Chapter 149

Chapter 149 \nSeems Like A Fight Between Siblings\n

The next day, we became good friends with Haru and Shuichi so Roomba and I were heading to the Water God shrine again today. 

There’s no specific time discussed as we only decided on the meeting time.

I decided the time to be within the range of common sense, so after I had breakfast, and rest for a while, I left the ryokan.

Incidentally, Tori and the others still have a business discussion today. All the members of his Firm look busy, perhaps it’s because they all just arrived in Kagura and started working seriously yesterday.

The members of the Silver Wind party also have to follow them as guards, they seem to be busy.

They looked at me with enviable gazes as they head out while I sip on my green tea after breakfast.

The town of Kagura is also bustling with people today.

In contrast with the people heading toward the center of the town, Roomba and I walked toward the quiet residential area.

We walked down the street while avoiding the children running around outside, and greetings the women are chatting outside as they did their laundry.

Just like that, we cross the bridge where we met with Kojirou yesterday, passing through the area of the field, walked through the forest and we can see the stairs that still remain there even today.

「……Roomba, I’ll leave it to you again today」

「Oi, again? Al also has something to do today, right」

「If I were to climb such long stairs, it will also decrease my stamina. Look, this is the kind of pace I’m climbing these stairs, see?」

I tried to climb several steps of the stairs, but I can’t climb the stairs swiftly like Roomba since my body is small and I also have less stamina. 

It would probably be hard for Roomba to keep up with such a slow pace.

「No other choice. Come here, I’ll carry you on my shoulder again」

「Please do」

I softly sigh and today I also climb the stairs while being carried by Roomba.

It would be simple and swift for you to climb this kind of steep stairs when you have such a large body like Roomba.

Seeing the townscape of Kagura while breathing the refreshing morning doesn’t feel bad.

「There, Al. We’ve arrived」\n

「Ah, yeah」

Not hearing any response from me, Roomba hit my butt making me return to myself with a start.

Before I knew it, we have arrived at the shrine at the top as I was staring blankly at the townscape of Kagura.

「Al, Roomba, you’re so late!」

Maybe she saw us arriving as Haru – who was scribbling on the ground – called out to us while holding a branch in her hand. There is also Shuichi nearby with a branch in his hand, he’s probably accompanying Haru in scribbling on the ground.

We only decide on the rough meeting time in the morning though, so I thought to immediately come here after breakfast since they would be angry if I made them wait, but it seems like we’re still late according to Haru.

「Even though we appear late, we tried to come early you know? 」

「But I’m faster, right? A man who makes a woman wait is no good you know?」

When I said that while being still on Roomba’s shoulder, Haru replied like that as she put on airs.

Despite still being such a small girl, she picked up the word ‘woman’ and used it to differentiate the gender, I can only see Haru’s mother as someone who has quite a strong character1.

「Rather than that, why are you being carried by Roomba, Al?」

When I’m thinking about that kind of thing, Shuichi asks me that as he raised his branch at me.

「That’s because I’m a really great noble――」

「That’s cause Al was complaining that it’s troublesome to climb the stairs」

Roomba interrupts me in the middle of when I tried to explain why I was being carried.

Then, Haru and Shuichi looked at me with dubious looks. 

「……Al, even I as a woman can climb by myself, you know? And also, you said yesterday that you’re ‘not that great’ and just ‘so-so’, right?」

「You’re a guy, so what do you mean it’s troublesome to climb this many stairs?」

What’s wrong with thinking that it’s troublesome to climb the stairs? If it’s about dozens of steps, then even I can do it to you know. 

But, the stairs here are easily hundreds of steps. So naturally, it’s tough for me to climb these stairs laboriously in the morning. However, Haru actually climbs these stairs alone, huh. That said, I feel that they won’t properly hear my reasoning.

\n「That’s because I want to meet Haru and Shuichi as quickly as possible. So rather than using my own legs to climb, I think it’s faster to ask for Roomba’s help――」

「No no, I carried Al yesterday, and you even had a break after breakfast, didn’t you?」

Haru and Shuichi’s gazes are piercing me for the second time.

「So this is the mouth that says unnecessary things, huh?」

I unconsciously pinch Roomba’s mouth, which made too many insensitive remarks.

「It’s true, though? If you become too idle then Eleonora and Nord will train you harshly when you return, y’know?」

「Ugh!」

I unconsciously grimace when I heard Roomba’s words.

I really want you to spare me from that. Even when I returned from the royal capital, I experience a harsh training regime and exhaustion from those two.

I don’t want to experience that kind of exhausting training again just because I went to Kagura.Something, is there a good plan to avoid that kind of training?

「Hou, so there are apparently some decent people around Al, huh」

「You have to properly climb the stairs yourself tomorrow, alright? We’re going to keep an eye on you from above!」

「That’s right. These stairs are good, y’know. You can train your legs just by climbing them. If you frequently visit this palace, then I think Al’s leg will also be strengthened! 」

Haru and Shuichi discussed it of their own accord while ignoring my opinion.

Do they really plan to make me climb the stairs?

I think it’s not a laughing matter if it becomes tiring though……..

Nevermind. Even without Roomba’s help, I can still use magic.

So I can climb these stairs on my own without using Roomba’s help. I can manage to do something like that somehow.

I smoothly got down and land the ground from Roomba’s shoulder, while thinking about that.

「Huh? Speaking of which, where is Kaede-san today?」

I naturally change the subject, in order for them not to say anything that will make me train myself any more than this.\n\nAnd perhaps Shuichi is somewhat satisfied with his lecturing, it doesn’t appear that he’s going to say anything any more than this.

A scolded naughty sister with a brother who lectured her seriously. It’s such a nice sight.

「Yosh, Al! You’re going to have a magic fight me today!」

「No!」

「Why!」

Haru yells loudly when I flatly refuse her.

No I mean, if we did that, then Haru will get hurt and I will end up having a duel with Kaede-san tomorrow, don’t you think?

「Yosh, shall we also practice together then!」

「Yeah, I thought about all sorts of ways of fighting since I got home yesterday. I won’t go down that easily today」

Shuichi and Roomba move away as if they’re going to start practicing together, maybe because they saw the exchange between me and Haru. 

This is bad, if it stays like this then Haru will also get influenced by them.

I have to distract her with an interesting game, or story like yesterday…….

Oh? Interesting story?

Come to think of it, this country is a Japanese-style country but I wonder how about the state of its fictional stories?

I wonder if the same Japanese-style story in my previous life will be able to be circulated around for the people of Kagura.

「Say, Haru」

「What is it? I don’t want to play Jenga today, alright?」

Maybe she thought that I’m going to try and ask her to play Jenga again, as Haru looked at me with a guarded look somehow.

On the contrary, I say,

「Do you know about Momojirou and Mito Kougane2?」

「……what’s that?」

Looking at Haru tilting her head slightly to the side, I thought that I would also be able to manage for today somehow or another.