Carb Sears (R) 65

Chapter 65 – Migratory Birds in Summer.

Perhaps in the peaceful tumultuous life he never wanted to get out of, Usher could feel a small hand caressing his hair. Knowing that this touch was Belka’s attempt to wake him up, he shook off the silent soma that kept pulling him back and opened his eyes.

“Usher.”

Then, as always, the girl who looked at him with a gentle golden light and called her name affectionately was waiting. Usher smiled bashfully as he met her eyes.

“Good morning. Belka.”

Belka never tried to force him to wake up. Just when it was time to get up, I touched him like this and stroked him carefully. Usher liked that kind and gentle touch. Because she seemed to ooze from that touch how much she valued herself. As he slept, Usher rubbed his hair against her touch and frolicked to his heart’s content before realizing that the clothes the girl was wearing today were different.

“When did you change your clothes?”

Belka usually wears clothes close to black or red, so the white outfit she was wearing stood out more. Was it because she was always the one she wore in dark tones? Dressed in plain white clothes with no particular features, Belka looked thinner than usual. She was like a witch in a fairy tale, but today she is like a neat girl. She blushed and averted her gaze as Usher glared at Belka’s unconventional appearance.

“Ah, this.”
“I changed.”

The voice that answered before Belka’s was Sif’s. When I look at her, I am puzzled by her somehow awkward voice.

“I don’t know what you did yesterday, but I thought you might catch a cold because you sweat a lot.”
“Ah.”

At her words, Usher remembered what he and Belka had done last night, and her face grew hot. Have you ever been caught? Looking at her, she held out another pair of white clothes.

“Well, if you don’t have clothes to change into, would you change into these?”

The clothes she put on her were white, like Belka was wearing, but with a top and bottom split. It was hard to say that it was soft and smooth to the touch, but it still feels like new. When I went back to the back of the folding screen in the corner and put it on, it was comfortable to move around because it was wide and there was no place to hang it. It was not strange that it was made as thin as the clothes you wear when taking a bath. She was rather glad that she had disassembled it into a cloth to cover her head to avoid the sunlight as she rode through the wilderness on horseback.

“By the way, who was wearing this?”

Usher asked, relieved that Sif didn’t know what they did yesterday. If Belka had seen Sif stare at her silently and then turned her head away with a swish, she would have known it was odd, but he believed Sif innocently. He seemed oblivious to it, but Usher was being particularly friendly towards Sif. Perhaps it is because she bears a striking resemblance to her Mari, who was like her family to Usher. The mood was quite different, but since they were both rare blonde hair and emerald eyes, it was all the more strange that she didn’t look at them from his point of view.

There were plenty of upper class people and kids who wanted to be friends with Belka or Usher. There was no way that the kids wouldn’t be interested in the unfamiliar children of their age who appeared on the boring trip, and there was no way that the boys, who had just awakened to interest in the opposite sex, wouldn’t be interested in Belka’s promising future. But they, especially Usher, reacted harshly. I wonder if it’s because of her lively personality that I don’t think so, but I’m shy.

Excluding Belka, such Usher shows the kindest side to Sif and Donnar, even those of the upper ranks who have just met can easily tell. At least, he was able to talk to Donnar’s friend, Shalby, without hesitation. There was no way Sif didn’t know that. She had a crush on her Usher as she did. If a child who is harsh with everyone else is kind to herself, she might not be able to not like her, but apart from that, Sif liked Usher, who shines when he looks at him and reveals his crush.

If her Belka comforted her like a gentle hug, her Usher comforted her with her clear eyes full of pure kindness. I don’t know how comforting her own actions must have been to her.

“It wasn’t worn by anyone else, it was made for patients.”

Since the treatment is really troublesome when the scab is hardened due to a wound or something intertwined with the clothes, there are only a few piles of clothes left to change into like this. There was also a reason why there were quite a few people who died without a chance to even wear clothes like this. Sif may have been in the mood, but after meeting these children, he felt that he had fewer encounters with dangerous creatures. Then Donnar opened the door and came in.

“Sif, the kids… Oh, are you awake. I was about to leave for breakfast anyway.”

Come to think of it, today was the day I had to go sell stuff. I really liked this place. Usher sighed at her regret.

“It’s not like I won’t be back, so don’t be too sad. You have to have money here to settle down, right?”

Fortunately, there is a city with many people not far from this town, so it seems that you don’t have to go far. In fact, the dwarves in this mining town often interact with nearby cities to sell goods or special products, so they give you maps and show you the way. Instead, some people, including patients who need stability and doctor Truss, will remain in the village. It is said that if you sell your goods and collect money, those who will come back and stay will stay here or disperse to other places.

“That’s what it is.”
“That means the top is dismantled.”

Usher seemed to know why he was saying this. He told me to think about living with them until I sell all my stuff and raise money for people to settle down. A thought I had forgotten about yesterday came back to me.

“Are you ready to leave already? You must be diligent early in the morning.”

