Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: Beggar Gritz (11) - Oak Barrels, the Shrine Maiden, and the Festival
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There exists such a thing as solemn common sense in the world.
You can put water in a water bottle. Kimchi in a kimchi jar. People in a granary.
But you must never put a person in an oak barrel.
That is common sense.
As a woman of common sense, Grace firmly resisted this unreasonable act.
"No, no, that's impossible! How can a person fit into an oak barrel!?"
"So, you're saying I don't look human to you right now?"
"……."
Counterargument blocked.
Grace shot him a look of utter grievance, as if to say, What am I supposed to do when you put it like that? Gritz let out a rather sinister chuckle in response.
"Heh heh heh. Relax. I'm not so lacking in consideration that I'd shove a beginner straight into the advanced course. You start riding a bicycle with training wheels, don't you?"
"What's a bicycle?"
"They have them in some countries. Well, some have them, some don't. This damn continent is so vast, or maybe it's those transcendents' fault, but civilization levels—or rather, directions—are all over the place."
"I get it now. You have no intention of explaining properly."
Grace had secretly hoped for something like a disguise date—maybe even catch a glimpse of Gritz's true form if things went well—but she let out a deep sigh. There were no other options at this point.
Fine. For the sake of his effort in preparing, I'll at least give it a try.
With that mindset, Grace squeezed her body into the oak barrel Gritz had brought. She thought to herself:
It's surprisingly spacious inside. ...Wait, no, it's too spacious?
It had looked so small from the outside that she worried she'd have to cram herself in, but the interior was far roomier than expected.
If you imagined the oak barrel as a tunnel, you wouldn't even need to crawl—you could pass through comfortably with just a slight hunch of the back.
And above all, the barrel wasn't empty.
"A chair?"
A question mark popped up in Grace's mind at the sight of a chair protruding from the center, as if integrated into the walls.
Why on earth is there a chair inside an oak barrel?
She first thought it was a trick of the dim light, but the tactile sensation when she touched it was all too real.
"What are you doing? Sit down already."
Under Gritz's urging, Grace sat down in confusion.
Whatever leather it was made of, the seat felt quite comfortable.
And the moment she sat, a flash of light burst before her eyes, and her vision suddenly cleared.
"Huh? Wh-what?"
For a moment, Grace thought the side of the oak barrel had been torn open.
As if the blocking wall had vanished, revealing the front view.
But no.
When she reached out to the seemingly open space, her hand met a smooth wall-like surface.
"Glass? But from outside, it just looked like a regular oak barrel?"
True to her nature of needing to verify curiosities hands-on, Grace climbed out and inspected the exterior.
But visually and tactilely, it was just an ordinary oak barrel.
It wasn't large enough to fit a chair for comfortable seating, nor was its side made of transparent glass.
"H-how is this possible?"
"I told you. It's for beginners. Done checking? Get back in."
"That doesn't really answer my question."
"If I seriously explained the principles, we'd be pulling all-nighters for a week. You okay with that?"
Grace darted back inside the barrel.
Sometimes, there are things more important than curiosity.
As before, she sat in the chair, and the dim landscape—where only vague outlines were visible—brightened once more.
"Buckle the belt. See the strap on your right shoulder? Hook the clasp on it to the ring on your left waist."
Rather than asking what that meant, Grace simply followed the instructions.
Questioning every action would be slower than just doing it and judging afterward.
Once the straps were connected, her body was securely fixed to the chair.
It wasn't constricting enough to make breathing hard, but it was a bit uncomfortable for free movement.
"What's next?"
"Just sit tight. I'll show you something fun."
There was no need to ask what the fun sight was.
Clunk!
With a loud noise, the entrance to Grace's oak barrel slammed shut.
Beyond the barrel, she saw two long ropes stretching taut, connected from Gritz's barrel.
What to call it? Like the reins connecting a horse to a carriage...
...Wait. Horse and carriage?
Grace's brain and instincts rang alarm bells furiously.
"Wait, hold on—"
"Here we go!"
Before Grace could finish, Gritz's barrel started rolling forward.
And naturally, hers was pulled along.
