5-1. Journey 1 (1/2)
5-1. Journey (1)
Satou's here. Typically in a game, it's walking in the beginning, carriage in the middle and teleportation or airship in the endgame, getting convenient as it goes.
A friend said that going on an adventure in a carriage is miserable.
Since this isn't an adventure, I guess it's okay to enjoy myself right?
◇
The wagon makes clattering and rumbling noise as it travels through the highway between hills.
”Uuu~.”
”Nya~.”
Whenever small animals like rabbits and rats show up near the bushes, Pochi and Tama react as if they're going to jump out of the wagon. Every time it happened, Liza seized the two by their waists. Alhough the wagon is only about 20 Km/H fast, so they won't get hurt even if they jump out.
”Pochi, Tama, you'll fall if you lean over too much, sit on the back of the coachman's stand.”
”Yes nano desu.”
”Ay~.”
The two reply with good answers and place themselves on the left and right sides of the coachman's stand.
Though it's probably only until they find something else.
The winds are slightly cold, but since it's cloudless the warmth from the sunlight is pleasant.
After we got out of Seryuu city for a while, we came into a forest, or rather, a gathering of branching thickets. We came out of it after 1 hour, and now we're advancing through what you'd call hilly areas.
I could see shepherds herding their sheep on the other side of the hills sometimes. I've only seen goat-made products in the city, but there are shepherds too huh.
Gakon. Gakokokon.
The wagon shakes as the wheels are climbing up. From behind, I'm hearing Lulu's small shriek, and Arisa's abusive languages, but I'll pretend that I didn't hear it and let it carried away by the wind.
Since the highway is made to avoid the hills, it's winding. The ground is not paved with stone pavements, the soils are bare. As a result, the wheels stumble into rough spots several times. Although the horses are just moving along the course of the road by themselves, it's the coachman's job to fine tune the wagon.
Even though I'm supported by skill, due to the lack of my actual experience I couldn't avoid them all.
Arisa climbs above Pochi's head and shows her face from behind (me).
”I'd love for you to drive more carefully~.”
”Don't be unreasonable to a novice coachman.”
I put aside Arisa's protest irresponsibly. Pochi looks troubled with Arisa who nests on top of her head.
Oh, Pochi is counterattacking, she catches Arisa's hands and playfully bites it.
”W, wait Pochi, stop that. The sleeves will get sticky with drools~.”
”Hamumu, nyanoresu~.”
Ah, Tama also participates in the war.
Since Tama isn't suited for patience or perseverance, I guess this can't be helped.
◇
The trip is more relaxed than I thought it'd be. Since this is a fantasy world, I thought that we would encounter some monsters or something, but there weren't any even up to now.
I tried searching in wide area but there were no dangerous animal or monster. At most it was just foxes. I spot packs of wolves sometimes but they're 10 kilometers away at the edge of the forest earlier, so there's no need to be vigilant for the time being.
When I went on a date with Zena-san back then, she said that the military is doing practice by regularly eliminate dangerous animals and monsters around the perimeter of Seryuu city. This is probably thanks to that.
Liza who seemingly couldn't let the little girls who were still playing around any longer, warns them. I had thought that they should be stopped soon, so it's helpful.
Replacing Liza, Lulu who took refuges on the back of the wagon sitting behind me.
Come to think of it, I haven't talk with Lulu much. Communication is important, let's talk with her properly from now on.
”Lulu, are you fine? You don't have motion sickness or the like right?”
”Y, yes!”
I thought that she wouldn't reply, but quite a surprised voice came out.
Right, she moved behind me silently, so she would be surprised if I call her out without turning my head.
The beastkin girls have high physical abilities and I thought that it's natural, but for Lulu who is just a normal girl, it would be surprising. I've almost replaced my common sense with unreasonableness--- I should be careful.
”You don't have to be so nervous. Just like Arisa--- or rather not, be more like Pochi and the girls who casually interact with me.”
”Such things... Since I'm slave, it's unbecoming.”
Lulu lets out a faint voice that sound as if she's about to disappear, seem like this will need some time.
For the time being, I should get her to get accustomed with having conversations with me.
”Lulu, do you have anything you like?”
”I like taking care of Arisa.”
Is she a siscon? No, it's probably just a normal sisterly love.
I'm reluctant, but I continue to talk about Arisa as the topic. To clear away her reserved attitude, it's important to continue the conversations no matter the topic.
”You really love your younger sister.”
”I sometimes question who is the older one.”
”Certainly, she really doesn't act like a 11 years-old.”
”Arisa is a genius since she was a child.”
”How was she?”
Rather than genius, it was because she had the experience from her previous life, but I'd better not talk about it huh?