The Merchant on the Road

The three headed toward Mount Lakes along the path they had previously discussed. It was a route chosen with the desire to rest in villages at night whenever possible, which meant it was a slightly roundabout way to their destination.

Because of this, Lily had worried that Agniele might object. Of course, it didn’t take long for her to realize that was a major misconception.

Whether intentional or not, Agniele showed so much consideration toward Ensi that Lily belatedly realized there was no way he would oppose her plan.

Whatever the reason, thanks to the lack of objections, the journey to Mount Lakes was comfortable. The fatigue from traveling quite a distance was quickly relieved by plush beds, and moving after resting well in cozy places kept their physical condition peaked.

“Will the Harpy subjugation take long?”

“It depends on when we find the nesting site. Still, I expect it’ll be over within three days.”

There were only a few sheer cliffs on Mount Lakes that Harpies favored. Thanks to that, the search area was narrowed down, and it didn’t seem like they would need to invest a long time in the hunt.

“Really? I’m worried it might end too easily.”

“Lily, I’ve told you time and again—”

“’Don’t be arrogant because we’re greenhorns who haven’t experienced true live combat’? I know, I know. But if we can finish the subjugation in three days, doesn’t that mean they aren’t actually that dangerous?”

Since they didn’t have much experience facing monsters, they didn’t truly know how dangerous Harpies were. However, in a place specifically designated by the Academy, facing monsters whose power the Academy had already gauged—was there really a need to be so tense?

Lily brought her horse closer to Ensi’s side and reached out to tap his shoulder.

“It would be a shame to make a mistake just because we’re needlessly nervous.”

At Lily’s signal to relax, Ensi finally let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh. It was partly because he trusted that even if Lily acted lighthearted like this, she would move properly when necessary.

Lily, who was chatting with the somewhat softened Ensi as they moved along, reacted immediately when Agniele, who was leading the way, came to a halt.

“What is it? Are we finally there? Is that it?”

Agniele read the anticipation in Lily’s voice, but he couldn’t give her the answer she wanted.

“No, there’s a carriage ahead. Looking at how someone is hovering around the wheels, it seems there’s a problem. What shall we do?”

“A carriage?”

Due to the slight incline, Lily and Ensi couldn’t see what Agniele was looking at. Lily kicked the side of her horse and increased her speed to pass Agniele.

“Oh… it’s true. But has it rained around here lately?”

“Looking at the ground, it doesn’t seem like it.”

“Then why is that person acting like that?”

“There might be debris stuck in the wheel.”

“Debris enough to break a wheel on an open plain like this? Does that even make sense?”

As Agniele said, a person could be seen pacing around the carriage, but because the distance was great, the two of them conversed without reservation.

“Whatever the cause, it seems certain the wheel is broken.”

Ensi, who had leisurely joined them, narrowed his eyes and focused on the distant scene. At Ensi’s certain answer, Lily let out a short exclamation.

“You can see that clearly? I can’t see it.”

“My eyesight must be better. More than that, that person’s face looks familiar.”

“If you can identify the face, you must be right.”

Lily readily admitted it, tilting her head while twirling her hair.

“But—this is just a hunch. Doesn’t it smell a bit… artificial?”

“Artificial, how?”

“Like a bandit acting the part of a kind, troubled citizen?”

Lily’s eyes sparkled as she mentioned a scene she had often seen in novels. Ensi’s comment about the person looking familiar added fuel to her hope that she might finally experience a “novel-like” event firsthand.

“I was wondering who it was; it’s the person we saw at the inn last night. They were at the next table, and I saw their hands—they weren’t hands that grip weapons.”

“When did you even see that? Hmm, but a comrade could be hiding nearby. That person could be bait!”

“No. There are no other presences nearby.”

“……Fine, actually, I knew that too.”

She knew, but she was trying hard to ignore it. As her excitement was shattered by Ensi and Agniele, Lily grumbled but faced reality.

“So what then, are we going to help them before we go?”

“If everyone is alright with it, I would like to.”

Ensi watched the carriage quietly as he heard Agniele’s prompt agreement. In truth, a carriage breaking down was something that could happen at any time. The technology of this world was good yet flawed, so such breakdowns were surprisingly frequent.

However, separate from that, a few things bothered him.

