Outside the window, spring fields stretched out across the land.
The hills and meadows were tinted in gentle greens, and colorful spring flowers occasionally entered our view.
The carriage steadily advanced through the territory of Bernada.
We passed through various settlements and cities along the way…
By the evening of the fifth day, we arrived at the border checkpoint.
「This is the carriage of His Majesty Henry, King of Bernada. Requesting permission to pass」
The coachman informed the guard.
The guards quickly lined up and knelt on one knee to show respect.
「Your Majesty, please proceed」
With permission granted, we passed through the checkpoint.
Beyond the border lay the Lake Nation of Farnetta.
The scenery outside the window changed dramatically.
While grasslands still stretched out, there were now lakes scattered throughout the landscape.
It looked like large puddles dotted across the vast greenery.
Near the lakes, I could see buffalo-like monsters calmly roaming about.
「So, this is the Lake Nation of Farnetta. This is my first time visiting」
「Same for me」
I said that, though in truth, I had visited once in the game.
It wasn’t a region with many events, so not much stood out in my memory…
But the scenery was unique and beautiful.
I spoke.
「This country has abundant water resources. Under the unequal treaty, they export water magic stones and marine products to us」
Nordura shrugged.
「So, we have an unequal treaty with this country too」
「Yeah. It’s mostly trade-related」
That’s why in this international conference, we’d also need to revisit the treaty with Farnetta.
-0-
We continued traveling for several more days.
The scenery gradually changed.
Rolling hills. Rocky terrain. Forests.
And finally, we entered the mountain path.
「This must be the Backway Mountain Path」
I murmured while looking at a map of the Lake Nation of Farnetta.
Apparently, the path we were traveling was known as the Backway Mountain Path.
「Just two more days to the capital. Even just the travel is a long journey」
Sitting in a carriage for so long is tiring in its own way.
Nordura spoke.
「If you’d just ridden on me in my true form, we’d have arrived in no time」
「That would raise suspicion」
Indeed, riding on a dragon’s back would get us to Farnetta’s capital from Nofandal in less than a day.
But bypassing the border, cities, and towns to suddenly appear in the capital would not be acceptable.
People would start questioning how we traveled, and become wary.
(I’ll just have to get used to carriage travel)
I thought to myself.
The carriage carefully made its way along the mountain path.
The road was narrow, with steep cliffs on one side.
The unstable footing caused the carriage to sway heavily as we progressed.
Just past midday.
As the carriage tried to pass through the most treacherous part of the path…
Suddenly, a massive log rolled down from the cliff ahead.
The coachman quickly pulled the reins to stop the horses.
「Wh-what is that!?」
In the next moment.
Figures began appearing one after another from atop the cliff and behind nearby rocks.
They were armed with crude weapons and wore masks over their faces.
――――Mountain bandits.
There were more than ten of them.
Leave a Reply