As usual, when we were a distance from the town, I called Joule and others out.
Joule: (Oniichan, are we going out?)
Feat: (Where are we going this time, Niisama?)
Bolt: (Aniue, is it for work?)
Vector: (Yay~ going out!)
Mile: (So exciting!)
When I called everyone, they all raised their voices happily.
(And so, Oniichan, where are we going?)
âI was thinking of going Northeast to a town called Kelm.â
ââKelmm?~ââ
Itâs safe to say that the place of destination is Kelm. Itâs safe to say, butâââ
âHowever, first, letâs see... letâs go North!â
ââHuhhi~?ââ
(((((Ehh~!?)))))
The children opened their eyes wide after hearing my words.
âIf we go to Kelm straight away, taking your running speed into consideration... we would arrive there in about a day?â
(Ah, I see. We would arrive there too fast.)
âYou are correct, Feat!â
The first to notice the problem was everyoneâs older sister-like existence, Feat.
(Is arriving fast not good?)
âI wonât say that itâs not good, but unnatural? I did not tell everyone that we travel on your guysâ back.â
Even going by carriage would take several days. Even more than that on foot.
âI should have... exposed you guys sooner.â
Itâs not like I want to hide the existence of Joule and others by any means. I just thought it would be bothersome, so I kept them secret. I did tell about Joule and others to people close to us, thatâs about it. Well, they think that Joule, Feat and Vector are basically babies, but... thatâs their charm.
(It would be bothersome... right?)
âWell, yes. I would like to avoid that, I guess.â
Yep, I would absolutely love to avoid that. I believe that ruckus would only follow.
(So the danger Allen and Elena would be in wonât... increase?)
ââUniyu?ââ
âAllen?â
âElena?â
Hearing their names being called, the two were making curious faces, so I patted Jouleâs head while talking.
âWell, it would be possible for people with bad intentions to chase after us, but thatâs only a possibility. However, if we do make it public, then you guys will be able to be by Allen and Elenaâs side all the time, so it should be fine?â
It doesnât have only demerits, it has merits too.
(N~... I think Iâm fine with how things are now.)
â... Is that so?â
Oh my? I thought he would agree with announcing their existence to the public, but he unexpectedly refused.
Joule chose to stay in secret.
(I mean, itâs troublesome when people kick up a fuss, and I wouldnât like if bad fellows approached Allen and Elena just because of us.)
Well, I understand the feelings of not wanting Allen and Elena to encounter more unnecessary danger... I understand~
(Itâs fun traveling all over the place like this and we can enter the town in our small forms without any problems too. Thatâs why I am fine with things staying like this.)
Feat, Bolt, Vector, and Mile nodded in agreement with Jouleâs words.
(Indeed. Niisama, we are fine with things staying as they are.)
(Yep.)
(Yeah!)
(Yes, we are!)
Our children really are good children~
âI see, thank you. I will call you as usual in place with no people, and I will listen to your requests more than before, so donât hold back with me.â
(Yay~! Then, at once! Oniichan, if you want to go somewhere, letâs go to the dungeon we found before!)
âA dungeon we found before?â
(That one. The advanced-level dungeon with tree roots covering the entrance!)
(Err... Niisama, I think he means the Dungeon of Entwined Branches*?)
âAhh, the Dungeon of Entwined Branches, huh~ Oy, the Dungeon of Entwined Branches!?â
(Yes, that! Letâs go there!)
ââOhh~ââ
âEhh!?â
Joule immediately stated his wish, or rather the place he would like to visit. Allen and Elena raised their voices in agreement.
Still, the Dungeon of Entwined Branches... it matches the direction well, but... that means going out of the country, you know!
Isnât that a little too off the road?
(Erm, if I am not mistaken... we could get there in two or three days?)
... Would these guys be satisfied just by âstopping byâ?
âWe have decided to go to the town of Kelm, so as expected isnât it too little time to clear an Advanced-level dungeon?â
(You think so~?)
âI do~ one week. Rather, six days. Would you guys be able to stop halfway if I told you we only have six days? Itâs just that if you want to hunt monsters and gather herbs, thereâs plenty around the mountain and in the forest, is what I think.â
An Advanced-level dungeon is vast, it could take a day to capture a floor. The lower floors would take even longer, so we would be able to finish five floors at most? Well, it will be easy to get plant-based materials there, so I wonât object if they really wanted to go there.
(Wow~ this is troubling~)
(Iâm fine either way.)
(I will leave the decision to Aniue.)
(Iâm fine anywhere as long as I can play!)
(Iâm also fine with either.)
Only Joule was hesitating as others were fine with going anywhere.
âWhat do you want to do, Allen, Elena?â
ââN~...ââAh!ââ
âWanna meet!â
âMr. Bird!â
âNn?â
I was sure the two were pondering whether they wanted to play in the dungeon or in the forest, but Allen and Elena said âWanna meet Mr. Birdâ instead.
(Mr. Bird? By Mr. Bird, do you mean Bolt?)
(Me!?)
Bolt is indeed a bird, but I am sure thatâs not what they meant.
(Oh my, thatâs certainly not it. Are they not talking about the Battle Eagles, by any chance?)
ââYeah!ââ
(Ahh, I see~)
Ah, that reminds me, the Battle Eagles did tell us to come to play again.
(Bird~ bird~... grilled bird on a skewer?)
(Vector, stop it! You canât eat the Battle Eagles!)
(Too bad~)
I felt a bit stuffy hearing Vector and Mileâs exchange, but Joule did not seem to object.
âIf you are fine with it, how about going to see the Battle Eagles, Joule?â
(Yes, Iâm fine with that!)
âAlright! Itâs decided then.â
ââYa~y!ââ
That being the case, we decided to visit the Battle Eagle valley first.
*I donât remember a dungeon with name like that, LN-only stuff?