For instance, the carriage looked as clean as new without a single scratch even from this distance, and despite the coachman appearing troubled, he wasn’t taking any proper measures. Finally, the way the person kept glancing in their direction as if checking their reaction bothered him.

“Ensi?”

Since the points he found uncomfortable weren’t clear evidence, Ensi gave a dull answer to Lily’s call, saying he didn’t mind.

“I’ll make contact first, just in case.”

Agniele set off as soon as he finished speaking. He moved so quickly that Lily let out a short whistle of admiration.

“He must have really wanted to help.”

“Seems so.”

Ensi watched Agniele closely as he spoke with the individual. He couldn’t hear the conversation, but as time passed, the other person’s face gradually brightened.

“Somehow, it feels like someone’s getting scammed……”

“Huh? Scammed?”

“Never mind. Let’s join them for now.”

Ensi increased his speed and approached Agniele’s side. However, the conversation seemed to be in its final stages.

“Then I shall buy them. Is that alright?”

“I would be truly grateful if you did! I was feeling dizzy thinking I might just die out here like this…… thank you so much, Young Lord!”

As if words weren’t enough, Agniele caught the shoulder of the merchant, who was bowing repeatedly, and gently straightened him up. Adding that there was no need for such gratitude, he pulled a pouch from his breast and paid the price first.

Ensi hadn’t heard how the conversation had proceeded, but he felt like he knew, causing him to twitch an eyebrow.

“Did you decide to buy provisions?”

“Hm? How did you know?”

“Just… a hunch.”

The provisions were likely items that would spoil quickly. There might be meat or fruit. Agniele probably decided to buy the food because the merchant said he had no spare wheel, it would take time to repair, and he was worried the food would rot in the meantime. The excuse might be smoother, but it wouldn’t deviate far from that range.

“Wait? We’re buying meat? Then charcoal-grilled meat for dinner tonight?”

Lily, arriving a step late, nodded as if she understood after hearing the brief explanation from Agniele. Then, along with Agniele, she received fresh meat, vegetables, and a few blankets from the merchant.

She had thought they would have to settle for tasteless soup or smelly jerky, so wasn’t this a good thing for them too?

After completing the transaction amidst Lily’s enthusiastic cheers, Agniele tried to shoulder most of the luggage himself. Since it was a trade he had made independently, he intended to take responsibility for the increased load, but Ensi stepped in to stop him.

“You don’t need to do that.”

“The horse might not agree.”

Ensi, who had firmly declined, divided the items into roughly equal weights and let the horses carry them. While Agniele and Lily focused on organizing the bags, Ensi glanced at the merchant.

As if feeling that gaze, the merchant moved busily, pretending to organize the luggage inside the carriage with awkward movements. To anyone watching, he looked like someone with something to hide. Realizing his suspicion wasn’t entirely wrong, Ensi let out a light sigh.

“Let’s head out now. At this rate, we won’t arrive until after the sun sets.”

“Right, let’s go.”

The moment he confirmed the two were ready, he urged them on. The two followed him, feeling curious about the haste from the usually relaxed Ensi.

“Well, good luck!”

When Lily gave a sociable farewell, the merchant flinched and trembled. Then, he gave a clumsy smile and returned the greeting.

‘To be that bad at acting. He must not be the type who can live by deceiving others. And yet, seeing him act so bravely, he must have some other reason.’

“He’s a merchant but he’s so timid. Ensi, was it because you were staring at him so scarily?”

“I don’t think I stared scarily.”

“No, you have that specific look. You’re subtly scary when you’re like that, you know?”

Lily laughed playfully, adding that it felt like he had an aura of intimidation or that his subtle pressure was suffocating.

“Anyway, with his carriage like that, I wonder if he can deliver the rest of his goods properly?”

Once the merchant was no longer in sight, Lily tossed the food pouch—now considerably heavier—into the air and caught it while murmuring. Hearing a hint of worry in her voice, Ensi thought for a moment before speaking.

“It’s fine. There’s likely a perfectly good spare wheel inside that carriage.”

“Eh? Really? Didn’t he say the delay was because he didn’t have a wheel?”

“He was lying. What merchant travels without a spare, not knowing when a wheel might break? It was likely just a ploy to sell us food and supplies at a high price.”

“No, but why bother?”

‘How much could he even make selling those? Why go so far as to act like the wheel was broken?’

Lily’s head tilted naturally at the incomprehensible behavior.