I Became a Ruined Character in a Dark Fantasy

The thick fog cleared up completely before they even reached the Doren River. It wasn't even noon yet. It was likely thanks to Ian having eliminated the source of the fog. Of course, the sky was still full of dark clouds, but the view across the rather wide river was clear. The greenery had disappeared, and a gentle, rocky ridge stretched out before them.

"Looks like there’s a fork in the road," Ian murmured from Moro’s saddle as they crossed a long, old stone bridge that was clearly an ancient relic.

Even though they had a carriage, he was still riding Moro. It was partly to play the part of an escort knight, but in truth, it was also because he felt cooped up inside the carriage.

"The road along the ridge will tire the horses, and taking the path through the valley will add about a day to our journey," Mukapa said from the driver’s seat.

The pony he had ridden was now pulling the carriage alongside the two white horses. Despite the size difference and the sudden change into a three-horse team, it was Mukapa’s little mount that led the way with the most spirit.

"We’ll take the ridge." Ian’s single sentence decided their route.

Mukapa offered no objection and turned onto the path that followed the ridge to the right. A desolate landscape of large and small rocks and stiff grass growing from the cracks continued.

As expected, the sea is getting closer.

As time passed, the salty smell mixed in the wind grew slightly stronger. Of course, Ian wasn’t surprised. The fork had led to the right, which meant they were heading northwest.

Swoosh—

Feeling the increasingly strong, yet still lukewarm, wind against him, Ian leisurely brought the wine bottle in his hand to his lips. It was one of the items he had received from the Lighthouse Trading Company.

Thanks to that, he had learned the rather uninteresting fact that Southern wine was sweeter than that from the capital, and that quite a few nobles preferred it. Though it was a high-quality product, packaged in individual glass bottles, Ian had taken a crate without hesitation. It was enough to drink instead of water for a while.