Chapter 94

"……Suzuki, can't you fly lower?"

We were riding a wyvern with five people.

This wyvern has wings of an incredible size, but its body is small. The only stable places are on the head, neck, and back. Suzuki sat on the neck, and with Haru and I sitting on the back, we were already at full capacity.

Of course, even these spots aren't very spacious, so Haru is clinging to me. I can feel her two breasts against my back. If we were in a different place, I would enjoy the sensation of these two mounds more.

In this situation, there's no room for anyone else. So, Carol is piggybacking on me.

I think riding on a wyvern while piggybacking must be quite scary, but Carol seems to completely trust me and is even enjoying the height. Maybe she likes high places because she usually sees things from a low position?

This is the second time I've piggybacked Carol, and it's quite something. I might even get used to it.

There's no other position where I can be so aware of a girl's thighs.

However, maintaining balance in this already unstable spot is all I can manage.

I have no time to savor the sensation of the breasts on my back or the thighs against my face.

Incidentally, Marina is sitting in an even more unstable spot near the tail, but thanks to her acrobat skills, she won't fall off, apparently.

Even though we're all on, it's clear we're over capacity. I'm worried someone might fall off.

I suggested going alone, but Haru said she wanted to come too, and Carol said her abilities could be useful like before. Marina, on the other hand, said something incomprehensible about her blood craving battle.

I decided it would be better for all of us to go together, so we could retreat into my world if necessary.

"It's fine. This wyvern is my excellent partner who has already eaten seven rare medals. I met it soon after coming to this world, and it's been a year now."

"You met a wyvern soon after coming to this world!? How did you survive?"

Incidentally, the first monster I met was a rabbit.

The rabbit's headbutt was quite painful. After that, I almost got killed by a kobold.

If my first encounter had been with a wyvern, I would have said, "What a terrible game," and died.

Just as I was beginning to respect Suzuki,

"No, when I met it, it was still an egg. It seems to think of me as its parent due to imprinting."

He corrected himself.

I see, that makes sense.

Then, I looked down.

We must be about 200 meters high, right?

If I fall, I'll die.

No, if I fall, I'll immediately cast My World and bring everyone except Suzuki into my world.

"Still, have you been doing this kind of thing everywhere?"

"What kind of thing?"

"To be honest, you don't really have an obligation to help Ferit, do you? I mean, we joined the battle because we could ensure 100% safety, but you didn't, right?"

"Indeed... it's not a 100% safe battle. No, the battles I've taken on have all been dangerous."

Suzuki said this with a self-deprecating smile.

"But, this is something I've chosen to do."

"You chose to do it?"

I understand if it's something you chose. It means you've chosen to live this way.

But, the strange phrasing "chose to do it" made me ask for clarification.

"My blessing is called the protagonist's bonus."

"…Huh?"

"You know, like in action movies where the hero never gets hit by bullets, or in mystery novels where the hero gets involved in incidents everywhere they go. Or how every girl they meet is beautiful, or how mysterious helpers appear when they're about to be killed, or how the enemy's footing collapses. That's the protagonist's bonus. I received this ability from a goddess."

Suzuki said this with a laugh,

"Actually, when you challenged me to a game of rock-paper-scissors, I wasn't too reluctant because I relied not only on my luck but also on the protagonist's bonus."

He explained.

The protagonist's bonus.

Indeed, unlike me, who has just been having fun with girls, Suzuki's adventures sound like those of a true protagonist.

Hmm? So, does that mean,

"The protagonist's bonus isn't always a good thing?"

"Right. As I mentioned earlier, the protagonist of a mystery novel who gets involved in incidents everywhere they go is also due to the protagonist's bonus. To be honest, in every town I stay in, something happens within three days."

Wow, that's a pretty miserable blessing. You have a tendency to get involved in things, don't you?

In terms of misery, it's a close match with Marina's acrobat profession. No, acrobats can become experts like Marina, who can shoot a bow with perfect accuracy, so it might be even more miserable.

No wonder you picked up a wyvern egg soon after coming to this world.

"Phew, I'm glad I'm not the protagonist."

"Yes, Ichino-sama is not the protagonist but Carol and the others' master."

Carol said from above my head.

Well said.

No, it's not that great, really.

"Kusunoki, look down."

Suzuki, sitting on the wyvern's neck, turned to me.

"Hey, I can't look down while piggybacking! Explain what you see!"

"Oh, right. Sorry. There's a group of monsters below, heading towards Ferit."

"We need to take care of them quickly."

I thought we should land somewhere and reconsider how we ride.

But Suzuki shook his head.

"Right now, Marina is shooting magic arrows at the group of monsters behind you, but we're going to take down the source, so we won't land here. Can you leave these monsters to my companions?"

"…Ah, got it. Marina, reduce the number of enemies as much as you can."

"I know that without being told. Ichino, your level has increased."

I heard Marina's voice and felt a bit relieved.

【Ichino's level has increased】

…Ah, my level has increased too. It seems my mage level has gone up.

So, Marina receives half of the experience points from the monsters she defeats, and the remaining half is divided equally among the four of us. That means Marina gets 5/8 of the experience points, and I, Haru, and Carol each get 1/8.

Hmm, this is easy.

Wait… No, this is a waste, a waste!

Two of my four jobs are already maxed out.

The experience points are a waste.

For now, I added Fire Mage and Earth Mage.

Even though it's only 1/8 of the experience points, I have a special ability that reduces the experience points needed for level-up to 1/20.

This should increase my level.

Both Fire Mage and Earth Mage, at level 1, are not as strong as a maxed-out Apprentice Mage or Apprentice Sorcerer, but they have nearly double the stats compared to level 1.

The more MP, the better.

There's no downside to increasing the levels of these jobs.

"I see it! It's right there!"

Where is "there"? I can't look down.

"We're going to dive in. Get ready for battle."

Dive in!? What's the situation down there?

I can tell we're getting lower.

But then, a large vibration hit me, and when I looked to the side, we were right in the middle of a group of monsters.

I honestly wanted to retreat right away.