After eight hours of driving since midnight, we finally arrived at the border of Duke Arganus' territory. The sun had just risen, bathing the border town in warm golden light.
Gord, sitting in the backseat next to the deeply sleeping Hiroshi, exclaimed in awe, "This thing is amazing! It usually takes three days to reach Duke's territory, but with this vehicle, it only took eight hours!!"
We, who hailed from the modern world, felt proud even though we weren't the creators. There was a sense of satisfaction in seeing their reactions to technology we took for granted. The way people in this world measured time by observing the sun and the movement of stars was quite different from our modern timekeeping systems. In this medieval world, common folk had minimal knowledge about time.
However, it was different for Gord and Prince Philip. They came from knightly and aristocratic backgrounds, where such knowledge was significant and taught from an early age. Gord, with a curious expression on his face, continued to gaze at the road we were traversing.
I looked around the border town, trying to grasp its uniqueness. There weren't many expansive farmlands in sight, which usually were a common sight in other regions.
"By the way, why haven't we seen many farmlands on our way here?" I asked Gord and Prince Philip.
Philip, sitting behind me, smiled faintly before explaining, "Duke Arganus monopolizes about 75% of the royal army. Therefore, his territory is more focused as a military city. And to support the food needs in his territory, the Duke collaborates with Earl Godwin, who resides in the northeast. They are close friends, hence the mutual support."
I nodded, understanding Philip's explanation. My information indicated that the Dragonian race across the continent was attacking. However, would it not be problematic for coastal regions to continue operating? If Philip said they supported each other, maybe there really wasn't an issue.
Mrs. Nakamura, who was driving, suddenly spoke from her driver's seat, "Guys, we have guests."
Following her words, we looked ahead where a knight on horseback was approaching our car cautiously. The knight rode a large black horse, his armor gleaming under the morning sun. His right hand gripped a long spear tightly, while his left hand controlled his restless steed.
The knight seemed hesitant and intimidated as he approached our vehicle. For the people in this world, the vehicle we brought undoubtedly appeared like a strange creature or perhaps even a monster. Its boxy shape and unfamiliar engine noises certainly put them on edge.
We approached the border town, and the magnificent fortress loomed ahead. The fortress stood strong, with tall towers overlooking its surroundings. Soldiers on the walls scrutinized us closely, their arrows ready to be fired at any moment. The massive and sturdy fortress walls gave an impression of impenetrable defense, while the royal flags fluttered atop the towers, signaling Duke Arganus' domain.
"Miss, stop the vehicle and let me talk to them," Gord said calmly yet authoritatively, as if he had complete control over the situation.
Mrs. Nakamura turned off the car's engine, and we felt the vehicle's vibrations slowly fade away. Gord opened the door and stepped out with firm and steady steps, surprising the knight and causing him to startle slightly. His body's reaction showed his surprise, probably not expecting someone with such confident and fearless demeanor from this strange vehicle.
"Lord Gord?" the knight spoke cautiously, observing Gord with sharp eyes through the visor of his helmet.
The knight dismounted from his horse, his movements agile despite the heavy armor weighing him down. His shining helmet reflected the morning sun that began to illuminate the fortress. Without hesitation, Gord approached, showing no signs of fear or doubt. The knight cautiously removed his shining helmet, revealing his tough and determined face. His slightly sweaty black hair stuck to his forehead, giving the impression that he had been on guard duty here for quite some time.
"Alfred?" Gord's steps paused momentarily as he recognized the face of the knight standing before him. There was warmth in his voice, a mix of surprise and pride.
"Yes! It really is you, Lord Gord!" Alfred replied with a wide smile. His tense face from before now brightened. Without hesitation, he reached out his hand to shake Gord's.
Gord chuckled softly, then took Alfred's hand and pulled him into a warm embrace. "Heh, I never thought the kid I trained would grow this big!" Gord said with affection and pride that couldn't be hidden.
Alfred laughed quietly, feeling the warmth from his former teacher's embrace. "It's your training and discipline that brought me this far, Lord. I owe a lot to you."
"Well, I never thought that crybaby could become a man like this!" Gord teased with a joking tone but with undeniable pride.
"Hah, please don't remind me of those embarrassing memories," Alfred replied with a shy smile.
"Uh, can't do that," Gord replied with a laugh, "I can't forget how you used to cry every time I trained you back then."
The moment brought warmth and hope to our group. We witnessed this unexpected reunion with smiles and astonishment. In the warmth of that moment, I turned around and asked Philip, who was sitting in the back seat.
"Who is he?" I asked, full of curiosity.
Philip smiled softly before answering. "Oh, Alfred is the youngest son of Duke Arganus. As you can see, Gord was once his mentor."
"So, do they know each other?" I asked again, still trying to understand the dynamics between them.
Philip chuckled softly. "Well, a little," he said with a meaningful wink.
I seemed to understand this feeling, but it's better to just stay quiet. I decided to enjoy the moment without thinking too much.