Chapter 137 (2/2)

「It actually hurts when you say it with a straight face, you know!」

「At this point, seven or eight doesn't make a difference! We'll just squeeze everyone into the carriage!」

Selica was being absurd. A trip to Zubura took four days. Crammed inside a carriage that long would be too much.

「No can do.」Hikaru said.

「Why not?!」

「I'm the only guy around. The rest of you are women. Be more considerate, will you?」

「I didn't know you were a pervy brat!」

「Don't call me that. I'll tell them about the Calorie Mate diet.」

「What?!」

「I thought I heard something interesting just now.」Sarah cut in.

「H-Hey! Go away, Sarah!」Selica protested.

「Anyway, we need two carriages. Your whole party can use one.」Hikaru added.

「I want to ride with Lady Paula.」

「And I want to talk to Hikaru about our home country!」

「No. I'm not giving you Paula.」Hikaru told Sophie. 「And we won't be talking about that all the time, Selica. You don't have to be in the same carriage as me.」

「My, my…」

Sophie's eyes narrowed, while Selica pouted.

「I expected something like this, so I prepared a mega carriage.」Katy uttered an unfamiliar word.

「What's that?」

「A carriage than carry at least ten people. Kotobi developed it recently. Eight people should be enough. Ah, you don't have to worry about the money since I'm the one who prepared it. In exchange, please allow Mille to come.」

「That's Professor Katy for you!」Mille was ecstatic.

「I don't understand why you're helping out Professor Mille.」

「I'm a woman, after all. I will support my fellow women.」

「Wha… Please don't say anything weird!」Mille cried, turning red.

Does Professor Mille like Katy? Ah, I see. That makes sense. That's why she insisted on coming when Katy said she was going to Zubura.

「I didn't know, Professor.」Hikaru said, his eyes warm and gentle.「It's going to be rough, but good luck.」

「Hikaru? Why are you looking at me like that?」

「Anyway, we'll bring down our stuff.」

Hikaru and Lavia returned to their room to get their luggage.

「Did we forget anything?」Lavia asked.

「Haha. We don't really have much stuff in the first place.」

「I thought this place didn't have a lived-in feel to it. It's because of the lack of personal belongings.」

「We should buy some.」

After a final check, Hikaru locked the door. They might be gone for at least a month, but surprisingly he wasn't worried. In fact, he felt exhilarated.

「I get it.」Hikaru said.「We're not running away or trying to survive. It's my first time feeling like we're on an actual trip.」

「Same here. I didn't say anything about it, but I was really looking forward to this trip that I felt like skipping.」

「You? Skipping? Just make sure you don't trip and fall over.」

「Ouch!」

Lavia elbowed him. Hikaru realized she was now able to make jokes about her past as a caged bird. Hikaru jumped down the last two steps of stairs, the travelling bag heavy in his hand.

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