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“Margrave Baumeister-dono, how admirable of you to have called for me! The folks from the magic tool guild have been full of themselves because they started to test toy-like magic sleighs with the royal army, but compared to the prototype of my new magic sleigh…”
“(No, I didn’t called for you in the first place!)”
“(Wend, isn’t it kind of dangerous to rely on this middle-aged dude?)”
“(His Highness Wald gave the order, so we cannot afford to ignore him. Also, there’s no way we can travel a long distance across frozen fields on foot. Magic airships aren’t an option either. There are some risks, but since it’s not like he didn’t produce any results until now, we can hope that his new magic sleigh could be a successful product too. Anyway, we must catch up with the exploration teams led by Peter and His Highness who departed before us, so a magic sleigh will be crucial)”
The exploration teams, made up of elites from both countries, had gone ahead. Following them, the exploration teams personally led by Peter and His Highness had departed in competition. Those four groups had invaded the monster domain, heading for the wall known as the northern end of the world──in the end I don’t think they’ll find anything like that over there though──but they apparently woke the sleeping dogs. As the monsters became increasingly active, they struggled to continue northwards, according to the reports we got through the MHCD.
It was the same in my previous life, but having such a convenient tool like the MHCD in return increases the workload… That said, I cannot simply opt not to carry one with me either.
The Empire, which wants to claim ownership of the northern continent, and the Kingdom, which wishes to confirm whether any weapons of the Ancient Magic Civilization are hidden under the ice, albeit not having any ambitions for this continent; the intentions of those two countries overlapped, resulting in us being forced to participate in the exploration, even though we had just been enjoying angling here every day.
Moreover, His Highness Wald summoned a certain helper──well, it’s just Beckenbauer-san──so that our small group of elites could quickly move. He soon appeared at our encampment, bringing a new magic sleigh similar to a scow without masts and sails. According to him, it should perform much better than the magic sleighs the magic tool guild provided to the Kingdom’s exploration teams beforehand.
The helper──though it’s just Beckenbauer-san──considers the magic tool guild as his rival, so one should take his talk with a grain of salt…or no, considering Beckenbauer-san’s character, it’s very likely that his new magic sleigh is really highly efficient since he’s the type of man who wants to rub his superiority under the nose of his opponents rather than trying to sabotage them.
Either way, we must test the new magic sleigh’s performance first. Given that I’m not the type of person who would want to use something without any rehearsals, I absolutely have to try it out. With that said, Erw, Beckenbauer-san, and I ran some test runs.
“I think it’s perfectly specified for usage on the northern continent.”
“I heard the whole continent is covered by ice, so I strengthened the sleigh by making its bottom flat. The idea is for them to run across the ice surface by sliding. A new magic engine has greatly increased its output.”
“That’s fine and all, but are we going to be okay on fuel?”
Magic engines seem to move on mana. They’re also used on magic airships, but only those excavated from the ruins of the Ancient Magic Civilization or produced by the demons are currently on the market. The demon airships are recycled from oversized garbage by Lyra-san and her team. So far, we haven’t concluded a trade agreement with the demon country, but as long as there’s demand, traders will reliably make sure to meet it. That’s how society works.
But I hear the magic engine of this new sleigh is a prototype created by Beckenbauer-san.
“The mana consumption is somewhat high, but it’s not bad enough for you to have to worry. With Margrave Baumeister and his wives’ mana capacity, it will be easy to supply the necessary mana. Above all, the sleigh is pretty fast.”
Beckenbauer-san’s words carry some truth. We need speed most of all right now. That’s why it’s not wrong to go with the new magic sleigh. His Highness Wald hasn’t been mistaken in making that decision, but…
“We have to test what sort of sleigh it is by test driving it in advance.”
“Well, it sure would be dangerous to find out during the real deal.”
“I think it’s going to be alright, but there are always completely unexpected issues which could crop up.”
Hence, Erw, Beckenbauer-san, and I got into a new magic sleigh.
“Somehow it seems like it’s going to be a fun ride.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“How fast can this go?”
Before I noticed, Fujiko, Lulu, and Philine had also climbed onto the sleigh.
“Watch out to not fall off.”
I wouldn’t stop them if this were a normal sleigh, but this is one of Beckenbauer-san’s trial products. He has a tendency to wrap up things in a somewhat funny way, even though it’s sometimes a bit dangerous. Yet he never reflects on what he did. And because he’s such a person, he’s also a superb researcher, but it’s best to keep children as far away from him as possible.
