Chapter 102: Setting Out on an Adventure
“That’s why I want Geo-kun to come too.”
I froze for a moment at Shifa-san’s unexpected words, caught completely off guard.
“…Huh?” I murmured, my mind stalling.
“I need Geo-kun.”
Me… needed?
Could it really mean… that I’m important to Shifa-san? That in some way, I matter to her…?
“Technically speaking, it’s not you personally she needs—it’s your gift,” Anii interjected with an exasperated look.
…Yeah, that figures.
I’d realized it even during our last expedition—my gift is incredibly compatible with travel.
If we were going to journey across the world as adventurers, having me along would make an enormous difference. My presence could be the difference between smooth sailing and utter chaos.
“There’s no way Sena would come along on a normal expedition, let’s be honest,” Anii added.
“Well, when you put it that way…”
“Exactly, Onii-chan!”
Don’t get all high and mighty about it.
So, even though she’s saying we’re leaving town, it seems she basically plans to come back here every day.
Wait… if that’s the case, can you really call it leaving town?
“Geo, what do you think? You’re not an adventurer, so of course there’s no obligation.”
She’s right—I’m not an adventurer.
But… I’ve always dreamed of this.
Of going on adventures with Shifa.
It wasn’t exactly how I imagined it, but it’s pretty much coming true.
Yeah… there’s no reason to say no.
Thankfully, thanks to the new auto-cultivation skill I learned, I’ve been increasingly free these days.
I can always return if needed, and there will be almost no problems arising from leaving on this journey.
“Of course I’ll go!”
I blurted it out almost immediately.
“Are you sure, Geo-kun?”
“Yes! Don’t worry! I want to be of help to you, Shifa-san!”
“…? Thank you?”
I’d tried to say it a little more straightforwardly, but Shifa-san just tilted her head in puzzlement.
…As usual, she doesn’t seem to understand my feelings at all.
“Well, if you really insist on coming along, I’ll reluctantly go with you,” Sena said.
“…You’re an adventurer, and part of Shifa’s party, right?”
I still don’t get why this sister of mine got a gift suitable for an adventurer…
After getting all the preparations in order—a few days later—we finally set out from Arcel town.
Of course, we’d be returning by garden teleportation today anyway.
Even if we forgot something, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Apparently, we didn’t notify the town’s adventurer guild at all.
Although we’re supposed to report when changing our base, they plan to keep quiet because of my gift.
It would be troublesome if they thought we’d moved our base but then found us casually back in town.
Outside the town, a carriage was waiting.
Once again, we were going to make our garden teleportation look like a carriage journey.
“I bought the carriage. And the horse too,” Shifa said.
Not rented—bought.
“Neigh!”
“Wait… could this be the same one from last time?”
The horse’s cry sounded familiar—it must be the one we borrowed during the last expedition.
Apparently, the adventurer guild has partnered merchants who sell and rent both horses and carriages.
Anii explained:
“This horse apparently stopped eating ordinary carrots after last time. Because of that, we could buy it for less than other horses, since extra costs were expected.”
“…So that’s because I fed it garden-grown carrots…?”
“Brrrrrr!”
The horse pressed its slobbery muzzle against me, practically begging.
I used my harvest storage skill to pull out a carrot.
“Alright, alright. This is what you want, huh?”
“Heehee—neigh!”
“Whoa! Don’t eat my arm along with it!?”
“Crunch, crunch, crunch.”
Ignoring my protests, the horse devoured the carrot with apparent delight, leaving my arm sticky with saliva.
“Neigh!”
“Eh? You want more?”
“Heehee—neigh!”
“Alright, alright! You can have as much as you want… just don’t drool all over me.”
…And we haven’t even left yet. I already want a bath.
“What should we name this horse?”
“That’s true—it should have a name.”
“Crunch, crunch, crunch.”
On Sarassa’s suggestion, we decided to give the horse a name together.
“Me! Me! I have an idea!”
Sena raised her hand, looking pleased.
“Umacchi!”
“Isn’t that… just ‘horse’ with a cute twist?”
“Eh, but Umacchi is adorable!”
“Crunch, crunch, crunch.”
The horse seemed indifferent to the name, continuing to gorge on carrots.
Then Sarassa came up with another suggestion:
“How about Caro? In the ancient language, carrot is ‘carrot.’”
“Huh…”
Some ancient words are still in use today, mainly magical terms. Only a magician like Sarassa would think of something like that.
“Heehee—neigh!”
The horse, previously indifferent, suddenly interjected its approval.
“Eh? So it likes Caro?”
“Neigh!”
Apparently, Caro was the winner.
“Done. From today, your name is Caro.”
“Heehee—neigh!”
Caro—the horse—neighed happily, seemingly satisfied.
And so, with Caro pulling our carriage—whether she liked it or not—we finally set off on our adventure.