Chapter 101: A Long Journey

High-level adventurers had extremely tough bodies. Hedin, who had looked deathly pale and seemed unable to even stand yesterday, now looked no different from usual after just some healing magic, panacea, and one night of rest.

And Emiya, whose level was only Lv.2, obviously still needed more time to recuperate his body, but he was already able to walk normally, with no restrictions on movement.

The morning sunlight sprinkled through the gaps in the dense forest, birdsong brought a trace of vitality to the silent forest. Riveria and the others were tidying up their gear in the simple camp, preparing to set off back to Orario.

God Hermes had prepared earlier than the adventurers, the traveler god's usual leisurely smile at this moment appeared somewhat proud, "I've already prepared a few carriages for you all in advance!"

He stood in front of everyone, gently unfolding a scroll of contract document.

The surface of the document was smooth as new, its edges inlaid with golden thread, and on the contract was clearly imprinted the emblem of the Orario Guild as well as the Hermes Familia's crest, a traveler's hat adorned with a feather.

"With this contract, you all can receive the carriages and supplies I've prepared in advance at the departure town on the outskirts of the 'Great Tree Sea'."

"Thank you for your thoughtful arrangements, God Hermes."

Riveria took the contract. Hermes' arrangements indeed made their journey much more convenient.

Hermes gently smiled, his gaze revealing a rare trace of sincerity, "You are all outstanding adventurers. To be of help to you is my honor. The difficult task is completed, let the return journey be a bit more relaxed."

On the other hand, Friana did not embark on the return journey with Riveria and the others. As a professor of the 'School District', she chose to stay near the Great Tree Sea, waiting for someone from the 'School District' to come pick her up.

Her plan was to use this time to discover some young people in the surroundings who had potential and thirsted for knowledge, and bring them back to the 'School District' for training.

Although the villages and towns around the Great Tree Sea were remote, she believed that students with talent might still be hidden there, only lacking opportunity and guidance.

Through this stop, Friana hoped to find more seedlings with academic or magical potential for the School District.

Thus, everyone briefly bid farewell to Friana.

According to the 'School District's' plan, they would return to the labyrinth city Orario three years later for a short rest, and also to give the School District's students a chance to consider whether to join a Familia in Orario. At that time, perhaps they would see Friana again.

God Hermes also did not set off on the road back to Orario with the adventurers. He explained that many members of the Hermes Familia had been injured in the previous battle and had not fully recovered.

As the main god of the Familia, he decided to stay behind to personally care for them, ensuring they received enough treatment and rest.

However, although Hermes explained his reason for staying behind lightly, saying it was because his Familia members had not recovered from their injuries, Emiya and the others could all see that the true reason that made him give up leaving alone was not this.

Standing behind Hermes, Asfi, although her expression was calm, her gaze emitted an oppressive feeling that could not be ignored.

That kind of gaze clearly warned Hermes, "If you dare run off alone again, prepare to die."

The killing intent beneath her calm exterior made Hermes have no choice but to obediently stay in the camp.

Not long after leaving the adventurers' camp, Riveria and the others successfully exchanged the contract for two carriages in the small town on the outskirts of the Great Tree Sea.

At first glance, the appearance of these two carriages was very modest. The surface of the carriage had no decorations and appeared extremely ordinary. But this plain exterior at first sight concealed their true extraordinariness.

The frame was built from exceptionally sturdy special wood, the wheels and axles were meticulously crafted to ensure durability. The space inside the carriages was also unexpectedly large, enough to carry all their equipment and supplies, and could even provide enough resting space for the adventurers.

What truly demonstrated the value of these carriages were the magic items personally crafted by the [Omnipotent One] embedded inside.

These magic items could automatically adjust the carriage's balance, ensuring smoothness inside the compartment even on rugged or muddy roads. Riding inside, one could barely feel the bumps and instability of an ordinary carriage; even during long journeys, it felt comfortable and caused no fatigue.

This hidden high-end design, combined with sturdy and durable materials and outstanding comfort, made it easy to realize that these two carriages, though low-profile in appearance, were certainly very expensive, far beyond what ordinary adventurers could afford.

On the way here, they had ridden flying dragons to cross the vast distance between the Great Tree Sea and Orario. That speed was far faster than carriages on land.

But now, the flying dragons were either injured and unable to fly or had been killed by monsters, and could no longer provide assistance. Switching to carriages meant their journey would extend to over a month. This was a reality they had to accept.

Even so, Riveria, usually calm and steady, seemed unusually excited about this upcoming long-distance journey.

Especially when she saw the carriages Hermes had prepared for them, her eyes visibly lit up.

Although Riveria didn't say much, from the subtle changes in her expression, it was clear that this rare opportunity seemed to have stirred some kind of anticipation deep within her.