I’m a responsible adult, and as such I ordered the kids to get off the magic sleigh, telling them that it’s dangerous and not some toy.
“Milord, it won’t be much of a test if the number of people boarding it is too low.”
“Lulu will also stay back here at the camp, so…”
“We’re going to remain here, so we wish to be as helpful to you, Wendelin-sama, as possible.”
“Uhh…”
I get weak when I’m told stuff like that by little girls and sweet girls.
“But, you see…if the magic sleigh breaks while traveling at high speed…”
It’s very dangerous, so I feel like it’d be better for those three to not get on the sleigh…
“They’re requesting it themselves, so isn’t it okay to give them the go-ahead? Besides, even he wouldn’t bring a defective product that could fall apart during high-speed travel…”
“Buh, how rude! This sleigh has already been tested many times on water, but hasn’t been involved in a single accident!”
Beckenbauer-san was quite pissed when Erw and I looked at him with eyes full of doubt. He seemed quite confident in his creation.
“I will drive on it as well. Kids, feel free to ride the sleigh without any worries.”
“If something should happen, we can escape with Wendelin-sama’s Flight.”
“That’s why it’s safe, I’d think.”
“It’s safe as long as Wendelin-sama rides with us.”
“Argh!”
However, I was the one those three trusted, and it was clear Beckenbauer-san hadn’t earned that kind of trust with them. Realizing this fact, he suffered quite a shock. Then again, if you think back on his track record, words, and deeds so far, you won’t find any compelling reason to trust him…
Did he himself believe he had a great deal of credibility or something?
“Anyway, I’d like to depart as quickly as possible. Let’s test this soon.”
“True. We’re going to head out, kids.”
“””Okaaaay!”””
After getting permission from Erw and Beckenbauer-san, the kids got on the magic sleigh and waited for it to depart. The sleigh resembled a boat and was unexpectedly spacious, big enough to hold ten people.
I can see the new magic engine installed at its back, but it’s smaller than I assumed. Did he manage to downsize the engine through technological progress?
“You just need to directly touch it and send mana into it. Once its tank is full, you can stop pumping mana into it.”
“Rather convenient, I have to admit.”
This invention of Beckenbauer-san might actually be superior to the prototype and research of the Magic Tool Guild. I feel like it’d also be fine for him to simply become a member of the magic tool guild, but did something happen between him and the guild in the past?
Anyhow, he hates the magic tool guild and views them as rivals to an abnormal degree, so I feel like it’s best not to probe into this matter.
“So, the steering…you do it.”
“Me?”
Beckenbauer-san appointed Erw as helmsman. The new magic sleigh has a cockpit. It has a steering wheel like those on boats and throttles you can move up and down. It’s a surprisingly simple design.
“Why me?”
“We will drive at high speed across ice. Someone who does swordsmanship and possesses a good kinetic vision is obviously the best choice here.”
“I see. You have a point.”
It’s the same for magic airships, too, but it’s not like you can’t helm them without mana. People with good kinetic vision and reflexes are suited to helming a fast-moving vehicle.
“Margrave Baumeister-dono, please stay close to the magic engine.”
“To make sure that it’s easy to supply mana, right?”
“You got it right.”
“So, how do I move this?”
“You influence the direction of the sleigh with the steering wheel, and if you raise that throttle to the highest position, the boat will move at maximum output. If you lower it to the lowest setting, it’ll shut off. Simple, isn’t it?”
Sitting in the seat next to Erw, Beckenbauer-san guided him on how to operate the sleigh.
“It certainly is simple. Are you ready?”
“All ready here.”
“Me too.”
“I’m ready.”
“I’m stuck to a fixed position.”
“Okay. I’m going to raise the throttle.”
Erw, the new operator of the sleigh, probably raised the throttle, seeing how the vehicle started to slowly move.
“It’s surprising that it doesn’t shake.”
“The ground is relatively evenly frozen over. I’d say its use is limited to the northern continent, though. This new engine has also been developed for a ship on water.”
“I see.”
The sleigh definitely resembles a boat. Once it started moving, the magic sleigh kept driving across the ice without any abnormalities. But its speed…
“It isn’t all that fast, is it?”
“True.”
“It’s not that different from the dog sleigh I was allowed to ride the other day.”
The kids had boarded the sleigh in high spirits, but since it wasn’t traveling as fast as they had hoped for, they seemed disgruntled.
