Chapter 24 A Peaceful Journey
The nearest lava zone is an active volcano southeast of the capital, not too far down.
But you don't need to get close to the lava itself if you're just hunting salamanders, so it's not that tough a job.
It's just that not many people come down here, and there aren't many collectors who want the materials, so hunters don't go after them much. Plus, the transport cost to the capital makes the prices go up, that's all.
Anyway, first we need to head to the nearest town.
"If we don't have an Arcane Car, it's gonna take a while, huh?"
Even if you drive an Arcane Car non-stop during the day, it's still a distance that takes a day and a half. On foot or by horse carriage, it might take nearly half a month.
If my grandfather's connections were still around, I could've easily borrowed an Arcane Car ten years ago.
"Now that I think about it, where did you borrow this car from? And how can you drive it?"
As we passed about a third of our planned route, the road got worse, and the car shook with a clatter. Yuruyana straightened the cushion on his seat and asked.
"I got it through Thomas's connections. By the way, there aren't many Arcane Machines I can't handle."
Not just mobile transport Arcane Cars, but also construction vehicles and small machines equipped with Arcane Art mechanisms need special permits if they're not everyday tools or require practical experience.
During my time in the military, I pretty much got all the permits I needed, thanks to the senior Arcane Engineers who found it funny to teach a guy who wanted to be an Arcanist but loved touching machines.
"Military stuff? Is it okay to lend it to a civilian?"
"It's fine because Thomas said so. ...This type is just a bit sturdier, but it doesn't look that different from a regular car, so I don't think it'll be obvious."
I really think it's not okay, but I've decided to trust my junior on the paperwork and not think too much about it.
It's a rule to pull over and rest for a while every few hours during long drives.
Since we're not on a special forced march, pushing too hard would only cause accidents, and it's fine as long as we reach a lodging place by nightfall.
"Ughhhh!"
Yuruyana took a break for the hundredth time, in a big empty farm place, and stretched, then let out a loud, high-pitched yell.
I get it, you wanna yell when you've been squished up in a small space for a long time.
"Being in the car with you is so tiring!"
"I told you, you didn't have to come."
I sighed, stretching my body like Yuruyana.
If Yuruyana stayed home, I wouldn't have to close the shop.
"But, Tsukumo might have a sudden attack. And I wanna see that big magic Sesto was talking about."
So, the second one is 80 percent of the reason, huh.
Then I thought,
"Also, there are cheap medicine ingredients to buy there."
My health was ten percent, I wanted to see magic 40 percent, and buying ingredients was 50 percent.
I still have a poor understanding of Yuruyana's personality, I thought. Then, that ball of curiosity and business sense suddenly pointed far away.
"Look! That field over there is full of medicine stuff!"
"Those messy red leaves?"
I made a shade with my hand, staring at the long line of red-purple fields.
"They help with your stomach, fever, coughs... They're useful leaves. They smell good, so we make tea and food with them."
"Oh..."
I never cared what plants were in the fields I passed, but Yuruyana said that most of the medicine ingredients are grown by farmers like this, then bought by wholesalers like Mr. Junce.
They're surprisingly close to us.
"If you're interested, I'll make you tea with those leaves. We're resting for a bit, right?"
"You can make it right away?"
"Easy, if you have hot water."
Before I could say anything, Yuruyana quickly got out a portable stove, a pot, and a thermos, and started boiling water.While waiting, he glanced at me.
"Can you boil water with magic?"
"I can. But I use a stove."
"I figured."
Nobles from the Arcanist class show off by making tea with magic.
I think it's a waste of magic power, but like Sesto said, there aren't many chances to show off magic in daily life, so it's probably okay to waste a little.
"I can do anything, huh? Maybe I should study to be an Arcanist too. Flashy magic sounds kinda fun."
"To be honest, if it's just a salamander, I wouldn't use such big magic."
"Really?"
"Well, it's prey that local hunters can take care of."
Usually, it's the hunters living in each area who take down beasts.
The army or court Arcanists only step in when a large species invades populated areas, when there's a huge outbreak that can't be contained, or when a particularly dangerous type shows up.
"Oh, that's a shame."
I wonder when I last used that high-risk, high-power magic they talk about.
It's sorry to say to Yuruyana, who's looking forward to it, but I'd rather not use it if I can help it.
"Yes, I did it."
While we were chatting about this and that, a steaming cup filled with reddish-brown liquid was set before us.
"Wow, it has a refreshing smell."
"I'm glad you can smell it. This one turns an even prettier color if you add lemon."
"Huh..."
"It's also good as a cold juice with sugar."
After hanging out at the Arcane Carriage, drinking tea, and listening to trivia while enjoying the peaceful scenery, we continued our cheerful journey.
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