The others in the carriage were also rather bewildered. They simply could not think of anyone else here who knew magic.
But then, in the very next instant...
Everyone could not help turning in unison toward the farthest corner of the carriage.
Though it seemed a little unbelievable, as the saying went, once all the wrong answers had been eliminated, however incredible the remaining answer might be, it was the only truth.
When everyone's eyes fell on him, Luo Ge promptly stepped forward. "Um... I'm very sorry, but it was actually my pet that started the fire just now?"
"Huh? So it was your pet. Could you keep a closer eye on it?"
"Seriously... it nearly burned down the carriage."
Soldat, who had easily subdued the baby Red Dragon with one hand, frowned. He had originally intended to dispatch the fire-breathing monster that had invaded the carriage with a casual slash.
However, after hearing that it was Luo Ge's pet, he merely grumbled under his breath before tossing it back.
"Newbie!"
"Keep an eye on your pet next time. If this lizard-looking monster... comes out and starts another fire, I won't go easy on it."
"All right. I'll be careful."
Luo Ge nodded earnestly.
Before long, everyone's attention in the carriage returned to Luo Ge, and they began talking among themselves.
"I really didn't expect this kid to be a magician who could cast without chanting. I completely misjudged him."
"When I saw that battered sword at his waist, I thought he was a swordsman."
"Turns out he's a magician who carries a blade. He really keeps his abilities hidden."
After all, a magician so young had managed to act before several experienced adventurers. Everyone found that rather unbelievable.
The swordsmen might not have thought much of it, but the three magicians knew full well the value of Voiceless Magic.
Soldat, the party leader, suddenly leaned over in curiosity and looked the Red Dragon hatchling in Luo Ge's arms up and down.
"By the way, newbie, what kind of monster is that pet of yours? It's pretty unusual. A lizard monster with a skill like breathing fire!"
"Ahahaha! That little thing nearly burned Big Brother Soldat's ass! That's hilarious!"
"This is a dark chapter in our leader's past. Don't go telling everyone about it."
"Hey, what's wrong with you people? The carriage nearly burned down, and you're still laughing? I seriously can't believe you guys!"
"We can't help it! It's not every day we get to see our leader get the short end of the stick! But seriously, can you still sit on that ass?"
Someone in the party joked about helping heal Soldat's backside, and the leader immediately lost his composure.
His face flushed red as he stubbornly insisted, "Are you kidding? A little injury like this is nothing!"
Despite his tough talk, he clearly clutched his backside and bared his teeth when he sat down.
Nearby, someone suddenly muttered, "Hey, did you notice? That newbie's pet monster looked a little like a Red Dragon."
"Now that you mention it, it really does look a bit like one..."
"But how could that possibly be?"
"What Red Dragon? You must all be drunk to spout nonsense like that. Red Dragons are S-rank monsters. We've never heard of anyone in human history successfully taming one."
"If you ask me... it's just a lizard monster that can breathe fire, at most."
"Exactly! Maybe that color was secretly painted on with some rare pigment."
Clearly, none of them regarded the little creature as a Red Dragon.
A Red Dragon.
It was the most dangerous monster on the Central Continent, universally regarded as untamable since ancient times.
Luo Ge had been secretly following their conversation all along. He had been worried that if the Red Dragon hatchling's identity were exposed...
It might arouse these strangers' covetousness.
But he had not expected...
Things to receive such a perfect explanation so neatly.
Under the current circumstances...
Probably... even if he personally told them it was a Red Dragon, no one would believe him.
Come to think of it...
The baby Red Dragon really did resemble certain lizard-type monsters, especially in its infancy, so soon after hatching.
The resemblance was even stronger then.
Soldat suddenly patted Luo Ge on the shoulder. "Hey, I didn't expect you to actually have some skills, newbie. That spell just now was cast without chanting, wasn't it?"
"Yes, I am indeed a voiceless magician."
"Hey, if you're a magician, why don't you have a staff? What's with carrying two blades instead?"
"Well, isn't it perfectly reasonable for a magician like me to carry two blades for self-defense?" Luo Ge asked them.
"???"
That was everyone's response.
