From the royal capital Gran, Aldis leaves for the city-state of Leytin, accompanied by the members of the Byakuya no Meisei.

　The time is already just before noon.
　The reason for the late departure was because it took some time for Ted and the others to recover from the damage caused by Meryl's cooking.
　As expected of a mercenary, Ted and the others, who were experienced mercenaries, didn't seem to have the energy to start moving right away after that.

　The road leading westward stretched on and on against the blue sky and the horizon.
　A pleasant breeze blew and the sunshine shone on Aldis and the others, not too strong and not too weak.
　Thanks to this, the group's footsteps are light.

''If things continue as they are, it's only going to be about four days until Leytin, right?

　As Orphelia said, it would take about four to five days on foot to reach Leytin.
　If there are no problems on the way, we are expected to arrive by noon on the fourth day.

　Originally, the road between the royal capital Gran and the city-state of Leytin was safe and secure, which is probably one reason why.
　There were no raids by beasts or wild thieves, and there was only the occasional carriage of a troop of merchants passing by and the occasional mercenary passing by.

　It was only after two days had passed that there was a change. It was nightfall on the third day after leaving the royal capital.
　The sun is about to set and it's about to turn into a pale sky, when Norris notices something strange ahead.

You know. You're not going to be attacked?

What?

　At Norris's words, Ted also held up his hand and narrowed his eyes.

'You're definitely being attacked ....... Are you a troop merchant?'

It looks like. Is that ...... beast that's attacking you?　What was that?

　In Aldis's eyes, the three carriages and the ten or so guards surrounding them. And then there were the shadows that were the attackers.
　The number of marauders is one. Their size and shape clearly indicated that they were not human, but they were unfamiliar silhouettes on the plains.

''It looks like we have an escort, so I guess we don't need to mess with them?

No, I don't think so.

　Aldis quickly dismisses Norris' words, which he judges to be fine after seeing the guards.
　It seems that there are indeed armed guards, but their strength is probably not very high. The two guards had fallen in the blink of an eye after being attacked by the attackers.

''Shall I give you a hand?

　As soon as the words were spoken, Ted rushed out, and the remaining three quickly followed suit.
　While the distance between them was closing, one more victim of the guards had been added.

'Hey ......, isn't that ......, lacter, perhaps?'

　Orphelia utters under her breath as the distance between her and the troop merchant is halved and she can clearly see it.

''Huh?　Lacter?　That's why ............ looks like a lacter.

　Almost instantly denying it, Ted changes his words.

　Facing the guards trying to protect the carriage of the troopers is a huge, light purple colored snake. Its body is slightly thinner than the diameter of a wine barrel, but its length is longer than three connected carriages.
　It was a giant carnivorous ractor, a familiar one in the Caucasian Forest.

''Why is there a lactor in this place?''

　Norris opens his mouth next to Orphelia, who is questioning him.

'I don't know why, but whatever they are doing, it's the same thing they do.

　Ted's sword can't reach it, but it's far enough away for Norris, the archer, to take aim.

　Stopping, Norris readied his bow, grabbed the arrow and aimed and unleashed it.
　You can find a number of different types of products in the marketplace.

''Shaaaaah!''

　Its power is low due to the distance between them. It wouldn't have given a very deep wound.

　But at least it seems to have succeeded in diverting Ractor's consciousness from the troop merchant.
　Although Aldis couldn't discern Ractor's expression or anything else, the movement of his head as he slowly turned around seemed to express the giant snake's frustration.

'Aldis!　Cover me, please!

　With his face turned forward, Ted shouts, drawing his sword and plunging into the lacter.

The burning flames are a testament to my power and pride ---- fireball (Grist)!

　With a short chant for the purpose of disguise, a small fireball lit up at Aldis' fingertips.
　The moment that finger was pointed at Ractor, the fireball exploded and flew at high speed, changing to a size of about fifty centimeters.

　Turning his head to the new enemy that suddenly appeared, Ractor made a threatening sound while peeking out his long, slender tongue.

　Aldis' fireball attacks there without mercy. As soon as the well-aimed blow landed on the back of Ractor's body, the surface of his light purple body was enveloped in flames so as not to affect the guards who were facing him.

''Gishaaaa!''

　Lactor wriggled his burned out body.

　He turned his emotionless eyes on Aldis and the others as if the prey in front of him was no longer of any use.
　He must have judged that Aldis and the other four were more dangerous than the mercenaries surrounding the carriage.

　That decision was not wrong.
　However, I dare say it was too late.

　Because the next moment when Ractor changed his aim, Ted, who had raised his Bastard Sword, was close enough to cut off its head.

''Oh dear, and!''

　With a light call as if he was chopping wood, Ted brought down a lump of heavy metal.

Gya--!

　The head that had been cut off by Ted, along with the screams of the demise, hit the ground with a botry and a heavy thud.

'Thanks for your help,'

　Aldis caught up with him and thanked him for his efforts.

