The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

"Wait, wait... please stop... My thighs and buttocks are really hurting...!"

"Of course, it will hurt if you do it like that. Try to relax your body. Keep your back straight."

Ailyn's hands wrapped around my waist and hips.

"Don’t tense up too much. Do you want it to hurt more?"

"Ugh... No, no..."

Her hands, which were on my waist and hips, traveled up to my shoulders.

"It’s your first time, so I’ll go easy on you."

"Go easy...?"

Ailyn’s breath brushed against my ear.

"Like this, try moving."

"L-Like this...?"

The hands that had descended my arms now wrapped around my hands.

"Don’t do it too hard, just gently."

"Mm..."

Ailyn’s chest softly pressed against my neck.

"It’s okay, try it."

Ailyn’s scent.

Despite using the same soap as me, there was a subtly different fragrance that tingled my whole body.

"Hah... I'll do it...? "

"Yes."

Ailyn raised her arm slightly and let go of the reins.

The horse sighed.

Clop-clop- it started walking.

"Oooh... Ohhhh..."

"Keeping your balance is important. Got it? Right now, I’m behind you, so it’s okay, but when you ride alone, you need to be careful not to fall off."

"Yes...!"

We had been riding since yesterday, but now that I was in control, it felt different.

Plus, I had let go of the greatsword, so... I couldn’t see anything at all!

It was pretty scary, but Ailyn was holding me from behind, so it wasn’t too bad.

After a while, I asked,

"Should we go a little faster...?"@@novelbin@@

I had gotten used to the speed...

At first, when I was driving, it felt fast because I couldn’t see anything, but now...

It felt too slow!

At this speed, it’s almost like walking!

"Then, I’ll get off. Do you want to try going by yourself?"

"A-Ailyn, you’re getting off...? Why...?!"

No! Without you, I’ll die!

"If you get hurt, I’ll heal you."

That was a little too heartless...

I mean, it’s only been a day, but... still!

"Okay, I’ll get off... I’ll try it myself..."

"Hehe... It’s just a joke. Try it out. If anything happens, I’ll catch you."

Ailyn’s hand patted my head.

"Mm... okay. I’ll... try it...!"

"Yeah. Do you remember what I told you earlier?"

I nodded.

I gave the reins a bit of a firm tug, and the feeling of urging the horse with my hips...

"Huh!"

Clop-clop-

Clop- clop- clop-

"Oh... ohhh...!"

The rumble in my body increased, and the wind sped past even faster.

The sound of the hooves that had been clopping became a rapid clop-clop!

"How... how is it...?"

"Yeah. You’re doing great. Let’s keep going like this."

"Yes!"

I couldn’t feel anything around me or any obstacles, but this horse seemed really smart.

It was avoiding obstacles on its own!

It slightly shifted left, then turned right, and sometimes walked a little wider.

I guess fantasy world horses are different?

Then again, they’re much bigger, so their intelligence must be different too.

I enjoyed the wind brushing my cheek and thought about the new Ailyn, who was completely different from yesterday.

Yesterday, she was talking all day, but today, from the morning, she suddenly started offering to wash me.

She even showed me how to chop vegetables. Now she’s teaching me how to ride a horse.

Why is she suddenly acting like this?

Did she think I was useful after seeing me hunt?

Well... even I think I wasn’t much use.

But now that I’ve found my place, maybe she’s being a little kinder...?

Hmm... It’s a bit of a painful thought, but I just accepted it.

This world is like that.

It can’t be helped.

For now, I’ll just empty my mind and enjoy the moment.

Along with the faint earthy smell and the soft scent of soap, both of our scents mixed and carried in the wind.

"Alright, Noah. Let’s stop now."

"Yes."

As the smell started to change, I took the reins from Ailyn.

"I’ll take over since we’re almost there."

I nodded and gripped the hilt of my sword.

With a sharp pain, the information around me appeared in my mind.

Stone walls.

Stone gates.

Stone doors.

It had been all trees up until now, but now, it was stone.

It seemed we were almost at the eastern ruins, just as Ailyn had said.

"Let’s slow down now and go as slowly as possible. If we get surrounded by monsters, it’ll be troublesome."

Ailyn whispered quietly in my ear.

Ah, that tickles.

But... there’s no real need for that.

"I... I can detect them..."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Monsters... Hmm... I think I can sense them up to about 30 meters?"

Ailyn tilted her head and asked again.

"Eh...? What do you mean 30 meters?"

"... I mean, I can feel the surroundings... You know that, right...?"

"... Yes."

"It’s... like this...!"

I swung my arm in a circle.

"I can see it...!"

"That much...?"

Ailyn also swung her arm in a circle.

"No, I mean 30 meters...!"

"How...?"

Ah, this is frustrating!

If I can see it, then I can just see it!

"Ah, never mind. It’s fine. If they get close, I’ll take care of them."

Ailyn was still looking at me, tilting her head.

Ugh.

I guess she’s the type who only believes if she sees it with her own eyes.

Fine. I’ll show you!

I focused my mind and expanded my Giga Sense a bit more.

