I Build a Modern Shelter in Fantasy World

Liam helped prepare food supplies for Gideon and his team, though he didn't press further about where Gideon was going.

In Liam's view, there were things he had no right to know about someone else, even if he was a Baron and Liam was their superior.

Luke was already wearing his military uniform, his M4A1 hanging in front of him, ready in case a threat came.

Gideon and Lena stepped out of different rooms, also in uniform, looking much like Luke. Liam stood near the horse carriage.

He turned his head and realized Gideon looked far more fitting in his usual uniform than in a noble's attire.

"Everything's loaded, Capt," Luke reported.

"Good. Let's get ready to move out," Gideon said firmly.

Before leaving, Gideon bid a short farewell to Liam. The two shook hands, both feeling fortunate about Gideon's presence that day. His attendance at the meeting between Barons had been a big help.

"Be careful," Liam wished.

Gideon nodded silently and climbed into the carriage with Lena following behind. Luke sat on the driver's seat, holding the reins and guiding the carriage out of the Viscount's estate at a steady pace.

"Where are we headed, Capt?" Luke asked.

"North. After we leave Mischo, follow the road until we reach Girona."

"Understood," Luke replied.

Inside the carriage, Gideon and Lena set down their M4A1s and checked the wooden boxes containing food and drink. Liam had provided three boxes: two of food and one of wine.

"Gideon," Lena called.

"What is it?"

"About that request from the north. Is it possible the Moko Kingdom won't last long against Luthe's army?" she asked.

Gideon fell silent, his eyes fixed on her while nodding occasionally as she spoke.

He had already warned Norton and Queen Anastasya that winter warfare would be devastating and have lasting consequences.

"They're too exhausted from the winter. Food supplies are dropping fast since soldiers tire quickly, so rations had to be increased," Gideon explained.

"Especially since the north is known for its long winters. In the south, it ends in three months. Up north, it could last five or six."

"I don't know if we'll get there while it's still winter or not," Gideon admitted.

Lena smiled, pulling a bottle of wine from the box and opening it. Gideon was surprised, grabbing a glass and asking her to pour him some. But Lena refused.

"You're the driver, remember?" she teased.

"I'll take care of this wine myself," she said.

Gideon blinked, then chuckled, agreeing with her. Driving drunk would end badly, and back on Earth it would've been against the law.

That afternoon, Gideon sat watching Lena, who kept teasing him as she poured herself more wine and drank it. All he could do was lick his dry lips in response.

The carriage suddenly stopped without warning from Luke. Gideon startled in surprise, and Lena spilled some of her wine from the glass.

"What is it, Luke?" Lena asked, startled.

"Bandits."

Gideon exhaled, telling Lena to stay inside while he and Luke stepped out to deal with them. Lena only smiled, her cheeks flushed red from too much alcohol.

BANG!

Within minutes, Gideon and Luke fired at seven bandits armed with swords and spears. Lena stayed seated in the same position, sipping her wine without moving.

The carriage door swung open. Luke stood still and froze when he saw Lena drinking.

"You guys are drinking without me?" he asked.

"Only Lena. Not me."

"Hand it over, quick," Luke demanded, but Lena stubbornly refused since Luke and Gideon still had to take turns driving.

Gideon shook his head and rubbed his forehead, wondering what they were bickering about. He spurred the carriage forward, leaving the forest after clearing the road from bandits.

Girona was not far away. They only needed one or two more hours to arrive. It was no longer Viscount Duncan's territory, so they had to be careful.

The long trip finally settled into silence inside the carriage. Gideon kept asking questions about their condition, but no one answered.

Are they drunk?

"Stop," ordered a city guard at the southern gate.

Two soldiers stood guard, one holding a Viscount green banner. One of them stepped closer to Gideon and asked his identity.

"Who are you? What business do you have in Girona?" the guard demanded.

Gideon disliked small talk. He tossed them the noble seal. One guard caught it and confirmed it was authentic.

"A Baron? From where?"

"Southern Border."

"Viscount Duncan's people," the guard noted.

Without further ado, he returned the seal and opened the gate. Gideon drove inside and looked around Girona.

Its architecture was beautiful, almost like Mischo, but the city was plagued by poor sanitation. Trash piled in the streets, water stagnated, and animal carcasses were left to rot in plain view.

What is the city's Viscount even doing here?

Gideon stopped the carriage when he noticed an equipment shop crowded with people. He got down without telling Luke or Lena, since both were asleep inside.

Inside the shop, many young people were buying gear: armor and swords, clearly not for play.

"Welcome. Looks like you're new here. Need something?" the shopkeeper asked.

"A map of the Moko Kingdom," Gideon replied.

"The whole kingdom, or just dungeon regions?"

"The whole kingdom."

"Wait a moment."

While waiting, Gideon glanced at the youths. He assumed they were adventurers, but he didn't know what adventurers really were or what they did, so he didn't speculate.

"With this equipment, my magic power will increase."

Magic?

"Of course, that gem boosts your basic affinity."

Basic affinity?

Soon, the shopkeeper returned with a scroll containing the full map of the Moko Kingdom. Its price was higher than dungeon maps.

"That'll be 50 copper."

"Are they adventurers?" Gideon asked, pointing at the group shopping behind him.

The shopkeeper nodded. They were a new bronze-ranked party of five and regular customers of his.

Gideon smiled. He had been so busy dealing with the village and its problems that he nearly forgot his original mission; to find a way back to Earth.

Hearing the word magic reminded him of it again, sparking his curiosity.

A gold coin landed on the counter, shocking the shopkeeper. The amount was high, and he had no change for it.

"Give me five silver, and the rest to them," Gideon instructed.

The shopkeeper smiled and agreed. Gideon took the map and walked out, leaving the adventurers to finish their purchase.

"What?! We can afford better equipment now?" one of them exclaimed.

"Y-Yeah, some generous man gave you his change. He's waiting over there," the shopkeeper explained.

The five of them turned to look. They saw a strange man dressed in green, brown, and black, standing next to a noble carriage.

"But why?" one asked.

"No idea. You can ask him once you're done shopping."

They didn't waste the chance. They rushed back to buy better armor, swords, spears, wand, and gear worth four silver coins. Their excitement was obvious.

Gideon stood waiting while unfolding the kingdom map. He saw that from Girona, they needed to pass through three more cities, including the Capital, to reach the north.

The road was still long.

Hang in there, Norton.

"S-Sir…?"

He turned and saw the adventurer group approaching, their new gear gleaming. Gideon smiled and rolled up the map.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir," said one of the youths, about 18 years old.

"It's too early for thanks."

"Huh?" the boy asked, confused.

"I want you to help me."