Of course, Luo Ge could not tell them that magic was merely his side job, while his main profession was being a swordsman.
"Haha, you're an interesting fellow."
Soldat rubbed his chin, seemingly thinking something over, before extending an olive branch. "Since you know magic, would you consider joining our party? Our Stepped-Leader party only has seven members right now, and we're rated as an A-rank adventurer party."
"In the future... I'm planning to expand further... into a larger group. Want to consider joining us?"
"Can I?"
"Yeah, no problem... A magical genius who can cast without chanting like you should be perfectly fine providing support from the back of the party."
"Hey, leader, we already have three magicians!" someone reminded him.
"What does that matter?"
Soldat waved a hand, then looked back at Luo Ge expectantly. "Newbie, made up your mind? Want to give it some serious thought?"
Luo Ge could tell that Soldat was looking out for him. Although the man spoke bluntly and harshly, and had even mocked Luo Ge for overestimating himself at first...
Beneath that rough exterior, he was unexpectedly a good person.
At least, Luo Ge had not sensed the slightest malice from him.
Perhaps another adventurer would have immediately accepted his unsolicited invitation.
But Luo Ge had no desire to pursue the path of an adventurer, so he ultimately just shook his head. "...I'm sorry. I have other things to do next, so I don't plan to join any party for now."
"I see..."
Soldat did not push him. He simply rubbed his chin and asked no further questions about it.
Still, he was a little curious, so he asked, "By the way, it doesn't seem right to keep calling you newbie. What was your name again?"
"I'm Rudeus Greyrat."
"Huh? Greyrat? That's a famous noble surname in Asura."
"Looks like you're pretty much what we guessed-a young noble who ran away from home."
"Say, why would a noble kid like you leave a comfortable life at home and come all the way to the northern Central Continent alone...?"
"Are you going to study at Ranoa University of Magic? But you seem a little too young for that, don't you?" Soldat was puzzled.
The others also turned curious gazes toward Luo Ge, just as puzzled as Soldat.
"I'm going to the Sword Sanctum to find a master and learn swordsmanship."
"What? You're a magician. Why go somewhere like the Sword Sanctum instead of Ranoa University of Magic?"
"To become a swordsman, of course."
"Huh?"
Everyone gaped, and some wore extremely strange expressions. This was utterly absurd.
Was he kidding?
A magical genius who could cast without chanting was going to the Sword Sanctum to become a swordsman instead of studying magic at Ranoa University of Magic.
Seriously...
Was that right? Did that make sense?
Still, since they were not well acquainted, they soon left the matter there.
The blond man named Soldat seemed to really enjoy looking after newcomers. He kept coming over and trying to strike up conversations with Luo Ge.
Despite Luo Ge's earlier refusal, Soldat showed no obvious displeasure.
Instead, throughout their journey... he kept giving Luo Ge, a novice adventurer, all sorts of warnings in the stern tone of an experienced hand.
He spoke at length about the basics of adventuring, the various monsters most commonly found in the northern Central Continent, and the relationships among the three great northern magic nations.
The northern Central Continent...
Primarily contained three countries: the Ranoa Kingdom, the Neris Duchy, and the Basherant Duchy, known as the three great magic nations.
The caravan's final destination this time was Rosenburg in the Basherant Duchy, a place with a large adventurer population. It was also the destination of Soldat and his companions.
They had accepted this commission because it was on their way.
"Though I don't know why a magician like you insists on going to the Sword Sanctum, as far as the journey goes..."
Soldat then placed particular emphasis on the precautions Luo Ge should take.
For instance, how he should travel to reach the Sword Sanctum in the safest and fastest way possible.
What types of monsters he might encounter along the way, and how he should deal with them in battle.
Watching him talk on and on at length, Luo Ge did not find him annoying.
On the contrary, Luo Ge listened very carefully.
In Soldat, Luo Ge seemed to see a shadow of Paul.
This adventurer named Soldat had the same qualities as someone like Paul. On the surface, he seemed awful, liked approaching people with sarcastic remarks, and had an impulsive personality.
But in reality... he unexpectedly enjoyed looking after others. He was the sort with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.