BSS 118

BSS

chapter 118

It had been a full ten days of riding through the forest, and finally, a path appeared.

It was a small path, but there was even a signpost. Even I, usually indifferent to such things, couldn’t help letting out a cheer.

“We made it! Just a little further and we’ll reach Mielta.”

[Wow! Master, what’s gotten into you?]

“What!”

[Yes! Didn’t I say so?]

As I dismounted, Rai quickly darted away to put some distance between us.

Instead of chasing him, I pulled out the map my sister had given me and checked the direction to Mielta.

She had gifted me a proper map and a compass, and even kindly taught me how to read them.

Though I had dozed off at her explanations, I picked it up quickly enough, having attended geography classes before.

Here was my plan:

First, reach Mielta, drop off my baggage, and rest briefly. Then, find the magic tower.

From there, send a quick message to the academy and my family, and use the warp facility to get Aini to Dimitri as quickly as possible.

I could call Bright to look after Aini. Whether Bright could take time off was none of my concern.

Since I had survived the journey myself, it was only natural for him to handle this small errand.

After sending Aini off, I planned to return alone via Elan to reach Dimitri.

I could cross the Koran mountain range for a quicker route, but I preferred to take a slightly longer route through Elan, where the roads were better maintained and food and lodging were abundant.

I was done feeling the cold, damp gloom of the jungle. My personality had nothing left to break.

The journey by land would take roughly two months.

Using warp like Aini, it would take a week, but unfortunately, I wasn’t built for comfort.

[It’s been so long since I’ve seen a proper road!]

Rai, bouncing with excitement in the middle of the path, wore a spirit stone necklace.

I had stubbornly refused it before, saying it looked tacky, but if I didn’t want to die, I had to wear it.

To restore the spirit stone to its proper state, I had to stay in contact with Rai at all times.

“Rai, come here.”

[Yes!]

“Let’s run!”

Seeing the smooth road lifted my spirits immediately.

I quickly mounted my horse and gripped the reins. Navigating the tangled forest had made it impossible to ride fast, so this was a rare chance to gallop.

The feeling of wind rushing past me excited me more and more.

Despite my warp sickness, I enjoyed the sensation of speed—flying high on Undine had made that even more thrilling.

How long had I been focusing on the ride?

In the distance, I saw a flag marking Mielta within an hour on foot. On horseback, it would take only fifteen minutes.

The horse was energetic, so there was no reason to hold back from pushing it to its limits.

A city! A city! Food! Beds! Baths! Service!

“Uh, sis…”

I was thrilled as we raced toward our goal when suddenly Aini covered her mouth and pressed her face into the horse’s neck.

Her small mutters were almost carried away by the wind.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“…I think I’m going to throw up.”

I slowed the horse slightly.