It’s Ko-Fi’s Supporters’ chapter (61/92), enjoy~
Chapter 126 – Go Through The Sky
The following day, Sylphy and I were having breakfast with Grande, ready for our trip.
“Today’s a cheeseburger, isn’t it?”
“Oh. It may be a little heavy for breakfast, but it takes many calories to fly, right? The cheese will kick in more and fill you up more.”
“I see.”
Grande nodded at my words and cleared her throat. Next to me, who was chewing on a cheeseburger while glancing up at us, Sylphy, had an indescribable expression on her face.
“It sounds like she’s just groaning to me, but you’re having a conversation, so…”
“It is working, this one. I can hear a girl’s voice overlaid on the groaning. It’s like the girl’s voice is coming right through me.”
“It’s strange… Come to think of it, Kosuke doesn’t really speak the same language as we do, does he?”
“That’s right. I think I speak the language of my own country. Sylphy’s words sound like the language of my country. It’s the same as Grande’s.”
“Fumu, I see… Maybe there are some races that just don’t speak each other’s language but can actually talk to each other.”
“By the way, I couldn’t understand the goblins.”
“You can’t? Even though they look like that.”
“I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.”
They just sounded like dirty cries. They have the intelligence to use crude tools and weapons, so why weren’t they included? I wondered. I’m not going to bother studying them.
“Kosuke, where should we fly today? Can we just fly straight to the Black Forest?”
“No, I want us to head to the fort at the border of the Great Omit Wilderness first. We need to place a large golem transmitter there.”
“Hmm… I think I know where that is. It’s a facility full of human soldiers just outside the wilderness, right? I saw it when I came out of the Black Forest.”
“Yes, yes, that’s it. There are three of these, and I want to install it in the middle of the fort.”
“It’ll be fine. And after that?”
“Once I have installed the transmitter in the fort, the next step is the base in the center of the Great Omit Wilderness. Once that is done, we will head for the Black Forest.”
“Hmm, I see. What is this communication device?”
“It’s a device that allows you to communicate with each other even when you are far away. Think of it as a magically enhanced version of smoke signals.”
“Oh… how does it work?”
Grande seemed to be very intrigued by my explanation. I think her eyes were sparkling. It’s unusual for her to be so aggressive.
“I’m not that familiar with it, but I think it’s like using magic to send out a code created with magic wavelengths and then having a golem that’s memorized the code translate it back into words. Do you want me to bring someone who knows more about it next time?”
“Yes… that would be fine. If I can understand the code, I may be able to talk to humans.”
“…Oh, yes, that’s true too. If it works, it might be possible to create a kind of translation machine.”
“A translator machine?”
“It’s a machine that automatically translates each other’s words. Dragon words into human words, human words into dragon words, that sort of thing.”
“That would be very convenient.”
Grande slapped the ground with her tail, looking happy. It would be a real breakthrough if such a thing were created. A machine that can talk to dragons would be the stuff of romance.
“Kosuke, you seem to have shown a lot of compassion for that dragon, haven’t you?”
“Hmm? Yeah, I guess so. Grande is my friend. At first, I thought she looked scary, but once I got used to her, I found her cute.”
She may look fierce, but when you look at her closely, her gestures are kind of cute. No matter how big or vicious she looks, when I see her lazing in the sun, lounging around, yawning, or eating a hamburger with both hands like she’s munching on it, I think she’s cute. It’s strange.
“Even the most fearsome dragon is like a pet to Kosuke.”
“Don’t say something unkind. Grande is a friend, a friend. Right?”
“Yes. Kosuke is my friend. He treats me well.”
Grande nodded while chewing. With this, if Grande transforms into a noja loli dragon girl, I’ll have more wives, but when I asked Isla about it, she said that she had never heard of a dragon transforming like that and that no amount of magic could change the size or shape of her body.
In other words, there is no flag for the appearance of a noja loli dragon girl unless God performs a miracle also unless I do something extraordinary.
My abilities are completely miraculous, so there’s always a chance that I’ll make a mistake and create a humanizing potion or some such item. It’s impossible with magic, but it’s possible with miracles.
It’s indeed nothing short of a miracle that a non-human being can become a person.
“Mm, it was delicious. Are you ready to fly?”
“I guess so. Are you ready, Sylphy?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
“Don’t worry; it’s not that scary. I’m only a little scared when we land, but that’s it.”
“I’ll try not to dive.”
Grande nodded. Yes, I’m afraid of landing. You know what I mean when I say that my stomach feels like it’s about to explode or my balls feel like whoosh or something like that… right?
“I’ve made a saddle for it this time.”
I had a leather craftsman in Erichburg make a fine saddle for me using the wyvern hides that Grande had hunted. He was almost crying with fear when he measured the size of the saddle, but that fear seemed insignificant in the face of the magnitude of his achievement in making a wyvern skin and a dragon saddle.
It was too late to tan the wyvern skins, so he made them out of leather he already had in stock. I wonder if I could get him to make me one in wyvern leather sometime soon.
