Oz, Why Are You Covering Dorothy’s Ears?
The job they had taken from the merchant caravan came with both a minimum guaranteed payment and a daily wage. Even if something happened and they couldn’t work for many days, as long as they hadn’t broken the contract, they would still receive the minimum amount.
Apparently, contracts like this hadn’t been common in the past. Listening to Red Sword, it seemed that due to the recent war, territories had become unstable.
Bandit attacks during escorts were frequent, and near the borders, enemy soldiers would sometimes raid. In such cases, goods could be completely looted or people killed. Because of that, this type of contract had become more common lately.
However, this particular caravan was traveling along a route far from the borders, and its scale was quite large, so it was considered relatively safe.
Red Sword said that with a smile, but Juhwan didn’t take it at face value. If they were specifically requesting a healing mage, then it couldn’t be that safe.
Juhwan placed his hand on Lizzy’s shoulder.
After leaving the weapon crafting shop, her face had turned pale. Actually, maybe it had been like that even before. The money disappearing so quickly seemed to be overwhelming her.
Thinking about how much they had spent today made Juhwan’s stomach ache a little too.
After selling the furs, a large portion of the 19 silver coins he had been holding was gone. Prices were higher than expected, but more than that, there were simply too many things they had to buy at once.
Clothes were especially expensive. A single fur hat cost 10 Rina.
He really hadn’t wanted to spend that much, but they said things like hats and gloves were necessary not just for traveling with the caravan but for later as well. They would also have to take turns standing guard at night…
Anyway, even if Juhwan himself could manage, Lizzy and Dorothy definitely needed them.
“I’ll have to start making clothes diligently from today. Thankfully, we have fabric. I never imagined clothes would be this expensive.”
Lizzy muttered while tightly gripping the coin pouch at her waist.
Inside it was the advance payment they had received for the caravan job.
Juhwan lightly patted her shoulder and pressed his lips to Dorothy’s sleeping hair.
No matter where you go, no matter what world you live in, money is everything.
The biggest reason he accepted this caravan job—even thinking it might be dangerous—was money.
Even after the guild fee, his daily wage as a mage was 200 Rina, a little over 16 silver coins. The job would last at least ten days.
On top of that, there were additional payments if he used healing magic.
There was no way he could refuse that.
Meanwhile, the Red Sword party earned 14 Rina per day combined for all three members. Even that was considered a high amount compared to usual. Considering that meals were provided, it was said to be a very good deal.
It seemed that guild rank had a major influence on how payments were determined. Since it was hard for clients to objectively judge an adventurer’s ability, they relied on the guild’s ranking system. Because of that, the guild appeared to be careful about assigning ranks.
Juhwan had immediately been classified as Rank 3 because he was a mage. Normally, he should have been paid accordingly this time as well.
But for this caravan escort, the Adventurers’ Guild had guaranteed him as having Rank 2-level ability. So he was being paid at Rank 2 rates. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have received such a high amount like 200 Rina.
“….”
He was truly glad he could use magic. Otherwise, he might have starved to death on the streets.
‘If it had come to that… I probably would’ve become a bandit.’
Killing people and stealing their belongings was a sin. He had no intention of justifying such actions or saying it was acceptable to harm others to survive.
But still… he probably would have done it.
If it meant feeding Lizzy and Dorothy, he might have done even worse.
After coming to this world, he no longer felt like judging people for what they did just to survive. When pushed to extremes, everyone becomes similar. No one could confidently say they’d be different.
Juhwan tightened the arm wrapped around Lizzy’s shoulder.
The Red Sword members talked among themselves, then Marie—the most friendly and talkative among them—looked at Juhwan.
“Where are you staying?”
“I don’t know the name, but it’s an inn run by a retired adventurer.”
“Oh, is it that place in front of the guild—the kid’s house?”
Marie recognized it immediately. That kid really must show up in front of the guild every day. Juhwan nodded, and Marie asked if they had paid for a full month in advance.
“…Yes.”
Ah… what should he do about that? Did refunds even exist in this world?
As Juhwan hesitated, Marie smirked as if she understood.
“If it were another place, that money would be gone. Even if you argued, they’d never give it back. But there, it’s fine. Even if the guild doesn’t officially say it, it’s practically an official inn. If you’re gone for three or four days or more, they extend your stay by that amount.”
“That’s a relief.”
Ah, so that’s why the parking manager had recommended that inn. This place really ran on connections. Well, considering it was more of a rural village than a city, maybe that was natural.
It seemed like genuine recommendations or compliments were rare here.
Still, the food had been good, and looking back, it had been cheap. He had no complaints.
“Where are you staying?” Juhwan asked.
“….”
Marie hesitated for a moment before answering.
“If you walk quite a bit past that kid’s inn, there are a few barn-like buildings clustered together. It’s a place where many people sleep together. That’s where we stay when we’re in this village.”
She shrugged slightly and smiled awkwardly.
“It’s cheap. Much cheaper than an inn.”
She deliberately spoke a bit louder, trying to sound cheerful, but it only made it feel more pitiful.
“I think we’ve bought most of what we need. Let’s meet at the square before sunrise tomorrow. We won’t be stopping in any villages along the way, so prepare some feed for the horses. Also, fill those water bottles you bought today with beer or wine. If you ask the inn, they’ll give you some.”
Water quality in this world didn’t seem very good, so people often drank beer or wine instead. From Juhwan’s perspective, boiling water might have solved the issue, but they didn’t seem to think that way.
“Understood. See you tomorrow.”
As Juhwan replied, Marie stepped closer and whispered quietly.
“I’m sorry about earlier. About our leader picking a fight. But she’s really a good person. Jessie and I were practically dying when we met Karin, and ever since then, she’s been pushing herself to protect us.”
