Chapter 129: The Delivery Race (4) When the name Rainfolt left Angelica Crudian's lips, the expressions of the human mages darkened.
"Your Highness, to your family Rainfolt is a benefactor, but…"
It was widely known among human mages that Rainfolt's magic had engulfed not only himself but also twenty other archmages, causing them all to vanish without a trace.
Since that incident, even mentioning the name Rainfolt had become taboo.
"Ah… that's right. This isn't a place occupied only by Centaurs. I failed to consider that. My apologies. I will be more careful in the future."
Angelica apologized, mindful of the gazes around her.
"Ahem. In any case, I recorded every useful detail without omission. However, since I wrote it in our script, it may be difficult for you to read."
"The Headmaster is proficient in Centaur script, so it will be fine."
"That gentleman's elder brother… no, if it is the Headmaster, then there will be no issue. By the way, this 'ballpoint pen' is remarkably convenient. And this 'diary' suits me quite well. It is perfect for carrying around and recording things. Of the two you gave me, I still have one left."
"I will give you several dozen more. A smaller notebook would likely be more convenient than a diary, so I will obtain some of those as well. Shall I distribute them to the other Centaurs too?"
"We travel constantly and see and hear a great many things. I had been thinking it would be good to have ballpoint pens and diaries for recording them. Yes, I would appreciate that."
"By the way, traveling with Charlotte must have been exhausting, was it not?"
"Look! See? Everyone is safe, aren't they? What is there to worry about?"
While everyone's attention was fixed on Angelica, Charlotte—now in human form—grumbled as she gestured toward those who had traveled with her.
"Lady Charlotte, thank you for your efforts."
"Efforts? Hardly. You were the one working hardest, constantly checking whether the children I took were safe."
"You said you encountered a monster along the way. Of course I had to worry."
"Ordinarily, monsters flee the moment they see me. But a fairly large one appeared. When this child saw it, she insisted on fighting it herself. As I expected, she handled it well alone. How she fought, you ask—well—"
To describe the battle with the monster, Charlotte began gesturing animatedly.
"You should have seen it! The moment that white child was enveloped in light! A pair of pure white wings sprouted beside her shoulders, and white feathers scattered through the air! I had anticipated something like that, so I was not too surprised, but the other lesser beings stood there with their mouths agape—"
As Charlotte described how beautiful Angelica had been when she gained wings through Owl's Fusion ability, Jinseo nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, I see."
Jinseo let half her words pass by, but Angelica began recording every single one.
"…And that is how she defeated the monster. Though it delayed us somewhat, it did not interfere with visiting the other places."
"To think it was possible to tour the entire Doren Kingdom in just a week."
"After subtracting time for eating and sleeping, it was quite tight. So to save time, I carried them even at night. I put them to sleep with a sleep spell so that three hours would suffice to leave them refreshed."
"…"
"Do not make that face! It is not a dangerous spell! Used only about fifteen days a year, it causes no harm whatsoever to mind or body!"
When Jinseo looked at her with suspicion, Charlotte immediately retorted.
"T-there is such a spell?"
Meanwhile, the mages listening nearby were startled.
"What? You lesser beings do not have it? Shall I teach you? The formula is not so complicated. You should be able to learn it easily."
"Of course! Please teach us!"
"I will record it at once! Everyone, take out your scrolls!"
The professors among the mages rejoiced, while the students beneath them wore uniformly miserable expressions.
Leaving Charlotte enthusiastically explaining the spell amid the mixed reactions, Jinseo warmly greeted Aston Hamilton and Stella.
"You both worked hard."
Stella had stayed by Angelica's side, and Aston had served as both escort and cook.
"It seems the atmosphere between you two has improved considerably after going through hardship together."
At Jinseo's perceptive remark, the two quietly released each other's hands.
Then Hayward, who had joined the journey, subtly took Aston's left hand and guided it back to clasp Stella's right before approaching Jinseo.
"Sir Hayward, did you find many treasures?"
"Whew—do not even ask. I had no idea so many treasures were sleeping throughout the Doren Kingdom. There was not enough time; that was the only regret. But I remember the locations. I will return later with Craid and Julien. Still, the treasures in Charlotte's lair were far more impressive."
He stroked the new dagger at his waist, a gift from Charlotte.
"And I think the true treasures of this journey were not mine, but those two."
"They certainly seem much closer than before."
"Lady Charlotte made sure, throughout the trip, to give those two as much time alone as possible. I did not expect her to pay attention to such trivial matters."
"Elderly people often involve themselves in young people's romances."
