CH 358

“Well, that’s Lars for you!”

“Mmm …… I never thought I’d be riding through Sandiola this way.”

“Haha, it’s an expensive way to go, but I’ve heard so much about this country from Fath-san that I thought I’d give it a try.”

“It’s nice and comfortable. Oh, why don’t we let Johnny and the others rest?”

Basleigh-sensei pointed to a large tree that stood strong in the dry earth, and I maneuvered the reins to move the carriage into the shade.

The “expensive way” I told Fath-san was to use “auto-protection” around the carriage to protect it from the sand and wind. It was a difficult line if it’ll work or not, but I was able to activate the magic as I wanted and have a comfortable trip.

“Puha! My throat is so dry! Schneider, Radia, come here.”

“Woof!”

“Grruuu ……”

Basleigh-sensei drank the water in a glass and gave it to Schneider and the others to drink from the special tub I had brought. I can use my auto-protection to shut out “oncoming sand and wind” as an attack, but it has no effect on the sunshine, so our throats are very dry.

It’s no secret that I was surprised to find myself crossing the border wall of the wilderness within a few hours of my last stop in the Kingdom of Reflexion.

“Drink a lot, and thanks for taking us this far.”

“Kuoon♪!”

“!”

“Neigh♪.”

We’ve been in Sandiola for about two days now, and the horses are doing a fine job. Ash howls at the approaching monsters, while Sephiro was busy pulling the defeated monsters with branches and making them bloom.

“Fumu, the only monster we killed on the way that we could eat was the storm eagle. The others can be dismantled as raw materials to make them lighter.”

“Thank you, Fath-san. Here, water.”

“Thank you. It’s almost dark, but do you to go on? We’re almost to the next town.”

“We’ve been camping for a while now, so let’s just hold on a little longer. Lars must be running out of magic power now, right? I’d like to save the magic recovery potion for the return trip, and I’d like to let the horse, Johnny, Schneider and the others who are running and let them sleep. Right, Ash?”

“Kuoon.”

“Mmm-hmm, you’re right.”

“Since we’re only a few hours away, I think Makina’s idea might be a good one.”

Makina holds Ash in her arms even though it must be hot, raises his hand and smiles.

It’s not easy to keep the auto-protection active all the time, so like Makina said, I’m drinking a magic recovery potion instead of water as I go. I’ve used half of it on the way there, but on the way back, my magic power should be enhanced thanks to my [Super Jack-of-all-Trades], so we should be able to get home with the other half. I used a water bag because of the weight, but it’s safer to use less because it puts more stress on the horse.

“Well, I’m sure my magic will last for a few hours, and I want to sleep in a bed, so let’s give it our best shot.”

“Neigh!”

“Grruuu!”

“Oh, it looks like Radia’s going to pull it, too?”

“Haha, that really helps. Schneider, please be as vigilant as ever in case the monsters attacks and make sure the horses don’t get killed.”

“Arf!”

We left without camping and pushed forward again. Then Makina, who was sitting on the driver’s seat, opened her mouth.

“…… I wonder if Helena’s somewhere in Sandiola?”

“We don’t know that …… We haven’t seen or heard from her since they got off the carriage station, after all. Nevertheless, she has no reason to travel in secret, so I’m curious to know where she went too ……”

“She’ll be fine, right? She’s an idol in the Royal Capital, after all.”

“…… Yeah.”

I replied, hoping that nothing serious had happened. There was a heavy air in the atmosphere, but Basleigh-sensei peeked out from the back of the carriage and smiled at us.

“Well, after all, Helena-chan can handle both melee combat and magic, so I’m sure she can handle it? Rather than that, what about the transfer magic, Fath-san? I haven’t heard any details about it yet, like the names of the people who can use it?”

“Oh, that’s right. I’m also curious about Helena, but let’s gather information about him in the next town. The wizard’s name is ‘Dibit’, and he used to travel with us. He’s close in age to us, so I’m sure he’s not dead yet. In fact, he may be famous for his rampage. Ho-ho-ho!”

As the sun went down, we walked into town, feeling a little unsettled by Fath-san’s smile as she remembered her former friend. 

“Well, just barely, I guess ……”

“Are you okay? I’ll do the driving.”

“I’ll take care of it, so Makina-chan, please stay with Lars-kun. Now then …… It’s a good time to move with Radia and the others, as the streets are less crowded. Let’s find an inn quickly.”

I’m almost at the bottom of my magic power, so I lie down on the back of the carriage and closed my eyes. It gets colder at night, but I can feel my body slowly cooling down from the heat.

When we arrived at the inn a while later, Fath-san stayed with Radia and the others and went to the reception desk with Makina and Basleigh-sensei.

“What did you say!? There’s no room!?”

“Shut up!? There is a room ……. But I can’t rent out my stables to a person from another country …… even if the monsters outside have been tamed. Well, as long as one of you is in the stables, I’ve nothing to complain about it. If you’re the master, why don’t you stay in the stable? You’re not going to throw the girls in the stable, are you?”

The man at the reception desk said this to me with a smirk, as if he was jealous that I had Makina and Basleigh-sensei with me. If that’s the case, I turn my attention to Makina and the others.

“Yeah, that’s fine. Makina and the others should get some rest. I’ll sleep on the back of the carriage with Ash and Schneider as my pillows.”

“Even though Lars is the one who needs to rest the most because you used so much magic power …… All right, then I’ll stay with Lars, and Master and Basleigh-sensei can stay here!”

“Mmm, then, as your teacher, I can’t agree to that. I understand. We’ll sleep in the town square and we’ll pretend it never happened. Then let’s go.”

“O-Oi, are you serious!? Even though you’re inside the town, it’s still dangero– ……. Ahhh, no, it’s nothing …… Damn, what an enviable fellow.”

The man at the reception desk waved us away with a shooing gesture, and went back to the back. When we walked out of the inn and told Fath-san what had happened, she shrugged her shoulders and said.

“Then, let’s go to the town square…… I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“The guy was in a panic too, but is something going on?”

“This town …… rather than that, there are many poor people in this country than, after all. Thieves are not uncommon. But I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

“If Radia and the others will be the wall, they will stand out, even from a distance and they won’t attack us, right?”

“No, no, we should leave this to Urka-kun.”

Suddenly, Basleigh-sensei mentioned Urka’s name, and Makina and I looked at each other and asked Basleigh-sensei.

“Why Urca?”

“In times like these, even though we seem strong, we’ll still get attacked, right? Therefore, It’s a “regular seance” event. Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

Immediately after, the still slightly warm air froze at once.

But–

Now then, it’s usual development, huh ……

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“The cliche!”

How will it develop from this promise?