Chapter 4 - Escaping the Kingdom with My Camper Van
The day after I was summoned to another world.
After checking out of the inn, I swiftly left the castle town.
It was still quite early, so there wasn’t a single soul outside the town.
As I walked along the road for a while, the defensive walls surrounding the castle town gradually grew more distant, and even the knights on watch were no longer visible.
"This spot should do. Vehicle Summoning!"
After confirming that there was no one around, I activated my unique skill.
In an instant, a camper van appeared right before my eyes.
I confirmed it was the exact same camper van I had summoned in the backyard of the inn yesterday, and without hesitation, I climbed into the driver’s seat.
"For now, let’s check the navigation system..."
I tried turning on the navigation system, and an unfamiliar map appeared on the screen.
It was probably a map of this world.
The current location was marked as being near the capital, Othelonia, of the Kingdom of Othelonia. The map also showed nearby towns and villages.
My immediate goal was to leave the Kingdom of Othelonia.
To the north of the kingdom was the Demon Nation of Belgios, which was in a state of war against Othelonia, and to the east was Beastus, a country teetering on the edge of conflict.
I didn’t want to get dragged into any wars, so heading south—away from both nations—seemed like the best choice.
To the south lay the Commercial Confederation, a prosperous trade nation known for its peacefulness and low levels of racial discrimination.
For now, I decided to head south with the Commercial Confederation as my destination.
I adjusted the navigation system to set a village south of Othelonia as my target.
It seemed I’d have to cross a vast forest, but with the power of my camper van, I figured I could manage.
After putting on my seatbelt, I adjusted the pedals and mirrors.
I inserted the key, started the engine, and checked the dashboard to ensure there were no issues before driving off.
"Smooth as silk."
The road was paved with cobblestones, but the ground quality wasn’t as stable as Japanese roads.
However, this Bolero was a camper van that perfectly balanced comfort and stability. Thanks to the rigidity of its Hiace base, the vehicle remained steady.
Although the tall body made it slightly susceptible to crosswinds, the robust suspension and frame ensured it stayed stable.
Above all, the seats were incredibly comfortable. The driver’s and passenger’s seats boasted the cushioning and support typical of large vehicles, making even long drives less tiring.
The elevated seating also provided a wide field of view, greatly enhancing my sense of security while driving.
It truly lived up to its nickname, "a house on wheels."
The road stretched out straight ahead.
There were no other cars around, nor were there any pedestrians.
Of course, there were no traffic lights either, so I didn’t have to worry about anything while driving. It was perfect.
Following the navigation system’s directions, I leisurely cruised down the road.
●
I had been driving south along the road for three hours.
I stopped my camper van on a scenic open plain to take a break.
Even on a road with no obstacles, driving for three hours straight was exhausting.
As comfortable as the camper van was, sitting for that long inevitably put strain on my lower back.
So, I decided it was time for a brief rest.
The moment I stepped out of the driver’s seat, I was greeted by an endless expanse of green carpet stretching out before me.
Every time the wind blew, the scent of soil and grass tickled my nose.
The blue sky above was crystal clear, with fluffy white clouds drifting leisurely.
In the distance, I could see a small hill faintly outlined, and beyond that, the jagged ridges of a mountain range stood sharply against the horizon.
Sunlight poured down gently, making the grass-colored leaves glisten brightly.
"Ahh, the air is so fresh."
I took a deep breath, letting the clean air fill my lungs.
The air wasn’t polluted by exhaust fumes or anything like that. The air in this world was incredibly fresh.
I could feel my body rejoice simply from taking a deep breath.
"Might as well sit outside for a while."
I excitedly walked around to the rear of the camper van and opened the baggage door.
This was an external storage compartment that connected to the area under the bed, accessible from both inside and outside.
It stored outdoor tables, chairs, and various camping gear for easy retrieval.
I quickly pulled out an outdoor table and chair.
The table was a Grand Home Slide Table, a wooden table with three adjustable height settings, which I set up on the ground.
Next, I assembled the chair.
I took out a square frame and poles from a compact carry bag that fit in one hand.
I connected the poles to the square frame, adjusted the front and back legs, and finally attached the fabric to complete the assembly.
Setting up both the wooden table and chair took less than four minutes.
"Simple setups are the way to go, after all."
While intricate camping gear setups had their charm, doing that every single time could get tiring. For a quick solo break, it was best to stick to things that were easy to assemble.
Work smarter where you could, and focus on enjoying the fun parts to the fullest. That was my camping philosophy.
