Vermillion

Under more and more cloudy skies, Kay and Irene were quietly walking forward.

Neither is a rider. He walks with a sloppy, grumpy look, each pulling his reins. They were both seeping through the tired atmosphere from all over their bodies, but the two heads they have with them - Sasquatch and Suzuka look worse. I drooled my tongue sloppily as I nodded, and that breath was rough, and I was going to fall fluttered even now.

"Good luck, I'll be there in a little while……………"

Kay, who called out encouragement to Sasquatch in agony, corrected the position of the bags on his back and put himself back in the mood again. Originally packed on a tin, she decided to take charge to relieve the debilitating burden on her. Behind Kay, Eileen, with her eyes like a dead fish, is walking with just a few bags on her back as well.

There are no shards such as the pleasant atmosphere of the first steps into the northern earth. I just move my legs foolishly so that I can be driven by a sense of impatience and fatigue. Kay, who abominably wiped his forehead sweat, was unconsciously reaching for his lower back water bottle. It rocks loosely according to its gait, but it makes no noise at all and is light.

It was empty. The contents are drinkin 'up. I'm thirsty - and now I don't, Kay consciously spit and tried to mislead my thirst.

…………

I focus on moving my legs without success and with a harsh look on my face.

How much would I have walked? Through the trees, through the plains, over the hills...

- Yeah.

Kay unwittingly stopped at the view that spread across it.

"We're finally here. I see you, Eileen!

"... Seriously!?

Kay pointing to the end of the road. Irene, slightly regaining the light of her eyes, looks up bah.

"Seriously, too. Finally."

"……… Ugh."

As I was impressed, Eileen snorted into tears.

"Ugh, ugh. Good............ Huh!

"Oh, now I'm finally..."

Together, like a bite,

"Water can replenish............!!

Sasquatch and Suzuka snorted as they sighed.

"Almost there, Sasquatch."

"Suzuka, you can have some water later, let's do our best."

Next to Kay pounding Sasquatch's neck, Eileen strokes Suzuka's tenderness and resumes walking again.

At the end of the road, a city of stone walls stretching between the mountains -

- Dylannylen, a buffer city.

"I managed to come back…………"

Unexpectedly, emotional words leak from Kay's mouth.

Three days after stepping into the northern earth.

Kay and the others were turning back to Egol Street and heading back to Dylannylen.

†††

In conclusion, the Egol street route around the east was not a very, but travel-friendly environment.

Kays were attacked by sleeping in the village where they were going, but at that point, they hadn't even thought about turning back. We decided to break through the insecure east because there were Irene's "alarms," and if we kept contact with the residents to a minimum while we were in the wild, we would be fine.

but.

The next day, Kays faced serious problems as early as possible.

Water shortage. Not to mention Kay and Irene's share, but Sasquatch's drinking water was overwhelmingly scarce.

Until now, when traveling within the Principality, Kays had always traveled along the river and had little awareness of the 'water needed by horses'. But the truth is, horses drink 30-40 litres of water a day and need more moisture if they run and sweat. We simply have to prepare a bottle of water, like a huge hug of adults, but there were no rivers around the street of Egor, and there were so many settlements of the people of the snowfields that it was inevitable by the few sources of water.

We also have to stop at the settlement for water so as to avoid contact with the inhabitants. But when I tried to have the water divided, the difference in values became a thick wall and the difference in the "weight of a drop of water" was blocked. When Kay and the others entered the settlement they did not look good, but when Eileen wished to replenish the water, what returned was total rejection.

If you ask me, it doesn't seem to be raining in the eastern region these days, and even the local residents are falling into thirst. There came this thing where the rest of us told us to split the water - not just for humans, but also for horses - but it couldn't have been accepted.

Kay and the others understood. The Principality, which did not boil to disinfect and had a high level of drinking water, was truly "rich". And Kay and the modern people, who were normal to have water if they twisted the faucet, didn't 'understand' the gratitude, even though they knew it as knowledge. Because of the environment we've been blessed with, we didn't realize the basics.