Hey, don't bother.

　In fact, if he was as good as Ted, he could handle one or two of the Ractors.
　Probably without the need for Aldis to provide cover, he would be able to get rid of them in plenty of time.

　Of course, that's because Ted is a skilled mercenary, and for most mercenaries, Ractor is a formidable foe to the point where they are prepared to die.

''Ta, were you saved ......?''

　A mercenary, who barely survived the sudden intrusion, slumps down.

''Are you uninjured?''

I'm okay with it, but I'm ...... and they're .......

　Ted asked, and the mercenary replied with a twisted face.
　His gaze fell on the mercenaries of the guards who had been sacrificed by Ractor.
　Those who had been bitten through their sides and those who had been bitten through their necks. There were a few mercenaries who had already died out.

　They would have never expected to be attacked by Ractor here, either.
　From what they had heard, the mercenaries guarding them had expected to encounter the beasts roaming the plains, but as expected, they hadn't expected to fight with the lactor.

　Normally, the racter, whose natural habitat is the forest, is not someone you would normally come across in a place like this.
　Whether they wandered out of the forest or came here in pursuit of their prey, we don't know the cause, but there is no doubt that this is an irregularity.

A glass wolf or coyote would have been manageable if there weren't so many of them: ......

　The mercenaries, who usually get their daily bread from hunting beasts around the town where they are based, are sometimes asked to escort the merchants along the roads.
　Dangerous beasts and demons rarely appear along the roads, and it's not uncommon for them to complete their work without drawing their swords once.
　As long as you are careful about the presence of wild thieves, it can be said to be a good request.

　According to the mercenary, this job was undertaken with such a light hearted attitude.

''I didn't expect this to happen. ......

　He had a restrained emotional manner for the sacrifice of his companions, but apparently they didn't know each other to begin with.
　The mercenary said that he was a temporary partner in accepting this request.

''That's right, we worked together for a short time. It's a shame, but ......, if you're a mercenary, this happens every day, right?

Yeah, of course.

　Ted must have known that. The words of agreement were tinged with bitter emotion.




　After receiving a fervent thank you from the merchant leading the troop of merchants, Aldis and the others were to accompany them on the road to Leytin.

''It's the same destination anyway. If that's the case, it wouldn't be much of a hassle to give you an escort while you're at it, would it?

　There was no one to disagree with Ted's words.
　It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the cost of your own personal protection.

　In addition, a beast that appears on the plains is not a threat to Aldis and others.
　Just like Ted said, it was just 'incidental'.

　Moreover, since they are benefactors, Ardis and the other four were given a ride in a carriage, unlike the other guards.
　You can save yourself the hassle of walking, and on top of that, you even get paid for your escort. It wouldn't be a bad deal.

　After spending the night along the road, Aldis and the group of troop merchants and their party proceeded to the west at dawn.

''I see, you all came from the Kingdom of Naglas?''

　Aldis was relaxing in his carriage, talking to the merchant who was holding the reins of his horse in the groom's seat, when he said, "Where do you people come from?

'Where do you people like that come from?'

　If anything, Ardis is not good at small talk and aimless conversation.
　However, it's not very mature to keep silent after being given a ride in a carriage. With that in mind, they reluctantly continue the conversation.

　Ted and the others were split up into other carriages for a ride.
　If Norris or Orphelia were riding along with them, they could leave the conversation to their own devices and take a nap. Aldis was desperately trying to endure the sleepiness as thoughts like these, which are typical for an escort, flashed through his mind.

''We've just come from a small town near the northern forest to stock up.

The cargo is lumber and ......, is that a medicinal herb that smells like that?

Yes, sir. You are well aware.

　The inside of the carriage is filled with timber as far as the eye can see.
　But mixed in with the unique fragrance of the timber is the smell of medicinal herbs that can be collected in the forest.
　A small child would run away from the smell of these herbs just by being smelled, and it's a stench that stimulates Aldis' sense of smell.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

'Normally, that's true, but right now in Leytin, both timber and medicinal plants sell for a high price. When I take them to a trading company called Zimbalil, they buy them for double the usual price.

　I don't know what they are used for," the merchant continued.

'I heard that the lumber in the Laitin area has become scarce, and nowadays there are many merchants like us who bring it in from far away.

Hmmm, that's some heavy lifting.

　Aldis didn't even try to hide a loud yawn, but wiped her fingers on the tears that had come to the nape of her neck.

"Hahaha. The rocking of the carriage can make you feel sleepy.

　Totally. Aldis had fallen half asleep, agreeing in his head.

　He pedaled the boat to the rocking of the carriage, waking up each time the wheels bounced up and down on the unevenness of the street.
　He would reply live to the merchant's story and then slump into a slumber.
　While Aldis does this dozens of times, the carriage moves steadily westward along the city road.

　They were not surrounded by wild thieves, nor were they attacked by beasts. The group was to reach Leytin that evening.