A few days later, they set off for the city. They journeyed west. At first, they chatted happily, but the euphoria had died down on the second day. There were five carriages in total, with 29 soldiers stationed at the front and the back of the formation. Yukio and Leo rode on horses, each on either side of the carriages. Kojo shared his carriage with Sharone, Koniko, Lin, Adriana, and Sasha. Reynolds was originally to be in the same carriage with Kojo, but the girls kicked him out, and he ended up sitting with the king and Duke Cassiel, and Dr. Oslon. Oslon joined the group because he was going to get some materials from Dia' Mon. The King and Duke all wore hard expressions and said little; Oslon just sat there and smiled. Reynolds was sweating due to the atmosphere.
"It's pretty hot in here, isn't it?" he said, attempting to start a conversation and raising his hand to loosen his collar. All three looked at him at the same time.
"You know what, never mind," he said, putting his hands on his lap and looking down.
"This is boring," Kojo said as he looked out the window of their carriage.
(What would you rather be doing?)
"I dunno. Hunting beasts or cooking or something."
(What do you mean something? You're on guard duty.)
"Yeah, but I thought there'd be more to it than sitting in a carriage all day," he thought, blowing his bangs.
(Quit your whining.)
Kojo turned to look at the others. Adriana was asleep. He looked her over.
"She must be pretty amazing if she was able to finish a magic academy at such a young age. She must be really strong now that she's grown up."
(Perv)
"What's that supposed to mean?"
(Now that she's grown up?)
"I'm pretty sure you're the pervert here. Does everything I say have to have a sexualized meaning?"
(You were thinking it.)
"I was not." Kojo had imagined Adriana in a graduation robe that was just right to showcase her curves.
(Pervert)
"I'm not a pervert."
(Then what were you thinking about?)
"Well...."
(Tell the truth and shame the devil.)
"That's not what I meant when I said grown up."
"Kojo."
"Huh?" He turned to the window and was startled as he came face to face with Yukio, who had pulled close to the carriage.
"Yukio," he said, startled. "Hi."
"Sorry for startling you," she said.
"Oh, it's nothing," Kojo said, wondering how she was able to come so close without him sensing.
(Maybe it's because you were lost in your perverted delusions.)
"I put this entire party in an Aegis sphere. Even if I was distracted, it would be almost impossible to slip through like that."
Yukio giggled.
"You and I have a lot in common," she said cryptically.
"Hmm?"
"Anyway," she continued, "I hope you're doing good?"
"Well, I'm bored out of my mind. But I'll live. You?" Kojo replied.
"Well, we haven't had any problems with the journey."
"Yeah," Kojo said thoughtfully, looking up at the trees.
"What's wrong?" Yuki asked.
"It's just, I never thought I'd come this far. In a few months, it's gonna be a year since I came to this-" he caught himself, "this kingdom."
"But you know, you're a really lucky guy to have the support of six strong women," Yukio said.
"Yeah. Wait, six?" Kojo asked, looking at her confused.
"Don't give that look. I don't intend to be the seventh installment in your harem," she said.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about," Kojo said.
"I'm talking about the one inside you," she said casually.
Kojo began to sweat.
(Calm down, she's not giving off any red flags.)
Kojo looked at Yuki, who was humming.
"You think she can read minds?" Kojo wondered.
(It's unlikely. She's this world's current hero and all, but I think mind reading's a bit much.)
Yukio looked at Kojo.
"Mind reading, eh? Now that would be a skill that'd be pretty handy," she said, smiling.
"I'm gonna go check on the guards up front," she said, seemingly smug at the bewildered look on his face. Kojo watched her ride off.
"So can she read minds or not?" he wondered.
(We can't rule out the possibility that she somehow knows.)
"Yeah," Kojo agreed.
Leo then pulled close to him.
"Oh, it's you," Kojo said in a tone that showed how pleased he was to see him.
"It seems Lady Yukio has taken a liking to you," he said coldly. "I don't know what it is you're planning, but I'll get to the bottom of it. Mark my words, if I get even a hint of-" he heard the window close. He grit his teeth and rode on.
One of the soldiers stepped aside to take a piss. As he was doing so, Saleem stepped out of the bushes and startled him. Before he could react, she stabbed him in the side of the head with a dagger. His body dropped to the ground, and she pulled it into the bushes.
Outside, two of the soldier's comrades waited for him. He walked out of the bushes just when one of them was going to check.
"We're far behind. Hurry up and let's get going," one of the men said.
"Wait," the other one said, examining some blood on that soldier's armor.
"A matagot jumped me, so I had to deal with it," Saleem said in a masculine voice.
"Nasty things, those rodents," one soldier said with disgust.
"Right, well, clean that up," the other soldier said.
Saleem nodded and headed towards the rest of the battalion, stopping to look back with yellow serpentine eyes before proceeding.
It was nearing evening. Kojo sat with his attention on the landscape outside. Sharone and Sasha were having an argument about the Capitol, while Koniko was asleep. Lin was reading a book, and Adriana was knitting a scarf.
Kojo looked outside. He was on edge. The landscape gradually became misty.
"Hmm, weird," he muttered.
"Isn't that right, Kojo?" Sharone said, turning to him.
"Huh? Isn't what right?" Kojo asked.
"Tell Sasha that Dia' Mon being the Capitol doesn't make it the best place to live in. I mean, sure it has its luxuries, but that doesn't make it better than any other place."
"Oh, I guess-" he stopped talking and opened the carriage door. "Stop the march!" he yelled, getting out of the carriage. Everyone halted. The whole area was covered by mist.
"What is the meaning of this?" Leo demanded as he rode over to him. Kojo suddenly lunged at him, pulling an earth spike from the ground. He caught a knife that was directed at Leo's head and jumped, twisting in midair and kicking the spike in the direction of the attack.
"My word. Kojo," he said. Kojo nodded.
"Mm. We're surrounded."
Nightshade assailants appeared from the mist as if it was a part of their bodies.
There were dozens of them, and they had completely surrounded Kojo and the others.