Setting out

Today, we set out for Galdur. Well, I am trying to sound dramatic but I can come and go anytime I want.

"Are your preparations done?" (Fiona)

"Yes. We have taken everything we need for now. I have explained everything to Aldo."

Aldo will have his breakfast here for the next few days until our situation becomes stable in Galdur. I would like to establish a base of operations in Galdur.

My capital base of operations is this house. I take a look and do a headcount. Me, Hazel, Aura, Eden, Fay, Aera, Aegis, Doris, Amaryllis, Tiana and Jade. A total of 11 people.

Aera, Aegis, Doris, Amaryllis and Tiana have volunteered to stay inside. They said that it would be too unnatural if this big of a group suddenly travels to a town.

Our mode of transportation is a car which I whipped up. Fay did offer to arrange for carriages but she herself was eager to ride in a car.

The car I made resembles a hummer. It can easily carry 10 people and a lot of cargo. It's design is good for off road as well. I have it in singularity.

This is early morning. Since I don't want to startle the people too much, I decided to travel early.

Opening the door, I find an empty road. The sun is still rising. No one is out on the road.

I bring out my car. It sure looks intimidating. A hummer was just a remodeled military vehicle.

But this is still intimidating. I wonder how would people react if they see it?

"Then, let's take our position. I will be driving today. Choose your seats."

Since it'll be five people and a cat, the seating arrangement is pretty flexible. I will be in the driver's seat.

Aura still hasn't woken up. Fay is making her float in air so she is easy to carry around. Eden sits next to me. Fay sits down behind and makes Aura sit next to her.

Hazel sits in next to Aura and Jade is on Eden's lap.

"Then we'll be off."

"Take care. And be careful not to harm anyone." (Fiona)

Thus we depart from Fiona's house. I am driving slowly. Because I still have to pass through the north gate.

I take a look at the rear view mirror. Aura is sleeping on Hazel's shoulder.

I can see the gate. The guards are blocking our way. I stop the car before them. They come to us. Well, can't blame them for being cautious, can I?

I show them the seal given by the king. They hesitated for a bit but let us go without any fee.

I hope I won't have to deal with a mess. Now, we are on the road. Should I hit the accelerator?

"Should I go faster?"

I ask my passengers. I mean, we are in no hurry. And that place is literally right next to us.

"This speed is fine, papa. I can see the area like this." (Eden)

Eden is curiously looking outside. So I decided not to speed up.

Our current speed is 20 km/h. It's slow for a car.

The journey went smoothly. I passed by the Yves lake. I recognized the place. This is the same place I drove the drakes away from. Not too far from the capital.

I maintain a steady course. Eventually Aura woke up.

"Finally woke up." (Hazel)

"I don't understand. How can your daughter wake up before you?" (Fay)

"I always had trouble with waking up early." (Aura)

She says as she rubs her eyes. I stop the car.

"Then let's take a break. Although the journey is short, we are going slowly. So a break would be better."

I say that because my buttocks are hurting. Maintaining a steady driving posture is harder than I thought.

I park the car by the road and get off. The sun is up. I can hear the animals from the forest. This road is adjacent to the forest. Night journeys must be pretty nerve wracking.

Aura washes her face. Eden is looking around the place with Jade. I am just sitting on the grass. Traveling is fun and all but this car is like a huge hassle.

This world has no idea what a car is. So anywhere I go using a car, I would be sticking out like a sore thumb.

Maybe I should have used a more SUV style design. I promise, this has no weapons. Not yet.

But I suddenly remembered something. There should be a village not too far from our current location. I take out the map.

There is one village. Galdur and the capital are not too far away from each other. But at the midway point, there's a village.

"Should we pass through the village or take a detour?"

"Passing through a village would be unwise as we are riding something that no one has ever seen. But I think we should pass through the village." (Fay)

"I want to see the reactions of the villagers as well." (Hazel)

"I just want breakfast." (Aura)

"Mama, you can't just ask for breakfast when you woke up late." (Eden)

Eden is admonishing Aura. A daughter is admonishing her mother. At such a young age at that as well. You never know what you might see. But still, I should pass through the village.

We all got into the car and I started again. Just five minutes later, I could see a wooden gate. It's enough for our car to go through.

There are guards stationed there and they got startled. I stopped the car a little away from them. They came closer to the car.

"Who are you?"

"Clive Belmont, S rank adventurer."

I show them my guild tag. Well, I don't use it often but I suppose that would be easier to understand. They took the tag and examined it before returning it to me.

"Your reason for visit?"

"Going to Galdur. My wife said she was hungry so a little pit stop."

They let us pass through. Well, I did pay the entrance fee. Because this village looks like it can use some help. Why would I deliberately evade taxes?

Driving through the almost too narrow road of the village, I search for a diner. Some people are out on the road. Well, the sun is up so many people have come outside.

After a minute of looking around, I found a place that seems to be a tavern. I stop the car near it and we all get off.

I send the car back in my singularity and go inside. I probably won't have anything. I am just here for Aura.

The inside is like any usual tavern. There's a counter with a lot of bottles. I guess that's the bar. I think it doubles as a bar at night.

"Then let's take a seat."

We all sit at a table and a woman wearing an apron comes to us.

"Welcome. We just opened for the day so you are our first customer. What can I get you?"

She has a smile on her face and she seems nice enough. I guess years of experience. Besides, mornings are a lot nicer since everyone is in a good mood.

"Do you have any fish?" (Aura)

"Yes. We just caught some fatty salmon from the river this morning. It's in season after all."

"Then I will have that. And a coffee with it." (Aura)

"I will take the breakfast menu." (Hazel)

"I would like to have the maple pancakes." (Fay)

"I will have a parfait." (Eden)

I wasn't actually paying attention but did they all order something? I look at them and they all have a menu in their hands. And who eats a parfait first thing in the morning?

This world even has parfaits? That's the most shocking thing.

"Anything for you?"

She asks me. I had decided that I wouldn't eat anything but since they all ordered for themselves, I should as well.

I take the menu and look through. The breakfast menu has a lot of options. Let's go with something light.

"I'll take the salmon bagels. And a coffee."

She takes our orders and leaves.

"For a village tavern, this place sure has a lot of variety."

"Well, Galdur and capital are places a lot of people visit. They have to pass through this place for that. So it's only logical for them to have variety." (Fay)

I guess that's that as well. Still, we are having breakfast before even reaching Galdur. Let's just eat our breakfast and go there quickly.