Chapter 69

Chapter 69

“Hiiiiing!”

Early morning.

A gray elf in a smart uniform pulled up a carriage in front of the inn.

“This carriage is for the runner-up… Jae? And this too.”

He also brought out a small box from the driver’s seat.

“Here is your prize money: 3,000 gold. Once again, congratulations on your second-place finish.”

The gray elf bowed with dignified grace before departing.

The second-place prize: a carriage and 3,000 gold coins.

Compared to first place, it might seem modest, but for Dojae, it was nothing less than a fitting gift.

“Wow! A carriage! Does this mean we don’t have to walk anymore?”

Sari asked excitedly, examining the carriage from top to bottom.

The Kingdom of Tubalyn lay directly beneath the mountain range, making walking the only option for travel. But now, they could use the roads paved by humans. A carriage was one of the essential means of transportation Dojae needed.

“I don’t know how far the leaves have flown, but we’ll have to hurry a bit from now on.”

Four days had passed since leaving the Kingdom of Tubalyn.

Already nine days had passed.

Since it was unclear how long it would take to find the remaining leaves, they needed to move a bit more swiftly.

“Anyone know how to drive a carriage? No, a Grey Elf or a Dwarf?”

Dori Dori-.

No, no-.

Sari and Osun shook their heads and laughed.

Dojae realized his mistake.

Even if there was a carriage, there was no one who actually knew how to drive it.

‘I didn’t think about a coachman… I’ll have to ask Salta at the banquet!’

Yesterday, he had been invited to the royal palace banquet.

A grand party was held for the participants who had advanced to the finals.

Dojae hadn’t particularly wanted to go, but the gray elf who brought the invitation had pleaded so earnestly that he had no choice but to attend.

Of course, a party hosted by a strange Grey Elf couldn’t be enjoyable, so he merely sampled the exotic foods and chatted with the other participants.

Everyone found Dojae, in his high elf form without his robe, a bit intriguing, but they didn’t show any aversion.

During their conversation, they mentioned that Salta and Catania would be traveling on horseback, but Dojae had completely forgotten about the carriage.

“We need to find a coachman first.”

He needed to hire a driver to handle the carriage for the remainder of their journey.

Fortunately, his finances were ample thanks to the prize money he’d received and the money from selling cup noodles.

But then, the carriage door opened by itself.

Squeak-.

“I know how to drive a carriage. Heh heh heh.”

Stepping out of the carriage was Tahul.

It was Tahul, the perverted old man gray elf who had placed third in the tournament.

“Dojae, what’s going on? Why is that old man here?”

“Yeah… I’m wondering that too.”

Dojae looked at Tahul.

He still had that half-closed eyes and an enigmatic smile.

“Why are you riding in my carriage?”

“Couldn’t you give a ride to a weak old man passing by?”

Tahul said this, shifting his gaze to Sari.

He looked at Sari slyly with his eyes slightly open.

Sari shivered violently and clung to Dojae.

“Dojae, that old man is strange…”

Dojae hid Sari behind his back and said.

“Get down. I can’t tolerate him looking at Sari with those sinister eyes either.”

“Oh dear, my apologies. It’s just a habit.”

Tahul stepped down from the carriage and slowly walked over to the driver’s seat.

Then, wouldn’t you know it, he naturally reached for the reins.

“No, I said leave my carriage…”

“Hey there, young man.”

Tahul’s call startled Dojae and Sari.

Besides Salta and Catania, no other Grey Elf knew Dojae was human.

“Actually, you see, I overheard the two of you talking the day before yesterday.”

“What conversation? Dojae, did you tell someone else you’re human?”

“Probably when you were helping Salta. I see you enjoy spying.”

“Heh heh, spying? How could I just pass by when you’re radiating such overwhelming mana?”

Tahul let out a bitter laugh.

Dojae swallowed hard and asked.

“So, what do you want? It doesn’t matter to me if you go around shouting that I’m human.”

“Right. Truthfully, whether you’re human or not doesn’t matter to me. Like I said, I just want a ride to where I’m going. And that place is an ancient site.”

“An ancient site?”

Sari asked, intrigued.

The word “ruins” seemed to activate her adventure radar.

“There are ruins left behind by the Great Ones. I’d like a ride there.”

“Great beings… Are you saying the ruins of those beings I’ve only read about in books still remain?”

“Hehehe. You seem interested, young lady?”

“Yes! Totally! Dojae… Let’s take that old man with us!”

Dojae let out a hollow laugh and looked at Sari.

He found it absurd that Sari was suggesting they go with the old man who had just been staring at him so sinisterly.

“Sari, just a moment ago…”

“Dojae… It’s not just any ruins. These are the ruins of a great being. Think about it—how vast and beautiful they must be? Structures beyond our wildest imagination, soaring skyward.”

“You know a thing or two about romance, young lady. You can tell just by looking at the sacred objects or statues left behind by those great beings. But for some reason, we’ve never been able to discover the ruins where they actually lived. I’ve finally found those ruins, and I’m taking you there.”

“Dojae… Look. Doesn’t your heart start racing?”

Sari clenched her fist.

Her eyes shone brightly.

“Still, we can’t. We might not have enough time.”

“Where is your next destination?”

Dojae pulled a twig from inside his robe.

The branch pointed northeast.

“We’ll keep going straight this way.”

“Hoooh. That’s perfect! I’m heading that way too. What do you say? I’m actually quite skilled with horses, you know.”

