Sylvie raised a hand. “I’ll come with!”
“Did Celes ask you to escort me as well, along with delivering the letter?”
“As sharp as ever. That’s right!”
Celes probably paid a good amount if the guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild herself was asked to do it.
“As always... Celes is such a busybody...” Rem sighed.
“You can’t blame her. If we fail this, the Demon Lord might awaken, so we have to be cautious.”
Leaving the conversation behind, Diablo left the common room.
†
Lyferian Calendar: Month 9, Day 30, Year 164—
Diablo walked down the Royal Capital’s streets with Rem at his side.
“...I think this is the first time I’ve gone out alone with you.”
“Hmm?”
Come to think of it, he’d gone outside with Shera a few times, but he couldn’t recall ever going out with just Rem. They had shared rooms a few times though.
“...Why did you only go out with me this time?”
“Horn’s studying, and Rose is both too conspicuous and a liability when it comes to negotiations.”
Rose had a tendency to resort to (excessive) force whenever someone made a comment that made light of Diablo. She was as reliable as could be when it came to beating monsters, but the worst possible fit when going about business in town.
Shera was also still recovering in bed.
“And Sylvie has matters to attend to.”
She had to visit the local Adventurer’s Guild. She didn’t have many chances to visit the capital and had people she needed to meet. She also said the other day she had to pay the king a visit to thank him for his monetary support.
“...That’s a shame.” Rem smiled sadly. “I wanted to believe you simply wanted to go on a date with me, just the two of us...”
“Wh-What?”
“Hehe... I’m only joking. Anyway, you mentioned negotiations?”
Her words made him terribly self-aware, and he felt his cheeks heat up. He remembered the countless warnings and horror stories he’d seen on the internet of the type of losers who took a female party member’s jokes seriously only to crash and burn.
Diablo laughed scornfully, trying to mask his discomposure.
“Hmph... You speak such foolishness at times. Listen well! I have brought you to help negotiate...for we are about to buy a carriage.”
He had Shera explain to them how to get to the Kingdom of Greenwood, but it was too far to get there on foot. Blackwood was even further than that.
“...Did you forget I’m bad with vehicles?” Rem frowned.
“I believe you fared better on larger carriages?”
“...I suppose. They do shake less...”
Rem had gone into a panic when they rode a small sandship or a wagon, but was calm when they took a larger sand ship and a stagecoach. She apparently just didn’t like the shaking.
“It will be expensive, but we’re quite a few people strong.” Diablo shrugged. “We’ll buy a large carriage. Having you faint along the way would only make things harder.”
“M-Maybe we could all just run there!? No...forget I said that.”
Rem quickly realized how silly what she just said was. But, clearing her throat, she continued.
“...Normally we would take a stagecoach or join a caravan for such a long journey... But there’s no highway leading to the Kingdom of Greenwood so we don’t have much choice. It’s a bit ironic that going to the former Demon Lord’s Domain was easier than going to a region controlled by the races.”
“If it were just me, I’d make it there no problem.”
“...You would have no reason to go to the Elven Kingdom on your own, Diablo.”
“And it would be boring.”
“...If we’re buying a carriage, won’t it delay the journey by a few days?”
Regardless of this being another world, a carriage wasn’t a simple vehicle you could easily buy and take for a ride right away. The carriage’s frame and the horses required preparation.
“Shera still needs time to recover, so this suits us just fine.”
“...Yes.”
Incidentally, Horn was shut inside her room at the inn, toiling over the homework Lumachina had sent her. In a few days’ time she’d be enrolling at the Sorcerer’s Academy, but since the first years began studying at the start of the ninth month, Horn had a month’s worth of catching up to do.
“...If I had succeeded in summoning you alone back then, at 《Starfall Tower》, would we always be walking together around town like this?” Rem wondered aloud, sneaking a fleeting gaze his way.
“Perhaps. Don’t tell me you and Shera are still arguing over which one of you summoned me?”
“...Of course not... I understand now, that it only worked because it was the two of us. At the time, I thought Shera was just a novice...but she’s truly a genius.”
“So it seems.”
Shera could see the flow of magic in people and other things. She had mastered a skill that took those with considerable talent years to master, and did so when she was only a child. Rem was training to learn how to do it as well, but it would still take her some time it seemed.
“...If Shera were to study seriously, she could become a truly powerful Summoner. Well, if she were to polish her skills with a bow further, she’d probably be a legendary markswoman... It’s a shame.”
“It does feel like she’s made a mistake there.”
Shera was a skilled archer. She never had her level as an archer measured by the Adventurer’s Guild, but she was probably over level 80. And since Elves lived for quite some time, if she were to put her mind to mastering the bow she would no doubt reach the level of a hero.
“...Diablo, do you remember when the Fallen attacked Faltra?” Rem suddenly asked.
“Yes, I remember that happening.”
“...I almost died fighting Gregore. And if Celes were to die then as well, the barrier protecting the town from the Fallen would have been destroyed.”
It was thanks to Emile running to the scene and holding out against Gregore that Diablo had made it in time.
“What about it?”
“...Do you think Shera might be stronger than Gregore was?”
