Chapter 129 ·Northward (3)
The day after they decided on their destination.
“See you again, Squishy.”
“Keep working out with the dumbbells I gave you and get even stronger, Squishy!”
Amelia and Paulen returned to the Holy City.
“Everyone, I wish you a safe journey.”
Gracie stayed behind at the Magic Tower.
“Alright, let’s go too!”
“Yes, Sister Nellin!”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yes!”
Vrrrrrr!
Nellin’s party and Squishy also set out toward the snowy mountains.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
They rode in a special carriage prepared by the Magic Tower, fitted with soft, fluffy cushions.
“This is exactly what money should be spent on.”
When she traveled only with Godrick’s group, Nellin had always used an ordinary carriage.
But after joining Amelia and Paulen, she had gotten used to the luxury carriage provided by the Holy City, and there was no going back.
No bone-rattling bumps, no sore backside—just stability and comfort.
Before she rode that carriage, she would have said:
“A carriage is a carriage, what’s the difference!”
But the very next day after deciding to part ways, she told her group:
“Hey, let’s go buy a carriage.”
“Right now?”
“The one we’ve been using has to go back with Amelia and Paulen, right? That means we need one of our own.”
“Why not just take the regular scheduled carriages like before…”
“You really want to ride one of those bone-crushing things again?”
“...”
Godrick compared the ride of the carriage provided by the Holy Church with the one they normally used.
“Yeah, better to buy one.”
“Exactly. It’s not like we’re short on money. We got plenty from both the Holy City and the Magic Tower this time.”
After Presia’s memorial, the Holy Church handed Nellin’s party money, saying it was for travel funds after punishing Brooks Vessilja.
And the Magic Tower also gave them money, asking them to understand that this matter had nothing to do with the Tower itself.
Brooks Vessilja’s actions were entirely the result of his own sordid desires, and the Tower bore no responsibility.
Nellin’s reputation as a legendary hero had spread across the entire continent of Derxia.
If someone like her openly criticized the Tower while exposing Brooks Vessilja’s crimes, the whole continent would turn against them.
Nellin had never planned to do that, but she wasn’t about to refuse free money.
She knew well that traveling always cost a fortune.
Once Godrick was convinced, the others quickly recalled how comfortable the carriage had been, and none of them objected.
So Nellin’s party bought a carriage that satisfied everyone.
And the ride comfort was more than good enough.
“This carriage is really comfortable.”
“I think it’s even better than the one from the Holy Church.”
“The cushions are so soft.”
“Yeah. It’s nice.”
“Heh, see? Good thing we bought it like I said. Hey, Hawane, how’s the driver’s seat cushion?”
Before they set out, Nellin had taught Hawane the basics of handling reins, saying she couldn’t be the only one to drive.
“Feels like sitting on freshly baked bread.”
“What kind of metaphor is that? Just don’t get cocky and let go of the reins. Do that, and you’re dead.”
“So my life is literally in my own hands. Quite thrilling.”
“Ugh.”
Nellin sighed at Hawane’s incorrigible attitude, then turned her gaze to the others in the carriage.
“I’d heard the Tower was famous for their carriages, but actually riding one is something else.”
“The Magic Tower is famous for carriages?”
“Sister Nellin, they may sound the same, but carriages and magic are totally different.”
Thunk!
“Ow!”
“Why are you nitpicking like a servant, Skol? And yes, the Tower really is famous for carriages!”
Not only Nellin’s companions inside the carriage, but even the viewers watching the broadcast tilted their heads in confusion.
▶ What’s she even talking about?
▶ Yeah, obviously magic and carriages are different, lol.
[Squishy Queen] ▶ Troll! Do you know what she means? Speak at once!
[Free Spirit] ▶ No rush. Nellin will explain soon enough, just listen.
“Now, who do you think has the hardest time traveling long distances?” Nellin asked.
“Nobles, right? They’re always cooped up in mansions, weak in stamina, and usually really fat,” Skol answered.
His mental image of a noble was strongly tied to Baron Fedfil, who had put them on a wanted list.
“Some are like that, sure, but nobles are more active than you think. Hunting for sport, going to social gatherings, dancing at banquets—they’re constantly moving around. And they ride carriages as a matter of course.”
“Well, when you put it that way, that makes sense.”
“Master! I know the answer!”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Children.”
“Since kids are always running around!”
“Wrong.”
“The correct answer is mages. Mages—the ones living in the Magic Tower.”
“W-Why is that?”
“They lock themselves in their labs all day, only researching magic. Do you think they ever exercise? And if they’re good at research, nobles or rich merchants hire them and throw money at them. The ones with experience just sit on cushions of gold and keep researching.”
“And what does that have to do with the development of carriages?”
Snickering, Nellin made a circle with her thumb and forefinger.
“Because when their patrons call them, they have to go—no matter how far it is. And those skinny guys with jutting hip bones—what happens if they ride carriages for long hours? Their butts hurt like hell, that’s what.”
“But Gracie never had that problem.”
“She didn’t have enough seniority. She had to run around to earn money outside of subsidies, so she was fine. But do you think the senior mages of the Tower would just put up with it? They’re loaded, so of course they’d commission luxurious carriages for their own travel. After that happened again and again, carriage craftsmen started gathering around the Tower. That’s why.”
“So that’s the reason.”
