Chapter 149 – Old Connection (8)
The inside of the wagon, which was spacious enough to place a rectangular table in the middle, made me think that the other wagons I had just looked at were narrow.
“I think the driver is a little puzzled, so I’ll just briefly explain the situation and come back, so please sit comfortably in the meantime.”
Saying that, Mana walked to the driver’s seat where Seras was, and we sat side by side on the seats decorated like red sofas while watching her back.
Loxia, who was looking through the window at Mana and the others talking about something while receiving a comfortable feeling that could be said to be away from a luxurious bed, pointed at Seras and asked a question.
“Master, that person… ．Isn’t that the elf we met this morning?”
Unlike when I saw him in the morning, maybe it’s because he’s wearing a helmet, so I’m not sure.
She put her hand on Loxia’s head and nodded her head.
“That’s right… Speaking of which, let’s not bring up that thing from this morning.”
“Yes.”
At that time, Merim, who was listening quietly next to her, expressed her question.
“If that elf has already told the party, wouldn’t it be useless to hide it from us?”
“That’s true, but judging from the woman named Mana’s attitude, it seems like the elves didn’t tell their party what happened this morning, so let’s not rush into talking about it either. There’s no need to be wary of saying unnecessary words, right?”
When Merim nodded in agreement with my words around me… ．Mana is back again.
“You waited~”
Instead of the young man from before, Seras was guarding her side. It seemed that the roles of coachman and escort were switched.
“Thank you so much for responding to my one-sided request. Before entering the dungeon, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to hear from experienced people like you. Information is always important, no matter where you are.”
“It is.”
Mana smiled kindly and sat across from us lightly, and Seras, her escort, also sat down right next to her with the sound of her armor rattling.
“…”
A blatant gaze is felt inside her helmet, but that’s all, she just keeps her silence like a wooden stone and stands by Mana’s side.
According to her policy set earlier, she decided not to mention Seras.
ㅡ Hee hee!
Soon, the horse’s neighing sounded powerfully, and at the same time the carriage began to move slowly.
“Hmm~♫ Hmmm~♪”
Humming her hum, Mana opened a small iron box that was on the table, and inside was filled with a variety of cookies. I savored it.
“As expected, sweet snacks are always fun to eat. Now, let’s talk slowly while enjoying snacks together.”
That’s how we wandered around the city for a while, exchanging stories with Mana and the others, feeling like we were sightseeing in a wagon.
* * *
Some time passed.
As a result of exchanging light questions while touring the city while riding in a carriage, she told her experiences in the dungeon as requested by Mana.
I learned that Mana’s identity is the chief scholar of the Royal Mamul Society of Altma, her neighboring country, and that she visited here with her escort to investigate the ecology of her dungeon.
She is Seras’ companion, so I expected her a long time ago, but she is also from Altma.
By the way… ．
“Her sister named Marill was also going there, and her twin sister… ! How much do you resemble Merim?”
“Of course she is a beautiful woman who looks just like this older sister~ If she dresses the same or changes clothes, people other than us won’t be able to tell who is who.”
“Oh my, is that enough?”
“If you’re really curious, come over to our room later.”
While exchanging stories, Mana and Merim seem to have gotten along quite well, and now they are laughing and chatting in an airless atmosphere like friends of 10 years.
“Mana-sister is always welcome, so come and play.”
“Thank you even for empty words. By the way, the echo of Roxia calling me unnie… ．Every time I hear it, it’s so fantastic.”
“Ahh, you overdo it.”
In addition, she is friendly enough to call Roxia her older sister and younger sister, even though she is shy.
“Or do women naturally get close quickly… ．Anyone who doesn’t know will think she’s like an ex-sister.”
“Whoops, how great it would be if there were like-minded and fun sisters like this.”
Even though they were talking in the middle of the day, Mana, who responded right away to the words I muttered, opened her eyes wide after checking the pocket watch she took out of her arms.
“They say that good times pass quickly, and it’s already this time…”
The tip of the hand of her pocket watch she showed me was pointing to lunch.
“Did you hold on to it longer than you thought? I’m worried that it might not be a nuisance.”
“I enjoyed this one too, so I don’t have to worry too much about it.”
It’s been a while since she contacted Seras and his party, but it’s a meaningful time in its own way because she learned superficial information about them and why they came here.
“…”
From the time she sat down until now, she glanced at Seras, who had maintained an immobile posture like a stone statue.
I don’t know how much of it is true, but if this party came here for the purpose of investigating the dungeon, there would be no need to be more vigilant than necessary, and there would be nothing to see anymore.
I decided to finish it well in order to get out of the carriage, and I opened my mouth with a light smile.
“Do you think our experiences will be of some help?”
“Yes! I didn’t expect you guys to have explored the fourth area, but I guess I should say it feels like I’ve been given a surprise gift… It was more valuable information than I expected. Thanks to that, I think we can do our research easily.”
“That’s fortunate. Anyway, I think we’ve talked enough now…”
I put on the outerwear that I had taken off while not talking behind my back, and Roxia and Merim, who were sitting next to me, put on their respective outerwear as if they were copying my actions.
Immediately recognizing her indirect sign that she was about to leave, Mana spread her palms wide as if asking us to wait.
“Wait a minute! I’d like to say something before we part, how about a meal together? Of course, I’ll shoot it. It’s disrespectful to just let it go like this, and I’m personally very grateful.”
“It’s a great suggestion, but there’s a group of people waiting separately at the inn.”
“Ah, I said Marill, Merim’s younger brother… ?”
Mana, who came up with Marill’s name thanks to her conversation a while ago, repeatedly invited her and everyone to have a meal together, but we shook our heads.
