Chapter 1: Aiming for Ilgusia

Clarice and I were heading toward Ilgusia in a carriage. Since she was coming along, we decided a carriage would be better to accommodate the extra luggage.

However, I was the one in the driver's seat.

Back when we lived in Almeria, Zeke used to drive the carriage whenever we went to Ilgusia. I used to sit up there with him, so I had a vague idea of how to handle the reins. Perhaps thanks to that experience—or maybe because Count Beetle had provided us with an exceptionally well-trained horse—I was able to control the animal without any trouble.

"I think Count Beetle really thought this through when he asked your father and mother to entrust me to you, Mars,"

"I've publicly announced that I can use Holy Magic, right? Apparently, that’s way more dangerous than I thought. Upper-class nobles sometimes pay outrageous sums for human trafficking, so if I stayed in Granzam, there was a high chance of a kidnapping incident occurring... The current residents are all good people, but scumbags looking to abduct me would definitely come eventually... And if I were taken by malicious adventurers, I’d likely face an even worse fate..." Clarice spoke from inside the wagon.

"Yeah."

"But, you know, even with you around, Mars, sending an eight-year-old girl into enemy territory would normally be unthinkable, right? That’s why I think the Count had the Lampard family ennobled to Baron."

"What do you mean?"

"If I were to become a prisoner of war, commoners and nobles are treated differently. I don't know the details, but nobles apparently aren't made into slaves, even in an enemy country. That is, assuming they don't find out I can use Holy Magic. Also, the Count sent a fast horse to deliver your letter to your parents, didn't he? It seems he included a note asking them to please take care of me if I ended up accompanying you. He wrote that the girl accompanying you is... um..."

"Ah, I think I get it..."

Count Beetle really went out of his way for us. And Clarice must be anxious, too.

Going alone to an enemy country... worrying about whether my family and the residents of Ilgusia will accept her... worrying about getting into a fight with me... Her voice lacked its usual energy.

"Clarice, listen to me. I will absolutely never let you become a prisoner of the Kingdom of Barcus. Besides... honestly, during the time between clearing the Dungeon and leaving Granzam, not being able to see you was really painful. I felt like you were avoiding me, or maybe that you hated me."

"I would never..."

"Yeah, I know that now. But I was anxious. When we were in Granzam, being with you was just natural. Then, right as we cleared the Dungeon, you suddenly disappeared from my sight. I really thought I was heartbroken..."

Wait, I just realized what I said! That’s basically a confession!

I could feel my face heating up. It wasn't just my face; it felt like sweat was pouring from my entire body.

"I’m sorry. I was thinking about so many things, too... I was just desperate with my own situation... thinking that my time with Mom and Dad was coming to an end..."

She ignored it! Thank god. Maybe she didn't notice?

Fortunately, Clarice was inside the carriage and I was up on the driver's seat, so she couldn't see my face.

Either way, I swore to myself that I would protect Clarice, who was coming to Ilgusia all by herself. At least until we came of age at fifteen.

If my family or the residents didn't accept her, I was prepared to leave the house.

Our journey with Clarice went smoothly.

There were several reasons for this. First, Count Beetle had written a letter of introduction stating that two children were allowed to stay at inns. Just showing that to an innkeeper got us a room without any questions asked. Though, they certainly still took our money.

The biggest reason, however, was that both of us could use Holy Magic.

Even if the horse got a little tired, a quick 《Heal》 would restore its stamina. We left the inn at eight in the morning and only needed to stop for lunch before reaching our next lodging. We watered the horse frequently along the way, but that was easy since I could just produce water with Water Magic.

The route Count Beetle selected was also excellent.

It avoided the vicinity of the Royal Capital, stayed away from overly remote borderlands, and skirted areas with poor public safety. It was a bit of a detour, but it was a meticulously calculated route.

Avoiding bad areas was obvious, but he also advised avoiding the Royal Capital. He didn't tell us the reason for that, though.

Upon arriving in a town, we would stable the horse, stop by the Adventurer’s Guild, and accept simple delivery quests while heading west.

Going to the Adventurer’s Guild at eight years old—I expected the standard cliché of getting picked on, but no one bothered us. Well, considering our physical development is faster than others our age due to being Holy Magic users, no one probably thought we were actually eight.

Still, Clarice’s luxurious equipment sometimes drew attention.

A Defender, a Mithril Silver Dagger, a Magic Arrow bow, a Mysterious Anklet, a Saint Robe, and the Vow of Love Hairpin I gave her when we left Granzam.

I gave it to her in the heat of the moment because I thought we were going to be separated. It was a hairpin with a small pink magic stone nestled in the center of a flower. It was an accessory that slightly increased 【Luck】, but it had one other effect.

【Name】 Vow of Love Hairpin
【Special】－
【Value】－
【Details】 Luck +1. Great happiness will visit those who are united with the person they gifted this to.

What does "united" mean? Becoming a couple? K-Kissing? Or something more... explicit? In any case, adventurers seemed to recognize that her gear, including this accessory, was rare.

We were asked how we got them or who gave them to us, but we were never attacked.

As for my equipment, I had an unnecessarily ornate Mithril Silver Sword, a Sylph Dagger, and a Bracelet of Disguise. The sword was good gear, but compared to Clarice's loadout... well.

In the eyes of the adventurers, I probably looked like Clarice’s servant.

By the way, Clarice also registered as an adventurer. She was given Rank E so she could dive into Dungeons. I guessed Count Beetle pulled some strings, considering how he found out about my background.

"Traveling is fun, isn't it? I think I like traveling."

"I’m having fun too. But if I were alone, it would definitely be boring. It’s because I’m with you, Clarice."

We were chatting while accepting our usual delivery quest at the Adventurer’s Guild when the doors burst open. A merchant-looking man shouted.

"I want to request an emergency quest! A slave intended as a gift for a Duke has escaped near the Forest of Magic! We can’t handle it ourselves! I’ll pay whatever you ask, just someone take it!"

There were over ten people in the guild besides us, but no one moved to accept the quest. If no one took it, wouldn't the slave's life be in danger?

"Could you please give us the details of the target to be protected?"

A guild staff member asked gently, trying to soothe the panicked merchant.

"...An Elf slave... I can't say more than that. However, the reward is ten gold coins... no, a hundred! Please! Someone accept it!"

The merchant answered rapidly.

"A hundred gold coins is an exceptional reward. But the Forest of Magic is a place where even a party of B-Rank adventurers can die, you know? Money is important, but it can't replace your life. Sorry, but give it up."

The Forest of Magic seemed to be an extremely dangerous place.

If I recall, Zeke said that B-Rank adventurers usually have total stats exceeding 400, though there are exceptions. If a party made up of people with that much power could be wiped out, it must truly be dangerous.

I was curious about the Elf slave, but I couldn't expose Clarice to danger.

Avoiding eye contact with the merchant, we left the Adventurer’s Guild.