In the end, when they heard, "I want you to share the water," the residents became so exaggerated, "Don't be ridiculous," that Kays tried to escape and left the settlement behind.

Negotiations were also attempted in the next settlement, but with no reply. I won't say for free, when I paid for it, if I took out the gold eye thing, it was the end of being attacked by the residents who changed the color of their eyes in general. Although he managed to gain nothing by fighting back, he would not be close to the area around that settlement in the future because he had injured himself on the residential side.

In that distress, a decent treatment is not desirable. Kay was in a dark mood when he thought the arrow wounds were pus or infectious and some of them might die.

Nevertheless, I can't even worry about others all the time. In any case, at this rate, neither binary nor ternary is possible. How do we get water? And do we keep going or do we turn back? The Kays were pressed to make a decision.

- Ultimately, Kay and the others chose to turn back in view of their current location and the weather.

At the time of the water shortage, not even a fifth of the planned route had yet been digested, and it was tantamount to suicide to push ahead without standing a sight for drinking water afterwards. Opinions were gathered in the direction of turning back to Dylannylen before it became a complete blockage, and not going north on Brachiya Avenue, where it was easy to secure water, even after being aware of the risk of horse thieves.

So, what are we going to do with the water on the road until we get back to Dylan Nillen?

It is difficult to secure water by legitimate means - the 'Evil Wizard (Yvil Wizard)' operation came up with by the Kays as a bitter measure. After dusk or before dawn - visit the settlement at a time when Eileen can use magic and negotiate first so that she can work on the water. If it is established, then fine, if it is broken, it is a simple operation to frighten the villagers in the shadow of Kerstin and come to blackmail (this way) again in a high-pressure manner.

Kay hid his face with a face cloth and wore the hood deep in his eyes, playing the role of a creepy escort warrior who did not speak a word, and Eileen wore a spare coat and hiccupied on the ornament for the cash changeover, pulling up to the lipstick she had somehow brought, acting as a dignified magician.

A contrast between bright white skin and red lips, floating in the dark. Irene's youth and beauty, far from the image of the so-called "magician" in general, must have been reflected in the eyes of the peripheral people in an unusual way. I took advantage of my experience when I was attacked in my sleep, but this operation went so well as I thought.

Eileen said the residents of this area seem to be faithful - or superstitious - and that their lack of detailed knowledge combined with their extreme fear of curses and sorcery. Kerstin's 'shadow', which had no direct harm and was then inexperienced, was a great way to intimidate them like that.

If Eileen is shadowed, residents, young and old alike, will be afraid, and this demand will pass. Neither Kay nor Eileen could deny the feeling that they were somewhat evil, but they still felt guilty about dyeing their hands at the act of blackmail. Kay and the others stopped by the villages on the road to get water after paying for the water in cash, not threatening it more than necessary, etc.

With Dylan Nillen now approaching, a problem has finally arisen.

The inhabitants of a village have resisted the magic of Eileen even though they feared it. We couldn't possibly kill them all, and the city guards could have rushed us if we made too much noise, so the Kays fled the village without replenishing the water as it was.

And - I had no choice but to walk through to Dylan Nillen.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

Irene drinks up cold water with her mouth directly on the pitcher and breathes with much satisfaction.

Dylan Nillen, the back of the inn. Next to Sasquatch and Suzuka, who drink buckets of water in the stables, the Kays were also soothing their thirst.

"Man, I can't live without water... I really get it..."

Kay, who squeaks and squeaks, drinks trying to taste every bite of the water in the water bottle as opposed to Eileen. I've never thought water was just so delicious. A drop of sober life stains every inch of your body on the bloodstream.

After drinking the water in full thoughts, we were both relieved of our pitchers and water bottles with one hand for a while, but returned to me and looked at each other.

"... so what, after this"

"…… Right."

There was a mysterious sense of accomplishment, but the journey has just begun. Dylannylen is only the starting point, and the destination is a further periphery of the northern earth, the Devil's Forest.

"Northbound on Brachiya Avenue is also a default route… how to get there"

"Horse thieves. What has happened in the last three days?"

Me, and Irene with her head on.

