Chapter 60

At the command of Deputy Captain Berri, we began our preparations.

I took bread, dried meat, jars of pickled vegetables, cheese, and other items from the food storage and packed them into my bag.

"Quack!"

Amelia brought me a leather bag filled with dried fruits for her share, holding it in her beak.

"Whoa, thank you."

Then, I packed the first aid supplies and prepared a water mixed with herbs for each person. Once the preparations were complete, my bag became quite heavy.

"Amelia, if we could use recovery magic, the load would be lighter, right?"

"Quack~"

Amelia replied, "But the burden on yourself would increase, so it wouldn't be any easier." That was true. Magic wasn't all-powerful. Even in the Forest Elf village, it wasn't uncommon to hear stories of people being taken to the clinic after using magic. The consumption of magic power directly affected the body, as the medical practitioner had explained.

I was still hesitant about how to deal with my inner magic. I thought it would be best to consult with Captain and Deputy Captain Berri. I couldn't let Zara bear this heavy responsibility alone. If the Captain agreed, I also wanted to report to Gar, Urgas, and Liette. I wanted everyone to know and hear what we should do next—was that too much to ask?

Worrying wouldn't help. I needed to focus on the mission. Turning around, I saw Urgas running towards me from a distance.

"Risris, the carriage is ready!"

"Okay."

I had to go.

"Quack, quack!" "Huh?"

Amelia brought me a laundry pole, holding it in her beak.

"No, I don't need a laundry pole—"

Then I remembered. This wasn't a laundry pole but a magic wand. I had completely forgotten because it looked so ordinary.

"Isn't 'wand' a bit harsh?"

"Quack~"

Amelia suggested, "How about sharpening the tip to make a spear?" I thought it was a wild and good idea.

◇◇◇

With Gar driving, the carriage moved along the road. He drove safely, which was commendable. Inside the carriage, the Captain sat with his arms crossed, looking dignified. Urgas, who had lost the seat competition, sat uncomfortably next to him. Across from them, Deputy Captain Berri sat, and next to him, Liette and I sat side by side, playing with Amelia's feathers.

Zara sat next to Urgas, looking out the window. While grooming Amelia, one of her feathers fell out, and I stuck it into the collar of Urgas's jacket, which was already looking tragic. Urgas, who had been slightly pale, brightened up when he noticed the feather.

I thought it was nice for Urgas, but then Amelia protested.

"Quack~" "Huh!?"

Amelia said, "I don't want to give my feather." What should I do? Was she in a rebellious phase?

Urgas was looking at Amelia's feather with sparkling eyes, twirling it around. It didn't seem like he would return it.

"Mel, what's wrong?"

"Um, well, Amelia doesn't want to give her feather to Urgas."

I went to Zara to whisper in her ear, but as soon as I got close, she moved away and hit her head on the window.

"Zara, what are you doing?"

The Captain pointed out Zara's strange behavior. But what was really going on?

"Sorry, there was just a bug, and I got startled."

"Is that so? Where's the bug?"

"It seems to have gone somewhere."

"That's good."

I decided to consult her again.

"Sorry, Amelia doesn't want to give her feather to Urgas."

"Oh, really?"

"Do you know why?"

"Hmm..."

Once I moved away, I noticed Zara's face was red.

"Are you okay?"

"What's wrong?"

Zara shivered and asked with a surprised look. She had been acting strange lately.

"Maybe you have a fever?"

I pushed back her bangs and touched her forehead. She started to tremble. She must be feeling unwell.

I cooled her cheeks with my hands and turned to the Captain for instructions, but Deputy Captain Berri spoke up.

"Mel, Mel, Zara is fine!"

"Deputy Captain Berri, it's not 'Mel, Mel,' it's 'Risris.'"

Urgas gently corrected Deputy Captain Berri's mistake.

"Sorry, Risris. Zara is fine, so come back here."

"Um, okay... I understand."

She clearly looked like she was coming down with a cold, but since Deputy Captain Berri said she was fine, I had to believe him.

"I got it!"

Liette suddenly spoke up loudly. Deputy Captain Berri stood up and put his finger to Liette's lips.

"Mmm!"

"I'll listen."

This time, Deputy Captain Berri acted strangely. What was going on? Liette and he seemed to be having a secret conversation.

"---Huh? Ah, I see. Hmm, I understand."

Deputy Captain Berri whispered to me what Liette had realized.

"It's about Amelia. Apparently, it's embarrassing for a young man to have her feather."

"Ah, I see."

I put myself in her position. Indeed, if a man was excited about holding my hair, I would feel awkward.

I hadn't understood this before. Amelia was a young lady too.

Deputy Captain Berri explained to Urgas that Amelia felt embarrassed about her feather being held by a young man.

"Ah, I see. That makes sense. I was just so happy because it's so beautiful."

Urgas returned Amelia's feather. I also told Amelia that Urgas was happy because her feather was beautiful.

"Quack, quack." "Huh? Is it okay?"

"Quack!"

Amelia said, "If you insist, it's fine to give it to him."

So, the feather was returned to Urgas's hand.

"Wow, thank you!"

Seeing his joy, Amelia didn't seem entirely unhappy.

However, her feelings as a young lady were becoming more complex. She realized she might be lacking in femininity.

◇◇◇

We stopped by a lake halfway to switch drivers and give the horses a rest. We scooped water from the lake and boiled it. I made a simple tea by boiling the tea leaves directly and added plenty of sugar and honey before serving it in cups.

"...It tastes like a sacrilege to the tea leaves."

Liette, after taking a sip, gave a harsh comment. I couldn't say it was because I was too lazy to get the tea set from the luggage. I insisted this was the tea we would drink on the expedition.

"Ah!"

I noticed bright red berries growing on a tree a little distance away. I ran over excitedly, but they were too high to reach. I jumped up and down, and Gar came over and picked the berries for me.

"Thank you!"

These were winter strawberries, rare berries that ripen from autumn to winter. I tried one immediately.

"Wow, they're incredibly sour."

I offered one to Amelia, who had come closer.

"Quack, quack~!"

The berries were too sour for Amelia too. They would be better cooked with sugar and would make a good sauce for meat dishes. Since they could be used in cooking, I decided to take them back.