Volume 1 Chapter 74 Edward The Coachman
The next day, in the afternoon, we gathered in a field along the road, a little away from the gate of Trasverum.
Thanks to Chester arranging the coachman and carriage early on, we were able to depart immediately for Metis.
After discussing with Iria last night, we all agreed that it was crucial to head to the Inferno Pathway as soon as possible and be the first to obtain the final key.
Once decided, there was no time to waste.
Furthermore, we decided not to wait for the adventurer rank promotion due to the conquest of Aquaflow Cavern.
For me and Fatina, whose main purpose is not to earn money or gain fame by completing requests, the rank upgrade doesn't hold much meaning at the moment. It won't be too late to deal with it once everything is settled.
"Then, we're off. Merletta-sama, please take care."
"Thank you, Iria. Please take care as well."
Right in front of us, Iria is saying farewell to Mel.
Only Iria will be temporarily taking a different path from here.
Next to Iria, her blue dragon, the one she always rides, is sitting politely with its front paws aligned, just looking at the two of them.
It's a very strange sight to see a dragon, which is said to be a fearsome monster, obediently following a human. But perhaps this is the effect of Iria's skill, [Dragon Tamer].
Iria and the soldiers she led will temporarily return to the capital.
As for discovering Mel, she seems determined to insist that she was a different person.
Furthermore, according to what she told me, among the soldiers who saw the transformed Allen, there were many who ran away and became missing, as well as those who were completely frightened. It seems that they are in a state where they can't be properly coordinated.
So, in the end, they're giving up on the mission to bring back the princess, but maybe they can convince the king with a reasonable explanation for their return.
In addition, Iria told us to meet up with the soldiers stationed on the road by sending a messenger yesterday. Now we won't get caught even if we move along the road.
It's a relief for both Mel and Fatina because we wouldn't be able to relax if we were constantly chased by soldiers wherever we go.
"Please protect the princess until I return to the castle."
"Yes! Leave it to me, Mel-san!"
Fatina replied cheerfully, and Iria's expression softened into a smile, saying, "You're reliable."
"Well then..."
Iria mounted the dragon and flew off.
She must be heading towards the soldiers' camp, which she said was located a little away from the city.
Mel gazed at the sky where Iria's figure had completely disappeared for a while.
We decided to wait for the carriage again, but...
"Hmm..."
It seems like it should have arrived by now, but the carriage still hasn't shown up.
Chester, the person who arranged it, is starting to look worried and keeps glancing towards Trasverum.
In the meantime, I started thinking about what's to come.
When we reach Metis, we'll need to quickly find the location of the Inferno Pathway and retrieve the final key, the "Inferno Key."
Mel doesn't know much about what the Inferno Pathway looks like either. It seems that the ancient documents only contain a faded map of the interior and some information about the altar needed to destroy the key.
I got a glimpse of the contents of the ancient documents, but they were written in a language that has been lost for a very long time, and neither Fatina nor I could understand it at all.
At this point, only King Cretia and some scholars in the castle can decipher this book.
However, there are certain things that must be done.
If there are no mechanisms like Aquaflow Cavern, we can go straight to the lowest layer and defeat the guardian. We just need to focus on that.
However, there is one concern.
It is that the S-Rank adventurers Balzark and his team, who have been commissioned by the king, are likely to be progressing with the conquest ahead of us.
It has been quite a while since I last saw them.
There are still no rumors of Inferno Pathway being conquered, but if they have already obtained the key, it would be a problem.
Balzark, like Allen, is not the type of person who would easily be persuaded. Moreover, unlike Allen, it's unclear what made him accept the king's request.
And, even though I can't explain why, I can't imagine them struggling in the dungeon like the S-Rank adventurers I have encountered so far.
Simply having a high Level Cap equivalent to S-Rank should not be enough to defeat the key guardian.
I hope it's just a passing thought.
"Um, are you okay?"
Suddenly, I noticed that Fatina was right next to me, looking at me with concern.
"Oh...I was just thinking."
"Umm..."
Fatina speaks again.
"Ark-sama, are you sure you want to leave now?"
"What?"
"...No, it's nothing after all."
She started talking to him, but Fatina turned away from her without saying anything.
Well, I know what she's trying to say.
Most likely, it's Leanne.
Fatina has a better understanding of what Leanne meant to me than Mel or Chester.
Maybe that's why she cares.
She wondered what had become of her.
It seems like I've caused unnecessary worry again.
"I'm sorry."
In a reflex, those words slipped out of my mouth.
Then, Fatina slightly twitched her ears and turned around, awkwardly forming a smile.
It's strange how just these words seemed to convey what I wanted to say.
Maybe it's because we've been together since Voltana. It's a bit surprising that even with few words, it seems to get across.
"Is everything okay with both of you?"
