An hour later, we set off. Rolan sets the pace, although he pays attention to whether I can keep up or not. This will be the longest distance I've ever walked in my life. Gram explained to me that it's about one hundred kilometers. At least that's my estimate, converted from the numbers he gave me. He had to explain the relation between a league and a pace, and I think I earned strange looks for not even knowing that but I played it off with being a sheltered noble daughter who was brought up to be married off one day, so there was no need for knowledge, only etiquette. Not that I have any of that, though.

The bard already explained to me that it would be an uneventful journey since the roads are well maintained, and there are no monsters around for the most part. There aren't even many bandits since the kingdom is quite peaceful. So, a dull, backwater country that's far from strife and doesn't know many hardships. Hm, my story about being attacked by bandits seems a little unbelievable when I hear that there have been very few incidents in recent years. For me to be attacked near that village seems quite strange. Luckily, nobody is thinking that... I hope.

And thus, the first day passes without a hitch. Well, I indirectly teased Luna enough for her to become so angry that she stopped talking to Rolan. I wouldn't have ever done something like that in my previous life, but for some reason, I'm really into it right now. That's what you get for making me misunderstand your relationship in the first place! Serves you right!

Uh, I've become such a bitch.

The next day, the same continues. I learn more about the people I'm traveling with, as expected. Rolan wanted to be a baker before, but seeing the suffering brought about by the corruption of the demon lord, he decided to change his dreams. Gram grew up as the son of a lumberjack, so it explains his big body. He was meant to take over the family business, but when his father and his crew were killed by a wild beast affected by corruption, the business was practically destroyed. Therefore, he decided to become someone who could protect those dear to him. Luna... doesn't talk to me. The bard... is a bard.

I feel like it's a waste of time to remember all their stories. When we part eventually, we'll either never see each other again, or be enemies at the time. Rather than their dreams and aspirations, I'd like to know their weaknesses. But they are actually weak, so I don't really need to learn them, either.

The journey remains uneventful; we pass by or through a few small villages along the way, none larger than the one we stayed a night in, and buy supplies. I'm feeling really hungry, but I suppress the feeling. Last night, I couldn't simply steal off to hunt something for myself since someone was on watch, and the meals I'm provided with may be enough for a human, but not for a growing Crawling Chaos. I still don't know the right balance for my food... but I need something soon.

Finally, on the second night, an opportunity provides itself. Gram has guard duty for the first shift, but I had some alcohol with him, and he fell asleep. I guess the area is safe enough for someone to let their guard down like this even when on night watch. We're beside a pasture used by these multicolored sheep for grazing. I steal away from the camp and quickly transform into a Vularen once out of sight. Following the scent of the sheep, I find the farm they belong to and sneak into the barn. I'm greeted by nervous bleating. Ahhh, so many little sheep, ready for the slaughter.

Itadakimasu!

I'm back before Rolan takes over the second shift, a dozen sheep inside me, slowly dissolving and satisfying my craving for sustenance. Sorry, farmer, but I left you a few. I'm sure you won't go out of business over this, right? Nothing connects to me and this group of adventurers since the farm was sufficiently far away. It took me quite a bit of time in the form of a Vularen, which runs as fast as a horse. And even if someone tracked the footprints, they could only be attributed to a giant Wulfar in these parts. Well, have fun chasing this ghostly wolf beast. You'll never find it though.

When we wake up in the morning and have breakfast, I may appear weirdly satisfied with only a single piece of bread and some dried ham. Rolan and Gram look at each other with questioning expressions. Hey, I'm not a glutton, alright? Stop judging me by your first impression of me. Well, they dismiss it with a shrug. It's easier on their funds after all.

The bard shows me our position on the map. We're very close to our destination, and he says that we made significant progress, against all expectations. Basically, he means I could keep up well, while they had expected me to require breaks all the time. I may not look like it now, but I was in the track and field club. I can run an Olympic-distance marathon in a little under two and a half hours. That's the best in Japan at my age.

Thus, we reach Hovsgaerden in the early afternoon. It's a small city with walls, although they don't look very well maintained. I guess national peace and distance to international aggressors does that to a country. There're gate guards, but they don't seem to pay much attention to the people going in and out of the city. Gram greets them in a friendly manner, and they wave back. He seems to be famous as many street vendors greet him, and some even give him things for free.

When I think about it, he's the most interesting person in this whole group. Rolan seems just like the average Gary Stu protagonist of a fantasy story. Luna is the typical mage in love with the hero. The bard is a bard. Gram doesn't look like the typical secondary character, has an outgoing personality that makes him endearing even to me - who has no reason to become friends with these people - and he has the mentality of a gentlemanly protector. The fact that he wields a shield and no weapon reinforces that image. Don't tell me, that's my type? That can't be! But neither is Rolan... What about the bard, you ask? Hahahaha... no.

"Alright, I'll go to the Guild and get our reward. You guys go stock up on supplies. Then we meet in the Dancing Dragon to discuss our next move." Rolan has the head of the Wulfar wrapped up and strapped to his backpack. It serves as evidence for the kill. It's obvious that Luna's going to join him at the guild, even though it doesn't require two people. So, who do I go with?

Going with the couple might become interesting if I can mess around with Luna, but I've done a lot of that during our journey, and getting the same responses are becoming tiresome. I'll need to break the habit with something more extreme soon. Being alone with the bard would be plain annoying, so that's out, too.

With the big and handsome mustached bald man, it is.