“With this, it won’t be much of a difference, even if we borrow magic sleighs from the magic tool guild at the Kingdom’s base camp, no?”
“What are you even saying, Margrave Baumeister-dono!? He’s still getting familiar with the steering of the sleigh. The throttle has been barely raised! We will soon run a speed test!”
“Eh? Full speed all of a sudden!?”
Beckenbauer-san has a childish side. He got angry when we criticized his sleigh for being slow. He leaned forward from the seat next to me, pushed the throttle to the maximum in one go, and in the next instant, the sleigh started to travel with a frightening velocity.
“Mnuooooooh!”
It was a speed incomparable to before. It might be faster than the Shinkansen. The scenery hasn’t changed much since we’re in a world dominated by ice, but I felt afraid as the sudden G-force pressed into my body. But because I couldn’t leave my seat next to the magic engine, I could lay my hand on the throttle.
“Don’t push the output to the maximum all of a sudden!”
“Margrave Baumeister-dono, you said the sleigh is slow. That’s why I sped it up.”
“Are you a kid or something!?”
Getting irritated over something like this…even the kids’ group wouldn’t do something like that…
“Sheesh! Fujiko, Lulu, Philine, are you okay?”
Now is not the time to have an unproductive quarrel with Beckenbauer-san. I must confirm the kids’ safety.
Just as I thought that…
“Fujiko-chan, it was fun, wasn’t it?”
“Yep. Driving so fast that you cut through the fun is awesome.”
“Wendelin-sama, it has been fun.”
Compared to the vehicles of modern society, the new sleigh lacks any sort of safety system, but the three girls fully enjoyed its acceleration. The girls felt like cheerful children when riding a roller coaster.
“(Haah! Which reminds me, I…!)”
I forgot about it, but I’m really bad with vehicles that are close to rollercoasters. But I could never afford to scream as an adult, not to mention shamefully demand to be let off, in front of small girls…
“Oh? You’re quite obedient, Margrave Baumeister-dono.”
“(That’s the last thing on my mind right now!) Are we…done with the test run?”
I barely managed to squeeze this out, but…
“We were able to prove that the new sleigh is capable of displaying enough performance. Erwin-dono, please return to the camp.”
“Roger. Umm…what should I do to lower the speed for a U-turn?”
“Lower the propulsion by pulling the throttle down. Since the speed will drop, you won’t have any option but to do a U-turn. There’s no need to fret either, though.”
“Fair point.”
The magic sleigh gradually lost speed, and after some time, it should be easily possible to carry out a U-turn…or so I thought, but…
“Beckenbauer-san, won’t it be fine to do a U-turn with this level of speed?”
“Yes. Start with an accel turn! On the way back, you can go at full spee───ed!”
“Stooo───oop!”
Although I somehow managed to endure the journey, the sharp accel turn and the high speed on the way back almost plunged my mind into the netherworld. It seems I still haven’t cured my hatred of thrill rides. There existed no reason to heal it, so it’s only natural, though.
＊ ＊ ＊
———– End of Part 1 ———–
“Uuhhh….”
“Are you okay, Milord?”
“This was certainly unexpected.”
The test run of the new magic sleigh had ended without a hitch, and although we’d be departing tomorrow at long last, I was staying in bed as I felt under the weather. This was because of my absurd condition: I could use Flight and magic airships, but I felt sick on rollercoaster-like magic sleighs.
I had Ryouko place a wet cloth on my forehead, then cast healing magic to ease my motion sickness. Moreover, Elise handled all the preparations for tomorrow’s departure in my stead. As might be expected, I felt like I wasn’t really needed to begin with.
When I told Erw my worries, he comforted me, “There’s no way that could be true, but…the selection of personnel for the exploration team proves to be difficult because there is only one sleigh available. I will steer it while Beckenbauer-san will deal with any necessary repairs. Leaving you, Wend, and Burkhart-san behind is out of the question. So about the other six…”
“It’s truly going to be a small elite force then.”
“Since almost everyone, including me, will be magicians, it won’t be much of a problem.”
It’s not that bad in regard to combat power, is it? Since it looks like the exploration teams of both countries are at a standstill anyway, it should be fine for us to withdraw if it seems impossible.
“Ah, just as I thought, I gotta go as well, huh?”
“Burkhart, Armstrong-doushi is continuously fighting monsters in the north around this time.”
