CH 60

Once they arrived in Noir, Maki and Chiharu learned that the soldiers would be going to the human territories by boat.

“We came by train because it was an emergency. But it’s cheaper to go by boat when you have over one hundred soldiers.”

And so Paulo and the other cooks would accompany the soldiers and take the three-day voyage.

This meant that Maki and Chiharu would have no work to do for a while.

“I didn’t know they had boats.”

Chiharu said as she looked at them longingly. They might not have been discovered had they escaped by boat in the first place. No, they would have been caught in Noir either way. So it was good that they had taken the train.

“In spite of the levitation stones, there is only so much you can carry by train. And so it gets expensive.”

Edwy explained.

“Going by boat would be nice if we had the time, but we have to hurry to the elf lands, so it cannot be helped. As for whether you two will go to the elf lands as well, we can decide that after we return to Midland.”

“Yes.”

Maki replied. Maki had a thought. Chiharu was still staring at the boat as if she really wanted to ride it, but that’s not what Maki was thinking about. Train or boat. Which one would protect them from the merfolk? If this continued, Chiharu would start talking about taking the boat and going to some island. Chiharu underestimated the ease at which others found it to abduct her.

Indeed, the merfolk had saved Chiharu in the mirror lake at the perfect time. She was grateful for that and they intended to visit their country once things had settled down.

However, that was once things settled down. But only one of three lands had been settled. And so going by sea at a time like this would definitely result in her being abducted.

Maki was thinking about it seriously. It would be better to go through the merfolk island where they could stay for exactly one hour.

That was what Maki thought, but the truth was that Chiharu had just happened to be closer. She had just happened to fall into the lake. The merfolk loved the two Saintesses equally. In other words, Maki was in as much danger as Chiharu.

“Hey, Maki-chan. About the boat…”

Chiharu started talking dreamily.

“Yeah, I know. You used to want to go to a far off island by boat back when you were a student, right?”

“How did you know? But yes, and speaking of kelp…”

She started to talk. Well, it was better that she talked about kelp than boats. Regardless, they would not be taking the boat. She nodded and listened to Chiharu, who was now talking about going to a sugar cane island. Maki still thought kelp and sugar cane would be too heavy for Chiharu to carry.

“We’ll be leaving soon.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

They would be riding a private train. Grudo, Aeris, Edwy, and those related to the Saintesses were the only ones allowed on board.

“Huh, where’s Chiharu?”

Edwy said as he looked around. She had been there a moment ago, talking about sugar cane.

“Chiharu went to the store.”

Sauro said. He had come to see them off. Sauro and Saikania were able to fly at the same speed as the train. And so they would head towards the merfolk island once the train left.

“You might as well ride with us.”

Edwy said.

“I’ve told you many times already. It’s not that I hate trains. I just don’t want to go underground.”

Apparently, the birdfolk were very particular, and they did not like being underground. It made them uncomfortable.

“But more importantly, shouldn’t you help Chiharu? She’s being surrounded again.”

“What! Say that first!”

Chiharu had just been out to buy some fruit juice, when she was surrounded by shouts of ‘It’s the Saintess!’

“Phew. That was crazy.”

“We already had juice prepared for you. We know very well what you and Maki like.”

“But, Edwy. Buying stuff at the station is part of the fun of traveling.”

“Fine, but you should at least tell someone before going off.”

“Yes, all right.”

Chiharu looked a little smaller after being scolded by Edwy.

“Heh, Chiharu got in trouble.”

Maki said jokingly.

“Well, I got two bottles of juice, but I guess you won’t be needing any, Maki. Oh, well. It was freshly squeezed porapora fruit which only grows in the dwarf lands.”

“Oh. They sell that in bottles now? Very interesting.”

“Uh, Grudo. Is that a good thing?”

“It is, Maki. The porapora fruit is very nutritious but quite sour. Because of that, people didn’t eat it for a long time. But now sweeteners have become cheap, and it is sold like this as a delicious drink.”

“Bu-but Edwy did say that juice was prepared for us…”

“Sorry, Maki. We didn’t prepare porapora juice.”

Edwy said apologetically. Chiharu held up a bottle and waved it in front of Maki.

“Sorry for teasing you, Chiharu. Please give me that.”

Maki apologized. There were some things that were more important to a woman than her pride. If you could get new juice with just a few words, then it was a bargain. Chiharu looked proud.

“Hehe. Oh, I suppose you can have it then.”

However, Nyran and Aeris looked at them with exasperation and said,

“All this over juice…”

“Don’t wander off again.”

They were both scolded.

They went inside the private train and saw that the interior was much the same as the last time they were on a train.

“I expected something a little more extravagant.”

Chiharu said.

“Of course, such trains do exist, but we thought you two wouldn’t like it. After all, this is still work.”

Said Edwy.

“I see. Yes, this is more relaxing.”

“It really is.”

After that, they told Edwy amusing stories about their last train ride.

“And then…by the time we arrived at the second clearing, I felt an eye on me.”

“An eye. I see. That is interesting, Maki and Chiharu. I myself have never felt someone’s stare.”

“Neither have I.”

“I have been an Adventurer for many years, and it has yet to happen to me. It would make hunting so much easier…”

“Hmmm. Hunting, huh? Well, I guess it’s the system in this world. Hey, Maki-chan. Why are you looking down?”

“Chiharu? What is it? Why are you looking at Grudo all of a sudden? Is Maki sick?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Just then, Kaider and Nyran put their hands on their belts.

“I’m full of regret!”

“We should have known after watching every night! We’re so stupid!”

Outside of the train’s window, a gazer was looking in at them.