โThe ability of this โorbโ seems to be โFlight.'โ
โWaitโฆ itโs not something used for healing?โ
โOrbs made by compressing medicinal herbs are probably used for healing, and Mahoroba grass for restoring magic powerโฆ So, I guess the compressed itemโs properties are extracted or something like that.โ
โI think I get itโฆ So since you compressed an Airfish, does that mean you canโฆ fly?โ
โWeโll have to try it out, but given the potential effect, doing it on flat ground is kind of scary.โ
Even if I fell into the water, I wouldnโt get hurt, but there are other monsters in the water, and Iโd rather not get wet again after taking so long to dry my clothes.
โPi-pi-pi!โ
โOhโฆ you guys were nearby, huh?โ
The squids we captured earlier poked their heads out from the river. It seems they remember us wellโeven though weโve left and come back from the dungeon, they havenโt forgotten us.
โPi!โ
โHm? Whatโs with that behavior?โ
โAre theyโฆ keeping other monsters away?โ
The squids were emitting some sort of sound wave, and the Airfish, which could have easily attacked us, had gone unusually quiet.
โI seeโฆ In this river, you guys are the โmasters,โ huh?โ
The squids seemed to puff up with prideโwhatever the case, it looked like testing out the Flight orb here had become a lot easier.
โJust to be safe, could you step back a bit, Nanami-san?โ
โOkayโฆ be careful.โ
To be honest, I was pretty nervousโif it worked like the Airfishโs flight, I might shoot off like a bullet the moment I used the orb.
(Itโs a gambleโฆ but it should be doableโฆ right?)
ใTemporary Skill: Flightใ
โOhโฆ whoaโฆ!โ
When I held the Flight orb and willed it to activate, it workedโthankfully, I didnโt lose control and start flying uncontrollably. My body gently lifted into the air.
โโฆYouโre flyingโฆ Fujiwara-kun, itโs like youโre a psychic.โ
โHehโฆ well, if I were a โmagician,โ Iโd probably be able to use flight magic too.โ
โMagitech engineers can also make flying magic tools. The most famous is the magic broom, but itโs not something you can easily makeโฆ Iโve heard flight magic is really difficult too.โ
The Flight orb didnโt grant permanent flying; it only lasted for a limited time. However, when the time ran out, it gradually brought you back down, preventing any accidents from falling.
โIโll go check if I can make it to the other side.โ
โThe monsters have quieted down, but still, be careful.โ
The river was about 200 meters wide, but I flew across easily. I could control the flight just as I imagined, though trying any acrobatic maneuvers might make me dizzy, so I kept things level as I returned.
โPhewโฆ looks like we can get across. Building a bridge would have been risky without proper supports.โ
โFujiwara-kun, do you think I can use that orb too?โ
โI think so, butโฆ it would be best if you could fly on your own, Nanami-san.โ
โYeahโฆ Iโm not sure if I can do it as well as you, but Iโll give it a try.โ
I handed the Flight orb to Nanami-san. I prepared myself, like a beach flag contestant, ready to catch her in case she fell.
โAlright, here I goโฆ Ohโฆ amazingโฆ I feel so lightโฆโ
Nanami-san activated the orb and floated into the airโthough she seemed to struggle with maintaining her balance.
โโKyah!โ
After rising about three meters, she spun around in midair. And, in a skirt, thatโs not exactly idealโฆ
โD-Donโt lookโฆ sorry, this is harder than I thoughtโฆโ
โI-Itโs okayโฆ take it slow and try to get back to your original posture.โ
โYeahโฆ oh, I think I can get backโฆโ
She carefully managed to right herselfโbut now she couldnโt figure out how to descend.
โUmโฆ what should I do?โ
โThe effect should wear off soon, butโฆ if you want to come down now, I couldโฆโ
โโKyah!โ
Just as I was about to offer to catch her, she shriekedโI instinctively moved to catch her.
โFumohโฆ!โ
โNnโฆ I-Iโm sorry, I fell all of a suddenโฆโ
I managed to catch her, butโletโs just say it was the first time in my life I experienced something like this. My head ended up right under her skirt. In other words, my face wasโฆ directly in contact withโฆ
โFumohhโฆ! (Sorryโฆ!)โ
โD-Donโtโฆ itโs okay, just donโt talk right nowโฆโ
Her thighs gently squeezed my cheeksโwho knew such blissful suffocation could exist in this world?
โJustโฆ slowly lower yourselfโฆ yes, like thatโฆโ
Following her instructions, I bent my knees to lower her down. But we were still a bit high up.
โโฆYou can grab onto me now if you wantโฆโ
I placed my hands on her slender waist and lifted her downโeverything I touched was so soft, I found myself dazed even after setting her down.
โโฆIt seems flying with this orb is too difficult for me. Maybe you can handle it because youโre the one who made the orb, Fujiwara-kun.โ
โIs that soโฆ Maybe youโre right. If thatโs the case, it might be hard for anyone else to use the orbs.โ
โMaybe itโs just me who canโt use it, but if the other two had the same trouble, youโd be in quite a situation, Fujiwara-kun.โ
โHahahaโฆโ
โItโs no laughing matter. Iโm fine, but for Mikuriya-san and the others, itโd be a disaster.โ
With Nanami-san saying that, it might be best to avoid any accidents ahead of time.
Especially with Haruka-senpaiโif I ended up in this same situation with her, it would cause all sorts of problems, depending on what kind of dreams sheโs been having latelyโฆ
โโโ
When we returned to the tent, Haruka-senpai had already moved to the larger tent and changed her clothes. Futaba-san was also fully prepared, and I started packing up the tent to compress it once again.
โโฆUm, Iโm sorry, I ended up falling asleep.โ
โNo, I think you were tired too, Haruka-senpai. Did you rest well?โ
While I glanced over to see Futaba-san talking with Nanami-san a little farther away, Haruka-senpai came closer to meโand whispered in my ear.
โโฆMy body feels completely refreshed. So, donโt worry.โ
โI-I seeโฆ um, thatโs kind of ticklish, so could you notโฆโ
โJust a moment ago, you were being so intenseโฆ Youโre unexpectedly like a bedroom bully, arenโt you?โ
โA bedโฆ?โ
Earlier, Haruka-senpai had been quite worked up and guided my hand to her chest without really realizing it. Midway, I had to use โNight Crawling Handโ to put her to sleep, but now it seemed like she had mistaken the dream she saw for reality.
โWhen I woke up naked in your sleeping bag, I was surprisedโฆ But I realized, itโs not about the โSecret Crest of Alchemy.โ Iโm happy it was with you.โ
โSister, shall we get going? Itโs not good to whisper in the middle of a party activity.โ
โHeheโฆ Sorry, there was something I wanted to talk about now. Letโs go, Tsukasa-kun.โ
Sheโs switched from calling me โFujiwara-kunโ to using my first nameโmeaning that in Haruka-senpaiโs mind, sheโs convinced we went all the way, or that I was some kind of bedroom tyrant.
Haruka-senpai winked at me as she let Futaba-san go ahead of us. I knew I had to explain the truth calmly and as soon as possibleโbut it seemed that wouldnโt be easy until we escaped the dungeon.