The next day.
We exchanged brief farewells with the soldiers we had spent the past few days with and left Mondark.
Contrary to our worries, no one stopped us.
The city was still in disarray.
Barricades had been erected here and there, and the sight of people repairing the broken walls still carried the lingering aftermath of battle.
As if it was not yet over, tension wrapped around the city.
We climbed into a carriage heading west.
The horse Silen had somehow procured looked rather old, but it seemed we would be able to use it without trouble for the time being.
“Where did you get an old thing like that?”
“This was the best I could do with the money I had.”
“Hey, you got paid this time too. Where did all that go?”
“I have to get equipment! I can’t keep walking around in these rags forever.”
“Still, a horse is more important than equipment right now.”
“That’s why I got a horse, at least. We’re not walking, are we?”
As if aggrieved, Silen gripped the reins again.
The horse, lifting its head slowly as it plodded along, was certainly not fast.
But fortunately, it did not seem about to stop or collapse.
“Does it at least have a name?”
“Ah, yes. They said it’s called ‘Dor.’ The previous owner called it that, so I just went along with it.”
“Dor, huh... The name’s decent.”
When Baldik, sitting inside the carriage, waved the bottle of liquor he was holding toward Dor, the horse briefly folded its ears back, then ignored him and kept walking.
“Its personality’s gentle too. Better than you, Silen.”
“...”
Everyone laughed and traded jokes, but the fact that we were leaving the city brought an unspoken tension with it.
The dirt road beyond the gates, the sight of the fortress growing smaller and smaller, and the uncertainty of what kind of commission might be waiting for us ahead.
For now, everything was still unknown.
“By the way, what are you doing?”
“This?”
Aileen asked as she looked at the droplet of water floating above my hand.
“Training. I don’t know if it’ll be effective, though.”
Before, I lacked the mana to have any leeway or preparation.
But now it was different.
As my level rose, my mana had increased, and above all, I had become painfully aware of my own shortcomings.
I did not know whether this would yield any definite results.
This was not a game, but reality.
Well, if I kept at it, I would improve.
When I practiced alone, I discovered all sorts of things.
First, the maximum distance from which I could draw up water was roughly ten meters.
Of course, I had not been able to handle that range from the beginning. It seemed to vary depending on the amount of mana and my proficiency.
Next was the range of what qualified as “water.”
Just because it contained moisture did not mean I could only manipulate clean water.
Water that was somewhat dirty, or even weak liquor, could be handled without much trouble.
But there were also things that did not work. The prime example was blood.
Blood did not work.
I had thought it might be possible since it looked similar in color, but when I tried, my magic had no effect at all.
Perhaps it was because of the many components mixed into blood, or perhaps it had some property different from water.
I still did not know for certain.
What was certain was that blood did not move freely like water.
So magic that used an opponent’s blood during battle was impossible from the start.
If it had been possible, it would have been quite a terrifying ability.
Still, I believed each and every sensation I felt through repetition had meaning.
The magic of this world was not simply memorized; it was understood and embodied.
“It’s amazing no matter how many times I see it.”
“It is amazing.”
Baldik nodded from beside me as well.
Truthfully, I felt the same.
Even as I used it, not knowing the principle behind it gave me a strangely odd feeling.
I also wondered what it would have been like if I had learned more, and sooner.
But well, what could I do?
I had no choice but to use what I had been given.
Lately, I often found myself wanting to meet proper mages.
How real mages acted, and in what way they used magic.
There was not just one or two things I was curious about.
But reality was not so forgiving.
That matter, that opportunity... for some reason, it felt as though they were growing farther and farther away.
Drip.
“Ah.”
Lost in other thoughts, I let the droplet slip from my fingertips.
Considering it had moved faster than before, it was not as if there had been no improvement at all.
Even if it was not a result that stood out immediately, it felt as though something was accumulating.
If I was getting better, even little by little, I wanted to believe that was enough.
And so a week passed.
After traveling almost without rest, we finally reached the western edge of the territory.
It was the final gateway before entering the region known as the Raden Plain.
Below a narrow mountain path, a large wooden gate was firmly shut, and several soldiers stood guard before it with spears in hand.
“Halt!”
Silen, who had been leading on horseback, raised his head.
