by Funa
“But you can’t do anything by yourself, right, Roland? You always have someone helping you get dressed or tying your shoes...”
“I can do all of that just fine!” Roland howled, cutting me off.
In the end, we settled on Layette, Emile, Belle and I all being siblings, with me being the second oldest daughter. Roland and Francette were an engaged couple who just happened to being staying at the same inn as us, and didn’t have anything to do with us.
“I actually would’ve preferred you guys to stay at a separate inn, since I just feel like you’re going to blow my cover...”
“We already decided this, so don’t start complaining about it now!”
Francette would usually do whatever I said, but she wasn’t going to give up on this one. I could understand why, though.
“Then let’s get going. You two go do your own thing, and make sure you don’t come over to chat with me or say anything that would give me away—especially you, Roland!”
Roland and Francette didn’t look too stoked to hear that, but Layette, Emile, Belle and I headed straight for town. I made sure to stow my chariot away in my Item Box first, though, with Layette and me both riding on Ed. Things could get messy if we pulled up to the inn with that.
As we trundled along, Emile and Belle matched our pace while keeping slightly behind us. It was the perfect spot to stay wary of their surroundings while being ready to jump in and protect me at a moment’s notice should anything go wrong. Ed probably didn’t find it particularly pleasant to be protected by his wife and child, but there wasn’t much he could do about it since I was the priority here, and Ed knew that.
“Sorry about all this.”
“Heh! That’s my job, so don’t mention it,” came Ed’s casual reply.
No, I wasn’t surprised that Ed realized what I was talking about just now.
His job, huh... I wonder if horses expect a salary and stuff for work too?
Roland and Francette were about fifty meters behind us when they finally entered town. When my group and I were on the way to the center of town to look for an inn...
“Eek!”
...a wagon suddenly veered off to the side of the road to park by a store, smacking into a little girl. Though it looked like it only bumped her, the wagon was still made of metal that could hurt someone pretty badly. The girl had collapsed onto the stone pavement, groaning in pain. She still seemed conscious, but she may have fractured something if she hit the ground too hard. I didn’t know if it was from the wagon or the stone pavement, but I could see marks and scratches on her cheek from where she was hit.
“Ed!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
He trotted over to the girl and bent down slightly. I grabbed Layette and got off, setting her on the ground before pulling a potion from my Item Box. It’d be kinda shocking if I just made a potion on the spot out of thin air. That was why, if I took it out of my Item Box, it would look like I was pulling it out of somewhere...that they couldn’t see... Okay, sorry, the fact that it was going to shock people didn’t really change, did it? It made me feel better about it, at least.
“Drink this!”
The girl was still conscious. She was so confused by what was happening that she reflexively took the potion from me and drank it down on the spot. Her pain and wounds disappeared in an instant.
“Huh...?”
“Are you okay? I’m pretty sure your injuries are all better now, but your clothes are a little...ripped...”
The crowd around us was abuzz with talk, and I could hear the words “goddess” and “miracle” being thrown around.
O-Oh crap! I couldn’t stop myself, it’s a habit to do this now!
I was probably a public secret in Balmore, so they wouldn’t really bat an eye if I did something like this. That was how I lived my life the past four years, so I’d end up casually giving out potions to any kids who were hurt without thinking too hard about it. It was pretty much just reflexes at this point. But I just did this in a brand new town in a brand new country, which meant...
“G-Girl! Just who are you?!”
Of course a middle-aged aristocrat just stepped out of their carriage!
“Ed!”
“Roger that!”
Ed and I practically knew what each other were thinking after spending so much time together. He lowered himself down, and I clambered onto his back with Layette in tow.
“Let’s get outta here!”
“Aye aye, ma’am!”
Though I still didn’t have any modern-day riding gear on him like you’d find on Earth, I at least made sure he had a saddle and stirrups. I held on tight to Layette as we made our escape at full speed, alongside Emile and Belle, of course. Roland and Francette were pretending not to know us, following behind from a good distance away.
Hey, they might actually seem like people sent to chase after us.
The crowd was in an uproar behind me, and I could hear people yelling and stuff—but who cared about that now. All I was thinking about now was getting the hell out of here, and fast! If we didn’t, they most likely were going to send people after us.
I put some distance between the town and me before finally stopping and taking my chariot from my Item Box. Taking it out back there would have just made it too obvious who I was. I hooked it up to Ed, then lifted Layette up into it before jumping in myself. This should really let us haul ass to get outta here.
Ed and the others had already drank plenty of potions to pump up their stamina and speed, so all it’d take was a little more doping via potion and no horse should be able to catch us. They’d only seen us for a second, and only saw us riding off on three horses; they definitely wouldn’t be looking for a wagon with four people accompanying it. We should be able to play it off if anyone tried to find us now.
“All right, let’s get going!”
Roland had caught up to us by this point.
“...It’s the perfect plan. Everyone will think I’m just a commoner.”
Ngh!
