61. Mizuki, Myra, and the Flower Field
The journey to Migurutto continued.
A caravan of wandering folk's wagons trailed at the rear of the merchant train. It was a large group. It would probably make for a spectacular sight if you could see it all at once, but they were still traveling through the same old forest as always.
Today, they were supposed to arrive at a city called Niren. It was about the same size as Rishel, apparently.
They'd be staying there for two nights. Then they'd head to a port town called Fulft. It wasn't on the ocean, though—just built along a massive river. From there, they'd board a ship and sail downstream. Mash had heard it was a huge galley with sails.
The roads they were on now, and the waterways too, had all been developed by imperial decree, or so he'd heard.
Inside the wagon were Mash, Mizuki, and Myra. Cecily got motion sick in wagons, so she was riding horseback, patrolling and guarding the caravan's perimeter. The people originally assigned to that duty were riding with Claire's wagon instead. Aside from the driver, no one else was in their wagon. It was clear just how much preferential treatment they were getting from the Mateo Company. Come to think of it, the wagon wasn't bouncing around as much anymore. Maybe the roads were better maintained closer to the city.
Ira and Fam were on rear guard. Since the rear was all wandering folk today, it was mostly ceremonial.
Still drowsy from last night's intense "night battle," Mash was dozing off when Fam slipped into the wagon.
"Shu-sama, we've passed through the deep woods."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes. You can see the city in the distance."
As he chatted with Fam, the wagon came to a stop. Time to give the horses a break.
Mash hopped out and took in the surroundings, catching his breath at the sight.
The treeline that had blocked their view loomed behind them. Ahead, low hills rolled out in layers, blanketed entirely in knee-high pale purple and white flowers. He could even make out the silhouette of the city's small encircling walls. Far beyond that, a hazy mountain range faded into view.
"Linaria, maybe?"
Mizuki and Myra followed him out. He turned his gaze back to the flower field. Up close, he saw each stem bore clusters of tiny blooms. They were beautiful, but Mash had no clue what they were called, so he couldn't answer Mizuki's question.
"Did someone plant them?"
"Probably just growing wild in a big patch like that."
Mash had no idea how such a field could form. They weren't at some high elevation beyond the tree line, either.
"They do controlled burns around here."
Myra provided the answer.
"They burn the fields for the flowers?"
"No."
She pointed ahead. There was a herd of cattle.
And it wasn't just that one—scattered groups dotted other spots too.
"It's for ranching. The flowers are just a happy accident."
"They don't get attacked by monsters?"
Mizuki murmured, staring at the herds. She'd been full of questions since they stopped. Mash didn't know either, so he waited quietly for Myra's response.
"They're watching from up there."
Myra pointed again. On a distant hilltop stood a tower like a lighthouse. Similar ones were spaced out elsewhere. Stone bases, wooden upper levels. He couldn't tell from here if there were lookouts posted.
It reminded him of that goblin-infested village. They had towers there too.
"What's it from? Some movie scene I remember—a girl runs out of church confession and dashes through a flower field..."
Mizuki muttered. Mash felt like he knew the scene too.
"Wasn't that a red flower field?"
His memory was fuzzy.
"Was it? Can't recall..."
Mizuki tilted her head. No internet in this world. Oh well.
"Whatever. Mizuki, run through the flowers for me. I wanna take a pic."
He pulled out his smartphone from storage.
"...Embarrassing."
She grumbled but ran through the field anyway. Mash snapped a few shots. Looking back, every one turned out great—like stills from a movie where she was the heroine. Myra peeked over his shoulder.
"Muu... You've been taking all the shots of Mizuki. Not fair."
Myra protested. Yeah, Mizuki was hogging the spotlight.
"Wanna model for me too, Myra?"
"Of course! Make me look cute, so everyone knows I'm Mash's wonderful lover."
She puffed out her chest. It jiggled. She knows she's a wonderful lover, alright. Gotta get this on video—capture that bounce.
"Myra, Mash is trying to take dirty pics!"
Mizuki called out. Was he grinning that sleazily?
"It's fine. No matter how much I flaunt it, he'll just leave me out in the cold anyway."
Myra replied.
"No way! Let's all strip naked, hug it out, and give everyone a show!"
"Don't say stupid stuff!"
Mizuki tsukkomi'd him as reliably as ever today.
While the three of them took turns snapping photos and videos, Fam and Ira wandered over. Cecily came running too—the horses were resting, so she was on foot.
"Whey! Let's all get in a group pic!"
"What are you being so carefree about?!"
Mash's attempt at upbeat cheer got utterly demolished by Cecily.
"Monsters?"
"Shu-sama, a group of adventurers is heading this way. You should hide the smartphone."
