Episode 19: Leaving Froikton Southward

A time when the whole world seemed to shimmer in blue. The grass and trees along the road, even the buildings of the city, were all bathed in a soft, pale blue hue, as if painted with delicate watercolor. It was an early hour, so early that even the diligent merchants had not yet risen.

On the southern road from Froikton, Gravel and Iris were walking. They wore capes that reached down to their toes to avoid the morning dew, with hoods pulled low over their faces. It was said that it would take five days of walking south from Froikton to reach a city called Tollu, so their bags were heavier than usual, packed with supplies for five days of camping. Yet Gravel's steps were light.

There was no pressing reason to hurry to Tollu, so Gravel could have taken a regular carriage operated by the city, rented a horse, or even purchased a fine steed with the gold earned during their stay in Froikton. But instead, they chose to walk to Tollu at a leisurely pace.

"Can't wait for nightfall. Then I can make that instant offal soup for tonight's camp…"

Gravel patted the bag containing pieces of drake offal received from the Lamir hunting party and continued along the path. It was food that could be eaten anywhere by simply mixing it with heated water, but Gravel's personality wouldn't allow them to eat travel rations without reason while staying in Froikton. 'Every meal has its proper time and place.' Gravel always thought.

Even if they quickened their pace, the distance to Tollu wouldn't shrink, nor would it hasten the moment of sitting by a campfire, savoring the offal soup. So, Gravel walked leisurely, taking in the blue scenery around them.

As they passed through the forest outside the city, the fading blue tint of the landscape began to reclaim its true colors. The birds were just waking, starting to chirp, when the loud sound of horse hooves, out of place in the serene morning, echoed toward them.

A horse was galloping down the road toward Iris and Gravel. Its bridle and saddle indicated it wasn't a wild horse.

"A horse running without a rider at this hour?"

"Perhaps the rider fell off?"

"Maybe. If that's the case, someone might be in trouble, so let's catch it and return it."

Gravel considered using a simple spell to stop the runaway horse, but before they could act, Iris, who had been standing beside them, was already off the path, grasping the reins attached to the horse's bridle.

"Lord Gravel, there's a suspicious mark on the saddle."

"Hm? What's that?"

Gravel hurried over to Iris.

"It's blood. Not from the horse—it seems to be from the rider."

Iris showed Gravel the red blood on the tips of her index and middle fingers.

"Indeed… The horse isn't wounded. Was the rider attacked by someone? Or… a wild animal?"

"The guild mentioned that the road to Tollu is rife with bandits and highwaymen. They also said dire wolves used to be common, but at this hour…"

"For there to be anyone else on the road besides us at this early hour is strange enough…"

Gravel tilted their head, deep in thought. In this world, it was common sense not to travel at such an early hour without a specific reason—at least around Froikton. It wasn't even the right time to encounter wolves, which deepened the mystery.

"My Lord, shall we follow the road?"

"Let's do it. The blood hasn't even dried, so it must be nearby."

A smile spread across Gravel's face. Though they felt sorry for the owner of the blood on the saddle, Gravel was delighted because Iris, who had once been a silent NPC companion in the Grand World Online, had recently begun expressing her own opinions and thoughts. Iris's actions as a living being, not just an NPC, brought Gravel joy.

"I'll lead the way."

Iris gripped the horse's reins tightly and began walking quickly back toward the road. As they crested a gentle hill, a faint human voice reached them from somewhere. It was barely audible, just enough to vaguely discern the direction.

"Did you hear that? A person's voice. Sounds like a man… Which way?"

"Yes, I hear it faintly… This way!"

After closing her eyes briefly to focus on the sound, Iris opened them and bolted toward a dense forest of trees far off the road.

Gravel followed in the direction Iris had dashed.

"This way."

'The stat difference between a melee class and a caster, huh?'

Gravel thought as they watched Iris pull ahead, widening the gap between them in an instant.

Passing a few scattered trees, the faint voice grew clearer. It wasn't one person but multiple voices. As Iris and Gravel approached the source, three figures came into view.

Two people on horseback were circling a third person, who was sitting on the ground with an injured leg, unable to move.

"You idiot! Don't make it harder for the ones chasing you!"

One of the riders threatened the seated person with a long spear, jabbing it menacingly.

The two on horseback wore leather armor with chainmail visible underneath, no helmets. They carried long spears and had sheathed swords of moderate length at their waists. They looked little different from ordinary adventurers.

