Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 30: On the Road to the Royal Capital
The day of departure for the royal capital arrived.
“What’s this, Tauro? Aren’t you wearing the fine outfit the tailor made for you?”
Branch Manager Leo teased as he came to see Tauro off.
“You had new clothes made, Tauro? You should have told me! I wanted to see them.”
Nei immediately became curious.
“Ha ha… Those are formal clothes for meeting a noble, not something I can wear while traveling.”
Tauro had tried on the finished outfit the previous day. It was suffocating, gaudy, and made him feel as though the clothes were wearing him. He preferred not to remember the experience.
“All right, everyone. I’m counting on you to guard the caravan—and to look after Tauro.”
Leo addressed the C-minus-rank team Five Arrows, the D-rank team Red Flash, and a solo C-minus-rank adventurer.
The trading company had hired all five members of Five Arrows and all four members of Red Flash as caravan guards. A solo female adventurer named Meena had been assigned as Tauro’s personal escort.
The caravan consisted of three horse-drawn wagons.
Most of their cargo was Reversi, but they also carried mithril ore mined in Saisi, which now accounted for most of the city’s income.
“The journey to the capital should take one week. Let’s be on our way.”
Paulo took command, and the caravan departed.
Nei waved after them. Tauro waved back as she rapidly receded into the distance.
Tauro’s first journey proceeded smoothly.
Traveling along the main road made an enormous difference.
Many people used the road, so the surrounding area was relatively safe. Rest stations stood at regular intervals, each guarded by stationed soldiers.
Fantasy stories had taught Tauro to expect the caravan to be attacked during the journey, but it appeared he had nothing to worry about.
According to Meena, his escort, public safety deteriorated rapidly as soon as one left the main road.
Peddlers who traveled alone from village to village therefore faced considerable danger.
Meena had often guarded such merchants and knew the area well.
Although only nineteen, she was a skilled C-minus-rank solo adventurer.
She was tall, with long red hair tied in a ponytail and blue eyes. Equipped with a one-handed sword, shield, and bow, she looked every bit the typical adventurer. Tauro already knew her by sight because she frequently visited Combat Instructor Daz, but this was the first time they had spoken at length.
“The man approaching us looks suspicious,” Tauro murmured to Meena.
The man watched the caravan intently. Even as he passed, his gaze moved from one traveler to the next and then across the wagons’ cargo.
“He was assessing us. He may be a bandit with [Appraisal].”
“Perhaps he’s a scout. Attacking on the main road must be risky, so they probably assess caravans and decide whether the potential reward is worth it. I’ve heard Paulo has [Appraisal Obstruction (Weak)], so I don’t think the man detected the mithril…”
“How do you think our caravan looked to him?”
“Let’s see. From the outside, we have three heavily loaded wagons, ten guards, three drivers, three other passengers including Paulo, and one child. They’d need a sizable force to attack a group of seventeen, and they’d have to decide whether it’s worth taking that risk along the main road.”
The remaining half day before they reached the rest station passed without incident.
Perhaps the scouts had judged the caravan too dangerous to attack.
While the group rested, a commotion arose outside.
Apparently, bandits had attacked another caravan farther back along the road.
One member of the stricken caravan had been sent running to the rest station to seek help.
The stationed soldiers mounted their horses, formed ranks, and galloped toward the scene.
I hope they arrive in time…
“They may already be too late. The bandits wouldn’t have attacked unless they believed they could win.”
Meena seemed to read Tauro’s thoughts and responded with calm realism.
“You’re right…”
Reality wasn’t so forgiving. The following morning, Tauro learned that the other caravan had been wiped out and the bandits had escaped.
I really love that, this story has the cold hard brutal reality… and there’s no need for the MC to be overpowered because it’s happening around them but not in a way that’s directly related to them. It (reality) also isn’t overhyped, it just happens to be there.
Thanks for the chapters.