It's been months since Sho started his journey. His days consist of walking, camping. fighting some weak monster. It is rather boring is what he wants to say but he also needs to cherish this uncomplicated days.
I would rather have it boring that chaotic. He thought.
The mountains from where he came can no longer be seen. The bamboo trees that he were so familiar with are gone.
Right now, he was in unfamiliar land, he have to be alert at all times since danger could be everywhere.
The sun was its zenith, radiating the heat through above. The only protection he have against the son is his circular hat made of wheat.
He took a gulp from his clay bottle while making sure that no water is dripping from his mouth. After taking a few swig, he put it back and proceed walking.
"It's so hot" He said. Being raised from the village that always had a cool temperature thanks to the trees, this is quite difficult for him.
But this is also part of the challenge... What is that?
From a far, he can see a silhouette of a carriage and a humanoid.
"Kyaa!"
"Get back monsters!"
"!" Just hearing those scream made him dash with his full speed. He arrived there and just a second and can finally see the situation.
Before the carriage is a pack of Killer Wolf. A wolf-like monster that's about 3 feet tall.
The knights were seriously having a trouble of fighting while protecting the carriage.
When he was about to draw his sword, he put it back again. There is no need to kill, these wolves are mere hungry, there's no need for life and death battle. He thought.
With great speed, he rush forth. Using the sheath of his katana, he hit the head of the biggest wolf, their leader.
The wolf walk back for a few step while still in confusion. Sho didn't stop and hit the legs of wolf, which caused it to let out a cry.
The leader wolf his its tale and started running away, soon after, the other wolf followed.
The knights were baffled by the events but they regained their senses after the head knight ordered them scout the surrounding.
"You are you!?" Said the head knight. Although he was shouting, there's no real ill intent behind it, he just want to make sure that what saved them is not another enemy.
"Just a mere passerby sir, don't mind me"
"Passerby? But those sword skill, the techniques that you used, I assumed you're not a normal passerby right?" The head knight said. He was standing tall, wearing light metal armor made for travelling far places.
He seems to be in his 30's but he still active and vigour.
"Hey Rindor! What's happening outside!?" Inside a carriage, a lady appears. She had brown soft hair and bright green eyes. Without a doubt, she was a beauty who can capture hearts of thousand men, but Sho was too much of a blockhead to realise this. He had no sense of beauty except for nature.
The young lady's eyes widen as her eyes fall at Sho.
"Eh! A japanese person! Hey! Konichiwa!" Suddenly, she started shouting some incomprehensible things that neither Sho or the head knight can understand.
With a disappointed face, the head knight spoke. "I am very sorry, our lady might be eccentric but she is good at heart, I hope you forgive her rude behaviour"
"Rude? I don't see her that way though" Sho replied. For him, you should only act properly when you're facing the chief or the elders, he is no chief or an elder so he doesn't need to be respected.
The young lady exited the carriage and hurriedly came to him while holding her frilly violet dress. Looking up closely, she was even more gorgeous. Her face was oval and her noise where pointy. Her energetic eyes were scanning Sho from head to toe but he didn't mind it.
"Nihon hito desu ka?"She said with full of expectation.
"What are you saying?" Sho calmly replied. With that, her face lost all hope and let out a loud sight.
"Lady Nerida! What you are doing is rather unbecoming! This man just saved our lives, we must be thankful to him!" The head knight scolded the young lady.
"I know that Rindor... But after seeing a japanese looking man, I thought he was japanese but when it turns out that he is not... Haah...."
"Lady Nerida...! Japanese here japanese that! Just where did you learn such commoner slang like that!"
"C-commoners slang! Apologize to the people who created that word right now!"
Just what are they doing? Sho thought as he tilted his head. It's like they planned all of this scene from the beginning. He could hear the other knights saying something like "Oh, the show finally starts" "There's no one that could beat this comedic duo, even in the capital!"
"Lady Nerida and Captain is at it again, I better grab something to eat"
Is this like, a common occurrence to them? He couldn't help but wonder. After finishing their rather entertaining exchanges, the head knight made a troubled expression and faced Sho.
"Anyway, my name is Rindor, the head knight of this squad. And this young lady right here is our Lady Nerida"
"Nice to meet you" Nerida said as she lifted her dress while doing a short bow.
"Good thing that you still remember how to great like a noble" Rindor said.
"Just wait a bit more and I'll probably forget how to do this one too" Nerida added.
"Too? You mean you already forgotten some of them! I don't know what to do with you anymore..." Rindor hung his shoulder while Nerida puffed her slim chest.
"My name is Sho, and I came from a small village located near a mountain. I am currently on a trail to become the next village cheif"
"Hoo, is that so? I see I see, a young man carrying the shoulder of his people, I guess a certain someone could learn a thing or two from you Sho"
"That's right, Rindor is rather lacking diligence, Sho should teach Rindor on how things work"
"I am talking about you Lady Nerida!"
"Eeehh!!??"
They are quite lovely folks. Sho thought.
"Anyway Sho, are you perhaps going to the provincial town of Oakfay?" Rindor asked.
"Is that the nearest town from here? To be honest I am kind of lost, I've been travelling on foot and still see no signs of civilization for months"
"For months!"
"Oh, how about we let him ride our carriage? The sits were still spacious, and I could use someone to talk to"
"I see, then how about it, would you like to enter the carriage? Talking with Lady Nerida is troublesome, I assure you that, but at least you're not travelling on foot right?"
"?... I am a stranger you have met minutes ago, are you sure you will let me enter the carriage? Nerida-sama is an important person after all"
"Sama!?" It was Nerida who shouted. She covered her mouth in embarrassment but her eyes were fixed on Sho.
"Sama? Is that how you address someone important in your village?" Rindo said. Sho nodded.
"Anyway, Lady Nerida have a good eye for people, she can, somehow, discern those who are trust-worthy and those wicked. So Nerida being alright with you sharing the same sit with her should be alright"
"Then, allow me to accept your offer" Sho said. For some reason, the usually noisy Nerida kept her silent.