The information that appeared in my mind increased.

I didn’t stop, pushing further. More. More.

The dizziness starting at my scalp spread through my whole body.

Ugh... this is the limit.

I sifted through the information I gathered.

Terrain... let’s exclude that.

Rocks, animal carcasses... panties? What is that?

Ah, no!

Focus!

Excluding unnecessary things...

Ah, there it is.

"Left."

"Hm... Got it."

The horse’s direction gradually changed.

After about ten steps.

"Now right."

The body tilted slightly to the left.

"Now diagonally..."

"It’s blocked."

"Ah... hold on."

I reshaped the terrain.

"Ah... this isn’t it. Left again."

Clop- clop-

"Uh... now turn right, there’s a baby wolf... no, a squirrel... over there."

Ailyn took a deep breath, tense.

The squirrel doesn’t need to be tense.

We reached the end of the path.

And beyond it...

Rrrr-

A two-legged dog.

It was holding an axe, growling, and looking around.

"... It seems like it caught our scent... Should I take care of it?"

I pulled out my greatsword and prepared to dismount.

"It’s better to avoid it if possible, but since it’s already smelled us, there’s no helping it. I’ll handle this one."

But Ailyn’s hand stopped me.

"Uh..."

I wanted to handle it...

"I can deal with it quietly."

Reluctantly, I nodded.

Ailyn took a moment to calm her breathing and extended her hand.

Then, an unusual energy, the same as before, flowed from Ailyn’s body and concentrated in her palm.

I almost gasped in awe, but I clenched my hands over my mouth to avoid disrupting my focus.

What’s amazing is that, in this world, magic feels the most extraordinary.

Of course, seeing a small girl wielding a greatsword is impressive, but to me, that magic is the real marvel...

"Watch closely, Noah. We’re in a party, so you should know my abilities too."

But I can’t see it.

I wanted to say that, but... I nodded instead, not wanting to break my focus.

After gathering the energy for another 3 seconds, it quickly formed into a sharp spear and silently flew toward the squirrel.

Thwack-

At the same time, the squirrel’s head exploded.

That was insane...!

So cool...

Maybe I should become a magician...!

"Wow... wow!"

"How about it? My skill is impressive, right?"

For someone like me, who's been in this world for eight years... it was a bit of a teasing comment from a newbie, but I kept it to myself.

I just nodded.

It was impressive, though.

It was cool!

Though, taking 15 seconds to kill a squirrel wasn’t great...

Even if I look like this, I’m pretty strict when it comes to hunting. Hehe.

"By the way, it really worked. The detection..."

Ailyn spoke as she led the way to the squirrel's body.

"How... How was it...?!"

I puffed out my chest and said proudly.

"Heheh... yeah. Now you’re starting to seem more like an adult."

"Right? I’m good at these things... Just trust me and follow my lead!"

It might give me a little headache, but... it’s better than blindly disturbing the area and waking up Carpen.

"Alright. I’ll trust you and follow."

Ailyn’s hand patted my head.

It was clear now. Something felt... different from yesterday.

Did I do something wrong...?

Is she pretending to be nice to betray me...?

Wait, maybe... maybe she doesn’t have 15 gold...!?

Is she trying to get closer to me because she has no money to give me?

I’m not someone to be taken lightly!

If that’s the case... what do I do...!?

What... Can I legally take action in this world?

"Why are you spacing out, Noah?"

Ailyn tilted her head and looked at me.

Ah, it can’t be, right...?

"... No, nothing... let’s go...!"

"Mm... alright."

Ailyn stopped stroking my head and shook the reins.

Clop- clop-

Our bodies started moving, but my thoughts were still stuck in that place.

Ugh... What if Ailyn betrays me!?

At least, should I take her to Arlbama village and then tell her to betray me...?

Forget it!

Let me just ask!

I’ll ask and see how she reacts!

If she’s lying, she’ll probably react strangely.

"Ah, Ailyn..."

"Yes?"

"Well, um..."

"Yes."

Now that I was trying to speak, the words wouldn’t come out...

"Do you... have any money...?"

"... Eh?"

"Money..."

"... Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"Ah, no..."

I heard Ailyn let out a deep sigh.

"Are you worried I won’t give you money?"

How did she know...?

Why does she always know my thoughts so well!?

Is it related to that strange energy...?

"Ah, no... It’s not like that!"

"Yeah. Hah... don’t worry. I’ll definitely give it to you. I’m not like those people. Got it?"

Ailyn’s warm hand rested on my head.

And then she started stroking it...

Huh...?

Why isn’t she angry?

I doubted it...

She should be angry!

This is uncomfortable!

I feel like I’m the trash here!

No, it’s already done. I’m trash...

I’m the one who doubted, judged, and worried alone...

And now, I even said it out loud...

"So, what’s the answer?"

"Y-Yes... I’m sorry..."

"Shh- I told you not to speak."

"Ugh- ugh- ugh- ahh- thank you...!"

"Good."

Clop- clop-

The thoughts that had been stalled were caught up with our bodies.

After a short while.

We arrived at the eastern ruins.