Racing After Kernax
It's been ages since my head last spun like this.
"S-so... I was out cold for three days, and Kernax left the city yesterday?"
"……."
Siron nods again, her face dark. Her confirmation makes my head throb.
I ask her urgently. "By any chance... the Night Fairies I made in the basement...?"
"……Were there things like that?"
"Oh shit."
I grab my head with the hand wrapped around Siron's waist. I never told anyone I'd made a bunch of those stockings. And I didn't leave them out in the open—I stuffed them into sacks with iron ingots and buried them in a corner... Even if someone went down there, they'd never find them and just head back up.
"……Mi—"
"No!! Huh? Siron, what were you about to say?"
"……Nothing."
Siron shakes her head and clams up. It leaves a nagging feeling, but right now, chasing after Kernax who left without me takes priority, so I decide to take her word for it.
"If it's just a day's lead, we can catch up now and hand over the goods before any fighting breaks out, right?"
"……Yeah. Probably."
"Right? Then let's get ready to—"
"For real……!!"
Siron drags her hands down her face and climbs off my thigh, dropping to the floor below. She glares at me with those fierce eyes of hers.
"What the hell do you mean 'ready'? Everything's already packed, you dumbass!! We've been waiting because you slept in, fuck."
"Oh……."
She's back to her usual powerhouse self. That alone makes me happy, and the preparations are done too?
"S-so we can head out right now?"
"Fuck. You that worried about that bitch?"
"Kernax worries me, sure, but the soldiers with her do too."
They're not strangers—we traded jokes whenever we were bored. If even one doesn't come back, it'll hurt like hell.
"……Think about it. You collapsed and only woke up yesterday. Who in their right mind thinks they can go anywhere in that condition?"
"……Me?"
"Exactly, you dumbass... Sigh."
Siron lets out a deep sigh. From the depth of it, she's genuinely pitying me.
"Ahem, no, Siron. I'm telling you, I'm fine. Look."
"Ugh, cut it out, dumbass."
As I flex my arm to show off, she shoots me a look that screams don't be a clown. I sheepishly scratch my head and lower my arm.
"Anyway, you wanna go after them right now, yeah?"
"Yeah."
If I arrive too late and those soldiers suffer something horrific... it'll weigh on me forever. Fuck. Fainting mid-sex, of all things. No joke—if I can't deliver these new stockings I made, I'll carry that guilt to my grave.
Siron stares holes through me, then clicks her tongue and turns away.
"Let's go."
"Where to?"
"Fuck. Where else? The guard post."
"Oh, right."
I hurry after Siron as she strides ahead.
"Hey!! Archer bitch!! Grab your shit and come out!!"
Siron yells as she heads down the stairs.
"Preparations were finished yesterday."
"……No."
Siron gapes at Giena, already waiting at the first-floor stairs.
"What about food... or spare clothes?"
"Hunting and magic are convenient options."
"……Fine, you're a genius, fuck."
Siron shakes her head at Giena, armed with just her quiver and bow. Even Siron can't handle Giena's fanaticism.
And so, the three of us leave the house and head for the guard post.
In the guard post office, where Kernax used to handle paperwork, Millia sits instead, managing affairs. She spots us entering and offers a kind smile, gesturing to the guest sofa.
"Would you like some tea?"
"N-no, we're good."
I decline politely, and she nods, rising to sit across from us on the opposite sofa.
She looks at me first. "How's your body holding up?"
"Uh... you might not believe me, but I'm fighting fit."
"You look it on the outside, sure. But I'm not buying that you're totally fine after what you said."
"……Yeah, fair."
If some guy who'd been out for three days showed up claiming he's peachy, I'd call bullshit too.
"Well... since it's you, Smith, I'll make an exception and believe you this once."
"……??"
I don't get what she means. She notices and continues.
"Meaning, I'll lend you a carriage to catch up to Lady Kernax."
"Oh……? Huh...? Wait, really?"
I dig in my ear, unsure if I heard right. Millia chuckles softly at my reaction.
I calm my shock and whisper to Siron beside me. "Uh... Siron? Wasn't the carriage from my sis?"
"……You think she'd just hand over a carriage like that?"
"……No way."
Nope, not a chance. I nod immediately.
Millia smiles at our huddled whispering. "Haha, no need to thank anyone specific. Lady Kernax is the one who asked me to prepare it."
