Chapter 14: Setting Off (1/2)

Lute, age 9.

The middle of summer―kids from the orphanage, townspeople and merchants coming and going, were gathered at the town entrance.

We were seeing off Snow, who was going to magic school.

Besides her, a young girl from town decided to go work in the town near the magic school.

The two of them were hitching a ride on a merchant’s horse cart who was headed for that town.

Of course, they paid a suitable compensation.

Travelling to their destination town takes about 3 months by horse cart.

Also, the magic school was located in the north of the Fairy Human Continent (the continent where the main inhabitants are Humans and Fairies. The orphanage is also in the Fairy Human Continent.)

So there is a lot of snow piled up.

The reason they set off in summer, is in order to arrive at the magic school before snow falls for real.

“Lute-kun, are you sure you won’t come to the magician school with me? There is an Adventurers’ Guild at the town near the magic school, I will support us both by earning our living expenses.”

“Support huh…… I don’t want to be a dependent.”

While feeling shocked, I stroked Snow’s head that was buried in my chest.

This year my body height had grown considerably, the difference to Snow’s had started to appear.

“Once I leave town and things calm down, I’ll write you a letter, if I have leisure time I’ll also come to see you. Snow should study to become a magician properly.”

“……. I’ll write letters too, I’ll make time and come visit. Absolutely.”

“Yeah, let’s look forward to that time.”

“Let me sniff you for the last time, because after this I can’t sniff you again for some time.”

Without my acknowledgement, Snow sniffed me in front of people.

Because of company, I soon peeled her off me.

“Doing that in front of people is embarrassing, so stop it.”

“Au, Lute-kun is mean.”

“You can consider this an apology, but here’s a present from me.”

From the bag I brought, I took out a handgun and holster for Snow’s exclusive use, and handed them over.

“It’s smaller than Lute-kun’s revolver?”

It’s a “S&W M10” revolver with a shorter 2-inch barrel, in a silver finish

The holder the revolver hangs from is brown leather.

It was a custom-made article, a “shoulder holster” that hangs from the shoulder, not the type that hangs from the waist.

It was not well suited for quick draws, but in Snow’s case it was for her self-protection after all.

Even when she can use attack magic, the gun is convenient because it doesn’t require a spell, and can work in tight spaces.

So for her self-defense, I chose the “shoulder holster” type that was better concealed.

Also, recently Snow’s breasts had grown again.

The highlight factor when big-breasted women use “shoulder holsters” is higher.

So because of my own tastes I made that choice as a result.

“Even though the range and accuracy is lower because of the short barrel, it’s more convenient to carry, no? But in the end, it’s for self-protection so don’t use it wildly.”

Regarding the range and accuracy, I thought there was no need to consider it since it wasn’t intended for long-range sniping, but I warned her just in case.

Also, for the cartridges, I handed over 2 wooden boxes each containing 50 rounds.

For a total of 100 rounds.

By the way, though I tried to have Snow make cartridges, she didn’t succeed even once. Probably it’s impossible even for Elle-sensei.

On top of not being able to imagine the powder, the cartridges’ thickness, length, balance―none of those can be skillfully made. It seems that magicians who only have the knowledge of this world can’t make ammunition.

“Thanks, Lute-kun. I’ll use it carefully.”

“Don’t catch a cold or get hurt. Also, don’t do anything unreasonable.” Snow unexpectedly would run swiftly without thinking of the consequences.

That was the case during the goblin incident.

She smiled faintly with tears in her eyes, saying “I get it.”

Elle-sensei stood in front of Snow, replacing me.

“Snow has the talent of a magician no less than B-plus rank. However, absolutely don’t be haughty and humbly make effort. Okay?”

“Yes, understood.”

“Lastly Snow-san, you are by no means alone. There is Lute-kun, there’s also everyone at the orphanage, and also Sensei. So if life doesn’t treat you well, don’t overdo it, come back to this town. After all, this is Snow-san’s hometown, and the orphanage is your home.”

“Ye…. hii, understood. Sensei, thank you very much.”

The tears that Snow resisted, flowed down because of Sensei’s words.

Not minding her surroundings, she clung to Sensei and cried.

Elle-sensei hugged her close like her actual mother.

After Snow calmed down, Elle-sensei parted with her.

Holding the wooden boxes and revolver in her hand, Snow got on the canopied horse cart.

Her luggage had already been loaded.

From the drivers’ seat, the merchant roused the horned horses.

The two horned horses slowly started walking.

“Elle-sensei, everyone, thank you! Lute-kun, absolutely write me a letter! Come visit me!”

With tears flowing down, Snow earnestly waved her hand.

Sensei and the orphanage kids, and also myself, kept waving our hands until the horse cart was out of sight.

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Early in the morning 3 days after I saw Snow off.