197. North Road (3)
#197
After leaving Phileon Ronan and his party walked towards the northern highway. It was to begin the journey in earnest. People were walking around freely on the street that seemed to stretch out the square. Ronan muttered that he was tired of the vast scenery he had not seen in a long time.
“It’s so wide no matter when you look at it.”
This wide road which bisected the islands with the imperial palace at its center continued all the way to Astan a city said to be the starting point of winter. Because it was a very important trade route in the empire the northern highway within Balon was always crowded with merchants and the wagons they pulled.
Dozens of merchant and mercenary guilds lined up on both sides of the street raising their voices after a carriage accident. Merchants are sighing because they don’t have money to hire bodyguards and free mercenaries are coming after them.
Ronan was observing with interest the world behind the market which he did not normally see. Marya who was walking ahead stretched out her index finger and pointed to a corner of the street.
“Oh there it is!”
“What is that the top of Caravel?”
Ronan’s eyes widened as he turned his head. Twelve magnificent wagons were lined up in a row. Each carriage was large enough to be used as a temporary lodging and each had at least four large horses attached to it.
On the side of every wagon was a metal nameplate with the name of the caravel on top. Compared to two years ago the improvement was literally like heaven and earth. Marya looked back at Ronan and smiled.
“Hmph. I worked hard even while you were away. “Now you’ll be in the top 30 of the empire’s rankings right?”
“…It’s worth it.”
Ronan laughed as if he was shocked. Somehow it seemed like I could do it much more comfortably than I expected. Adeshan who had been following in silence slowly opened his mouth.
“Hey Ronan… can I ask you something?”
“yes? “What’s going on?”
“Why the sudden change in plans? “I think the means of transportation and the schedule are a bit different from what I heard.”
Ade Shan spoke quietly suppressing his emotions as much as possible. I felt like I would end up screaming without realizing it. After putting spit on her lips for a moment she mumbled in a voice so low that not even her ants could hear.
“And…I think you said you two were going…”
The current itinerary was quite different from the itinerary I first heard about from Ronan. Ronan scratched the back of his head as if he was being shamed. Because it happened so suddenly I skipped the explanation. He said pointing at Marja with the tip of his chin.
“Ah I should have told you in advance I’m sorry. “I told the club kids about my plan yesterday and they said that the merchant run by this girl’s father is going all the way to Rundalian.”
“Rundalian? A city on the Tucan Plateau?”
“yes. “Maybe it’s because it’s my hometown so I know it well.”
Ronan nodded. Rundalian was a small city located in a fairly remote location in the north. It was a place where trade routes had only recently been opened and Caravel Merchant was said to be going there to get cold steel a specialty product of the place.
The only problem was the road to Rundalian. Aside from the rough terrain security was not very good.
Except for a few large cities it was essential to use escorts and if even that was done poorly even your underwear would be stolen by thieves made up of criminals. Deviating from established trade routes was treated similarly to a naked beauty wandering down her alleys decked out in her jewels.
It was a place that had been oppressed by the empire for so long that it was natural in a way. Nevertheless merchants did not give up their dream of advancing into the North because there were still many elements that could make money.
So Marya suggested that if they were going to the north why not accompany her. Rundalian was also quite close to Heyran Ronan’s primary destination so there was no particular reason to reject the offer. Adeshan shrugged his eyebrows after hearing the word Hancheol.
“Hancheol…you’re going to pick up something expensive.”
“yes. So they were recruiting skilled escorts and we just happened to show up.”
The group was provided with comfortable accommodation and quality meals and the Caravel merchants were provided with reliable escort so it could be said to be a profitable business. Adeshan who knew the hardships of the North had no choice but to admit that it was a wise decision. Her rational mind was convinced and she nodded her head.
“Uhm. That sounds like a good idea. “Thank you for telling me.”
“you’re welcome. “You have to go comfortably as far as you can go comfortably.”
Ronan grinned. If I had the same mind I would have wanted to tell him to take back the night I spent all night but I couldn’t complain about rational judgment.
In the end all Adeshan could do was pout. It seemed like the two of them were going from Rundalian to Heian so I had no choice but to take comfort in that. Marya who arrived at the top of the top shouted loudly.
“Dad I’m here!”
“Oh my daughter. Congratulations on your vacation. Ronan it’s been a really long time.”
The top was already ready to depart. The merchant recognized Ronan and shook his hand warmly. It was Marya’s father Duon Karabel whom she had been dating for two years.
“Wow you’ve become incredibly trustworthy. “I would believe it even if it were a member of the Imperial Knights.”
“It’s not that bad. “How have you been?”
Duon whom I saw for the first time in a while had lost some weight. He must have made a lot of money but it seems like he hasn’t lost his original intention and is devoting himself to his work. After shaking hands he looked at Ronan and Marya alternately and said.
