Chapter 37: Riding a Carriage
I took Elsa and Meryl to the Adventurer's Guild.
When I told Anna that these two were going to follow me, she looked at the oldest and third daughters in dismay.
「You guys...... You're captain of the Knight Order and the top student of the Magic Academy. And yet, you agreed to participate in a survey that won't give any reward.」
「It's none other than father's request. Of course.」
「That's right... and I can't allow Elsa and Anna to be with papa... You have to include me too!」
「Well. I know better than anyone that you guys are more than capable. I don't have any objection to you going with my dad. It's the strongest party I can think of at the moment. If you have Elsa and Meryl with you, it's a match made in heaven. Just........」
「Just?」
「With all the best of Royal Capital's strength in the party, Royal Capital's strength will be greatly diminished in our absence.」
「It won't be a problem. It's just a matter of leaving it for a few days. Besides, with the Knights, the students of the Magic Academy, and the adventurers, it'll be fine.」
「Hmm. That's true. Worst case scenario, if they can hold out until we get back, we can figure out the rest.」
We made our way to the main street of the Royal Capital.
The carriage is parked.
I looked for a carriage to transport people, and called out to the coachman.
「Where are we going?」
「Duego volcano please.」
When I told him where we going, his expression clouded.
「Duego volcano...... There's a lot of monster activity in that area right now. It's dangerous to ride out in a carriage without an escort......」 fr(e)ewebnovel.com
「Don't worry. My father and I are adventurers. We're good at what we do.」
He looked at us. His eyes widened as if in a trance.
「You, you're Elsa, the Knight captain! and Anna, the guild master, there's also Meryl, the wise woman!」
The daughters are all celebrities in the Royal Capital.
If you're a frequent traveler to the capital, you've probably heard the rumors.
「Well... with you guys on board, we won't need an escort. Even if a dragon attacks, you'll be able to handle it.」
The coachman's attitude had changed drastically from earlier.
He rubs up against me with a hefty smile and rubs his hands together.
「If you put a knight captain, a guild master and a wise man on it, the value of this carriage may increase and it may prosper. This is a business opportunity.」
「So can you give us a ride?」 I ask.
「Of course. Your abilities are perfect. I'll give you a ride. However, the price will be expensive.」
「Eh... That's a rip-off.」
Meryl puckered her lips in frustration.
「No matter how skilled you are, it will still be a dangerous journey. I have to get a reasonable price.」
「Then, ojisan doesn't have to come. you'll lend us the horse and the carriage? We will drive and go on our own?」
「You don't know much about horses, do you? It's not that easy to ride. It requires a certain amount of skill.」
「It's not a problem, is it? Elsa has been training in horsemanship with the Knight Order, and papa can at least handle a horse, right?」 Anna said.
「Well, I can do that much.」
「No. It's impossible. Absolutely not.」
The coachman stubbornly emphasized that it was impossible.
「My horse, Catherine, is a jerk. It's absolutely impossible for anyone but me to ride her. If you try to ride her, she'll go into a rage. If you get kicked by the hind legs, your internal organs could rupture and you could die.」
「No, you can't use a horse like that in the first place.」
Anna gave a retort.
「Catherine judge people and only allows the right people to handle her. If anyone other than me gets close to her, she'll instantly go berserk.」
「Is that so? It seems to me that she miss me.」
I looked over and saw that Elsa was stroking the mane of the carriage horse, Catherine. Catherine's eyes narrowed in comfort.
Instead of raging, she was completely nostalgic.
「Wha, whaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?」
The coachman screamed in shocked.
「Catherine is fond of someone other than me......!? Did you bow down to Elsa the Knight captain as a human being......?」
「If you like, please give her a stroke too, father.」
「It's been a long time since I've had contact with a horse.」
I walked over to Catherine. Our eyes met.
And then...
「......!」
Catherine sat there, her body shaking as if she was frightened.
She looks solemn and offers me her head.
「She, she kneeled down......!?」
「She' s a lovely, honest horse.」
I gently stroke Catherine's mane.
「You see? It won't be a problem if it's Elsa and Dad. We'll go on our own. Can you wait for us in the Royal Capital?」
「Not so fast! This is my horse!」
「Why is this ojisan so desperate?」
「In short, you want money」
「Ho... You're a worldly-minded person like me.」
「He's the owner of this horse. You'd better ask him to follow you. It's not like I can't take responsibility if something happens to the horse.」 (f)reewebnovel.com
I said.
「Now can we please get to Duego volcano?」
I handed the purse to the coachman.
When he saw what was inside, the coachman's eyes changed color.
「This is ten times the market price of gold......!? is this fine!?」
「It's going to be a dangerous trip, that's for sure. It's just a feeling.」
「Master! I'll follow you for the rest of my life!」
Master...
This man seems to be a very cash person.
Anyway, we were now ready to leave.
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