By the third day with the traveling rchant caravan, Ronald had already gotten along quite well with everyone in the convoy.
For these rchants, a down-to-earth nobleman, even one fallen on hard tis, was a fine contact to make.
However, due to road conditions and the horses' stamina, their travel pace couldn't keep up with the speed of their growing relationships.
Based on Ronald's estimation, with all the stops and starts, they had probably covered about one hundred and twenty kiloters in these three days.
A decent distance in ancient tis, but snail-paced by modern standards.
Moreover, according to the rchants in the caravan, before reaching Burenwidge, they would make stops at several larger towns along the way to trade goods and seek as much profit as possible.
The journey's next stop was a seaside village they would arrive at in about three or four days, which was also the neighbor of the town where Ronald's residence was located.
As previously discussed, Ronald himself would separate from the convoy there.
————
As walk-and-stop made the day go by quickly.
In this world, where only one constant star illuminated the dayti sky and rose in the east to set in the west, the angle of the sunlight gradually shifted, signaling the afternoon was drawing to a close.
Sitting alongside Ronald, the rchant Nade naturally struck up a conversation while driving the carriage:
"Mr. Ronald, it's getting late," Nade said.
"Do you think we should camp at the foot of the mountain, or should we keep going a bit further?"
"Camp..."
Hearing the rchant's words, Ronald imdiately began to think about how to answer.
As a nobleman, it was best not to show knowledge of outdoor travels, as this didn't fit with his persona.
So with a wry smile, Ronald shook his head:
"I haven't traveled much, so I really have no idea on this."
No sooner had he spoken than the rchant Thomson driving in front loudly spoke up, pointing to the mountains ahead and offering his suggestion:
"Gentlen, we could head up towards Black Mountain," Thomson said.
"Three years ago, I passed through here, and there's a small town on the mountainside where spending the night is absolutely no problem."
Imdiately, another rchant in the convoy started to shout:
"Thomson, you rascal!"
"If you had that information, you should've shared it sooner. Last ti in the town, I still had so fruit I couldn't sell off. I thought I wouldn't make it another week, and here I've eaten half already!"
The companions' complaints didn't affect Thomson, who laughed heartily and ruffled his apprentice's hair: "I hadn't been here for three years, so rembering this is lucky enough!"
While explaining, he didn't forget to cheerfully tease back:
"Besides, a good rchant seizes every opportunity to make money. Instead of griping at , you'd do better to think about how to sell those fruits."
"People living by the mountains don't lack for these; the fruit left over from the last village visit is proof of that."
"Hey!"
"Tonight, I'm going to make a killing, and you better not be jealous!"
"Jealous? Not at all! But if you can't sell all those fruits, how about letting try so? This young lad is still growing, after all."
"In your dreams!"
Playful banter rang out, and with it, a yellow fruit was tossed from one carriage to another, amidst the surprised shouts of a child.
Watching the people in the convoy laughing and chatting, Ronald quietly turned his gaze to Nade at his side:
"It seems Mr. Thomson is quite fond of his apprentice," Ronald observed.
"Isn't that so?" Nade replied, shaking his head with a smile as his tone beca contemplative.
"For us rchants, forming a convoy and hiring guards is a rare opportunity; we usually travel by ourselves."
"When you're on a long trek to remote regions, and loneliness sets in, you end up wishing even your horse could talk so you could have a proper conversation."
"Having an apprentice along is indeed a great thing."
"I see..."
Listening to Nade's explanation, Ronald's gaze began to drift towards the mountain range in front of them.
Based on what another rchant had said, it was called Black Mountain:
"The Black Mountain ahead," Ronald said.
"Mr. Nade, have you been here before?"
As Nade drove the carriage, a look of reminiscence appeared in his eyes:
"Black Mountain..."
"I've heard of it, but there seem to be not too many residents in the town above, so I've never done business there."
"Is that so..."
The n chatted sporadically, the shadows of the sunlight stretching longer behind the caravan.
Around the end of twilight, the caravan began its climb up Black Mountain.
Black Mountain was not a mountain of dangerous peaks or stunning views, just an ordinary edge of a mountain range with an altitude that appeared to be no more than 2000 ters.
The grander mountain chains extend even deeper into the forest beyond.
Due to the mountain being inhabited, the roads here were slightly better than before.
However, trouble arose during the ascent.
Almost before Black Mountain was completely 'black' with the night, the road used for passage was suddenly blocked.
It seed that due to the rainfall three days ago, the soil and rocks that slid off the side of the mountain ridge had severed the path; although not very large, it spanned about a dozen ters.
It was difficult, but possible, for people to cross, but the wagons...
Don't even think about it!
Seeing the scene before him, the rchants in the caravan imdiately started cursing:
"Damn it! Are my fruits never going to be sold?"
"Even these rural roads have to ss with !"
This ti, Thomson didn't add fuel to the fire but instead took the initiative to comfort:
"Gai En, don't panic."
"The town is not too far from here, it's not impossible to get across."
"..."
Thomson's consolation had a very obvious effect.
Hearing the town was not far away, the rchant nad Gai En imdiately turned to look at his own wagon, then looked back at the chaotic road.
The air was sowhat heavy and the sky was filled with dark clouds.
These fruits...
With gritted teeth, he called out to his hired guard:
"Joel, help carry that half-box of fruit over here, and you stay behind to keep watch tonight."
"Alright!"
No sooner had his employer spoken than the guard sprang into action.
He quickly lifted the fruit boxes off the wagon and brought them over, then showed his employer a simple, honest smile.
"Mr. Gai En, do you need to stay on duty all night?"
"Don't worry, I'll pay you later."
After sending off his guard, Gai En imdiately bent down to pick up the box of fruit, weighed it, and moved forward.
"Sigh..."
Watching Gai En move ahead without looking back, Thomson could only sigh deeply:
"Kid, let's follow."
"If we can, let's help Gai En. Consider it his treat to you as a reward."
"Okay, Mr. Thomson."
The apprentice responded to the rchant, and the two followed as well.
The remaining Ronald and the other two rchants looked at each other, then instructed their guards to light a fire and followed with their lanterns.
————
Once the sun sets, the darkness of nightfall accelerates rapidly.
Not to ntion this path facing directly west.
Under the direct shadow of Black Mountain, it didn't take long for the surroundings to beco completely dark, the faint glimr on the horizon vanished completely.
Traveling at such a ti greatly affected both speed and visibility.
Apart from the desolate silence and darkness, only the nearby low bushes remained visible.
They trudged forward, glancing along the mountain path.
Behind them, the firelight from the caravan's camp lit up, and the rchants swore and cursed ahead.
Then, Ronald saw it clearly.
The firelight from the camp had vanished—
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