One of the soldiers in front of the gate lifted the tip of his spear and continued.
“State your identities and the reason for your passage.”
The atmosphere was certainly not ordinary.
There was only one road into the area. A watchtower had been built above the gate, and the soldiers’ eyes were sharp.
Though it was far from the region at war, the phrase “border of the territory” was clearly not an empty one.
“We’re mercenaries from Mondark.”
“Mercenaries?”
The soldier blocking the way narrowed his eyes as if puzzled.
“If you’re mercenaries, why are you leaving the territory? Isn’t a time like this an opportunity?”
Just then, a slovenly voice came from atop the gate.
A soldier who was not even wearing his helmet properly looked down at us with contempt.
“We are—”
Just as Silen tried to explain, the man dragged one of his friends along and began slowly descending from the gate.
From his posture alone, it was obvious he intended to pick a fight.
“Strange. Three mercenaries slipping out west like they’re running away? Shouldn’t we search them?”
At the absurd remark, the other soldiers exchanged glances, but none of them showed any sign of stopping him.
They seemed to have discreetly stepped back under the pretext of guarding the gate.
“What are you talking about? We’re legitimate—”
“This bastard’s resisting?”
When Silen raised his voice, the slovenly soldier shouted as if he had been waiting for it.
“Arrest them! These bastards refused inspection!”
The situation abruptly twisted out of control.
Spears were half-raised, and the soldiers’ expressions began to change.
It was an obvious frame-up, but if we backed down, we would truly be shaken down.
“Damn it, these bastards are out of their minds.”
I quietly let out a sigh and said,
“Silen. Take out what I gave you.”
“Ah, yes.”
Silen hurriedly rummaged through his bag, then pulled out an old scroll with both hands.
On its surface was a wax seal clearly stamped with the crest of the lord of Mondark.
“...What’s that?”
The slovenly soldier’s tone dropped at once.
“An official pass stamped with the seal of the lord of Mondark. All four of our names are on it, and we’re on our way to Beldor.”
I spoke calmly.
When Silen held out the pass in his hand toward the soldiers, they exchanged glances with momentary bewilderment.
“...Why would mercenaries have that...?”
Why else? Because it was given to us.
It was something a person who looked like an administrator had handed me on the way down after my meeting with the lord that day.
I had thought there might come a time to use it, but I had not expected to pull it out this soon.
The soldier who had been looking down from above silently shut his mouth.
The soldiers who had been pointing their spears at us also lowered their weapons slightly.
Even the slovenly bastard who had been picking a fight until just now reluctantly took the pass and withdrew to the back.
A brief silence.
At the sound of the wind brushing past, the horse snorted.
I swallowed a long sigh inwardly.
Indeed, this was not a world where anything could be passed over easily.
If I let my guard down for even a moment, it was straight off a cliff.
I had to be careful with every word and every action.
Otherwise, I might die by some nameless roadside.
It was, quite literally, an age of barbarism.
If reality were a game, I was still nothing more than a newbie who had not even escaped the tutorial.
That was why, for now, I had no choice but to keep myself tightly drawn in, adapt, and endure.
Be careful, and careful again.
Because this world was far too harsh on mistakes.
Not long after, the soldier who had returned from inside quietly nodded.
“...Confirmed. You may pass.”
The gate slowly opened, revealing the road ahead.
If we descended along the narrow mountain path, the plain would begin immediately. And Beldor would be waiting for us.
“Tch, scum.”
Baldik clicked his tongue and muttered.
“Seriously. Filthy bastards. It was obvious they were trying to squeeze money out of us.”
Silen added a word as well.
I did not bother responding.
The carriage rattled as it slowly crossed over the mountain path, and at some point, the view suddenly opened wide.
Beyond the dense forest was a vast stretch of grassland.
Far in the distance, the plain appeared, rippling with the wind.
“Oh, there it is. The Raden Plain.”
Silen said, lightly tugging the reins.
“Wow, I’ve never seen scenery like this before.”
Aileen said in admiration as she looked out the window.
I silently nodded as well.
Certainly, among the emotions I had felt since coming to this other world, moments like this felt the most real.
The gentle wind and the scent of grass. Within them, I was able to let down my tension for a short while.
