CH 47.1

「Going to Torquiva will save you.」

I wonder how many days have passed since I went out in a slaver’s caravan.

I grew up in a normal, warm family with a serious father and a generous mother but without a warning, I became deathly ill.

The doctor told us…I only have six months to live.

At that time, I was still thinking it was just a minor cold with a slight cough.

I had no idea that the next day, I would suddenly be taken to a slaver’s caravan.

I understand why my father did it since the slave caravan left for Torquiva the day I was sold.

The next one would come a year later and I would be no longer alive at that time.

I could learn from his quick thinking and decisiveness but I wanted to say a proper goodbye to the neighbors.

「Hey, Opika, it’s time to eat」

「Cough cough! Sorry, I’ll be right there.」

I went to get a pot of wheat porridge from the slaver.

I am the caretaker of the slaves in this carriage.

I heard that there is a great mage in Torquiva who could heal any kind of sickness and injury in an instant.

Since the slaves are going to be sold to such a person, many of us here are unable to walk due to various reasons so they need to be taken care of.

-0-

A few days ago, I asked him “Can you make money like this?” and his reply was “The goal is to help others” but I wonder if that’s true.

The fact that the slavers need to feed the slaves that can’t even get out of the carriage and certainly can’t sell at a high price, I guess they were really doing it to contribute to society.

Slave traders are not well-liked by ordinary people even though their work is absolutely necessary.

Perhaps the mage is doing this to contribute to society too.

「……….Opi……….cha……….thanks…..」

「Just eat slowly.」

Some of the children in the carriage are even too weak to speak but they are doing their best to eat.

Their eyes are glowing like beasts saying “I won’t die”.

Our lives can be saved.

And this caravan is our last hope.

Our carriage full of hope runs through the wilderness.

-0-

When night falls, we cover everyone’s bodies with blankets and close the carriage door to keep the cold out.

Whether it was day or night, there was no one else helping us much less a watchman.

I have to do everything.

Even so, I’ll bring everyone to Torquiva.

-0-

「……」

「…is something wrong?」

A wolfkin child who can’t speak pulled the hem of my pants.

I took the lantern from the ceiling and light it up.

「Something’s coming again?」

The child, whose eyes were tightly closed and body trembling, nodded and pointed west with her right hand. Then sticks out three fingers.

This child probably has a blessing too.

Beast came from the direction she pointed like this before.

I have to get out of the carriage immediately and call out to the adventurers guarding the caravan.

「Adventurers!! Anyone there! Cough! Cough!」

「What is it!」

I heard the adventurer uncle’s voice from a distant campfire.

I had to get him ready as soon as possible because those might be faster than expected.

「Incoming enemy! Cough!」

「On my way!」

The reply was already getting closer to the carriage.

The one that appeared out of the darkness was a boarkin.

「Goat girl, is it that kid again? Which way? West?」

「North is that way so on that side! Three of them!」

「Excuse me!」

As I pointed to the west, the boarkin adventurer disappeared into the darkness.

The reason I know which direction is which is because I have a blessing too.

I haven’t looked it up but it’s probably the divine blessing of the bird god.

It’s a blessing that only sailors need but it’s been surprisingly useful since I came to this caravan.

The downside is that, at night, I can’t see in the dark very well.

-0-

I can see fires showing up on the west side of the caravan.

I could also hear the sound of irons bumping with each other along with footsteps. The adventurers must have grouped up.