Chapter 9

The carriage continues, with two of them in a row.

One carriage carries goods, and the other is for the merchant.

In the merchant's carriage, there are people other than the merchant. It seems that those with extra money hire guides when moving within the Holy Territory.

These guides are called Pilgrimage Masters. I don't know much about them, but they differ from explorers who explore and hunt in the Holy Territory. Pilgrimage Masters live in the Holy Territory, providing protection and assistance to travelers.

I've heard that many explorers also work as Pilgrimage Masters.

However, since this village is at the edge of the Holy Territory, there's little need to hire them to come here. They probably don't have much to do here.

This time, the main goods were alcohol, medicine, and tobacco. The village is almost entirely self-sufficient, so they rarely buy food.

They hand over their crops to the merchant and receive goods in return. Occasionally, they supplement with currency, but it's mostly a barter system.

I watch the transaction from a distance, remaining hidden.

I don't want to be spotted by hunters like Denya or Iko. They rarely meet these merchants, and while I think it's safe, I'm honestly very scared.

After the morning to noon transactions, the merchants depart for other towns.

They will be a good guide for this journey, which has no set destination.

I start to follow them, staying alert.

The animals pulling the carriages are not actually horses. They are called Hak. They look like white horses at first glance, but they have horns and cat-like legs. There's a legend among Pilgrimage Masters that riding a Hak makes one less likely to encounter sword-related disasters, making them popular.

I learned this from a conversation between the merchant and the Pilgrimage Master.

The merchant is a stout middle-aged man named Kilia. The Pilgrimage Master he hired is a young man named Kisan, who is working for Kilia for the first time.

They started chatting about various topics.

I'm genuinely interested. I've seen Hak before when merchants came to the village, but to the villagers, they are just "animals we see every day," and no one showed any interest. So, no one talked about them or asked questions. I didn't even know their name or anything about them.

Moreover, the legends and stories are specific to the Pilgrimage Master community, and Kilia didn't know about them either. He just used them because they are good for long-distance travel and can fight decently.

It's a story from the Pilgrimage Master community. Learning about a different community's culture is very enjoyable.

It was a valuable conversation. Being able to have such an experience right after leaving the village is a good start.

We've been traveling for a few hours since leaving the village.

The carriages move through the slight flat areas in the forest.

The carriages rattle and sway as they step on tree roots. It doesn't affect me since I'm flying.

I suddenly look back.

Far beyond the horizon, a large tree stands, connecting to the sky. The Root Forest of the Holy Territory, Nerg, continues, but the density of the roots on the ground seems to have thinned.

There will be a small town soon.

It's the first town I'll enter outside of my village.

I wonder what it will be like. I'm a bit excited.

To be honest, it wasn't much different from the village.

That makes sense. This town also benefits from Nerg, though to a lesser extent. It relies a bit more on livestock and agriculture, but otherwise, it's not much different.

However, the population seems a bit larger, the land is wider, and I saw more people.

It was a bit of a letdown, but it's still an unknown town.

Seeing unfamiliar scenery is enjoyable in itself.

After Kilia finishes his business in the town, he departs again. I follow, a bit tired, and rest on the carriage. I feel bad for the Hak, but I hope they can bear with me for a while.

On the carriage, I think about what to do next.

The question is, where should I get off?

It's a journey without a set destination. There's no specific goal, so it doesn't matter where I get off.

I want to live normally, showing my face. I can't hide forever. I prefer a large, open place. A big city would be good. A forest would be fine too, but I want a different life from before. If I don't like it, I can always return.

So, I think I should go to the end of the carriage route. Kilia's base is likely a big city. I just have a feeling.

The carriage continues, and I enjoy the pleasant breeze on the carriage.

However, I notice something. The atmosphere doesn't feel right. The Pilgrimage Master doesn't seem to notice.

I quickly spread my magic to check.

I found it.

In the depths of the forest, something is watching us.

At first, I thought it was a regular dog, but it's different. I can't sense its shape with my magic; it's as if it's pushing my magic away. It's a different reaction from the ki of Kich and others.

Could it be? I realize it's a beast that can manipulate ki or magic.

It's the first magical creature I've encountered.

I wonder what to do. Should I hunt it? However, I don't sense much hostility. It's just watching us.

If we can pass by without incident, that's fine. I can run if it becomes dangerous. I decide to leave it alone.

At night, we set up camp. The journey was slower than planned. We were supposed to reach the next town by evening, but now we'll arrive late at night.

When traveling in the wild, vigilance is part of the Pilgrimage Master's job. Kisan is quickly starting a fire.

"Sorry, we were supposed to stay at an inn."

"Hehe, it's fine. This is part of our job, after all."

