The carriage rumbled gently across the dirt path, wooden wheels creaking as the beast pulling it snorted now and then.
Inside, Hazuki slowly opened his eyes, stretching lazily under the light clatter of travel.
"...Hey, old man... did we arrive yet?"
From the front, Girem let out a sharp snort, his gravelly voice thick with irritation. "Huh? Are ye daft, lad? We just got movin’ not even an hour ago!"
Hazuki blinked. "Oh... I thought we already arrived."
"Ye thought—!?" Girem groaned loudly, adjusting his grip on the reins. "Ye just been nappin’ there like a snorin’ log while this good boy here—" he jerked a thumb backward toward the massive beast pulling the wagon, "—kept walkin’ nonstop!"
Hazuki sat up properly and peeked out the side. The terrain was still forested, the road narrow but stable. No mountain in sight.
"That mountain we goin’ for... the one with that Hidun Grass ye want?" Girem continued, squinting at the winding path ahead. "It’s far. Real far. We keep movin’, rest at proper stop spots, we might get there by next day—if luck be good."
Hazuki groaned. "For real!? That far!?"
"Aye, lad. Ye lucky it’s that agreed to haul yer lazy bones there." Girem gave a prideful huff. "If ye’d asked any other dwarf in this town, ha! They’d have told ye to shove yer herbs where the sun don’t shine."
Hazuki slouched in his seat with a sigh. "...Great. And here I thought this was gonna be a quick stroll and snatch."
"Stroll!? Ye think ye out pickin’ daisies, lad? This be dwarven wildland. The beasts alone’ll chew yer boots off."
Hazuki slowly looked down at his brand-new boots, then up at the grinning dwarf.
"...Don’t joke about that. These boots cost alot."
Girem stole a glance behind him, eyeing Hazuki—who was now muttering to himself, fidgeting with the corner of his side bag, and occasionally grumbling sothing about boots, soup, or flower-shaped heels.
The old dwarf let out a quiet snort, shaking his head.
Inside his mind:
This lad’s cracked. Proper cracked.
Talkin’ to himself like he’s got ghosts floatin’ ’round his ears.
He glanced back at the road, then at the mountains far ahead.
Ain’t no soul in their right mind would take that quest.
Seven rare herbs, scattered all over the damn country...
That blasted scroll’s been sittin’ there in the guild for what... seven, eight months now?
Most lads won’t even touch one of the herbs on its own, let alone the whole cursed list.
He rubbed his beard, squinting slightly.
Always wondered... which noble house even posted that fool’s errand.
Was it for dicine? Secret ritual? Elixir of youth? Bah—who even knows.
High nobles always hidin’ behind blank seals and anonymous gold.
His eyes flicked toward Hazuki again.
And this lad just strolls in, shirtless, pants slippin’ off, half-fried from poison swamp... and says ’I’ll take it’ like he’s buyin’ breakfast.
Girem scratched his head, muttering under his breath.
"...Swear, if he weren’t payin’ in full, I’d’ve left him by the road already."
"Old man!"
Girem flinched like soone yanked his beard.
"What now!? Can’t ye see I’m busy here!?" he barked, waving the trail of smoke lazily curling from his lips.
Hazuki leaned forward, one brow raised. "Busy what? You’re just smoking that herb cigar."
Girem grumbled, puffing a bit harder.
"Damn youngsters these days—ain’t got no manners! Yellin’ at elders while they’re enjoyin’ life! What do ye want, ya loud twig!?"
Hazuki smirked, resting his arm casually on the wagon’s wooden fra.
"Give so of those herb cigars." He grinned like a kid asking for candy.
Girem squinted at him.
Then gave a long, dramatic exhale.
"...Ye got coin?"
"Do I look broke to you?"
Girem snorted, pulling out a small roll from his side case and flicking it Hazuki’s way.
"Fine. But don’t co cryin’ if yer lungs turn inside out."
Hazuki caught it mid-air. "You just said it’s safe."
"Safe don’t an gentle, lad. Dwarves got iron guts."
Hazuki chuckled, leaning back in the wagon with the cigar in hand.
"Cough! Cough! Old man!! This... this isn’t the sa stuff you gave before!"
Girem didn’t even look back. "’Course not, lad! That one I gave ye before was the cheap junk. This one? That’s high-grade! Yer lungs screamin’ ans it’s workin’."
Hazuki wheezed slightly, glaring at the rolled herb in his hand. "Then why’d you give this now!?"
Girem turned with a big grin, palm open.
"Glad ye paid 20 silver coin earlier. One silver can get five of these bad boys. Now..." He wiggled his fingers. "Let’s talk paynt."
