The Shepherd Alone on the Hill is a Genius Wizard-Chapter 96: Living Outside Isn’t Easy (2)

At Turan’s explanation, Solif’s jaw dropped before he looked up at the sky and lamented.

Four bloodline abilities - this was a monster that wouldn’t be found even searching through historical records.

"What an unfairly ridiculous world."

"Being born as heir to a great house would already seem like a blessed life to others."

Though not wrong, hearing those words from a monster born with four bloodline abilities couldn’t help but feel quite disagreeable.

Turan ignored Solif’s expression that seemed like he was about to die of irritation and focused on what he was doing.

That was making a tool for riding Bize.

"Will this be okay?"

"Well, it looks a bit precarious but it’s not like we’ll die if it breaks..."

What they made was a kind of swing using ropes and wooden planks, with a shape too simple to guarantee rider safety.

It would be difficult for anyone without considerable guts to ride, but it didn’t matter since neither of them would be hurt from falling from the sky.

Shortly after, when the two awkwardly sat on the swing, Bize took off with ropes tied to her legs.

The swing took off with creaking sounds.

"Woah..."

Solif, experiencing flight for the first time, exclaimed while looking at the ground becoming tiny below.

Come to think of it, Turan had felt similar when he first flew in the Enril Desert, so it wasn’t something to mock.

Turan looked back while flying through the sky on the swing.

Binatu Island, where countless people had died the previous night, looked peaceful as if nothing had happened.

==

Thanks to absorbing massive amounts of magic power, Bize flew faster than before even with an additional person and riding swing attached.

Moreover, she could increase speed further by using wind magic herself to create air currents, but the swing would creak and scream unable to withstand the wind resistance, so they had to moderate the speed somewhat.

If there was an advantage to this cumbersome swing, it was that having both hands free allowed them to do various things.

Like having meals with hardtack and dried fish, for example.

While eating in the sky, Turan shared what he had seen of the god’s end as promised to Solif.

"The North Sea..."

"Yeah. The mirror that supposedly connects the two seas might be around there too. Being divine beings, they might have come out of the mirror and fought for quite a while before meeting their end."

Additionally, when he revealed that what the god left behind was the Mimic holy relic, Solif made an extremely complicated expression.

It didn’t look like the face of someone happy to have uncovered the truth about something they had been investigating.

"I thought you’d be happy to know this?"

"Ah... how should I put it, maybe that what I was curious about was resolved too easily. Not that I’m unhappy."

He could somewhat understand what he meant.

After all, wasn’t Solif searching for this not because he had some grand goal, but simply because he enjoyed the process of adventuring itself?

In that situation, being handed the answer key straight up naturally led to more emptiness than joy.

"Not everything has been revealed yet. There’s still why that god had to fight alone there without cooperating with other Prea god-folk, and the reason they couldn’t even leave proper traces in history. Above all, we should at least know their name."

"True, that would be worth looking into. I’d like to visit where the remains are later too, could you guide me?"

"When I have time."

Afterwards they chatted about various adventures Turan had experienced, but throughout this Solif never once asked about Turan’s birth.

Though he was from far eastern Baraha, knowing how hostile the relationship was between Arabion and Zahar, he guessed that process wouldn’t have been very peaceful.

Turan also somewhat guessed at this misunderstanding but didn’t bother to correct it.

After all, he himself wasn’t certain about things like his father’s identity yet.

There would be chances to talk about it later while investigating this again anyway.

Still, feeling he should at least explain his current situation and position, Turan clarified that he didn’t have particularly deep ties with House Arabion.

Just that he was friends with Meisa, the next head, and a benefactor to their vassal house, House Berk.

After chatting like this and flying northwest for several hours, land soon came into view.

Judging by the dense forests inland from the beach, this was clearly the western forest region where Black Spirits had once rampaged.

"Good, looks like we’ve fortunately skipped the Enril Desert."

Based on conversations from the recent battle, there was likely some agreement between Houses Zahar and Baraha to catch Solif.

It would be better to avoid contact with the Enril Desert side if possible.

Getting down from the saddle for a rest, Solif said as if lamenting:

"You really do travel easily."

He couldn’t help but say so, having instantly covered a distance that would have taken at least one to two weeks by ship.

While petting Bize’s head, Turan replied:

"Until recently, I walked and took ships myself too. You could just get a child like Bize yourself, you know."

"Like that’s easy. If only someone hadn’t stolen her."

"I don’t think I was the one who had the first chance to be chosen."

"Ugh."

While flying masu were common, those like Bize who were small enough to conveniently carry around, well-trained, and powerful were rare.

Hadn’t they said that even in the past when Turan bought her cheaply, her original price was much higher due to being picky about owners?

After having dinner on the beach and sleeping, the next day they moved north on the swing like yesterday.

Along the way, they saw the road where they had gone west from Kalamaf in the past, and the path where he had moved with Asiz.

"We’re getting close."

"Really? Thank goodness, this swing was feeling a bit precarious-aaaaah!"

There was a small accident where the swing broke unable to withstand the wind pressure and Solif fell, but fortunately it ended with just a slightly twisted ankle.

Learning from past mistakes, they made a somewhat better swing and after flying for about half a day, finally the Dakein Plains came into view.

"Now we’ve really arrived."

"Please land gently this time."

Unlike the past when golden wheat had swayed, the plains were green with spring barley growing abundantly.

Turan and Solif landed in a suitably unpopulated area, stored the saddle, and moved on foot.

"This is so different from the Enril Desert!"

"Well, that place is quite barren."

"Right. They say in the old days, Arabion’s crops used to be transmitted through there too..."

While land trade usually couldn’t compete with maritime trade in terms of volume, for wizard houses, land trade was actually far more advantageous.

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

This was because they had methods of operating enormous carts using tamed large masu.

They said there was a time when such merchant caravans would travel between Arabion and Zahar through the old empire’s roads once every few years.

Now that battles to the death occur between the two houses, it’s just a dream-like story.

Since he remembered the path he had taken with Asiz’s guidance before, Turan smoothly arrived at Zabilin City, House Berk’s territory, after walking for about half a day.

The face of the knight staying in front of the castle walls happened to be familiar.

"Oh, Lord Turan?"

"Long time no see, Bin. Is Asiz healthy?"

"Of course! The young master will be delighted. Perhaps this person with you is?"

"A friend I made while traveling."

After hearing those words, Berk’s knight Bin let them in without asking detailed questions about Solif’s identity.

After all, wasn’t he a benefactor and friend of young master Asiz who had received guest treatment for the past month?

The black eagle at his side must just be a pet or something.

Entering Zabilin City smoothly, Turan felt a strange sense of stability seeing the familiar city scenery.

It was because seeing restaurants and theaters where he had wandered and eaten delicious food with Asiz reminded him anew of those good times.

As they walked to House Berk’s palace located inside the city, Asiz, who had rushed out after hearing the news, welcomed him with open arms.

"Turan, my friend! Living outside isn’t easy, right? I knew you’d be back soon!"

"Yeah, it really wasn’t easy."

While imagining what expression Asiz would make if he knew about all the adventures he had experienced, Turan embraced his friend whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

Though he had only stayed here for about a month and wandered outside for just a few months, it felt like returning home after a long journey.