“Beldor was at the entrance to the plain, right?”
“Yes. According to the map, I heard it’s near the river branch on the right if we follow this road.”
“So there’s a river too.”
As a water mage, I could not help but be concerned about it.
An increase in the means I could use was always a good thing.
Would I be able to make proper use of it this time?
The carriage rattled once more as it moved toward the plain.
It seemed there were still a few hours left until our next destination, Beldor.
***
The village was larger than I had expected.
Since I had heard it was a rural village at the entrance, I had imagined a few shabby huts, but there were more buildings than expected, and it was fairly crowded with people.
“This place is pretty well-off.”
“It is. There’s a market open too.”
We drove the carriage slowly into the village.
Merchants selling goods and customers were busily coming and going everywhere.
For a corner of a country at war, it was a rather peaceful sight.
“Now I suppose we have to start looking for work in earnest.”
I unfolded the map in my hand and looked toward what seemed to be the largest building in Beldor.
A banner depicting a sword hung over the roof, fluttering slightly.
“There it is.”
“Let’s go.”
“Let’s try acting like proper people for the first time in a while.”
After getting down from the horse, we slowly headed toward the building.
As befit a place that drew many people, the inside of the sizable mercenary guild was quite crowded.
At least a dozen or more people stood before the request board or sat on chairs, polishing their weapons and talking.
For a place we had reached after a long journey, a strange tension hung in the air.
It seemed the war was still affecting this place as well.
“There are more people than I expected.”
“Well, the front line is close... so there must be that many requests too.”
I scanned the inside, then turned my gaze toward the reception desk.
An old man with hair turned completely white was sitting there.
He seemed to be writing something, his bent posture hunched over as he busily moved his pen.
At a glance, he seemed like someone who had been in this guild for quite a long time.
The ink stains on his fingertips, and the files that looked far too old compared to his neat attire, seemed to say something.
“That must be him.”
“Let’s go.”
Together with Baldik, Silen, and Aileen, I quietly approached the reception desk.
As if he had not noticed us drawing near, the old man continued flipping through documents.
“...Excuse me.”
When I cautiously spoke, the old man stopped his pen and slowly raised his head.
“...Are you here for new registration?”
His voice was low, but it rang out clearly.
I shook my head.
“No, we came from Mondark. We’d like to take requests in Beldor.”
The old man slowly looked each of us over in turn, then quietly opened his mouth.
“In that case, please show me your mercenary badges.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Baldik was the first to take out his badge. Silen and Aileen also rummaged through their pockets and belts in turn and pulled out their mercenary badges.
Lastly, I reached out, took out my own badge, and quietly placed it on the reception desk.
Clatter.
The old man carefully gathered our four mercenary badges with both hands, then slowly walked behind the reception desk.
Only after he had completely disappeared from view did Silen open his mouth.
“Are they that short on people here? Why are they using an old man at reception?”
Indeed, this was the first time I had seen an old man handling reception at a mercenary guild.
But in this world, an old person meant someone who had survived for a long time.
Whether through skill or resourcefulness, there had to be a reason for it.
“Maybe he’s a retired soldier. He might even be stronger than you.”
“Huh? Come on, even so, I—”
“It would be best to watch your words.”
Without us knowing when he had come out, the old man was already sitting at the reception desk again.
His voice was low and quiet, but it had settled with firmness.
Silen flinched and lowered his head.
“I-I’m sorry... It was a joke.”
“Such jokes only work after mutual trust has been built.”
The old man continued calmly, then slowly unfolded the documents in his hand again.
His movements were slow, but there was not the slightest disorder in them.
They were skillful and natural, as though he had been doing this work for decades.
“I have confirmed that all four of you came from Mondark.”
The old man pressed a seal firmly onto the document and continued.
“Beldor Village appears quiet on the surface, but the nature of its requests is somewhat different. Patrols, reconnaissance, searches, village security... Most of them are requests of that sort.”
He quietly looked around at us and added one final remark.
“...Which means there are many things in this village that do not show themselves on the surface. Please be especially careful.”
His tone was polite, but it clearly carried the meaning of a warning.
Well, as if there could be a perfectly peaceful place at a time like this.
I lowered my head slightly.
“I will keep that in mind.”