Chapter 9 – Episode 8 – The Main Quest Proceeds Automatically (2)

The preparations were over in a flash.
Diana was quite motivated, so those of us under her had no choice but to act quickly.
The problem was Karsilla. She was too young to take along, but if I left her behind, she tended to rely on me too much.

‘Normally, I’d leave her behind to reduce her dependence… but why would I?’

Sometimes, when reading novels, a heroine would appear who was obsessively reliant on the protagonist. When the protagonist would try to foster her independence by separating from her, I’d always wonder.

Why? Why reduce it?
A heroine who only relies on me? I should be encouraging that, not reducing it. Especially when she’s a talented individual who I absolutely want in my party. Why would you foolishly try to fix a clingy heroine? You just need to control her appropriately.

“Yeah, I should take her with me.”

What if I left her behind and she suddenly decided, ‘I don’t need Papa anymore’ and flew away? She’s about to hit puberty, and things change every day at that age. I can’t leave her behind, not after raising her so carefully. She’s mine!
So, I quickly visited the children’s priest order and took Karsilla out.

“Where to?”
“The Irup Lowlands. Sounds good, right? Yay~ It’s a trip, a trip~… You don’t like it?”
“Annoying.”

Ugh, this little brat.
I want to take her, but I don’t want to force her if she doesn’t want to go. It’s a shame, but should I leave Karsilla at the temple?
But then, Karsilla took out a large backpack from her room and started packing her things.

“Weren’t you not going?”
“When did I say that?”
“……?”
“I said it was annoying.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“It’s different. …Packing is annoying.”

…Is she already going through puberty? She’s cute, so I’ll let it slide.
I helped Karsilla pack, and after packing my own things, I saw Irian walking with two backpacks as big as his body.
What’s with him? Is he moving somewhere?

“Irian.”
“Hmm? Is that you, Yurian?”
“What are those huge backpacks? Are you moving somewhere?”
“You’re so stupid. We have to travel a long distance to the Irup Lowlands. Of course, we have to be thoroughly prepared. Is that all you’ve prepared?”

He smirked at my measly single backpack. Seriously, who is he to laugh at me?

“Ugh, you idiot. Do you think we’re really going on a trip? We’re the Saintess’s party, why would we carry so much luggage? They’ll take care of everything. You should repack.”
“Wha, what…? No, no! How dare you touch my luggage!”

I dumped his bulging backpack on the floor, and all sorts of junk spilled out. And there were women’s undergarments too.
Irian’s face turned bright red. He probably doesn’t know I’ve noticed, does he? Should I tease Sir Irian, who’s been working so hard to pretend to be a man?

“Isn’t this… women’s underwear? Irian, you….”
“Uwaaa, n-no! It’s not, it’s not like that…”
“It’s okay. I understand, my friend. It’s quite… nice underwear. Heh. You know what’s good.”
“……Wh, what do you mean!”

What do I mean? He looks so flustered by the unexpected turn of events, it’s quite cute.
Surprisingly, Irian’s underwear is quite fancy, with lace panties. Heh… I would have been disappointed if even the underwear was realistic medieval style, but the creators at least have some conscience. I should buy pretty underwear for our Diana too.

I took another look at Irian, who was yelling with a bright red face.
His fiery red hair, with its high saturation, swayed below his ears, and his jewel-like red eyes and originally fair face were now flushed with embarrassment. He has a slender frame and a petite figure that fits perfectly in your arms, but his thin waist and rapidly widening hips and buttocks…

He’s already so pretty, and this is even when he’s dressed as a man. If he dressed up, he’d be as beautiful as Diana. How do I know? Because I saw his female illustration in the game.
His profile in the game’s setting book says he’s 162cm tall with a full B-cup chest. A typical slender, pretty girl character. He perfectly fits the image that comes to mind when you think of a tsundere character. That makes him all the more fun to tease. I wonder if he’ll ever wear pigtails? Then he’d be the perfect tsundere character.

“What do you mean? It’s a secret part that all men have. Right, Irian? You understand if you’re a man, right?”
“U, understand? …Of course! Of course! I understand!”

He’s quick to agree, but he still has a long way to go. My build-up was all for this.

“Then, this. Let me use these panties too.”
“……What!? Use, use them!?”
“Why are you so surprised? Men share good things. So, let’s share them. I’ll give them back. Okay?”
“Wh, wh-what! G-give them back! You crazy bastard!”
“Hey, hey. Why are you acting so suspicious? Let’s not do this between men. You know what I mean if you’re a man, right?”
“…….”

He was trembling with a bright red face, it was so cute I almost burst out laughing. No, no.
I almost laughed, so I unconsciously covered my face with my hand. The problem was, I was holding the panties in my hand?
I ended up showing him the sight of me holding his panties up to my face.

“What are you doing!”

Oops. I think I’ve been misunderstood.
…Then, I’ll make that misunderstanding not a misunderstanding.

“Sniff sniff. Hmm. I smell something good.”
“G-good smell!? You pervert!”
“Why are you so worked up? It’s like they’re your own panties.”
“……I-it’s not like that… but it’s still dirty!”
“Hmm~ Smell~ Haa haa.”
“Get lost, you pervert!”

Heh heh.
I deliberately waved the panties around as I walked out, and I could hear his angry breathing from beyond the door. He probably won’t talk to me for a while. If he’s this sulky, I shouldn’t talk to him for a day or so.

Oh, shoot. I don’t have time for this.
After organizing my luggage, Karsilla’s luggage, and even Irian’s luggage, I was running out of time. I quickly headed to Diana’s room, and our Saintess, who was pouting with her arms crossed, glared at me.