“Now listen, Beckenbauer, Doushi, and I are no pair. Besides, Doushi loves fighting to his heart’s content.”
Burkhart-san rebuffed Beckenbauer-san for treating him like Doushi’s partner. He insisted that he didn’t have the character to willingly fight monsters while standing at the forefront.
“Doushi is being held back by a swarm of monsters, but stuff like that actually makes him happy.”
“Even though he’s participating in the exploration team on orders from His Highness?”
I think he’ll be in trouble if he can’t carry out his mission…
“It’s probably because it’s His Majesty’s order. In the first place, do you really believe that Doushi is the kind of man who would go around and accurately measure the land to draw up a detailed map?”
“Definitely not.”
Drawing maps is part of a soldier’s work, but I cannot believe Doushi has that kind of skill, even though he’s a descendant of the Earl Armstrong family.
“Doushi’s priority is to remove all the obstacles standing in the way of the exploration team.”
“This job has now reached you as well, Burkhart-san.”
“Argh…I wanted to go back home after sightseeing.”
He reluctantly agreed to join the exploration team. Though you could also say he had no choice since refusal was no option.
“As for the remaining personnel…first would be Elise, I guess?”
We’d be in a bind if we had no healer with us.”
“Moreover…”
Next I looked at Lisa, but she quietly shook her head.
“Dear husband, I’m Liza the Blizzard.”
“Oh right.”
This place is covered in ice and freezing temperatures, and blizzards ravage the lands every day. She’s a magician, but she isn’t proficient at fire magic. Unfortunately, Lisa can’t join as a combat force this time around.
“In other words, it’s my turn.”
“Are you okay with that?”
“Isn’t it fine? Sure, we married in absolute secrecy, but I still became thou wife, Wendelin. Look forward to the fruits of my work as a wife.”
“That means I’m out as well, huh?”
“Katharina, you’re too half-baked.”
“This sounds terrible, but it’s the truth. The exploration teams from both countries, which should be a culmination of quite a bit of combat power, can’t go any further north, which means the monsters on this continent are fairly formidable. The boss of the domain might be an elemental dragon.”
Moreover, elemental dragons that live in cold places likely have elemental attributes (water, wind) that are strong against cold. In such a case, it will be tough on Katharina the Storm.
“I think it’d be best to also add someone who can use physical attacks.”
“Like Ina, you mean?”
Since she can use Physical Enhancement and the fire-based spearmanship called Flame Spear, she’s probably perfect as an exploration team member.
“I also possess physical attack power, so it’d be better if you let me join as well.”
Luise has no magic attributes, but since she can use the Magic Combat Style, she’s set as a member of our team.
“Also…”
“””Here! Here! Here!”””
Agnes, Betty, and Cindy could use spells from all attributes at an average level, so should we select them?
“Isn’t it going to throw off the balance in regards to combat power?”
“In the worst case, Beckenbauer-san can also launch some flashy spells since he’s a magician too.”
“No, I can barely use any offensive magic, so I will take responsibility for the maintenance of the new magic sleigh.”
“Wend, is this going to be alright?”
“It should be.”
Luise seemed to be unexpectedly prone to worrying. Our task was to draw as many monsters as possible to support the other exploration teams’ activities.
“We’d be in a bind if we were told to create a precise map, after all.”
It’s completely different from the map I made of the Savage Land as a child. It was common sense to leave stuff like that to the experts.
“Ultimately, we’ll only act as a diversion. Above all, we mustn’t snatch away the achievement of the second wave of exploration teams led by Peter and His Highness.”
You could say that alone was why the top politicians of both countries were so fixated on this continent. For me, as a former company slave and incarnation of self-preservation, the best outcome would be for both countries to safely finish the northern expedition while securing results that satisfy their pride.
“(This too is for the sake of my children’s future! Besides, why do I have to serve as balancer for both countries despite being a Kingdom’s noble?)”
Could someone please kindly tell me?
“With that out of the way, those eleven people will get on the sleigh and try to take a look at the unknown monsters of this continent.”
Leaving with this feeling would make the mood more relaxed, too. I announced the above to everyone else, but most of them agreed anyway.
“My equipment as an adventurer is light, so it’s difficult for me to work in this environment, I suppose…achooo!”
Currently, Katia was wearing thick, warm clothes, which would certainly make it hard to move in return. She also said she wasn’t good with the cold.
But two people refused to change.
“Milord, this environment is the perfect place for my Dark Crimson Dragon to make its appearance!”
