he wagon was finished and now Rikka wanted to travel with it. She could hardly wait to try it out together with her friends Shane, Eugene, and Roland.
Shane: "Huh..."
Eugene: "Hmm?"
Rikka: "Alright, let's travel..."
Roland: "And the house?"
Rikka: "Don't worry. No one can enter. I have plants that protect the path."
They got in, and she began to drive.
(Kram!)
It started moving.
Eugene: "Ohh..."
Roland: "Woow..."
Shane: "This is so cool!"
Rikka: "Hehehehehe... let's drive along the road, how about that?"
Shane: "Okay..."
For your information, Tenja is a world with several kingdoms besides Klaufim. Some are medieval in style, while others resemble the 19th and 20th centuries. There are eight kingdoms: Klaufim, Dolorene, Lifan, Mondheim, Belin, We Chin, Sakura, and Esparta.
Rikka: "Hehehehehe... Eugene, what do you think? Cool, right?"
Eugene: "This saves us the trouble of needing a house. We can just travel on the road like this. It's super cool."
Rikka: "After that we'll build an airship. Once Bell, my Bell, comes... we'll have lots of fun..."
Shane: "Yay!"
(Kram!)
Roland: "Is it really okay if it makes those noises?"
Rikka: "Yes... that's coming from the chimney... hehe."
Roland: "I see..."
Rikka: "How about we go to the lake and have some fun with hot water? I need to wash our clothes anyway."
Roland: "Great idea."
They went there.
Rikka: "Alright..."
They got out.
Rikka: "You can go ahead. I'll wash your clothes in the meantime... take them off."
Roland: "What? We may be animals, but I would never undress in front of a woman."
Rikka: "Huh? I undress in front of you too."
She took off her jacket.
Roland: "Aaaaaaah!... oh..."
She was wearing an undershirt, and under her pants she had short trousers.
Rikka: "Huh?"
Roland: "(Too bad, I thought I'd see something...) (cough)..."
Shane: "Wow... Rikka, you're so pretty. I'm sure Bell is happy to have you."
Rikka: "Nughh! (blushes)... what... you didn't see anything. I'm wearing an undershirt... and something underneath too..."
Shane: "That's not what I meant. I mean you're pretty... in appearance, in body, and in personality."
Rikka: "Ohhh... you think so?..."
Shane: "Yes..."
Rikka: "Hehe... now go to the lake. I need to wash your clothes..."
They went to the lake, and she started washing.
Rikka: "Mmm... my water magic is so bad I can't even properly wash clothes. I can only water plants and use my hands... but sometimes I can defeat monsters only because they have weaknesses to water. A Berthan, for example."
She took out a pistol.
Rikka: "I prefer shooting with my self-built revolver... I'm not some amazing magician..."
Meanwhile
Roland: "Hahhh... it's warm..."
Eugene: "You seem to like Rikka, Roland."
Roland: "Hmm?"
Eugene: "You didn't tell her, did you... that you are the reason your last three contract magicians died..."
Roland: "Hmmm... Eugene, that's none of your business. Just learn that."
Eugene: "Don't touch Rikka."
Roland: "She's kind to me. I would never hurt her."
Eugene: "Hmph..."
Roland: "Hmmm..."
Shane: "Hahhh... warm water..."
Roland: "Hmmm..."
Meanwhile
Rikka: "(humming)..."
Then she heard a howl.
Rikka: "Huh?..."
She followed the sound and found a hedgehog.
Rikka: "Hey... what's wrong?"
Hedgehog mother: "Huh!... Ughh... a magician..."
Rikka: "Why are you crying?"
Hedgehog mother: "My children went into this dungeon... and I'm worried."
Rikka: "A dungeon? Where?"
Hedgehog mother: "Right in front of you."
Rikka: "Huh!... oh... yes..."
There was a dungeon, covered with leaves.
Hedgehog mother: "Please... please help my children."
Rikka: "Alright... hmm..."
She gently stroked the hedgehog.
Rikka: "I'll help you."
Hedgehog child: "Thank you... thank you very much..."
She took her staff and went inside.
Rikka: "I wonder if this is a dangerous dungeon or just a mine dungeon... either way, it's dangerous..."
She searched further.
Rikka: "Huh?"
Suddenly, a cry for help.
Hedgehog son: "Help..."
Rikka: "Huh..."
She ran toward them. There were three hedgehogs captured by several monsters.