I don't think there's been that much dramatic change in the last few days, but the Kays decided to start with the basics in the basics, the listening first.

Sasquatch and Suzuka are kept in the lodging stables and rolled out into the city. As always, the gaze of the inhabitants directed at Kay - the man who looks like the people of the meadows - is stabbing. As on the first day of his arrival in Dylannylen, Eileen had attempted to interrogate the people of the snowfield ahead of him, but in the meantime he ended up being the feather of the two of us acting because of the frequent occurrences of rough men being involved in a single Kay, or guards suspiciously approaching him.

"I can't even take a walk in Otiochi with this."

"Uh-huh... At least things haven't gotten any better."

Irene has a sinister face to Kay, who laughs cynically as she reopens.

Not much progress in listening. Kay's set made passers-by's attitude toward Eileen visibly worse. Even when he smiles and talks, he is often ignored just for a glimpse at the frigid smell, and Eileen seems a little dented. Speaking of which, she wasn't good at being hubbed or alienated, and Kay remembered, she still doesn't feel good either.

After walking for a while I hit a small square, where the market was open. Talk to the open-air merchants as they buy extra portable food and other small items, even though the merchants are more loving than just passers-by.

"Horse thief? Yeah, he's been badly damaged lately."

"I hear they started coming out near Brachiya Street around this time."

"I hear there's going to be a massive caravan to take care of..."

"I guess the man's not a meadow folk, is he? Hmm, that's a Duchy ID...... no, excuse me"

Compared to the people of the snowfields, the people of the plains - merchants from the Principality - still had no strong wind against Kay either. Wolvern's ID, which he presented whenever suspected, also seemed to have worked quite well. Fragmented but gradually gathering information.

"Holy crap...... the horse thieves, they started coming out along Brachiya street too......!

After speaking to the merchants all the way through, Irene held her head in the corner of the market.

"Things are rather getting worse."

"Gaddem! If this is the case, keep going on Brachiya Avenue from the beginning -!

To Kay's terminal comment, Eileen pulls her own ponytail with gassi. At a time like this, she is the one who can't stop treading on the estate, even as she realizes it's useless. Kay also watches with raw warm eyes as usual.

"So, what do we do, Eileen?"

"Someone said earlier that the caravan was... Should we meet up?

"If I could, I wouldn't have crossed it."

"... if you can, right? I know you two have your hands on running through it all at once."

"I thought about that, too. The two of them are lighter, and I think if you encounter a horse thief, you'll have a better chance of escaping using magic... but it's not gonna change what's risky and you're gonna have to throw away your stuff."

Assuming a horse thief raids, Suzuka's legs are too slow at the moment. The majority of the loads loaded on her to lighten up would have to be sacrificed.

"Even over the spot, if we run out of luggage, it won't suck..."

Eileen's eyes went away. On this trip to Egol Street for two, I knew the importance of supplies. The water sources are abundant along the streets of Brachiya, so as long as you have a map, you will find a water field, but it is still hard to run out of tents and food. In addition, if we were to lose the "alarm", the camp alone would be even more painful.

"What's the matter..."

"Right………….."

At the end of the square, you two blur and see the passers-by, also stuck against the wall of the building. People who go to markets in teasing, sunny skies, open-air merchants who raise their voices to attract customers. All of them had their eyes set on Hiraki and Kay.

It's mainly Kay's fault. I don't know which one of you is observing this.

Assuming that if you two go north on Brahiya Avenue alone, every minute and second you're boggling like this is wasted, but I can't really get my thoughts together. I just had a hard time on Egol Street, that's all.

"Ahhh... my balls are hurting"

Irene, sighed, rubs her brows apart.

"It's an odd encounter, so am I."

"Pfft. When we were playing games, instant execution was our motto."

Kay smiled a complicated smile at Irene's words, which she missed deeply.

"The boulder is on my life now, so I can't make up my mind."

"That's right... I'm sorry, Kay, I let you hang out..."

"No, it's not that wacky"

Eileen lost her temper and energy, so Kay wolves as she squeaks her hand. That's not what I wanted to say.

