Chapter 63

"Ah!"

On the day of the escort request, the client who appeared was someone I knew.

"Ah, that, the person who gets motion sickness in carriages..."

Sorry, I can't remember the name. I'm not good at remembering people's names.

The bespectacled man chuckled.

"You're not wrong. It's Nylva. Nice to meet you again."

Right, Nylva. The person I met after leaving home. He said he was interested in archaeology and traveled a lot. Was that his job? Looking around, I didn't see the guards from before. So, he hasn't been escorted by them all this time?

"Hello. Nice to meet you. Though, the one who will be escorting you is someone else."

"Yeah, I heard. The two people behind you are your companions, right?"

The two people behind me bowed their heads slightly. Silently. No, say something. Why are you so shy?

"Ah, the sparkly one is Koushin. He's a former guard. The wobbly one is Rada. She's a clumsy pharmacist."

"‘Say it properly!’"

Then, introduce yourself.

"Hehe. You're still the same, aren't you? Maybe it's because you're dealing with nobles and can't speak freely. I'm just a humble scholar with no authority, so don't worry about it."

Nylva waved his hand. I was tense. Koushin and Rada said "Nice to meet you" again.

"Oh, you're already here. That's quick."

Coming from the guild were four adventurers. They were probably the D-rank team assigned to this escort. They were leading two horses and a small dinosaur-like creature. It must be a run lizard. In my previous life, they were called raptors. They have small front legs and well-developed hind legs, making them fast runners.

The adventurers chuckled at me, who was staring at the run lizards instead of greeting them.

"Is this your first time seeing a Suvelarga?"

"Yeah. I've seen them from a distance, but they look really sturdy up close."

They feel like they're all muscle. Their faces look like scary lizards, but their eyes are round and cute, and they seem gentle. Just, their mouths are full of sharp teeth.

"Fortunately, we were able to rent some good ones. They're expensive, but they don't get scared in battle, so they're good for escorting."

"Wow~"

The probably leader, who was kindly explaining, said, "Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Reito. That's Koushin. He's E-rank. This is Rada. She's a pharmacist. Have you heard about us?"

"Yeah, I heard. No problem. Are all three of you traveling by horse?"

"That's the plan."

"Got it. Let's decide the formation. By the way, the other two are pretty quiet. Is Reito the leader?"

"Well..."

We haven't really decided, but Koushin and Rada think I can handle it. Still, Koushin will be useful in battle, and Rada's potions are top-notch. I can handle external negotiations.

The leader is Nergi, a swordsman. The scout is Quen, a cat beast person. These two will go in front on the Suvelarga. Pantas, a water mage, and Katansu, a spear user, will be on either side of the carriage. We will follow behind the carriage.

We don't need to actively engage in battle, but we need to protect ourselves. We should follow instructions. We also decided on the criteria for when to retreat and who will keep watch during camping, among other things.

"When multiple parties work together, it's better to set rules in advance, even if it's a hassle. Sometimes people cause trouble, like stealing or running away. By having a meeting like this before we set out, we can get a sense of each other's character. If you think it's too much, it's best to cancel the request without hesitation."

"Exactly. It could lead to not just a failed request, but even a loss of life."

Pantas nodded in agreement with the leader. She was the only woman, with a ponytail that reached her waist. She wore a black robe and held a staff with a blue stone.

"I see. I have someone in mind. It would be good if we could meet beforehand."

If possible, I'd prefer to work alone.

"Are multiple-party requests quite common?"

After introducing ourselves and confirming the details with the client, we did a final check of our belongings. It's going to be a long journey.

I've already told them about my magic bag. Actually, Nergi and the others already knew. They were familiar with the rumor. Nylva also had one and was storing hay and bulky, heavy items in it. It even has a time-stop function! I'm so envious...

While checking our belongings, I asked about the request.

"Well, if there are many targets for an escort request, or if there are a lot of monsters or a wide area to cover, multiple parties are often recruited. It's good when the guild helps coordinate, but sometimes you have to work together on the spot."

Nergi shrugged.

That probably depends on the guild's ability. If the response is poor, it's best to leave early.

Since everything seemed in order, we finally set off.

By the way, Nylva's carriage is driven by an elderly gentleman who looks like a butler. It's not luxurious, but it's clear at a glance that it's not something a commoner would use. Koushin and the others probably thought, "Is he a noble?" just like I did. Nylva didn't mention his family name, but he doesn't seem to be hiding it. He calls the driver "old man."

By the way, I'm in that carriage.

I thought I'd be a conversation partner during breaks, but I got fully involved. Sitting next to him, I listened to his endless stories. He occasionally took out documents from his magic bag and showed them to me. Old books, fragments of something unearthed, ancient documents with worm-like writing.

"So, this is a record from that time."

Nylva looked happy. He reminded me of a friend who used to talk about his favorite anime at high speed in my previous life. I mostly just nodded, but Nylva's stories kept coming.

No, I'm having fun too? It's all stuff I've never read in books, and his vivid storytelling is exciting to listen to.

However, the conversation often loops back. He returns to the beginning as often as a drunk father. I can't say, "I want to hear the rest, I already heard that part," though.

"Nylva, it's time for a break. We're stopping."

A small window connected to the driver's seat opened, and the old man's voice was heard.

"Ah, we've come this far already. ... Uh..."

Nylva's face, which had suddenly lifted, turned pale.

Ah, see, reading fine print in a rocking carriage!

I quickly helped him out of the stopped carriage and gave him a glass of cold water from my bag.

"Hehe, I did it again."

Nylva drank the water and smiled with a blue face. The driver glanced over but, thinking everything was fine, started tending to the horses. I also needed to check on Blanca. She had been running alone.