Two days were spent preparing for the journey. While everyone was busy making arrangements, Victor was busy perfecting the carriage. Immediately recalling his previous voyage, the first thing that came to mind was the harshness of the ride and the toll it took on his health.
Gathering all the blacksmiths, the lord presented them with his new designs, showcasing a redesigned carriage with a pivoting mechanism. Its distinguishing feature, apart from the rotating front axle, was an innovative suspension system intended to spare his lower body from the bumps and potholes on the road.
In addition, the suspension was reinforced, and weaker parts of the wheel base were replaced, resulting in a fully functional carriage with a smoother ride.
Unfortunately, the carriage lacked genuine shock absorbers, causing it to sway during travel. However, since our hero did not suffer from motion sickness, this issue wasn't problematic for him, and he decided to leave it as is for the time being.
Obviously, he could have attempted to devise a shock absorption system, but he had no idea whatsoever about the inner workings of such devices.
Two weeks later, Victor emerged from the castle at dawn, inspecting three carriages prepared for the journey, along with twenty knights and three servants. He boarded his carriage, where Linea also jumped in.
This development caught him slightly off guard, but he was happy to have her company, as traveling with a beautiful companion was far more enjoyable than staring blankly at the ceiling.
The castle guards lined the road at the gate to bid farewell to their lord, staging a small ceremony for him.
Victor thoroughly enjoyed the performance, watching the soldiers skillfully handling their swords, appearing impeccably polished. Thanks to improved nutrition and rigorous training, the soldiers had bulked up significantly. Even if they weren't knights, Victor was confident that ordinary men wouldn't stand a chance against them.
The carriage departed from the castle, and Victor, pulling the curtain shut, leaned back in his seat, casting a quick glance at Linea seated opposite him.
Linea intently studied the carriage, trying to identify what made it different from usual ones. Having spent the last couple of weeks cooped up in the smithy with the lord, she naturally expected visible changes.
— Your carriage feels surprisingly soft. Was this your doing? — she finally asked.
— Yes, I didn't want to relive the feeling of traveling in a wagon rather than a carriage, — Victor replied.
— But isn't comfort secondary? Wouldn't extra cushions suffice? — Linea asked reproachfully.
— Why live at all if you're unwilling to enhance your surroundings? — the lord asked, fixing his gaze on her. — Do you think I'll make life easier for others by opting for an inferior carriage or walking on foot?
— Aren't nobles always preoccupied with comfort? You've done so much for commoners, and I assumed you'd prioritize their wellbeing first, — she responded.
— Don't overcomplicate things. I'm working for their sake, but it's mutually beneficial. If only their lives improve while mine stays static, then what's the point of exerting myself? — Victor remarked.
Though willing to assist commoners wholeheartedly, he emphasized that his personal comfort and well-being were equally important.
After this exchange, they rode in silence until reaching Selitas territory, where they were met by Hector's escort.
Messengers had been dispatched in advance to notify all local lords of the armed convoy's passage, ensuring no misunderstandings or conflicts occurred.
Victor only learned of this practice after arriving here, since his previous readings and films portrayed feuding lords ignorant of each other's identities, which he mistakenly assumed was realistic.
In this world, however, such scenarios were virtually impossible unless a noble traveled incognito.
Locals were obliged to inform each other of incoming convoys. Good relations, such as those with Baron Selitas, prompted supportive escorts. Conversely, bad relations could lead to denials of passage through major towns or alternate routing.
Such measures were implemented to prevent internal sabotage, complementing external attacks, as nobles avoided unnecessary risks.
Victor sat in the carriage, drawing the curtain to observe the scenery: fields and trees covered with fallen leaves, lightly dusted with snow.
Winter had set in, and even when they passed through villages, few people wandered outdoors. People typically "hibernated" during this season, staying indoors and stretching their food supplies—whether procured from the lord or bought themselves—until spring harvests arrived.
The visible snow layer was clearly insufficient to protect crops from freezing, meaning that achieving even half a harvest would be considered fortunate if no more snow fell before severe frosts.
Understanding this predicament, Victor recognized that unlike Earth, where genetically modified wheat strains thrived in diverse climates, this world's grain was extremely vulnerable. Already searching for solutions, he worried that his fertilizer experiments might go awry, potentially contaminating crops if improperly handled.
The entire situation struck him as ironic, since he'd learned about this agricultural technique from fictional books and a movie about a man stranded on Mars. If it turned out to be mere fiction, he would have no option but to pray for divine intervention.