When I sat on the chair, it enveloped my body perfectly.
Unlike other chairs, this one had ample width and height, allowing for a relaxing and comfortable seat.
There were no trees, buildings, or people around to obstruct the view.
Sitting here in the vast open plain, I almost felt as though I were the only person in the world.
As I lounged in the chair, my stomach suddenly growled.
I thought I wouldn’t feel hungry since I’d only been driving, but apparently, my body had other plans.
"Guess I should eat something."
Checking the navigation system, I saw that a large forest lay ahead beyond this plain.
Since I couldn’t be sure if I’d have the chance to camp properly in the forest, it seemed wise to have a meal here and now.
Looking into the fridge, I spotted a thick vacuum-sealed steak.
Since it was my first time camping with the camper van, I wanted to have a lavish lunch, so I had bought some A4-grade Wagyu sirloin beef for the occasion.
I had intended to enjoy it at the foot of Mount Fuji at the Fumotoppara Campground while admiring the scenery, but since I’d been summoned to another world, that plan went out the window.
Because I had thawed the meat in preparation for that trip, I wanted to eat it sooner rather than later. This Wagyu would be my meal.
Though the weather was perfect for setting up the camping gear and grilling the steak outdoors, I decided to cook it in the camper van’s kitchen instead, as it was my first trip with the vehicle.
Unlike some Japanese camper van models that often lacked built-in stoves, assuming most users would cook outdoors, I preferred cooking indoors and made sure mine was equipped with one.
Although people said modern campgrounds were often well-equipped and didn't necessarily require a kitchen, relying on such facilities could leave you in a bind when unexpected situations arose.
And considering this otherworld didn’t seem to have campgrounds, outfitting my camper van with a kitchen turned out to be a wise decision.
And so, I started preparing my meal in the van’s kitchen.
Using kitchen scissors, I opened the industrial vacuum-sealed package, revealing a thick, beautifully marbled Wagyu sirloin steak.
"This is going to be delicious."
First, I rubbed salt and black pepper onto both sides of the sirloin to season it, making sure to do it carefully, not just on one side but also on the other.
I lit the stove, and the soft hiss of the flame filled the otherwise silent camper.
Placing a frying pan on low heat, I gently warmed it before adding beef fat to the pan, letting it slowly melt and coat the surface.
Once the fat was evenly spread, I removed the excess and tossed in sliced garlic and a sprig of rosemary to sauté.
When the garlic turned a golden brown and the flavor had infused into the fat, I added the sirloin to the pan.
There was a quiet sizzle as the oil spat in the pan.
The sound and smell of the meat sizzling were irresistible.
I kept the heat at medium-low, carefully cooking the steak to ensure it cooked evenly.
When the underside was beautifully seared, I flipped it with tongs, repeating the process for the other side.
Once the other side was also perfectly seared, I placed the steak onto a wooden cutting board to rest.
If I were a rare steak fan, I could have eaten it as it was. But I preferred mine medium, so I let the residual heat finish cooking it.
After about two minutes, I inserted the knife and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
"Done! Wagyu sirloin steak is served!"
Carrying the dish in hand, I stepped outside to the table I had set up earlier.
I briefly considered eating inside but decided the perfect weather was too good to pass up.
Plus, I had already set up the chair and table, so I didn't mind eating it outside.
While sirloin steak and a glass of red wine would have been an ideal pairing, I settled for some iced barley tea in a cup.
"Let’s eat."
Once everything—food, utensils, and drinks—was ready, I took the fork in hand and took a bite of the freshly grilled sirloin steak.
"Delicious...!"
The rich, sweet fat of the Wagyu melted in my mouth like premium butter.
The meat itself was incredibly tender, with the juices bursting out with every bite.
The simple seasoning of salt, black pepper, and garlic allowed the meat's natural umami to shine through. The final touch of rosemary added a nice, spicy accent.
Every bite heightened my appetite, and before I knew it, the entire steak was gone.
"As expected of Wagyu..."
I looked up at the sky, soaking in the feeling of satisfaction.
I felt no regret about splurging on this steak for my first camper van meal. The flavor exceeded all my expectations.
Each bite had been so luxurious that I almost didn’t want it to end.
I was a legitimate grown man
Although the sirloin steak was quite filling, one piece wasn’t enough to make me feel completely full.
There was one more piece of sirloin steak left in the fridge.
"No, I’ll save that one for tonight."
It would be a waste not to enjoy such delicious meat with some alcohol.
I decided to enjoy it to the fullest on a night when I didn't have to drive.
Comments
Post a Comment