“...and make sure you don’t come over to chat with me or say anything that would give me away—especially you, Roland!”
Mngh... Nrrrgh...
“Heheh... Hahaha!”
MMMGGGHHHHHH!!!
“Ahahahaha!”
“Hehe...” Even Francette was getting in on this...
“““Ahahahaha!!!”””
Emile and Belle, you guys, too?! Gahhh, just kill me already!!!
Bonus Chapter: Much, Much Later...
“Mom!”
“Grandma!”
“Great grandma...”
Surrounded by a group of my children and great-grandchildren, my consciousness was slowly slipping away from me. I lived a good life...but there was just one thing... There was one thing I couldn’t forgive.
“Hey, God!”
“Y-Yes! I know, I know...”
A white space. In this empty void was a man with golden hair and blue eyes, who was the physical embodiment of what every woman would consider to be a “good man.” He wore a white outfit that seemed like something an aristocrat from ancient Rome would wear.
Who else could it be, but God.
“So, where is she now?”
“She’s on a journey with her companions right now, and having plenty fun by the sound of it.”
“And Reiko?”
“She’s already with her.”
“Tch! So I’m late to the party... What about preparations with the god from over there?”
“That’s already taken care of. Oh dear, I’m just going to be causing more trouble for her...”
“Good! Then send me over, if you please!”
“Understood. I hope you have a nice life there.”
“Thanks for getting us taken care of then. See you!”
Though she’d been pretty spry for a ninety-year-old, her soul had grown weary over the years. But after she’d been freed from the restraints of her aging body, she was as energetic as she was
back in her younger days.
Her soul and consciousness were sent away to another world by the young man who looked like a god. After he was finished, he muttered to himself, “But still, I was so surprised when a normal human was able to contact me seventy years ago through sheer force of will alone... It really made me realize once again just the sort of potential they have. Definitely a learning experience, if I do say so myself.”
The being who watched over Earth fondly remembered the promise the girls who came to yell at him had him make...
We’re going to have you make up for all the fun times I was supposed to have with Kaoru!
“I ended up causing more trouble for Celes again... I really must do something to make it up to her.”
“Welcome to my world: Verny!”
Kyoko recoiled slightly as she came face-to-face with a girl grinning from ear-to-ear.
“Um, so, about what the god from Earth and I talked about...”
“Yes, I’ve already heard all about it! Should be the same thing as what Reiko Kuon asked for, right?”
She looks excited about this... Kyoko thought to herself.
“So, uh...you seem pretty happy about something,” she couldn’t help but comment.
The goddess, on the other hand, seemed like she’d been waiting to be asked that.
“Well, you see, I just got a message from the being in charge of your world, saying he’s sorry to cause me trouble and that he’s going to make it up to me somehow. Hehe... Ehehe...”
Kyoko knew exactly what was going on here. They didn’t say you got wiser as you grew older for nothing.
“What did Reiko ask for?”
“She asked to ‘be able to use every type of magic and to have unlimited MP.’”
Yeah, that sounds like Reiko all right. Just goes all in when it comes to this stuff.
“Then I’d like the ability to create anything I want.”
“A-Anything? That might be a little too much...”
The goddess fretted. Thus, Kyoko conceded and changed her request.
“Then how about the ability for me to create any ship I know of? I’m no expert on ships, so I’d like to ask for them to be put together based on what’s written about them. I’d also like to automatically know how to use each one I make, please. I’m a complete beginner when it comes to this stuff, after all.”
“Only ships, you say... I think Kaoru and the others might be just about ready to cross the sea, actually, so this is some good timing. Let’s go with that, then.”
The goddess seemed relieved that she managed to have Kyoko scale back her wish to something more reasonable. Kyoko, on the other hand, was grinning on the inside.
“But you’re quite the impressive pair. I’ve heard what you managed to do from the other god, despite the fact that you’re only humans. Why did you go through such lengths to do that? Just who are you to Kaoru?”
Kyoko broke into a wide grin as she answered the goddess: “I’m Kyoko Nishozono, and she’s Reiko Kuon—we’re Kaoru Nagase’s best friends!”
After descending unto the world in her new body, her youth restored, Kyoko checked her surroundings before creating a certain ship from her memories. It was controlled by an on-board computer with its own personality, had its own powerful, laser optic weaponry, came with its own squadron of robot soldiers, and was jam-packed full of supplies in its storage bay. This was how she was going to travel the world and find Kaoru and the others.
Even if she didn’t end up finding her friend, Reiko should be able to use some sort of wide-range sensor magic to try and find Kaoru. Once Reiko realized Kyoko had arrived in this world as well, she should be able to find or contact Kyoko so they could band up and look together. It wasn’t like she was pressed for time, especially since she’d asked for the same conditions Kaoru had made for her new body after hearing about it from the god of Earth.
Kyoko sat herself in the captain’s chair and gave an order to the computer.
“Let’s take off!”
