"Three wagons that belong to the dwarf continent's Mithril academy. The military student escorts with combat medic as support. A bunch of newly graduated students from the alchemist, mining and smithing courses. Various baggage, mostly from the student's shopping. Looks like you only came to liquidate your assets."

We are all loaded and on our way to our continent but I didn't think we would be stopped as we reached the gate. They practically waved us through when we came here. Why is the return trip this much stricter? They even checked everything we bought, even the things in the storage bags were brought out.

They didn't ask for any receipt or where we bought it. I'm pretty sure they are looking for a mark. It must be like the mark that the meat wholesaler put on the meat we bought from.

"All right! Everything checks out but before you proceed I have to give the normal warning. Please remember that only those who are natively born or from a race that is natively found in the dwarf continent can enter the gate. If you try to proceed but are otherwise, you will be killed by the dragons. The dragons won't discriminate against the target, so those who know someone here who doesn't belong, please point it out now. You don't want to be turned to ash in association, Right?"

*Look* *Look* *Look*

That raised the tension in the room right away. Everyone is now suspicious of each other. It will die down soon though. We aren't that big of a group, so we would probably know if a stowaway hid among us.

"Ok, Looks like there isn't one. I already gave the warning so best of luck if there are. Thank you for visiting the central island. We would like to do business with you again. Please take care on your return and visit us again soon."
"Thanks for the reminder. There are a few more groups from our academy on the way here. I would like to thank you for your help then."

Alright! Pleasantries are now done, so back to the continent we go!

*Snore* *Snore*

"Victor, you travel with chatterbox's family usually, right? Any tips on what to do when he snores like this?"
"He usually sleeps inside his specialized carriage, so I didn't have to deal with him. However, You learn a few tips from travelling with different groups of people. Here! Put that behind his head."

*Toss* *Catch*

A piece of wood wrapped by cloth? A makeshift pillow. I know you are great in woodcrafting but I don't know if you can create a special pillow for snoring?

*Raise* *Slip*

"It worked? That simple?"
"Hehe, just raising the head should stop someone's snoring. At least that's what this guy told me on a guard job before."

Something you learn on the job, I suppose.

"Looks like you learn a lot from a simple escort job other than knocking someone out cold during combat practice."
"Are you still mad about that? The combat healers already healed your broken arm."
"You got too heated and almost killed me. How can I not be mad!?!?"
"I didn't! You were too tough! I snapped and tried to subdue you normally but you ignored the pain and forced yourself out of an arm lock! You broke your arm in the process yet you still went on the attack! I had to knock you out."

Thanks to years of training, my pain tolerance is amazingly high. Of course I can withstand something of that level. I also won't let myself lose so easily.

"Fine, fine, my broken arm is my responsibility but that doesn't mean you can knock me out. You could have backed off at that point!"
"It's alright, the combat healers were already there before I knocked you out so I know they can take care of you."
"All right, let's just drop this topic."

I just didn't want to wake up in the middle of an ambush. We are going through the most dangerous zone first, so I didn't want to enter it knocked unconscious. Thank goodness they have smelling salt here. I never actually saw it being used during my life during modern time, so I'm amazed at how strong the smell was. With that smell, I don't doubt that it can wake someone up.

The first day is done yet not a single incident happened. It looks like the combat healers aren't bothering me anymore for using my magic. They are silently warning me when my output reaches a certain level but I could do as I please otherwise.

Thanks to that, I'm stuck in learning how to sense other people's magic. The problem is that I only notice it if the user is near me and actively using magic. I can't sense any from the teacher's, the army students and the combat healers. I'm sure it's because I'm still new and they probably had training on how to conceal themselves.

*Snore* *Snore*

*Slap*

"Huh, uh? what? Are we under attack?"
"Stop sleeping!"

I'm tired of thinking up different things to make you stop snoring.

"Come one, Let me sleep during the ride. It's not like I can do anything else?"
"Don't sleep all the time. This is why you are lazy all the time. You spent almost the whole day sleeping yesterday. If you want to rest, at least do it in a way that doesn't disturb everyone else."
"It's fine, I know how to act depending on the situation. I know we are protected in every direction. We are also inside a wagon that our teacher reinforced. Even if we are going through a bandit hot spot, they will still think twice when attacking us because of the emblem. We don't have to worry.
"Then at the very least wear these."
"What's this? A clothespin? Do I have a tear in my clothes somewhere? Was I flashing everybody?"

