CH 17

Genealogy of a Fallen Empire

After preparing for the trip in the new commercial district, the sun was already starting to set. We then went to the stables in the northeast area and reserved a conestoga wagon as planned.

The conestoga is a large, multi-horse carriage characterized by its wide wheels, but we chose a custom-made single-horse carriage. Although it cannot cross large rivers, it is a type favored by traveling merchants as the cover can be removed and the amount of luggage can be adjusted for the journey.

Ignoring the novelist who criticized the variations in the color and pattern of the cover, I called out to the familiar horse owner. He was an old acquaintance from the mercenary days and greeted me with his usual friendly smile.

“Hey, Sword. That was a disaster!”

He was probably talking about the dissolution of the mercenary union.

I replied with a wry smile. “I feel like I’ve used up a lifetime’s worth of disasters from now on.”

“Hahaha. But from the looks of it, you seem to have found a new job too. That’s good to hear.”

Feeling something off about the horse owner’s words, I furrowed my brow and asked. “You too?”

“Yeah. Gold came to rent a carriage the day before yesterday. He rented a caravan several times larger than the one you chose. And not just one, but three. Is he planning to start as a traveling merchant?”

Although it was hard to believe, he added cheerfully.

With a bad feeling, I twitched the corner of my mouth. What kind of job did that bastard take on? He wouldn’t get involved with my job, would he?

While feeling a strange anxiety, I looked up at the sky of the city gate, which was already darkening. The cloudless sunset sky seemed ominously like the death throes of the world.

We depart tomorrow.

The only consolation was that the weather was expected to be clear.