“The saddle fits well. Grande, do you feel any pain or difficulty moving?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good. Come on, Sylphy.”
“Yeah, okay.”
I piled up stone blocks to make a simple ramp and climbed onto Grande’s back.
“There you go, Sylphy.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I got on Grande’s back first, then took her hand and helped her into the saddle. Grande’s saddle is kind of like a… normal saddle, I guess.
There’s a bulge that looks like a motorcycle seat, and you sit on it. There are five bulges in total, and the capacity is for five people. There are stirrups to stabilize your posture, belts to secure your body, and many belts to secure your luggage in the side space where no one can sit.
If somehow communication with Grande is possible, up to five other people can move with the luggage. There should be no problem in calculating the endurance, but just in case, I’ve also attached ropes to the protrusions on Grande’s body and attached a lifeline. If we were to fall from the sky, there would be no way to save Sylphy or me.
Sylphy has magic, and I might be able to manage a chance if I use a straw block, but there’s no harm in being cautious.
Everyone saw us off when we left the lord’s mansion, so no one came to watch us take off ― no, the Harpies are watching us from the top of the city walls. It looks like there are a few others.
“We’re off!”
“Okay. You take care of the rest!”
When Sylphy and I waved greatly, the Harpies and other people on the wall responded by waving their wings and hands back at us.
“Okay. Grande, please.”
“Mmm, looks like you’re okay. Hold on tight, just in case.”
Grande bent her long neck to make sure we were ready, then let out a single roar, started to run, spread her wings wide, and took off.
The moment we floated up into the sky, I felt as if my body was being held down. It seemed to have taken off safely.
“Oh… so this is the view from the back of a dragon. It’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“It’s really an amazing view, isn’t it? I’ll never get tired of just looking at it.”
Grande’s flight altitude was not very high. However, even though Grande can protect us with her magic, flying too high is hard for us on her back, let alone for Grande.
“It’s fast… At this pace, we should be able to reach the fort soon.”
“You don’t have to take a winding road, and the ruggedness doesn’t matter. After all, flying is much faster than walking on the ground.”
After all, Grande’s ability to move and transport can be a weapon on a strategic level, not a tactical level. The Liberation Army now has an advantage in terms of information with its golem communication device, but in terms of movement, it is not much different from the Holy Kingdom Army. As for weapons, the Liberation Army has an overabundance of advantages even now, and there are hidden gems that have yet to be fielded.
The next thing I need to work on is probably the suspension. Develop motorcycles, cars, and similar highly mobile means of transportation. This could be the key to further strengthening the Liberation Army.
Well, it’s no use just making the armed forces stronger, right? We’re in a de facto truce right now. But I can’t offer my wisdom in the area of diplomacy… I’m just a humble ex-employee who loves video games. It’s not like I’m an expert in history or military history.
But, a highly mobile means of transportation would be of great benefit not only militarily but also economically. Improved logistics would lead to more active trade and economic development. There may be a problem with dealing with vested interests such as carriage merchants, horse traders, and coach operators, though.
“Kosuke, we’re almost there.”
“Oh, really? Isn’t it too early?”
While I was thinking for a while, it seemed that we were already approaching the fort.
“I was looking at the terrain, so I’m pretty sure. Grande’s wings are really fast.”
“Yes, that’s true. I’m going to have to go out of my way to thank Grande for this.”
“Hmm, yes. It’s not about one-sided exploitation; it’s about to give and take.”
I couldn’t turn around in the saddle, but I could feel that Sylphy was smiling.
“You’re right.”
I nodded at her words. A relationship that is just one-sided exploitation is really not something that can last. It may be beneficial in the short term, but in the long run, it is usually detrimental.
Well, I suppose it’s possible to build a mutually beneficial relationship and have both parties fall apart, but I don’t think that’s the be-all and end-all.
“In that case, how much do I have to give back to Kosuke…? Fufu.”
“I don’t really care. I’m good as long as I can be with you, Sylphy.”
“It’s not going to work out that way. That is what I also want, so it’s not worth the price of Kosuke’s work.”
“That’s a problem.”
“Yeah, I’m in trouble.”
I can feel her laughing behind my back as she says I’m in trouble. An arm reached out from behind me and hugged my body. I could feel her body heat radiating from her arms, which made me feel at ease.
“…Sorry to interrupt your good mood, but we’re about to land, okay?”
“Oh, yeah. You can do it anytime.”
“S-sorry.”
I was startled by Grande’s sudden call to me. I was completely lost in our own world. I knew we would be landing soon.
“Well, let’s go. Hold on tight.”
Grande started to descend for landing.
Wait, Grande-san? Isn’t the angle of the landing too tight? W-wait. Wait.
“Uwwoooohhhh…”
“Hiyaaaaaaaaaa…”
Grande’s descent was truly fantastic… Was it a bad idea to flirt on her back? I’ll be careful next time.
T/n: Grande is indeed cute.