Chapter 32: Departure Autumn came and the sun rose considerably later.
I got used to waking up at this time even without an alarm clock. I"ve grown quite accustomed with this world.
However, that wasn"t the only reason why I woke up this early.
I couldn"t sleep well because I was so excited.
I was just like a child on the day before an excursion.
But unlike a child, I wasn"t just filled with antic.i.p.ation, but anxiety as well.
Today was the departure date for the West Forest subjugation.
I got off the bed and brushed my teeth.
I recalled today"s schedule as I was brushing my teeth.
By doing so, my sleepiness gradually faded.
I washed my face and applied my makeup. This was my normal routine but I don"t think I can be this easy-going during the subjugation.
I have small bottles of cosmetics in my carry on just in case.
After that, I changed my clothes.
I won"t be able to wear my normal clothes for a while from today.
I was wearing the same robes as the one that the mages in the Court Mage Division wore when they went on subjugation missions.
Unlike a dress, I could wear robes by myself.
It was easy to move in and doesn"t feel restricting because we have to fight.
Of course it would be!
I was given this robe a few days ago and I was glad that it wasn"t a flashy robe like the one I wore at my audience with the King.
I would stand out too much in such beautiful clothes and I would be afraid to get it dirty so I don"t think that it would be convenient to wear on a subjugation.
I didn"t forget to do my hair.
I usually kept it down but today I clipped my hair back because I didn"t want it to get in the way.
I took the bag I had prepared and went downstairs after I finished getting ready.
It was still too early to start work but there were people downstairs.
They probably arrived early to deliver the potions to the 3rd Knight Order.
The entrance of the research inst.i.tute was wrapped in a busy atmosphere.
All the potions ordered by the Knight Order was completed yesterday.
However, since I was also partic.i.p.ating in the subjugation, it was decided that I would be bringing the potions with me.
Of course, that was what the 3rd Knight Order told us.
Even if I was told to suddenly take it with me, I couldn"t carry the potions because there were simply too many.
And it was decided that I would be riding in the wagon that was transporting the potions.
"Good morning, Sei."
"Good morning. Are you helping out too, Jude?"
"Ah, yeah."
Jude was at the entrance when I went there.
He was told to help carry the potions for the Knight Order, wasn"t he?
I"ve never seen Jude wake up this early before, so it was probably hard for him to get up, right?
It was common for a.s.sistants to load potions ordered by the Knight Order.
Once in a while, researchers would help too when they felt like it.
I would often deliver potions to the Knight Order during my breaks but since I was busy with lectures recently, other people had to deliver it instead.
We were leaving pretty early in the morning so I thought that the a.s.sistants would be the ones moving the potions.
But Jude was here, so he was the one who was loading them, right?
"Don"t tell me you loaded the potions, Jude?"
"I did."
"You must have had trouble waking up. It"s pretty early so I thought that it would be the a.s.sistants who would load the potions."
"Hey…… I just felt like it."
I received a subtle reply when I told him what I thought.
I tilted my head in curiosity but he wouldn"t tell me the real reason.
Well, it"s fine.
I didn"t pursue any further and helped him load the potions.
It would be departure time when we finished.
"Sei."
"Director?"
The Director called out to me when I was about to board the wagon and depart.
It was rare for me to see Jude and the Director.
"What"s wrong?"
"What"s wrong?! You…… I"ve come to see you off."
"Huh?!"
Seeing me off……? He came to work that early just for that?
I was so surprised and it probably showed on my face.
It wasn"t just the Director but Jude as well.
Eh? What? Is it my fault?
"Well, whatever. The subjugation will be hard but take care on your way."
"Thank you."
"Run away when you think things are getting dangerous. Okay?"
"Y-yes."
He said it so seriously that I nodded on reflex.
Moreover, he also stroked my head as a bonus.
I wonder what"s wrong.
I was pressed on time while I was wondering what was wrong so I didn"t pursue the matter and got onto the wagon.
"Well then, I"ll be off."
I said my farewells, got on the wagon and left the research inst.i.tute.
I saw the Director and the a.s.sistants wave when I turned around and waved when the wagon started moving.
"He was over exaggerating."
I spoke what I thought after a while and Jude, who was sitting next to me, smiled wryly.
Come to think of it, Jude looked surprised too.
"Of course he would."
"Huh?"
"It"s a subjugation, you know? I"ve been on one when I was at the Academy but that was to the East Forest. This time you"re going to the West Forest, aren"t you? That place is really dangerous."
I heard that it was dangerous compared to the East and South Forest, but was it really that dangerous?
If I recalled well, it was a dangerous place that had Salamander and a large quant.i.ty of demons.
I didn"t feel a sense of reality because I didn"t encounter any demons in the forests I went to so far, or my brain just refuses to believe it.
