When, half an hour later, someone knocked on the door, I was pretty much ready for anything. But, either because of my prayers or the number of surprises surpassing the hourly limit, this time, it wasn't anything unsettling or strange. It was a good thing even.

Indeed, what else but good was when someone came to give you money? And one that you earned yourself?

The one to arrive was Falko, again. This time to give me ten silver crowns, the bounty for the main bandit that had assaulted Kierra and Angelique.

"I only found when I returned to the Guild that they already turned it in, so here you go." With that as the only explanation and advising that I should be ready to leave in half an hour more, Falko left.

***

"Angelique, I am not sure if I will have the chance to stop by Xiela's store to say goodbye to Kierra. So, if I don't, please tell her I'm sorry for it." Actually, I should be able to go and do it right now. But with Falko's previously pointing at the secrecy of the matter and the small amount of time remaining before leaving, I decided to avoid risking it.

"Mmm, don't worry. Kierra will understand. It's not a long time either." Angelique dismissed my apologies and added, "Don't worry about us either. Nothing will happen to us these days you are out."

"Well, well. I trust that it will not, and for anything, you can go with Falko or the Guild." I was planning to travel half of the world, or at least I was supposed to if I planned to work on Sepyre's faith, and I would not have the girls follow me forever, right? This time, it was the perfect opportunity to check how well they fare independently. At the same time, between the Guild and the Hounds, I was sure that nothing short of the destruction of the entire world would affect the girls in any way.

"Oh, and before I forget-" I put the ten silver coins I was still holding on the table, "-I will leave this for you two. I know that you now work, but who knows? And if by some chance you need more money, ask Falko to take out from my funds, agreed?"

"Mmm, I will." Angelique quickly nodded, her short bangs making nearly a full circle.

"First, that was too quick, and second, I mean it. Even if Kierra does not agrees or wants to use my money, do it." Aware of the older girl's character, I decided to get Angelique to agree to it, knowing that she would not retract later.

"Mmm." This nod was slower and more natural, so I decided we had agreed.

***

Half an hour later, hearing the sound of wooden wheels, I quickly came down. All of my things were on me, always, so the only preparations I had to finish before leaving was to wear the combat attire. And while I first forgot about it, after all [Inventory] is too damn useful, I had to strap the sword on my belt.

I heard the sound of a wagon approaching, something unexpected as we did not hear much noise from the outside, and there were definitively wagons going in and out of the Guild. But, the time was right, so I did not think much about it.

After shouting a goodbye, as Angelique went upstairs for some reason, I left the house. I wasn't mistaken, as when I opened it Falko was about to knock on the door.

"Ready?" Seeing me, he asked right away, and I confirmed with a nod.

"Good, get on the coach seat." He acknowledged the nod and pointed behind himself towards what I would be using for this second, travel between cities on Lieade.

_______

Wow, that part sounds cringy even now that I'm recording, but there was no way to call the thing a wagon. Neither it could be called a carriage or anything else I could think or recall.

The closest thing I could call it would be a war wagon, like the ones attributed sometimes to the Koreans on Earth.

It was walled and roofed, with a pair of windows on each side and rear. On closer examination, it also revealed the lack of visible doors.

Measuring about six meters long and two wide and made from dark wood with iron reinforcements and nails, it was definitively more massive and robust than the Guild's ones. Even the meter-tall wheels had iron lines, probably the reason for the louder and slightly different sound that made me come out.

Four brown, common-looking horses, connected with a central pole and leather reins, pulled the wagon.

On the front side, two actual seats with cushions and backrests, and on one of them, I saw Aison, who was holding the reins.

_______

"And the Craftmaster?" After finding a step on the side, I used it to get on the nearly two-meter high seat and asked my sword's instructor, also [Royal Hound], Aison.

"Inside, there is no need to show him to everyone, is it?" Probably hearing me, it was Falko the one to answer.

"Oh, got it. So, we go out of the city now?"

"Why? Did you need something?" Falko questioned while starting to walk on the left, near me.

"I did not say goodbye to Kierra, as she's at work. But we will pass nearby, so..."

"It's better that you don't. Remember that you are not Lindar but Rador from the Vruz' Guild. Also, for the fuck sake, where's your badge?!" Aison took the turn to speak. And he faked a sigh after pointing out the lack of a badge.

"Sorry, sorry. [Storage]." Damn, I was sure I did not forget anything. Perfect memory, my ass. It only works when you know what the hell to remember, hah.

"Mmm, it will be better like that. And don't worry, I'll look after the two." Falko added.

