CH 36

“Well, here we are. Then, take a look at this first.”

Having stated that, Matsunami-san grabs a piece of fabric that is as high as my chest and vigorously pulls it off to expose what is beneath.

“What… is this?”

It looks to be constructed solely of metal and has two wheels, a handle for keeping the body in position, and a seat that appears to be a place to sit when it unfolds from under the cover.

Hmm, it reminds me of the bicycles that some aristocracy have recently begun using if my memory serves me well.

The entire thing is very rugged with different pieces, but it nevertheless lacks pedals and other components that go on a bicycle.

“According to Amaterasu-sama, this thing is similar to something called a motorcycle. The wheels revolve and operate by pouring a tremendous quantity of divine power into this power reactor. In terms of performance… it can execute at speeds comparable to or even exceeding those of a horse.”

[[[Horse!?]]]

[Wow…]

The three of us express our astonishment at Matsunami-san’s words.

To anticipate that it will be able to run as swiftly as or faster than a horse would be utterly ludicrous.

But wait a minute.

“No, hold on! Why hasn’t this invention been put to use if it is so great? After all, wasn’t it the power reactor that initially blew up?”

“Ah, about that…”

Matsunami-san turns aside and speaks slurredly in response to my remark.

For the record, if you ask me to test something that is not safe, I will absolutely refuse.

“As a matter of fact, there is a problem with the power output. At present, I can hardly move it because I have little faith in it, and even a clan of priestesses and Shinto priests who are in charge of a shrine can only move it a little faster than a bicycle… So I prepared a separate fuel for the power source and used the divine power directly only when igniting the fuel. The end outcome was that explosion.”

“…”

“So there’s no need to worry about this thing blowing up! Amaterasu-sama and Ukanomitama-sama have informed me that it will be safe. Come on! Try it by all means! Akira-kun! You can undoubtedly move it if you are possessed by a fissure of a God!!”

“Well… if Amaterasu-sama and Ukanomitama-sama say it’s okay, then I guess everything should be fine, right? Akira-san.”

“If those two Gods say so, you can rest assured. Akira onee-sama!”

[All right, let’s ride! Ride on, Akira!]

“…”

Matsunami-san offers me a hat stuffed with cotton and a handbag that looks like a basket when he says so as if he wants me to put them on. Perhaps as a result of the introduction of the names of the two well-known Gods, neither Toki-san nor Sora-san has expressed any inclination to oppose the idea.

Along with all of this, Ys is sniffing about and is highly driven to do so.

Certainly, there shouldn’t be any concern about it exploding if those two Gods have said so.

But you know… the name Amaterasu… as someone who has actually met her… even though I won’t say it out loud… Her disposition is very questionable…!

“Akira onee-sama?”

“Akira-san?”

“Sigh… I guess I don’t have a choice.”

[All right!]

“Yes!”

Well, I suppose I’ll simply have to go along with the flow of events.

So I put on the equipment Matsunami-san presented to me and pulled my hair back to be safe before mounting the bike and adhering to Matsunami-san’s directions on how to ride it.

After the explanation, Matsunami-san points towards the paved road…

“I want you to make a U-turn at an appropriate place along the route and return back because if you keep going down this road, you’ll arrive at the R&D Team’s headquarters in the northwest corner of Japoterasu. Next, pour the divine power gradually at beginning.”

He then moves away from me.

They give me a cautious yet hopeful gaze as they wait to see what I am going to do.

“(Ys. Then let’s go.)”

[Hahaha, anytime!]

I completely let Ys dazzle me, and let her power gradually flow into my right eye in a manner akin to how I draw power from the part called the handle to my right eye.

“Oh…”

The power reactor rattles and the wheels start turning, though slowly at first, before the entire body of the vehicle eventually starts moving forward.

“Oh!”

Turning the steering wheel causes the vehicle to turn in the appropriate direction, and increasing or decreasing the amount of power going into the vehicle results in a rise in speed or a reduction in speed.

While the sound the power reactor is generating may first bother me, if I get accustomed to it, this will be fine.

“Then, I’m going out for a while.”

“Okay. Don’t go too far out.”

“Be careful.”

“Take care.”

After some familiarity, I accelerate the motorcycle and leave the workshop in the direction of the seemingly endless underground passageway.

“(Let’s move on, Ys.)”

[Do it! Do it quickly, Akira!]

“(Aye aye.)”

While thinking that Ys is unexpectedly very childlike, I channel a large amount of power into the power reactor. After that, the motorcycle accelerates in tandem with it, and in the blink of an eye, the workshop where Toki-san and the others are waiting for me is out of sight.

“What!? Wait a minute!? Isn’t this really faster than a horse!? I’ve never even ridden on the back of a horse before!!”

[Hahahahaha! That’s good, that’s good! Akira, accelerate even faster!!]

“You idiot! Stupid Ys! Don’t pour any more into it because it will be out of control! I mean, it’s rather unnerving even in its current state! That’s enough!!”

The motorcycle no longer leans to either side as the speed rises.

But when the wind whips against my body, the temperature drops and it feels as though my range of vision is growing narrower.

The moment such a thought crosses my mind… I can’t help but reduce the amount of power Ys is sending to me against my will and start slowing down the bike at once.

“Yikes… I thought I was going to die.”

[Muuu. Akira’s a bit of a scaredy-cat. Rarely do you have the opportunity to outpace a regular horse.]

When the power is totally cut off, the motorcycle comes to a halt, and I lean on the handlebars while placing one foot on the ground.

Although I can sense Ys taunting me above my head, nothing will change the fact that the impossible is impossible.

I only have one life. There are things that can be regenerated and things that cannot. Please understand that, Ys-san.

“I mean, I was so uplifted that I didn’t notice it before, but it’s rather exhausting…”

[Looks like it. Well, I reckon it’s just a matter of getting used to it, including letting the power flow through you.]

I turn the motorcycle around and ride it more slowly than I did on the way there back to Toki-san and the others.

I’ve learned that the bike is remarkably fuel-efficient in the process.

The number of persons who could move them would unquestionably be limited by this.

Aside from that, there is ice clinging to various sections of the bike, and it appears that there are still some issues though it is unsure whether this is related to Ys’ power or if there are other causes.

Even though the Special Operation Squad’s mission benefits from this speed… the bike itself is a one-person vehicle…  I’ll make a suggestion when I get back.

“Good job.”

“I’m really tired. But the speed was superb.”

“That’s great. You go back up there first.”

“All right.”

After the power reactor shuts down, I hand Matsunami-san the motorcycle and the other pieces of equipment, then I do as he says and up the ladder to return to the room where I was.

———–

“Do you have any suggestions or ideas in addition to the feedback? In my opinion, it would be better for that object to be working on by you and your Special Operations Squad than to be left there gathering dust…”

“Right…”

Matsunami-san eventually shows up, and I tell him how I feel about riding the motorcycle, what I was pondering on the way back, and what I believe ought to be done in this aspect.

After hearing what I say, Matsunami-san replies in an exceedingly thrilled tone, “Princess, you are the very best. Please anticipate it since I’ll absolutely finish it before the Special Operations Squad begins operations in a week.”

“O-Oh.”

[Hahaha, this will be fun, Akira.]

“Akira onee-sama…”

“Please continue to take care of me.”

Though it would be impolite to state this as the one who requested him to do it, I have to confess that the smile on his face is a bit frightening.

We then conclude by extending our gratitude to the overall head of the R&D Team, Ukai, before moving on to the next department.