"Please, spare me! I'm just a hired coachman… I don't know what was in the carriage, and I don't care. Please, just…"

The coachman, clutching his bloodstained, injured leg, looked up at the two riders and pleaded.

"We're just hired mercenaries ourselves, you know. Heh heh heh."

"Tch… That's—"

The two riders simultaneously thrust their spears toward the coachman.

Clang!

With the sound of metal clashing, Iris stood in front of the coachman. The tips of the two spears aimed at him were already broken.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Where'd you come from?"

Startled by Iris's sudden appearance without any warning, the two men pulled their horses' reins to calm them and threw the broken spear shafts to the ground.

"We were passing by and caught that horse you lost."

Gravel approached the coachman slowly, speaking as they walked.

"Help me, please! Adventurers, those bandits attacked our passing carriage!"

"Bandits? Hah! Now that help's here, you change your tune quick, huh?"

"You said bandits?"

Ignoring the rider's taunts, Gravel addressed the coachman.

"Yes, yes! These are bandits!"

"Let's heal you first."

Gravel extended a hand and cast a healing spell on the coachman.

"No, all three of you should just die here!"

Shing!

With the sound of swords being drawn, the riders swung their blades down toward Gravel and Iris, who were below.

"Iris."

As Gravel confirmed the coachman's leg wound healing, their gaze fixed on him. The moment Gravel called Iris's name, groans came from the two bandits on horseback.

"Urgh…"

"What the…"

The two bandits, swords raised, froze in place. One, realizing blood was flowing from a red line across his neck, tried to cover the wound with his hand, but dark blood spilled over his fingers, running down his neck. The other tried to reach for his neck as well, but, overwhelmed by the gushing blood, he lost balance and fell to the ground.

"Did any blood splash on you, Lord Gravel?"

Sheathing her sword, Iris asked Gravel.

"Nope. Not a single drop, thanks to you."

As the two bandits hit the ground, Gravel replied to Iris. Then, extending a hand to the coachman, they helped him stand.

The wound on his leg, hidden beneath bloodstained cloth, had already healed. The coachman, marveling at the sudden absence of pain, rubbed the spot where the wound had been and even jumped in place. Then, he grabbed Gravel's hand and expressed his gratitude.

"You saved my life and even healed me. Thank you, truly, thank you."

"No need. You said your carriage was attacked—can you tell us more?"

"Yes. I was hired to drive a carriage full of goods purchased in Tollu by a knight in splendid armor, heading to Froikton. There was also a female mage with a wide-brimmed hat. The knight insisted we leave at dawn, saying we had to get there as soon as possible. I warned that traveling before sunrise was dangerous, but he said the escorting soldiers would handle any bandits…"

"Where's the carriage now?"

Gravel handed the coachman a waterskin and asked.

"Are you two coming from Froikton?"

"Yes, we're heading from Froikton to Tollu."

"Then go about eight lengths down the road. But whether you two should go…"

"Is there another reason"

Gravel asked as the coachman trailed off.

"Well, there were a ton of these bandits. I didn't see clearly while escaping, but there were at least fifty of them."

"Then it's fine."

"What? You heard me say fifty, right?"

"Yes, you said you didn't see clearly while escaping, but there were at least fifty."

"You're a bold adventurer… Even if they're just bandits, to hear there are so many and still…"

The coachman, wide-eyed, looked between Gravel and Iris, took a sip from the waterskin, and handed it back to Gravel.

"Then, could you go to Froikton and get help for us?"

"Yes, that's a good idea. Why don't you come back to Froikton with me, adventurers? Or at least wait until I return with Froikton's soldiers."

It was all the coachman could do for the ones who saved his life. No matter how strong adventurers were, the idea of two people defeating over fifty enemies was hard to imagine. He tried to persuade Gravel to avoid a senseless loss of life.

"Then we'll hide nearby and wait."

Relieved by Gravel's words, the coachman, who had hesitated to leave out of concern, mounted one of the dead bandits' horses. He thanked Gravel and Iris once more.

"I'll bring soldiers from Froikton. Please hide somewhere safe and wait."

After several assurances, the coachman rode off, moving away from Iris and Gravel.

"Let's hurry, Iris. From what he said, it sounds like it's just a bit further down the road."

"Sure. Should I run ahead?"

"No, let's go together this time. I'll use a speed enhancement spell."

A deep blue magic circle appeared beneath Gravel and Iris's feet. The light radiating from the circle enveloped their bodies and seeped into them.

"Let's go! This'll get us there faster than riding a horse."

In an instant, the two vanished from the forest, reappearing on the road and racing along its path.