"What, if it's for Eileen, let me stretch one or two of my life"

I slapped him in the chest with a dong and mouthed a floating dialogue of teeth. Are you aware that you said something disturbing, and Kay's cheeks are faintly red? It was a decent Irene for a moment, but soon she couldn't stand the air on the spot and blew it out.

"Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah"

"Ugh, um..."

"………….. but thank you"

"……… um."

After laughing dull, a pleasant silence came with a calm smile on his face.

The open-air merchant of the people of the plain right next door had a cold eye, "What are you two making a world of," but fortunately neither of us noticed.

"Phew. Well, doing uddauda here doesn't start. Hey, I can't stand it, Kay."

"What is it?"

"Let's replenish the sugar. I was selling dried fruit over there like a horse."

"Ah, hey!

Kay rushed after Eileen, who was quick or just walking out.

almost the other side of the market. A middle-aged man sells dried fruit and candied under a simple tent that just hooked a cloth to a stick of wood. Candied was fairly well priced because sugar is more expensive than the modern planet, but considering it an emergency meal is fascinating, Kay thought.

"Grandma, can I get this dried grape? Just get in this bag."

"Aye. Fifteen copper coins, since the Principality"

A shopkeeper who received a wipe bag and change from Eileen starts picking up dried grapes with a large spoon from her. but caught his eye on Kay and made that look worse.

"Hey! Why is the filthy Barbarian flair creeping into this place!

I was quickly cursed, but Kay wasn't even willing to react with what he was accustomed to saying, "What is this deal again?" Instead, they tend to be incandescent, so the best person in these cases is "total ignorance".

"Well, he's, uh, he's, uh, he's not from the meadows."

"............ Temee, are you going to shelter me!

Irene tries to forgive Kay, but now the spearhead of the owner's anger turns to you.

"I don't! My niece was murdered by horse thieves! The earthlings of the meadows will not forgive you, and so will those with their shoulders! Get out, you whore! Shame on the snowfields!

A shopkeeper throws coins and bags at Eileen's face, cursing at the momentum of flying corner bubbles. Eileen avoided the change in an aggressive fashion, but then a flying wipe bag hit her in the face and said, "Heh heh!" Raise your voice.

The dried grapes packed inside spilled all over the ground.

"- Hey."

Kay breaks in between them.

It's best not to react poorly in these cases - but if the other hand comes out, it's not the story. Shut up and look down at the shopkeeper with a rugged face.

"Hey, what the... what are we going to do..."

The shopkeeper, who explored the mess and the foot, took out the small stick. There was no way he could pull out his sword all over the city, and Kay grabbed the burning stick that stood on the nearby pillar.

Iron, about a metre long, fire-fired rod. Looks pretty sturdy with a disappointing build. If you shake it gently, it makes a creepy noise, vi, vi. It won't even bend a little or softly.

I felt the disturbing air and wild horses gathered around me. So far, I still don't hear you going to get a guard, but you should settle before there's too much noise, Kay turns to the store owner again.

He was a storekeeper with a baton in his hand, but compared the burning rod to the baton, he seemed to be mindful of the difference in reach. but as for Kay, he's not really going to beat each other up or anything. The people in this hand are just emotions ahead of them, so let them freak out a little and they'll mostly get a lot bigger.

He grabbed the middle of the fire stick with his right hand and stuck it out in front of the shopkeeper's eyes. I can put a lot of effort into the hand holding the stick, approaching the shopkeeper who looks surprised at what he will do. Too much... and the sound of iron clattering.

Oh, and the wild horses groan. The shopkeeper, distracted, gave in to the grip of one hand and stared at the burning rod as it slowly twisted.

Eventually, Kay throws a torched fire stick at the store owner's feet, completely bent on the letter Ku. The sound of iron rolling down the cobblestone.

"Do you want me to make you look like that fire stick?"

When Kay was awesome as she exaggerated her finger joints, the shopkeeper alternated between the fire stick at her feet and Kay, completely fading her face. Kay keeps her desperate and scared face when she hears Eileen whining from behind that "it's working, it's working," and she almost blows out unconsciously.

