Chapter 21 (1/2)

Saying farewell to the ancient dragon, Souta goes to the forest where Edward had been left.

Although there's quite a distance to the watering hole where Edward is supposed to wait, Souta feels his presence and is relieved.

When the watering hole becomes visible Edward, who was resting there, raises his head as he notices Souta's presence. He runs over to welcome Souta once he sees him.

Souta pats Edward’s head while Edward snuggles his face to Souta’s head.

「Nothing unusual happened, right?」

Edward nods while snorting.

「You must be hungry. For now, you can have this.」

From the dimensional storage, Souta takes out the orange like fruit called tangi and radi and feed it to Edward.

Edward is so hungry that he flattens the two in no time.

Souta headed to the mountain early in the morning and came back past noon.

Since Edward ate in the morning, it's natural that he was hungry considering he could only drink water.

There are few monsters in the woods, but since there are many animals, Souta thought they wouldn't be able to have their meal in peace, so he takes Edward to an open s.p.a.ce outside the forest.

Before, Souta was able to eat in the shade because he tried to rest on the side of the tree on this journey, but this time he chooses a place without trees a little away from the forest.

Souta takes out a simple roof-only tent from the dimensional storage and decides to rest beneath it.

Because Souta also hasn't eaten, they eat the prepared meal vigorously.

The food prepared for Edward is already gone.

The additional meal that's just taken from the dimensional storage also vanishes not long after.

After finis.h.i.+ng the meal, Souta rubs his stomach with his left hand, and Edward with his right hand, and decides to take a break while viewing the landscape.

Rubbed by Souta, Edward narrows his eyes pleasantly.

After his stomach settles, Souta rises and starts tidying up the tent.

「Edward, we need to go back soon.」

Edward also gets up and gives a neigh of affirmation.

When Souta takes out the carriage from the dimensional storage, Edward moves to a position where it is easy to install the harness on his own.

After the carriage is installed, Souta takes the reins and sits at the coachman seat.

「Now then, shall we go back to the city?」

Edward gives another neigh and departs.

When heading to the mountain they do so at a relaxed speed watching the scenery and talking with Edward, ….but on the way back, they hurry because they need to make the medicine.

Souta creates a barrier of wind to reduce the burden of wind pressure to him and Edward. Although there is no strong wind, it is possible to reduce the burden on the body because of moving for a long time.

In order to raise the moving speed further, Souta cast body strengthening magic on Edward.

It takes Souta and Edward three days to get into the mountain, but only one-and-a-half days on the way back to the town.

The guard here doesn't check anything for people who depart, but always confirms the ident.i.ty card for people who want to come in.

「Do you have something that can prove your ident.i.ty? If you do not have it … it seems you do.」

Souta takes out the guild card from his bag even before the guard’s words finish, Souta shows it to the guard who comes while still riding the coach.

「Is this fine?」

「Guild card huhh… Yes, I confirmed it. Rank D … please do your best!」

The young man, who seems to have just become a guard, cheers on Souta with a frank way of speaking.

Souta receives the encouragement that means 『Please aim for the top』 and thinks about the fact that he doesn’t feels like aiming for the top or something like that. He ends up giving a vague response.

「Unn, yeah. So, is there anything else?」

「Ahh, one more thing, can you touch this crystal?」