Chapter 4: Let’s Go!
Sensei usually has a carefree demeanor, but there’s a palpable affection in the way he regards Sena, both in his attitude and gaze. Indeed, the bond between Sena and Sensei feels more akin to that of a parent and child than that of a teacher and student.
“Row, were you married?”
Anon asked me in a tone reminiscent of a robot running out of oil.
“N-no, wait a second. There’s a deep reason behind this—”
“Men always make excuses when something happens, you know.”
As I exchanged words with Anon, Sensei couldn’t hold back a chuckle, letting out a soft “kuhuhu.”
Anon firmly grasped my shoulder, saying, “Later, when things settle down, I want to hear the whole story.”
“Alright, let’s switch gears then.”
As soon as he said that, he gave my shoulder a light pat and led me and Sensei, saying, “The table can stay as it is, just follow me.” We passed through a door at the back, and after walking a short distance, we found it.
“What is this?”
It was a dragon with a long neck, lying with its head on the ground and its eyes closed. Its wings bore a striking resemblance to those of a bird.
“This is an Eagle Dragon. I had borrowed it until just recently, as it was returning from an outing.”
According to Anon’s explanation, while the Eagle Dragon isn’t particularly strong in combat, it ranks among the fastest in terms of flight speed among dragon species.
So, being weak in combat and fast in flight means this creature is like a herbivore in the dragon world.
“Now, about what we use the Eagle Dragon for: it’s significantly faster than riding a carriage or a horse. That’s why it’s often utilized by Seekers who operate over wide areas, busy merchants, or nobles who need to be present in person.”
“Wow.”
“‘Wow’? Come on, you could at least give me a compliment or two! I anticipated you’d be back soon and went to extend the rental of the Eagle Dragon before your return.”
Anon pouted slightly, though I couldn’t see his face, I could tell from his tone and demeanor. I had come to ask about Holy Knight Ashley’s whereabouts, and he had even prepared a means of transportation to get there. Reflecting on how I hadn’t offered him a single word of appreciation until now, I said,
“Thanks, Anon! I really appreciate it!”
I expressed my gratitude and gave him a light pat on the back.
“Ah, yeah! That’s right, you should praise me more!”
For some reason, Anon stammered a bit but ended up puffing out his chest with enthusiasm. His antics were amusing, so I decided to shower him with more compliments.
“Anon, you’re so thoughtful!”
“Hahaha!”
“Anon, you have such compassion!”
“Hahaha!”
“Anon, you’re really smart!!”
“Hahhahaha!!”
“Hey, you two.”
Sensei called out to us.
“What are you doing?”
This was the first time I had seen such a cold look in Sensei’s eyes. I wondered what on earth I had been doing.
That aside—
The journey through the sky was surprisingly comfortable. It was an experience unlike anything I could have on Earth, traveling through the air with my body exposed. Anon was the one driving the Eagle Dragon, sitting in front of me.
Dragons are massive creatures, and the Eagle Dragon was no exception. Even with three adults riding on its back, there was still plenty of space to spare. I worried about the cold during our flight, but the rented Eagle Dragon was equipped with a Magic Tool that took care of that. As a result, I felt no chill, and despite the high speed, I didn’t even feel the air resistance.
But what if we fell? I had posed this question to Anon earlier, and he explained that when riding a dragon, the rider wears a special rope-like Magic Tool that virtually eliminates that danger.
As I recalled Anon’s explanation, a particularly strong gust of wind blew, ruffling my hair. The view had turned even redder since our departure. We were approaching sunset.
Sensei had his hand wrapped around my waist from behind. Whether he knew it or not, well, let’s just say that Sensei’s, um, you know, was pressing against my back.
Feeling somewhat awkward, I heard Sensei’s playful chuckle, a sound he made when he was being mischievous.
He’s definitely doing this on purpose! I thought to myself.
“Was I touching you, perhaps?”
“Of course!”
As I engaged in this light banter with Sensei, I couldn’t help but wish that it was Sena behind me instead of Sensei.
And that thought led me to recall the interaction between Sena and Sensei when I had descended the mountain.
If you found this interesting, please consider supporting the author with a “☆ review” or a “review comment”! Your encouragement brings joy! Thank you for your feedback! I’m enjoying reading it!