Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 117: Itinerary
　Leada, the Garfish Company’s female representative, the male coachman, and the four members of Black-Gold Wings serving as their escorts traveled along the road in a swaying carriage.
“It takes about a week to reach O’Circus, right?”
　Rumeya asked Leada, their client’s representative.
“Y-yes! We’re taking the shortest route over the mountain pass, so we should arrive in approximately one week.”
　Leada unfolded a simple map and showed it to everyone.
　Tauro was somewhat taken aback when he heard the detailed itinerary.
　The route ran almost directly to O’Circus and passed through hardly any major towns or villages. It was an extremely demanding schedule.
　They could spend the first night in a village along the way, but after that they would probably have to camp outdoors until they reached the outskirts of O’Circus.
　Marches, who had spent many years as a traveling merchant, had planned the journey. He had probably assumed that a certain amount of hardship would be manageable. Leada, however, didn’t look particularly strong, so the itinerary seemed rather harsh for her.
　Aeris, who appeared familiar with the roads, had also estimated that the journey to O’Circus would take about a week. Like Marches, she apparently regarded a little hardship as acceptable.
　Tauro decided that he should check whether Aeris’s future estimates included any margin for rest.
　Still, he had prepared carefully in advance, so he thought they would probably be fine.
　As planned, they spent the first night in a village along their route.
“You’re traveling to O’Circus? Then you intend to cross the mountain pass?”
　The village innkeeper was surprised by the unusual group of travelers.
“There’s a poor mountain village some distance off the road leading to the pass. Recently, several young men from that village have apparently begun attacking travelers. I wouldn’t recommend crossing the pass at present.”
“Have they been driven to it by hunger?”
　Shin asked the innkeeper.
“I believe so. Even so, I recommend turning back and taking a detour.”
　The innkeeper suggested the safer option.
“What do you think, Leada?”
　Aeris prompted the client’s representative to decide.
“…If we turn back and detour now, we’ll arrive several days late and keep our business partners waiting. Trust is the foundation of commerce. I’m sorry to place this burden on all of you, but could we please continue over the pass?”
“We’ll follow the client’s decision, but Leada-san, do you understand that you’ll also be putting yourself in danger?”
　Tauro pointed out that she was prioritizing the transaction over her own safety.
“I understand. However, Marches-san said this transaction is a tremendous opportunity, and I agree. We have promised to arrive by a certain date. If anything happens to me, Tauro-san, please deliver the goods to our business partner.”
“There’s no need to prepare for the worst quite so dramatically. If these rumors have spread this far, the attackers are probably petty thieves who don’t kill their victims. Some travelers may have been injured, but if everyone already knows they come from the mountain village, the neighboring settlements are probably overlooking their actions because they’re stealing out of hunger rather than committing more serious crimes.”
　Tauro glanced toward the innkeeper, who had turned away to serve another customer, and added that the man was kind to have warned them.
　The innkeeper had probably spoken up because Tauro and Aeris were still children. They felt bad about disregarding his advice, but decided to continue over the pass as planned.
　When they departed the following morning, the innkeeper tried once more to stop them. They thanked him politely and continued on their way.
　The pass was still two days away. They could have reached another village by making a detour, but there were no houses along the direct route. By evening, they had no choice but to camp outdoors.
“All right, I’ll prepare the campsite.”
　Tauro took a rolled bundle of cloth, wooden poles, stakes, and a hammer from his [Magic Storage].
“What are those for?”
　Aeris’s curiosity was piqued when Tauro began doing something unfamiliar yet again.
“This is a tent.”
　He tied the cords at the edges of the cloth to stakes driven into the ground, spread the fabric out, raised the poles, and assembled it into a three-dimensional shelter.
　In no time, he had created a space large enough for people to enter.
“I made it especially for this journey.”
“Oh? But if it’s made of cloth, will it not become useless when it rains? Tents are normally made of leather.”
　Aeris peered inside as she spoke.
“Heh heh. That won’t be a problem. I soaked the cloth in slime fluid to make it waterproof!”
　Tauro proudly boasted about the tent’s performance.