- Hey, Cora.

And that's when someone called out. Keeping a rugged look on his side, an old man selling crêpes next to a dried fruit shop clasped his arms together.

Quick, and the old man, who showed a tortuous burning stick in his jaw, said,

"Fire stick (sole), what is ours?"

"What?"

Indeed, the struts on which the fire rod was erected, if you look closely, belonged to the next crepe shop. If you think calmly, you don't have to leave a fire stick because the dried fruit shop doesn't handle fire as long as it's done.

"Shh, sorry............! I thought it belonged to a dried fruit shop."

Kay, who hastily picked up the burning stick, frowned down at it as it bent into the letter of Sukariku.

"Can you go back to this......? No! Old body, I'd like you to wait a while. I'll do something."

Grab the twisted bent part with both hands and start bending to the opposite side. I was able to correct it more smoothly for using both hands, but now I have too much momentum to bend over. Kay clumsily shaped the burning stick, struggling.

"……… OK. Now what do you think?"

…………

The old man at the crepe shop has a sinister face when he receives a torch stick that twists and subtly snakes.

"…… well, I can't use it."

Pussy, and an old man who sighs and puts a burning stick beside him as he is. Next to Kay stroking her chest down with relief, Irene laughing ridiculously as she shrugged.

Soon, the wild horses were scattered as well. Neighborhood open-air merchants seem to be grinning bitterly at the uncluttered ochi. The dried fruit shop has also decided to make an informed decision.

"So? Of course you'll buy me something, won't you? Hey."

Concon, and a stretching stick for the crepe, beating the iron plate, old man. "Of course," Kay said, not wanting to snort with a cramped smile.

Kay ordered a crêpe of ham and cheese as a snack, Eileen ordered something sweet with fruit and honey, and while the old man was making it, he gave a rough account of their situation, etc.

"... so much so that you guys want to go to" Charitoscoe "? It's my favorite thing."

Hearing the name of Charitoscoe, the small village closest to the Devil's Forest, the old man nodded often.

"Well, you know what, Grandpa?"

"Oh, I was born near Sharito. Something happened and I even got to this place (Dylan Niren)..."

You remembered the old days, the old man rubbing his nose with some sad face and rubbing it around the bottom of his nose with his right hand. I hope you don't make crepes with your hands as they are, Kay thought, but he didn't get a good prayer. An old man who picks cheese and ham in flowing pieces and wraps them in crepe fabric. Kay also looks sad at the declining sight of her appetite.

- No, in "here," to this extent is a routine tea meal. Sanitary environments such as cafeterias and liquors are not complimented, and there is no reason why people should be concerned about mixing foreign substances. Kay told herself that it was okay because of the 'physical strengthening' crest, that it was okay... and decided not to bother trying.

"Look, it's crepe with cheese and ham"

"Thanks……………."

"But we're having a little trouble, too."

Irene continued her conversation with the old man even as Kay sank into her thoughts.

"I'd like to go north on Brachiya Street, but they've been out lately, haven't they?

"Apparently."

For a moment, the old man takes a glimpse of Kay and smiles like a prankster.

"…… I've told you many times, I'm irrelevant."

"Hey, that's just what I thought, even if it's a lot of hard work. Interracial people are hard to live, you know?

I was thinking, "Well, if we could join the caravan, we wouldn't have any connections."

Before the story deviates in a strange direction, Eileen forcefully connects the words.

"Grandpa, do you have any deafening information? Thanks to the years."

"I don't have much merit in my life, little girl."

Meh, and the old man glared at Eileen with an angry face, thinking, "Don't..." while making a crepe of honey.

"Only… was it the 'Gabrilov' Chamber of Commerce? I heard they're setting up a caravan around tomorrow."

"Whoa, seriously! Can we jump in, too?

"What do you say? The Chamber of Commerce over there is closed………………………………………."

"Hmm. But well, it seems worth a try. Hey, Grandpa, do you know where that Gabrielov Chamber of Commerce is? Why don't you give me another mouthful or something?

