Teleportation or transmigration?

Galan felt like he had been on a giant swing ride several times in a row; his head was throbbing. He slowly squatted up from the ground, and suddenly everything went black. His vision was filled with static like snowflakes, and he couldn't see anything clearly. It was as if someone had suddenly emptied the blood from his brain.

Galan gently placed his hand on his forehead, suppressing his discomfort as he turned his head and said:

"Frieren, do you have any magic that can cure dizziness?"

His words were met only with boundless silence.

What's with this aloof attitude?

Weren't you just talking to me?

No... that's not how it works...

He hurriedly rubbed his eyes a couple of times, barely managing to clear his vision, only to suddenly realize that Frieren and Lia, who had been behind him, were gone, along with their presence, completely vanishing from his senses. Even the surrounding scenery had become extremely unfamiliar; it was no longer the open land in the forest, but a Barren Weedy Field.

The stone tablet that was just in front of me has vanished, leaving only a pile of rubble on the ground. What happened?

How did I get here?

He repeatedly recalled what had just happened, but his memory only remained at the moment he touched the [Goddess's Stone Monument]. Then, a golden light flashed before his eyes, and everything around him changed; the two women also disappeared.

"Could it be that I've traveled through time again? Or is it some kind of long-distance teleportation magic? Could they have been affected as well?"

Because he was originally a soul transmigrated into this world, Galan was already experienced with such bizarre events. He quickly calmed himself down and was no longer flustered by this sudden change. Instead, he became worried about the disappearing Frieren and Lia.

"If touching that stone tablet is the trigger condition, then only I should be affected..."

They should still be in that place.

His hand unconsciously touched the Alchemy Longsword on his back, and the solid feel of it brought him an indescribable sense of security.

Fortunately, the knife is still there; if we encounter any danger, at least we'll still have a fighting chance.

In this unfamiliar situation, Galan's immediate priority is to find someone, gather information, and figure out his current predicament. If it was teleportation, where had he been transported to? If it was time travel...::... In his current state, how could he possibly travel?

As for Lia and the others:

With Frieren around, there's no need to worry too much.

But then I think about this godforsaken place, where am I supposed to find someone...?

"Damn it! The more I think about it, the angrier I get! Those nobles in Weise are inhuman! They actually raised the customs fees and taxes by another 20%, are they trying to kill us all?"

A blond merchant with a string of emerald-green gems around his neck sat in front of the carriage, speaking angrily. The armored knight walking beside him removed his helmet, tucked it under his arm, and placed one hand on the hilt of his sword, revealing a helpless expression.

"Boss, you've already cursed them out several times along the way, aren't you still angry? We're sick of hearing it."

"Tell me, how can I tolerate this? They take a little here and a little there. If it only happened once, I could tolerate it, but those nobles don't even know how to deal with each other. I entered through the South Gate and exited through the North Gate, and they actually took bribes from me three times!"

"What a bunch of vampires! It's said that not long ago, Lord Guluc's son was assassinated for speaking up for the people at a meeting, falling off a balcony..."

"Ha... In this world, it's tough to make money and it's a nightmare... Why would the higher-ups care about us lowly workers doing the dirty work?"

With another long sigh, the merchant stopped his rambling, seemingly having vented his emotions and calmed down again, silently cracking his whip to urge his horse on.

Despite knowing that his old friend had suffered a great injustice, what could he, as an ordinary Mercenary Group leader, say?

Everyone here is a victim of hardship, barely surviving in this era through sheer struggle and hardship. Even if they suffer immense injustice, at least they are much better off than ordinary people Weise who can't even afford to eat. Since the Demon King's Army launched its war against humanity, the constant warfare has not only shrunk human territory but also caused countless families to be torn apart and lives lost. In this era where everyone is in danger, the mere wish to "survive" seems incredibly luxurious, let alone "live well."

The blond merchant, who had the right to do business in the North Fortress City [Weise], could be considered a leader in this industry. After all, the closer one got to the North, the greater the probability of encountering the Demon King's Army, and the greater the risk. But the reward was proportional to the risk, and they made a fortune on every trip before the tax increase.

In recent years, many people have been afraid to do business in the North because of several cases of caravans being intercepted and killed by Demons on the road, which has made many merchants terrified and caused them to give up their business in the North.

They just wanted to make money, not risk their lives. Under such circumstances, the blond merchant, with his extraordinary courage, repeatedly carried supplies through dangerous areas to the North, earning his first pot of gold. He also obtained a business license from Lord Guluc of [Weise], which allowed him to build his caravan to its current state and completely establish his name, Frog.

"How about I lower the escort fee this time? We haven't encountered any danger along the way anyway."

"Lancelot, we merchants value the spirit of contracts above all else. Since we agreed on a price from the beginning, let's stick to that price... Besides, I wasn't implying anything; I was just simply angry..."

Frog said calmly, seemingly transforming back into the decisive and powerful man he once was in business, a man whose word was law. Even Lancelot, who had spent years licking blood from the edge of a knife, felt a subtle but palpable sense of authority from him.

"Ha, I know your temper, after all, I've been hanging out with you for so many years."

It really was many years, a very long time, so long that Lancelot forgot he was leading a Mercenary Group, not Frog personal bodyguards.

However, the fees offered by Frog over the years were far higher than what they could earn by taking on commissions. Mercenaries who were already struggling to make money had no reason to refuse this big spender. But the only thing that puzzled Lancelot for a long time was the trust Frog had placed in him. Whenever he brought it up, the answer he received was always the inexplicable and unfounded reason, "I have a good eye for people."

What a strange person...:::: Isn't he afraid of ending up with a bunch of bandits who will fatten him up and then eat him?

Seeing that Frog didn't say anything more and was only focused on driving, Lancelot silently put his helmet back on. Then, his large hand on the hilt of the sword exerted a slight force, and the silver blade was exposed to the air.

"Well, it seems I have to take back what I said earlier.:::: This journey hasn't been so peaceful after all."