At Tsuia
All in all this ti, our lineup had my party: at, Ichika, Rokuko and I.
Followed by Team Bacchus: Gozoh, Roppu, and Wataru.
We even had Maidence, a noble of Tsuia, and her maid. Oh, and the no-good elf Shikina.
We had ten people in all, the coachman excluded. Maidence and the maid will be left in Tsuia though, so we would be heading for the imperial capital with eight people in all.
By the way, the carriage and coachman were furnished by the Tsuia family. It was a noble’s coach, one with a door that had their family’s coat of arms on it. It was no covered coach. It was a properly made box-type carriage. Big enough that all ten of us could fit.
Thankfully, we’ll be able to use this carriage up until Tsuia. We’ll be fine with our luggage since we have [Storage], too.
Gozoh ca to talk with before we left.
“Hey Kehma. Eh, erm, what about Salamander-dono?”1
“It still has to discipline the fla dragon and it’s being a bit difficult, so it won’t be leaving Tsuia Mountain yet.”
“O-Oh. So it’ll co if you call for it?”
“How would I? Send it a letter or sothing?”
“Huh? No, I an isn’t there sothing for that in your contract? Like that ti in [Fla Cavern].”
“That’s just because it was originally hiding there. That guy’s been passing his ti in [Fla Cavern] from the start, after all.”
There’s a Salamander passing the ti by idly in there... well, that’s the sort of setting we’re going with for Ontentoo’s public appearance.
“I see. So that’s why I felt so comfortable with you there...? Or maybe the key to it was Beddhism?”
Like I’d know?
Well, after all that, we started on our journey to the capital.
Rei, I’ll be leaving the inn and dungeon to you!
*
We arrive at Tsuia in the horse-drawn carriage without much of anything really happening.
Still though, for us to take just two hours for the trip... it used to take us six hours hiking from the dungeon to Tsuia way back when. I doubt it’d take even one hour on a fast horse.
“That was such a comfortable ride, as expected of a noble’s carriage... but still though, we didn’t even have to be examined or pay the toll since Maidence-sama was with us... truly, as expected of a noble.”
“Ya shouldn’t need money to walk into yer own house aye? And this carriage here’s basically one big identification device.”
“That’s correct, Gozoh-san. Though nobles do need to pay the toll. Even I have to!”
“Oh aye, you were one of them kinda-nobles since yer a Hero, Wataru. I forgot.”
I an, we could have went past without paying the toll for a single carriage this ti since it’d be put on the guild’s tab.
So I guess we should really be saying more like as expected of Haku-san, the adventurer guild’s grand master.
“Haaah, I want to stay with Kuro-sama though.”
“... We’ll be reaching the lord’s manor soon, so prepare to get off.”
“It’s alright, Kuro-sama. I left my preparations to my maid, so I can be next to you until the last mont.”
We’d decided to head to the lord’s manor right away.
Doing so, we received a personal greeting from Yudence Tsuia, the lord himself.
“Oooh, Kehma-dono. It’s been a while! And you too, Nishimi-dono! Mai, have you been doing well?”
Wonder what made him greet first? Did he have so ulterior motive?
I can’t see it as him just greeting the person watching over his daughter first, since he greeted Wataru—the person to bring her to in the first place—second.
“Yes, father. I have also deepened my relationship with my fiancé, Kuro-sama.”
“I see, I see! So you’ve gotten to the point of giving Kuroinu-dono a nickna! Isn’t seeing our children getting along so well refreshing, Kehma-dono?”
“Hahaha.... well, as you see, your daughter has been brought back safe and sound as you anticipated.”
I couldn’t tell what his hidden aning was there that well, so I went with forcing a smile just in case.
“Wait, what!? Her fiancé...!? Kehma-sama, isn’t Kuro-chan a....—!? No way, a crossdresser...!?”
“Y-yeah, Wataru, are you okay?”
“Ah—sorry, I lost myself there for a mont.”
Oh yeah, Wataru had that marriage fraud issue with the crossdresser a long ti ago, didn’t he.