They'd been on watch duty the whole time Mash was goofing off. He felt a twinge of guilt.
The adventurers Fam mentioned wove through the wandering folk's wagons toward them. Six in total. Seemed like they were heading to the city too.
"This flower field's super pretty, right?"
The short girl at the front called out. About Fam's age, maybe. Behind her loomed two huge guys—one with two horns sprouting from his head, the other with a single horn. Their massive builds made her tiny stature stand out even more.
Her red hair was tied in a ponytail with a big ribbon. And her speech... Kansai dialect. A transferree? Or did the local accent just sound like it?
"Yeah. Makes me wanna flop down and nap."
She laughed at his reply.
"Feels great, eh? This field's probably only got today or tomorrow left anyway."
"Huh? Storm coming?"
"You guys haven't heard? Monster locust swarm's incoming."
"To the city?"
"Yup. We're on an extermination quest. Just finished scouting and heading back."
She nodded.
He hadn't heard anything like that at the last inn or from Claire. He glanced at Myra, who shook her head.
"News to us."
"Thought you were here for the quest too."
"Nah, we're escorting this caravan."
"Ah, gotcha. We'll head out then."
They started past, then paused.
"Oh yeah, we're New World. I'm Momoka. Like the flowers, right?"
She spun with arms outstretched.
"We're Levante. I'm Mash."
He wanted to strike a cool pose, but nothing came to mind. Instead, his words halted the New World crew.
"For real? That's a super hot celebrity name."
Momoka eyed him up and down.
"Probably just a coincidence. I'm no celeb—just a lowly F-rank adventurer."
He showed them his character sheet.
"Huh. Okay then." She glanced at Mizuki and Myra. "What about those two?"
Mizuki and Myra. Odd choice.
"My proud wife Myra and my proud daughter Mizuki."
"Ehhh?"
Myra and Mizuki yelped in unison. Mizuki's ears went beet red in an instant.
"Mizuki, no need to get shy. Say hi."
He nudged her fidgeting waist. She whipped around and clung to his neck.
"Mizuki?"
Perplexed, he said her name. She leaned to his ear.
"I love you, Daddy. Here, a flower for you."
Her breath tickled his ear. She shoved a plucked linaria into his hand, then bolted into the wagon.
New World moved on.
"Was it okay to give our name?"
Myra looked worried.
"It'll leak eventually anyway. Better they don't get a bad impression. More importantly, did her speech pattern or accent strike you as off?"
"Seemed normal?"
Myra answered.
"You too, Fam?"
"Yes."
Fam nodded.
"It was Kansai dialect. She's a transferree, right?"
Mizuki had snuck back out at some point. Only he and she had noticed?
"Think so."
"New World—such a direct name."
"Nah, back in our world, Europeans called the new continent the New World when they discovered it. Could be settlers."
"Don't force it. She's from under the giant robot crab!"
Mizuki threw in a silly retort.
"...Anyway, Mizuki, what was that?"
"Huh? B-because Mash made that weird intro. Just wanted to mess with you."
She answered fast, flustered. Might've reminded her of her family back home. No need to poke at her homesickness—that'd be mean.
"Got it. Well, Momoka probably clocked us as transferrees too. Why ask for your names specifically, though? Something different about us?"
"I doubt it. You were taking photos, right? And Mash yelling 'Whey!' Not your brightest move."
Cecily replied, pulling a funny face for the "Whey!" part.
"...Ah, right."
Momoka hadn't hidden being a transferree either. No hostility? Or total confidence they'd win?
"There was a boy in their party who looked just like Momoka."
Myra noted. A feminine boy similar to her. While they talked, he'd gripped his shortsword at his hip, ready to draw.
"A girl?" Mizuki asked.
"Definitely a boy!" Myra insisted.
"Siblings, then? Transferred together?"
"Maybe."
Mash agreed. No proof, but good guess.
"Kinda cute..."
Myra murmured. Right—she'd confessed that kink before. Joking about Fam being a guy hitting her strike zone.
"Hey, you're my lover!"
"Hmph! It's your fault for stringing me along and leaving me out. I'm super, super mad! Last night was too much!"
She puffed her cheeks and turned away. It seemed half-joking, not real anger. Same pattern forever. He pinched her puffed cheek.
"Myra, don't forget—Fulft. Boat ride, skewered fish, ale. Then we keep our promise!"
"Eh...? Ah, y-yes... Looking forward to it."
Myra blushed and nodded.
Break time ended. They climbed back aboard and rolled toward the city.
Thank you for reading.
Thanks to everyone who liked, bookmarked, and rated.
It motivates me. I'll keep at it.
Thanks for the typo reports. "Nazuru" → "naderu". Really sorry.