Journey

It was the third day since they left Streamwood Town. Nearly forty carriages showcased the immense strength of the Apocaya Merchant Guild. Including the caravan's own guards and employees, plus three mercenary groups, the personnel numbered close to two hundred.

Havent sat in one of the carriages, chatting casually with Paimon, who rode alongside him.

"Paimon, do you know what the guild usually transports? There's quite a lot of stuff."

Paimon, with a blade of grass in his mouth, seemed listless. Wells had ordered no alcohol, which clearly affected him.

"Haa~"

Paimon let out a huge yawn and said lazily, "It's nothing more than potions, magic crystals, monster materials, that sort of thing. They come to the North Territory to purchase supplies once every year before the snow falls."

After hearing Paimon's answer, Havent slowly nodded.

"Hiss~ That must cost a lot of money. Why don't they have their own guard team? They hire outsiders, isn't that very risky?"

"I don't know about that. Maybe they're just rich."

It was nearing evening.

The orange-red sunset had descended close to the mountain range on the horizon. A few scattered clouds were gradually turning red in the sunset. It was deep autumn, and the weeds along the roadside had already turned yellow. Stirred by the gentle breeze, they rippled like waves, surging back and forth.

Havent sat at the back of the carriage, his back against a cargo box, watching the scenery slowly recede. He felt the evening breeze caressing his face and squinted his eyes contentedly.

"Prepare to set up camp~"

A mercenary on horseback rode over from the front and spoke to Wells, who was clad in iron armor.

The caravan slowly came to a halt. Havent stood up, stretched, and jumped off the carriage, intending to relieve himself nearby. After only a few steps, he heard a sound and turned back, only to find Paimon following him.

"You need to pee too?"

Paimon nodded and quickly followed. The two walked side-by-side towards the small grove not far away.

"Hey, Will, I know there's a hot spring around here. Let's go soak later."

"Is that okay? Is there even such a service in the wild?"

Paimon threw an arm around Havent's shoulder and rolled his eyes.

"What are you talking about? It's an outdoor, natural hot spring."

"Oh, oh~ If we sneak out now while they're setting up camp, it might not be good. If we don't work, your uncle won't let you drink alcohol later."

Paimon tossed his bangs aside with a flourish.

"It's fine, I already hid the alcohol. Let's go, let's go. I'm telling you, you'll regret it if you don't soak in that hot spring."

Havent zipped up his pants and followed Paimon's footsteps, half-believing him.

Ten minutes later.

"Holy crap, Paimon, it really is comfortable~"

"Right? Right? I'm telling you, my uncle brought me here. If only there was some alcohol. I should have snuck some out earlier."

The two youths, bare-chested, soaked in a hot spring about twenty square meters in size. The rising steam opened Havent's pores, and the fatigue from sitting in the carriage all day vanished.

Hearing his friend's desire for alcohol, Havent raised his right hand, and the ring on his index finger glowed slightly.

"Here~ Catch."

Seeing a dark object fly over, Paimon quickly sat up in the hot spring and fumbled to catch it. Once steady, he looked at it.

"Holy crap! Will, where did this come from?"

Havent submerged his entire body in the water, leaving only his head exposed.

"I made a wish to Aladdin, and then the wine appeared."

Paimon held the wine bottle and examined it closely, trying to decipher the writing on its surface.

"Aladdin? Which deity is that? I've never heard of them."

"Aladdin~ Aladdin is..."

"Never mind, there are so many deities, I wouldn't know even if you told me. Haa~~~ Will, this wine is really delicious~"

Paimon, guzzling the wine bottle, had lost interest in learning about this Aladdin. He was already immersed in the exquisite taste of the Black Thorn wine Havent had brought from Baiman City.

"Hey~ Drink slower, leave some for me."

Seeing Paimon had already finished the second bottle and was about to reach for the third, Havent rolled over to snatch it.

"Burp~~~~"

After finishing his drink, Paimon soaked comfortably in the hot spring and let out a loud burp.

Havent grabbed the wine bottle and shook it. The damned guy had drunk all four bottles.

"Paimon, we should probably head back. Speaking of which, how did Uncle Wells find this place?"

Glancing around, Havent heard no response. He turned his head to look. This idiot had drunk too fast and was getting drowsy from soaking in the hot spring.

Seeing Paimon about to fall asleep, Havent stood up, walked over, and patted Paimon's face.

"Hey~ Wake up, don't sleep here, you'll catch a cold."

A slight stinging sensation on his face, Paimon struggled to open his eyes. Seeing his good friend in front of him, he grinned widely.

"Hey~ Will, what are you doing here? Let me tell you, there's an open-air hot spring nearby, it's pretty great. I'll take you..."

Seeing Paimon, who was already delirious, Havent shook his head speechlessly. He walked to the rock, put on his clothes first, then returned and pulled Paimon, who had fallen asleep in the hot spring, out.

Paimon, lying on the ground like a dead pig, didn't move. Havent spent a tremendous amount of effort finally getting Paimon's clothes on.

Watching Paimon snoring loudly, Hailan hesitated for a moment before picking up his good brother and heading towards the camp.

Just as Havent was huffing and puffing, carrying Paimon away, a pair of blood-red eyes in the woods not far from the hot spring watched their retreating backs.

After walking a few hundred meters, Paimon, who had been bouncing around with Havent, suddenly sat up. Immediately, Havent felt a warm sensation on his backside.

Putting down Paimon, who was retching uncontrollably, Havent looked back. There was a large wine stain on his backside. Angered, Havent kicked Paimon's rear.

After vomiting a few more times, Paimon finally sobered up. He looked at the ground, then at his good friend's backside, and gave an embarrassed laugh.

"Hey, Will, your wine is really something."

He looked at the ground again and said regretfully, "It just didn't stay in my stomach for long. How about we go back and rinse again?"

Havent rolled his eyes at Paimon and unceremoniously reached out to pull him up.

"Let's go! You rascal, I should have just left you there and let your uncle come pick you up."

Seeing Havent still angry, Paimon awkwardly scratched his head and said placatingly to Havent:

"Don't be angry, Will. We're good brothers. There are wolves here. What if I get eaten by a wolf if you leave me behind?"

Seeing Will still ignoring him, Paimon was a bit confused. His good friend wasn't usually this petty.

"I'll treat you to a big meal in the next town, Will. What's wrong... huh?"

Just as he was about to say a few more words to appease his good friend, he suddenly felt Havent grip his arm tightly.

"Shh, don't talk, run!"