Donar wanted to say that you guys are very diligent in what the dwarf Faryaar said as if he was sorry. Apparently, there were quite a few coachmen holding on to their heads slightly dizzy from a hangover, as they had been told to drink alcohol yesterday. It was not a problem for them to drive a wagon with such a hangover, but they planned to leave in the morning after taking a little rest to relieve their hangover. However, the dwarves woke up at dawn looking fine, as if they had no hangovers, and it looked like they packed their equipment and went to work.

The dwarfs who had been drinking happily yesterday seemed to get tired of seeing the dwarves who went to work as if there was no problem with their work, as if they were all different people, even though they had lived as knights in their own way in their hometown. Yesterday was said to be a party, but it is doubtful whether they have such a party every evening. And besides, the sight he found next made Donard really doubt his eyes. He asked, holding Git by the shoulder who seemed to have been watching first.

“Hey, Git, I’m not looking at anything wrong, am I?”
“I thought that too, but seeing what you see with your eyes, it seems like it’s not in vain.”

The sight they saw was truly astonishing. Next to Truth, who had been dragged away by the dwarves yesterday, a woman who seemed to have just grown up was chattering happily in front of Truth. Although she was short, like a child, she had the perfect dwarf look because of her air and body type, which made it clear that she was an adult. Truss was also dazed and unable to speak properly, and she looked like she was holding onto the woman and begged them for help.

“Hey, what’s for breakfast today?”
“I think it’s bean sprout soup.”

I just ignored Truth’s expression as if I was looking at a traitor. Thinking that spring will come to Truss as well. The opponent is a bit small, but it will work somehow. Barely hoping that pulling the carriage would be less, but having to drive it again made Donar’s back hurt for no reason. The cause seems to be Sif, not the carriage, but he told Git.

“Git, lend me a cushion later. My back hurts when driving the carriage.”
“No! Bitch! What kind of cushion is that!”

As expected, Git did not lend a cushion, even as a joke. He didn’t expect much, though.

“A little bit.”
“Go away!”

When the dwarfs went to work and the sun rose in the middle of the sky, the people at the top became busy. Truce, who had to take care of the remaining patients, was captured by a woman and looked at them as they left with a look of help, but the coachmen and Donnar, who were staring at them, turned away.

“Well, that’s a good time.”

The dangerous cloud zone had already passed and Geet, who had been by his side, was no longer on duty because he was not on duty today. But he sighed at the sight of the road winding and repeating itself.

“I passed through the cloud zone, but when there was a road like this. Is it on duty?”

The carriage was going down the road along an unknown number of winding and winding roads, not going down at once. It was really boring to go around the road many times that it would have gone down if it had been made in a straight line. Thanks to this, it was also a notorious road among coachmen. However, if you make a mountain road like this in a straight line, something big will happen, so you have no choice but to endure it. Still, the city was certainly not far away, so they arrived shortly thereafter.

Even though there were only two huge walls he passed through, did he build another wall to divide the city? It was an incomprehensible appearance, but anyway, it seemed to be inspecting separately here, so I sent a signal and stopped the carriage.

“What are you here for?”

Would it be rude if the look of the guards, who were tense at the sight of them, reminded me of my recruit days? As he was the leader, he held out the ascending permit and the plaque he had been issued by the gray dwarf and kept in his bosom.

“…Permission? I thought you came to declare war from another territory?”

The sentry’s murmur made him understand why they looked so nervous. Come to think of it, the wagon they pulled was too big and heavy to be seen as a simple uphill journey. Like a tank that would only be used in war. And I realized why the gray dwarf had looked at them so suspiciously in the first place. How to say To put it bluntly, their strength was too much to call them simple guild members. In addition, in certain situations, there were not one, but two knights who could deal with crayfish, which were more difficult than dragons.

‘It’s good that I didn’t get kicked out!’

It was obviously small by their standards, but unless there were exceptions such as large countries like Pacifenia or Lantua or holy places, their power was comparable to that of most city-states with a little exaggeration. Realizing that fact belatedly, I was breaking out in a cold sweat, so I smiled wryly at the sight of the sentry carrying a permit with a stamp of approval. As he watched the castle gate begin to open soon, he suddenly had a question.

‘Then what on earth did that dwarf see about us and give us permission?’

Granting permission was certainly a good thing, but the nameless favor felt somewhat uncomfortable.

“Wow.”

The city was more lively than Usher had imagined. Crowds of people filled the wide streets in the scorching sunlight. Knowing that no matter how many people in the countryside gather together, he can barely fill a narrower street corner, and it was amazing to see so many people. Above all, the appearance of the dwarfs who were not bored among people was particularly different from the sights Usher had seen so far, so he could not easily take his eyes off them.

Usher and Belka thought that the conditions were still insufficient to stay in the mining town, and that it would be better to follow them rather than to a place where there were many strangers, so they followed them despite feeling sorry for them. However, despite such regret, Usher was soon distracted by the splendid appearance of the city. If the buildings of the mining town had the style of a large sculpture, this city was impressive with the densely packed buildings and the merchants bargaining here and there.

“If you’re that curious, why don’t you come and play?”

Donard invited him with a smile, since he was a country boy.

“Is it okay if I don’t help?”
“It’s okay man. The other kids have already gone to play, so you guys can go and play too.”
“But.”