Oh, the massive bulge above her crossed arms… it’s a sight to behold. I wanted to rub my face against it right away, but… calm down. I don’t have time, so I need to pack her things quickly.

“Why are you so late?”
“I had to pack my things too. And I had to pack for Karsilla, and take care of Irian. He’s kind of a mess.”
“…But you’re still too late. Isn’t Diana first?”
“Of course, Diana is first. That’s why I’m taking care of her last. I have to be thorough.”
“…Tch.”

I soothed her a little, and her pouty lips disappeared. Looking at her, I think she’s pretending to be angry on purpose.
I packed mainly Diana’s clean underwear and priestess robes. After seeing Irian’s fancy underwear, I felt bad looking at her plain underwear. I should buy pretty underwear for our Diana later.

There’s no need to pack a lot.
The main road, called the ‘Imperial Road,’ is known as the lifeline of the continent. There are towns and cities along the road for the many people who travel along it. If we just follow the road, we’ll be staying in towns and cities more often than camping out.

We’re supposed to be tracking down the ‘minions of the devil’ and defeating demons, but in reality, it’s a tour to secure the influence of the Saintess’s order.
In other words, we’ll be slowly visiting the towns and cities along the road, receiving all sorts of hospitality and welcome. I know the general outline of the lowlands quest, so I can take my time and solve it.

But the fact that the quest has started means that some trigger has been activated, right? Why did it activate? Who, when, where, and how? Did it activate automatically due to the timing?
There are too many possibilities without any clues. If I had an intelligence organization, maybe, but I can’t create an intelligence organization as a mere priest.

After packing Diana’s things, I tidied her hair. Her long, glossy golden hair is so nice to touch, I enjoy tidying it.

“How should I do it today?”
“Braid it.”
“Like this… in a bun?”
“Yeah.”

Diana giggled as she looked at her hair in the mirror. Her blue eyes were like clear jewels, and the clean glass mirror reflected her eyes perfectly. As I stared at her, our eyes met in the mirror.
She slowly lifted her face. Diana’s face, looking up at me, seemed to be saying something.

It’s obvious what Diana wants. It’s so clear that I can’t mistake it. I also lowered my face slightly, meeting her gaze. The image of ‘Yurian’ reflected in her eyes grew larger as we got closer, and just before our lips touched.
Knock knock, the door opened slightly with a sound.

“Saintess…nim? Huh? Why, why are you looking at me like that….”

I saw Irian, flustered by Diana’s sharp glare, and thought that he really had bad timing. Well, there will be many opportunities. It’s easier outside than in the temple, where there are so many eyes and ears.
I licked my lips without realizing it. I’m looking forward to this trip too.

* * *

‘The Imperial Road’
‘The Imperial Highway’
‘The Emperor’s Road’

The main road, called by various names, is the lifeline that crosses the continent. In modern terms, imagine the Roman roads that were built across Europe.

Although it’s called the Imperial Road, it has nothing to do with the current empire. It was built in ancient times, during the ancient empire, and has been maintained and repaired ever since, connecting the continent… that’s the official setting.

Well… it reminds me of Rome, but if I think too deeply, I’ll lose. The setting is just the setting, so I should just accept it.

As I stared blankly at the road, listening to the clattering of the horses’ hooves, it certainly deserved to be called the lifeline of the continent.

This well-maintained road was wide enough for four carriages to travel side by side. It was paved with evenly laid stones, and the outer edges were slightly lower with grooves for drainage. It was almost unreal.

This kind of road stretches for thousands of kilometers.
How is this even possible! …If you ask that, of course it’s possible. It’s a game.

If I think too deeply, things will get weird, so I shouldn’t think about it anymore.
It’s a peaceful but boring schedule. As I let my body sway with the movement of the horse, the window of the fancy carriage opened with a creak, and familiar black hair appeared.
A small head poked out of the window, looking around, and then spotted me and waved. It was Karsilla.

“What is it? Is something wrong?”

She made a ‘bleh’ face at my gentle tone. She should at least play along when people are watching, this little brat. I want to punch her in the philtrum, but I’ll hold back.

“The Saintess is asking when we’ll arrive.”
“It’ll be a while, so tell her that.”
“Then she says we should go faster.”
“Tell her this is fast enough.”
“She says everyone is riding horses, so we should go faster.”
“…Okay, go back inside.”

I sighed as I watched her small head disappear. Diana and Karsilla together, my head is already hurting.
I moved my horse closer to Sir Jacob, who was leading the group. He must have already heard everything with his excellent hearing, because he nodded as soon as I approached. Ah, I can’t play with Diana at night with this old man around. He’ll hear everything with his sharp ears. I’m doomed.

“Hurry! Pick up the pace!”
“Pick up the pace!”

The white knights shouted loudly after the old man’s lead. They were the muscular holy knights in white outfits that reminded me of Andre Kim.
I’m glad our Irian isn’t influenced by them. His primness is Irian’s charm.
The clattering of the horses’ hooves quickened, and after a while, I could see a city in the distance.

It was the city of Itzruku, a satellite city of the Holy Nation of Hespolte, now famous for its developed commerce. It was a commercial hub that was not inferior to the famous free cities of the lowlands.
There was also a named NPC that could be recruited. I’ve never recruited him in the game though.

A huge city unfolded before my eyes.
Is it because it’s a satellite city of the Holy Nation? It was a city spread out in an open area without any walls, as if they had no sense of security.
The center was filled with luxurious high-rise buildings, while the outskirts were lined with shabby shacks, showing a stark contrast in wealth.
The moment I took in the sight, a quest window automatically appeared in front of me.

● Main Quest – The Beginning of the Journey

…Huh? This is the one that appears after the tutorial.
Does this mean the main story is finally starting now? After 16 years, now!?