Chapter 169 Footsteps of the Giants
With a sharp "Clack!" the wheel bounced off a branch or something, reflexively lifting my chin.
The white, drowsy view instantly turned blue – the color of the sky. It seems I was lifting my chin so high, I was looking up.
Whoops. I guess I was dozing off. Slowly shifting my gaze to the side, there was Nanaiza, still gripping the reins as always, blankly staring ahead.
"...What?"
"Huh? Ah, I just thought you were good at it."
"Nana... like horses..."
"Liking something makes it your thing, huh?"
In fact, Nanaiza's handling of the reins was probably as skilled as a professional's.
On the way to Joosa as before, Captain Shidou was driving the carriage. Captain Shidou was no slouch, but even to an amateur's eye, it was clear that Nanaiza's ride was far superior.
The bumps were fewer. No worry about a sore bum, even sitting next to the driver. So, it's not my fault I nodded off. Yup.
"Where's our destination, according to the map?"
"...From Asgardam, just to the southwest edge..."
"Southwest, huh? There's been some chatter about the country to the west, Vestri. But that's got nothing to do with our mission this time, right?"
"South...?"
"South? ...South, you mean, like Pturheim? Unfortunately, I don't know much about it."
"You've never lived there, have you...?"
"Huh? Why're you asking me that?"
"You don't have to worry about it..."
"But it's hard not to worry when you ask something like that."
Tilting her head in a strange response, Nanaiza then became unresponsive. What did she mean by that question?
Living there – was that about Hiiro's birthplace? But when I casually asked Sara before, she said it was Helmel.
Wait a minute. Having an extraordinary secret about the protagonist's birth is already a given. Maybe Nanaiza is an existence that holds some sort of key.
"Digging deep with questions to someone who dislikes it. It seems Brute is still a ravenous beast, as usual."
"I'm not trying to force a perverted approach. That's just how this grumpy Chainou's thinking goes."
"Wha, who's grumpy!? That's quite an unexpected assessment!"
As soon as I leaned in, thinking I was close to discovering Protagonist's secret, I was stabbed by a sharp-tongued girl who hates men.
Shannon, glaring with dangerous eyes from the carriage, looked like an overzealous head of the morals committee, but surprisingly, she seemed weak against counters.
Still, it might be best not to press her too hard or her weakness could backfire. Seeing Shannon glaring like a threat at Friese's innocent question, "Are you just brooding?" I decided to keep my distance.
"Honestly, why does she keep bothering me? I haven't done anything."
"...When it's a man, anyone acts like that..."
"Maybe it's not just because she doesn't like me, but because she's angry I'm mixed into the mission?"
"...Maybe. It's just the usual..."
(No way... That means she's like that even with men during missions.)
(Wow, true equality in unfairness. Maybe I can get along with her.)
Honestly, I thought Shannon's sharp tongue was more about not liking me personally, not men. From Sveiz Team's view, my involvement probably wasn't welcome anyway.
So, I figured being disliked was normal, but apparently her hostility toward men is her automatic mode.
(Oh, right...that's probably it...)
The doubt about whether the mission was okay grew when I overheard a quiet comment before departure.
"Hey Captain Hailey, I wanna ask something."
"Huh? Yeah, what is it?"
"When we left Asgardam's border, I heard this squad called 'Footsteps of the Giants'... what does that mean?"
"U-uh, you heard that... huh."
"Yeah, I did."
When I asked directly, Captain Hailey shrank in embarrassment. Her normally reserved nature made her look even more pitiful, which made me feel a little sorry for her.
I knew the comment wasn't very flattering, so I assumed it was bad reputation. When she looked away, clearly uncomfortable, Shannon looked just as embarrassed and avoided the window.
"...The Footsteps of the Giants are really loud..."
"...So?"
"...Troublemakers. That's what it means..."
"──What!? My powerful strike wasn't as earth-shattering as a giant's footsteps!?"
"How convenient your interpretation, Grumpy (Friese). It seems your Grumpy's destruction rate of property is the giant's equal."
My stomach's grumbling... Ugh, it's killing me.
Regardless of Nanaiza's detailed explanation, eavesdropping on the carriage crew's chatter gives a glimpse into Sveiz's standing.
Troublemakers. Likely a group of problem children, mainly Friese and Shannon.
And Nanaiza is basically indifferent and does her own thing, which naturally leads to Captain Hailey running around after her.
Yeah. Now I see why Captain Shidou was acting so unusually concerned.
"Ah... Well, whatever."
"Hey, you called my name? And worried about me... You're more honest and kind than I thought... Maybe spring is here..."
"There's a naive among us... And it's true that it sounds like I was the one being hit on. A hungry brute beast indeed!"
"Your negative items on me are causing a traffic jam."
"Huh? What are you talking about? There are no obstacles, just clear plains. Look, see?"
"You, shut up for a minute."
Oh, it's complete chaos. The tsukkomi lines are forming before I can even think. This is worse than a scrambled intersection.
And Captain Hailey, when she's nice, she doesn't care who you are. No wonder she's called a 'flirty girl'. You might be a top-notch troublemaker too.
"...Maybe not, perhaps..."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
As if mocking the very heart of me that wants to surrender early, an even stronger wind gusts.
"...Up ahead, in the distance. There's something... A herd of beasts...?"
""""!!""""
The swirling storm cares not for our feelings.
The shadow of serious trouble is already upon us.
Character Notes:
Nana - The one dating Haruto before she goes to Hokkaido.
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