The caravan's journey remained mind-numbingly dull. They didn't even stop for lunch. Everyone just pulled out some dry rations and started chewing.
Even the horses only got a quick drink and a handful of soybeans before they were pressed onward again.
The journey finally came to a pause when they reached a ruined, half-collapsed watchtower near a water source. Only then did the caravan halt. Some people began resting, others stood watch, and a few started cooking dinner.
Ryuji unpacked his tent and began setting it up with Rosh's help.
It was only then that he noticed something odd—most of the adventurers didn't have tents at all. Even Sizki hadn't set one up. All she had was a blanket and a ground cloth.
While he and Rosh were busy pitching their tent, the other adventurers glanced their way with strange looks—curious, even mildly amused. It left him feeling vaguely unsettled.
Just as he was about to ask what was going on, Sizki approached with her arms crossed.
"Adventurers take turns on night watch," she explained, tone casual. "And tents… are more trouble than they're worth. If a monster attacks during the night, you won't notice it coming. Even if you do, it's harder to assess the situation or react quickly from inside a tent. So most adventurers at most bring a blanket and a mat—no tents."
After saying that, Sizki looked straight at Ryuji.
"The caravan leader expects to hire capable adventurers—people ready to fight at any time—not freeloaders lounging in tents and carriages like he is. Also, the three of us are on night watch duty today. Two hours, first half of the night. Not too bad."
Ryuji was a little speechless, but he had to admit—she had a point.
"Got it."
He gave a resigned thumbs-up and, with Rosh, began to take down the half-finished tent. Then the two of them started digging a fire pit to cook dinner.
Rosh didn't bother worrying about the tent anymore. She quickly opened the supply pack she'd bought with the funds Ryuji had given her, revealing an impressive assortment of items:
Dried tofu, flour, jerky, a variety of dried vegetables, spices—and even a jar of braised meat.
It was hard to imagine what kind of mindset these two had when preparing their supplies.
Sizki groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead in exasperation. Her tone carried a kind of helpless disbelief.
"Usually, adventurers bring only some rations and dried meat. When there's a chance to cook, we just boil some wild vegetables. You two... you're never going to break even with this kind of lifestyle. And overly strong smells in an unknown wilderness? That's just asking to attract monsters..."
She honestly didn't know what to say anymore. Those dried vegetables and jerky? Not cheap—enchanted with magic to preserve flavor and shelf life. And she'd even spotted dried squid in Rosh's supplies. That stuff was common on the west coast but still pricey.
Goblins and minotaurs considered things like spices and salt precious. There were plenty of incidents where adventurers were attacked solely because monsters wanted to steal their seasoning supplies.
"Huh?"
Rosh glanced at the braised meat already simmering in the pot, then at the half-dug tent pit. She looked up at Sizki, wide-eyed.
"Don't tell me... we have to throw this out too?"
Sizki sighed at the pitiful look on her face.
"No... you can keep it."
"Yes!" Rosh threw up her hands in joy.
Ryuji: "..."
So many rules. So many inconveniences. Such a rough lifestyle. Being an adventurer wasn't easy.
You couldn't even live a little better without causing problems.
Seriously, who would willingly choose this job?
"But with your kind of spending... you're probably blowing through all your earnings just to keep this up. Are you really here to be adventurers?"
Sizki sounded genuinely baffled. From the looks of it, Ryuji and Rosh seemed more like they were out on a picnic than risking their lives for a career.
"Well, it's... complicated," Ryuji replied, still stirring the pot in front of him. "I just want to experience real combat."
And grind some monsters along the way.
"I see... So you're not doing this for money." Sizki nodded, finally beginning to understand. "Then why not just hire a sword instructor? A decent one goes for just a few gold coins a month."
She looked him up and down thoughtfully. That made more sense now. But something still didn't add up. Ryuji didn't give off the vibe of a noble or someone from a wealthy household. He didn't have the polish, the posture. And he clearly wasn't professionally trained.
"There are... a lot of reasons," he said vaguely, not wanting to reveal anything unusual about himself. So instead, he changed the subject.
"But everyone has their reasons for becoming an adventurer, right? What about you? I'm curious—why did you become one?"
He had noticed Sizki didn't quite fit in with the rest of the adventurers. It wasn't just her serious attitude—it was her whole aura.
She tried to stay clean, composed, even elegant. She was courteous, thoughtful.
The others? Not so much.
Out of the corner of his eye, he scanned the adventurers nearby. Most looked scruffy, even downright filthy.
Sizki, by contrast, sat in a proper kneeling posture—graceful, dignified.
"As for me…" Sizki paused, caught off guard by the question. Her face didn't change much, but her tone grew quieter, more somber.
"I want to kill every last monster in this world. To avenge those who've lost loved ones because of them."
She turned her gaze to Rosh and Ryuji.
"What about you two?"
Rosh proudly raised her hand.
"To never go hungry again! And go back to the Demon Realm to help others never go hungry either!"
A rare smile spread across Sizki's face. She even reached out to pinch Rosh's nose affectionately.
"That's a wonderful goal."
Rosh giggled in delight, and both of them turned to Ryuji.
Immortality. Resurrection. A harem. Wealth beyond kingdoms. Eternal youth. Eat whatever I want and never gain weight. Never get sick...
All these thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. But looking at the two smiling faces in front of him, full of curiosity and innocence, he couldn't bring himself to say any of that.
Seriously, their dreams are so noble!
He screamed internally, then took a moment to think over their answers, pondered his words, and finally set down his spoon to reply with sincerity.
"Career, Love and Health."
~~~~~~~
Bonus chapter every 200 PS.