Fujiko started to explain that it was weird she hadn’t been added to the exploration team. It’s true that she possesses a talent that will allow her to become a superb magician in the future, and her forte lies with fire magic too.
Dark Crimson Dragon…freely manipulating dark flames in the form of a dragon was her specialty, and because she was still a small child, she basically couldn’t use anything besides that…
“Am I not the perfect fit for the exploration team?” Fujiko pressed on.
“No, you’re still a minor, so it’s out of the question.”
If we didn’t have any other combat forces, I could have hesitantly opted to mobilize minors as well on my authority as family head. But, with this much combat force here, it was unnecessary for me to choose Fujiko as a team member.
“Wendelin-sama, is Lulu not allowed to join either?”
Moreover, it was completely unforeseen that even Lulu would volunteer to join the team. Considering her characterLulu definitely has a sense of responsibility.
“While being sheltered by you, Wendelin-sama, Lulu raised the true power of Lulu’s magic. Lulu will defeat the monsters with Lulu’s White Flame Dragon!”
“Lulu, you’re still a minor as well, so you’re not an option either.”
It’s not like the Margrave Baumeister House doesn’t have the leeway to recruit five-year-olds to hunt monsters and explore unknown continents. If it’s those two, they can release fire magic so powerful it exceeds adult intermediate magicians, but that doesn’t mean we can take them along on the exploration.
“Elise…”
“You two, we’re happy for your offer, but things like that have to wait until you become adults,” Elise gently admonished the two little girls.
“Amalie-san…”
“What you must do right now is to watch over our base here,” chipped in Amalie.
“Ugh…”
“It’s a shame…”
“Come on, it’s time for you to study.”
The two are children, so they need education as well. If you take that into consideration, it’d obviously be bad to take them along on the exploration. Amalie-san took the two to a big tent for children inside our camp’s compound.
“Those girls might be angry, as they will be left behind here.”
“Just because they will get angry, it’s not like we can take them along, right?”
“True words. I guess I’ll get everything ready for tomorrow. Wend, it looks like you still cannot move.”
“Ugh…”
I’d prefer to not go at full speed with the new magic sleigh tomorrow…since it’s impossible for me. I think I’ll go to sleep early tonight to be ready for tomorrow.
“When it comes to combat, you won’t be able to lie around. I suppose we’ll somehow have to handle you with Elise’s healing magic.”
“I do have my own concoction of an Anti-Travel Sickness medicine with me.”
“(Is it really okay to take that?)”
All exploration members, except me, started preparing for tomorrow’s departure.
＊ ＊ ＊
“With this, we’re fully prepared, right?”
“Margrave Baumeister-dono, the new magic sleigh is in top condition.”
“Really?”
“It won’t pose a problem even if you go full speed all of a sudden.”
“It will pose a problem to me though!”
The next morning it was finally time for our exploration team to head out. Eleven exploration team members climbed onto the sleigh which Beckenbauer-san had meticulously maintained beforehand, and except for Katharina, who would manage the base in our absence, everyone else came to see us off…
“Huh? What about Fujiko and Lulu?”
“Wend-kun, it looks like those girls are angry and won’t leave their beds.”
“That’s where they decide to act their age?”
No matter how talented they are as magicians, they are five years old. It’s probably unavoidable that they won’t always understand things, even if you explain the circumstances to them.
“Amalie-san, please take care of them. Katharina, I leave the maintenance and management of this camp in your capable hands.”
“Please count on me. The efficacy of my wind magic feels questionable on this continent of ice, so I won’t be much use for you…”
“It’s still better than my blizzards, wouldn’t you agree? That doesn’t mean I cannot use any fire magic, but…”
Lisa was going to stay back, too. Part of the reason was the issue with her favorite magic attribute, but more importantly, Katharina and Lisa had declined to participate for another reason.
“The new magic sleigh is too fast. For me it’d be a bit too much…”
“It’s actually the same for me as well…”
I, too, am very bad with it, but I don’t have the option to sit this one out, so I’ll be gritting my teeth. Looking at Katharina and Lisa, I felt incredibly envious.
“For Elise-sama to come along is a surprise, though, to be honest.”
“Indeed.”
Ryouko and Yuki commented. But in fact, Elise is pretty good with stuff like this. Or rather, she’s so suited to dangerous rides that it’s actually troubling.
Given that Ryouko looks like someone who would feel sick just riding a horse, I decided the sleigh would be too much for her and chose not to take her on the expedition.
