Chapter 43 : Reverse Peeping

My steps descending the stairs were heavy and slow.

It should have been an energetic and lively morning.

“Is something wrong?”

“Not really. But should I say something’s lacking, or maybe sluggish.”

I replied, holding my neck with my hand and turning my head left and right.

It’s an unpleasant and somewhat unrefreshed feeling.

What is this frustrating sensation?

…Sexual frustration?

It’s a slightly lewd word, but it seems to fit my current state best.

‘Is it because the senses are still unfamiliar?’

I’ve never felt like this before.

I have no way of knowing the reason.

Regardless of my mood right now, today I can return to the academy.

Although I say I dislike school, school life is something you only start missing once you enter society.

Thanks to cutting straight through Reins, we saved a lot of time.

The remaining time is all free time, so once we return, we can rest as we please.

‘We really went through a lot.’

Come to think of it, there were a couple of near-death crises, weren’t there?

Recalling the memories makes my body ache.

When I get back to the dormitory, I’ll lock myself in where no one is around, wear comfortable clothes—meaning just underwear—and lounge

around all day.

Definitely lock the door.

The carriage and horses we rented before were kept well in the stable, just as before.

Seeing them leisurely munching on hay makes me think a horse’s life is the best life.

As I brought the carriage out, I spoke to Amitère.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to go inside and rest?”

Seeing Amitère naturally sit in the coachman’s seat as if it were her designated spot, I felt sorry for her and decided to be kind for once.

However, she shook her head and refused.

“I get motion sick.”

“And I can’t trust you with the reins.”

“…Why can’t you trust me?”

“Are you confident you can drive the horse safely without hitting anything or falling into a ditch?”

‘Does she think I’m an idiot?’

‘Even though she talks scary, those are ultimately the most basic things about driving.’

I proudly puffed out my chest and made a gesture of confidence.

“Of course, do I look like a fool? That little thing, I can do it perfectly without any difficulty.”

If I put my mind to it, there’s nothing I can’t do.

At least, that’s what I think.

Although I failed at cooking, that kind of thing is for pampered girls raised in greenhouses. Hmph.

“That’s why I can’t trust you.”

Amitère sighed and climbed onto the coachman’s seat.

‘Hey, why?’

I threw a fit and squeezed myself into the space where she was.

After much bickering, we ultimately decided to ride together in the coachman’s seat.

‘It’s cramped as hell, what are we doing?’

Even though it wasn’t an expensive carriage, I couldn’t understand her psychology of refusing the relatively spacious interior.

Although it was for a short period, I have experience learning horseback riding.

Thanks to that, the spacious passenger compartment became entirely Teperi’s.

Somehow, I feel like an idiot.

[Hehe, this time I’m all alone?]

She said, poking her eyes through the small gap between the coachman’s seat and the carriage.

They say the inside of the carriage isn’t visible from the outside for the passenger’s privacy.

All I can barely see from here are her green eyes.

“I wish these guys were half as good as that one.”

I muttered, pointlessly kicking the rumps of the horses.

Although unicorns are said to be docile, they are strictly classified as monsters, possessing strength and speed incomparable to ordinary

horses.

Built-in navigation is a bonus.

Even if I glare like this at the spotted and black horses pulling our carriage, horns won’t suddenly sprout from their foreheads.

“Don’t kick animals carelessly.”

“Would you feel good if someone kicked your butt?”

“Surely I wouldn’t go around getting my butt kicked anywhere, right? Let’s get going.”

‘Is it because she’s related to animals?’

Although I clicked my tongue with a ‘Tsk,’ I readily removed my foot.

Soon, with the rattling sound of wheels, the carriage slowly began to move.

It would be nice if some music was playing.

Unfortunately, in this world, there’s no proper popular music, let alone radios.

The primitive civilization of fantasy quickly bored me.

All I could see ahead were two wiggling horse butts.

“Haaam.”

How long has it been since we departed, and I’m already bored.

The culture of slowness and healing journeys don’t seem to suit me well.

The gentle breeze makes my eyes heavy.

If I had been driving the carriage, wouldn’t it have turned into drowsy driving?

I’m almost impressed by her foresight.

I struck up a conversation with Amitère, who was sitting stiffly like a wooden statue.

“What are you going to do when we arrive?”

“Who knows.”

Still a short answer.

She still couldn’t lean her back against the backrest.

“First, go to the temple.”