"No, it's about Leanne. We're grateful."
Since Chester, who probably didn't understand our conversation, asked, I explained.
Leanne, who got involved in the key incident, can continue to be safe thanks to Chester.
"Oh, about that. I was actually planning to tell her right before departure, but I have a message from her."
"A message?"
"'I'm sorry for that time. I'll wait for the day we can talk again,' she says."
"...I see."
There were various thoughts.
For me, it's already over, so I don't really mind, but it's not the same for her.
If we can meet safely next time, I thought we should talk.
Also, as childhood friends.
"Ark-san, please focus on resolving the situation."
"Yah, I will also make efforts to finish it as soon as possible."
"Yes, if Chester-san and the others can protect us, I'll feel relieved! I will do my best too!"
"Excuse me? What are you talking about exactly?"
As Fatina spoke with enthusiasm, Mel tilted her head in confusion.
The conversation about Allen and the others being targeted has not been shared with her. Actually, how does Fatina know the contents of my conversation with Chester? She shouldn't have been there...
"...Apart from Ark-san, this matter shouldn't have been discussed with anyone else, right? So why does Fatina-san know?"
Chester noticed something and Fatina froze, her expression turning blank like a statue.
Just as they were having that conversation, I heard a horse neighing from the road.
When I looked, I saw a two-horse carriage veering off the road and heading towards us.
The carriage approached slowly and stopped right beside us.
At the same time, a man stepped down from the driver's seat.
"Edward, you're late! I always tell you not to keep the guests waiting!"
"Don't shout like that. I was only a little late."
The man calmly retorted to Chester, who was frowning in anger with a blank expression.
The driver was a tall, skinny man.
He seemed to be in his thirties.
He had chestnut hair that was so long it covered his ears, and he neatly trimmed his beard on his chin.
But what surprised me the most was his appearance.
The man wasn't dressed like a traveler; he was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with a black vest.
It looked just like Chester, and although it wasn't very clean, it definitely didn't look like someone who was about to embark on a journey for the next few days.
"Is he the coachman who arranged it for us?"
"Yes, this is Edward, the coachman employed by our merchant guild. He may be like this, but his skills are unmistakable. If it's Edward, he will be able to arrive at Metis three or four days earlier than planned."
"...? Is it that fast just driving normally on the highway?"
Mel is surprised when Chester says this as if it were obvious.
I think it's probably too much to say a few days early.
No matter how fast and strong a horse is, it needs time to rest. I have heard that if you overwork your hoirse, they will become tired and unable to run, and they will be more likely to have an accident. If I think about it normally, it's impossible for it to be four days early.
"It means that there are people in this world who can make the impossible possible. Beautiful young lady."
"Hey! Didn't I explain beforehand that this is an important person...?!"
Chester blurted out, and Edward waved his hand dismissively.
"Okay, okay. But you're not lying."
Judging by the fact that he doesn't deny it at all, he seems to be extremely confident in his skills.
"Listen, Edward, do what you're told. I've paid you upfront."
"I've heard that this job is dangerous. On top of that, I was called upon on short notice, so the reward is well worth the effort."
"Yeah... that's enough. Now, everyone, please come on board."
Chester let out a big sigh and motioned for us to get into the carriage.
Mel tries to climb onto the loading platform first.
"Kyaa!"
Suddenly, Mel let out a strange sound and jumped back, holding her skirt in his hands.
"D-did you try to touch me just now!?"
"Come on Edward! Can't you cut it out already?!"
"I just gave her a hand to ride. I don't think it'll make any difference."
"I didn't ask you to do that! Ark-san, I'd like someone else to take over as coachman instead of this person."
"No, if we didn't start now we'll be late. Besides, wouldn't it be the quickest way to get to Metis if we leave it to him?"
"That's true."
It seems like she really doesn't like being touched there.
Well, I guess she doesn't like it.
"Um, uhh..."
Fatina is also getting fed up.
As Chester said, Edward seems like a bit of an odd person. All the members of the Clow Merchant guild we've met so far have been gentlemen, but there are exceptions, it seems.
However, Chester going out of his way to arrange him as our coachman might be proof that he's skilled, even if we take that into account.
The women, especially Mel, were extremely dissatisfied, but after arguing back and forth, they reluctantly got on the carriage.
"Take care."
I shake Chester's outstretched hand.
"Oh, thank you for everything."
"When everything is over, please come to Trasverum again. We'll welcome you grandly."
As I climb onto the carriage, I hear Edward crack the whip on the horse.
The carriage slowly starts moving, and we speedily head down the road.
Soon, Chester's figure gradually became smaller, and the white walls of Trasverum, as well as the buildings, began to recede.
Normally, the vibrations that would usually be transmitted through the cargo bed were hardly felt, but strangely, they were barely noticeable.
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