Hedgehog: "Please... help me..."
Rikka: "I'll help you."
She took out her pistol.
Rikka: "Take this, you mouse monsters!"
(Peng!) (Peng!) (Peng!)
She ran to the hedgehogs.
Rikka: "Hahhh... are you alright?"
Hedgehog son: "Thank you... thank you very much..."
Hedgehog daughter: "Thank you very much."
Rikka: "Don't thank me, thank your mother. She asked me to help you. Come on, let's go before it's no longer peaceful."
Hedgehog son: "Okay."
Hedgehog daughter: "Okay."
She carried them and ran outside.
Hedgehog mother: "Hahh... thank you... thank you so much..."
She gently placed them on the ground.
Hedgehog daughter: "Mother..."
Hedgehog son: "Mama..."
Hedgehog mother: "My children..."
Rikka: "Hehehe..."
Hedgehog mother: "Thank you very much, dear magician."
Rikka: "Hehe, just call me Rikka."
Hedgehog mother: "Thank you, Rikka."
Rikka: "Hehehe... no problem."
Hedgehog daughter: "Thank you very much."
Hedgehog son: "Thank you very much..."
Rikka: "You're welcome, but I really have to go now. Please be careful next time. Not all dungeons are this quiet."
Hedgehog mother: "Okay."
Hedgehog daughter: "Mhm."
Hedgehog son: "Okay."
Rikka: "Well then... it was nice meeting you."
She hurried back to the lake and the clothes.
Rikka: "I need to finish quickly."
After a few minutes, Roland, Eugene, and Shane returned.
Shane: "Rikka... we're back."
Rikka: "Ohh... looks like you really had fun, huh?"
Shane: "Yes..."
Roland: "Hmmm..."
Eugene: "Hmph..."
Rikka: "Is something wrong, you two?"
Roland: "It's fine... hahh... I... killed three of my contract partners... three magicians."
Rikka: "Ohh... okay..."
Roland: "Huh?"
Eugene: "Rikka... you need to know about Roland. He killed three of his contract partners..."
Rikka: "Yes... I heard that, Eugene."
Roland: "Ugh... and why are you reacting like it's not a big deal?"
Rikka: "I'm sure they didn't treat you well, did they?"
Roland: "Ughh... um..."
Rikka: "Hehehe... I like you, Roland. I know you're a bit strange sometimes, but you're really cool... and I care about you. So no, I'm not worried. I'm not angry at you or afraid of you. You're my friend."
Roland: "Ughh... you see me as a friend... we're only contract partners..."
Shane: "Hehehe... Rikka thinks of us like we're a family, Roland."
Rikka: "Exactly. That's how it is. And you, Eugene... I know you're worried, but please don't be so hard on him. But may I ask why you took so long?"
Roland: "Well... we didn't notice the time passing."
Rikka: "Then we should head back slowly before it gets dark."
Roland: "Mhm."
Eugene: "Okay."
Shane: "Hehe... let's go back home."
And so they made their way back to the Cloverclock House.
Roland: "(Achoo!)"
Rikka: "Oh dear... do you have a fever?"
Roland: "Hmm... just a cold..."
Rikka: "Come here then... sleep next to me, Roland."
Roland: "What?!"
Rikka: "Come on."
She held his hand and brought him to her room.
Rikka: "My room is warm... and I can keep you warm too."
Roland: "Wait..."
She lay down on the bed.
Rikka: "Hehehe... you don't have to sleep right next to me... is there a way you prefer? Something comfortable?"
Roland: "Hmmm... yes..."
He transformed into a small bunny.
Rikka: "I knew it... you really are a magical little creature. Come on then."
He jumped onto the bed and lay down next to her, but a little distance away.
Roland: "Hmmm..."
Rikka: "Hehehe... that's good, right?"
She closed her eyes and fell asleep. Roland, however, was still awake.
Roland: "Hmmm... friends..."
Roland looked at her.
Roland: "Never before... did I think a human would see contract partners as friends or family."
He looked at her, moved closer, and lay right beside her. Rikka smiled and stroked him.
Rikka: "Ohh... that's sweet... hehehe... you're so warm, Roland."
Roland: "Hmm."
Roland said nothing. He was quiet.
Rikka: "Are you worried... that you're not in the right house here?"
She stroked him even more gently.
Roland: "Mhm..."
Rikka: "No problem, Roland. You're with me now... and Shane and Eugene. I think you'll become friends soon."