Potions are merely temporary first aid.

Her recovery is faster than expected, so recuperation isn’t necessary, but her body still needs treatment.

Treatment, huh? She healed incredibly fast when I got her before too.

Calculating the time, it’s been a little over a month since I entered the academy.

Wow, has it only been that long?

If you include the time we didn’t know each other, it would be even less.

It feels like years have passed.

“What about you?”

“Me?”

When I didn’t respond, she spoke first.

She even initiates conversation now; her social skills have improved in a month.

Thanks to me, of course.

I thought for a moment, then grinned and replied.

“I’m going to hole up in my room and lie down.”

Perhaps my words sounded like a joke; she let out a hollow laugh and snapped the reins hard once.

No, really.

What I want is a trouble-free life.

Although it was much faster than expected, leveling up Teperi here was part of my plan.

For a while, I should leave all the miscellaneous matters related to the original story to others.

Whether it’s demons or Magi, I need to take care of myself first.

“Teperi, what are you going to do when you get back? I know you’re listening over there.”

[Uh, huh? How did you know?]

Is this the difference between the senses gained from absorbing the horn and Amitère’s?

It’s true her five senses are superior to mine, but what’s commonly called the sixth sense has increased significantly.

Even now, Amitère couldn’t detect it, but I could vaguely picture Teperi’s form.

She was leaning against one wall, watching us through the gap.

Peeking through a small hole… A reversed peeping tom world?

Anyway, she too seemed bored and was eavesdropping on our conversation with her body pressed forward.

Actually, I kept hearing the sound of her elbow hitting the wall from earlier too.

[ well, I want to visit the library…]

The library is nice.

Come to think of it, I haven’t visited the Bonfire Meeting even once since then, right?

I said I’d drop by often, so I feel a little bad.

I should visit soon too.

[I also want to check out…ugh, the other dorms.]

“…Are you okay? Your breathing sounds a bit rough.”

[Ah, I think I get a little motion sick. I’ll be fine again if I get some air…]

Huuk, Teperi’s words cut off with the sound of her holding her breath.

Is she having a hard time?

When I saw her before, she didn’t seem to get motion sick; maybe it’s because she’s in the front seat.

Not being able to see inside the carriage is just frustrating.

Since we’re only communicating telepathically, Amitère doesn’t seem to have noticed her condition.

“I’m useless, aren’t I? I’m just going in.”

No matter how I look at it, the only thing I’m doing in the coachman’s seat is taking up space.

Amitère pulled the reins, looking slightly disappointed that her conversation partner was leaving.

 the slowly moving carriage quickly stopped, and I got down from the cramped coachman’s seat and pulled the carriage door open.

“Is your stomach okay? Should I pat your back?”

I’m such a kind person.

[ wait!]

Teperi’s inexplicably flustered words sounded urgent, but my hand had already pulled the handle.

“Geez, you get motion sick because you’re lying down like this.”

Teperi was leaning against the wall in a very awkward posture.

This is why early education is important.

Since she’s barely ever ridden in a carriage her whole life, she probably hasn’t experienced motion sickness either.

I closed the carriage door and patted her back. Tap, tap.

“It smells like flowers somewhere.”

I muttered, looking out the window.

Perhaps because we passed through a plain blooming with yellow flowers, the inside of the carriage was filled with a very fragrant scent.

So this is the smell of spring.

“It’s end.”

Technically, we were in Und yesterday too, but it was hard to consider Reins as truly part of Und.

Und, the Land of Wind.

This country surrounding the academy was quite large, except for the Howard Empire.

It’s a lively country bustling with people.

Personally, I think it’s the country that best fits the word ‘fantasy’.

“I’ll return the carriage and come back. Wait…”

Grab, I seized Amitère’s nape with one hand.

‘Where do you think you’re running off to?’

“Teperi, you can handle that much alone, right? I’m just going to bring her along.”

“How many times do I have to tell you, if I just stay still, it will heal on its…”

This is why they’re pets.

Like a child afraid of shots, Amitère subtly disliked going to the temple.

I’m an atheist too, but when I’m sick, I put on a thick face and shamelessly visit.

She was caught by my hand and dragged away.

“First, let’s wash up properly…”

“I’ll shove you into the bathhouse tomorrow, so shut up and follow me.”

Just like that, I dragged the biggest burden into the temple.

I feel like a mother forcing her child into the dentist’s office.