“Alright, we’re departing. Just in case, let’s do a roll-call. Erw!”
“Aye!”
Erw was sitting in the cockpit of the sleigh.
“Elise!”
“Yes.”
She was sitting right behind Erw, clearly hoping to drive the sleigh herself. Everyone else who knows about Elise’s driving should be praying to be spared that experience, though. Accordingly, I drilled it into Erw’s mind not to let Elise drive under any circumstances.
“Ina! Luise!”
“”Yeeees!””
Luise is our strongest battle asset when it comes to close combat, and I plan to have Ina fight hard against the monsters of this continent using her flame spear.
“Therese!”
“Lisa has taught me all sorts of spells ever since then. It seems like I’m endowed with a good compatibility for fire magic.”
Therese has little experience, but she’s an advanced magician specialized in fire magic, so she should be quite an asset this time around.
“Sensei, I will do my best!”
“I’m looking forward to the exploration together with you, Sensei.”
“The three of us can use Triple-Layered Flame, so please count on our support.”
Agnes, Betty, and Cindy still hadn’t reached Lisa and Katharina’s level as magicians. But probably because they were always acting together, you can call her teamwork the best. Apparently, they’ve acquired a special skill that lets the three of them overlay the same spell and fire it off together. Burkhart-san has greatly praised the power of those combined spells.
Moreover, because they were young, they didn’t fear the new sleigh’s speed, nor did they get sick from it.
I think they’re fully qualified to be chosen for the exploration team. Recently, I’ve often been told by my surroundings that I’m too overprotective of those three, so I will have them prove themselves in the upcoming mission.
“And lastly…”
“Margrave Baumeister-dono, we can depart at any time.”
Beckenbauer-san is going to participate as the maintenance guy for the sleigh. According to him, he sucks at offensive magic, but who knows how much of it is true.
“Is this everyone?”
“Hol…”
“It’s unthinkable for you not to be chosen as a member of the exploration team, isn’t it, Burkhart-san? How about you give up anytime soon?”
“I’ll go, but you see, the cold is really tough on these old bones,” he said while sipping brandy since early in the morning.
Is he sick due to the new magic sleigh or the alcohol? …Well, either way, he seems intoxicated.
“So it’s eleven people in total, huh?”
“One more is no big deal anyway. Look, I even added another seat.”
Just when I wondered why Beckenbauer-san was tolling away so frantically as soon as the sun rose, it looked like he went out of his way to install a seat for his friend Burkhart-san.
“(That blasted Beckenbauer…always doing something no one asked him for…)”
“We’re going to explore an uncharted continent. As an adventurer and veteran, you’re indispensable, Burkhart.”
“That argument is so sound that it actually hurts.”
No one could rebuff Beckenbauer-san’s line of thinking. Not even Burkhart-san.
“I got it, but I do pray that His Majesty Peter and His Highness Wald know when to call it quits.”
“Armstrong-doushi will be there as well. His survival instinct exceeds that of beasts, so it should be fine.”
“Doushi, eh…? Unexpectedly, that guy doesn’t die easily.”
I feel like he’s just doing reckless stuff…no, Doushi IS actually just doing reckless stuff, but for some reason I cannot imagine him dying.
Besides, he’s the kind of man who will immediately run away if he considers a situation to be truly dangerous. I think he can clearly tell when to call it quits.
“In the end, those two haven’t shown up. It’d be great if they could cheer up sooner or later.”
“Once they grow up a bit more, they will understand your decision, Milord. Right, Yuki?”
“I will go and sneak a look at their condition later on.”
We’re about to head out, but Fujiko and Lulu haven’t turned up. Them sulking in their beds because they haven’t been chosen for the exploration team just makes it obvious that they’re still children.
“I’m sure they’ll come out once they get hungry. I leave the rest to you.”
“No doubt you’re right about this.”
“I guess I’ll cook something that might lift their spirits.”
It will be fine to leave those two to Amalie-san and the others.
“Alright, we’re off then.”
As it was finally time to head out, Erw raised the sleigh’s throttle and drove off right away.
“Erw, take it slow.”
“…That’d make the new magic sleigh meaningless, no!? I’m going to increase the speeeeed!”
“No wa───!”
In an instant, the sleigh accelerated. While reaffirming my bad compatibility with vehicles like this sleigh, we headed north across the frozen continent.
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Translation Notes:
