Traveling with Unfamiliar Companions (1) Unpleasant Motion Sickness
“I’ll do my best!!”
“What are you going to do well at… Hah.”
The fox, who had been grinning with its nose twitching, jumped onto my shoulder.
“Uwah.”
“Ren!”
“……Health, fail!”
“Aah, I can exercise…”
When I staggered from the suddenly added weight, Ruman grabbed my arm and Rante immediately went down to the ground.
Thwack thwack!!
Its tail struck the ground in dissatisfaction. Dust rose up.
“I mean it.”
Its voice crawled in.
Could it be… it’s not noticing my condition or anything like that, right? I gulped.
Fortunately, it didn’t seem to be that. Rante hopped and stepped on Ruman’s leg once before climbing back onto his shoulder.
“But why did I pass on personality??”
“If your beauty is outstanding, that itself is goodness.”
“Aah…? Huh?”
“Pfft…”
“Kff…”
“Wait… why do you keep laughing??”
When I glared while putting my hands on my hips, Ruman lowered the hand that had been covering his eyes.
“No. Ahem. Just clearing my throat, clearing my throat.”
“What do you mean clearing your throat? I saw you laughing, you know?”
“Rante! There’s another reason. Ren’s going to be upset, hurry up and tell him.”
“Pfft.”
“……”
Rante opened its snout as if to say something. Just as I could see its sharp, gleaming rice grain-like teeth, Rante closed its mouth again and stuck its long snout into Ruman’s ear?
And then, pfft!
Watching Rante twitch its nose as if satisfied, Ruman was at a loss for words.
“Whee-whee~ What? Really tell me?”
Whee… whistling? You’re not blowing a whistle, right, Rante??
Rante, who had been going “whee whee” whether it was whistling through its nose or what, looked at my face and tilted its head.
Its large ears fluttered and swayed.
Ears, so cute!
“Yes? Yes!”
“A story you can’t hear without tears. Do you want to hear it?”
“Huh? No, if it’s something like that, then not really…”
Why is the personality pass story something I can’t hear without tears?!
This fox is weird!!
“That is, decorating the finale of the 7-Year War and…”
“Hey.”
Ruman cut off Rante’s words.
The finale of the 7-Year War.
That was just last year.
When hyung returned to me carrying an indelible scar on his back.
“Mmm, anyway!”
Rante exclaimed again.
“I’ve serviced many brats, but you’re the first one to use polite speech at first meeting! So personality, pass!”
“That’s what it is…”
Honestly, Rante is cute and small, so it’s understandable. Rante might not have liked it! Those brats are rude! And yet to give me a pass on personality…….
Thank you, brats!
I roughly accepted it and nodded my head.
Rante, who had come back down to the ground, poked my leg with its snout.
When I crouched down, it pushed its head forward.
“Touch me.”
“Yees.”
“How is it? Feels good, right?”
“Yep. It’s nice.”
I spoke honestly.
It’s warm and soft and cute! How could it not be nice?
My facial muscles are relaxing to the point I can feel it!
“Right. Lock away sad memories, it’s profitable not to take them out.”
“……”
Rante spoke as if it knew something.
Me with a childish face reflected in its pitch-black eyes. I lowered my head.
Rante rubbed its snout against my body as if to comfort me, then got dragged away by Ruman.
“Stop it and go in.”
“See you next time, kid.”
“I’m not a kid!”
Ruman chuckled.
Rante had already scattered.
Only a faint cluster of light floated in the air.
Wow…. To disappear in an instant like that. What could it be? Something like a familiar? Is it okay to ask?
I glanced at Ruman then gave up.
Because I remembered what I said last night.
That we’re going to part ways anyway, so there’s no need to build affection.
That those words would be this embarrassing only today!! The first impression was bad but… (That vicious letter!! I can’t forget it! I should have torn it to shreds even more!) somehow he seems like a good person.
I was staring blankly at Ruman when I suddenly came to my senses and shook my head.
What! Why am I fluttering? Am I crazy??
“Ren? What are you doing? Does your head hurt?”
“N-no?? It’s fine now, you know?”
“Huh. Really can’t make heads or tails of you.”
When I swatted away the hand trying to pat me and hugged my own head, Ruman openly sighed.
“You were clearly in a good mood just a moment ago, weren’t you? I can’t understand why you’re like this again. Are all kids these days like this?”
“The age difference isn’t that big, you know??! How old is Ruman anyway??!!”
“Shh.”
“……?”
Ruman covered my mouth again.
His large hand covered half my face.
Should I bite? Does he think I won’t listen?? He could just tell me to be quiet, there’s no need to cover my mouth!! I trembled in frustration but endured it. There must be a reason for this, right? If there isn’t, I won’t let it slide!! I’ll forget about being grateful and everything and just headbutt him!!
“They’re coming.”
Ruman’s eyes, which had seemed sharply honed, loosened gently.
Indeed, as Ruman said, something was coming.
An ominous wind blew. Ruman held my shoulder from behind and pointed to one side. When I turned my head where he was pointing, I saw a man with a dignified build. It was hyung.
“Hy-hyung―!!”
“Ren. Shh.”
“Mm… Are you hurt anywhere?”
I quickly ran over and examined hyung here and there. Hyung didn’t seem to have any intention of answering.
I could see Del coming behind, pulling the carriage. Seeing the small scratches on his face, there must have been some incident.
“What happened??”
“You’ll have to explain.”
Instead of answering my words, hyung looked at Del.
Del, who had been making an awkward smile, nodded as if he’d made up his mind.
“I wasn’t trying to deceive you. I apologize.”
“It’s fine, so please tell us.”
“…In truth, that person is Duke Ganien’s only daughter, the first in line to succeed the House of Duke Ganien, Lady Coco Ganien. I’ll introduce myself formally. I am Del Belkerman, a knight belonging to the House of Duke Ganien.”
Del Belkerman gave a knight’s greeting.
His eyes that had been smiling amiably looked like a seasoned predator once he withdrew the laughter.
“I saw the newspaper.”
At Temarr hyung’s words, Del nodded.
“Most of it is true…. The Duke has passed away and we’re on our way back to the capital to succeed the ducal title, but we’ve been attacked many times. We suspect it’s probably the work of branch family members aiming for the ducal title…. I couldn’t handle the assassins alone, so I requested help. I put you in danger without any explanation of the circumstances. I apologize.”
Del offered another apology.
Seeing him make such a gloomy expression, my desire to get angry seemed to disappear.
And I had already guessed it thanks to the newspaper Ruman showed me.
“It doesn’t make sense that you’re the only guard—were they all defeated?”
Ruman stood beside me. At his question, Del shifted his gaze to Ruman.
“Yes…. Half when we crossed the border, the other half when we entered the mountains…. Even the skilled ones met with distress, so they’re probably dead.”
“‘Probably’ means they might be alive?”
“I hope so, but…”
“Temarr, you said you saw a corpse yesterday?”
“Yeah.”
“What did they look like?”
“Thin build with gray hair.”
“Does that match?”
Del’s chest rose and fell greatly. He closed his eyes deeply then opened them.
“…Yes.”
“Hmm. Do you intend to recover the body?”
“……If the Lady’s safety is secured.”
Del’s Adam’s apple moved. He opened his mouth with a tense look.
“I formally request this. Could you help ensure the Lady reaches the capital safely?”
“…Hmm. I wonder.”
“Didn’t you say you were going to the capital? I won’t be a burden. Please help us.”
His gaze, which had been on Temarr hyung, now turned to Ruman.
“I’ll compensate you as much as you wish. You’ll become a great benefactor to the House of Duke Ganien.”
Even for a Hero, becoming a benefactor to a ducal house would be something great, right?
Hm? Ruman seemed to be pondering.
Why?? If it’s Ruman, I thought he’d readily accept and talk about the compensation money!
“Hero-nim! She is a Lady of the Kingdom! His Majesty would wish it too!”
“……Understood.”
“Thank you, truly thank you.”
It was Temarr hyung who accepted.
I knew it…. Still, couldn’t he ask my opinion at least once?? He probably thinks of it as Kingdom business, but… no, forget it. Who am I to say anything! That was a totally burdensome thought. What am I to Kingdom business? I need to get a grip! Just being together is something, isn’t it? If I keep wanting more and more, hyung will dislike it.
Though I do dislike it.
“Let’s move locations first. We need to get down as fast as possible before the sun sets.”
“Yes!”
“Ren, get in the carriage.”
“Okay……”
Weren’t we going to eat?
But I can read the room too. I glanced at hyung’s face then got on the carriage, and hyung closed the door for me. The carriage quickly descended the mountain path.
On the road leading to our village, there’s one mountain, and surprisingly the road is wide enough that even carriages can pass through.
I chewed the medicine disguised as tea leaves on an empty stomach while looking out the window.
Hyung said not to stick my head out to look because it’s dangerous, but it’s stuffy!
Seeing hyung moving between Coco’s carriage and mine as if to provide cover, I stuck my head out again.
There was nothing but trees so tall you’d have to crane your neck to see them, but there was fun in watching the sunlight passing through the gaps between the trees. Seeing the light sparkling and scattering reminded me of Ruman’s fox(?) Rante.
Looking around was only for a moment… my stomach started churning because of the rough riding.
“Ugh…”
Uweeek.
Maybe it’s fortunate there’s nothing in my stomach.
Uwek. Urk.
I kept dry heaving.
Covering my mouth and holding my breath seemed to help a little… hueek, there’s not enough air…….
“Huff… huff.”
“Ren. Motion sickness?”
“No??”
My voice trembled like a goat’s.
I can hide being sick but… motion sickness just can’t be hidden! I’d have to have experienced motion sickness before…!!
