Chapter 26

I had been a bit worried, but both Yoshioka and I managed to transfer to the small room in the gap without a hitch. It was a relief to confirm that I no longer had to give him a piggyback ride to be summoned as a set. Now that the two of us can lift things together, we’ll be able to carry considerably heavier loads. Since we’ll likely be transporting all sorts of things to the other world from now on, I feel incredibly lucky to have gained such an invaluable partner in Yoshioka.

“Senpai, let’s go for the skill!”

“Hell yeah!”

It was time for our “Skill Get” moment—something we definitely couldn’t forget. The skills I’ve acquired so far are “Courage x6,” “Sowing,” “Paralysis Magic,” “Weather Prediction,” and “Gecko Hand.” They’re useful, but they lack a certain… flair. I wonder what’s next? Being fully aware of my lack of luck with these things, I tried to draw without setting my expectations too high.

Another niche one. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy. It sounds fun, and I’m sure it’ll be interesting to use. I just really wanted a flashy offensive spell or some kind of martial art skill. Well, this seems like it’ll come in handy in its own way, so I won’t complain. I feel like I could become a specialist in maritime rescue with this.

“Another… unique skill, huh? Aren’t you slowly becoming more like a ninja?”

Now that he mentioned it, he was right. Crawling up walls and skimming across water would be great for infiltrating a castle or something. Not that I ever want a mission like that. Still, maybe I should prepare a black shinobi outfit for the next time I return. It might prove useful.

When we stepped through the blue door, we found ourselves in the temple courtyard.

“Welcome back, Kota, Akito.”

“We have returned.”

The area was shrouded in the gloom of dusk, and the moonlight cast a cold, sharp glow upon Clara-sama’s silver hair.

“Whoa, you really are summoned beasts!”

Fiene had also come out to greet us.

“Something like that. I don’t really think of myself as a ‘beast,’ though.”

“Ahaha, I suppose not. You’re just like the Heroes from a Hero Summons.”

“Hero Summons? What’s that?”

“It’s when various countries summon Heroes from another world,” Fiene explained. “I heard they’re summoned with incredible ‘Gifts’ bestowed upon them.”

So that exists here too? I wonder how they differ from us.

“Clara-sama, do you know about this ‘Hero Summons’ as well?”

“Yes, it seems several nations practice it. I have heard it is a ritual to call forth humans from another world. They are said to receive a great blessing called a Gift from the gods when they cross the boundaries of the worlds.”

That part sounds just like us.

“Generally, they summon those from the younger generation who can easily adapt to this world. Since they possess Gifts and are promised high-ranking treatment, I hear no significant issues have arisen thus far.”

Well, as long as they’re okay with it, I guess it’s fine. I do have my doubts about summoning someone without confirming their consent first, though.

“The difference between them and you, Kota, is that those brought by a Hero Summons can never return to their original world.”

Isn’t that a bit too cruel?

“Some of them must have left behind lovers or family…”

“Actually, it seems the ones summoned are only those with few lingering attachments to their original world. Conversely, I hear the summoning is impossible unless the person is of that nature.”

I see. Does that make it okay? I can’t really judge since I’m not the one involved.

“Setting that aside, what is this carriage-like object? It seems quite small for a coach.”

Clara-sama was immediately intrigued by the trailer.

“This is a cart I’m going to hitch to my bike.”

“To your bike…? It resembles the chariots of the Romar Empire in the south.”

She was likely referring to a light two-wheeled carriage hitched directly to a horse. But a 125cc bike and a trailer probably wouldn’t look that cool. At best, it would look like a small cart hitched to a donkey.

“I was thinking we’d have Fiene ride in this.”

Both Clara-sama and Fiene looked at me in shock. Naturally, they had assumed Fiene would be traveling on foot. Apparently, the “Standard Operating Procedure” for attendants in this world is to walk.

“Oh, no, I’ll be fine walking…”

“Kota, Akito, I appreciate the sentiment, but if I allow my attendants to do such things for me, I shall lose my standing as your master…”

It seemed we had put them in a difficult position.

“Please don’t worry too much, Clara-sama. The bike is something Senpai originally owned, and this trailer was a legacy from my grandmother. Neither of them were items we went out of our way to purchase,” Akito interjected, trying to mediate.

“Exactly. We just brought things we already had at home, so there’s no need to be concerned. Just by being summoned by you, I gain all sorts of abilities, so you have nothing to worry about, Clara-sama.”

Despite our reassurances, Clara-sama seemed troubled to the very end.

“In that case, may I ask one favor of you, Clara-sama?”

“Of course, what is it?”

“Please allow us time to conduct business in this world occasionally. Yoshioka and I would very much like to sell the goods we’ve sourced from our world here.”

Clara-sama’s eyes sparkled with relief and joy.

“Naturally! If that is the case, I shall assist you. If you use the name of a Knight Bachelor, more merchants will surely be willing to meet with you. I can even obtain letters of introduction from nobles of my acquaintance.”

With Clara-sama acting as an intermediary, it seemed less likely that we’d be turned away at the door, even by large merchant houses. She looked delighted to know she could be of use to us.

The next morning, the trailer attached to the bike was moving smoothly without any issues.

“How is it, Yoshioka?”

“It rattles a bit, but it’s within the margin of error.”

“Compared to a carriage, this barely shakes at all!”

Fiene’s review was glowing. Thanks to several consecutive days of clear weather, there was no snow on the road. Traveling at five kilometers per hour was no problem, so when I bumped it up to twenty, she squealed with delight.

Clara-sama was watching with an incredibly envious expression, so when I invited her, she eagerly climbed aboard.

“You mentioned this ‘bike’ could reach speeds nearly double that of a horse, did you not?”

“That’s right. On a flat road, I think it could hit that.”

Eighty kilometers per hour was about the limit. I wouldn’t dare go that fast on a gravel road, though.

“Um… I should like to experience it once, if I may?”

“Are you alright with riding double?”

“Yes… here, there is no worry of anyone seeing us…”

Ah, so she’d wanted to try it for a while but couldn’t risk the residents of Ebba-berg seeing a knight riding double. Being a knight, she must have a natural interest in mounts and vehicles.

The hitch was easy to detach, so I unhooked the trailer and got on the bike with Clara-sama. Instead of a helmet, I had her wear her sallet.

“Alright, here we go.”

The engine roared to life, and the bike began to move. As I gradually increased the speed, the chassis jolted up and down, and Clara-sama’s body, which had been keeping its distance, pressed against mine.

I shouldn’t have worn this bulletproof vest! Why did I have to be so meticulous about putting it on? Idiot, idiot, idiot—I’m such an idiot!

Wait?

Clara-sama’s breathing was heavy right in my ear. Is she scared?

“Should I slow down a bit?”

“No, go faster, Kota! We have become the wind itself!”

She was just excited. In that case, I’ll grant your request.

I twisted the throttle, making the engine growl. Becoming the wind, we raced across the thawing hills, kicking up a trail of dust. We rode to the crest of a hill and cut the engine to take a break.

“Kota… will you take me for another ride sometime?”

“Of course.”

As Clara-sama murmured her request while gazing up at the vast blue vault of the sky, her hand remained gently resting against my back.