Chapter 71: – Preparation for Departure (1/2)
A guest room as wide as two tennis courts.
Flowers were arranged in expensive looking vases, paintings and sets of armor decorate the wall. Rugs that are fluffy to the point of burying your ankle covered all over the floor and the sofa too looked so soft that it could swallow half of your body once you sit on it.
We changed our location from the barrier stone to a guest room inside the High elves’ castle, Woodcastle.
I once again bowed my head to everyone.
“I’m sorry for one-sidedly deciding to go defeat the Giant scorpion.”
“U~un, if Lute-kun didn’t say anything I was going to raise my hand.”
[I’m the same as Snow-oneechan.]
“That’s right! With Lute-sama’s power, the likes of a Giant scorpion will get easily massacred some way or the other!”
For some reason Meiya made an unfounded statement.
Well, I agreed because we had a chance to win, like she said.
“Then please allow me to come with you.”
Lyss who’s been listening to the discussion suggested that she participate in this subjugation.
I stopped her hurriedly.
“I’m happy you feel that way, but it’s too dangerous for the princess of a country to go subjugating monsters.”
“T… that’s right hime-sama. Please don’t be rash.”
Shia who serves her also backed me up hurriedly.
“I have of course taken the danger into account. However, it was I who had found the record book, followed what is written inside and took you heroes here as the ones who will save my motherland. I have a duty to see things through to the end. No matter what happens…”
But Lyss’ determination was firm.
Then again I could also understand her feelings.
“……. I understand. But please inform the king and properly get permission to come with us. We’ll be troubled if anything happens later.”
“Thank you very much!”
Lyss said her thanks with a smile.
“In that case, as hime-sama’s guard maid I’ll protect you with all of my body and soul!”
“Thank you too, Shia.”
“Here here here! If Oneechan goes then Luna will go too!”
The younger sister Luna who’d been listening silently up until now raised her hand cheerfully.
The elder sister Lyss raised her beautiful eyebrows in anger.
“This is not a trip we’re going on. We can’t take you along!”
“Oneechan is not the one who gets to decide! Hey Lute, take Luna with you too. O・ne・ga・i☆”
“I can’t.”
Luna pleaded with upturned eyes and a forced voice but was concisely rejected.
She took offense at my refusal.
“Why is it that oneechan can go but Luna can’t? Luna wants to go on a journey! Luna wants to go on an adventure like in the picture books!”
Just like the little girl she looks to be, she screamed selfishly.
Of course, Lyss roared at her.
“How many times do I have to tell you! We are not going on a trip!”
“Pweeeh! Oneechan is mean! Fine! Then Luna will think of something herself!”
She left the room leaving an ominous remark behind.
Lyss once again turned around to face us and bowed ashamedly.
“I’m truly sorry. Luna is the youngest of us sisters and she had been pampered a little too much while growing up.”
“No, we don’t mind so Lyss-sama shouldn’t either. Well then, we’ll depart depending on when Lyss-sama receives the permission.”
“Very well. I will go see father right away. I shall also prepare the wagons and secure the road permits as well.”
We then prepared the miscellaneous things we needed for the departure — information on the Giant scorpion, the geography of the terrain, distance of the round trip / one way and the necessary food and goods — and crammed them all in one place.
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It took Lyss 3 days to get permission from the king.
Because Shia is a guard, in dangerous situation she must save Lyss even if she has to throw us away — that was the condition according to the king.
At first Lyss protested vehemently at the condition, but we coaxed her into reluctantly agreeing somehow. I also think the conditional was a bit harsh, but before being the king, he was just another parent. In fact, that was the natural reaction.
We weren’t just lazing around during those three days either.
I began work on the PKM — general purpose machine gun in the lakeside residence Lyss gave us.
I asked Lyss to introduce me to people that sell magic liquid metal and magic stones, and bought up all they had.
The amount of money involved was of course so astronomical I can’t let a single person, even though she’s the princess of a country, bear it all.
Luckily we had the money from the Twin Magicians, Twin Dragon exterminations and Meiya so we weren’t short on funds. After we defeated the enemy we can just bill the king, and if the enemy doesn’t appear we can use them for other things.
The main body was made by Meiya as she received my instructions, while at the same time I started on the cartridges.
I planned on entrusting Meiya with the gun body and ammunition while we fight the Giant scorpion.
The day after the king gave his permission.
Before the sun had risen, Lyss came along to the lakeside residence.
She joined us for the departure to the Giant scorpion.
The reason she came so early in the morning was to prevent the citizens causing an uproar.
If they knew that a real High elf was here, they’d form a huge crowd instantly.
Shia and I met Lyss at the front entrance.
Snow and Chrisse were in the kitchen, making today’s breakfast and lunch.
Meiya was at the back, preparing the covered wagon and hooking up the horned horses and the like.
When the coachman went down from his seat and opened the coach door, Lyss came out.
“Good morning, hero-sama, Shia.”
“Good morning Lyss-sama. We’ve been expecting … you?”
Right hand to my chest, left hand behind my back, and bow — this is the normal etiquette. I then raised my head and finally noticed her outfit.
Lyss was for some reason wearing a female full-body armor.
It was basically full silver, covering the body, hips, shoulders, arms, and legs. It had a mini-skirt in order to give the legs freedom of movement, and there was no helmet on the head, but instead an expensive-looking tiara shaped magic tool. Furthermore there was on her waist a finely crafted rapier in its scabbard.