Chapter 9.1 – Though Reluctant, We Need to Go Home

Chapter 9 – A Small House in the Great Forest

Chapter 9.1 – Though Reluctant, We Need to Go Home

We spent three nights and four days in Sidera.

On the day of my departure, the usual five came to see me off.

「Sui-chi, Karen-chamu, see yah later! Make sure to visit the guild when you come this way!」

Lila-san started calling Karen and me by these funny names over the past four days. Especially mine, what’s with that? Am I a game console? It’s funny, so it’s fine.

「Well then, see you. …Now that you’ve registered as an adventurer, make sure to contact us when you come to town next time」

I didn’t get to talk much with Schnei-san, but he’s an adventurer specializing in scout reconnaissance, and he promised to teach me hunting tips.

「I’ll be in touch from time to time. Make sure to check the communication crystal regularly」

I plan to continue interacting with Novium-san since he’s making knives for me. I don’t know when it will be ready, but I’m looking forward to their completion.

「Sui-san, please take care of that matter. Send the new recipe swiftly once you’ve devised it!」

Tomoe-san forgets her usual gracefulness and waves her hands frantically. It’s a heavy responsibility, but I’ll think about it carefully once I’m home.

And then, there’s Berde-san.

「…See you again」

While the other four are making a racket, he crosses his arms and nods quietly. His gesture is incredibly cool and charming, making me realize, “So this is what a ‘cool uncle’ looks like”. Sorry for thinking you were a combination of a Viking and a bandit.

As the five see us off, we pass through the gate set in the rampart and enter the “Void Forest”. Soon, their figures fade into the distance, the gate closes, and all that remains are the dappled sunlight, the rustling of the trees, and the sound of wheels carving ruts in the path.

「It’s going to be a long journey, but I’m counting on you, Pochi」

「Kyururu!」

「I’m counting on you too, Chocola. Please protect Pochi」

「Bark!」

Pulling the lizard carriage is Pochi, a Tarasque with a shell-covered appearance reminiscent of a Triceratops, looking cool even from behind.

Trotting alongside is Chocola, seemingly proud of his subordinate’s brave figure.

「But what incredible strength you have, Pochi」

「Hmm. It seems Viole-sama had requested the most splendid Tarasque for us」

Pochi is pulling a rather large wagon. It’s covered with a tarp, and inside, it’s loaded with supplies, and there’s even space for us to take naps.

What was the name of this type of carriage again? Connecticut? No, that’s a place name. Um… Conestok? Probably not that either…

Anyway, the wagon is large, and so are the wheels.

-0-

There’s still a path made by adventurers for now. It’s just a trail cleared of vegetation and trodden ground, but it’s wide enough for this wagon to pass through with ease. However, I’ve heard that this path will disappear before we reach the middle part. Eventually, we’ll have to navigate through a pathless route, weaving between the trees, and sometimes even cutting them down to make space.

Mother is sitting on the driver’s seat, but we can’t let her handle the reins alone, so we plan to take turns after some hands-on practice.

「The lizard carriage is bigger than I expected, so let’s take it easy. I guess about half a month should be enough, shouldn’t it?」

It’s a five-day journey longer than initially planned. Quite a little trip.

「…And yet, it hardly shakes at all.」

The lizard carriage is a quiet one. It occasionally rattles, but there’s no pain in the buttocks, nor does it make one feel sick from the vibrations.

My mother turns around with a pleased response to my muttered remark.

「Suspension… You know about it, don’t you, Sui-kun?」

「I know, but could it be?」

「It’s a technology that your father developed… no, brought to us.」

「Father did…」

With a proud look on her face, my mother continued.

「There were similar things before, but your father’s design allowed each wheel to independently absorb shocks. He was “faintly remembering”… holding his head while he tried this and that.」

She seems to be reminiscing about the past. She speaks with very gentle eyes.

「And then, yes. It’s also thanks to your father that we can return home. Karen and me were able to reach you because of it too.」

「That means…」

「It’s called GPM “Global Positioning Magic”. You let a familiar hover high in the sky and reflect a specific wavelength of magic power… There’s a non-magical version on Earth too, right?」

「GPS… He did that too?」

I’m astonished. But, high in the sky, that would be in satellite orbit, right?

I’m not sure what a familiar is like, but that seems working.

「So, does this communication crystal also?」

「Yes, you got it right. Well done! The familiars in the sky and the magical reception towers built all over the world… Honestly, just the patents for these have made our family’s fortune quite substantial.」

「Wow… Infrastructure is privately owned…」

I’m beyond impressed; I’m astounded. That’s modern cheat for you. Wasn’t it over twenty years ago that father transmigrated here? Did the concept of cheat-warriors already exist back then… If it didn’t, did he do it unconsciously…

「Did it cause any social chaos?」

I’m a bit of a worrier, so that’s what concerns me.

Mother chuckled wryly. Probably because that was the first thing that came out of my mouth.

「A little, yes? But it made everyone’s lives easier. Since it only sends short messages, it doesn’t eliminate the need for postal services. There probably aren’t many people who lost their jobs because of the communication crystal. As for the Global Positioning Magic, it requires so much magical power that it’s not something the general populace can use. And… the world has become somewhat more peaceful. After all, countries that wage war don’t get reception towers installed.」

「So, it wasn’t just provided to the kingdoms?」

「Yes, any country that wishes. …Of course, it hasn’t eliminated wars from the world, and there have been disputes caused by this technology. But even so, we —— never regretted launching familiars into the sky. We still don’t regret it now.」

「I see.」

I felt happy.

Because I could see pride and conviction on the side of mother’s face as she spoke.

Father and mother tried to make this world a better place. They believed it would improve and bring unknown technologies that changed the world.

There must have been those who were perplexed.

If there were “hardly any” who lost their jobs, then there must have been some.

And probably —— certainly, there were also deaths.

But still, father and mother did it.

As a result, the Global Positioning Magic and the communication crystal must have saved many people. They must have brought joy to many. They must have provided new jobs to many.

Introducing GPS and SMS to a world that has not yet experienced an industrial revolution may seem incongruous and chaotic at first glance. However, this world has magic, and civilization is progressing in a form different from Earth’s.

In other words, if we consider that something akin to GPS and SMS was somehow replicated with magic — then what father truly brought was not technology, but an idea.

「It’s amazing. Truly amazing.」

「Fufufu, thank you.」

As I murmur with a deep sigh, mother breaks into a smile.

If she feels proud then I, her son, am happy too.

But on the other hand, as the son of two people who accomplished such a feat, I can’t help but wonder.

Can I, Sui Hatano, become someone significant?

Ever since I went to the town of Sidera and met someone who regards my father as a benefactor, and heard his story — this feeling has been smoldering in the depths of my heart.

I don’t necessarily want to change the world.

I don’t want to do anything grand.

In that sense, I am different from my father and mother.

But just a little.

If there’s something I can do. If there’s a reason I’ve returned to this world — oh, the mere fact that I ponder whether there’s a meaning —.

I do want to do something in this world after all.

It doesn’t have to be anything significant, but I want to carve out a step that I can be proud of.

-0-

The lizard carriage continues smoothly on the mountain path.

Eventually, this road will disappear.

Even if there’s no road, the markers prepared by father and mother will ensure I can make it home.

But beyond that, where will my own steps lead?

The waymarks — are not yet in place.

-0-

AN: The correct answer was Conestoga wagon. Close call.