"Welcome back, sir! Reservations have already been taken care of! Dinner should be served in a couple of hours! How was your day? Did you get everything you needed?"
"It was very pleasant. I got to buy a lot of necessary items. However, one of the things I ordered would take some time before I could get it. It should be ready by noon tomorrow."
"I understand, I will change the schedule accordingly."
"Good!"

I wonder if we have any space in one of the wagons. Even if we had any, I doubt what I bought will fit. I bought pipes and a water tower, those need to have their own separate wagon. They might have to shuffle the guards and formation too.

"The items I bought are a lot, so we should probably rent another wagon. This might change a lot of things, so how much do I need to pay for that addition?"
"Another wagon? I see, if that is the case then I need to change the formation a bit. It shouldn't affect the schedule though. I will rent the wagon right away. As for the pay, I will add it once we reach the destination. However, it should only cost somewhere around 2-3 gold coins."
"It's within my budget. Don't worry and go secure everything that is needed for safe travel!"
"Thank you, sir! I will ensure everything will be taken care of!"
"Great! I will go ahead and relax for a bit."

A couple of gold coins is a lot of money back when I have nothing but I have a sack load of them that I could burn!

"I will show you to your room, sir!"
"You have to handle some things, right? Just tell it to my guards, they'll show me that way."
"Yes, sir. Have a good rest."
"Alright! Also, just send my dinner up. I'll eat in the room."
"Very well, I will send it to your room."

This is a pretty nice inn. They don't actually have a bar downstairs. This is fully focused on housing. I imagine it isn't popular with merchants or travelers that want information from a noisy bar but this will do for me. It doesn't have a bar but it still has a kitchen. I wonder if this means that the room has a dining room or something.

"This is your room sir. We will wait outside the door. If there is anything else, please call upon us."

Nice room, a really nice room. It looks like one of those luxury rooms that has a big bed, fancy decoration and a small table by the window where you can eat or have tea. There is a washroom too! My own toilet! My own shower!It's a very classy inn with what I assume to be a hefty price tag.

I thought that the reason they charge me a lot for the downpayment is because I have a lot of baggage and the current situation. However, if this is the kind of inn they are booking for me then it makes more sense now.

*Shine*

Hmm? Oooh! A large mirror with grapevine design for the frames. It's very lovely. The quality is really nice. It also seems that my simple armour is in need of a bit of cleaning.

I guess I can do that as I wait for dinner.

*Clang* *Clang*

This part is a bit bent. A couple of hammer taps and it's as good as new without using mana. I wonder where I got that bent from the start though. It's like those mysterious wounds that appear before you notice it.

I'll do a thorough cleaning as well, since I have the time. I got into the mood of things, so I might as well do this without magic. I need to waste time after all.

Wipe this, polish that, and shine everything all over!

Well time went by fast. I think I worked up a bit of sweat. A nice hot shower would be good. I'll do that later just before I go to sleep. It would give that satisfying fuzzy feeling of comfort.

I might as well wash my clothes while I'm at it. I can use magic for that since I don't want to scrub it by hand.

*Rustle* *Rustle*

Ah, my hair has grown longer. I'm going to be living in a volcanic region. Even if I have a built up resistance to heat, I don't really want the feeling of my scritchy hair on the back of my neck.

I guess a light trim will do. I'm not on the level of even the most basic barbers on earth but I can cut my own hair. I had to do it when I still had that farm. There was no barber in that village.

The inn is the best place to do this after all, or rather any stable room. I can't just cut my hair on the road as we travel by carriage. I might accidentally cut myself if I do that. Also, I don't have to search really hard for bits of hair all around my carriage. It's a pain how those get stuck everywhere.

You won't even notice their existence until you feel something pricking your skin. Even if you do feel it, finding out where a single strand of hair that small is annoying.

Now that I think about it, I might as well remove my clothes. I don't want them to be itching too. I guess I could keep my underwear?....Scratch that, I don't want anything scratching there.

*Cut* *Cut* *Cut*

I'll try to make proper scissors next time. The long pointy one is easy to make, though adjusting the tension is a bit of trial and error. However, those things with the comb looking edge will take a bit more work since I have to be so precise with the measurements. I guess I can do a rush job of it even if the spacing is not all the same. Those things are only used to make your hair less dense.

*Cut* *Cut* *Cut*

A bit more here, make sure the ears don't have hairs tickling it,....and done! It still looks a bit bushy and it is only a bit above the neck line but I guess it's alright. The bangs are a bit long but as long as it doesn't obscure my vision I can leave it alone.

*Scratch* *Knock* *Scratch*

Here comes the itchiness. I did work up a bit of sweat from cleaning my armour earlier, so the hair is sticking to my body. I should've done this after I had my dinner.

*Creak* *Stare*

It's been a while since I saw my full self in the mirror. I really am built like a tank. I spent most of my vacation in the desert to train, so I have a very nice bronze shine!

*Side Chest* *Double Biceps*

Whoa! Check out my muscles! They pop out like solid bricks whenever I pose! I never had these back on earth since I never really saw the need to build up.

What else?.....I know! I remember that pose from the mythical figure who was said to carry the world. I think his name was atlas.

It should be one knee on the ground while the other leg in front and my arms looking like I am supporting the world from my back.

Whoa!! I look really amazing!!

