Cardboard Houses Do Not Tear

129 – Road to the East

Sadly, it wasn’t all over when Priest Rien signed the contract.

Now we had to prepare for our trip.

There was so much to do: plotting routes, organizing and securing supplies, checking wagons, checking information, urging professors, and so on.

Even though the young lady and the priest rushed in, work led to work, and the second one took up the most of our time.

In a somewhat dainty wagon driven by a sturdy warhorse, you need to prepare items for four people.

As there is no sub-space, the representative item of another world, it was only natural that this and that could not be crammed into it.

If you choose the wrong amount of ingredients, you will have to boil and chew your shoes on the actual trip, so you really need to choose and concentrate.

It didn’t end just by providing equipment there.

I had to organize my belongings and do some more repairs to the inside of the wagon, so even two bodies were not enough.

It’s the knowledge I learned from being kicked by Hwaruan, and it would have been quite difficult if the innkeeper hadn’t arranged for a worker.

As I moved around like that, three days passed before I knew it.

When I finally received Professor Jenton’s letter and money bag through Harin.

Realizing that the time to leave had come, we all decided to rest well for the next day’s departure.

That’s why I also cut myself off in the backyard of the inn to rehabilitate myself and cut myself with a knife.

It was only that the nightmares came a little faster, but the dreaming was always the same.

***

A black lotus bloomed in a white space.

The black petals, dressed in the costumes I saw in graduate school, surrounded me and started talking in the voices of faces I couldn’t remember.

“Pyeongju, I am preparing my doctoral dissertation now. What are you doing after ruining your master’s thesis?”

‘Iron cast. Congratulations on 10 years of slavery. I am 7 years now But you can’t do that, I told you that’s not the case.’

Then, this time, the shadow wearing sweats shook the paper in his hand and chattered.

“Hyung, why the hell did you write like this? I really don’t understand.”

‘I don’t understand either. Why the hell am I asking again?’

I spit it out at the black shadow that was spinning in front of me, and the speaker changed again this time.

This time the guy in the sweater.

After that, the guy in the big hood.

After a while, unknown faces started singing in unison.

The contents of the condemnation from the Black Mouth were different, but the intention was the same.

Why did you do that?

It was the most effective method for an unforgettable person.

But I couldn’t answer.

My mouth was pierced, but my throat was blocked.

That’s why, today, I was just talking to people I didn’t know the face of 5 years ago.

Remembering a rather friendly tone.

“Pyungju, why did you write that?”

‘Don’t worry.’

***

In the meantime, I heard someone calling me.

“Mercenary? Mercenary?”

“Ugh.”

When I opened my eyes, something slid in front of my eyes, and I reflexively let out an admiration-mixed bullsh*t.

“…That’s it?”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, I woke up. It was because I realized what I was saying.

Fortunately, Priest Rien tilted his head as if he didn’t understand what I was saying.

The short hair that was draped like a curtain from looking down at me scattered golden light here and there.

“Ugh.”

“Aha!”

I lifted her hand and stirred it roughly, then she understood her meaning and lifted her head as she reached out to me.

She meanwhile turned her head toward the wall, pulled the gag out of her mouth, and moved her tingling jaw.

Crackle.

“Priest? What did you come for?”

Then Priest Rien, who had his hands behind his back, raised one hand and pointed out the window at him.

From the window opened by the priest, the wind mixed with the sound of birds and the morning sunlight came in, filling the room with no luggage.

As I stared blankly at it, Priest Rien said.

“So wake up, mercenary! The sun has already risen, so we must go on a journey!”

Only then did she nod and stand up from her seat.

“No.”

When I stretched out of habit, I felt her clothes lift slightly.

After Priest Rien, who somehow turned her head slightly, said he would go to wake the others up and then disappeared.

I sat down on the bed again.

‘I have to camp today, but I’ll be able to visit the village smoothly the next day.’

It was hot this summer, but it was bearable.

I bought more ingredients than I thought, and I didn’t have to spend a lot of money to stay at an inn.

After thinking about this and that, I went downstairs, and the innkeeper welcomed me.

“Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

From noble mtl dot com

He went into the kitchen. I headed to our reserved seat.

The party hasn’t come yet. I unfolded the clue I had put in my belly band.

As we went further, there were more and more difficult parts, so we wanted to see a little more before the party came.

-…So we decided to find a more suitable type ○.

Even if ○○ is not ○ harmed, ○ is not so ○ in ○Riti, and most of ○○○ is in danger.

There was no choice. I have no choice but to search harder…

While continuing to interpret the text, the entire party descended.

I put in the manuscript I was reading and greeted them warmly.