Bonus Story: Kaoru’s Splendid Life
Several months had passed since the peace talks had ended.
“Miss Kaoru, the Aligot Empire sent you an invitation to celebrate the construction of their first ship.”
“Pass!” I immediately turned down the invitation when Francette told me about it.
The ship in question was based off a model I gave them of a carrack, a ship from the early seafaring days meant to sail on the open seas. It was a bit smaller than most of the carracks you’d find back on Earth, but it should be good enough for their first prototype ship. So long as it wasn’t hit by a sudden storm or anything, it should be plenty to get them to the island to the west.
I understood why the upper brass in Aligot wanted to invite me out there, but if I was being honest here, I just didn’t want to go. I knew it was because they felt like they owed me a debt of gratitude for telling them about the island and empowering them with enough knowledge about boats to get there. They probably invited me as way of deepening our friendship and to ask me more technical advice on shipbuilding, and I wasn’t against that.
Still, so many had died in that battle. I bet there were just as many people who held a grudge against me for that. They’d lost sons, husbands, and fathers in that war, and they weren’t just going to forget all that and welcome me with open arms because I helped out their country just a little.
But it’d be a devastating blow for them if I was to suddenly disappear or turn my back on Aligot, so I doubted they’d try and harm me. That said, I also doubted that sort of deep-seated hatred would disappear so easily. That was why I thought it best for me to not go there for now. They might never be able to bring themselves to forgive me, but their anger might at least dull over time. The passage of time could be cruel, but it could also end up being a blessing in disguise.
“Then for the next order of business, you’ve been invited to a party with a group of delegates from Aligot...”
“Oh, maybe I’ll go to that one, actually. I’m sure those guys have their own standing to worry about, after all.”
Even if it’d only been half a year, I still had experience working as an office lady. Also, as someone who was once a working adult, I knew a little something about what it meant to have “standing” in society. Their reputation back home could get worse if they didn’t meet with me before going back home, and I’d just feel bad for them if that happened. I’m actually a pretty considerate person, you see.
No, seriously, I mean it!
“You’ve also received an invitation to the crown prince of Aseed’s birthday celebration...”
“Pass! I’ve got a bad feeling about that one. Wouldn’t the king just say no to it, anyway?”
“Oh, well...yes, probably.”
I’m sure the king would end up putting a stop to it himself in the end, but I’d like to think this was his way of at least consulting with me first before rejecting the invitation on my behalf... Or maybe he just didn’t have the guts to do it because he was afraid I’d find out he rejected it.
“You’ve also received this message from the crown prince of Brancott—”
I swiped the letter from her hand and tore it to shreds on the spot.
“Wh-What are you doing?!” Francette exclaimed, panicking over the fact that I’d ripped up a letter from royalty without even reading it.
I don’t care how many problems this causes, I’m gonna live the way I want to! There’s no place for him in my new life here!
Francette’s shoulders slumped as she watched me stomp on the scraps of paper I threw on the ground. I had already talked all about the prince and his antics with Francette, so it should be fine.
“Next is something from a Mr. Elretz from the Republic of Leleyda...”
“Who? And wait, where?”
Gonna be honest here, I’ve never heard of those names before.
When Francette finally left after passing on all the latest happenings from the palace, I finally
had a chance to catch my breath. Ever since Lolotte had taken over my duties at the Maillard Workshop, I’d moved back into the house the children lived in and made sure to take care of them. Well, I said “take care of,” but Lucy was in charge of cooking after inheriting the position from Lolotte. If I did everything for them and ended up disappearing one day, it’d be hard for them to suddenly have to take care of themselves otherwise.
I’d just help out every once in a while as their guardian, while the kids would do pretty much everything on their own. Other than that, they were completely independent.
They’d split up the cooking, cleaning, and laundry and do it all themselves, which was why I wasn’t really doing anything at all. I just ended up lazing around the house when I came back home.
“Lunch is ready, Miss Kaoru!”
Yeah, not too shabby.
Wait...am I just a mooch now?
I only made enough money to support my own lifestyle, and they didn’t even try to take a single copper coin from me... I wasn’t just a mooch, but a NEET, too!
No! I was actually working! I was saving up money by selling my potions and producing new products alongside the Abili Trade Company, and I’d even had meetings with other countries... But that didn’t matter since I wasn’t putting any of that money into our finances at home! It was just like those losers who put all their money into booze and gambling without giving any to their families...
...Dang, now I’m depressed. Maybe I’ll go out shopping for a change...
I left the house and had just started walking to the shopping district when...
“Long time no see, Miss Kaoru!”
“Ah, Merliton...”
It was the engineer in charge of building ships for Aligot.
“Sorry to bother you, but there was something I wanted to ask you regarding the boats...”
Yeah, I should be able to help out with something like that. I’d told people not to come to me with their demands and requests before, but I was referring to my goddess powers. I didn’t really mind helping people out with what I could do as the human Kaoru. There may not be much I can offer to help, but I’d gladly do what I could.