“Um, those outfits are……?”
“I heard we’d be heading to a forest, so I made a minimum number of preparations.”
“Um…… What about those backpacks?”
“I heard we’d be heading to a forest so I made a minimum number of preparations.”
I replied with the same words, but that’s really the reason anyway, so it can’t be helped.
Just like yesterday, Lilium met up with us in front of Black Lotus to continue being our guide and was befuddled by what she saw. Why? It’s because all of us were fully decked in survival gear, including chameleon thermal cloaks. The chameleon thermal cloaks have hex-like patterns that change color when you press the switch located below the neck that allows them to blend in with the surrounding environment. Once you activate this function, it would be pretty difficult for others to spot you if you take an appropriate distance.
“Um, well, you don’t really need to be that vigilant you know……? We’ll be getting a local guide once we arrive there after all.”
“I sure hope so.”
I’m sure I was displaying the expression of a man who has attained enlightenment right now. My actions might seem strange to others, but in my view, this was just preparing for any sort of trouble beforehand. According to my experiences so far, if something’s gonna happen then this was practically the perfect time. Yeah. I’m almost sure something or other will happen to us while we’re strolling around a forest within Grado clan territory. I’m already quite familiar with the pattern.
“Alright then. We’ll need to arrange for transportation in order to come to the Grado clan’s territory, so please follow me, everyone.”
“Thanks.”
In the end, we started walking just behind Lilium, who already stopped fussing about our group’s current get-up. Seen from the side, I’m sure we looked like quite a strange group, but it’s not like I care about how other people see us anyway. After all, our lives are at stake here. So I really have to take things seriously. Very seriously.
“We’re really overdoing it, aren’t we?”
“We’re standing out a lot.”
“Yeah. Aren’t we bein’ too cautious?”
“Even if we are, isn’t it okay? I also did some research and found that there are quite a lot of dangerous insects living in unmanaged natural forests. We might get bitten by them while walking around and suffer from terrible itches, Big Sis.”
“Hee〜”
“Alright, guys. If everything I’ve prepared ends up being useless in the end, I promise I’ll buy you all anything you like. But you guys better prepare yourselves if my concerns turn out to be right on the money. Well, except for Whisker that is.”
“Well, somebody’s acting all smug. You won’t back out, will you?”
Elma, who was walking right next to me, looked up at my face and grinned teasingly.
“As long as your requests are reasonable, then sure. Don’t ask me to buy you a ship, okay?”
“Of course I won’t. I’m not gonna go that far. I think I’ll just have you buy me some really expensive liquor.”
“Well, if it’s just that, then okay.”
Judging from her previous purchases, it probably won’t cost me more than 100,000 Enels. That’s okay with me.
“Even if you say we have to stay reasonable, Boss’s sense of what’s actually ‘reasonable’ is far too broad though, so I can’t decide what’s okay.”
“Eh? Uh, I’m fine with it if it’s a hundred thousand or so, I guess?”
“Hiro-sama, that amount is already well beyond normal common sense.”
“Big Brother’s sense of money value is really weird.”
I only answered Tina honestly, but Mimi and Whisker ended up reprimanding me. What gives?
“Uh, okay. Then how about 10,000 Enels?”
“Big Brother……”
“We’re livin’ the dream, aren’t we?”
I already reduced the amount by a lot, but Whisker was still looking at me as if I was someone hopeless. It looks like she still found the amount high.
“You guys are talking about some amazing stuff……”
“That’s just how mercenaries are.”
Elma replied to Lilium, who was pretty taken aback by our conversation and shrugged her shoulders dismissively. Yep. That’s just how we mercenaries are.
“So this is our ride huh…… Well, it sure is unique.”
“I wonder how this thing works?”
“Un……? It’s probably an aircraft, right? Where’s the engine though……?”
The mechanic sisters scrutinized the aircraft that would serve as our ride and started walking around it to inspect each nook and cranny.
Lilium led us to where it was parked. It was a vehicle resembling a centipede with its segments equipped with pairs of dragonfly wings.
Apparently, it didn’t have any engine. Instead, two pairs of wings resembling those of a dragonfly’s were attached to each box-shaped passenger car to provide lift. They also made the vehicle look like a centipede as well.
“Does this thing fly by using magic power?”
“Yes. It’s a magic-powered flying passenger vehicle that makes use of the specially processed wings of a creature called yenmuririu. It flies using the power of the wind spirits.”
“Hiyenmuririu?”
“Yenmuliliu?”
“I think it’s yenmuririu.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Lilium smiled sweetly at our reactions. Yeah, she was a beauty alright. But wait a minute. We’re really gonna ride on this thing? Seriously? We’re gonna fly in this unknown vehicle with fragile-looking wings made out of parts of some sort of alien creature? Ain’t that kinda scary?
“Is it really alright? We won’t crash partway, won’t we?”
“Ahaha, every first-timer reacts like that at first. But it’s okay. The yenmuririu wings fly through the power of the wind spirits in the atmosphere, so this thing will never crash unless it was poorly maintained.”
“We’ve definitely performed the appropriate maintenance procedures. There’s no problem.”
An elven guy got off the flying vehicle and reassured us. It was Hiishi, who’s been serving as our driver since day one of our vacation here on Theta. He’s the quiet sort, and I could count the number of times I’ve heard him speak with my fingers.
“I guess it can’t be helped…… Let’s get on board then.”
“Each passenger car isn’t that big. Hiro-dono can ride with the two dwarven women in one car while the other two can ride on the next one.”
“Roger. C’mon you two. Hurry and get on.”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
I thought they’d be a lot more hesitant in the face of unknown tech, but contrary to my expectations, the mechanic sisters obediently boarded the vehicle.
“Let’s get on board too.”
“Right.”
“Yes!”
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