Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
We rode through the streets in our carriage, making our way toward the gate in the city walls.
“““Bye-bye!”””
“Take care out there!”
The orphanage construction site we had visited was near the gate in the city walls, so Shiro and the others leaned out of the carriage and waved goodbye.
Before long, we met up with the military convoy.
“Tory-san, sorry to keep you waiting.”
“No, no. We just arrived ourselves. Now then, sorry to rush things, but let’s get going to the Royal Capital.”
There were six carriages in total, four of which were for transporting supplies and personnel, while a cavalry unit formed a tight perimeter around the entire convoy. We are scheduled to travel at the very back of the formation.
“We’ll be traveling at a fairly brisk pace along the way. We’ll only stop in towns to replenish our supplies, and otherwise we’ll be camping out. Will that be a problem?”
“Not at all. We’ve brought plenty of food, and we’ve also prepared everything we need to sleep inside the carriage.”
“Hahaha. That’s reassuring to hear.”
I had assumed Tory-san would be riding in one of the carriages, but he’s actually handling his own horse. Apparently, he didn’t like being cooped up in a confined space and wanted to keep his body moving. He rode alongside our carriage, peering curiously inside.
“Hmm… this goes here, and that goes there…”
“Sue-oneechan, I finished the calculations!”
“I finished mine, too!”
“All right, let me grade them.”
Inside the carriage, we had set up one of our little secret gadgets.
We placed a cloth over a low sitting-style desk, then put a wooden board on top to serve as a tabletop. Underneath it, we had placed a magic tool that generated heat. It was a makeshift kotatsu, and considering how quickly we’d put it together, it had turned out pretty well.
Sue was using the kotatsu to teach Shiro and the others. Ao was helping teach them as well.
“That kotatsu of yours is quite something. Winters are inevitably cold, so having something that can conveniently provide warmth is very useful.”
“The mechanism is extremely simple, so you’re welcome to make one yourselves.”
“Hmm. We can’t try it right now, but we’ll give it a shot once we return to the Royal Capital.”
Tory-san seemed quite interested in the kotatsu inside our carriage.
That said, since we were currently escorting the convoy, I imagine he’d probably make one for himself once we reached the royal capital. Incidentally, although we were traveling at a fairly brisk pace, our two horses were handling it without the slightest problem.
After stopping in a town to replenish whatever supplies we needed, we traveled a little farther before stopping along the highway for lunch.
“Good work, Maroon!”
“Ale, I’m going to wipe you down.”
“Here’s some water.”
““Hi-hiiin””
With Sue helping them out, Shiro and the others eagerly took care of the horses. The water was supplied using Fran’s magic, and we had plenty of feed stored in the magic bag we kept for the carriage.
Sizzle, sizzle.
As for me, I am preparing lunch together with the members of the rear support unit. It’s much more efficient to cook everything together rather than making separate meals just for ourselves after all.
Ao is helping out as well, grilling meat one piece after another.
“It’s nice being able to have a hot meal while on the march like this.”
Tory-san is looking forward to the food we were making, too.
Apparently, there really had been a time when soldiers on the march had nothing but hardtack and dried meat to eat. These days, however, magic bags had become so advanced that transporting ingredients was hardly an issue.
Of course, we were also preparing meals for the people we were escorting.
And now, as for how the finished food tasted…
““““Yummy!””””
It was enough to put big smiles on Shiro and the others’ faces.
When it’s time to eat, you need to eat well and get plenty of rest, too.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeneijiworks.com
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