“Hehehe well I’m doing the same as before. So when are you going to take my daughter home?”
“dad!”
Duon chuckled. Ronan responded with a heartless laugh. Marya screamed at the extremely old man joke.
“Is that what you mean when you meet for the first time in two years? Seriously why do you do this every time you see him?!”
“Daughter. Finding a companion like Ronan is much more difficult than you think. Why are you not aware of your father’s pioneering plan that was one step ahead? And honestly Ronan isn’t our daughter as good-looking as she is?”
“It’s pretty though.”
Ronan nodded his head. It was true that Marya was pretty so she had no reason to lie. Covering her mouth with her left hand Marja slapped Ronan’s forearm with her.
“Oh really why are you doing this again!”
“sick. Wow. “It really hurts.”
Ronan frowned at her. His physical strength was so strong that it hurt terribly. Marja made a fuss telling him to stop but judging from the smile on his mouth that was covered with his hand he didn’t seem to dislike her that much. Adeshan who was watching right behind her was clutching the hem of her shirt.
‘Don’t take me.’
Even though she knew it was a joke her heart felt tight. It was quite a shock to see her answer without hesitation when asked if she was pretty.
Of course she’s much prettier than someone like me. Marja suddenly turned her head and said grabbing her wrist.
“By the way this is the senior who decided to go with me this time. “Come here and say hello sister.”
“Oh sorry about this. “I’m so glad to see Ronan for the first time in a while… I’m Duon Caravel.”
Duon greeted politely. He seemed surprised by Adeshan’s height which was much taller than him. She slightly lowered her head.
“This is Adeshan. Please take care of me.”
“Huh her daughter was always talking about how great her swordsmanship instruction was and she was such a wonderful person. “Please take care of me.”
“wonderful….”
Adeshan paused after hearing that she was gorgeous. It was a compliment I always heard but somehow I became aware of it today. Ronan who was quietly standing behind her shook his head.
“Senior is cool.”
This was also true. Ade Shan’s face froze for just a moment. I had no idea how to take those words. Isn’t saying you’re cool a compliment given to the object of your admiration rather than to the opposite sex?
‘No Ronan maybe she likes cool things more than pretty things.’
There was no end to it if I dug into it. Her quick mental victory brought a smile back to her lips.
“thank you. But I really didn’t do anything. “Her daughter’s achievements are solely due to her own talent and hard work.”
“Oh as expected…!”
She said Ade Shan in an intimate manner. The Caravel father and daughter’s faces filled with emotion. Marja said embracing her in her arms.
“How can you speak so beautifully? Hehe let’s take a bath together later.”
“Hey…!”
Unlike Eri her body was strong. She was so strong that she couldn’t escape. Ronan who had been watching the two women nodded his head in satisfaction.
‘hmm. As expected it was a good idea to ask you to come with me.’
It certainly seemed like there was a way for women to become friends by sticking around like that. If Asher or Schlieffen had done something like that they would have broken her front teeth on the spot. Duon called the three people together and opened her mouth.
“Then let me briefly explain the schedule. As you know our destination this time is Rundalian…”
In addition to Ronan and his group there were twenty more guards. Seeing that only the most impressive and talented people were selected it seemed like a very important journey.
After hearing Duon’s explanation the group got on the wagon. Since the other compartments were filled with the remaining mercenaries they all had to ride in the same carriage.
The interior about half of which was filled with trade goods could not be said to be spacious even with empty words. Marja said with an expression of regret in her voice.
“Please understand even if it’s a little cramped. “Anyway unless it’s raining I sleep outside.”
“This is luxurious.”
Ronan shook her head. Compared to the barracks of the punitive army era it was no different from the imperial palace. What is cramped? If you fold it down properly it is large enough for seven people to sleep.
“Are you okay too? After all should men and women ride her separately?…”
“no. I still like it now. “I’ll take good care of Rundalian as well.”
To be precise this moment was a good thing. She rather liked this small space. She sat across from Ronan a step apart and Adeshan smiled at her.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Ahaha. just.”
Suddenly I realized that I was a person with a very low boiling point. Just looking at her face made me laugh.
Induce confession. Pounce on me while I sleep. Of course it would be great if he could be bold like Eri advised but he didn’t hate himself because he felt happy with these little things.
He thought that maybe it would be a pretty good trip. Soon the top of the caravel began to move slowly accompanied by the clatter of her horse’s hooves. Ronan climbed onto the roof of the wagon and lay down.
“It’s been a while since I was in the North.”
It was not a land with very good memories. Still I had to leave to do what I had to do. Heyran’s blacksmith shop and the Sea of Ghosts. Will we be able to find a decisive clue to his birth this time?
The distant summer sky was sparkling blue. It was hot but the wind was cool so I felt quite comfortable. The journey to the land of snow and ice has begun.
