CH 355

“How are Johnny and the others?”

“They’re fine. There’s no need to hurry, I guess it’ll be fine if he takes turns with Radia?”

“I guess so, it’s going to take us about three weeks to get there, and I think it would be better to have Radia with us than just the horses. I don’t want to leave her behind either.”

“Gau!”

“Woof!”

As I called out to Makina, who was brushing the horses in the yard, Radia and Schneider came up to me and got pumped up. It’s the first time we’ll be going far away with these guys, and I pat them on the head, thinking it’s going to be a little fun.

It was just yesterday afternoon when the messengers from Sandiola, including the King, returned, but since the meeting and handover went off without a hitch, I’m sure they’ll treat us well when we get there.

“We’ve loaded up on food …… Are you sure you want to go, Basleigh? I don’t mind if it’s in our territory, but I don’t like the idea of a minister wandering around in another country, especially if it’s dangerous.”

“Well, if we go and just ask, we won’t have any trouble, and since she’s an adult, she’s responsible for herself no matter what happens.”

Fath-san exhaled a sigh at my words and made a sullen face.

I spent the night tying up Basleigh-sensei, but she said she wouldn’t change her mind and went to work at the castle this morning, half crying. As for me, I think she should do her job at the castle rather than what Fath-san says, so I think it’s not good in a different way.

I told her she should talk to the king if it was okay, but it’s the king we’re talking about, so–

“Hey! We’re back, folks! His Majesty has given me the okay! On the condition that you bring a gift from here!”

–I knew this would happen, but ……

“Hah …… I have no objection to you going then, but is your work okay?”

“Yes, I’ve left it in the hands of my subordinates, the ‘three Ferriol sisters’. I’ve been thinking of giving them some work to do, so I’ve given them some instructions on what I want them to do before I get back.”

“Who are the three sisters?”

When Makina tilted her head at the unfamiliar term, Basleigh-sensei held up a finger.

“Ahhh, there are three sisters in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries department. They work very efficiently together, so we keep them close at hand. If I had to choose the next minister, I think it would be one of them.”

“They’re excellent then, aren’t they! But Basleigh-sensei is even better than them, that’s why she’s the minister!”

“Makina-chan’s gaze hurts …… Schneider, please comfort me ……”

“Hyuun Hyuun ……”

Schneider left to the back of the garden, avoiding Basleigh-sensei who tried to hug him, and we laughed.

We knew it was coming, but we decided to head to Sandiola with the usual members, and we loaded up the back of the carriage to make sure we could make it in time for tomorrow’s departure.

Food, change of clothes, a tent just in case, blankets, etc …… In particular, we piled up a lot of water. I also put some magic medicine in a crate because I wanted to try something.

It seems that the souvenirs for Sandiola are packed with fruits that are resistant to decay, chilled with ice magic. I wonder if I’ll need to re-chill it a few times along the way? We managed to finish the packing in the evening, adjusting the weight so that it was not too heavy for the two horses.

“Well, I guess that’s it. Sephiro and Ash, you can watch the perimeter from the back of the carriage.”

“Kuoon!”

“!”

When Makina bent her hips and said that to Sephiro and Ash, they responded by raising their hands. Hmmm, If it listens to anyone but me, it’s a pet, not a tamed monster ……

“I’m going to go to the tamer’s facility then. I have to tell Tanji-san and Nibiru-san that I will be away from home.”

“All right, I’ll prepare the meal. You can take your time.”

“I should help too since It’s been a long time, all I’ve done is eating, after all.”

“You need to lose some more weight.”

“Fugu ……!?”

As I listened to this conversation, I flew with levitation to the tamer facility. I just saw Chelle go into the house. Oh, right, I forgot to tell her that Aina had left. Well, she’ll come again, so I guess it’s fine?

“Oops ……”

“Uwah, you scared me!? It’s Lars, so you have magic like that too ……”

“Oh, hello, Tanji-san. I’m in a bit of a hurry, so I came with levitation.”

