| Author: Kashiwagi Masato | Original Source: Syosetu | Word Count: 2393 characters |
| Translator: PunishedLyly | English Source: Re:Library | Word Count: 1575 words |
| Editor(s): Fire | ||
With that, this will be my third trip on wheels. Wait, if I count the one on our date, then fourth, I guess?
However, unlike the previous times, today’s equipment is completely different. First, while it is a carriage, it isn’t a horse-drawn carriage. The ones pulling it are two monsters that look similar to the theropod dinosaur commonly known as the velociraptor.1 It startled me when I first saw them, but I’m told that since humans raised them since they hatched, they’re quite friendly in contrast to how they look. Looking closely, those round eyes of theirs seem quite cute.
And regarding these fellows, there are four of them accompanying us on this trip. The ones pulling the carriage right now are Lotto, who has reddish-brown scales and a trademark deep red crown, and the blue scaled, purple crowned Lyra. Both of them are male2 and are exceedingly powerful. Urania, Adan, and I had a tug-of-war with Lotto once, and he didn’t even budge.
And then there are two more running parallel to the carriage. Both of them have green scales and no crowns, with one having a heart-shaped pattern on the left ribs named Corazon and the other having white spots all over named Rubia. These two are female and are watching our perimeter.
These raptors are called Chasseur Dragons. The name means hunting dragons, and, as their name implies, they play two different roles in a hunt, with the males acting as decoys while the females take down the target. The males have brightly colored crowns and are easy to spot, while the females don’t have those and have colors that easily blend into forests and savannas, or so I’m told.3
Incidentally, while there is a “dragon” in their name, they seem to be categorically closer to lizards.4 Wyverns are pretty much just lizards as well, so these guys are all referred to as sub-dragons. I don’t know exactly how they’re different, but according to the dragons 「It’s the height of absurdity to call these fools dragons when they aren’t even capable of speaking」 or so. Not that I’ve heard it directly from a dragon, but they wrote this down on books, a lot of books actually.5
「Lily, is your butt okay?」
「Yeah! It’s fine! With this carriage, I could probably ride for hours with no problems!」
The raptors pulling it isn’t the only thing special about this ride. The interior is naturally custom made as well. First the seat, this is a matter of life and death, so I was really particular about this. The cushion is not too hard, but also not too soft; made using not just top-quality materials, but those that suit the buttocks more as well; it’s also loaded with magic to reduce the shaking. Since it’ll be a problem if it gets torn easily, it’s also engraved with “Protect” magic, making it practically a magical tool.
After that, the windows. For this one, what was once a window that could only be either left completely open or be closed off with wooden planks that would block the scenery, is now a glass window. Originally, using something as fragile as glass on a carriage would be dangerous since it’ll break immediately, but well, you know, that’s where “Protect” comes in. To make it look beautiful, the engraved magic circle was disguised as a vine-like pattern. From an outsider’s perspective, it’s probably hard to notice that it’s loaded with magic power.
Similarly, the shutter that led to the driver’s seat was also turned into a largish glass window. However, this one fitted with blinds. Since, you know, seeing Urania and I flirt around would only trouble Hans.6
This carriage has a maximum seat capacity of five people. There’s one large three-person seat facing the front, and two single seats facing the opposite side. There’s a gap in the middle so that the window in front is visible, and a chest to keep drinks was placed in between the seats.
Urania and I are sitting next to each other on the three-person seat, and Est is sitting right in front of us. Est would serve the contents of the chest if we asked her, but I don’t know what’s exactly inside that chest. It’s because Est ended up preparing everything.
「Say, Est. What is inside the chest?」
「There’s an assortment of various beverages. Would you like to have a drink?」
Considering the confidence behind her tone, she likely has my favourites prepared. Then, let’s tease her a bit……
「Hmm, Urania, how about you?」
「Nn, apple juice.」
「Okay. So two of those then.」
「Certainly.」
Apple juice was then immediately served. As expected, Est knows Urania’s favorites and prepared them in advance. This chest is also another magical tool I made. The inside is divided into two layers, one in room temperature and the other being cold for refrigeration. We also have the portable stove magical tool, so we could have tea if we wanted to. It’ll be hard with all the shaking, though.
Our clothes and luggage are kept behind the seat we’re currently sitting on. This one is a magical tool that makes use of storage magecraft. It’s widened to be about as big as a room inside, so it’s spacious enough to fit not only mine and Urania’s things but also Est and Hans’ luggage and the raptors’ feed as well.
At first, I considered just chucking all of these into my 【Dream Storage】 but since I’m the only one that can take things out of it, there were a lot of complications. In Est and Hans’ words, 「Having objects stored somewhere us servants cannot access would be a problem.」
So with that, I made the trunk, but I was a bit too psyched up and ended up with this overly spacious thing. Old man Kent was just speechless, while Hans and Est only showed strained smiles. Other than that, the carriage has “Protect” on it, with the magic circle engraved in the name of the Iglesio household’s “White Lion” emblem, meaning this carriage itself is somewhat of a fortress. Rather than being for me, this is so that Urania, Est, and Hans can take refuge when needed.7
I’ve been attacked by bandits the moment I descended to this world, those guys from “Gale” at the town of Motsi, more bandits on the way to Gateskeep, and have encountered two invasions at Iglesio mansion. To top it off, the mastermind for the mansion attack is still unknown. If it was just some random guy, then it wouldn’t be a threat to Urania or I, but if ever another Est-class enemy comes, it’s frankly dangerous.
Even I only defeated Est after using up practically all of my magic power dry. If there were two of them that time, I would have definitely lost, and in the first place, if Est was loyal to her former master’s order and went for the kill after she was freed from the black crystal’s control, I would have likely died.
It might be over the top, but guaranteeing a safe place shouldn’t be anything wrong. If I add the food supplies we have in the trunk and the ones in my 【Dream Storage】, the four of us should be able to last a month even with full meals every day. However, since the storage trunk in the back doesn’t stop the progression of time inside it, it’ll be necessary to use those up first.
Oh, right. Speaking of Est, that ability she has of erasing magic power, it’s practically gone now. The black crystal, which had an enormous amount of magic power to begin with, seems to have amplified said power, and since the black crystal was removed, she’s lost the ability to erase magic power by will.
Well, in the first place, it erases everything magic and magecraft, so compared to the time when she couldn’t even be affected by “Heal”, this is much better for her health.
While it is practically gone, it doesn’t seem like she’s completely lost this ability, as she’s still able to negate simple magic like “Light Ball” and so. In her current state, she can somehow do it if she exerts a ton of effort, so maybe she’s currently in a state where she can switch the ability on or off, I guess?
「My lady, we should see the next town soon.」
「Woah, already? As I thought, these guys are pretty quick!」
「Certainly, the master splurged quite a bit after all.」
Hans proudly said so, it seems like he can’t help but find these raptors adorable as well. Horses are fine too, but according to him, their powerful forelimbs and dignified stance are just irresistible. Hmm, while I find them cute, Hans is on a different level.8
Footnotes:
- Lyly: The Jurassic Park Velociraptor, if I had to guess, lol. Real velociraptors are the size of chickens after all
- Lilith: I wonder how you’d tell…
Silva: By looking at their “chinchin”
Lyly: … Dino dongs… - Lyly: Now this is the magical realism I like to read about.
- Lilith: Dragons aren’t lizards?
Silva: Dragons aren’t lizard, they are giant lizard
Lyly: Kek - Lyly: Lol, dragons be tired of repeating themselves, write it everywhere and never ask again!
- Lyly: … Carriage action…
- Lyly: Priorities
- Lyly: Ughhhhh, Hans?