I can understand why the Director acted like he did if the West Forest was that dangerous.
"Be careful, alright?"
"Yes."
"I"m being serious. Don"t totter off by yourself just because you found some medicinal herbs."
"I know."
Even Jude told me this anxiously.
There were things that I regretted up until now so I could only meekly agree with his advice.
I braced myself not to move on my own even if I find new medicinal herbs.
We reached the Knight Order barracks after a short while and I braced myself again.
The atmosphere around the knights, who were doing last minute preparations, was tense.
That tension spread even to me.
I got off the wagon with Jude.
Jude talked to the a.s.sistants at the Knight Order and the a.s.sistants began unloading the wagon and loading it onto the Knight Order"s wagon.
Jude came back while I was staring at that scene.
When I looked up, he had the same serious look on his face as the Director did.
Jude was probably worried too, he quickly took my right hand and gripped my fingers.
"Come back safely."
"Thank you."
I only said a few words of farewell because he talked to me about various things on our way here.
Jude looked at the ground for a bit after I said my thanks, he smiled like usual and returned to the research inst.i.tute.
I saw him off and turned back.
I was looking for a certain person.
While I was wandering around, that person found me instead and I saw him walking towards me.
"Sei."
"Good morning."
"Morning."
I gave my greetings to the Captain when he was close enough.
I heard from the Civil Official beforehand that I would be going to the West Forest with the 3rd Knight Order this time.
I was relieved because I knew a lot of the knights from my magic practices.
It would be tiring to be surrounded by people I"m not familiar with.
I didn"t want to be tired while travelling, when I thought about what would happen afterwards.
Later, I heard from the knights that the 2nd Knight Order and the 3rd Knight Order had a little fight over who would go with me.
It was only natural that the 2nd Knight Order wanted to go with me seeing how fascinated with me they were.
To be honest, I was a little uncomfortable with the way they were fascinated with me so I"m relieved that they decided that the 3rd Knight Order would be accompanying me.
This was thanks to the Head Magician"s backing.
Intelligent Gla.s.ses-sama was the Captain"s older brother so I wonder if that was related to it?
Good job, Head Magician.
"Will you be sitting in the carriage until the West Forest, Sei?"
"I heard that I would be."
"I see……"
The Civil Official told me that I would be travelling by carriage because the West Forest was a little far from the Royal Capital.
There were a lot of knights who could ride horses so I would be the only one riding the carriage.
It might be boring to stay in the carriage the whole time by myself but if I sleep then I won"t be bored.
However, for some reason the Captain"s expression was grim.
Was he worried about me being in the carriage by myself?
That problem was resolved as soon as we got close to the carriage.
"Good morning, Sei-sama."
"Huh? Head Magician?"
The Head Magician was standing next to the carriage that looked like the one I would ride.
According to what I"ve heard, the Court Mage Division should be leaving from over there……
"Good morning. Is something wrong?"
"I thought that we should go together."
"Together…… You mean we should ride the carriage together?"
"Yes."
The Head Magician smiled and nodded.
His expression was contracted the Captain"s wry expression.
"It takes some time to get there so I thought that we could talk about magic inside of the carriage."
"Is it a lecture?"
"Yes. I heard that you"d be riding alone and so I thought you"d be bored."
"Yes……"
I thought about sleeping but I was thankful that he"d give me a magic lecture instead.
I wouldn"t be taking any lectures during the subjugation so I was a little worried that I would forget things.
"Thank you."
"You"re welcome. Well then, isn"t it time to depart soon?"
"You"re right."
The Head Magician smile widened when I said thank you.
I looked around when the Head Magician said that and saw that the preparations were nearly done. There were also people on standby on their horses.
The Captain and Head Magician urged me to go to the entrance of the carriage so I did.
It was "ladies first", so I got onto the carriage first.
The entrance of the carriage was high up so I grabbed the sides to get on but then a hand reached out to me from the side.
I looked at the hand"s owner and it was the Captain.
It was somewhat embarra.s.sing but I thank him while taking his hand.
I was used to this kind of escort.
Was it thanks to my manner lectures?
I got onto the carriage while escaping reality and saw that it was bigger than I thought it would be.
There were blankets and cushions on the seats. I could tell that they put a lot of thought towards me travelling comfortably.
I appreciate it.
I sat down at the back and the Head Magician came into the carriage.
He sat next to me but this carriage was bigger than the one I used when I went to the Royal Capital so I didn"t mind that much.
Yes, I don"t want to sit close to a good looking man.
The carriage doors closed and the carriage started moving.
It took a day to reach the West Forest.
I also asked the Head Magician about the West Forest during the magic lecture.
Translator: Blushy
I"m back o/. Golden week has finally finished and I don"t wanna go back to work QwQ
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