Usher was hesitant, but Donnar spoke with a feigned annoyance.

“Uh-huh, even if you guys help me, other people say I’m cursing at me for pampering me. Hurry up and come back. Don’t go to dangerous places.”

Usher didn’t fall easily, but he walked down the street holding the girl’s hand in his bluff. Is it because of the news that the top has come? The streets that were already crowded with people became even more crowded after they came. Previously, there was at least a road for carriages to pass through, but now it is full of people whose eyes shine with curiosity. Even after arriving in the city, I ran for a long time and stopped only when a wide area came out, and it must have been for this reason.

While touring the city like that, the place that caught my eye was an exceptionally small one-room store that had many leather pieces piled up in a drawer. In front of him was an old man dozing in a chair with a tent attached to a building blocking the sunlight.

“Belka, do you know what you’re doing over there?”

Then, the girl’s gaze turned to the place where his fingertips pointed. Belka seldom took off her mask, but she could see where she was looking. The girl stared at her old man for a moment and at the leather scraps piled up behind him before opening her mouth.

“Yeah, it’s like making shoes.”
“With leather? Wouldn’t it be weak?”
“I don’t think so.”

In the case of Usher’s place, shoes were usually made of straw or wood, so it was strange to see them like that. Not all of the townsfolk seemed to be wearing leather shoes, but most seemed to be wearing leather shoes.

“Shall I buy one?”

Come to think of it, he and Belka were wearing straw shoes with holes drilled in the wooden soles. In fact, since the girl went barefoot, she was a present from him long ago, but seeing that, she wanted to give her something better.

“No. We haven’t even found a place to stay yet.”
“Oh right.”

But what came back from the girl was a small bruise. If you think about it, the first thing they had to prepare was a place to stay. If I were to stay here for a short time, I would have to stay at a place like an inn, but considering the cloud zone, I felt I had no choice but to move in a way to join the top. And you will have to spend money considering the market price here. I worried about the thought that if I did it wrong, I might not be enough.

“Hey, Grandpa!”

He shouted as he led Belka towards the old man.

“Usher…?!”

The girl called out to him in embarrassment, but the dozed off old man raised his head in surprise at the sound of his cry. He stood in front of such an old man.

“How much is a pair of shoes?”
“Hum, are you thinking of giving it to the wife and children behind you?”

Asked the old man, squinting his eyes through the round spectacles and looking alternately between him and his girl.

“Yes.”
“Ooh, Usher.”

Usher answered without hesitation, and Belka grabbed the hem of his clothes as if complaining, but he tried to ignore it. What I can’t explain is that this was his stubbornness. The old man, who had been watching them for a while with a puzzled expression, took out a leather plate from one of the drawers. It’s neat as new, but it might have deserved to be called a piece of leather because he’s already used it so many times and it’s tattered with scissors. The old man put it on a small workbench in front of him.

“Sweetheart, take a look at her feet.”
“Come on, Belka, hurry up.”

Even through the mask she could feel her girl’s dissatisfied gaze at him, but Usher calmly urged her on, hiding her cold sweat. Then, as if she couldn’t help it, Belka put her foot on her leather plate.

“Your wife has pretty feet.”

The old man muttered to himself as if talking to himself, his calloused skin cracked like the bark of a tree trunk, and holding an ink pen with a stone-hard hand, he traced the pattern around the girl’s feet. When the pattern was finished, he lifted up the leather plate and said,

“At this level, it will cost about 156 fairy tales.”
“Huh? A fairy tale?”

Fairy tale, is this place not using iron? Besides, Usher asked with a troubled mind if he was trying to buy something really expensive.

“Doesn’t iron coin handle separately?”

Then the old man, who had been bowing his head, looked at him with wide eyes.

“If it’s an iron war.”

He briefly bounced a board-like object with several wooden marbles hanging on it, making it come and go, then asked him.

“Could you show me an iron coin? It’s exactly the same as the ones you’re holding.”
“Ah yes.”

At that, Usher handed him one of the iron coins he had brought earlier. I can’t tell if it’s exactly the same, but the iron coins I’ve collected in the village are the same enough that I can’t tell the difference by eye. The old man took an iron coin from him and took out a scale. Then, he placed an iron coin on one side of the scale, put a large and small weight on the other side, and put it down, repeating.

“An ounce… Isn’t enough.”

Then he bounced the wooden beads on the wooden board a few more times and said.

“If all the iron coins you’re holding are about the same. Twelve iron coins are enough.”
“Oh, then I’ll give it to you!”
“Hmm, it takes about a day to make, so I’ll leave 6 jeon as an advance payment. I’ll get the rest next time.”

For that reason, they had to return empty-handed.

“It wasn’t even necessary. Why did you spend money on it?”

Belka’s dissatisfied look was only Usher’s responsibility, though. However, at the girl’s stinging gaze, he averted his eyes and made an excuse that he couldn’t help it.

“But I always want to give Belka something better.”

He realized that when he closed his eyes and spoke, the girl’s nagging was gone.

“Cadet…”

Even though Belka had a mask covering her face, she couldn’t look at him properly, as if trying to hide her blush.