Flavor of Magic

Escape the King's Capital

After breakfast at the inn, I left and headed to the carriage boarding stop. I checked the price and departure time: one gold coin for the trip, which would take about four days to reach the border city of Kelaria.

With some time before departure, I decided to procure four days’ worth of food and a weapon, just in case. Using Net Super or my item box in public wasn’t a good idea, so I bought a leather bag and filled it with water, dried meat, black bread, and a slightly larger knife. Now I am ready.

The passengers in the carriage included a family of four, an elderly pedestrian, a young couple with their two children, and a woman in her mid-30s. There were also four adventurers escorting the convoy.

After we departed, I struck up a conversation with the elderly man sitting next to me.

“What are you going to sell in Kelaria?” I asked, trying to make conversation.

“Oh, I got some soap from a certain handler. I plan to sell it to someone I know in Kelaria.”

Soap. So, they have it in this world too. When I inquired further, I found out that soap is a luxury item used mainly by nobles. One bar of soap sells for about three silver coins.

We talked more, and I mentioned the item box skill in passing. The old man explained that those with item box skills are often hired by nobles or large merchant guilds. Apparently, about one in a thousand people possess this skill, but its capacity depends on their magical ability. Nobles and guilds only hired those with large-capacity item boxes.

“No matter how small the capacity, they can still hold about three times as much as the average carrier,” the old man said with a laugh. “So, I’m just envious of anyone with an item box skill.”

I realized that if my item box had a smaller capacity, I might be able to use it without drawing too much attention.

“If you’re going to be a merchant, you can be very successful with appraisal skills,” I mentioned, trying to steer the conversation towards my other skill.

“Ah, that’s a dream for any merchant,” he replied. “But appraisal skills are as rare as those summoned heroes from other worlds. Appraisal skills are what every merchant dreams of having. Even without appraisal skills, I wish magical appraisal tools were common. They’re so rare and expensive, only countries or guilds can afford them.”

It was good to know that appraisal skills were rare and valuable, but also that they had magical appraisal tools, even if they were scarce.

As we continued talking, I found out that the old man was also heading to the neighboring country.

“This country is getting worse,” he whispered. “I don’t have a family, so I’m lucky I can leave early. Rumor has it, the border might be sealed off soon.”

A border blockades? This country was truly in bad shape. I was glad I decided to leave when I did.

On the road to Kelaria, goblins and werewolf-like demons appeared (it really was a fantasy world of swords and magic), but the escort adventurers fought them off bravely, and our carriage continued safely.

Upon arriving in Kelaria, I headed to the boarding carriage stop that the old pedestrian had mentioned.

“You’re lying…” I muttered to myself, staring at the sign that read, “Stopping boarding carriage service.”

What do you mean it stopped?

The old man had mentioned that the border might be blocked soon, but could this be it? Yet, if they were planning to seal the border, the city wouldn’t seem so calm, would it? For now, I needed to gather information.

With my stomach rumbling, I decided to head into a dining room filled with adventurers. I took a seat at the counter and struck up a conversation with a pair of adventurers sitting next to me.

“May I have a word?” I asked politely.

“Sure, what can we do for you?” one of them replied.

“Actually, I just arrived in this city and was hoping to learn more about it…”

I called the clerk and ordered ale for the two adventurers. Once the drinks arrived, they started sharing information in a good mood.

“I see. The suspension of the boarding carriage is to prevent a population outflow outside the country,” I said, trying to piece together the situation.

“Exactly,” one adventurer said. “If the population decreases, the number of soldiers and tax revenues will drop too. It’s about controlling the flow of people. But yeah, it could lead to a border blockade one of these days. The Kingdom of Mystara might tear up the war even though this country is already fighting with the Shadowlands to the north.”

“So, it’s only a matter of time before there’s a full-blown war,” the other adventurer added, clearly enjoying the ale.

The Shadowlands are to the north of this country, and Mystara lies to the west. The Kingdom I’m aiming for, Everlight, is to the southeast.