While taking out reserve food from the carriage and preparing to cook, he soaks white grains in water and puts them on the fire. When it boils, he adds chopped herbs and dried meat. After a few minutes, a good smell starts to spread.

"Smells good."

Kilia smiles and peeks into the pot.

"Usually, the food is colder and has harder meat. This is fresh."

The two servants also praise it.

"Ah, well. Normally, in the Holy Territory, we can't make such a strong smell. But here, it should be fine."

It seems the delicious meal is a service from Kisan.

It really looks delicious. I hope there's a little left over. If so, I might be able to get some in the chaos.

Unfortunately, the porridge was quickly finished. It really was delicious. Kilia even had seconds.

When everyone is asleep at night, the sound of the fire crackles. The bright flames make the surroundings seem to waver.

Kilia and the merchants are sleeping comfortably in the carriage. The bedding inside is not for sale. They are wrapped in fluffy, good-smelling futons, snoring peacefully.

Kisan is also asleep, leaning against a sleeping Hak. He has the reins in his hand, and a bag for emergencies is nearby.

I decide to sleep too. I climb a tree to find a place to rest.

Just as I find a suitable spot and close my eyes, I feel something odd.

There are too many sounds.

Until now, there were only the sounds of the fire, the breathing of four people and two animals, and the rustling of leaves.

There's one extra breath.

I search for the source and see it.

In the darkness, two red eyes are glowing.

"!!"

Reflexively, I jump back to another tree. It doesn't seem to have noticed me.

Following its gaze, I see the carriage. It's probably targeting the carriage.

Slowly, it reveals itself in the firelight. At first, I thought it was a large dog. But then I realize it's different.

It has a dog's head, a large, thin white dog. However, it's taller than an adult. And it has six legs, three on each side.

I shudder. It's the first strange beast I've encountered in this world. Other animals were familiar in some way. Even Hak is a combination of known animals. But this time, it's different.

No one wakes up. Even Kisan, who should be the first to notice, is just sleeping.

Seeing it, I feel a bit of disgust.

Again. I think.

If I do nothing, this large dog will probably attack the carriage. Can Kisan fight? I don't know, but even if he can, the goods will likely be damaged.

Kisan is still a novice Pilgrimage Master. If he fails to handle this large dog and causes damage, it might be a good learning experience.

The best option in my mind is to let it happen. They will probably wake up if the carriage is attacked. I'm curious about how they will handle it.

However, there's another possibility. The large dog will first attack Kisan and Hak, who are outside. It's already a few steps away. If it bites their heads off, that's the end. Then, it will eat or chase away the merchants, who can't fight well, and leisurely loot the carriage.

That feels a bit wrong. I don't dislike them. I hope they have a smooth journey until we reach the big city.

Given the uncertainty of the large dog's actions, it's safer to eliminate it. I decide this.

I spread my magic to cover the large dog. Even if its magic pushes mine away, I can still cover it. I cast a soundproofing spell.

"Roar, roar!!"

The large dog, noticing the anomaly, lets out a roar. But no one can hear its voice or the sound of its feet.

I lift it with telekinesis. It's quite heavy and struggles fiercely.

Sweat forms on my forehead. It must weigh over a ton. It's the first time I've lifted something so heavy.

I carry the large dog away from the caravan. It continues to struggle the whole time.

I think I've moved it over 100 meters. The firelight is far away. I put the dog down in a suitable spot, hoping it will run away.

However, things don't go as planned. The moment it touches the ground, it runs back toward the caravan. It has noticed the interference. It probably thinks that if it gets rid of the interference, it can easily satisfy its hunger.

"Roar, roar!"

It runs through the trees, letting out a roar.

I no longer hesitate.

I cut off its legs with wind blades.

Unlike boars or birds, it's covered in magic, making it harder. But it's not impossible to cut. In the next moment, its six legs, stained with fresh blood, fall off.

I feel a bit sorry for the struggling, confused dog, but I show no mercy.

I cut off its head. I don't hear its death cry.

In the morning, Kisan and the others wake up. They restart the fire and start preparing breakfast.

They don't seem to scout the area. I'm a bit grateful. I don't want them to find the remains.

Dealing with the large dog from yesterday was difficult. I can't process it. I cut off the edible parts of its thighs and buried the rest in pieces. Honestly, it's a waste. But it's hard to eat everything, and I don't have the time or materials to preserve it.

I roasted the thighs and ate them. The taste is bland, similar to lean chicken. I don't particularly like it.

Kilia and the others finish their breakfast and depart immediately. They want to reach the next town by morning.

From the conversation, it seems that town is Kilia's base. So, I'll live there next.

What will that town be like?

We'll soon leave the Nerg forest. There will surely be new experiences.

Excited, I follow the carriage.