“Kehma-sama. We will be parting from you temporary, but please, feel free to continue using the carriage. So long as you have it, your exit from the town should go just as smoothly.”
“Hmm...”
... It has their crest on it though? I want a different carriage.
When I glanced back to Yudence, our eyes t.
“Whaaat? Don’t worry about it. It’s natural that my daughter’s fiancé would have access to sothing like this.”
“... Could I get one without the crest on it? I get the feeling various troubles will crop up because of it.”
“On the contrary, I believe those troubles would only occur if you didn’t have our crest on the carriage. However, Kehma-dono, would you prefer for us to arrange one without our crest for you?”
I wonder if Haku-san’s hand is in this sohow...? I’m worried about bandits attacking us midway because of the crest though...
With that, Wataru interrupted.
“Oh, Yudence-san. We would love a covered coach with your crest on it! Really, traveling in a covered coach is the best way to go, right Kehma-san?”
“Hm? I will prepare a covered coach as you’ve requested then, Nishimi-dono. I assu you are fine with that, Kehma-dono?”
“Oh, yeah. I’ll leave the decisions about it to him, I’m not too versed in wagons.”
Traveling in a covered coach, huh. Man does that remind of RPG gas.
“Hey, Wataru. Why the crest?”
“Kehma-san, you know how Golen is so near Tsuia? It’s better for you to clearly show off your connection with Yudence-san.”
“... So it’s to prevent other nobles from intervening?”
“Exactly! See how helpful it’ll be to borrow their crest now?”
So that was a thing, huh. Troubleso...
“Kehma-dono! How about a cup of tea while you wait for the coach to be prepared? I’d like have a chat with you and that girl with you, too.”
The lord smiled at both Rokuko and I.
“Oh, well look at the ti. I have to go do sothing for the journey. Leave it to , Kehma.”
“I have to deliver a few docunts to the guild and pick up a delivery commission for a bit.”
“I’m going too. Party mbers should do stuff together right?”
“Oh, I’ll go with ye then!”
“Want to get so alcohol with , Gozoh? Wataru, we’ll fetch the commission as Team Bacchus.”
Like a bunch of spiders scattering, they left Rokuko, at and I alone in the blink of an eye.
Though it felt more like they were ditching sothing annoying than leaving tactfully. Yeah.
“... Well, it’s a good chance, so how about we treat ourselves to so tea, Kehma?”
“... Yeah.”
Seeing as how I was able to hear so good stuff about aristocratic etiquette during the chat over so tea, I guess it turned out alright.
*
The coach, prepared while I was listening to valuable tales from the lord, had our luggage already loaded onto it so that we could leave right away.
It was almost entirely just small luggage bags, so the ti to part with Maidence ca surprisingly quickly.
“Please take care of yourselves, everyone. And Kuro-sama, see you... nn—”
“—”
Oh, Maidence actually gave at a goodbye kiss... on the cheek. She pulled off sothing Rokuko couldn’t, and easily, at that. So that’s the strength of an aristocrat’s daughter?
“Wha—!? W-Wow, you did it, Mai.”
“Fufufu, if you can’t manage sothing of this level, Kehma-sama might get snatched away from you, Rokuko-sama.”
“N-No he won’t! Kehma and I are in a relationship that’ll last to death....! It’s alright, right, Kehma?”
Yeah, it’s alright. Probably.
“Hm–hmmm? That is not necessarily true, Rokuko-dono! For I am here!”
“Step back, you perverted elf. Say that after you can at least manage your multiples of seven without making a mistake.”
“I-I don’t make any mistakes though! ... If I use my fingers.”
When did Rokuko and Shikina get on such good terms? I had no clue they were this close.
Like that, we left Tsuia. We had to drink tea with Yudence this ti, but now I guess we can co and go whenever we want?
... This is the first ti I’ll have travelled further than here. I’m a bit excited to see what it’s like.2
“It will be around five days to reach the next town.”
... That’s pretty far though!?
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