Emiya and Hedin originally both had their own reasons for wanting to return to Orario as soon as possible.

Hedin was eager to meet Goddess Freya and report the results of this adventure. Emiya was entirely focused on returning to Orario's Dungeon for training to improve his strength. He knew he still had many shortcomings and needed to make up for them through constant battles and tempering.

However, when they noticed Riveria's strong interest in this journey, they tacitly refrained from mentioning the plan to return to the city early.

Besides, the adventurers also realized that perhaps they themselves needed a journey. A bit of relaxation and adjustment.

Moreover, Emiya quickly realized that traveling with Riveria and the others might be more effective for his training than returning to the Dungeon alone.

After all, in front of him were three Lv.6 adventurers. Riveria, Hedin, and Hogni, as well as one Lv.5 adventurer, Ryuu.

These top-tier adventurers were not only experienced and powerful but also possessed unique combat styles and techniques. They could offer him guidance and real combat training at any time.

And so, a traveler team powerful enough to challenge the Dungeon's forty-ninth floor labyrinth king, the one-eyed demon king Balor, set off.

However, before the adventurers set off, the issue of carriage allocation sparked a slight conflict.

Hedin and Hogni, both male elves of the Freya Familia, were naturally supposed to ride in the same carriage.

However, Hedin also suggested that Emiya ride with them. The reason was simple: Emiya was male, so it was more appropriate for him to be with them, and the boy also needed more combat guidance.

But Ryuu didn't agree. She hoped to ride in the same carriage as Emiya, reasoning that Emiya's body hadn't fully recovered and someone should take care of him. She wanted to ensure that Emiya could get better rest and recovery during the journey.

Because of their differing opinions, the argument gradually escalated.

The atmosphere among the elves grew tense, and the two First-Class adventurers were nearly about to come to blows.

Until, after arguing with Ryuu for a while, Hedin suddenly spoke in a relaxed tone, "Gale, did you forget that Lady Riveria is supposed to ride with you?"

Only then did Ryuu realize that it was indeed somewhat inappropriate to have Lady Riveria ride with a male of another race.

Although Ryuu personally didn't mind riding with Emiya, in her view, Lady Riveria might not feel the same.

Moreover, considering Her Highness's status and the traditional views of the elf race, such an arrangement was clearly not very suitable.

Hedin's expression remained unchanged, still maintaining his usual calm, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had effortlessly won this argument.

However, such a victory didn't bring him much sense of accomplishment. After all, defeating a mere useless elf was far too easy.

Ryuu was cornered by Hedin's words, realizing her oversight, and let out a frustrated sound, "Guh…"

The useless elf had already been pushed to the brink of failure, unable to find a way to respond.

However, at that moment, Riveria suddenly spoke.

"I don't mind riding with Emiya," She said.

Her gaze swept over everyone, and Riveria continued, "I am very grateful for everyone's respect, but I have already relinquished my royal status. Now, I'm just a normal adventurer like you all."

Riveria's tone remained calm, but there was clearly a touch of seriousness in her voice, as if she had already considered this for a long time.

She said, "This is not just about whether or not I ride with Emiya. It's also about the long-standing attitude of the elf race towards other races."

Riveria spoke slowly, "The elves have long held an incorrect prejudice against other races. This isn't an isolated phenomenon but a deeply rooted mindset."

"Even now, in some elven homelands, especially in Alfheim, this kind of mindset still exists. Elves still consider themselves superior and remain distant and hostile toward other races."

Hedin's expression slightly stiffened, and Hogni's brows furrowed. Ryuu stood silently to the side, seemingly thoughtful and clearly agreeing with this point.

"That is also one of the reasons I left the Alf Forest."

Riveria continued, "I didn't want to continue being bound by such a mindset, using rigid views to distinguish between race, identity, and status. Now, I've chosen to be an adventurer, to fight equally alongside other races. Not to look down on others with the identity of an elven princess."

Her words carried no intense emotional fluctuations, yet each sentence was powerful. Hedin and Hogni remained silent; they knew Riveria was telling the truth.

"As adventurers, we've long broken free from the traditional shackles of the elven race. Why should we continue to cling to such outdated thinking over something so trivial?"

Riveria said this with a strong sense of justice.

However, after hearing Riveria's speech, Hedin remained indifferent inside.

In his view, all of this was merely an excuse made by Her Highness.

Her real purpose was to use this grand rhetoric to force him to back down, thereby ensuring that Emiya would travel with her and Ryuu, and not with the two elves of the Freya Familia.

It was just that now, Riveria had raised the issue to the level of elven ideology and promoted equality with such noble bearing that even if Hedin doubted her motives, he had no way to refute her directly.