Hazuki stared blankly. "...What?"
"Paynt, boy! Fifty copper per roll! I’m resellin’ it fair and square!" Girem puffed proudly.
"What!? That’s ten bowls of at soup!" Hazuki snapped. "For one cigar that nearly turned my throat into charcoal!?"
"Take it or leave it, son." Girem shrugged, still grinning. "Ain’t my fault yer taste buds ain’t caught up to dwarven class."
Hazuki narrowed his eyes, flicking the half-burned roll between his fingers. "You... highway robbery dwarf..."
"Damn right. Welco to the road economy."
Hazuki took another puff of the herb cigar, exhaled slowly, and leaned back against the wooden fra of the wagon.
"Woo... this feels good."
Girem gave a satisfied grunt. "Glad ye like it, lad."
Hazuki nodded, watching the smoke curl into the sky. "It hits strong on the first inhale... but then it smooths out."
"Guess ye were a smoker, eh?"
Hazuki grinned, tapping ash off the end.
Yeah... back in the old world.
He used to go through a pack a day during stress. Night shifts, deadlines, and traffic.
Heavy smoker—though he’d never admit it to anyone here.
It had been tough to find anything close since arriving in this world.
The first herb cigar he got was from a human vendor in a back alley...
Hazuki smiled faintly to himself, eyes half-lidded as the wind brushed past.
Yeah... the old world had its perks. Technology everywhere. Machines, neon lights, air conditioning.
But here?
This world felt real. Alive.
Sightseeing landscapes that looked painted.
Walking among fantasy races he’d only seen in gas or ani.
Sharing a wagon with a grumpy dwarf smoking under the clouds.
Better than just imagining it.
He took another puff and let the silence ride for a while, eyes on the fading sunlight ahead.
From within the open crate inside the wagon, Ridan floated lazily with his arms folded behind his head, half-lounging on a bundle of cloth and rope.
He peeked out, watching Hazuki lean back, puffing calmly on the herb cigar with a faint smile on his face.
Inside his mind:
Heh... look at him. Really enjoying his life here.
The human looked like he didn’t have a care in the world—smoking under the sky like it was so lazy weekend in paradise.
And yet he’s one of the idiots who takes a super hard quest... without even thinking.
Ridan sighed silently.
The quests I pick for him? Always low-risk. Easy rewards.
And every damn ti it’s "Ridan this is too hard!" "Why is this monster chasing !?" "You said it was E-rank!"
His brow twitched.
But this one? The insane herb quest that even dwarves avoid?
He just shrugs and does it like it’s a morning walk.
He floated a little higher, eyes narrowing at the puffing human.
Is he just pretending to complain all the ti? Or is he really that bad at estimating danger?
Ridan chuckled under his breath.
Maybe both.
Still, watching Hazuki like this... sothing about it felt right.
"Oi, Ridan."
"Huh?" the spirit perked up slightly from his crate nest.
Hazuki squinted over his shoulder, puffing the herb cigar with suspicion. "What are you smirking at over there? You planning sothing again?"
Ridan floated up slowly, hands raised. "Oi! I’m not planning anything. I’m just having fun resting here, alright?"
Hazuki narrowed his eyes. "Oh? You look like you’re plotting sothing big."
"You overthink too much." Ridan smirked and spun lazily in the air.
"Just enjoy your cigar, Hazuki. And rest. You’re gonna need it."
Hazuki frowned. "Why do you have to say it like that...?"
"No reason." Ridan shrugged with exaggerated innocence.
Hazuki groaned, leaned back again, and took another long drag from the cigar.
"...You’re gonna prank again, aren’t you."
"No way. I’m your partner, right?" Ridan grinned.
Hazuki narrowed his eyes, watching as the spirit casually floated up and began hopping crate to crate like a child playing across stepping stones.
"Yeah yeah, whatever." He leaned back again, resting his head against the wooden fra.
Ridan smirked to himself, hovering just slightly above the last crate, arms folded as he watched the faint trail of smoke rise from Hazuki’s herb cigar.
One day, Hazuki...
One day you’ll know.
What your true purpose here really is.
He looked up at the open sky above the trees, clouds slowly drifting by as the wagon rocked forward.
But for now... let’s just let it be like this.
The road was long.
The truth could wait.
And when the ti is coming...
When the two give the permission...
I’ll tell you, Hazuki.
Everything.
Why you were brought here.
What lies ahead.
What you’re really ant to do.
Until then...
Just smoke your herb, complain about soup, flirt with death, and chase dreams that aren’t as distant as you think.
I’ll be watching.
( End Of Chapter )
User Comments
0 comments from readers