We overtake many wagons on the way to Lak, and we’re overtaken by magic beast wagons.
I thought the horses might react when we overtook them, but they barely take notice, probably because of the Concealment magic.
Then again, they don’t react to the magic beasts nearby either, so they’re either used to it or were trained.
Also, about these magic beast wagons. They’re really fast.
I can see some of the people’s faces when they pass by me, and a lot look sick. Some even look like they’re asking for help, but what am I supposed to do?
“See? Aren’t you glad we didn’t pick that?”
Asks Rurika with a trembling voice.
Elsa looks relieved, but Hikari and Shizune look like they want to try it.
◇ ◇ ◇
It takes us five days to reach Lak after leaving the border city.
It would normally take longer, but that’s where the golem wagon comes in handy. It can run day and night without getting tired, as long as it has magic energy.
Still, people get tired from being in the wagon all the time, so we take longish breaks after eating, and exercise. Suffice to say, exercise comes in the form of the always reliable mock battles.
Everyone joins in, including Shizune and Kaina, and even Elsa and Alto.
Elsa and Alto seem to have learned a lot from a certain master.
“Let’s walk from here on.”
We’re about an hour walk away from Lak, when we get out of the wagon.
We walk leisurely towards Lak, and find a big line when we reach it. But since it’s made up of wagons, we get to use the gate for people on foot, and it doesn’t take us long to be let inside.
I stand still when I enter Lak. There are so many beast people walking around, that it would actually be harder to find a human.
“It’s full of Seras.”
Says Alto, with his eyes open with surprise.
“Is this fluffy heaven!?”
Shizune can’t take her eyes off the many beast people.
I just hope she doesn’t do something like suddenly hug one.
“Let’s look for an inn. There are a lot of people here, so we need to hurry or we could be left without one.”
Warns Siphon, and we walk around looking for an inn.
On both sides of the main street are a lot of cloth tents where people sell stuff. Some sell food, but some sell ingredients too. The ingredients lined up neatly catch my attention, but I contain myself for now.
We also need to hold the hands of the kids so they don’t get lost.
According to Rurika and Chris, there weren’t this many people the last time they were here.
“Is it because of the tournament?”
“I think that’s part of it. I also think a lot of people left their settlements to come sell things.”
All the relatively cheap inns are booked, but even if they weren’t, we could only get expensive rooms.
We made quite a bit of money from the dungeon, but Elsa and Alto still look around worried about the extravagance.
“So what now? Should we rest for a day, or look around for a few days?”
I ask Rurika and the others, because with the golem wagon, we should have plenty of time to get there before the tournament starts.
That means we’re not in a hurry, and Elsa and Alto, and Shizune too, are looking a little tired.
We rest in the inn for the rest of the day, and walk around town the next day.
There are a lot of ingredients I’ve never seen before, and I always ask the people selling them what they are.
Our wallets are pretty loose when it comes to food, and Siphon looks shocked by how we buy.
“It’s better than drinking.”
Says Yuno with a cold tone, and he turns away.
We go around almost every tent on the main street, buying a lot of ingredients and cooked food that I store in the Item Box.
When we get back, Mia, Chris, and Elsa talk about what to cook with these new ingredients, while Hikari, Alto, and Shizune keenly listen.
The next day, we ask people about stores for adventurers, and regular clothing stores, and buy clothes.
The three kids are treated like dress-up dolls, and Elsa and Alto look really tired by the end. I’m really sorry for being unable to stop Shizune’s rampage.
“Even I have trouble with that.”
Says Rurika with an awkward smile.
At least it looks like they had fun. And Shizune herself wouldn’t want them to dislike her.
As for Mia, she looks at all sorts of clothing, but buys cloth. Is she planning to make clothes herself?
Three days later, we leave Lak, and head for Fors, the city in the center where the beast king lives.
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Thanks for the treat.