Meanwhile, the convoy slowly wound its way along the rugged road, passing infrequent passersby and merchants' wagons. Soon, they would reach Selitas territory, which was seven times smaller than Baltas'.
Unexpectedly, the convoy halted, and before Victor could ask why, a soldier approached, reporting that Hector's party was heading their way.
— Are they coming to meet us? — Victor inquired.
— My lord, their captain informed us that they are also en route to meet the count, — the soldier promptly replied.
Slightly taken aback, Victor decided to investigate himself, opening the carriage door and walking toward Hector's convoy.
On his approach, Hector suddenly emerged from the lead carriage, having visibly gained considerable weight since their last encounter.
Walking toward Victor, he spread his arms wide and flashed a bright smile.
— Old friend, I've been waiting for you. I even delayed my journey to join yours.
Victor always felt at ease with Hector, sensing his openness and honesty.
There was no hidden agenda or deceit from Hector. Despite taking precautions, Victor trusted him and valued their friendship.
— Happy to see you, Hector. Looks like you've lost some weight? — Victor teased, moving closer.
— That's precisely why I appreciate your company, — Hector roared with laughter. — You're nothing like those haughty aristocrats from the capital!
The two met in the middle of their convoys, embracing like old friends.
"It seems trade is going swimmingly for you," Victor thought privately.
Servants from both sides began preparing a space for the lords to relax and eat together.
Later, Hector pulled Victor aside and asked a pressing question.
— Tell me, old friend, why is the daughter of Baron Klint accompanying you?
Turning slightly, Victor glanced reassuringly at Linea, confirming she couldn't hear their conversation, then explained that they had trade agreements and the baron's daughter volunteered to act as his personal knight, protecting their joint investments.
This was a delicate point. According to tradition, nobles could serve as knights only to superiors, and although a noble becoming a knight to an equal wasn't forbidden, it was frowned upon as socially improper.
Thus, Victor cleverly justified Linea's decision to independently secure her father's interests.
Predictably, Selitas accepted this explanation without protest, even if he harbored doubts.
For an hour, the two companions strolled, conversing amiably, until a meal was laid out.
Victor was growing accustomed to such noble journeys and began planning ahead for future excursions, including mobile ovens, utensils, and collapsible furniture to maximize space in wagons.
The two barons sat at opposite ends of a three-meter-long table, raising glasses of wine to celebrate their reunion. Judging by Hector's appearance, Victor inferred that the man had developed a notable taste for wine.
After finishing lunch, they retired to a communal tent, where Victor taught Hector the game of backgammon, entertaining himself and spreading the game among the aristocracy.
The game captivated Hector, who insisted on continuing until late night. Only when Victor could no longer think straight, falling asleep mid-sentence, did he extricate himself from the tent to rest.
A small tent was pitched for him, furnished with a narrow bed. Sleeping in the carriage would have been more comfortable, but he chose to extend a gesture of courtesy by letting Linea use it.
"Once the estate is ready, I'll focus on a carriage that accommodates multiple passengers."
Deciding not to limit himself to domestic comforts, he aimed to create a carriage capable of functioning as a mobile home, akin to special vehicles in his world.
***
Early the next morning, the two barons shared a joint breakfast before continuing their journey.
However, they now had to change their route, as it turned out that the count had summoned all his vassals, and in their absence, the guards of their domains had denied all convoys access not only to cities but also to villages. This resulted in a longer journey and the need to buy more supplies, which enterprising merchants started shipping out of the cities to bypass roads.
Yet even in this situation, Victor found an opportunity for profit in a military campaign—something nobody in this world would have thought of. Deciding that upon return, he would certainly pursue this direction.
Pleased with his new idea, he rode in the carriage with a Cheshire cat's grin.
Linea did not understand what the man in front of her was thinking, but whereas previously she interpreted his smile as a sign of malicious intentions, now she found enjoyment in seeing him smile. She even secretly observed him enthusiastically writing down ideas in his parchments.
It was fascinating for her that someone would write down his ideas continuously and have so many diverse ideas.
Linea tried to emulate him by coming up with her own ideas, but every time she presented hers to the baron, they were demolished by his cold and logical arguments.
She would have gotten angry with him, wishing him painful death for crushing her ideas so cruelly, but each time he would inevitably add: "This idea, unfortunately, won't work, but if you keep trying, you'll surely come up with something that will shake the world. Just remember: only those who do nothing make no mistakes."
She found these words deeply inspiring and thoughtful, filling her with even greater reverence for this man.
Unfortunately for this girl, Victor was not nearly as profound or mysterious as she imagined. He simply repeated phrases he had read online in his previous world, often without giving them much thought.