When I Reincarnated, I Became Even More of a Gorilla - 21

[Oog oog. (I see.)]

[Bururu, hihiiiin, bururu. (That’s right. He now works like a cart horse, but my husband didn’t want to work at first.)]

[Bururugufuuu. (Stop with that already, Milady is coming.)]

With the sorting of Elena’s luggage now finished and Misha having gone to call the two, I had free time on my hands, so to pass the time, I was talking to the horses that would be pulling the carriage for us hereafter.

This carriage is a medium-sized one pulled by two horses, which is a little smaller than the passenger carriages that run in the Capital City. Incidentally, the horses are a bit bigger than those pulling the passenger carriages.

From what I heard, they’re a couple owned by Gladysbalt Frontier Count’s household. It seems like they aren’t officially recognized as familiars, but it seems that they’re under a contract with the coachman lad.

I talked to them just to pass the time, but that made me realize that even horses got their own lives.

It seems like they were born and raised here in the Frontier Count’s household, and they’re what one might call “childhood friends”. Moreover, the guy’s now completely under his wife’s thumb.

While I was listening to their story, Elena came back with Misha.

[Sorry to keep you waiting, Gorimatsu.]

[Oog, oogo? Oog? (Unn, arehh? Where’s Father?)]

[Ahh, Father was——- [He got work!] ……What she said.]

Elena felt down when Misha suddenly stole her lines, but well, she need not worry about it.

Misha is probably just acting spoiled at the thought of not seeing her sister again.

[Oog, oog ooga? (Then, are we leaving soon?)]

[Yeah, these children will get us to the Royal Capital in time for tomorrow’s class. We’ll pass through a few towns on the way, but we won’t be stopping to rest.]

The couple happily neighed as Elena patted the horses saying that. Well, their inner voices also sounded happy, so that’s good.

I thought we’d be heading off already, but Elena went to talk with the coachman lad first.

[I’ll be counting on you today too, Tom.]

[Yes, Milady. Will you also be going home again next week?]

[No, I’ve done what I came here to do. It would also be rough on my schedule. My next break will be a long one for the New Year’s.]

[I see. It will be in three months then. I understand.]

[Umu, we’ll be in your care.]

When it seemed like she was done, Elena patted me on the head and after a few more words, she got into the carriage.

Outside the carriage was Misha and a maid who had arrived before I knew it. I follow Elena and get on the carriage.

Elena looks out the window of the carriage and calls out.

[We’re going, Misha. Listen to Father and your tutor and do your best.]

[Unnn! You take care too, Onee-chan! Gorimatsu-chan too!]

[Yeah. Of course.]

[Oog oog. (I know.)]

Misha couldn’t understand my words, so I stuck my face and hand out of the window and waved to her so she could see me. I extended my hand to say “Bye-bye”, but the energetic girl instead jumped and gave me a high-five.

[Well then, let’s go. Tom, set out.]

[Yes, Milady.]

And so, our carriage trip began. Not like it’s more than a day trip though.

＊＊＊

After leaving the Capital City Grandis, the next town is also part of the Frontier County’s territory, but it’s not that flourishing.

However, it’s said that they have a mine where ores and gemstones can be mined, and they’re looking for people who can do such hard work.

There’s nothing to do in the carriage, so I asked Elena about the Frontier County and things I should watch out for at her school.

[And so, there’s nothing particularly interesting until the next town. Our Gladysbalt Frontier County also serves as a defensive wall against other countries, so it’s almost entirely devoid of extravagance. The mining town we visited earlier is mostly used for military supplies, such as swords and spears.]

[Oog. Oog oog? (Hmmm. The next territory is different?)]

[Yeah, the next one is a Marquis’ territory. We’d be passing through a few relatively flourishing towns. The most flourishing one is the Royal Capital though.]

I didn’t think about knowing those places since we were just passing through anyway, but the Royal Capital really must be the most flourishing place in the country.

I imagined that the center of a country like the Royal Capital couldn’t be anything but lively, so I’m a little proud that my prediction came true.

While we were talking, we seemed to have arrived at what seemed to be the checkpoint of the Marquis’ territory. Coachman Tom then calls out.

[Milady, we have arrived at the border of Marquis Penny’s Capital City. There’s an Akamaru.]

[I see, good work. When they come, direct them to me.]

When Elena said that, Tom returned to the coachman’s seat. What I couldn’t understand was that <Akamaru> he mentioned. Maybe it’s some sort of codeword.

[Oog oog? (What are Akamarus?)]

[Hmm? Akamarus means people in charge of the checkpoints. They’re slightly troublesome people.]

In other words, Tom was telling us to be careful because there are troublesome people there. Maybe I should get serious so that I can protect Elena?

As I quietly make up my mind, Elena holds me and speaks in my ear so that no one around can hear us.

[You don’t have to worry, Gorimatsu. We are riding in a carriage that has our family crest. Well, I don’t know if it will work, but if we wait a bit, we should be fine.]

[Oog. (That so.)]

Disappointed, I hung my head, to which Elena lifted me in her arms. How should I say this…… I hadn’t felt I was physically lacking because of my daily brawls with that bear, but it seemed that there wouldn’t be such opponents in the Royal Capital, so I thought this would be my last chance to move my body. What a shame.

However, I’m still keeping my guard up, paying attention to our surroundings.

Ah, come to think of it, it seems I have an aptitude for Earth Magic, so maybe I should learn how to use it from Elena.

[Oog, oog oogo? (Hey, can I use magic too?)]

[I suppose so. There’s Earth Magic written in the hidden section of your guild card, so I think you could use it. Do you want to practice a little?]

[Oog! (Unn!)]

I nodded vigorously and decided to follow Elena’s instructions.

[First, you would need to feel mana, but it seems like you can already do that.]

Since I can use Body Reinforcement?, I can sense mana. What should I do next?

[The next step is to be able to move it freely in your body. This is a little unorthodox since it’s more of a Gladysbalt thing, something not taught in the academy, but this is probably better suited for Gorimatsu.]

Well then, let’s try following that. I think it would be the same thing as how I use Body Reinforcement on certain parts of my body. However, this is more like a full-body reinforcement.

Just as I was about to practice magic like that, I heard a voice from outside. It seems that that Akamaru called out. Elena’s voice noticeably darkened, as that Akamaru was paying no heed to the coachman lad trying to stop him.

[Wait! That would be troubling!]

[Ei! Impertinent coachman, who do you think I am!? I am Viscount Fuhr!]

The man who introduced himself as Viscount Fuhr rudely put his hand on the door of the carriage in which Elena was riding. It seems that he intends to speak directly to Elena.

However, there’s no way I’d allow that. I stood in front of the door with Elena behind me and obstructed him. I don’t know the clear details, but I don’t think it’s good for a viscount to barge into the carriage of a Frontier Count’s daughter without any courtesy.

The door of the carriage opened with a clattering sound, and forcefully entering my field of vision was a golden-haired pig.

[Well, well, Lady Gladysbalt, it’s been a while. By the way, is that monster over there already applied for?]

The golden-haired pig, no, Viscount Fuhr took one look at me and then looked at Elena. That gaze looks unsettling in a way.

Yeah, I think this one’s gonna be needing some punishing. I wonder why his kind is at a checkpoint?

My and Elena’s sighs echoed silently and vacantly in the carriage.