第１２２１堀：バスの旅で何をした？ (Part1)
Chapter 1221: What Did We Do on the Bus Trip?
Side: Ria
"That felt like it was over in a blink, didn't it?"
I let out a long, luxurious stretch, savoring the end of that endless, seated journey. Ah, the air outside tastes so good. It’s been four days since we left Bide, and we’ve finally arrived at a town in the Kingdom of Zufia, nestled at the foot of the Great Mountain Range. From here on out, we’ll be traveling on foot.
I honestly thought four days in a vehicle would be agonizingly boring, but...
"...Ugh. For me, that last day was pure hell. *Hurl.*"
"That is because you insisted on reading books inside the moving carriage, Cleena."
"You really should have at least taken some motion sickness medicine."
"...I thought I’d be fine since I wasn't feeling sick at the start."
Cleena, having bolted into the bushes behind us, is currently painting the grass a rainbow. I suppose for those who suffer from severe motion sickness, a car ride is a nightmare. Though, for some reason, she only started feeling it today.
"Honestly, being stuck in a car for so long is surprisingly dull. I spent half the time sleeping."
"You should have played games with us, Labyris! Right, big sister Ria?"
Aslin says this as she rushes over to me, clinging to my arm. Meanwhile, Labyris, who had been asleep until just now, still looks dazed and groggy.
"That’s true. It was fun, wasn't it?"
"I was honestly surprised at how strong you were, Ria-sama."
"I know, right? I wonder why you suddenly became so strategic?"
Firia and Dressa tilt their heads in confusion, but the reason is actually quite simple.
"Ah, well, Ria spent her entire maternity leave doing nothing but playing games, you see."
Before I can stop her, Jessica spills the beans.
"Ugh, why’d you have to go and say that? And don't act like I was the only one—you were playing just as much as I was, Jessica!"
"I won't deny that I played, but for me, it was merely a way to kill time. I didn't approach it with the same intensity you did, Ria. Though, thanks to that, I couldn't beat Aslin and the others. *Sigh*, Pokémon really is deep, isn't it?"
"Ahaha, well, there’s so much variety in Pokémon, after all."
"...Lately, the rules keep changing, so it’s hard to keep up."
She’s right. As Hiiro says, the rules themselves change every month. If they didn't, the Pokémon people use would just stay the same. They have restrictions like "Water-type only" and things like that. But that’s exactly why it’s fun. It makes you actively search for and raise creatures you wouldn't normally use.
I suppose it’s just like scouting for talent. I wonder if Yuki-san felt the same way when he found us.
"By the way, where is Yuki-san?"
The four of us guards are all here, so I wondered who was with him.
"He is currently with Steve and Kagura’s group," Samantha says, pointing. Sure enough, Yuki-san is there with Steve, Kagura, and the others, along with Fiora and Orelia.
"Come to think of it, was Fiora serving as a guard too?"
"More like a sub-role. Fiora is primarily our point of contact for smaller nations, so that’s her main job."
"...*Hurl.* Orelia and the others have a very good work ethic, too. As expected of the girls Yuki chose."
"Indeed. Yuki-sama’s eye for talent is impeccable."
Orelia and the others were chosen from the slaves while we were on maternity leave, so we don't know them very well. Well, we played together during the last recreation event, so we have a slight idea of what they’re like. Besides, we work in the same office now. I noticed the other day that their desks had been added to Yuki-san’s office alongside ours, which just goes to show how hard they’ve been working.
"So, what’s the plan from here?"
"...If I recall, we go on foot. Cars can't enter. The Goblin village is deep in the forest."
"They seem to live quite discreetly, so it’s not a place you could reach easily anyway. Even if we could take the car, it would likely cause quite a stir."
"That is true. Even though we sent word in advance, a clash of cultures is inevitable. It isn't a long distance anymore, so taking our time is probably for the best."
As we’re talking, Yuki-san and the others walk over.
"Are you alright, Cleena?"
"...Mm. I’m feeling clear-headed now, so it’s fine."
Yuki-san checks on Cleena first, given her motion sickness. Well, that’s only natural. She was pale as a sheet.
"Are you all feeling alright, too, Ria?"
"Yes, we’re fine."
"No problems here."
"Yes, we’re doing well."
We’re all in good shape.
"We’ll be staying in this town tonight as planned. It’s time for the preliminary explanations. I’ll set up a Gate here secretly, so make sure you rotate properly."
"Yes, we’ll make sure to return on time."
For this guard mission, the four of us are supposed to take turns in pairs. After all, we have our babies back home. We have to make sure we’re properly taking care of our precious little ones. But since today is the day we arrive in town, we’ve all decided to show our faces together. If we don't, the locals might be suspicious of people who just suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"And who is handling the introductions?"
"They’ve sent a messenger to the lord’s mansion. We notified them in advance, but it seems we arrived much earlier than expected."
"Ah, well, that’s the power of bus travel for you."
True. It’s completely different from traveling by carriage. To them, it must feel like we just popped out of thin air, way ahead of schedule.
"I’m sorry everyone, for making you wait."
For some reason, Kagura bows to us, looking incredibly apologetic.
"That’s not your fault, Kagura. They have no idea how incredible a 'car' is, so it can’t be helped."
"...Mm. It’s nearly impossible to make someone understand if they don't know the concept. And this was within expectations."
As Cleena says, even if you tell them you’re going by car and will arrive in four days, they won't understand what you’re talking about if they’ve never seen one. After all, it’s a distance that takes three weeks by carriage, covered in just four days.
"Well, delays are part of the journey. That said, I’m sure Kodolishi-san is having a headache over it."
"Kodolishi-sama is the diplomat who took charge of the negotiations with the Kingdom of Zufia and this town, correct?"
"Yeah. From what I’ve talked to him, he’s a man loyal to his duties. And he’s definitely on the side of Princess Carrie—or rather, the Royalist faction."
"I’m glad he’s a Royalist. If those idiots we kicked out of Bide had been involved, things wouldn't have gone this smoothly. Come to think of it, Mikos had it rough, didn't she?"
"Ahaha... even Mikos-chan was truly exhausted..."
Mikos, still looking completely drained, doesn't even have the energy to retort to Jessica’s comment with a "That was nothing." It’s been four days since that incident, and the fact that she’s still this tired shows just how much it took out of her.