Chapter 4

Suddenly, I take back my previous words. I couldn’t eat breakfast. Well, there wasn’t any to begin with. Of course not.

I look at the extinguished and cold remains of the campfire, reflecting on my mistake. When I get to town, I’ll buy some dried meat and hard bread. And some salt. I couldn’t bring anything from home, after all.

While searching for something edible, I run down the road. The surroundings gradually change from a monotonous wasteland to an area with more and more trees. I discover some fruit along the way.

“...sour”

I took a bite of something I recognized, but it’s quite sour. However, it’s not so sour that I can’t eat it. Maybe wild apples. They’re small but have some moisture and should fill my stomach.

I stuff a few into my bag and keep running.

I want the ‘Appraisal’ skill. Even if it’s limited to food, it would be great to know if something is poisonous. It would make adventuring much safer. Of course, I want an ‘Inventory’ too. I want to pull out a big catch and say, “Look what I got!” And ‘Teleport’ would be nice too. I want to make things easier.

Still, it’s a dream within a dream. Skills can be increased, but the first three I mentioned are unknown even to the church priest and the old herbalist. They weren’t in the church’s books either.

However, there is something called a magic bag. It’s a product of dungeons and apparently very expensive.

“Huh…?”

I see something man-made in my line of sight. It’s a carriage. It’s parked to the side of the road. It’s a box carriage, more impressive than what merchants usually use.

I stop and guard myself as two people come out from the shadow of the carriage. They look like adventurers, with swords at their waists. Their equipment is light, but they don’t look like beginners.

We stare at each other in silence for a while. Oh, right, I’m bald. No wonder they’re suspicious.

I slowly take off my hood to avoid startling them. I can see the tension leave their shoulders.

“You scared me. Are you from one of the nearby villages?”

The taller man asks in a bright tone. He has a long face but is quite handsome. The other one has a scruffy beard.

“I’m from the town ahead.”

“How long does it take?”

“? About a day by carriage?”

I tilt my head, not understanding the intent behind the question.

“Is there a village?”

“No. There’s only one town ahead. Beyond that, there’s no road. Only a side path into the forest.”

The two of them exchange glances and shake their heads, looking troubled. I wonder what’s wrong. Did the carriage break down? It doesn’t look like it.

“Vroom~”

Suddenly, a groan is heard. While I jump, the two of them sigh.

“It’s fine. There’s one more person. He’s just carsick and throwing up.”

The bearded one explains. I see. That’s why they’re stopped.

“Do you have any recovery potions?”

I wonder if they work for motion sickness?

“We’re out.”

“Do you want to buy some?”

I won’t give them away for free. Even though I made them, I need them too. The ones I got from the old lady are too precious to give away.

The handsome man shakes his head.

“Thank you, but… he’ll probably get sick again soon.”

“...You’ve come a long way.”

“Indeed.”

The two of them shrug.

When I ask, they turn out to be hired guards. The person who’s out of it is apparently someone who’s interested in archaeology, mysticism, and the like. I didn’t know, but there’s a large waterfall beyond the town I came from. He found it in a book and eagerly went to see it. Since his usual carriage was being serviced, he rented one in town. But the ride was so uncomfortable that he got carsick. And because he was so excited, he was fine until halfway, so now they’re stuck between the town and the city.

“Can you ride a horse?”

I ask just in case, but as expected, they shake their heads. Actually, is he a noble? Who else would be wandering around in a comfortable carriage in a world where the concept of travel doesn’t exist? Still, two guards seem a bit few for a noble.

“Walking… is also impossible. Hmm.”

He thinks for a moment and looks around. I wonder if there’s something around here. I enter the forest with their permission. I’ve helped the old lady gather herbs before, so I can identify most of them.

“What are you doing??”

The man, looking pale and curious, asks as I start grinding some herbs on a rock.

The third man. The one who’s carsick and possibly a noble (by my standards). He looks normal. He’s not wearing frilly clothes. He’s a literary youth, no, a literary old man…? A man with glasses. Incidentally, this is the first time I’ve seen glasses in this world.

“It’s medicine.”

“Hmm. Are you an apprentice herbalist?”

“I’m an aspiring adventurer. I can make simple ones because I learned from the old lady. Now, I’ll strain this.”

I borrow a cup, squeeze the ground herbs, and dilute the liquid with water. A greenish drink is ready. Normally, I’d infuse it with magic to make a pill, but it works just as well like this. It’s just bitter.

“Here,” I say with a forced smile, and the man looks at me and the cup twice. The guards quickly intervene, worried about giving him something suspicious. I show them by licking a drop from my palm. Yeah, it’s bitter.

“What kind of medicine is this?”

“...It will ease the nausea.”

“What is it, exactly?”

“I’m not forcing you to take it. It’s none of my business. So, try to get back somehow! Just walk, you can do it. Bye!” I raise my hand to run, but he grabs me.

“Are you sure it’s not poisonous?”

Mr. Glasses, you’re too close. Ah, you smell nice. You look scrawny, but you’re surprisingly strong.

“No, it’s not.”

“Alright. I’ll drink it!”

“Huh? Lord Nylva!?”

Before the handsome man can stop him, Mr. Glasses, I mean, Lord Nylva, snatches the cup from my hand and gulps it down. The bearded man lets out a cry. Lord Nylva’s throat makes a gulping sound.