NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10
“Did you manage to send the letter?”
“Yes, but I didn’t include the sender’s address. Is that okay?”
“As long as it was sent, it’s fine.”
The day after sending the letter to Saioji’s parents, we departed from the city of Elacton towards the capital. Our group, consisting of about 30 members, marched in a long line surrounding the carriage.
I walked in the middle of the group, right next to the leader, Saioji.
“Are you sure it’s okay for me to be here? I thought I should be at the rear.”
“Masato, you don’t have any combat experience, right? It’s safer for a rookie to stay in the middle of the formation where it’s most protected.”
“Is that so?”
It had been 20 years since I came to this fantasy world called Asphial, but this was my first proper journey. Generally, if you weren’t an adventurer or a merchant, you rarely left your birthplace. Aside from my move from my home village to Elacton, I had hardly ever left.
Moreover, the area we were traveling through was dangerous, with monsters like goblins and kobolds lurking about. Such dangerous zones were filled with “mana,” a magical element floating in the atmosphere that also mutated animals.
Villages and towns in this world were usually located in areas with little mana, making them safe. Exceptions existed where strategic considerations led to settlements in mana-rich areas, but these were rare.
“I never imagined I’d be able to read ‘Yume Koi’ in this world.”
“Ordering it was worth the effort, then.”
Our journey was mostly on foot. Although we had a carriage for the injured or sick, everyone, including Saioji, traveled on foot. Unlike Earth, our stamina and speed were enhanced in this fantasy world, allowing us to cover dozens of kilometers a day with just one midday break. We expected to reach the capital, Reinburg, in the Kingdom of Kainriese, in about a week.
Despite traveling through a dangerous area, the path was well-maintained, and we only encountered monsters a few times a day. According to Saioji, as long as we stayed out of the nearby forests, we wouldn’t have to fight much.
Thus, we often passed the time with idle chatter.
“Is ‘Yume Koi’ really that popular?”
“It started about five years ago, and it was widely read. It was very popular at my high school too.”
“Your high school was that elite girls’ school, right? I didn’t expect them to read manga there.”
“What do you think my high school was like…?”
Saioji attended the prestigious Ohka Girls’ Academy in Tokyo, which existed even in my time. It was an escalator school attended by daughters of former noble families and distinguished households.
“If you read it, you’ll understand. The art style may be shoujo manga, but it was popular with men too.”
Saioji handed me a volume of “Yume Koi”
“Alright, I’ll read it tonight.”
“But be careful. In this world, even otherworlders can read Japanese. If the others find it, they might take it from you.”
“I’ll be careful.”
For some reason, Japanese and English, both spoken and written, were universally understood in this world. This was a mystery that hadn’t been solved yet but was convenient for reincarnators like me and transmigrators like Saioji.
Saioji warned me to be cautious when reading the manga, as the bored brigade members would likely cause a fuss if they found it.
During our journey from Elacton to the capital, we camped out rather than stopping in villages or towns. We set up camp in designated camping areas along the way, similar to service areas on highways in Japan, where travelers gathered and prepared for the night.
“It’s quite lively here.”
All the brigade members participated in setting up camp. Tasks ranged from starting a fire and setting up tents to hunting for food if there was a forest nearby. By the time the sky turned to sunset, many other merchant caravans had also gathered at the campsite.
“This campsite is the largest and safest in the area. Some merchant caravans might have come here just for protection.”
I joined the others in setting up camp. The equipment was heavy, requiring some effort, but the setup was similar to camping back in Japan. The other members, accustomed to this, quickly got everything ready. As I worked, a fellow brigade member with striking yellow hair—Nike—started talking to me.
“Protection?”
“Yes, some merchants hire adventurers like us for protection.”
“Isn’t that unfair?”
“It’s mutually beneficial. In return, we get discounted food from the merchants staying at the same campsite.”
The idea of freeloading or taking advantage seemed unpleasant, but Nike explained it was a give-and-take relationship. Campsites where merchants and adventurers gathered were usually safe, with little mana and fewer monster attacks, even at night.
In return for providing protection, adventurers could buy food at a discount from the merchants. Although some merchants refused, most cooperated, creating a mutually beneficial relationship during their travels.