Marie stepped back and smiled brightly.
“See you tomorrow. Don’t be late.”
She turned and ran toward her companions. From a short distance, the Red Sword women nodded slightly in farewell.
Juhwan and Lizzy returned the greeting in kind, and Red Sword turned and left.
The three women—tall and small—walked side by side. The worn-out ends of their sleeves and cloaks lingered in Juhwan’s mind.
Marie clung to Karin’s arm like she was being playful. Karin shook her off, seemingly embarrassed by people watching, but after a few steps, she quietly took Marie’s hand.
Everyone has their own story.
Juhwan lowered his head and looked at Lizzy. She was staring intently at the direction Red Sword had gone.
“Lizzy, what’s wrong?”
“….”
Lizzy looked up at him and smiled faintly. There was a trace of tears in her eyes.
“I think I know the place they mentioned. That lodging… I might have stayed there before. When I was being sold.”
She leaned her face against his chest and spoke softly.
“There are bedbugs. It’s so itchy you can’t sleep. There’s a little straw, but not much. Men and women stay together… and sometimes bad things happen. The night I stayed there, it happened to a woman. No one helped. Everyone just watched.”
Lizzy wrapped her arms around him.
“People laugh when they see it happen. The merchant who was taking me laughed too. Someone even said to light a fire because they couldn’t see well enough.”
Her voice trembled as she held him tightly.
“If I hadn’t met you, I would’ve lived through something even worse. If I had met those women back then… I would have envied them.”
Juhwan… thank you.
She stood like that for a while, even after Red Sword had disappeared into the crowd.
When Dorothy opened her eyes, she was in a room at the inn where the bell tower could be seen.
What?! What happened?! I wanted to play more! Why am I already back?!
Dorothy sprang up.
Mom and Dad, who had been sitting on another bed kissing, jumped in surprise and looked at her.
“That’s so mean! Why is Dorothy the only one doing nothing?!”
She already felt like crying because she couldn’t play longer at the market—but Mom and Dad were kissing while Dorothy was left out? That was too unfair.
Dorothy bounced on the bed and leapt into the air, landing on the other bed. Dad laughed and picked her up.
“Dorothy, what if you get hurt?”
“But I’m the only one doing nothing! Dad, kiss Dorothy too!”
She puckered her lips, and Dad kissed her on the lips, nose, and forehead. Then he blew air into her belly.
It was warm and ticklish, and she burst into laughter.
Dorothy twisted and rolled around the bed, trying to escape him. As she tumbled about, she saw Lizzy Mom’s face—it was extremely red.
“Mom, why is your face so red?”
“H-huh…”
Mom had turned into a fool. She couldn’t talk. Just like Oz.
“Dad, this is bad. Mom’s a fool.”
“….”
Dad laughed.
Mom turned even redder.
“Hmm.”
Dorothy tilted her head and counted on her fingers, just like Dad taught her.
“Oz, Toto, Mom… one, two, three. Three!”
Oz, Toto, and Mom—three musketeers!
“…Oh.”
Then that’s fine, right? As long as it’s not just one, it’s okay. If only one couldn’t talk, that would be bad—but there are three.
“Yeah! It’s okay. Mom, it’s fine even if you’re a fool. Oz and Toto can’t talk either. And it’s cool—the Three Musketeers!”
Dorothy jumped up.
“Now Dorothy has to wear her hat!”
Mom and Dad had bought her a fluffy hat. It even had a tail—long and stylish.
“I’ll be cooler than Oz. I have a long tail.”
She ran to the luggage under the bed.
“Dorothy, wait. There’s too much stuff—you won’t find it like that.”
Lizzy smiled and unpacked the bag.
“Here it is.”
“Wow!”
Dorothy held the hat, eyes wide. It was so soft, like touching a cloud.
Oz came over, sniffing it curiously.
“Oz, do you know? This is Dorothy’s tail.”
She placed the hat on her head—but it slipped down and covered her eyes.
“Mom! I can’t see!”
“I know. I picked a bigger one so you can wear it when you grow up.”
Mom took the hat away.
“Mom, does that mean I can’t wear it until I grow up?”
“Oh, no. I’ll sew a strap inside so you can wear it.”
“When?”
“Tonight. It’ll take some time, but it’ll be ready by morning.”
Lizzy smiled, but Dorothy felt like crying.
‘It’s a new hat…’
She wanted to wear it today. At the market too.
“I held back because Oz doesn’t have a hat…”
Her lips trembled.
Dad picked her up.
“While we wait, I’ll tell you a story.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
“Until the hat is ready?”
“Yes.”
“I want an adventure story! Dorothy’s going to be an adventurer!”
“Hmm… then how about Sindbad?”
Dad began.
“Once upon a time, there was a boy named Sindbad…”
“Dad, why is his name like that?”
“Maybe it was common in his country.”
“What about Dorothy?”
“In that country…”
Dad brushed her hair back.
“Dorothy is a special name only great adventurers can have.”
“Like me?”
“Yes, like you.”
Dorothy smiled sleepily as the story continued…
At some point, she drifted into a dream.
A giant herring swam in a vast river, trees growing on its back.
Ah… this must be a whale.
Sindbad appeared.
[If you and Dorothy fight, who would win?]
[Of course I would!]
But Dorothy appeared—with Oz on her head—and pushed him off.
[I was wrong! You’re stronger!]
Hehe… just like Dad said.
Then faint voices echoed.
[It’s okay, Lizzy. Dorothy is asleep.]
[But I’m holding a needle…]
[Just a moment…]
The voices faded.
Dorothy played happily with Sindbad on the whale.
But for some reason, Oz covered her ears with his long ears.
“Oz… why are you covering Dorothy’s ears?”
She asked, but couldn’t hear the answer