Chapter 043 (2/2)

That was naturally on the assumption of traveling with horses.

Even if it is sprinting at full power, is it really that different, is what Shion thought as he was astonished.

It being classified as a monster at one point probably wasn’t done just for show.

「It is because there is no living creature that can catch up to Earthworms above ground. In particular, the speed of my Steiner is boasted as being superior even within the four major powers.」

Going “I see”, he nodded……but feeling that some sort of strange word was mixed in, Shion cocked his head in puzzlement.

When he casually looked over, Kain and Sharon also seemed to have felt something was questionable, and were tilting their heads.

「……By Steiner, what is that?」

「It’s this child’s name though?」

Going “ahh, I see”, the three of them made faces saying that they understood.

In short, just like there are people that attach names to horses, Luuty also attached a name to the Earthworm.

By no means was that strange……or it shouldn’t have been.

「Steiner, a boy?」

「It looks like one. I mean, it’s pretty rugged, right?」

「I understand. It feels like, a boy.」

While listening to Luuty and Nino’s conversation, Shion called to mind the appearance of the Earthworm──of Steiner that he had in his mind.

It being rugged……He felt like it was because it was a carapaced insect.

The feeling that it was a boy……He couldn’t tell if he felt it or not.

Or could it be that since Shion was a man, he couldn’t tell the small subtleties of that sort of things?

When he turned his gaze to Kain as if seeking his help, Kain waved his hand making a gesture that said that he didn’t understand either.

Thinking “Is it really because we’re men?”, Shion then turned his gaze to Sharon.

However, Sharon was looking at Steiner from the window, and saying things like 「Ehー」 and 「Uーn」.

It seemed that even girls couldn’t understand.

「Maybe because there are three girls riding on board today, its tension has become higher than usual……」

「It is because Nino is the strongest beautiful girl. Very sinful.」

「Th……ree……? Erm, if I remember correctly, Luuty-san is……」

At the moment that Kain left his question at that.

An impact was transmitted to the inside of the box due to the Earthworm’s sudden halt.

「Uwah, whoa……Whoa!?」

Kain lost his balance and tumbled down from his seat, and Luuty turned around and tightly grabbed his face.

「Could you tell me, just where did you start having a question? Kain-kun.」

「Heh?」

「In your earlier remark, I feel like you had a part that said that you had a hard time seeing me as a woman though?」

「Ah, no……um……」

Shion, who had felt a similar question but did not speak it out loud, turned away just like that and feigned ignorance.

Things like unpleasant sounds coming from Kain’s face, they did not reach the ears of the current Shion.

「Pl, please wait. O, ow ow……Ah, I bwaz!?」

「To think that Nino’s beauty would seduce even an insect, how surprising.」

「……That’s true.」

What the current Shion could do was not put Kain and Luuty in his field of vision while nodding to Nino.

That was all he could do.