第６８６堀：たのしいたび (Part1)
**Chapter 686: A Fun Journey**
**Side: Kagura**
I stood there, completely unable to move in the face of the unfolding events.
Well, I mean, what else could I do?
The always gentle and kind-hearted Eris-san was currently...
“...So, are you saying you want to die?”
“N-no, that’s not...”
She said it with a completely expressionless face, while grabbing the male elf by the neck and lifting him into the air with a single hand.
How on earth did it end up like this...?
I had only come along to the elf village—no, wait, not the elf village—at Yuki’s request.
“Eh? You want me to come with you?”
Yes, it all started when Yuki went out of his way to come to my workplace and invited me on a date.
“Yeah. Mikos, Solo, and Princess Arge, too.”
“Um, I appreciate the invitation, but we are currently quite busy establishing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...”
“Ah, I’ve already gotten permission for that. Or rather, I’ve left you in charge as the main leads until now. While the four of you are away, Dressa and the others will stay behind and hold down the fort.”
“Hah!? Are you kidding me!?”
“...Big Brother, Hiiro and the others will be killed by the paperwork. We’ll die...”
“...”
Faced with such an unreasonable statement, Dressa was furious, Hiiro was on the verge of tears, and even Vilia remained silent, refusing to agree with Yuki.
“No, no, I’ve heard that you’ve already passed the peak of the workload. Besides, I’m bringing in Weed’s personnel as well. The system is finally coming together. And Kagura, you aren’t staying there forever; the goal is for you to build up know-how and a track record. This is also to confirm that the handover and information sharing are being done correctly.”
“...I understand the situation, but why are we the ones left behind? We’re Yuki’s guards, aren’t we?”
“Exactly!! Hiiro and the others’ job is to protect Big Brother!! Lately, our jobs have been weird!!”
“Y-yes!! Our job is supposed to be protecting you, Big Brother!!”
The three of them protested, but Yuki continued without a hint of concern.
“Eris and Riel will be coming in your place, and I plan to have Labyris and the others join us this time too. It’s a professional necessity. There are times when you can’t just say you hate paperwork. Consider this one of those times.”
“I understand how you feel, but you swore to be useful to Yuki. Refusing a task he asked of you is just being selfish, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Protecting the home so that Yuki-sama can set off without worry is also a wife’s job.”
Faced with the sound logic of Yuki, Jessica, and Samantha, the three of them made indescribable faces.
“Well, it’s the first time for the three of you, so I understand your worry. But there will come a time when you have to work alone, so think of this as good practice. You have your superiors, Sota-san and Enor-san, and Seraria and Ratz are staying behind, so consult them if you’re truly in trouble. Besides, this trip also serves as Eris’s homecoming. And apparently, elves are a difficult bunch. In that sense, the help of Labyris and the others is indispensable. You understand, right?”
“Ah, I see. Those three are sensitive, after all.”
“I see. Instead of Hiiro and the others, Labyris-onee and the others will protect Big Brother.”
“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped. In that case, does that mean Kagura-san and the others are coming as representatives of the New Continent?”
“Exactly. We’re going to a village of only elves, then a country of High Elves, and then the Beast God’s country. You’ll be going to places where many spirit priestesses and warriors live. I want to see your reactions.”
Hm? What does that mean?
Aren’t you taking us on a date?
Aren’t you going to make us your concubines as a reward for all our hard work?
“That’s how it is. Vilia, I know leading Dressa and the others will be tough, but I’m counting on you.”
“Yes. Leave it to me. If that’s the reason, I have no objections. Big Brother, please take care.”
“Hey!? You should at least deny the part about it being tough for us!?”
“Hiiro can do it even if I’m alone!!”
The three of them seemed relieved, but I, along with Mikos, let my shoulders drop, realizing this was just another part of the job.
Seeing us like that, Eris-san, who had come with Yuki, called out to us.
“You don’t have to be that disappointed. Think of this as the best opportunity. There’s no doubt the atmosphere will get better during the trip.”
“Is that so?”
“We’ll be sure to be considerate. Well, since the partner is Yuki-san, I imagine it’ll be tough, though.”
“...I truly find it mysterious that you and the others were able to enter such a relationship with Yuki.”
Yuki is strangely uninterested in women.
No, he is very kind to his wives, and from what I’ve heard, he’s quite intense at night, but he’s just kind to other women.
Even when we show off our alluring, post-bath figures, he has no reaction.
My confidence as a woman is on the verge of crumbling.
No, I still attract gazes from other men and get approached in the streets of Weed, so I don’t think I lack charm as a woman.
“There were various circumstances that led to that, so we just pushed our way in. That’s exactly why Kagura and the others have a chance, too. So, do your best.”
My confidence is wavering, but this is advice from Eris-san, who has become Yuki’s woman.
I have no choice but to believe it.
While we were talking about that, Solo asked Yuki a question.
“Um, excuse me, Yuki-sensei. Are Eoid and Amanda coming to the elf village?”
“Ah, I’ve called them. This is a historic achievement where people from the If Continent and the New Continent are visiting a country on the Rogari Continent other than Weed for the first time. Naturally, they need to understand the dangers of this continent as well.”
“Yay!!”
Right. I had completely forgotten because I was so focused on the date and becoming Yuki’s woman, but this is the first time we’ve gone outside of Weed. There’s no doubt this is a historic achievement.
As always, he’s so cunning... wait.
“Dangers?”
“Yes. I want you to experience firsthand that there are dangers on this continent that you wouldn’t encounter on the If Continent or the New Continent.”
...I have a very bad feeling about this.
“Um, Eris-san, what kind of dangers?”
“Probably bandits and monsters on the way.”
“I understand bandits, but monsters? Like the zombies that appeared in the dungeon?”
“Eh!? M-Mikos-chan thinks it would be a nuisance to the villagers to go there after fighting zombies, Yuki-sensei!?”
Yeah. As Mikos said, if we go around exterminating zombies on the way, we’ll end up smelling. Yes, very smelly.
If we go to a village where many spirit priestesses live in that state, we’ll surely be hated. It’s a diplomatic issue.
“No, it’s not like zombies appear that often. There hasn’t been a war lately, either. If anything were to appear...”
“““Woof woof!”””
“Kyaa!? What is this dog-man!?”
“Wait, Kagura, don’t come over here!?”
“Mikos-senpai, don’t come over here either!?”
On the way, we were kicked out of the carriage only to be chased by dog-men.
“That’s a monster called a Kobold. It’s one of the monsters you see often on this Rogari Continent.”
“M-monster!? S-someone help me!?”
Are we going to be eaten!?
“No, no, calm down. It’s nothing compared to Aslin’s subordinates, right?”
“That’s right. Kagura-onee-chan, calm down.”
Like that, we fully enjoyed the hellish journey across the Rogari Continent...
“...I thought I was going to die today.”
“Yeah. Mikos-chan thought it was the end, too.”
“I thought so, too...”
I think we crossed the line between life and death several times in just one day. No, we actually did.
Admittedly, we were able to defeat the Kobolds and the Giant Snake with magic and swordsmanship.
But...
“Being told to face the goblins and slimes that appeared at the end...”
“I thought Yuki-sensei was telling us to go die...”
“Yes...”
“Ahahaha... But that’s right, isn’t it? Kagura and the others don’t know that goblins and slimes are usually weak.”
“That’s because Steve-san and Surakichi-san are special.”