Under the pressure of her identity and moral high ground, Hedin had no choice but to yield, "Since Her Highness has already made her position clear—"

Hedin finally said calmly, "Then I have nothing more to say."

Hedin pondered silently. For Riveria to raise such a minor issue to such heights seemed a bit deliberate and lacking in sincerity, it wasn't her usual standard.

'With Her Highness's usual composure and intelligence, under normal circumstances, there would've been no need for such a lengthy explanation.'

'No one need to believe her words.'

However, just as Hedin thought this, he turned to look at Ryuu and Hogni.

Ryuu's eyes sparkled with undisguised admiration.

Hogni also nodded slightly, his gaze filled with the same respect and awe.

'…Yeah, they believed it.'

'Two idiots,' Hedin sighed in his heart.

The useless elf Ryuu was even silently expressing her gratitude at that momentb: "Her Highness Riveria's character is truly noble… It's thanks to Her Highness's generosity that I can travel with Shirou…"

As a result, thanks to Riveria's decision, the carriage assignments were finally settled.

Hedin and Hogni would ride together. Riveria, Ryuu, and Emiya would ride in another.

The carriage Hermes had prepared was spacious, enough for the three to rest comfortably.

While the elves were arguing outside, Emiya, due to his injuries, had already been resting inside the carriage. As the dispute came to an end, Riveria and Ryuu boarded the carriage, ready to depart.

At that moment, Riveria looked at Ryuu and calmly asked, "Ryuu, are you good at taking care of the injured?"

This question made Ryuu slightly freeze. She finally realized this blind spot. She wasn't actually good at caring for others.

Though "Gale" was outstanding in strength, in non-combat fields, she was completely a "useless elf."

At most, she could wash dishes. But when it came to tending the wounded, she had no experience whatsoever.

Thinking about it carefully, if she were in charge, Emiya's injuries might only get worse.

Realizing this, Ryuu's face seemed to lose all color, shaken intensely.

Seeing Ryuu's expression, Riveria sighed helplessly and said plainly, "Looks like you understand too. In that case, I'll help you take care of Shirou."

Riveria's tone carried just the right touch of helplessness and reluctant acceptance.

Ryuu realized her own shortcomings. A trace of disappointment appeared on her face, but she quickly expressed her gratitude to Riveria seriously and sincerely: "Lady Riveria, thank you so much!"

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Although not as fast as flying dragons or First-Class adventurers, the carriage specially prepared by Hermes was still much faster than a normal one.

In just a few days, the adventurers followed the wide roads and arrived at the large city closest to the Great Tree Sea. The city known as the "City of Hot Springs," Spring City.

This journey was completely different from their way there. Previously, they had ridden flying dragons over mountains and rivers, heading straight for the Great Tree Sea, stopping only at remote villages or desolate places along the way, with simple and barren environments.

Now, however, the carriage traveled along official roads built by various countries, passing through many major cities and bustling towns. The scenery and facilities along the way were more modern and convenient.

Adventurers generally weren't allowed to leave the dungeon city Orario easily. Even if they did go out, they were usually just running between nearby farms, towns, or ports.

As a result, over time, many adventurers unconsciously formed a kind of subconscious idea: "Orario is the world." In many people's eyes, Orario's unparalleled prosperity and authority made it seem like the very center of the world.

Indeed, as the largest and most important city in the world, Orario had an unshakable position. However, the true world, its vastness and grandeur, how could it possibly be represented by a single city?

Therefore, there were also many adventurers, like Riveria, who actually longed for the world beyond the dungeon city.

Spring City was a tourist city famous for its hot springs. Inns offering hot spring services and small pavilions for travelers to rest in were everywhere along the streets. The city's warm atmosphere naturally made people relax.

Though this city couldn't compare to Orario in scale and influence, it had its own unique culture and prosperity. Merchants from various countries gathered here. Exotic architectural styles dotted the streets. Languages and customs from all over the world flowed through the city.

Of course, the adventurers weren't here for sightseeing. Spring City was just a temporary resting place on their journey back to Orario. After a day's travel, they decided to stay one night in this city to recover their strength and continue on the next morning.

At this moment, they had just entered the city.

Riveria pointed to the faint outline of a mountain in the distance and introduced it to Emiya, "That dormant volcano you see was once one of the ancient monster Behemoth's lairs."

Unlike most ancient monsters such as the scorpions in the Great Tree Sea, the Earth King "Behemoth" and the Sea King "Leviathan" were monsters with no fixed homes and vast ranges of activity.

"Behemoth's traces once appeared all over the continent. Before it was defeated, there were constant sightings reported from various regions. It brought disasters to people across the world, destroyed many towns, and left countless innocent people homeless."

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