Chapter 36 – Kaya stands in the capital

“…Let’s see…”

I stop the two-wheeled magic vehicle in a grassy field near the capital.

My magic bag uses the owner’s magic energy to expand space, so I can feel that something’s alive inside it. I’m kind of curious because there’s no movement inside it… But I’m sure she’s just sitting still in a corner.

I put the bag on the ground and undo the seal.

This makes Kaya pop out, and she appears on the grassy field. I wasn’t worried or anything, but I’m a bit relieved to see she’s fine. Knowing that I can put living beings inside the magic bag is a big discovery.

“How was it inside, Kaya?”

“…”

She doesn’t respond.

She’s just standing here looking vacantly at the sky. It’s like her mind isn’t here…

I’m getting deja vu from when I was a student. I remember Sieglinde looking like this sometimes, after reading a complicated magic book.

Did her mind touch upon the truth of this world or something like that?

“Big sister Kaya isn’t moving.”

“Yes. I think there’s something wrong with her.”

Ririi starts tapping Kaya’s legs, but her mind is still beyond the sky. The angel bear is here too, but it immediately lies down and starts relaxing. It got over the death of its parent pretty quickly. Then again, it’s a monster.

And if it can forget a sadness that looks like it will never go away, it should.

Eventually, Kaya’s body trembles and she speaks.

“…Ah!? What!? Where am I!?”

“Wah wah!”

Ririi is startled and falls back as Kaya suddenly awakens. I worry about her for a moment, but she immediately starts playing with the angel bear, so I move my eyes back to Kaya.

“Are you all right?”

“Weiss… That’s you, right? Sorry, my head is spinning.”

Her mind hasn’t fully recovered yet, and she looks like she just woke up and is still half asleep.

…I should probably not put people in the magic bag. It clearly has an effect on the body.

“We’re near the capital. I brought you here because you said you want to check out our place. Do you remember that?”

“Hn…”

Kaya frowns… And then raises her voice and glares at me.

“Weiss! I almost died because of you! Take responsibility!”

“Almost died?”

“Yes! Because you forced me in that bag!”

“I don’t remember forcing you…”

…You suggested it.

“I’ll take you on my back when you go back, so don’t worry about it.”

“When I go back?”

Kaya looks confused, but I’m pretty sure what I said was very straightforward. What’s there to be confused about?

“I’m not going back.”

She says with a blank look on her face.

“…Ah?”

Not going back…?

Is her head still not fully there?

“I can’t leave that angel bear with someone like you. You don’t know anything about them. I have no choice but to stay here for a while and watch over you. Ah… Of course, you need to pay for everything I need. I don’t have any money.”

She says while proudly puffing her chest.

I don’t get it, but someone like her really shouldn’t go in the capital.

We walk towards the gate, and I hope the guards are taking their job seriously.

◆

“Please come through.”

“…Ah?”

The soldier wearing an imposing silver armor bows to me and steps out of the way.

“No no… We’re clearly suspicious. Check more thoroughly. And don’t let one of us go in.”

I’m with an elf girl that’s holding a monster, and a girl that’s wearing a native outfit and is clearly from the countryside.

If this suspicious group gets through, who gets stopped?

Kaya in particular is looking around so much that it looks like her head’s going to fly away from her body. How’s an adult like her more restless than Ririi?

“H-hey, what gives!?”

I push Kaya in front of the guard… But he points to the city without even looking at her.

“Miss Sieglinde has ordered us to let anyone Mister Weiss brings enter, no questions asked.”

“…I see.”

Letting people into the capital without checking them is a privilege only a few executives in the ministry of magic have access to. And apparently I have power on the same level as a high official of the ministry of magic.

That Sieglinde went and did this on her own…

“Eh? What what!? Are you actually a big shot, Weiss!?”

“Daddy is incredible!”

“Kyu.”

Kaya jumps in as I talk to the guard.

She looks like she can’t contain herself with the capital in front of her for the first time, and even the guard that was given orders by a superior officer is looking at Kaya like he’s not sure about this.

…Sorry, but you should probably reject this one. I won’t say anything to Sieglinde.

“Now onto the capital! Lead the way Weiss!”

Kaya realizes the guard isn’t stopping her, so she walks forward with big steps.

The guard and I see her go, I apologize to him with my eyes, and he gives me a little nod.

“Stop dilly-dallying Weiss! Come on!”

She turns around and yells.

In a way, this bold attitude might actually be pretty impressive for someone seeing the capital for the first time.

“Yes yes…”

Still… Who would’ve guessed that I would go out to get a monster’s fur and come back with a person?

I let out a small sigh, and imagine the exasperated look on Sieglinde’s face when she learns about this.

Maybe I really am gaining a future sight ability.