The group inside the carriage nodded in understanding, while—
▶ Ha! Look at those lazy human mages, lol.
▶ Never even rode a carriage myself, but how bad can it hurt just sitting?
▶ Humans are so weak, hah.
[Just Slam First] ▶ Pathetic! Thinking of excuses instead of moving your body!
To monsters who lived by survival of the fittest, Nellin’s mages were just figures of mockery.
[Noblesse Fire] ▶ Should’ve been born with wings like me, lolol.
▶ Wow, flexing your wings here, huh.
▶ Shameless as always, lol.
***
Thanks to their luxury carriage, the party traveled comfortably until they pulled over at the roadside for lunch.
After eating—
“Alright, everyone except Squishy, attack me at once.”
Training, disguised as a sparring session, began.
“I’ll land a hit this time!”
“Today I’ll finally show my true skills!”
“With Claire on our side, it’s possible!”
“Yaaaah!”
“I’ll get stronger!”
With Claire added, five people rushed Nellin at once.
But even with Claire, they didn’t land a single hit.
Smack! Smack! Smack-smack!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
“Ow!”
“It hurts!”
“Missed again…”
They got flicked on the forehead by Nellin’s wooden sword or smacked on their bodies over and over.
“You think just because there’s five of you that I’ll go down that easily?”
Nellin smirked as she looked down at her companions sprawled on the ground.
“Besides, you’re out of sync. Fighting separately like that, you’ll never stand a chance.”
Just as she said, Godrick’s group and Claire weren’t coordinated.
Part of it was lack of experience fighting together, but more than that, they hesitated to join in after watching the quicker Claire, afraid they’d just get in the way.
So even though five rushed her, it was basically just Claire fighting until she got pushed back, then Godrick’s group taking turns.
“This is only our third time fighting together, can’t you cut us some slack?”
“Would cutting slack make you stronger? Use your break to figure out how to coordinate. Alright, next up is Squishy! Come at me!”
‘Yes!’
Boing!
After Godrick’s group and Claire, it was Squishy’s turn to spar with Nellin.
Boing! Boing! Boing-boing!
The slime bounced quickly, using its agility and spring-like body to ram into Nellin.
“As expected, Squishy really is different.”
Nellin deflected the attacks with her wooden sword.
It was the same method she had used in their first spar, but—
“These attacks are getting harder to deflect.”
She could feel Squishy growing stronger with each match.
“On top of that, sometimes the little guy even makes attacks that almost hit me for real.”
Squishy’s speed was steady.
Unlike Paulen, he never used moves like Bounce Tackle or Bounce Jump Tackle that might actually injure Nellin.
Instead, his skill was evolving through these spars.
He was quickly picking up the sense of reading openings and striking at the perfect timing.
“Squishy is seriously strong. I can’t believe he’s moving like that against Sister Nellin.”
“Heh, if I went all out, I might even lose to Squishy!”
“Don’t say stupid things like that, idiot.”
“Hehe, Squishy really is amazing.”
“Yeah. Amazing.”
[Squishy Queen] ▶ Well done, my kin! Show that elf what you’re made of!
[Just Slam First] ▶ That body slam was good! Do it faster next time!
▶ Ugh, this first-person view is dizzying. Can’t I switch to third-person only?
▶ That’s just your weak eyes, lol. How is this dizzying?
[Gothic Luxury Bone] ▶ Proud to see Squishy growing stronger every day.
After ten minutes of sparring, Nellin put away her wooden sword and shouted:
“Alright! That’s enough for today! Rest a bit, then we’ll get moving again!”
“Yes, Sister Nellin!”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yes!”
Boing!
***
On a hill overlooking the remote sea at the edge of the continent of Derxia stood a lonely cabin where Troll and Presia lived.
Inside, Presia looked at Troll and asked:
“Ventus, how is the progress?”
Progress.
She was referring to the magic that would make her an undead, like Troll.
—There’s been a lot of progress, Presia.
Since the Brooks Vessilja incident had been resolved, no major events had happened around Squishy.
And with most travel being by carriage lately, Troll had been able to devote himself entirely to his research.
Originally, this was magic meant for a wizard to become a lich.
At its root, it was necromancy, the art of raising corpses to serve.
Troll had never specialized in that field, and the lich ritual he knew came only from reading an ancient book.
So he needed to thoroughly research how a non-wizard—and worse, a cleric like Presia—could become undead.
—If all goes well, it should be possible to turn into undead safely and without pain.
“Did it hurt when you went through it?”
—Back then I was already badly injured, so I don’t even remember how much pain the magic caused. Anyway, with the modified version I’m working on now, there won’t be pain… and most importantly, you won’t be subject to mind control.
“Mind control?”
—Yes. The mage who created this spell must have held a deep grudge. I never imagined the ritual itself would contain mental magic that forced blind hatred against humans.
“What? Then… are you alright, Ventus?”
—As you can see, I’m fine. Luckily, I had to use the magic in a rush back then, so its effects weren’t complete.
‘That must be why my curiosity toward the system outweighed any hatred of humans.’
“I see… that’s a relief. Then, when do you think it’ll be finished?”
—Just an estimate, but I think within a week.
“Good. Then, once it’s ready, please make me undead.”
—W-What?!
At her startlingly quick resolve, Troll was horrified.