Chapter 82 – Request Completed
Chapter 82 – Request Completed
“Oh man, the cargo’s goods are high-value, so I’m glad they weren’t stolen.”
“In small villages without outer walls or fences, bandits often lie in wait, you know.”
Lily was reporting yesterday’s events to the client merchant.
“I’m really glad I put in the request.”
“Rest assured until the very end!”
With that, Lily slapped Ted on the back and pushed him forward.
“W-Well, leave it to me.”
Ted, who had been spacing out, hurriedly straightened his back and plastered on a strained smile.
Hahaha. He’s completely caught up in Lily’s pace now.
Once preparations for the journey were finished, the wagons started rolling again, and the day began.
Phew. Finally, I can relax.
But riding on the moving wagon is so boring… I’m getting sleepy… No… I’m dozing off…
When the wagons stopped for a break, Ted came running over to me.
“I’m fine. Actually, I was dozing off just now. I’m wide awake already.”
“No, just sleep a bit now. I’m the one who’s gonna die from worrying.”
At this rate, Ted really might drop dead. Reluctantly, I closed my eyes.
When I came to, I was riding on the last wagon with Ted.
“Oh. I fell asleep. Sorry.”
“I told you to sleep.”
Well, even so, actually falling asleep like that…
“Now it’s your turn to sleep, Ted.”
“Marie, take a bit more of a nap. If the Saintess overworks herself, I’ll be the one getting scolded.”
He’s so serious.
At this rate, Ted might be the one to collapse.
“If that’s how it is, I’ll put up a barrier, so let’s both take a little rest.”
Is no one riding the lead wagon?
Well, Lily’s on the second one, so it should be fine.
I cast the barrier on the wagon just like that, and before we knew it, the two of us had fallen fast asleep.
“Yawwwn~”
I let out a big yawn as I climbed down from the wagon, and Ted was stretching too with a groan.
Then Lily came striding over, hands planted on her hips.
“You two, work off that daytime nap.”
Teehee. Busted.
We decided to alternate with Lily’s group between day and night shifts, so we took on the night watch.
“Then we should’ve just slept out in the open.”
“You’re right. But you’re putting up a barrier anyway, aren’t you? I brought blankets, so go ahead and sleep. It’ll put my mind at ease that way.”
Ted wrapped me up in a blanket, then bundled himself up in one right beside me.
It’s not full-on winter yet, but one blanket is still pretty chilly.
I quietly cast an air-conditioning barrier around us.
“I’ll wake you if there’s any magic reaction. You can sleep easy too, Ted.”
“Thanks.”
In the end, there were no attacks until morning. We switched shifts, took early-morning baths, and had breakfast.
“Thanks to the barrier, I slept like a rock.”
Ted must be completely worn out, body and soul.
Normally, he’d never nod off like that. I hope he’s okay.
Rattling along lazily in the wagon.
“Trips like this are nice. Riding in a wagon bring back memories?”
“Yes, it takes me back. What was your childhood like, Ted?”
It just slipped out of my mouth. But come to think of it, I don’t know a thing about it.
“Hmm, I was really curious about everything. I caught magical beasts in the forest and butchered them, actually. Grandpa gave me a magical beast encyclopedia in exchange for the butchering lessons. My parents were educators—they’d name the stars when we looked up at night, explain clouds when we watched the sky. Just your average, ordinary family.”
“…What wonderful parents.”
Kids killing magical beasts is normal in this world, but butchering them…
Well, even if his emotions or senses were off from birth, that doesn’t turn someone into a villain.
That solves the mystery of why he’s so freakishly knowledgeable about magical beasts.
“I adored my grandfather. No matter how busy he was, he’d always light up when I came to visit. But my parents scolded me for interrupting his work. Hehe.”
“Huh. You were surprisingly mischievous.”
This guy’s been showered with love growing up.
Because he was raised right, even if he’s a little different from most people, he turned out this kind.
Maybe that’s why he’s so desperate to be good.
“And it was Grandpa who introduced me to Gain, to teach me how to wield a sword properly.”
“Sounds like a great grandfather.”
“Yeah. Back then, I was a real contrarian, picking fights and making enemies left and right. I’m grateful to Gain for that. But hey, what about you, Marie?”
“Me? I was raised in the church, and my parents are the S-rank adventurers Black Dragon. Hehe. Ordinary’s got nothing to do with me.”
“Hahaha. Right, right. You’re Gain’s daughter…”
Ted suddenly went quiet and stared off at the distant scenery.
Lost in old memories?
I learned a lot about being a person from Gain, too.
When I did something bad, he’d explain exactly why it was wrong.
And show me the right path…
Before we knew it, the two of us were gazing at the far horizon together.
We safely delivered the cargo to town and headed to the Adventurer Guild to report the request complete.
“If not for that first-day ambush, it’d have been a walk in the park.”
“Yeah. The only magical beasts we saw were rabbits.”
While Lily and I were chatting near the reception desk, the receptionist guy beckoned us over.
Wondering what it was, we went up, and he slapped a request form down on the counter.
“You guys heading back to the capital, right? Wanna take an escort job for the return trip?”
He tapped the request form with his finger as he explained the details.
Well, it was just back to the capital anyway, so I left the decision to Lily.
Guild requests mean no worries about shady cargo, at least.
For the return escort we picked up, Lily’s group handled days, and we took nights.
Rattling along in the wagon, half-asleep, staring into the distance.
Ted was practicing his control from atop the wagon, sniping the occasional pursuing magical beast with water blasts.
So peaceful…
The return trip passed without a single attack, and we arrived in the capital without incident.
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thanks for the chapter