***

I am unsure what kind of deals and orders were at play, but when our wagon reached the gates, the guards did not even approach. So not only were we let out without any checks, but we didn't even stop.

With a good luck shout from Falko, we began our journey. One planned as a simple errand, but it ended up being something different.

That I had not yet seen Weral since we started the journey was odd, but after passing the black towers of Tessaway Fort, the reason for his absence, or better said, lack of appearance, was made apparent.

Without sound, two of the boards between the seats slid to the sides, and Weral's head poked out of the newly revealed opening.

"Hrrr, where are we?" Groaning and rubbing his eyes, he asked in a coarse voice.

In any fantasy, dwarves drank and drank a lot. Still, I had never read or heard about hungover dwarves, and well, here I have Weral. Reddened and half-closed eyes, messy hair, and breath were enough to make anyone aware of his state.

Weral disappeared back inside, probably to continue recovering after Aison grumbled something about the lines, "Tessaway, we left the city an hour ago."

"Huh, unexpected for someone to get so drunk if leaving the city." I wasn't very well acquainted with the dwarf, but I doubted that someone with a rank and one that had traveled far away would be like that.

Aison nodded to my observation before explaining, "Mmm, I can confirm it wasn't in his plans. Or he thought that as a dwarf, just a few glasses would not affect him at all."

"A few glasses? Just what did he drink?" Again, I am in the dark about dwarves and their relation to drinks, but a few glasses were not enough to make anyone fall, at least if it were the typical pretty light alcohols of the taverns.

"[Ghostrad Brew], a creation of a friend." Aison named a drink I had never heard about, but considering that [Ghostr] was a purple berry-like fruit I had seen a couple of times, I suppose the name came from that.

"But you know..." A couple of minutes Aison smiled as he started a phrase.

"Hmm?"

"It can be now renamed to [Dwarf Knocker]." He laughed, even waving backward, towards the wagon, where Weral started snoring.

***

About two hours later, we stopped by the well where we had slept for the last time with Reuben's caravan. Weral was still asleep inside, and Aison suggested we let him sleep it off, "It's better like that, or he will be suffering from the after-effects. Before, it took me an entire day to feel better after two glasses, and the dwarf finished six."

It seemed that Aison was very used to traveling in a small group, as, by the moment I finished filling and hauling four buckets of water for the horses, he had already served a light meal. And I can not help but ask myself, where did the stuff come from? He did not open the wagon after all!

"We will cook in the evening, but for now, we have this." On a board that extended from the right side of the wagon, Aison set up some cold meat, a bowl with grilled leeks, two big bread loaves, and a small barrel (about a gallon) with what turned out to be a very light fruit wine.

"My friend gave us some treats for the travel. This one is [Infrus Counter], light, refreshing, and you can drink the barrel without getting drunk." Aison explained as he produced two wooden cups from a sack near his feet that I had not seen until approaching. So he had it all there? But where was the bag before?

Well, what I can say, the drink was nice enough, and Aison had not lied about the refreshing part.

***

After finishing the food, although the stop mostly was for the horses to drink, we left the well and continued our way eastwards. From Aison's words, we would continue until nightfall, and thanks to our speed, we should be able to reach the [Crossroads].

At some point, I decided to ask something that bugged me. Why and how did the Guild and Weral accept the [Hounds] butting in? Or did they not know about Aison's actual affiliation?

"It is not something that you tell everyone about, but the Maester, Falko, and a couple of others do know. As for accepting well, let's say there were benefits involved." Aison answered without appearing surprised.

"I see. And can you share what kind of benefits are enough to convince the Guild and a dwarf to disclose what was meant to be secret?" Actually, what bugged me was him knowing our destination and my orders. Otherwise, he would not have known about my temporary identity.

The logical one, which Aison pointed out first, was the added protection. Not only he was a top-tier warrior himself, but the [Hounds] counted with members in all the cities and even a couple of towns along the way.

He would also make sure that no one asked questions later when I left Chubu on the way back.

He also mentioned another one, but it sounded nearly like a joke, "I also provide the drinks for the entire travel! Who could say no?

A few minutes later, I inwardly found yet another reason. Aison drove the wagon, and he would do so on the way back as well, hopefully. After all, I had no idea of how to do it! Note to self, actually learn how to.

"Oh, and I nearly forgot that for Weral, the drinks were just half the reason. There is another added benefit, but for now, I will leave it at that." Aison suddenly added a cryptic phrase, and in response to my skeptic glance, he added yet another, "You will see by yourself by nightfall."

And so, our journey to Chubu began...