"Kernax did?"
Millia nods. "She said if you woke up late and wanted to follow, to lend you a carriage. Then she left."
"Whoa……."
Something tickles warmly in my chest. I'd figured Kernax, who'd opposed so fiercely, bolted while I was out. Guess I owe her an apology this time. A real one, followed by a deep, sloppy kiss.
"And Smith?"
"Y-yes."
I snap to at her call.
"How many Night Fairies did you make?"
"Enough for everyone."
No hesitation. I'd only done twenty the first day, but realizing no one would go down there, I used the rest of the ingots for the storage to make 285 more—total 305.
"……Really?"
"Yep."
Millia rarely shows surprise as she stares. I nod, and she adjusts her monocle.
"I see. All 305... Understood. Let's go see your carriage first, then."
"Y-you're guiding us personally?"
"Haha. A little walk won't hurt. Why? Am I inconveniencing you?"
"N-no, just... uh...."
I glance at the piled papers on her desk and shake my head fast.
"H-haha. Let's go."
"Yes, shall we."
We head to the stables next to the guard post in an awkward vibe.
There sit the carriages loaded with the iron ingots for me.
"Ah……."
"Something wrong?"
"N-no. H-haha...."
Millia gives a knowing smile at my awkward laugh and walks on. It chills me—because I handed over just one cart's worth of ingots but claimed I made 305 pairs. That subtle smile? Probably her way of saying she knows.
Goddamn, Smith, you fucking idiot... Even I think I'm a moron.
I lament my stupidity and follow Millia.
Passing the ingot carts and several stalls...
"This is it."
"Oh……."
The blunder fades as I'm awed by the massive carriage. Thirty percent bigger than the ingot ones, wheels sheathed in seamless black iron plating. Best of all: pristine white body with a huge silver eagle emblem. So damn cool.
"Take a peek inside."
Millia smiles warmly and opens the door. I peer in like a kid discovering Lego for the first time, entranced.
"Whoa…… fucking insane."
The curse slips out. Feels like staring into a limo from a video. Red cushions cover walls and floor; seats puff up like beds. A partition at the back has a door—something else inside.
"Oh, the partition's for luggage."
"Ah... got it."
That's all I can manage.
"Like the carriage?"
"It's not about liking it. I'm wondering if a desert nomad like me can even ride something this fancy...."
Just to clarify: I'm barely a frontier Sahara tribesman. Can I really take this?
As if reading my mind, Millia replies. "Of course. It's prepared for you, so you ride it."
"......For me? Kernax requested it?"
"Precisely, she asked me, and I sourced it separately."
"......In one day?"
"Haha."
She laughs lightly and falls silent. Did I screw up again? The vibe turns awkward, so I pretend to admire the carriage.
Minutes later, she chuckles again. "Departure tomorrow morning?"
"Uh... tomorrow? Not tonight?"
"Food and clothes are ready here; load your stuff and you could go now."
"Then...... why wait?"
"To catch Lady Kernax on time, you'll need very fast feet, right?"
"Uh... yeah?"
"Yes. So I'm lending you one from over there—the one's just loafing and eating."
I follow her gesture. The largest stall: where the drakes that pulled the heavy ingot carts rest.
"I mentioned a few days ago—they're picky with strangers. The knights who handle them are out briefly."
"Ah... I see."
"Yes. They'll be back by evening at latest, but they need half a day rest too, no?"
"Of course."
I nod vigorously. Lending this carriage and a drake and handlers? Insisting on tonight would make me an asshole. I'm dumb, but not that heartless.
Millia closes the door. "I'll send an escort early tomorrow. Need anything? Come find me anytime, even late."
"Thanks so much for all this...."
"Haha. You'll bring plenty of profit to the territory."
"......?"
As I look up in thanks, she's already walking past me.
"See you tomorrow. I've got backlog—heading out."
She waves lightly and vanishes.
"Well... back home?"
I say to Siron and Giena.
"No, one stop first."
"Huh? Need something?"
I turn at Siron's words. She's looking at me pitifully.
"What? Why the face?"
She shakes her head slightly. "Sis said to drag you to the guild the second you wake up."
"……."
Siron gives me sorry eyes. I glance at Giena.
"Ahem."
Giena avoids my gaze for the first time. I look up at the clear morning sky.
Looks like I shouldn't worry about others just yet. My own mess comes first.