Chapter 42: A Name Reaches the Town

The manor was still checking whether Rue could use the roadside transfer site. Until their answer came, nothing changed: packhorses carried the cargo, charcoal production stayed modest, and the road received only ordinary maintenance.

I had another question.

“…Chief. I want go to town.”

He looked at me.

Ever since seeing it from afar, I had wondered where the carts came from, how many people lived there, what goods Rue lacked, and whether sorcerers like the staff-bearing woman were rare.

But I wouldn’t fly there unannounced.

“…Better not go alone.”

“If you understand that, this is easy. We’ll ask the manor.”

“…Can you?”

“Yes. A visit from you requires preparation.”

My shoulders stood higher than a man’s head. Descending suddenly among dozens of people would cause panic, especially if they didn’t know I could speak.

“Until the answer comes, don’t go.”

“…I won’t.”

◇

A southbound traveler carried the message.

I didn’t fly beyond the highway while we waited. After village work and several packhorse trips, Elmer arrived.

He first addressed the road.

“You may use the roadside site for immediate transfers, provided no cargo is left there. Do not build anything yet.”

The chief agreed.

Now Heinz’s method could be tested on a small scale.

“And I brought the answer about Val.”

“…Town?”

“Yes. You may visit, but don’t fly over it.”

“…I won’t.”

“There’s open ground near the highway where you can land. Walk from there.”

The plan was more specific than I expected.

“They’ve told the appropriate people you may come.”

“…They know me?”

“The people handling your arrival do.”

That was enough.

“I have business in town today,” Elmer added. “Come with me?”

I had no reason to delay.

“…I’ll go.”

“Don’t charge into town ahead of me.”

“…I won’t.”

Dario laughed. “Twice now.”

“I trust him,” Elmer said. “That’s why I’m taking him.”

That pleased me.

◇

I had little to prepare.

Lina ran over when she heard.

“Val, you’re going to town?”

“…I’m going.”

“Today?”

“…Yes.”

She looked envious.

“This isn’t a pleasure trip,” the chief warned.

“I know.”

“Your face doesn’t.”

“I don’t look like that.”

Lina didn’t ask to come. My body might escape danger, but bringing her into an unknown town was different.

“…I’ll look.”

“Tell me what it was like.”

“…I will.”

Elmer traveled down on horseback. Walking beside him would block the mountain road, so I flew separately after leaving Rue.

I reached the designated open land near the highway, landed, folded my wings, and waited.

Flying was much faster than horseback. Passersby watched from afar, but there was less uproar than on my first landing. I was well off the road and didn’t move.

At last Elmer arrived.

“You really waited.”

“…Of course.”

The answer came naturally.

“That sounded remarkably normal.”

“…Getting used to it.”

From there, we walked.

The highway was entirely different on the ground. People passed constantly: men with packhorses, women with carrying baskets, carts, armed pairs. Reactions to me ranged from freezing to retreating to watching from afar. Some relaxed when they noticed Elmer.

“Everyone afraid,” I said.

“Of course.”

I couldn’t blame them. I was enormous, black-scaled, and winged.

We moved aside for a cart. Up close its bed held sacks, boxes, and barrels.

“…Town still far?”

“Not much.”

Buildings gradually increased along the road. Voices and sounds multiplied: wood being struck, hooves, and even metal ringing. Several kinds of work happened at once.

I slowed unconsciously.

“What is it?”

“…Looking.”

“We aren’t even inside yet.”

“…This is outside?”

Elmer laughed.

◇

Two armed men waited ahead, weapons lowered.

“One of them is Val,” Elmer told them. “The dragon protecting Rue.”

They knew I was coming. That made everything easier.

“He understands words?”

I nodded.

“…I’m Val. Please treat me well today.”

The sentence caught in places, but I finished.

The men exchanged glances but didn’t touch their weapons.

“You said he talked, but this is more than I expected.”

I looked beyond them.

Buildings continued, with more humans than I had ever seen, shops, and several parked carts.

The place I had known only as smoke and rooftops finally stood before me.

“Let’s go in,” Elmer said.

Until now, only my name and reports had reached this place.

Now I set foot there myself.