“Nice to meet you. Did everyone sleep well?”

The three nodded.

Meals hadn’t been served yet, so I took out a geography book from my belly band and briefly explained my plans for the day.

It was a simple plan, with the motto of ‘leave Kohlchen, drive all the way, stop the wagon two hours before sunset, and find a place to camp’.

“For now, there is no danger area where we are going today.”

At least according to the information obtained from the conversation with the clerk when Young lady stopped by the university the day before, or the book she found in the library.

However, there were a few particularly dangerous places in the middle, so it was always forbidden to be vigilant.

“Whether it’s fetching water or going out to get some fresh air, you should go in a group of at least two people.”

The young lady who heard that asked me.

“Then, how are the mercenaries going? You are the only man.”

Then the other two’s eyes turned to me.

A gaze that acts coldly and a gaze that just smiles.

I just smiled back and opened my mouth again.

“Anyway, let me tell you the most important thing.”

The party’s concentration, which had been distracted for a moment, gathered at me again.

“When there is a battle outside, it is forbidden to say things like ‘Did you get it done?’ Or ‘Is it over?’.”

Hearing that, the young lady asked me questioningly.

“Why not?”

“It was miraculous that he didn’t die. As if he was resurrected.”

“hehehe.”

Priest Rien laughed awkwardly.

“Do you have any questions?”

So, today’s briefing continued until the innkeeper put down the plate he had brought.

***

After finishing our meal, we got into the carriage.

The wagon that has been remodeled has changed to be comfortable for people to stay, unlike the previous wagon-like feeling.

Should I say that it’s like a camping car?

After making sure the horse was properly secured, the owner came to the driver’s seat and talked to me.

“Looking at the cool wind, it must be a good day to leave. It’s a pity.”

“Isn’t the income we raised a pity?”

“That’s too bad. And this is a bribe to stop by when you come to Colchen later.”

“If we need it, it’s not a bribe, it’s a gift. Thank you for the gift.”

The innkeeper, who handed over the lunch box, immediately headed for Priest Rien.

And she said quietly to her.

“Priest. All men are beasts. If you think that friend is going to do anything… Evil!”

“This human is saying all kinds of crazy things to the priest! Go in and stir in the stew while you’re talking!”

The innkeeper’s wife shouted as she slapped him on the back.

After such twists and turns, Priest Rien, who had said goodbye to the two, climbed into her carriage, and I asked her.

“Do you have anything else to stay and do this time, priest?”

Then Priest Rien answered with a smile.

“Of course. Mercenary!”

After making sure everyone else was seated safely, I pulled the reins.

“Wow!”

Kurr.

The wagon, which started slowly, left the rather friendly inn.

Soon after passing by the university, we headed towards the gate in a different direction from where we came from.

As we passed the gray walls guarded by guards, we were greeted by a summer sky with white clouds embedded in a blue canvas.

It was moderately warm in the morning sunlight with a cool breeze blowing.

Across the field, in the distance, I could see the forest like a low stone wall, and I couldn’t see anything in front of me.

No obstacles, no destination. None of that.

As if I was distracted by the open space, I sped up the wagon.

“Wow!”

Kurr!

With only the sound of the wheels hitting the ground and the sound of the wind ringing in the ears.

Suddenly, 50,000 miscellaneous thoughts came to my mind.

“Wow!”

Kurrure!!

As I sped up a little more, they were swept off my head with the wind.

It’s not as good as a car, but this sense of speed can’t be matched by anything else.

It was a really good thing to choose a wagon as a reward in the Battle of the Territory.

However, even a fast-moving wagon could catch up.

“G-House. Are you okay?”

A languid whispering voice came from behind my back.

The carriage, which was made possible to talk to some extent through modification, was enough to hear it.

I nodded.

“I’m fine because Priian was worried about me.”

“I’m glad. It is worthwhile to agree to have Priest Rien join us.”

“Then did you originally intend to oppose joining?”

“No. It’s the same road, but if it’s not a problem for the two of us on our journey, then I have no reason to oppose it. If it’s Rien’s priest, it won’t be a burden. But…”

Prianian, who was silent like that, left a word soon.

“Sometimes you have to strain yourself like this to understand someone. Around me.”

“I don’t know who he is, but at least there’s no one who doesn’t know that prianian is kind.”

I continued to hold on to the reins and said.

“I’m sure that person would know without sieve.”

“…I hope so.”

The tail of her horse faded, and the fragrance that enveloped my ears disappeared into the carriage.

I heard the three of them talking behind my back.

Once again, I focused on the blue-reflective forests and white clouds in the distance, and the brown road in front of me.

I was on my way to the East.