"...Ahem!"
"Huh? Wha--!!!"

Gaaaah!!! I was too focused on myself!

"Umm, Dinner is ready. Shall I leave it on the table?"
"...Yes, please!"

*Walk* *Walk* *Step* *Step*

*Clack*

*Step* *Step* *Walk* *Walk*

"Have a nice dinner, sir. Just call on your guards to clean up the plates after you are done."

*Nod*

"Well then."

*Bow* *Creak* *Close*

Uuuurrgghh!! I can't believe someone saw me posing naked in front of a mirror!! I couldn't move from my pose as he walked across the room and placed my food on the table!

Haaaahhhhhhh! I'll just eat, go take a bath, sleep and forget all of this has ever happened.

"Is everything ready?"
"Yes sir! I worked all night to have this completed, so you won't be disappointed."
"Here is the pay, and a little something for the rush order."
"Thank you very much, please come again for all your enchanting needs."

It's the afternoon and we would have to camp out if we leave now but I want to leave and forget this town as soon as possible.

"I'll be resting in the carriage. Take charge here."
"We will move as soon as everything is secure. Please have a good rest."

Did he spread the news about it? Is the whole mercenary group now gossiping about me? I haven't heard them say anything, not even a whisper though.

I don't care anymore!! I'll forget this ever happened as soon as we reach the village.

*Creak* *Rattle* *Rattle* *Rattle*

Oh, they finished loading up the cargo quicker than I thought.

Good, so long south eastern iron/copper town #18. If the time that I return here has come, I hope that I don't remember anything from this first visit!

*Tack* *Tack* *Tack*

"Maintain the formation! Don't panic! The arrows aren't lethal as long as you aren't hit in vital spots! Be careful of falling down or you will be left behind!"

Really? This happened as soon as we were some distance away from the town? A bandit attack of all things?

This should be a good opportunity to see the ability of the mercenary group I hired. I just hope they are up to the task otherwise, bombs will start to explode once they open the cargo.

"Sir! We will take a more direct route to the capital. It should only take us three days if we maintain our current speed. Once we get near the capital, it's only a matter of time until the roaming army spots us. They should be cleaning up the capital's vicinity as they gather more troops for the cleansing of the dragon's road."
"Is the enemy too strong? Can't your group handle them?"
"We could but from how they look, they are most likely part of the bandit scouts we met a couple of nights ago. They haven't made a move besides pelting us with arrows but it has been more than half an hour and they are still continuing."

*Tack* *Tack* *Tack*

"They have an unusually large amount of arrows that barely works in our continent. This should be a group from the dragon's road, and they seem to be a big group. I'm afraid that we would be overwhelmed as soon as we stop. They haven't even used magic yet, even the most basic of magic."
"I see, how about going to a nearby town and asking for their defence force's help?"
"Most of the towns near here are on the side. There aren't any towns near the main road since there aren't any mines near the main road to keep it free from traffic. There are villages nearby but I don't want to drag them into a fight on this scale."

ReallY? Is the main road supposed to be the expressway or something?

"Alright, go rush to the capital. However, we won't be stopping inside the Capital."

I really don't want to enter the capital at this moment. There should be a thorough check before entering the capital. I have bombs strapped inside my cargo that go off once it's opened. I don't want to be mistaken for a bandit terrorist.

"...Could it be part of the family tradition? Then his family has some influence in the capital..."
"Did you say something?"
"*Gasp* No, sir! Please forgive my slip of tongue. I didn't mean it."
"It's fine. We won't enter the capital but we can make camp somewhere nearby. You can send some people inside the capital to buy goods and supplies if you want. As long as me and the cargo stay outside, I can avoid any problems. I'll take care of the wagon repairs while we camp."
"W-We couldn't ask you to work like that sir!"
"I'll take care of it. It's a good way to pass the time. I can do it as practice too."

I'll try to remove the bombs as I do that in case some of those roaming armies get curious and decide to inspect it. They will surely do a more thorough check than a town from the countryside.

We are a large group travelling with a lot of cargo camping near the capital. They would search us even if we don't enter just to be sure.

"I understand, We will leave it to you. For now, stay hidden inside the carriage and keep the doors and windows locked. Please remain seated as we lead the bandits to the capital."

I doubt the bandits would follow us until the capital though. Even they are not dumb enought to chase us all the way there just for some scouts.

"You will pay for killing my husband!! You bastards! Don't let them get away. Let's show these soft pieces of shit what happens when they mess with our group!"
"Yeeeaaahhh!!" x(A lot)
"We will gut your intestines, strangle you with them and choke you with your own stinking balls!"

Ah, a family grudge. It doesn't seem like they will let us go soon. However, I still stand with my statement that they will stop the pursuit once we get near the capital region. Revenge is good and all but it doesn't work if you are dead.

They will fight like a frenzied squirrel as they charge us though. That would be concerning.

In any case, they will probably chase the mercenary group all over the continent to resolve the grudge. They are the ones who killed the scouts after all. I am just the client who is being escorted through to my village.

It's alright as long as they don't see me and these mercenaries don't reveal anything. It's part of the job to incur these grudges, so please don't let me get involved.

*Bang* *Shake*

That felt like a fireball landing on my carriage. It's going to take more than that to destroy this expensive thing but please don't do that again.