Every time, Kay is impressed with Irene's attitude as she unleashes all the goodness of her love. The old man laughed out loud as he offered Irene a crepe of honey.

"Just one crepe, what a thick little girl you are!... I'm sorry, but I can't do that to you. I just know where the Chamber of Commerce is. You should go straight down that street and take the third corner to the left. That way, there's a bronze statue of a lion in a small square that pokes, and the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce is right in front of it. There's a big sign, so you'll see at a glance."

"Oh, thank you, Grandpa! Oh, it's me, it's Irene. What about Grandpa?"

"I'm Spartacus. Say hello."

For a moment, the conversation stops and their gaze concentrates on Kay. Kay, who hastily swallowed the crepe in his mouth, took off his leather helmet and thanked the old man - Spartak.

"It's Kay. Thanks for the info, Mr. Spartak."

"Well, I'm not glad you thanked the bastard."

Kashakasha, and an unexpected bitter smile at Spartak slapping his hatred as he pays off the flour scum on the iron plate.

With the crepe in one hand, Kay and the others thanked Spartak once now before walking out on the path taught.

"You're finally making progress here, Irene."

"Pfft, I'll take care of it. … Ah, this is delicious"

Irene narrows her eyes happily as she cheeks the mogi and crepes. Kay looked at it with a smile, but I was curious about Spartak.

"Hey, Eileen."

"Hmm?"

"Earlier Mr. Spartak spoke a lot of beautiful English."

Spartak looked like a snowfield folk from his face, but his English was fluent and without any Russian accent.

"Yeah, he was leaking something, but he was halfway with the people of the plains."

"... ho"

Kay looks back. Old man baking crepes at the end of his sight, in the corner of the square.

- Interracial people are hard to live, huh?

I thought I heard that voice.

†††

"So.... eventually, I wonder. You think Kay should join the caravan?

"Well, it depends on the terms, but I think I'm good."

After eating the crepe, Kay and the others continue their discussions as they walk.

"However, Mr. Spartak said it seems to be a closed chamber of commerce…………"

"Uh-huh. I figured I'd have to show the right 'value'. I would like to join my people…………"

Irene thinks as she glances at her lips with her fingertips.

"…… Alright. Let's sell in magic. With my witchcraft and my alarm, I guess I can get them into the caravan for nothing."

"Well, don't think about it."

"I don't have any other cards to hang up. Kay's sheaves aren't bad either, but I can't use them all the time."

"Right..."

Kay's covenant Spirit "Windy Maiden" Sieve is only his wife. Unlike Eileen, it is not easy to run magic, and it would be fortunate to stay down until it is necessary.

"If I were to present witchcraft, any exclusive people would be welcome to raise their hands... but the problem is me. Worst of all, Eileen joined the caravan, and Sasquatch and I acted differently."

"That's not true, Kay! You're going to throw a weak maiden among the beasts!

No, Irene with her hand on her cheek makes her shine, but "I say it often," Kay grinned bitterly. Eileen is so much stronger if you're in a melee fight with your bare hands.

"Well in fact, if only Kay can hub, it's better not to join. Why don't we just give up and spill it out with the two of us?...... hehe"

"What, that laugh? Well, that's not bad either...... do I have to sell in with bow skill? And then I hope your Duchy ID works."

Walking lightly, Kay and the others eventually reached a small square where the lion's bronze statue sits.

"That's the Gabrilov Chamber of Commerce."

Kay can't read the Cyrillic script on the sign, but the headquarters of the Gabrilov Chamber of Commerce soon found out. Located directly in front of the bronze statue, this earth-inspired, round roof building in the north. Exceptionally splendid construction compared to the surrounding houses. In front of headquarters, several men from the people of the snowfield surround a small carriage to discuss something.

Eileen looked up at the sky. Evening, the sun is already leaning...

[- Kerstin.]

When Eileen squeaks her fingers properly, the shadow at her feet slightly sags.

"Yeah. Don't be handsome."

"Okay."

Kay and Irene, looking at each other, laughed small.

- Well, shall we negotiate and go?

Towards the Chamber of Commerce headquarters, the two stepped forward.