“Hey, Lars. Why are you an adventurer? Well, it’s fine, though. We’re making slow progress here.”

“Nyaah♪!”

When I landed in the open space of the facility, Tanji-san and the others were nearby and came over to me. The little snow tigers also gathered and I began to talk to them.

“I’m actually going to Sandiola tomorrow. It will take about a month to get there and back, so I thought I’d tell you guys.”

“Sandiola? The king’s party was here yesterday, but did something happen?”

“No, nothing like that. It’s just that I think Aina and my brothers were here before, and I’m going to learn transference magic so that they can come here whenever they want.”

“……”

“……”

“W-What’s wrong? What’s wrong with you two? You both look so confused.”

When I told them I was going to learn transfer magic, they looked at each other and then narrowed their eyes as they looked at me.

“It’s a very difficult magic to learn, though ……”

“It’s just Lars like saying he’s going to remember it like it’s easy. Well, I’m glad the little girl and the others will be able to come back again. Leave this to us, it should be pretty much ready by the time you get back.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I’ll leave it to you!”

As I was about to take off, the snow tiger sucked on my sleeve and squealed.

“Gaw!”

“Nyaan.”

“Yeah, I’d love to take you guys, but you’re not coming this time.”

“Garrr?”

The father snow tiger, who seemed to have lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of confidence, squealed, but I guess I couldn’t really take him with me.

“Sandiola is a hot area, if monsters from cold areas like you guys go there, you will probably boil up. That’s why you’re staying here.”

“Garruuuuu ……”

It seems that they got the message, and the three of them simultaneously sag down and lie on the ground. According to Tanji-san, if you’re not careful, they could end up dying in the heat. On the other hand, that lion-like monster can go, though.

As it was, I flew up with my levitation and headed for Helena’s house this time. I knock on the front door to let her know, in case that she’s going to complain again that she can’t come to visit on her day off. Worst case scenario, I could just tell her mother.

–but

“…… Huh?”

No one answered the door. Helena’s mother doesn’t work, so she should be home, but …… she said she would do the shopping during the day.

As I turned on my heels to see if I could meet her at the theater, I saw Milfy and her manager, Leila-san running breathlessly towards me.

“Hey, Milfy and Leila-san. You seem to be in a hurry, what’s going on? Helena doesn’t seem to be here, she’s not in the theater?”

“Hah …… Hah …… La-Lars-san ……! As I thought, Helena-san is really not here!?”

“Oh, and the mother too, I think?”

“What? What do you mean? Yeah, she’s not here either.”

As I said this, Leila-san took a letter out of her pocket and handed it to me. I took it and checked the contents.

“I’m going on a little trip with my mother. I’ve told Kleinert-san verbally, but since I don’t have much time, I’ll tell Leila-san in a letter. I think I’ll be back in a month or so, so tell my fans well, okay♪ I think Milfy can fill in for me, so please let her make her debut. Thanks♪.

“So she went on a trip? But why are you in such a hurry?”

“Well, it’s because it wasn’t something that was planned in advance ……. Helena-san does not like to miss work. That’s why there’s no way she’ll go somewhere on such short notice.”

“What about Kleinert-san?”

“He had heard it from Helena-san directly and he had agreed to let her take some time off. I wanted to ask her why, but I guess we couldn’t make it ……”

Milfy says regretfully, catching her breath. But it’s also true that there’s nothing more we can do since there’s already no one at home.

“In fact, we’re going to Sandiola tomorrow, so we’ll be gone for a while. It’s Helena we’re talking about, so she will be back soon. Her mother is with her too, so I’m sure it won’t be anything strange.”

“You’re right …….”

“I’m going to ask around, in case some people have seen her at the gate. I’ll also tell the guild about it.”

“Ah, yes! Thank you very much!”

After bowing deeply to me, Milfy and Leila-san quickly left. 

Helena going oh a trip, huh …… Then, I suddenly remembered that King Afmand and Abol were talking about something in the theater.

“It can’t be, right.”

I went back to my home, feeling a certain feeling in my chest.