Chapter 74

The farm runs smoothly.

Truthfully, everything’s fine as long as the spirits don’t suddenly declare a strike and refuse to plant seeds.

With the greenhouse expanding, providing more space, the spirits seem much happier.

Looking at this, I can’t help but feel that “strike” is a word that just doesn’t suit spirits.

After breakfast, I step outside.

Suri clings to my shoulder.

I sling my backpack over my back and adjust my cap.

A journey heading east begins.

Departing on a path to discover the Ruins of the Dragon.

I kept telling myself, “Let’s go,” but ended up finishing one task after another, and now, finally, here I am setting off at the tail end of summer.

The discovery of the Warp Device played a big role.

Thanks to it relieving so much burden, I’m able to set out with such lightness.

Walking through the heat, I plan to use the Warp Device in the evening to rest at home.

No need for transportation—I’ll take my time.

Enjoying every scene and atmosphere leisurely, planning to explore the charm of medieval times.

Even if medieval times aren’t exactly brimming with romance, there’s still something special about the blend of nature and fantasy in this world of fantasy.

Glancing at the map, I head east.

Not wandering aimlessly, but roughly estimating the direction.

Based on the memories from the game, I move.

Following the medieval theory that information gathered nearby is more accurate, I begin my journey.

“Peep!”

“You did well.”

Small body.

To me, Suri still looks like a baby.

But lately, she’s been confidently gliding through the sky, hunting all sorts of things.

She proudly shows me her prey with sparkling eyes—dead mice, bugs, small insects, worms.

I smile, pat her forehead gently, and say “Good job.”

Then Suri eats the prey.

Sometimes she brings it near my mouth, offering it to me, but I know she’s full from her own hunts.

Over time, we’ve reached an understanding: she boasts briefly, then eats.

It’s become a small amusement during our otherwise monotonous travels.

Suri’s antics and hunts.

That way, we keep walking endlessly.

Without regard for time, we continue.

Evanzelin prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner punctually, and I spend the remaining hours walking.

Thanks to my enhanced physical capabilities, I can recover quickly even after sleeping only a few hours, making this kind of walking effortless.

Unless I get hit by dragon tails or magic from such creatures, I shouldn’t be injured easily.

Day 50 of summer.

Day 51.

Walking like this makes me realize anew how much of a constraint travel must have been in the medieval era without modern means of transportation.

The capital.

A world with magical portals connecting cities, but civilization hasn’t developed enough to connect rural areas.

Moreover, using portals is expensive, and their usage is restricted to specific items.

Clearly, they’re strategic resources.

Still, I’m grateful that this world has developed auxiliary magic for daily life, like air conditioners and showers.

Since the concept of social class is vague, except for major cities, there’s no real restriction on people coming and going.

In the capital, important places are scanned magically when visited, but generally, it’s free passage. This isn’t too different from reality, either.

A characteristic unique to the medieval era?

“Ki-yaaah!”

Crime problems come to mind.

Groups that raid goods transported by merchant guilds.

And rumors tell of groups operating freely within cities, escaping unnoticed.

I didn’t expect to encounter them so soon.

“Prepare for battle!”

“Bandits!”

“Steal everything! Kill anyone who resists! Anything you take from corpses is yours to keep!”

The noise is clear even from afar.

Screams and the clash of metal.

“Suri.”

“Peep?”

“Absolutely do not come. Understand? Stay hidden or fly high.”

Suri nods slightly.

Has she learned non-verbal human expressions?

I stroke her head gently, proud of her.

Her magnificent wings spread wide.

Soaring high into the sky, she becomes a tiny dot watching me from afar.

At that height, arrows won’t reach her.

Prioritizing Suri’s safety, I observe the situation calmly unfolding.

“Aaak!”

Relationships.

Complicated networks of connections.

I don’t understand those well.

Right now.

What I see before me are people falling to sword strikes and merchants despairing as they’re robbed.

If I have the ability, helping feels right.

When my conscience tells me to act, I should follow it.

I grip my sword.

Thank goodness I prepared this lightweight iron blade for situations like this.

A flaming sword might draw too much attention and unwanted aggression, so I made sure to have this plain-looking sword.

The wind brushes past me.

Each shadow of the trees seems to fold away as I move swiftly through the forest.

The explosive power from my body feels strange but manageable.

“One.”

Taking a life always feels uneasy, but I know hesitation isn’t an option when necessary.

This isn’t something I deeply pondered but rather an instinct, a skill level giving me experience and knowledge.

I slash the throat of a man shouting commands from afar and silently cut down the ones standing beside him.

Engaging in crime means accepting the possibility of a miserable death.

In modern times, there are laws.

In medieval times, there are swords and magic.

“Aaak!”

The situation is chaotic.

People looting bodies here and there.

Others actively attacking.

It’s hard to distinguish friend from foe, but I start by cutting down those showing clear hostile actions.

“Unexpected variables.”

Suddenly, masked men enter the fray.

Three.

No, four.

Clang!

I deflect a powerful downward sword strike and steady myself.

These are clearly trained fighters.

Whoever they are, they arrived late.

