Chapter 9: Journey to Serenia
The journey to Serenia progressed smoothly.
At first, when she heard they would be riding horses, Lydia felt a little frightened.
She liked horses, but until now she had only ever ridden in carriages.
Pulled up by Leohart after he mounted first, Lydia sat sideways and let out an involuntary cry.
“I-It’s so high up.”
At first she was scared and clung tightly to Leohart, but little by little she grew accustomed to it and began to enjoy the scenery.
Seeing the outside world for the first time in ten years, everything felt fresh to Lydia, and she narrowed her eyes at the greenery of the trees, the flowers in full bloom, and the pleasant spring breeze.
‘So the outside world was this wonderful.’
Leohart watched Lydia with a happy expression.
After walking through the forest for a while, a highway came into view.
Leohart spoke up.
“We’ll soon reach an area with people, so it might be best to hide your face.”
“I see. Do elves really stand out that much?”
“That too, but also because you’re beautiful.”
Said so earnestly, Lydia let out a small laugh.
She had heard that elves looked beautiful to humans, and it seemed the rumor was true.
When asked whether she had a hooded robe, she made a troubled face.
“I don’t have one.”
“I see.”
After thinking for a moment, Leohart took out a dark-colored cloak from his magic bag.
“Here you go. It might be big, but it reaches my waist, so you should be able to wear it.”
“Thank you.”
Lydia thanked him and put on the cloak.
What reached Leohart’s waist came down to about Lydia’s knees.
‘It’s huge.’
Seeing her like that, Leohart turned away while covering his mouth with his hand.
Looking closely, his shoulders were trembling.
Lydia blushed.
“Don’t laugh so much.”
“I’m not laughing. I’m just barely managing to keep my composure in the face of more destructive power than I expected.”
At his words, Lydia tilted her head.
She did not really understand what he meant, but figured it was probably some kind of human joke.
After that, the two mounted the horse again and set out onto the highway.
Along the way, Leohart casually asked whether there was anyone she should inform beforehand, and Lydia answered, “There isn’t.”
After being left alone for ten years, surely no one had even noticed she was gone.
She did think that the cousin who had not been around at the time might be worried, so she considered contacting her once things settled down.
As evening approached, the two arrived at a small town.
Upon entering the town, Lydia stopped in her tracks without thinking.
“Amazing. So this is a human town.”
Stone-built houses and unfamiliar stalls lined the streets, with people bustling busily between them.
She had read about such places in books, but she had not imagined they would be this lively.
That night, the two stayed at an inn and had dinner.
She had heard that human food was crude and not very tasty, so she was worried, but the vegetable-centered dishes that came out were surprisingly delicious.
She still could not handle meat, but thanks to Leohart eating it for her, Lydia happily finished all the vegetables without hesitation.
“It was delicious. Human food is this good.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Leohart narrowed his cool red eyes in satisfaction.
The next morning, Lydia woke up somewhere that was not the giant tree, and felt a sense of relief.
Savoring the joy of having escaped outside, she murmured, “I really can’t thank Leohart enough.”
After that, the two continued their journey.
Along the way, they bought inconspicuous clothing for Lydia in a fairly large town.
Leohart paid for it, and Lydia felt apologetic.
Relying on him for absolutely everything made her feel a little uncomfortable.
When she asked what she should do, he thought for a moment and then answered like this.
“If I’m being honest, I’d like you to rely on me and let me spoil you as much as possible, but if it really bothers you, how about paying me back after you succeed?”
“After I succeed?”
“Yes. Once you open an apothecary and start making money.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
As they talked like that, Lydia felt impressed.
He had grown into a truly wonderful adult who knew how to be considerate.
And then, one week after they began their journey, in the evening.
The two were traveling along a highway surrounded by forest.
As Lydia gazed at the rose-colored clouds floating in the twilight sky, Leohart pointed ahead.
“The border.”
Looking in that direction, she could see stone walls illuminated by the setting sun in the distance.
As they drew closer, the number of people and carriages increased.
The two dismounted and waited in line to cross the border.
After answering the guards’ brief questions and paying the fee, they stepped onto the land of Serenia.
Mounting the horse again and continuing along the highway, Lydia looked around.
‘It doesn’t seem all that different, but maybe the road construction is.’
Up until now, the roads had been paved with stone, but here they were dirt paths.
When she mentioned this to Leohart, he explained that the Dean Empire maintained roads as public works, while the Republic of Serenia had no such system.
Lydia was impressed.
She had thought so throughout the journey, but Leohart was extremely knowledgeable.
When Lydia asked what they would do next, Leohart took out a map.
When she accepted it and spread it open, it was a map of Serenia.
House symbols were marked in various places, with the names of villages and towns written beside them.
“The towns marked here are relatively large, so I was thinking we could visit them and choose a place you like to live.”
“My, is that really possible?”
“In this country, anyone with a skill is welcome anywhere. You have knowledge of medicine, and I can use a sword, so I don’t think there will be any problem.”
“I see.”
Lydia gazed at the map with excitement.
Pointing to a nearby town, she said, “How about here?”
“It’s close to the forest, so I won’t lack materials for making medicine, and it seems like a nice place to live.”
“Then shall we go there first?”
“Is that all right with you, Leohart?”
“Yes. As long as I’m with you, Lydia, anywhere is fine.”
Lydia let out a small laugh.
He was probably saying it so she would not feel pressured, and that thought made her very happy.
As they chatted cheerfully in the fading light, the two urged their horse onward toward the nearest village.