"Ah, when you put it that way, it makes perfect sense."
Hayward and Jinseo exchanged a smile before turning their gaze toward the fresh young couple.
Aston and Stella, who had exchanged letters through Owl, had reunited when Angelica visited the capital. Busy with their respective duties, they had struggled to find time alone—so this journey became a week-long date.
It feels as though they went on their honeymoon before even becoming engaged… but as long as they are happy, that is enough.
Jinseo gently scratched beneath Nero's chin.
Owl looked at Nero and gave an owl-like eye-smile.
"Meow…"
Perhaps because Owl alone had gained a new ability, Nero let out a subdued cry. Charlotte beckoned.
"Nero, come here. I have a gift for you."
Floating through the air, Nero approached. Charlotte produced a gem the size of her thumbnail and slipped it into Nero's mouth.
Flash.
Light burst from Nero's entire body, then faded.
"It would be unfair if only Owl grew stronger. So I brought something from my lair."
{The companion Nero of the Mobile Cooking Facility has reached Level 4.}
{Whenever a companion levels up, a special ability is granted. Please select one of the three abilities below.}
Seeing the message in the Status Window, Jinseo was startled by the options that appeared.
What? Fusion is available again?
Just like with Owl, there was little worth choosing besides Fusion, so Jinseo selected it once more.
"Well? Feeling better now?"
"Meow!"
"Good, good. Next time there is such an opportunity, I will take you along as well."
Charlotte scratched under Nero's chin as Jinseo had done earlier.
"In any case, it was delightful reminiscing. If there is one regret, it is that those slender ones were not there."
"Do you mean elves?"
"Elves? Elves… yes! I could not recall the race name for a moment. Jinseo, you recognized it quickly. Have you met them before?"
"No."
"Elves live rather long among lesser beings. Some of those I met before I went to sleep may still be alive. I would like to see them again."
Though she could not meet Keyroad I again, Charlotte was pleased to have met his descendant, Angelica. Still, reunion with comrades who shared the same era would be even greater joy.
She carefully traced her fading memories and recalled the names of the elves one by one.
"I would like to meet them as well."
Among the many races in fantasy worlds, aside from humans, elves were the most frequently mentioned.
Having already met dwarves and Centaurs, Jinseo naturally anticipated meeting elves—and he was curious to witness firsthand the oft-depicted tension between elves and dwarves.
"Ah, before coming here, I briefly visited another kingdom as well."
"What? You left the Doren Kingdom?"
"Do not worry. Nothing happened. It had been a long time since I carried lesser beings, so I wished to travel far as in my adventuring days. I stopped by the kingdom on the opposite side—and also to look into the whereabouts of the one who awakened me."
At the mention of Marquis Horus, the atmosphere froze instantly.
"Ah, do not be afraid. You are no longer involved. In any case, while there, a human insisted on visiting the Food Truck, so I brought him. He will be a customer—no problem, yes?"
"That is fine. Who is he?"
"Who was it… ah, there he is. What are you doing? Come over here."
Charlotte beckoned to a middle-aged man standing alone at the center of her landing ground.
He hurried over and greeted Jinseo.
"Forgive my late introduction. It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Lawrence, engaged in the food business in the Kingdom of Girvante. It is truly an honor to meet Lee Jinseo, whom I have heard of as the founder of bunsik."
"I am Lee Jinseo. I merely introduced bunsik here; I am not its founder. Please feel at ease. I look forward to working with you."
"I—I would like to see the Food Truck first… may I?"
"Of course."
Jinseo led Lawrence past the soccer field toward the entrance of Dwarf Town.
"So this is the pride of the Doren Kingdom—and the sacred relic of the Heirem Order—the Food Truck."
Upon arriving, Lawrence remained silent for some time, surveying the surroundings.
The dishes being eaten at the tables were exotic even to him, a man with over twenty years in the food industry. The various aromas of bunsik stimulated his appetite merely by scent.
Carefully observing everything, Lawrence suddenly fixed his gaze on the back of a man seated quietly at the center counter.
"…Could it be?"
Even seated, the man was as tall as an average adult male. A massive greatsword rested beside him. And the stack of empty plates beside him confirmed Lawrence's suspicion.
There was only one human on the Francia Continent who could eat that much.
"Are you not Young Master Craid?"
"…"
"It is I—Lawrence! The Lawrence who worked under Sir Greg! Do you remember?"
"Uncle Lawrence."
Gulp.
Craid lifted the bowl and drained the hot ramen broth in a single motion before slowly turning his head.
"Is Father well?"
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