第３５６堀：のんびりな旅路 (Part1)
**Chapter 356: A Leisurely Journey**
**Side: Mauve**
A serene sky, sprawling plains, and the gentle murmur of a stream.
It is a peaceful landscape.
There are no signs of anything but small animals; not a single monster in sight.
Only the *clop-clop* of horse hooves echoes through the air.
It is peaceful.
"This is boring," I mutter suddenly.
"Well, there aren't many monsters around. Even if there were, it’d probably just be bandits."
"And those bandits wouldn't be foolish enough to set up an ambush in such an open area. If they were, they’d just be idiots," Raiya and Curse reply, continuing our leisurely pace down the road.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The conversation doesn't continue.
It’s not that it *needs* to, but this silence feels wrong.
It’s the silence of having too much time on one's hands. I’m not focused on work, nor am I doing anything in particular. I’m just drifting.
"Hey. Why are we riding horses down such a tranquil road, anyway?"
"Because it's work, obviously."
"Why is there so little tension? It doesn't feel like a mission."
"Well, there are no external threats, and even though this is an infiltration investigation, it’s basically just sightseeing," Curse says.
That’s not what I meant.
"Don't you guys have anything else to talk about? Stop making me carry the conversation."
Seriously, why am I the one always starting the topics? When it’s this peaceful, if I don't keep talking, I’m going to fall asleep.
"No, there's no need to force it."
"Indeed. This kind of leisure isn't bad, is it? You can even sleep if you want. I'll wake you if anything happens."
"That’s exactly why it’s a waste to sleep! Don't you have any interesting stories?"
"No."
"None at all."
"Damn it. Why are we traveling 40 kilometers by horse...? We could have just taken a car part of the way..."
"No. That’s impossible."
"Besides, we’ve already gotten as close as we can by vehicle. Any further and we have to worry about prying eyes."
"I finally got my driver's license and learned to drive, and now I'm back on a horse..."
That’s right, I finally learned to drive.
Whenever I had some free time, I’d been attending the driving school in Weed. It’s not like Yuki’s hometown where anyone can get a license; in Weed, it’s reserved for those whose jobs require it, high-ranking adventurers like me, or company executives.
It’s basically a rich man’s hobby. Fuel can only be obtained in Weed, and maintenance is the same. For the general public, horse-drawn carriages are still far more convenient. Personally, I think cars would be incredibly useful if they became widespread, but the technology just isn't there yet.
Then again, the cars themselves are imported from Japan. If we can't even manufacture our own cars in Weed, mass adoption is a pipe dream.
"I sympathize, but it is work."
"I'll let you ride with me on the way back."
"Yeah, yeah. Still, I’m surprised there are even horses in Weed."
As if reminded, I look at the horse I’m currently riding.
Weed has cars, which easily outperform horses. There’s no reason to keep them anymore. Feeding and caring for them is far more of a hassle than maintaining a vehicle.
"No, there are plenty of horses."
"Really?"
"Well, inside Weed, they’re mostly in the Adventurer District. We stop horses at the gates for hygiene reasons and to prevent accidents with pedestrians."
"Isn't that just for outsiders? The Adventurer District ones belong to the Guild, right?"
Merchants wouldn't haul cargo without horses, and I think it would be cruel to make adventurers walk to the dungeon.
"You're right about those two, but Weed keeps horses for other reasons too," Raiya explains.
"They do?"
"They do. First, the military. Yuki is trying to keep pace with the current era, after all. Bringing out tanks or absurd weapons is a last resort."
"Ah, right. I forgot about that."
"Second, it’s a means of transport for countries we’re newly establishing trade and dungeon relations with. Cars are convenient, but losing one is a massive headache. There’s also the risk of theft. So, we use horses for that."
"I see."
"And to meet those demands, we have places that raise and sell horses."
"You guys go that far?"
"We have to. We’re trying to increase our numbers by buying young horses from other countries or breeding them. It’s only been about a year, so we haven't seen results yet, but it’s better to do it ourselves. Plus, we buy high-quality hay for feed, which ensures money flows properly to those other countries."
"...It’s complicated, but I get the gist."
In the end, it’s all about the economy.
Ugh, my head hurts. I’m glad my life is far removed from that. I just want to receive my stable monthly salary and live a leisurely life.
"Well, anyway. What I’ve gathered from this is that even when we get to the Ex Kingdom, we shouldn't try to force our way in head-on."
"Agreed. I don't understand the economic side of things, and I have no intention of trying to fix it."
"Also, the opposition has someone equivalent to a Dungeon Master. There’s a high chance the three of us would get wiped out."
"That’s the thing. It’s the first time we’ve faced another Dungeon Master. Is it really true that they don't know we’re here?"
We know Yuki’s surveillance system well, so that’s a major concern. What if they already know?
"I can't say it's impossible, but it's unlikely."
"Indeed. Our bodies are Doppelgangers. If they knew, they would have tried to seize control or extract information. There’s no point in letting us swim freely."
"True. In that sense, it’s better to keep a low profile."
"Right. If we draw attention, they’ll put us under surveillance. That increases the chance they’ll figure out our true identities."
"So it really is just as planned. Since Yuki sets up the strategy so perfectly, there’s nothing for us to discuss. No topics left to talk about."
There’s no point in us worrying about it here.
...Man, it’s just too peaceful.
"Well, other than buying slaves, we’re free to do what we want in the Ex royal capital. Why don't we decide on our plans there?"
"Plans, huh? First, we need to find an inn."
"Yeah, otherwise we’re sleeping outside."
"What kind of inn are we aiming for?"
"That’s... wait. What kind of inn do mercenaries usually stay at?"
"We’ll start there. Let’s head to a restaurant and gather some information."
"Good idea. Come to think of it, I don't know what the food is like."
"Ugh, that’s a life-or-death issue. It doesn't have to be Weed-level, but I want to eat decent food."
I really don't want to spend days eating terrible meals.
Please, let this not be a country with bad food!
"True. Let’s make that a priority."
"I like that. It’ll be a good excuse for our wandering, too."
"You mean, traveling for the sake of good food?"
"Exactly. There are plenty of adventurers like that, aren't there? The ones who choose their destinations based on where the good food is."