As they marched along, Hazuki overheard one of the soldiers talking to their captain.
"Captain, we should bring him to the city. He doesn't have an identity card."
The captain glanced back at Hazuki, raising an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
*Crap. What now?!*
Before he could explain, the soldiers suddenly surrounded him. One reached for his arm.
"Wait, wait, wait!!" Hazuki yelped, trying to back away. "I'm a good person! Not a criminal! I swear!"
The captain chuckled, crossing his arms as he looked Hazuki up and down. "Relax. This is just standard procedure. It's not like you're going to the gallows or something."
"Wha?! I didn't do anything!" Hazuki protested as they grabbed his arms and secured them behind his back with a glowing rope.
"You don't have an identity card. Only criminals, deserters, or spies wander around without one. And you..." The captain smirked, his eyes scanning Hazuki from head to toe. "You look suspicious."
"Suspicious?! I just got here!"
The captain's eyes narrowed. "Just got here? From where?"
"Uh... you know... a faraway land?" Hazuki smiled sheepishly, letting out an awkward chuckle.
The soldiers exchanged glances before nodding in mock understanding.
"Right. Faraway land." One of them muttered sarcastically. "Nice try, stranger."
The captain motioned for his squad to move. "Let's bring him to the city and sort this out with the authorities. If he's telling the truth, he has nothing to worry about."
"Nothing to worry about?! You've tied me up!" Hazuki shouted, struggling against the glowing rope. "I'm innocent! You're making a mistake!"
One of the soldiers smirked. "That's what they all say~ You know~ the spies, the outlaws~"
"I'm serious! I didn't even want to be here!"
But no matter how much he protested, they dragged him along. As they moved through the forest, Hazuki couldn't help but think.
*First orcs, now this?! Could this isekai get any worse?!*
Before he knew it, he was shoved into a mobile cage. A carriage surrounded by metal bars, just big enough for two or three people.
"Ugh! I hate this isekai world!" Hazuki mumbled as he was pushed inside.
One soldier walking beside the cage glanced at him suspiciously. "Hmm? What are you mumbling about?"
"Err... nothing!?" Hazuki replied quickly, forcing a nervous laugh.
"Weird..." the soldier muttered, shaking his head.
The wagon creaked and groaned as it moved along the bumpy forest road. Hazuki was trying to think of a way out of this mess when his throat reminded him just how dry it was.
"Hey, umm... can I at least get some water?" He pressed his face against the bars with a pitiful expression.
The soldier smirked. "Oh, you want water? Sure, let me just grab some from my—"
"Private." The captain glanced over his shoulder. "Stop messing around. Give the man some water."
"Ughh, fine." The soldier grumbled, pulling a flask from his belt and passing it through the bars.
"Thanks." Hazuki reached for the bottle, uncorked it, and started drinking greedily.
"Don't drink it all at once," the soldier snapped. "You're not getting more until we reach the city."
As the cage jolted along the uneven road, Hazuki leaned against the bars, watching the soldiers marching alongside.
"Hey." He called out casually. "What's the name of the city we're headed to?"
One of the soldiers turned his head, looking surprised. "Huh? It's called Briskle. Why do you ask?"
Hazuki shrugged. "Oh, nothing. Just wanted to chat. It's kind of boring in here, you know?"
The soldier smirked. "You wouldn't be bored if you hadn't gotten into this mess."
"I didn't get myself into anything!" Hazuki protested. "I just woke up in the middle of the forest and—"
"Yeah, yeah, save it for the city guards." The soldier cut him off, clearly uninterested.
Another soldier chuckled. "You're lucky we even let you ride in the cage. Normally, we'd make someone like you walk the whole way."
"Lucky? Oh yeah, I feel super lucky right now." Hazuki rolled his eyes.
The captain, riding at the front, glanced back. "If you want less boredom, maybe keep quiet until we get to Briskle."
"Got it, Captain." Hazuki raised his hands in mock surrender. "Silent as a mouse from here on out."
Hazuki glanced around and noticed a group of riders approaching from the opposite direction. They wore full plate armor, just like the soldiers escorting him.
"Hey." Hazuki gestured toward them. "Is that...?"
One soldier glanced over his shoulder. "Hmm? Oh, that's another patrol squad. They always travel in groups."
He waved lazily at the riders, and a few nodded back.
"Patrol squad?" Hazuki repeated, curious.
"Yeah, their job is to secure the roads and villages, same as us... Well..." The soldier smirked, looking at him. "Except we're hauling you back to Briskle instead of rescuing anyone."
Hazuki rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever~"
The soldier laughed. "Hah! You're lucky we showed up when we did. If those orcs had caught you..." He leaned closer with a wicked grin. "Let's just say you wouldn't be walking normal for a while. If at all."
The other soldiers burst out laughing.
"Oh, real funny." Hazuki crossed his arms.
"Relax, kid." Another soldier slapped the side of the cage. "You made it out alive, didn't you? Be grateful."
*Grateful? Sure, I'm 'grateful' that my first isekai experience involved running for my life from orcs who wanted to make me their dessert. What's next? A dragon with a fetish?*
Hazuki slumped against the bars, letting the soldiers' laughter echo around him as the patrol squad disappeared down the road behind them.
As the road grew busier, he noticed more people traveling in both directions. Farmers with carts of produce. Merchants with wagons piled high with goods. A few well-dressed individuals on horseback.
"Hey." Hazuki leaned against the bars. "Are we near the city?"
One of the soldiers shot him a warning look. "Yeah, we're close. Now behave yourself."
"Hey, I'm just asking." Hazuki threw up his hands defensively.
He glanced at the people passing by. Something felt off.
*Hmm... everyone around here is human. I wonder if there are any elves or beastkin, like in those isekai anime.*
"Hey."
"What now?" the soldier grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"Chill, man." Hazuki tried to sound casual. "I just want to ask something."
"What is it this time?"
"Are there any other races besides humans around here?"
The soldier raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Humans live here. This is the Human Kingdom. There might be a few of the other races around for work or trade, but they rarely stick around."
"Oh..."
"If you want to see other races, you'd have to head to the capital city. There's more diversity there."
Hazuki's ears perked up. "The capital? How far is that from here?"
"About ten days by fast horse." The soldier smirked. "If you're in a carriage, it'll take even longer."
"Ten days!? That's insane! Who has the time for that?"
The soldier chuckled. "Welcome to the real world, kid. This isn't one of your fairy tales where you can teleport wherever you want."
Hazuki slumped back in the cage, staring up at the sky.
"Hey... errr..." He scratched the back of his head. "Am I talking normally right now?"
One of the soldiers looked at him, confused. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"You know, my language. Am I speaking it right? Does it sound weird?"
The soldiers exchanged puzzled glances before bursting into laughter.
"This guy is crazy!"
"What does he think he's speaking, some elf tongue or dwarf gibberish?" another teased.
The captain smirked. "A funny guy, huh? Maybe he thinks he's some legendary hero!"
Hazuki groaned, his face heating up in embarrassment. "Hey! I'm serious! I already told you all that I'm not from around here!"
The captain raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, no kidding. Your clothes are weird enough. But you're speaking perfectly fine Hyuman Common, so maybe tone down the crazy before we hand you over to the guards in Briskle."
"Hyuman Common?" Hazuki tilted his head, confused.
"The language we're all speaking, idiot." One soldier rolled his eyes. "What did you think you were speaking? Goblin grunts?"
*Hyuman Common, huh? I don't even know how I'm speaking this... Damn it, old man, what did you put in that sake?*
(End of Chapter)