“We’re planning to leave this country soon too,” one adventurer said. “Better to be hunting beasts than caught up in a war. You should get out of here early.”

I nodded. Leaving this country was my priority, even if it meant dealing with stronger creatures on the road. This was becoming troublesome, but seeing the adventurers’ confidence gave me hope.

Maybe I should ask the Adventurer’s Guild for help. It would cost money, but I had no choice if I wanted to leave before the border was sealed.

With a firm resolve, I decided to ask the Adventurer’s Guild to escort me to Everlight.

The next morning, I headed to the Adventurer Guild to make a request for an escort to Everlight. Despite the early hour, the building was already bustling with adventurers.

As I waited in line, I noticed some of the adventurers eyeing me curiously. Trying not to feel out of place, I kept my composure, knowing that I was a client here, just like anyone else. Hopefully, that will keep any trouble at bay.

Finally, my turn came.

“Excuse me, I’d like to make a request,” I said to the receptionist.

“Of course. What kind of request would that be?” she asked.

“I need an escort to the Kingdom of Everlight. And I don’t have a carriage, so it would be on foot… This is my first time making a request to the Adventurer Guild. What would be the reward for such request?”

The receptionist considered this for a moment. “An escort duty on foot, right? For that, you’d need at least C-rank adventurers. Given the distance, it would take a few days, so the cost would be around seven gold coins.”

Seven gold coins. That was a hefty amount. The receptionist must have noticed my hesitation because she continued, “However, with the suspension of the boarding carriage service, we’re seeing an increase in requests for escorts. Considering that, I’d recommend budgeting for eight gold coins.”

Eight gold coins. It was a painful amount, but my safety was paramount.

“Okay, I’ll agree with eight gold coins. And can I provide meals for the journey?” I offered, hoping to lighten the load a bit.

The receptionist smiled. “That sounds reasonable. Thank you.”

I handed over the eight gold coins and left the Adventurer Guild, feeling both relieved and anxious.

The next day, the Adventurer Guild contacted me, saying they had found an adventurer party willing to take my request. I headed over, hopeful that I could leave this country soon.

I was introduced to the C-rank Adventure Party, Iron Will.

“I’m Werner, the leader of Iron Will. Pleased to meet you,” the leader said.

“I’m Riri. Nice to meet you,” I replied, only giving my first name to avoid attracting unnecessary attention.

Werner was an imposing figure, standing at about 190 cm with a sturdy build and numerous scars on his arms. He carried a large shield and a sword, exuding the aura of a seasoned adventurer.

The rest of the party consisted of Vincent, a swordsman with leather armor and a long sword; Rita, a young girl with daggers; Ramon, a wizard-like figure with gray hair; and Franca, a healer in monastic clothing. The party seemed well-balanced and capable.

After discussing the details with Werner, we agreed to depart the next morning at 7 a.m. in front of the Adventurer Guild.

With the arrangements made, I spent the rest of the day preparing for the journey. I bought a cloak for warmth and some basic dishes from a grocery store. As I browsed, I found something intriguing-a magic stove. However, it was pricey, and I had a thought: could I buy a cassette stove from my Online Supermarket and pass it off as a magic stove?

Excited by the idea, I hurried back to the inn and began shopping through the Online Supermarket. I purchased a cassette stove, gas canisters, a frying pan, a knife, a cutting board, and various ingredients-enough for myself and the five adventurers. I bought cheese, ham, sausages, eggs, potatoes, carrots, onions, and other vegetables. I also stocked up on salt, soup stock, and other condiments.

I spent a little more than two gold coins, leaving me with eight gold coins and some silver, copper, and iron coins.

My funds were running low, but this was a necessary expense for my safety. Once I reached Everlight, I could sign up with the Merchant Guild and start selling items to make money.

For now, I had to focus on the journey ahead and make sure I got to Everlight safely. If it’s for a safe and secure life, I’ll do my best.