The method Jisrare-san came up with to solve my lack of mobility.
Her idea was this.
「How about riding the giant rat Hezrat?」
That was the proposal.
「Hezrat-kun?」
「Nana rides him often, right? So I thought it might be good if you traveled like that too, Alec」
「Well… I’m not sure about that」
I think there are several problems with Jisrare-san’s suggestion.
To begin with, it is true that Nana-san often rides Hezrat-kun when moving around. However, he is not actually that fast.
Even though Nana-san has the 『Riding』 skill, Hezrat-kun’s 『Agility』 is only 2. Just 2. He is slower than me.
So, no matter what we do, he cannot move very fast. After all, he is slower than I am.
Even so, Nana-san still uses Hezrat-kun for transportation simply because she enjoys it.
「Honestly, Hezrat-kun isn’t that fast… And I don’t even have the 『Riding』 skill」
「But Hezrat can probably learn the 『Riding』 skill, right?」
「Ah, yes. Yggdrasil-san did mention something like that」
「It might be impossible for him to obtain the 『Riding』 skill within the next two months, but if Nana rides him a lot and I ride him too, he might learn quite a bit」
「Hm? You too, Jisrare-san?」
「I also have the 『Riding』 skill」
「Oh, really?」
I didn’t know that. So Jisrare-san also has the 『Riding』 skill.
Actually, now that I think about it, not knowing the skills of the partner I am about to travel with is probably a bit of a problem.
「In the next two months, let’s try to have Hezrat learn the 『Riding』 skill as much as possible」
「I see…」
「And Hezrat is still level 1. He will keep leveling up from here. If that happens, he will soon surpass your 『Agility』」
「…………」
「Ah… Um, I mean, there is a possibility he might surpass it」
「That’s true…」
She seems to be trying to be considerate of my feelings, but somehow it feels like Jisrare-san has completely given up on improving my own 『Agility』.
When I think about it carefully, this plan itself shows that.
Even if this plan might solve my lack of mobility, it does nothing to solve the fact that I am still pathetically weak.
「Hmm… Well, for now, let’s try calling him. I’ll try riding him once」
「Yeah. That sounds good」
「Alright then. 『Summon: Giant Rat』」
「Kii」
So Hezrat-kun made his appearance.
As usual, Hezrat-kun first looked around to check the surroundings, then politely bowed to Jisrare-san.
「Alright, Hezrat-kun. Today I was training with Jisrare-san. And we started talking about whether it might be a good idea for me to ride you during the world trip that will begin soon」
「Kii…?」
「Ah, right. But we were also saying that you might obtain the 『Riding』 skill in the future, and your level will go up too. You might become a very capable riding beast」
「Kii」
「That’s right. So, I would like you to try letting me ride you」
「Kii」
「Thank you, Hezrat-kun. That’s the situation, Jisrare-san」
「…Yeah. Well, I understood most of what you were saying」
From the outside, it probably looks like a boy talking endlessly to a giant rat by himself, but it seems she understood the general flow of the conversation.
「Alright then, let’s start right away. Ah, it’s okay, Hezrat-kun. I’ll put it on」
「Kii」
Hezrat-kun had taken a saddle out of his magic bag and was trying to put it on himself, so I helped him attach it.
「He carries it himself?」
「Yes. Well, obviously no one except Hezrat-kun is going to use it」
Jered-papa made the saddle and Nana-san originally received it as a present. But in the end, we decided it would be better if Hezrat-kun kept it himself.
So, we gave the saddle to Hezrat-kun. At that time, we also gave him a magic bag to store the saddle, and while we were at it, we added some writing tools and a wallet as well.
「Alright, I’m getting on now」
「Kii」
I placed my foot in the stirrup, grabbed the handle attached to the front of the saddle, and swung myself onto it.
「How is it, Hezrat-kun?」
「Kii」
「Hmm, I see… Could you try walking a little?」
Following my voice, Hezrat-kun began walking along at a steady pace.
「How is it?」
「Kii」
「Hmm…」
「Alec, what is Hezrat saying?」
「Ah, yes. He says 『There is no problem at all. With Alec-sama on my back, I can run anywhere』」
That is what Hezrat-kun is saying.