“We can find a coachman. Taking a pervert like you along…”

“Heh heh, you’re a thoughtful young man. From now on, I won’t show this lady the slightest bit of interest. Is that alright? And seeing this, might you perhaps develop an interest?”

Tahul pulled something out from within his robes.

It was a piece of a wooden carving.

“What is that?”

“This is a piece of the mask worn by a great being.”

Tahul held the fragment up and pressed it against his face.

Then, the complete form of the fragment appeared in Dojae’s mind.

“From the temple of Ellatra…”

“Oh! That’s right! It’s a fragment of the mask worn by the great being, Lady Elatra.”

“Hmm…”

If he went to Elatra’s ruins, he might learn more about her.

Dojae felt a slight spark of interest.

“Very well. I’ll take the carriage. But I might not be able to take you wherever you wish. I have priorities above ruins.”

“That alone is enough for me.”

Squeak-.

Dojae opened the carriage door.

“Then let’s depart immediately.”

“Yes! Adventure!”

“Master, I’ll take the driver’s seat!”

“Heh heh, what lively companions.”

Having concluded the tournament in the Kingdom of Tuvarn, they headed toward their next destination.

Each harbored their own expectations about what might unfold next.

***

Dojae rode in the carriage along the road that stretched from the kingdom.

They had traveled all day, yet they hadn’t covered as much ground as Dojae had anticipated.

Since the carriage was pulled by horses, they had to stop frequently to rest, and sitting for long periods was impossible.

No matter how plush the cushion, the jolting of the wheels transmitted directly to his rear, and that fatigue proved quite grueling for Dojae, who was riding in a carriage for the first time.

“Whoa!”

Tahul suddenly halted the horses.

Sari opened the front window of the carriage and asked.

“What is it?”

Tahul looked back and said.

“Let’s take a break here for a bit.”

Tahul pointed to the sky.

The sun was setting beyond the mountains, and a crimson sunset spread across the sky.

“All right.”

Dojae stepped out of the carriage and stretched his back.

Then, looking at the carriage, he realized just how great a discipline science truly was.

“We just had jerky for lunch, so why not show off your skills? Dojae, I’m counting on you!”

Sari rolled up her sleeves and said to Dojae.

Dojae nodded and pulled out ingredients and cooking tools from his pocket dimension.

Tahul watched the scene intently but showed no particular reaction.

“It’ll get chilly soon, so I thought I’d make a warm stew and some roast chicken to go with the bread we bought earlier. While I prepare the ingredients, Osun! Could you tend the fire?”

At Sari’s words, Osun left to gather wood.

Dojae also gathered suitable rocks to create a circular seating area.

Whoosh!

Osun used a lighter to set the dry leaves he gathered on the branches he collected, using them as kindling. The fire quickly roared to life.

Once Dojae placed the round pot he’d retrieved from his pocket dimension atop it, Sari added various vegetables and meat, then poured in water until it was full.

The stew soon began to boil vigorously. Meanwhile, Sari tossed the chopped chicken pieces in a sauce she had made herself.

“Osun, move the stew pot to the side. I’m going to grill the chicken now.”

Osun set the pot down firmly to the side, and Sari placed an iron skillet over the fire.

She placed the chicken pieces one by one into the pan. The sizzling sound and the spicy, savory aroma filled Dojae’s nose and ears.

“Alright, shall we all eat?”

As if waiting for Sari’s signal, everyone eagerly reached for the stew and grilled chicken.

“Mmm! Delicious! So good!”

“Sari, this is seriously good! It hits the spot for me.”

The food Sari made was just right for Dojae’s taste, with no unpleasant aftertaste.

The stew was a bit bland but had the clean flavor of pork soup, while the grilled chicken had the perfect balance of spicy and sweet, like seasoned chicken.

“Heh heh, to be able to eat food like this out in the middle of nowhere. This is quite the feast.”

Tahul also marveled at Sari’s cooking and enjoyed it thoroughly.

“A cold beer would be nice right about now. Don’t you think so, boss?”

“Huh, so this dwarf fellow knows a thing or two?”

“Hey there, old gray elf. This one goes by the name of Osun Ironhammer!”

“A dwarf is a dwarf. Why get so hung up on a name?”

“This old codger?”

Osun abruptly stood up from his seat, mid-meal.

Even before this, the sound of the two bickering had been loud enough to hear throughout the carriage ride, and Osun could no longer stand it.

“Osun, sit down. And you, old man, please address me properly by my name. Only then can I treat you with the respect you deserve.”

Dojae mediated between Osun and Tahul, pulling a small oak barrel from his pocket.

“Wow! Beer! Dojae, when did you buy this beer?”

“The day I drank with Salta and Catania.”

“Huh? Why didn’t I know about that?”

“Because you were completely out of it that day…”

Dojae passed around the beer mugs he’d gotten along with the beer.

“Sir, what was your purpose in participating in the tournament?”

Dojae asked Tahul.

Since they were traveling together anyway, they needed to know more about each other.

What exactly were his intentions? Why had he approached Dojae of all people?

“It’s not exactly an interesting story. What good would it do you to hear an old man’s tale?”

“Tell me. Depending on what you say, I might help you, or I might just leave you here.”

Tahul narrowed his eyes and looked at Dojae.

“Oh, you rotten bastard. Leaving me here like this is practically telling me to die, isn’t it?”

“With your skills, old man, do you really think I’d die?”

“Tsk tsk, I see. Well, it’s not like you have some grand hidden agenda or anything.”

Tahul downed his beer in one gulp and began speaking.