The bag gifted by Madi turned out to be quite spacious. It had six spatial compartments, but nothing larger than the bag’s opening could be stored inside, making it very convenient.
This bag is quite expensive. As expected from the fact that Conten-sensei brought it, Madi is a good [Enchanter]. When I’m near Arisa, he tends to look at me with hostility, but then he also takes care of his juniors like this. He’s pretty straightforward and a decent guy.
The first compartment contains Ultra Slim Down, a collar for controlling monsters, and magical tools for barriers. These are all high-end items that I prefer not to show off.
The second compartment has tools gifted to Arisa, things she would use when settling down.
The third compartment holds a tarp, a crystal that can be used as a lamp, pots, dishes, and insect repellent. These are camping supplies.
The fourth compartment has seasonings, canned goods, and ready-to-eat meals. Healing potions and that awful black fruit.
The fifth compartment contains a water bottle and food items similar to those in the fourth compartment. These include things like cheese and nuts—items that travelers wouldn’t find unusual.
The sixth compartment has a change of clothes and a wallet, things that might be used in town.
The collar is made from soft braided cord. I don’t really like the metal shackles seen on tamed beasts around town or on the roads. Though the effects are the same, it just feels disingenuous.
The prepared magical tools include ordinary ones typically used for travel, as well as a few high-end tools that are not so common.
There are two collars for controlling monsters to take me to areas with dense magical energy, a magical tool to conceal presence, a barrier magical tool, and two disposable magical tools for transportation.
These magical tools are quite powerful for what’s sometimes available in this town, but they aren’t top-tier. It’s true that Arisa mentioned it wasn’t possible to gather materials in a year, but you know, the money, right? Good materials are expensive.
For my use, I can temporarily boost their performance to that of top-tier tools by continuously channeling magical energy, so I prepared several. Well, if it comes to it, I can just use magic.
Being able to make magical tools means I can perform enchantments of that type. To put it another way, the types of enchantments I’ve learned are quite skewed. Since my power is strong, I was able to forcefully grasp them.
To be precise, because my power is strong, I haven’t had much time in town, so I hurriedly packed enchantments that seemed necessary for my move. I also feel like practicing the necessary spells may have drained some of my magical energy.
Yeah, it was something necessary…!
And then, on the morning of my departure.
For now, I’ll start my journey on the borrowed horse. Although it’s a magical beast.
The borrowed horse also has a shackle for control. The ones who capture them are [Heroes], [Mages], and [Saints], but creating a shackle with effects similar to a [Sacred Mark] that prevents it from attacking humans is the work of an [Enchanter].
By the way, this is my first time riding.
Traveling with Conten-sensei and the others was mostly about gathering materials, so we often strayed from the main roads and went on foot.
Vehicles like cars and motorcycles have fallen out of use due to the complexity of enchantments and the state of the roads. In larger towns, there seem to be very classic, early models of cars?
Renting a horse is relatively expensive, and the system is such that once you reach your destination and return the horse, you get your fee deducted and the remainder refunded. Since there’s a control shackle, if you don’t return it, it’ll usually escape and return to the original shop, so if you don’t return it seriously, you only lose out.
There’s a transportation magical circle in the town I’m heading to, so the horse ride will take about two and a half days. The horse I borrowed looks like a beast that a Warlord from a post-apocalyptic era would ride, but when I asked for the calmest and easiest horse to ride from the rental shop, this was the one I got.
Contrary to its appearance, once I’m on, it takes care of itself, and the ride isn’t bad. Since it travels along the designated roads between towns, the horse knows the paths better.
I let the horse take the lead to the rest point, and when it stopped, I got off and entered a forest or thicket that wouldn’t obstruct traffic on the road to take a break.
It seems this is a favorite spot for the horse, as it’s munching on the grass. Perhaps the magical energy is denser here compared to the roadside?
The good thing about magical beasts is that they don’t require much in the way of feeding costs. Their regular meals are small, and if you release them in places rich in magical energy, they’ll replenish themselves automatically.
While watching the horse enjoy the grass, I also hydrate and replenish my nutrients. Water, cheese, and that awful black fruit.
I brought a portable stove as well, but the effort outweighed the benefits. More like, hey horse, this rest area is meant for you, right?
During my reconnaissance, I saw that a place with a stream was listed as a rest stop, but it’s fine.
The roads have enchantments to ward off magical beasts. Only humans, ordinary animals, and those wearing magical tools for control can enter.
Due to budget or manpower issues, the barriers vary in strength and type—some repel, while others are unpleasant for magical beasts. However, flying controlled magical beasts are typically up high to avoid other magical beasts.
This road should have a broad magical barrier on both sides, but—hey, horse! There’s a small magical beast that just appeared! We’re outside the barrier!
“Buhun!”
The horse snorts and crushes the magical beast with its large hooves.
…Well, if it resolves itself with personal responsibility, that’s fine.
At night, I set up the tarp and hung a crystal attached to a chain. The crystal is a lighting magical tool that softly illuminates an area of about two square meters.
I boil water with the portable stove and eat. Using a mess tin, I cook rice and pour ready-to-eat beef bowl over it. Well, it’s more like a magical beast meat bowl, but it tastes similar to beef. The fat is rich, but it’s acceptable.
If I compare it to what it was before the transformation, it feels lacking, but if I use it as a standard after transformation, it’s quite alright. Given the limited ingredients and seasonings, it’s impressive how I’m pursuing flavor like a true Japanese person.
I sleep wrapped in the Ultra Slim Down magical tool. After all, I’m within the road’s barrier, and I’ve heard the horse will keep watch around me. —Although I will use my own barrier magical tool.
The horse eagerly went outside the barrier. What’s this about surrounding surveillance?
The next morning. When I woke up, it was like a black magic ritual, with parts of magical beasts surrounding the tarp. Apparently, the horse brought back some trophies. Is it giving them to me?
With that, I arrived at my first destination.
“Eh?! A Warlord…!? Wait, wait, I can’t handle this!”
When I returned the horse to the rental shop, that was the reaction. Could it be that I was tricked? This definitely wasn’t a calm horse!
Well, still, I did get materials from magical beasts. At the rental shop, I bought some dried grapes to bond with the horse and let it munch on them.
The timid employee brought along another similarly nervous-looking staff member.
I received my refund and bid farewell to the horse. The attendant leading it seemed extremely jumpy. The horse does have the magical tool attached, right?
The purpose of that tool is to suppress hostility and aggression towards humans, so it shouldn’t completely enslave them, but maybe it’s just its original personality.
I purchased the necessary items in town, checked the time for transportation using the magical circle connecting towns, and made a reservation. I’ll stay one night and move to the town close to my destination for magical energy the next day.
