Chapter 126.1: Sandstorm
◆Medjed Equipped With Cat Ears, Kuroki
We left Arnak the next day.
Four flying ships left the Golden Capital.
To strengthen their defense, restrictions were placed on the Gypseal sky for flying ships. But that restriction could be lifted as long as there was a permit from Sekhmetra, the Queen of Gypseal.
Our destination was towards the snatched pyramid. The flying ships were flying atop the golden sands, heading toward the southeast.
On paper, the one leading these flying ships was Harsesh, but in reality, Isdes was the one leading.
In the first place, Harsesh was not supposed to join this expedition and was supposed to stand by in Arnak. However, after requesting it from Sekhmetra, it seems he gained permission to join the expedition under one condition: to withdraw the moment things get out of hand.
Harsesh was now proudly riding his huge, ornamented, golden ship with his mistresses. His flying ship was much bigger than Alphos’ one.
The four other flying ships that surrounded Harsesh’s one from all sides were manned by falcon-headed birdmen, Harsesh’s kin, to scout the area around the main ship.
Totona and I were riding on the chimera right behind those flying ships.
It was a sunny day, and the sunlight was strong.
But it was no big deal as long as we used magic to protect ourselves.
「Uhm, Totona, this distance is…」
I said so to Totona who sat behind me.
Totona had gone back to her usual bulky robe again. But even that bulky robe was not enough to block the huge twin peaks hiding underneath as she glued herself to me.
Oh cr*p, calm down, little me.
I’ll be in huge trouble if she doesn’t let go of me.
I turned around to Totona to remind her.
「Is something the matter, Kuroki? We’re already in a husband-wife relationship. So sticking closely like this is only natural.」
Despite what she said, Totona was as expressionless as ever.
And yet, I got this feeling that she was enjoying my reaction.
「Uhm, Totona. The current me is Medjed so…」
Yes, I am currently disguising myself as Medjed.
Naturally, I wore a loincloth under my clothes this time around, to prevent the previous flashing incident. With this, I wouldn’t be mistaken as a flasher who enjoyed the feeling of liberation, becoming one with the world when I took off my clothes.
Well since I wasn’t a flasher either, I made sure to wear my loincloth properly this time. I must not let a second incident happen.
I reminded myself firmly.
「It’s okay. The Hero and his companions are ahead of us, they won’t be able to disturb us. They won’t even be able to hear us.」
Well it was just as she said, Reiji and co were riding a flying ship ahead of us.
Properly speaking, they wouldn’t be able to hear our conversation.
But knowing that my senses were enhanced to a terrifying degree after coming to this world, there was nothing wrong with being too cautious.
「But Totona, we must be very careful… Things will get really tense and chaotic if they ever discover my true identity.」
「I know. But then, this is the only chance for me to act like this.」
I felt Totona’s forehead on my back as she spoke.
I felt something warm touching my back.
I’ve been wondering, can we really afford to fly in this kind of situation?
「GRRRRRRRRR」
But then, the chimera suddenly raised a purr.
「Sorry, it seems the journey is taking quite some time.」
It seems this flying distance was a bit too much for the chimera.
Yeah, the distance was really long after all.
Maybe it was time to join the others in the flying ship.
The flying ship provided to us was the smallest flying ship and was on the rear end of the formation.
This was the flying ship prepared by Nel for us, all the crew were catsiths.
The bow part of the ship was modeled after a super adorable, deformed cat.
「Welcomeow back, Totonyan.」
Upon returning, Nel came out to greet us in person.
Her butler, Varon, also came with her.
Honestly, both Nel and Harsesh should’ve stayed in Arnak. But, Sekhmetra permitted her to participate under the condition that she only acts as rear support and to evacuate once things get out of hand.
「What’s the matter, Nel? Things seems rather hectic here?」
It was just as Totona said. The catsiths who wore sailor coats seemed to be confused about something.
「We have an emeowrgency!!! A sandstorm is ahead of us meow!!」
Nel was confused.
「Sandstorm? Is this ship going to be alright?」
「I… Have no idemeow. Varon said that this ship wouldn’t be able to endure a sandstorm of this scale meaow.」
It seems we’re in deep shit.
「TOTONA-SAMA, WE HAVE TO RETURN!! LET’S EVACUATE TO HARSESH-SAMA’S SHIP AS WE ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO!!」
The black cat, Varon, spoke as he came to us.
Nel’s flying ship was really small. It was so small to the point that Harsesh’s ship could literally accommodate all of it.
The rear part of Harsesh’s flying ship opened up, thus Nel’s flying ship went into it.
「OOOH! WELCOME TO MY SHIP, TOTONA!!」
Upon descending from Nel’s ship, Harsesh welcomed us with open arms.
It seems he was really delighted to welcome Totona on his ship.
No matter how you look at it, he was clearly trying to show his good side to Totona.
Totona didn’t disapprove of it but she didn’t seem to understand either.
I mean, he must’ve seen Totona many times before when the latter visited Gypseal in the past.
But then, what was Nel’s impression about this situation?
Even though they were engaged, she said nothing even after seeing Harsesh wooing another woman right before her very eyes.
Or else, could it be that she was like a female lion, willing to share the male?
Male lions are usually surrounded by several female lions.
In addition, except for giving birth, the female lions usually work with each other, including breastfeeding.
Could it be that sphinxes have the same tendencies?
This reminds me of the fact that female sphinxes tend to want the same husband as their best friend.
Nel was cuddling my side.
Sometimes, a sphinx’s skinship was quite intense.
But then, there was nothing wrong with being hugged by an adorable cat. Rather, I welcomed it.
「Yeah. Thanks, prince.」
And yet, Totona’s reaction was subtle.
She lowered her hat even further, wanting to escape from Harsesh’s gaze.
「Soon, you and Rena will stay by my side, forever.」
Harsesh suddenly smiled as he spoke.
He had light brown skin. He had lion-like features on him with a pair of huge falcon wings on his back.
But if I had to say, Harsesh’s features were closer to that of a human, and since he was Ishtar’s son, he was good looking too.
I could say that he was comparable to Reiji and Alphos.
「Enough with your joke, Prince Harsesh. Tell me about your countermeasure against this sandstorm.」
Totona ignored his rambling and asked with a cold, flat voice instead.
「No problem with that. That creepy hero will do something about this situation.」
「The Hero of Light?」
「Yes. That b*stard seems to be itching to try his new power. “Leave it to me” he said.」
Harsesh spoke without hiding the irritated look on his face.
「I see… The hero’s new power.」
「Yeah. But still, how about having afternoon tea with me, Totona?」
「Thank you for your kind invitation, Prince. Unfortunately though, I’m curious about the hero’s new power. He should be at the bow of the ship, I’ll go meet him.」
Totona passed by without even waiting for Harsesh’s reply.
Though there was quite some distance between us and the bow of the ship, we arrived faster thanks to flight magic.
「Wait, Totonyan!!」
Me, and Nel were following after Totona.
「Wait, Totona!! You can’t meet with that guy!! Absolutely not!! If you insist, I’ll go with you too!!」
Harsesh was following Totona too.
In the end, everyone went together.
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