That is what he says, but…
「…He says that, but it still looks a little difficult for him」
「I see…」
As always, Hezrat-kun had a reputation for being very good at reading the mood. He was acting like everything was perfectly fine, but behind his words I could sense that he was a little strained.
When Nana-san rides him, Hezrat-kun walks normally and can run just fine. Still, it seems that without the 『Riding』 skill, it is rather difficult.
If that is the case, then this must be――
「Kii」
「Hezrat-kun…… Yes. I am happy to hear you say that」
「Kii」
「But that is……」
「Kii, kii」
「Hezrat-kun!」
What a good boy Hezrat-kun is!
「Sorry, Alec. Could you translate the conversation……」
「Ah, sorry」
Once again, I had turned into a boy muttering to a giant mouse.
Even Jisrare-san could not understand that last exchange.
「To summarize――『I also want to accompany Alec-sama on his journey. I want to carry Alec-sama on my back and travel together. Please give me a chance for the next two months』. That is what he said」
「I see. Hezrat really is a good boy」
「Yes, he truly is……」
He really is a good boy. He is such a good boy that it is almost frightening. Why is Hezrat-kun so earnest, intelligent, devoted, and considerate?
……Perhaps he takes after his summoner?
「In that case…… until the journey begins, could you and Nana-san ride him and help train Hezrat-kun’s 『Riding』 skill?」
「Leave it to me」
「Thank you very much. ……If possible, I would also like to aim to acquire the 『Riding』 skill myself」
I could obtain the 『Riding』 skill as well. If I did, Hezrat-kun would be able to carry me much more easily.
In that sense, I do want to ride Hezrat-kun……
Even so, it would probably be better for Jisrare-san and Nana-san, who already have the skill, to properly train Hezrat-kun rather than the two of us struggling clumsily without it.
「Hmm. It seems I will not be riding Hezrat-kun until the journey begins」
「I just had a thought…… What if I rode him too?」
「Huh? What do you mean?」
「Two riders」
「Two riders……? Wait, on Hezrat-kun? You mean Jisrare-san and me?」
「Yes」
「Um……」
Eh, how would that even work……?
If you think about it normally, Hezrat-kun is already struggling with just me alone. If Jisrare-san rides him too, Hezrat-kun might get crushed.
However, Jisrare-san has the 『Riding』 skill.
Now that I think about it, when Nana-san rode Hezrat-kun, it did feel like he moved a little faster. Because of the 『Riding』 skill, Hezrat-kun’s mobility increased slightly.
If that is the case, then even with two riders, maybe having Jisrare-san ride as well would actually make things easier for Hezrat-kun? If so, both Hezrat-kun and I could train at the same time……?
「I see…… Let us try it for a moment. Is that alright, Hezrat-kun?」
「Kii」
「It seems fine」
「Alright. Then――」
Jisrare-san placed her hand on my shoulder and smoothly mounted Hezrat-kun.
No, this is definitely cramped. Hezrat-kun is not that big to begin with, and no matter how you look at it, there simply is not enough space.
To avoid falling off Hezrat-kun, Jisrare-san and I would have to stay very close together. Very close……
Well now. What should I say about this.
This is quite a problem. Yes, a very difficult situation indeed.
「How is it?」
「Eh? Ah, um, it feels good」
「Hmm? I want to know how Hezrat feels」
「Ah, yes, right」
Right, of course. Rather than my opinion, I should be asking Hezrat-kun how he feels.
Actually, even my own thoughts had become confusing.
My true feelings, my polite answer, my inner voice, and the words I actually spoke were all mixed together.
「So then, how is it, Hezrat-kun?」
「Kii」
「…………」
Hezrat-kun answered, 『It feels easier to move with two riders』.
However, judging from the way Hezrat-kun looked――
「Alec?」
「It seems…… that it is easier with just me alone」
「I see. So it did not work」
「It seems a little difficult in terms of balance and weight」
That was the impression I got from watching Hezrat-kun.
Hezrat-kun probably said 『two riders is better』 because he was reading the mood. He sensed how I felt and said that for my sake.
Thank you, Hezrat-kun. But it is alright. You do not have to push yourself like that. It is okay, Hezrat-kun.
――Also, I am sorry, Hezrat-kun.
Even though I noticed how you were struggling, I still briefly thought, 『Maybe we should just keep riding like this』.
Please forgive me for that, Hezrat-kun…….
next chapter: World Tree Hammer
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