. At least now I have a worry out of my chest.

After chatting for a while, I went back outside. Now, I should find the right carriage.

The group of wagons were parked outside on the western main road, which can be seen by just anyone walking on this road. There are six wagons in total, with the third wagon from the front looking totally hectic.

That hectic wagon had golden ornaments all over its body part, as well as red skin as its base color. The horse was covered in metal armor, and the tires looked metallic.

That must be the noble's cart. Then the five other carriages should belong to the other travelers.

I just need to approach the driver of a random cart.

I walked towards the wagon second from last. The driver of the wagon looked quite confused when he saw my mask and brown robes which I wore right after I exited the church.

As soon as I got close, I asked the question.

"The Amila group, right?"

"Yes. And you are?"

"I'm a traveler, wanting to visit Veldon."

"I see. Do you have the ticket?"

I took out the ticket and gave it to him. He read the content and confirmed. He returned the ticket to me and nodded.

"Alright, we will leave after the second bell, but we won't leave right away. There will be a slight delay to wait a little bit for people who might be late. Just talk to me when you are ready to hop on."

"Okay. Thank you."

I took the ticket and left him. Now what to do with the little time I had…

Maybe, I'll check the market out?

The market is as crowded as usual. People buy stuff here and there. Despite the fact that it's about to rain, people are still doing trades.

I walked towards a familiar spot, and I can see what I'm looking for. Or the people I'm looking for.

Urek was happily speaking with a customer, and behind him was his daughter, Mana, sorting up the vegetables inside a box.

This time, there's only them. Ven and his mother are nowhere to be seen. 

Hmm… Maybe I'll buy a fruit or two.

I waited until the customer left and walked towards their shop. Urek noticed me and waited while I'm choosing.

A lot of these are in very good condition. I can see a banana on one of the boxes. I picked up a stack of bananas from the box, and there are six bananas in the stack. I pointed at it and turned to Urek.

"How much will this be?"

"That will be twelve Jules."

I gave him a twenty Jules coin.

"One second."

Normally, he will have to return me eight Jules. But, I have a different idea.

He lowered his body to grab a change, but by the time he got up, I'm already gone.

"Huh? Where did he go?"

While Urek was looking for me, I stood on top of a nearby shop stall, staring at him.

Damn, that felt good.

I leaped away and arrived on top of the church. I put off my mask and grabbed a banana away from its stack. 

Then, I started chewing while enjoying the view.

.

Finally, the second bell rang. 

I'm very lucky that it hasn't rained yet, but it does look like it's about to be raining soon.

The bell's sound can be heard all the way inside the kingdom since there are more than one bell. They all rang at the same time too, and I wonder if they had some sort of item that kept track of time.

I finished all the bananas I bought from Urek already. I spent over an hour just staring into the view from the top of the church while thinking about stuff. I tried to imagine what kind of life I would have if only that skeleton bastard didn't kill me. 

I hopped down from the roofs to the road. The people around me were quite startled, but after I walked away, they walked away as well.

I walked towards the carriage and talked with the driver. He remembered me and allowed me to go in from the door right next to him.

This carriage is a little different from the carriage I'm used to riding. The door is located in the front, right next to the driver. So to get in, you have to meet the driver first.

Inside, are six windows that can be opened behind the seats, while the seats themselves are placed on the left and right facing one another. The back wall has one large window that is currently open.

This wagon can fit about six people. And since I'm the first to hop in, I chose the seat on the most back so I can enjoy the back window.

After a while, no one seemed to enter the carriage beside me. And five minutes after I went in, I could hear a commotion caused by the driver. It was rather loud, but I kind of don't really care. After a while, a few people hopped in.

The first to enter was a young lady in black robes. She also wore her hood up like me, but she didn't wear a mask. She sat in the middle of the seat across from me, and she watched as her companions entered.

The second and third to enter are knights. One is a female, and the other is a male. They sat right next to the middle lady in black robes, completely sandwiching her in the middle. No one else came after that.

Seeing how the two knights sandwiched the person in the black robes, I can only deduct that the girl in black is someone important. Plus the commotion from before, something is definitely happening.

The knights could have sat right next to me, but instead they sat next to this lady. The lady could have picked the most left seat, right across from me, but she didn't and picked the middle spot, as if asking to be sandwiched by the two knights.

No, no. The fact that there's knights here is already suspicious.

Very suspicious… hmm…

Well, that's not my business. I wouldn't care, anyway. I simply stared forward, to the view behind this carriage.

That view is literally another carriage's front, but it's not like I have anything else to see.

After a while, two other people went in. It's an old couple, and they look to be around fifty to sixty. They sat right next to me, seeming like a retired old bunch looking for some touring.

A few minutes later, the driver peeked inside to confirm that everyone was here. He went to the head of the group and reported. When he came back, he peeked again and told everyone in the group that we will leave in a bit.

The old couple replied with gratitude, and the driver closed the door again.

After a while, I can see some knights shouting stuff outside. And right after that, the carriages started moving one by one.

The first cart moves, followed by the second. All the other carts had also started moving. The horses are making sounds I can't interpret, but the carriage is definitely moving.

And at last, my long mission will finally start.

To the south, we go!