“Marilyn was not feeling well this morning. I can’t afford to take her outside.”
Over time, Marill’s cold energy may have completely disappeared, but the possibility that she has gotten worse on the contrary cannot be ignored.
“… I can’t help it. It would be rude to try to hold on here any longer.”
Having said that, Mana, who had given up on meekly, turned her direction instead of stopping her carriage.
“I’ll take you to the inn, unfortunately. That much is fine, right?”
“We thank you.”
“Hehe, then, then. Let’s talk a little more until we arrive~☆”
She didn’t have to refuse even this, so she decided to accept the favor, and until Mana arrived at her destination, her complexion brightened, she brought up other topics and continued her chatter.
… After a while.
“Mana-sama, we have arrived.”
At the same time as Danir’s voice was heard indicating the end of the long and short journey, the carriage slowly stopped. They arrived at their inn.
Mana, who had descended with us, said goodbye to her as she stretched out with a refreshing look on her face.
“Ah~ It’s been a long time since we’ve been chatting. Thank you for hanging out with us.”
“This is it… Did Mana say tourism from now on? Come and have fun.”
“Huh! It’s been a long time since we’ve come this far, so let’s enjoy it to the fullest. When we get back later, I’ll go to your room to see your younger sister.”
“If possible, please bring some snacks with you.”
“I guess Loxia liked sweets better than me? Whoops, she’ll come with a selection of sweeter guys, so I’m looking forward to it in advance.”
Mana, who clapped hands with the two women in turn, gave me a light greeting and got on her carriage, and the carriage of Mana’s party went straight toward the city.
“Shall we go up too?”
ㅡSlowly.
What welcomed us back to the room was the back of Marill, who was sleeping on her side in bed.
It would be right for a person who is sleeping soundly to wait until he wakes up on his own.
“It’s time to eat, and you should wake up to check on your body, right? Leave it to me, her sister. .”
“Merim unnie. You look very excited.”
“It’s my mood, it’s my mood.”
With her crescent-like smile, Merim lifted her heels and crept up to her sister.
Her eyes were about to commit something. She was a little worried about whether to stop it, but her curiosity lightly suppressed her rationality.
ㅡWow!
“Work, uh, sickle!”
“Sigh?!”
She slapped her brother on the cheek like a djembe, and understandably, her startled Maril jumped up with a big jump on her body, like a live fish she had just caught.
“Khehehe, maybe it’s because her buttocks are chubby, so they cling to her palms.”
“I’m sorry… ．Two, wait and see…”
While gnashing her teeth at her sister, I sighed at the sight of Marill gently touching her tingling buttocks.
“Did you sleep well? How are you feeling?”
“I was sleeping well until right before I was spanked by Merim.”
‘If you’ve been watching, I’ll stop you…’ Marill, who grumbled a little, checked her body condition by lightly wiggling her neck from side to side or twirling her arms.
“What can I say… ．There is still a bit of floating feeling left, but I think she has improved a lot.”
To check, she put her hand on Marill’s forehead and measured her fever. Although a slight fever remained, it was much improved compared to her morning.
“I’m glad the medicine seems to be working… It’s almost lunch now. Do you have any appetite? Or would you rather cut it like this?”
“Huh, has the time already been like that?”
Surprised, Marill jumped up from the bed and changed her clothes.
Considering Marill’s condition with her cold still remaining, we didn’t have to go far, so we headed to the dining area on the first floor of her accommodation.
* * *
After parting with Roden’s party, the scholar and two escorts, who had enjoyed sightseeing around the attractions of Collard, arrived at the lodging at night when the sun had completely set.
“Thank you for your hard work. Senior, I have roughly grasped the geography of this city, so I will leave it to you this time.”
“Yes. Please.”
“Danir, this is the end of today’s schedule, so you can go slowly. When you get back, take a good rest in your room.”
“Yes, Mana-sama.”
Alone, Mana waved her hand to Danir, who led her carriage to the post station, and went up to the room with Seras. As soon as she entered the room, she lay down on her bed.
“Haaa~! I spent the day faithfully in many ways. I liked the city tour, but talking with the Roden family was the best. Thanks to that, I heard fragmentary information about the dungeon and made friends.”
“Congratulations.”
“Hehe, thank you.
Mana, who was already excited at the thought of having fun with women of her age, started humming her song and rolling around.
“You really intend to visit.”
From the point of view of Seras, who knows Roden’s identity, this situation where the person she must escort is trying to find Roden’s party on her own is very difficult.
“Mana-sama. As I said before, if you get too close to people you don’t know well, you may be exposed to unexpected danger, so you need to act a little more carefully.”
“Okay, okay. This time, if Seras goes with me just in case, everything will be OK, right?”
“Haaa… ．I didn’t mean it in that sense, but…”
Mana smiled at Seras, who was clearly in trouble with her head lowered, and said that it was interesting.
“By the way, Seras, don’t you have something you want to say to me?”
“Is that what you want to say?”
“Umm~ Should I paraphrase the question a bit? Seras, do you have something to say to me?”
When Seras raised her head again after hearing that question, her mana took off her glasses, which she had been wearing all along, and was staring straight at her.
“I waited until now, wondering if Seras would tell me first… ．I was curious and said it couldn’t be done.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Whoops… Are you pretending not to know? Sarah, you… You’ve been dating Mr. Roden. If you don’t want to be ‘punished’, you’d better be careful with your answers from now on.”
It was hard to believe that she was the same person as the chattering woman a moment ago. The gold in her sharp eyes made Seras feel the pressure of being a frog in front of a snake.
