Chapter 52

As the leaves fell and the once lonely garden trees began to bud and bloom, the sound of a bird similar to a nightingale could be heard, signaling the arrival of spring.

The temperature gradually rose, becoming pleasantly warm, neither too hot nor too cold.

In the courtyard of the mansion, now enveloped in green, luggage was being hurriedly loaded onto a carriage.

Indeed, it was for the journey to the capital.

Although there was still time before the party, the village of Coirat was so rural that the journey to the capital was long.

After all, it was the farthest east from the capital of the Misfit Kingdom, and it would take a week to reach by carriage.

It takes that long...

Since there was no telling what might happen along the way, it was standard practice to leave early.

I mean, if we arrived in the capital and were told to attend a party the next day, that would be terrible. A carriage ride isn't that comfortable. I've ridden a few times, and it's really bumpy.

Maybe the roads aren't as well-maintained as in Japan, but even on flat roads, it was bumpy.

It didn't seem like it would be a comfortable journey.

For all these reasons, we were leaving two weeks before the event.

As for me, I only had a few changes of clothes, so I was already fully prepared.

I just needed to pack them into a large bag.

Well, even if something happened, I could store everything with spatial magic, so I could go without a bag. Anything can be put in, and there's no worry about forgetting anything. From food to underwear, everything is in there.

Thinking about it again, this ability is something a merchant would want desperately. The same goes for teleportation.

Now, with nothing to do, I sat near the door and watched everyone loading the luggage onto the horse-drawn carriage.

The maids Mina, Mel, and Baltro were loading the luggage onto the carriage. Among them were Rumba and some unfamiliar uncles.

They were running around, calling out to each other, "This one is loaded, that one isn't."

It would be a big problem if we ran out of necessary items or food during the journey.

Father Nord, a former adventurer, seemed accustomed to it and was helping Mother Elna with a calm demeanor.

"Did you put the tea set in?"

"Mina loaded it just now."

"Then, books for entertainment, cookies, candies, pasta..."

Mother Elna, you're mostly packing food.

"Alright, the luggage is fine."

"If you say so, it's fine."

The two of them walked side by side towards the carriage, looking very close.

Sara approached quietly and handed a bag to Mother Elna.

"...Madam, you've forgotten the party dress."

"I don't need it."

"No! You do!?"

Father Nord hurriedly tried to persuade her, and Mother Elna, with a hateful look, roughly threw the bag into the carriage.

What a strategy. She pretended to be worried about the luggage but left the party dress at the mansion. If Sara hadn't been there, the plan to say, "I forgot the dress, so I can't attend the party," would have succeeded.

Mother Elna clearly didn't want to attend the party. She seemed to dislike dealing with the cunning noble ladies. She didn't attend the last party either.

However, a letter from her family in the capital arrived, and she reluctantly agreed to attend.

Mother Elna's true desire was to stay at the mansion and relax.

If it weren't for the theater, ingredients, and magic tools, I would feel the same.

I guess I am Mother Elna's child.

Still, the forgetful plan is good.

If I did that, I might not have to attend the noble parties.

Thinking this, I moved my bag to a less noticeable corner.

Inside was my formal attire. If I forgot it, I could execute the "I forgot" plan that Mother Elna couldn't.

Just as I was about to head to the carriage without my bag, I was hit on the head from behind.

"What are you doing? Take your bag. Even if you forget, there are clothing stores in the capital, and you can buy a last-minute formal outfit."

Elinora, with a look of exasperation, pushed the bag into my chest.

Damn... She might be right. I have to attend no matter what. As Elinora said, children's clothes can be prepared quickly. That was a technique for women's dresses. Adult women's dresses take more time and money. Maybe I could skip this time.

Mother Elna is not to be underestimated.

"...When did you get so close..."

"I thought you were making a silly face, but then you suddenly had a creepy smile... I had to be on guard."

A silly face? That's rude. Are you saying I look like Thor?

"I'm not making a silly face. I was just looking around because I was bored."