Are they not bandits but part of some planned ambush?

“Go about your business.”

“I don’t avoid difficulties.”

“Tsk. Your righteousness will be your downfall.”

Their sharp swords.

Spears.

And shields and maces.

There’s no tension at all.

I don’t know their exact skill levels, but no sense of danger arises.

Unlike when facing dragons or fairy kings.

This time, my senses whisper that these foes are easy.

“Huff…”

Their composure is evident.

An unplanned battle strategy.

Wasted breath.

‘Do I look weak?’

Lowering my head slightly, I pause for a moment, then…

Launch forward with a kick.

“Here he comes!”

“Idiot! Go for the shield…”

I slice through.

I’ve cut through golems. Cutting through metal is nothing difficult.

The spearman waiting behind looks stunned.

Carrying the momentum, I continue slicing.

Two down in one strike.

The one charging from the side has good instincts.

Attacking me while my stance is compromised, his timing is precise.

But today will be his last.

With the strength to reverse my sword’s direction mid-swing.

Using mana and physical prowess allows impossible movements to become easy.

The faintly glowing blue blade accelerates instantly, cutting down the man attacking me.

That’s three.

“Hold on… Just a moment…”

The man drops his weapon, raising both hands in surrender, lips trembling, sweat streaming down his forehead.

He hesitates, then stops, signaling his intent to surrender, so I halt my attack and watch him closely.

“Hmm… May I inquire if you have any ties to that merchant guild?”

His tone grows respectful.

The man winces, forcing an uneasy smile.

“We’ll talk later.”

The battle is still ongoing.

Considering he might flee, I rush toward where the fight continues.

Ending the battle takes just a few more slashes.

By the time I return, the masked man is still standing firmly in place.

Curious, I approach him.

“Why didn’t you run?”

“I don’t wish to stake my life on impossibilities. Seeing you help those in trouble, I judged it more likely to survive by asking for mercy.”

His judgment is quick and rational.

He doesn’t seem like a typical bandit.

“You’re not really a bandit, huh?”

“If I speak honestly, will you let me go?”

“Tell me.”

“We came to capture a dragonkin. Among this caravan.”

“Dragonkin…?”

Is that what this world, this game-like reality, hides?

“Yes.”

“What were you planning to do with them?”

“For the dragon ruins.”

“But why attack? You could’ve persuaded them to come along.”

“…”

“Something smells fishy.”

“Orders from above. Throughout history, trying to obtain things easily has been common practice.”

“So blindly attacking with swords is considered ‘easy.’ Whoever your superior is, they don’t seem like someone who’d take care of you or your subordinates.”

“Haha…”

Dragon ruins.

Are they referring to the Ruins of the Dragon?

Something feels odd.

As if only the protagonist knows where everyone else is headed.

“Since you didn’t get what you needed from the dragon ruins, you’ll come again next time, right?”

“…”

“That’s enough of an answer.”

I lower my sword and step back.

The man’s face lights up with a mix of surprise and faint hope.

“Will you not kill me?”

“Do I need to?”

“After all, leaving potential threats alive can cause future trouble.”

“Hmm.”

Choosing my words carefully, I speak slowly.

“I don’t worry about things that haven’t happened yet, nor am I the type to.”

Clank.

Sheathing my sword, I stare into the man’s eyes.

His trembling gaze avoids mine, filled with fear.

“I have confidence in my skills.”

Of course.

It’s more accurate to say I have confidence in my traits and levels.

“…”

“You may leave.”

“Thank you.”

As he hurriedly retreats, I turn my back.

The merchant guild tends to the wounded and stacks damaged supplies.

They’re busy cleaning up the aftermath.

“Thank you. Without your kindness, we would have faced a terrible fate.”

An elderly man approaches me, bitterly smiling as he organizes the goods.

“Not at all.”

“I have little to offer, but please accept this as a reward.”

He fills a heavy pouch with something.

Glancing inside, it’s filled with gold.

I slowly open the pouch and take one piece of gold.

“I appreciate it.”

“Huh?”

“I didn’t act expecting repayment. You’ve suffered great losses, so you should save every coin you can.”

“…”

“Thank you.”

Tears well up in the old man’s eyes.

“Where are you headed?”

“We’re heading to the nearest city. Wasn’t it Whereit?”

“Did you mean Whereit?”

“Ah, yes. Whereit.”

“Come with us. We happen to be heading there anyway.”

“Alright.”

Following the old man’s suggestion, I scan the crowd around me.

Dragonkin, huh?

I don’t see anyone who fits that description.

Either the man was mistaken, or there’s a hidden dragonkin among them.

One of the two.

Whistle!

I whistle to call Suri.

From the sky descends a proud, adorable brown figure, perching confidently on my shoulder with bright eyes.

“You did well. Here, have a snack.”

As a reward for staying safe, I give her a piece of raw meat.

She happily chews it with her small beak.

Somewhere, I feel someone staring.

A woman in a deep hood, staring intently at me.

Is it her?

In the hot summer, wearing a deep hood already raises suspicions.

Our gazes meet briefly, then I turn away, dismissing my interest.

---