She paused, waiting anxiously for my response, her striking blue eyes beautifully reflecting the fading silver light of the setting moon.
"Don't worry about that for a single second. I have my own flawless ways of uncovering their exact whereabouts," I replied coolly.
Of course I knew exactly where they were. I had read the introductory lore for this specific mid-boss storyline multiple times back in my old world.
And of course, I had the help of Chrono, who was basically a walking encyclopedia right beside me.
After talking and walking through the dark wilderness for a few consecutive hours, we finally reached a hidden transit junction where long-distance traveling wagons usually gathered.
True to my memory of the game's map, a massive covered wagon was already stationed there, with a few weary travelers huddled inside, waiting for the carriage to depart.
"Sir, do you still happen to have room for two more passengers?" I asked politely, approaching the elderly man who was carefully adjusting the reins of his horses.
The elderly driver, heavily weathered and wrinkled from spending decades on lawless roads, squinted up at my tall figure through rheumy, tired eyes.
"Aye, we've got just enough room for two more souls," he grumbled, his voice incredibly rough from years of shouting over the loud clatter of iron-rimmed wheels.
He gestured with his whip toward the dark back of the covered vehicle.
"It'll be a pretty tight squeeze, but you're more than welcome to join the lot."
"We're set to depart the second the final member of our group arrives."
Lilia, standing closely behind my back, watched the brief exchange with quiet intensity.
She offered the old driver a small, tentative smile before climbing aboard, her gaze flickering toward the other passengers with a hint of genuine curiosity.
And I thought I knew why she was so curious.
It was probably because this wagon was so wildly different from the Royal carriages she used back at the capital when she was still a Princess.
The moment we stepped inside, a burly man with a thick, grizzled beard and a heavy traveling cloak let out a low grunt in acknowledgment.
He shifted his bulky bags to one side, willingly carving out a bit of extra space for us to sit.
"First time traveling along this eastern route?" the burly man asked.
His eyes flickered downward, locking onto Lilia's heavy leather neckpiece with a faint look of surprise.
"Well, you picked a damn good night for it. It's much quieter than most, and the moon's bright enough to keep the road perfectly clear."
"Yes, it's our first time heading this way. Thank you for letting us join you," I replied smoothly, keeping my tone casual.
We sat down right next to each other on the hard wooden bench.
To make sure she felt secure and to maintain our cover, I casually wrapped my arm around her slender waist, holding her close against my side.
Right now, Lilia was frantically adjusting her hair to hide the slave collar from view, ensuring no one else in the carriage would notice it.
I didn't actually care whether they saw it or not, but she was clearly terrified that the other passengers would look at her with utter disdain if they realized her enslaved status.
The burly man nodded at my thanks, adjusting his position once more.
He eyed the close proximity between the two of us with a slight arch of his eyebrow, but out of traveler's courtesy, he chose not to comment further.
The other passengers inside seemed to take little notice of us, each completely wrapped up in their own silent thoughts and personal preparations for the grueling journey ahead.
The elderly wagon driver, having finally secured his full manifest, climbed up to his high perch at the front of the vehicle.
With a loud grunt and a sharp, echoing snap of the leather reins, he set the horses into motion.
The massive wagon lurched forward with a heavy groan, officially beginning the long, bumpy journey toward the borders of the Venix Kingdom.
As the wooden carriage rolled smoothly along the moonlit dirt road, Lilia nestled significantly closer to my chest.
Her slender body was trembling slightly from the biting chill of the night air.
She seemed acutely, breathlessly aware of the warmth of my arm wrapped tightly around her waist, a deep, crimson blush creeping across her cheeks despite the cool breeze blowing through the canvas.
"Sleep," I murmured to her, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Nothing will happen to you. Even if something does happen, I can easily take care of it."
Hearing my reassuring words, the immense tension finally drained from her shoulders.
She gave a small, submissive nod, closed her eyes, and fell into a profound sleep.
As the hours passed, her beautiful face slipped slightly from beneath her hood under the soft moonlight, revealing the pure, elegant face of a princess at rest.
By the time she opened her eyes, the sun was high in the sky. I looked down at the girl resting against my shoulder.
"You're finally awake," I teased lightly as her eyelids fluttered open.
"Sleeping in a bumpy wagon for almost twelve hours straight... even I can't manage that."
Hearing my words, Lilia's entire face instantly turned a deep, burning red.
She knew she had been physically and emotionally exhausted from the traumatic events of the past few days.
Even she had never imagined she could sleep for twelve hours straight—and in a loud, clattering wagon at that.