"Sure, sure, get in the carriage."

Even though it was an important conversation, Elinora put her hands on her hips and shooed me away with a wave of her hand.

My face isn't as handsome as Sylvio's or Elinora's, but it's not that silly... I hope.

When I silently protested with a look, Elinora said "Hmm" and pushed the bag roughly into my chest.

That's kind of cute, so stop it.

Elinora pushed me into the carriage like a piece of luggage.

By the way, the people going to the capital this time are me, Father Nord, Mother Elna, Mina, and Sara.

The guards are Rumba and an immigrant, a former adventurer named Gates. The driver and servant is Lou, a villager who takes care of cows and horses.

Sylvio, Elinora, Mel, and Baltro are staying at the mansion.

They said it was because going to the capital was troublesome and that problems might arise at the party like last time.

I think that's a bit unfair.

After a busy morning, a small carriage with luggage and two guards, and a larger carriage with the dragon emblem, where we were sitting, set off.

At the front door, Elinora, Sylvio, Mel, and Baltro waved us off.

Elinora's words, "Don't get involved with strange nobles," made me very anxious.

Come to think of it, she said she once killed a man with a sword who had approached her. I hope that man doesn't hold a grudge and come after me...

The carriage quickly left Coirat village, and the houses, fences, and watchtowers outside quickly became small.

I thought, "I won't be able to return to the mansion for a while..." but then I remembered I could always teleport back.

I've been doing special training to increase my magic power every day, so it should be fine. I'm not sure if I can return to Coirat village from the capital in one go, but I should be able to return in two days by stopping at villages and towns along the way.

Thinking about this, my anxiety seemed to lessen.

× × ×

"Man, this area is really peaceful."

"It feels good to see so much green."

After a few hours of traveling on a straight and flat road, we passed through a small village and stopped to rest the horses.

"The village we just passed, Pod Village, has really come to life. When I was a kid, there was less food and fewer houses..."

Gates, the man who seemed to be reminiscing, raised his face.

He had a sharp, deep-set face with blue eyes and a wild, soft mohawk.

His long, thick sideburns added to his rugged appearance.

Most notably, his chin was very long.

His face, looking up at the sky, was like a crescent moon floating in the night sky.

Gates used to be an adventurer but retired and returned to the countryside with his wife.

Pod Village, which we just passed, was his hometown, but when he returned, his family's house was occupied by strangers, and he had no place to live.

He learned from a neighbor that his parents had immigrated to Coirat Village and that his friend Rumba was there, so he decided to immigrate to Coirat Village.

When he returned, he was surprised to find the village more lively than before.

Gates smiled and looked into the distance, "I was surprised."

He must have been reminiscing about the past.

I looked at his profile and thought, "His chin is really long."

"There are things in this world that you shouldn't touch, even out of curiosity. Like a woman's chest or butt... Well, you're a kid, so you probably don't understand yet."

Gates, noticing my intense gaze, gave a warning and a faint smile.

He must be thinking, "I just said something wise."

"Yeah. I'm a kid, so I don't understand. I'll touch it plenty."

I poked Gates' chin with a fallen branch.

"......"

"......Poke poke."

I poked and stroked it, and the branch broke.

Wow, the branch broke.

I stared at the broken branch for a while, but it was too short to be useful, so I threw it away.

Just as I was looking for another branch, I heard rustling from nearby.

For some reason, Gates seemed to be about to grab me, but I ignored it. I was more concerned about the source of the noise. It might be a monster.

I turned to the source of the noise and saw that the bushes a little behind us were moving.

Gates sniffed the air and said,

"...It smells. A monster... a goblin."

A goblin appeared as he spoke.

Goblins have a strong smell, so you can tell if they're around by the smell. Rumba said something similar. Indeed, I can smell it faintly.

The goblin looked around and, upon noticing us, grinned and leaped.

It looked like it was happy to find prey.

"Get back to the carriage. This is our job from here on out."

Gates, with a cool smile, drew his sword from the scabbard and readied the circular shield on his left arm.