“Hmph. It depends on their fighting styles, but she might have won.”
Now that her bow had been strengthened by Klem, she could win with ease.
“...Then it’s as I thought...”
Rem hung her head. Even if they were companions, seeing the gap in their natural talents saddened Rem. No...it was exactly because they were companions that it had gotten to her.
“You’re a high level Summoner yourself.” Diablo placed a hand on Rem’s shoulder. “And you have the equipment I gave you. The way you are now, Gregore would be no match for you.”
Rem looked up at him. “...You can be shockingly kind sometimes.”
She was right. Cheering up a depressed girl wasn’t very Demon Lord-y.
“Ha!” Diablo averted his gaze. “I merely stated facts. Do not misunderstand, fool.”
“...Ah, pardon me.” Rem smiled happily, contrary to her words.
They hastened their pace, heading to the carriage house the inn’s employees had recommended.
†
They found the place on a side street just off the main road, at the end of the sixth district. It was within the city walls, but there was almost no one around, and they could see a few warehouses here and there. The place had a fence roughly their height, and beyond it was a lawn where horses were grazing. Their fur was brown and olive-colored, and their legs were short and thick. They were probably carriage horses. They weren’t very quick, but were capable of carrying heavy loads and were durable enough to last long journeys.
At the edge of the premises they found a building made of bricks. This was probably the carriage house. It had a set of large doors, reminiscent of castle gates. They were likely used for the carria
ges to leave from.
Next to them was a small steel door. The two knocked, and, after a short pause, they could hear the sound of the door being unlocked from the inside.
Then the door opened. A long-bearded Dwarf stood on the other side, with a pair of drooping dog ears and a tufty tail.
“Bah, Adventurers! This here’s a carriage house,” he said after looking at Diablo. “The stagecoach and gharry are off the main street.”
“...P-Please, wait! We’re here to buy a carriage.”
“Ah, ya be customers! Please please, come in.”
His attitude suddenly became much more friendly.
The interior of the carriage house was reminiscent of a pub. It had a wooden counter and chairs as high as their waists. Wheels, whips and other carriage-related items were propped up in the background as ornaments.
The Dwarf clerk went behind the counter.
“By the by, who’s recommendation brought ya here?”
“...The Firebird Inn’s employees said we should come to you.”
“What!? Ya be stayin’ there?”
“...For the last ten days or so, yes.”
“Well, by jolly! Ya must be skilled Adventurers. Did ya find a mountain of treasure or somethin’? Oh, can I pour ya a drink? Ale? Wine? I’ve got some nice whiskey.”
“...No, alcohol is a bit... Just coffee would be nice.”
While Rem was handling the clerk, Diablo looked around the shop. He was no good when it came to small talk, and when it wasn’t strictly necessary, his communication skills plummeted. Whenever he entered a shop, he’d hoped dearly that whatever he looked for would immediately be on display. But, unfortunately for him, shopping in this world wasn’t an entirely business-like affair. It required interaction and conversation.
“Do you have any carriages in stock?” Rem asked. “Preferably ones that don’t shake.”
“By the dozens, lass! We’ve got an extensive selection, from military wagons to carriages intended for nobility. By the way, are ya sure ya don’t want a drink? I’ve got some brandy in the back.”
“...Coffee, please.”
“So how many people is the carriage ya want intended for, and how far do ya wanna take it?”
They finally went into negotiations. Rem turned her gaze to Diablo, who opened his mouth to speak.
“The Elven forest. We’ll also be stopping at Blackwood—the Dark Elves’ territory. We’ll need a carriage for five people that can also carry heavy luggage.”
“The Elven forest!?” The Dwarf’s brows furrowed. “And Blackwood too!? I wouldn’t if I were you, they be wicked folk!”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
The Dwarf shrunk in fear of Diablo’s glare. “Fine, so be it. Our horses can traverse forests too, and they’re smart enough to not run off if monsters attack. But let’s talk about the frame now. So, ya need seating for five. And ya said you’ll have heavy luggage?”
“...There’s one who’s a bit on the heavy side...” Rem said. “If you can’t make a seat to support that kind of weight, a tray would do.”
“What kinda weight we talkin’ here?”
“About as heavy as a knight in full plate armor.”
“Too heavy to get on a horse,” Diablo added.
He had to support Rose with one hand once, and even his level 150 muscles couldn’t support her weight. There was no mistaking how heavy she was.
“Gahaha, that’s heavy, all right!” The Dwarf laughed. “Heavier than a cow! That’s one heavy friend ya got!”
“...Yes, I suppose.”
Rem sighed in relief. It was a good thing they didn’t bring Rose along... She seemed to hate being called “heavy,” and would probably beat the poor Dwarf to a pulp with her dual-bladed sword if she heard him.
There was no horse that could support Rose’s weight, which was why they needed a large carriage.
After choking a bit on his laughter, the Dwarf brought the discussion back on track. “Well, if ya want a carriage that can carry someone that heavy, you’ll be needin’ a coach-and-four. Any less than four, and the horses won’t be able to take it. And Blackwood’s pretty far from here, so they might hurt their legs.”
“...How much would it cost?”