*Blush*

"No, if you flashed something then our class president would have smacked you so hard, you would turn into a metal ingot."
"Fine, am waarring et ohhhaay!"

Good, finally! Now, let's see if what I heard is correct. Last night, I heard some clicking in the background. This idiot was still snoring, so I can't be sure if its some kind of animal or we are being followed.

There is nothing in particular that I can hear though. Maybe it really was some animal that was attracted by the fire?

I guess there isn't anything for me to do. I'm fine with relaxing and doing nothing but I don't know how relaxing it is in a densely bandit populated region in the dwarf continent.

I see the other's aren't sharing the same sentiment. They are busy ogling at their most prized purchase from the central island.

Let me see, my fellow blacksmith students have new hammers that they are showing off to each other. I don't mean to brag but I have the whole set. Actually, nevermind, the others who also accepted the prince and princess's invitation are also showing off their full set.

Our class president, and only female classmate is lovingly hugging a forge core. Those things are nice. They give a stable output when forging. As long as you keep the fire lit inside it, it would regulate the heat to an intensity you desire. A very useful and convenient thing in our craft. It's one less thing to worry about.

The alchemist student doesn't seem all that different. They have nothing visible on hand, so they must have bought some ingredients.

The one with the most obvious big spending are the miner students. They are carrying huge pickaxes with shiny new boots. It looks heavy but they are holding those things like nothing. I do have to say that the teachers are more amazing. The wagon that our teacher reinforced didn't even creak when the miner students climbed up with their heavy tools.

The alchemist teacher is still in his own world, so I can't read anything from him. The miner teacher was training when we came back. He was lifting boulders when we came through the portal, and it was twice his size too.

It looks like the combat healers and the army student's don't have anything of note. Maybe they stored it in the merchandise wagon. As the guard's, it would be inconvenient for them to carry things while working. I wonder what they bought? New weapons? Maybe not, they might have standard issued equipment. Eh! I don't need to worry about them. They still have another round of training after graduating.

*Creak* *Creak*

Another wagon? Our wagon is on the back of the caravan so I can't see what's happening in front of us. We have been travelling the whole day and this is the first group that we met. It shouldn't be odd since this is a path to the profitable central island. A lot of merchants should be traveling this route regularly. However, the fact that this region is infested with bandits yet we haven't met them yet is suspicious.

Even if some bandit group are dissuaded by the military emblem, we should have at least seen some of them watching us as we pass by. At the very least, I should have heard some of them skulking about in the background.

"Jenny, lily, it's your turn to be in the forefront. Viola, may, act as support here. I'll observe your actions in the middle wagon. Go!"
"Yes, ma'am"

The combat healers are diligent as always. I guess they must also feel bored with nothing to do.

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

The other group is signaling ours? That's new, I never thought there is this kind of etiquette in travelling caravans.

'...ma'am, We have news on the oncoming group and there has been a change in today's schedule.'
'...Alright, let's first go back to the back wagon. You can tell me then, I don't want you to report the same thing twice.'

They are talking in the middle wagon. Change of plans? because of the oncoming group?

"Listen up, Jenny has an announcement for you. Pay attention since she is only going to say this once."

The fact that all five of the combat healers are back here in the back wagon means that the oncoming group isn't an enemy. It should be someone they know too because even if the approaching group is some merchant. They would still have been on guard against surprise attacks.

"Go ahead, jenny."
"Yes ma'am. We have identified the group to be the next batch of graduating students. The teacher gave the signal to the group and it has been decided that we are going to have an early camp for tonight. The two groups will join together to make a small base. You may chat with your acquaintance, if there are any, but be sure not to mix up the wagons you are boarding in the following morning. Even if you wanted to go back to the central island, it is our responsibility to get you back to the academy. If someone is found trying to smuggle themselves on the other group, we will beat you up and only fully heal you when we are near the academy. You will be unable to move in excruciating pain until we are almost back in our city, understand?"

Harsh! They really know how to keep others in line. However, to think we would really meet the next group. I don't really know other people outside my class other than the bomb alchemist, so I will probably just ignore them.

At least I don't need to worry about the bandits now. The bigger the group, the larger the loot but the security would be just as big.

If anything did happen, we have a small army now to take care of things. Me and victor shouldn't have to even move with them around.