Chapter 93 – Our First Camping Spot

Our wagon train had been plodding along steadily with nothing much to see, when the lead horse suddenly came to a halt.

It looked like there was some trouble up ahead with that fancy carriage.

“Marie. Time for a short break.”

Heart helped me down from the horse, so I let out a little “mmh” and stretched, doing a quick round of stretches.

Everyone else dismounted as well and took a breather.

“I’ll go check it out. Someone come with me.”

Gain grabbed two of the holy knights and headed up to the carriage on foot.

I could see Gain climbing aboard while talking to someone, from way back here.

“What’s going on, I wonder?”

“They probably saw the church emblem on our flag and figured they’d make a quick buck off the saintess. Don’t go wandering off with strangers, okay?”

Heart grinned mischievously, raising one eyebrow.

“We’re providing free escorts and pilgrim services, though. How do they even profit from that?”

“Oh, plenty. A saintess is worth all the gold in the world.”

Heart chuckled while stroking his horse’s mane.

“Sounds just like a white lion—every bit sellable, from pelt to meat.”

“True enough. Aren’t you scared?”

“Not with Heart around.”

I teased him right back, and for the first time in ages, he flicked me on the forehead.

A little while later, Gain called out to me. “Marie.”

I handed my horse off to Ted and walked over with Heart to where Gain was.

In the shadow of the carriage stood the coachman, pale as a ghost.

“What happened?”

Gain looked exasperated as he shook a snake he’d skewered on his sword and set ablaze.

Snake shish kebab, huh.

I couldn’t help but grimace.

“You gonna eat it?”

“Idiot. It bit him. Heal him up.”

Ah, got it.

I placed a hand on the door and peered inside.

There lay a young man who looked straight out of a fairy-tale portrait as a prince—face ashen, slumped over weakly.

Oh no! Gotta hurry.

Luckily, he was unconscious. I cast a detoxification spell first, then carefully layered on some recovery magic.

Phew. His organs look fine.

As color slowly returned to his face, the young man gradually opened his eyes.

“Ah, good. How are you feeling?”

“I-I’m fine.”

I gently pressed down on his shoulder as he tried to sit up. “No sudden movements, okay?”

I reached to check his pulse and confirm his condition, but Heart grabbed my hand.

“Enough…”

“We’re heading back.”

Gain and Heart didn’t even let the guy thank me.

They dragged me by the arms straight back to the horses.

“But his condition…”

“He’s fine.” “All good now.”

Come on, you two are being way too paranoid.

Still, a luxury carriage like that, fancy clothes, and no escorts? Definitely sketchy. No wonder Gain’s on high alert.

We arrived at the mountain camping spot, and I cast fatigue recovery magic on everyone, horses included.

“Thank you, Saintess!” “Whoa, that’s impressive.” “So this is the famous…”

The holy knights were making a big fuss over it.

I smiled and bowed my head, then reflected that maybe I’d overdone it a bit.

“We’re camping here tonight. Get set up.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Isn’t it a bit early? Why not push on to the next spot?”

Ted was asking Gain.

It was still bright out, after all.

“Nah, this place has hot springs.”

“I see.”

Ted nodded admiringly and jotted something down in his notebook.

Ted really is so earnest.

Passing merchants had set up stalls and were doing brisk business—surprisingly lively for a campsite.

Guess the natural hot springs make it popular. More like a highway rest stop than a simple wayside.

They even had air conditioning and barriers powered by magic tools.

Users are supposed to infuse them with mana. I’d done mine earlier.

“Thank you, Saintess!” “An honor to meet you.”

Of course, I flashed smiles here too and healed up an adventurer with some injuries.

The camping area was divided into sections by simple walls, and we took one for ourselves.

We bought food from the stalls and gathered at one of the communal tables.

This kind of trip is pretty nice. Feels like a road trip vacation.

Soaking in the baths with the female holy knights had been a blast.

They’d prepared a lavish tent just for the saintess, with rotating night watches around it.

Not used to this, so I’ll put up a light barrier when I sleep.

“Good night.”

Something intruded into my barrier—unknown mana signature.

It’s coming from over there. Not headed this way, so I’ll ignore it.

“Ah.”

The next morning, two men were bound and captured.

I walked right past them and took my seat at the table, surrounded by holy knights.

“…So those were the intruders from last night, huh.”

“You sensed the stealth magic?”

Ted handed me some salad, looking shocked.

“Eh? Well, I stayed put since moving would’ve gotten in the way.”

Lie. I was just too sleepy to bother.

“As expected of Marie.”

I smiled awkwardly, and Ted gazed at me with sparkling eyes.

“Ted, don’t fall for it. She just put up a barrier.”

“Yeah, she was too sleepy to deal with it.”

Fernet was giving me this lukewarm look.

How’d they know?

“But putting up a barrier shows good risk management…”

“Dude, you’ve gotta have been duped a ton with that attitude.”

“Gain? That’s a harsh thing to say.”

“Exactly. Marie’s not the type to deceive people.”

The more Ted defended me against Gain, the colder Fernet’s stare got.

“Haha…?”

“Don’t tease Ted too much.”

“It’s a misunderstanding!”

While everyone was having fun at Ted’s expense, a holy knight came running up to Gain.

“Gain, that adventurer over there said he’ll take them.”

The holy knight pointed, and sure enough, an adventurer was talking with the others over yonder.

“Great. Handle the rest. I’ll write a letter to the church later—pass it along.”

“Yes, sir.”

Apparently, an adventurer heading back to the capital was taking the captured intruders along for the ride.

They weren’t after the saintess—just mistook us for rich marks.

They apologized profusely, enough to make me feel bad. Said it was too dark to see the church flag.

Gain mentioned writing a note, and the guy started bawling.

Once we were ready to depart, everyone gathered before Gain at his summons.

Something serious in the air—what’s up?

“Ted’s in charge of Marie’s guard detail. Heart, you’re supporting him. Holy knights, same deal.”

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