Yes, on this journey, the somewhat ill-tempered Druid "Tree Planter" Elldrad will be traveling with everyone, and the reason is simple: the Druid has been driven out of Kaltenhaven by Villarld and temporarily has no place to stay, so he agreed with Mr. Oliver to depart with the caravan.
"The whispers of nature need to be heard. She is wailing, a terrible storm is sweeping through..." Elldrad muttered to himself, and Mr. Laine immediately interrupted him: "Enough, enough, natural guide, can you please speak more plainly? Mr. Elderidge wouldn’t be this difficult to communicate with."
"Elderidge? You know him?" The Druid was somewhat puzzled, then nodded, still in a bad tone: "It’s Chaos Energy, the Chaos Energy is wafting through the sky, causing the current cloudy and snowy weather."
"Ancient Tree Walker" Elderidge is one of the Nature Church’s several itinerant "Deputies," so it makes sense that Laine would know him.
"Hehe~" Laine just squinted and smiled. The people of the Nature Church are truly unlikable.
When actions like plucking a fruit or wearing clothes can be interpreted as offending nature, and when this group is willing to trample on basic kingdom laws of citizen property independence and freedom for the so-called "natural balance," Laine believes it’s hard for anyone to have a fondness for them.
They’re so similar to those little animal protectionists.
The "exchange" between Ancient Tree Walker and Laine was also quite enjoyable because only after Laine hung him on a tree did he agree to talk properly with Laine.
It’s pointless to say anything more when there’s no shared language; Laine noticed that a few wandering knights at the back of the group had somehow slipped their way to the middle of the team: "Gentlemen? Aren’t you supposed to be in the back, ensuring the safety of the rear of the group?"
The one leading was Aik, who was trying to sneak a peek at what goods were in the middle of the caravan. Hearing Laine’s words, he awkwardly smiled and said: "Lord Knight, we’ve only just set out and haven’t even reached the forest yet, look shouldn’t we..."
"Please seriously fulfill your duties. I won’t hold it against you this time, but always ensure there are at least three of you at the tail of the group!" Laine said irritably.
The Kingdom Knight’s words still carried considerable weight. The few wandering knights glanced at each other, nodded, and returned to the end of the group.
The curtain beside the horse carriage was lifted: "If it weren’t for Mr. Laine being here, I really wouldn’t dare to travel with these guys." Original content can be found at NoveI[F]ire.net
"Mr. Oliver surely knows, they occasionally do some other jobs." Both the merchant and the knight knew what they meant and exchanged a knowing smile.
"I wouldn’t mind receiving a few more sets of new armor and warhorses," Laine spoke in code.
"I also wouldn’t mind introducing Mr. Laine to some buyers to offload the items; I can forgo the commission," Oliver responded in kind.
It seemed an understanding was reached.
"Tsk! Dirty deals." From another carriage came the faint disdainful voice of the female sorcerer.
After two days of rest, the female sorceress had recovered quite a bit, and Laine could already feel the strong waves of magic power emanating from her.
Upon hearing Teresa’s voice, Oliver instinctively fell silent, but Laine changed the subject: "It’s snowing outside, make sure you keep warm."
"If it’s too cold outside, you can also rest inside the carriage. Alright, I’m going to meditate now." The female sorcerer’s enchanting visage briefly appeared inside the curtain.
"Phew~ It’s really cold!" A large man in a black robe rode up from behind: "Even in the mountains of our tribe, it wouldn’t be this cold in October."
The large man in the black robe had a face painted with oil paint, hair on both sides shaved clean, and the top tied into dreadlocks, with his beard treated the same way—thick, long facial hair braided into small plaits spread across his chest.
He wore thick leather armor, a brown deerskin coat, and animal teeth strung into a necklace hanging on his robust chest. He carried a long spear and a longbow on his back, with a short knife tucked at his waist. He looked older, with dark skin, mature features, and wrinkles near his eyes spreading due to his hearty laughter: "You must be the White Wolf Knight ’Great Hammer’ Laine, right? I know you."
"And you are?" The large man in the black robe knew it wasn’t strange; Nord Kingdom was actively promoting Laine, so his fame in this area was high.
"Haha~ I’m Rost, from the Gray Wolf Tribe, hired by Mr. Oliver as his bodyguard." The large man in the black robe was very forthright, he uncorked his jug, and a strong aroma of wine wafted out: "Care for a drink, my brother?"
"No, thanks, I generally don’t drink on an empty stomach."
"That’s a real pity." Rost took a big swig from the jug: "This is blessed wine from our tribe’s Shaman, brewed with malt!"
"A tribe, a Shaman? You’re from the north?" Laine looked at Rost’s brawny arms; he was 1.9 meters tall. If Laine, who was 1.8 meters tall, seemed well-proportioned and actually quite robust, then Rost was an outright giant, a muscular hulk.
Among the Nord people, there were quite a few with similar builds, but not many who painted their faces and wore dreadlocks.
"Indeed, been here for several hundred years; I’m a Barbarian." Rost naturally spread his hands and then quickly added: "A Barbarian under the seal; our previous generation chieftain, Morry, was notably active in the Battle of Fasha and was knighted as an Imperial Knight by His Majesty Ludwig!"