"Kyaaaaah... aaah... ack?"
Grace screamed half-instinctively, but the intensity quickly faded.
Gritz's barrel was rolling.
Grace's barrel was rolling too.
But Grace inside wasn't spinning.
Her chair and footrest stayed perfectly steady.
She felt inertia pulling her body sideways on turns, but the chair's enveloping structure and securing straps kept it bearable.
No, not just bearable.
...This is fun?
Dopamine surged in Grace's brain from this era-transcending barrel attraction.
She couldn't control the direction—just dragged along by Gritz—but that let her purely enjoy the speed and ever-changing scenery without distractions.
Starting within the Canillian mansion, the barrel soon spotted a large window and launched outside.
"Keep your mouth shut tight. You'll bite your tongue."
Aerial ascent, then descent.
Thud!
The impact on landing was dizzying but not enough to strain her body or cause pain.
Switching from smooth corridors to rough outdoors made the barrel rattle, amplifying the thrill and speed.
Grace shouted excitedly.
"Be honest! You're no beggar! What beggar rolls around in something like this!?"
Considering the distance and chaos between the barrels, it was hard for her voice to carry, but Gritz replied as if it were natural.
It wasn't so much shouting from afar as a voice emanating from some sound hole inside her barrel.
"Tsk tsk. Don't think yours is the same as mine. How can you compare beginner and pro models?"
"Then let me ride yours!"
"It's tight even for me alone, you idiot."
"Isn't it a win to squeeze into a tight space with a beauty like me?"
"Keep yapping, and I see you're getting used to it. Speeding up."
No sooner had Gritz spoken than the rotation doubled in speed.
Trees that were mere dots blinked closer in an instant, then vanished as dots again.
It felt like mere moments since departure, yet cityscapes were already in view. Grace panicked.
"Sh-shouldn't you slow down? What if we crash into people!?"
The streets were even more crowded than usual due to the festival.
Charging in with high-speed spinning barrels would spell disaster.
Gritz's response to her worry wasn't words, but action.
As they hit the city outskirts, Grace clearly saw a staff poke out beside Gritz's barrel.
The moment it struck the ground, both barrels leaped high as if jumping.
Time seemed to slow briefly, and they landed softly on a rooftop.
No loud crash or roof damage—whatever magic was at play made it feather-light.
Now it was time for rooftop hopping, not rolling.
Bouncing their rotund bodies from roof to roof.
Grace's eyes sparkled at the boisterous festival below.
It could've induced motion sickness, but as a first-timer, Grace didn't know.
Nor did she notice the faint glow leaking around her.
Despite the massive barrels bounding overhead, no one noticed.
Few looked up anyway, and Gritz's moves were too elusive.
Thus, Grace could fully immerse in the festival vibes.
This alone satisfied her, but Gritz had other ideas.
"Hmm. Festivals live or die by the food, after all."
"Huh? This is plenty. If you reveal yourself buying stuff, it'll kill the mood."
"I've got ways. Just watch."
Gritz unhooked the ropes on one rooftop, then leaped solo into the plaza.
People startled at the falling barrel but laughed, assuming it was festival entertainment as it twirled its staff acrobatically.
Grace watched intently from above. Gritz truly had a knack for drawing eyes.
With most of his body hidden and face unseen, he conveyed emotions masterfully with just arm and staff movements.
Walking on the staff, wall-climbing, juggling pebbles—every trick in the book. The handstand spins drew roaring cheers.
Thrilled crowds tossed coins; Gritz pocketed some inside the barrel, directing others to food stalls with his staff.
The unambiguous gestures prompted vendors to hand over food, which Gritz snatched before vanishing skyward.
Some tried tracking him, but pursuing a wall-hopping staff-wielding mad barrel was near impossible.
Even Grace, watching from above, briefly lost sight of him.
Knock knock.
A wooden rap, and Grace's lid cracked open. Food deliveries slipped in.
A mini table conveniently floated beside the chair for them.
Grace gave up unraveling the barrel's bizarre mechanics.
Fun and convenient—what more could she want?
The street food was delicious.