“First, the interior. Nobles tend to pay more for the interior than the carriage itself. Ya want laces on your curtains?”
“...The bare minimum will do.”
“Eh? I thought ya had money to afford it.”
“...I don’t like squandering money away.”
“It ain’t squanderin’. A worthy interior does good for the heart.”
“...Our hearts aren’t so lacking that fancy interiors will do us good, thank you very much.”
“Gahaha! Well said! Understood, so we’ll do with the bare minimum for your journey. I do recommend a canopy to ward off the wind and the rain though. And I’ll put some lap blankets on the bench, yeah?”
“...That sounds good, yes.”
“And I’ll put the ale barrel below your seats.”
“...No, we won’t be needing that.”
“What!? Ya don’t wanna drink along the way!? What’re ya even going on a journey for!?”
“...To reach a destination?”
Rem cradled her head. Was this place really a good idea...?
The Dwarf employee pulled a blueprint out from under the counter. It was for a medium size, four-horse-pulled carriage with room for six passengers, and he began scribbling addendums on it with a feather pen.
“So, we’ll put the heavy stuff on things on the back wheel’s axis. They’ll shake a fair bit, but it’ll ease the burden on the horses. And for the steps when you get on and off, a floor, bearings, wheels... All of these’ll have to be reinforced since you’re carrying heavy weights.”
“...Reinforced?”
“Large carriages usually are. They gotta be, they carry lots of people. The army uses ’em to ferry troops, so they hafta be sturdy.”
“...I see. And how much will it all cost us?”
“Ah, let’s see... Well, including all the modifications, I’d say somewhere around 20 million friths? It might end up being a touch pricier once we get down to the details.”
Rem stiffened like a board.
“We’ll take it.” Diablo nodded.
“A great thank ya for your patronage!” The Dwarf clerk grinned.
“...W-W-Wait just a second!” Rem jumped to her feet. “You could buy a house at Faltra with that kind of money!”
“True.”
Diablo had assumed it would be expensive. You could buy a carriage in Cross Reverie too, and they were a bit cheaper, but there were the modifications to consider. Diablo had prioritized teleporting to save time back then, and didn’t have a party, so he never bought one.
“...Are you serious!? That’s almost all the reward money we received from Lumachina!”
“There’s no telling how long it would take to reach there by foot.”
“...I don’t mind walking...”
“We’re short on time. Their actions concern me, so the faster we’re done with this and I get back to Faltra, the better.”
Rem gasped as she realized the meaning behind Diablo’s words. The “they” he was concerned about meant the Demon Lord that had awakened in the east.
“...Y-You’re right... Yes, you’re right, Diablo... We need to hurry.”
The Demon Lord’s army attacked Zircon Tower, and might attack Faltra next. If Diablo were to be absent when that happened, it could have disastrous repercussions. Right now they were focusing on Rem and the ritual magic as well as Shera’s homecoming, but they were also preparing in between for the coming hostilities.
Rem requested the Dwarf to give her a detailed estimate.
“I’ll go draw one up immediately. Remodelin’ the carriage’ll take me around ten days though. The horses need to be prepared for the long trip too.”
“...Very well. That said, I will compare your estimate to other c
oaches around the city.”
“Gahaha! Ya really are a first-rate Adventurer, ain’t ya? No pullin’ tricks on ya! I’ll warn ya though, I’m the best in terms of quality!”
“...Heh... I will take that into account.”
Rem really was priceless when it came to negotiations.
Having finished their business, Rem and Diablo prepared to leave the shop. As he opened the metal door for them to leave, the Dwarf asked one last time, as if to make sure:
“By the by, ya sure ya don’t want the ale barrel?”
Interlude
Horn was allowed to pursue the path of the Sorcerer.
Horn went out into the common room, bags all packed. Rem sat there alone, reading a book on a sofa. Raising her head, she smiled at Horn’s appearance.
“...So that’s the Sorcerer’s Academy’s uniform. It looks very good on you.”
“Really!?”
“...I need to take care of Shera so I can’t escort you, but...do take care.”
“I will. Will Shera be okay?”
“...She’s well enough to be picky about her food. I’m just about ready to kick her out of bed, but we still have to wait for the carriage.”
“I see...”
Stagecoaches ran along Lyferia’s highways, but the Kingdom of Greenwood was a secluded area, and the Dark Elves’ territory was seen as dangerous, so they didn’t dare go that far. But it wasn’t a distance Diablo’s group could cover by foot either. To resolve this issue, Diablo decided to use the reward he received from the Church to buy a carriage, but remodeling the frame and preparing the horses would take ten days. For how much of a hassle it was, their journey would be made easier by it.
Horn wanted to go along with them to the Elven Kingdom, but...
“You guys take care.”
“...Of course. We’ll come see you at the academy before we leave.”
“Whoa, thanks! Oh, hmm, by the way...where’s Boss?”
“...Who knows? He’s been out since this morning. He knows you’re leaving today... I’m sure he’s got something in mind.”
“Yeah, I think so too.”
“...Maybe he’s just afraid to meet you because he doesn’t want to say goodbye.”
“Huuuh!? But Boss is a Demon Lord!”
How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord: Volume 7 Page 4