I urged the horses forward and we departed at a good pace, driving on the northern road. Due to the decent amount of traffic coming and going to Geola, the city constantly maintained the roads to keep them in good shape.
"I'm afraid this is just a small trading caravan and far from being an adventure, master."
"It's fine. I wanted to get out of the martial center anyway. I've been cooped up there for too long."
"You don't receive a lot of job contracts?"
"We do but we alternate who's taking them. My turn still wasn't quite there yet."
"As expected of master, you're also good at cutting the line."
"Kahahah! Of course!"
I turned toward Selva this time.
"What about you, Selva? Do you have a lot of experience with this sort of job?"
"It's my first time."
"Really?"
She nodded and Wico confirmed it from the top of my head.
"That's right. We don't let students do missions before they're rank 2. Selva only ranked up a few weeks ago."
"I see, congrats!"
"Hm, thanks. I wanted to try doing a contract for a long time too so I'm glad master took the job."
"I hope it won't be too boring for you two. If everything goes fine, it should take five days to reach our destination and another five days to come back."
"Five days? Are we going to Alfiro?"
"You know well, master. I'll try to sell my goods there at a good price. There are villages and towns with inns we can stay at every night so the trip shouldn't be anything special."
"I want to get attacked by bandits."
"Me too."
I wondered if I had chosen the wrong people to escort me, even though being attacked by bandits would be quite the event indeed. Or maybe I should say getting attacked again. The previous ones didn't like the outcome very much. Their weapons were now part of the stock I was planning to sell this time.
We moved forward for some time, a small respite of silence settling between us. Yet, I soon noticed another issue. Wico didn't seem to have any plans to move from her position on my shoulders. She was a bit heavy but that was still fine. The real problem was that she kept moving a bit to minutely change position, her legs and bust rubbing against my cheek and the top of my head.
"Master, you know… I'm just a normal guy. If you keep moving and rubbing against me like this, I'll start to feel something."
"Hmm? Kahahah! You're fifty years too early to feel lust toward your master, my disciple!"
She then rubbed herself on my skin diligently on purpose, making it even harder for me.
"I'm sorry, master. You're just so soft and beautiful. I'm still not used to being in contact with someone as incredible as you."
Selva looked at me with disapproval but Wico laughed again.
"You're saying a lot of good things, Tila! Not like Selva!"
"Hmph. Why would I praise my stupid master?"
"Here you go again. You should just admit you're jealous. Tila, do you know? This girl has never gotten a boyfriend since she was born!"
"I don't care about that stuff. I just want to become stronger. I'm different from master who's sleeping with men left and right."
"Who do you think you're kidding? I know what you're doing in your room at night!"
The rhinoceros blushed a little.
"I'm… just doing that to focus better on my training."
"Yeah, yeah, of course. Whatever you say. You'll stay single for the rest of your life like that."
"That's fine with me."
I inserted a comment at that time.
"You're also superb yourself, Selva. I'm blessed to have such pretty and strong master and fellow disciple."
"Are you lusting for Selva too?"
"Of course."
"Kahahah! My new disciple is funny! It won't be a boring trip!"
"Hmph."
Selva turned her head away while Wico wiggled excitedly on top of me. We drove forward in this manner for some time, continuing to talk pleasantly. I soon learned that Wico's species was called "eagle". There were so many bird subspecies that it was hard to remember them all but I wouldn’t forget hers, at least.
Whenever we got bored of talking, we would just look at the passing scenery. Our pace was truly different from the fast cars of my world. Here, it was much more relaxed, and it was possible to interact with the people we came across on the road.
Sometimes, merchants and travelers going the other way would stop for a quick chat or exchange of information. If they were in a hurry, they would send a salute on their way, or even ignore us completely. I paid attention to the merchants’ escorts, usually larger than mine. Their caravans often comprised multiple traders and many carriages, with a correspondingly large number of fighter escorts.
Whenever there was a lull with nothing happening, Wico would get restless quickly. At one point in the late morning, she caught my attention again.
"Tila, Tila, lookie here… It's my boobs!"
She was flapping the top part of her martial outfit while bending forward, opening it enough for me to see her bust. I obviously looked up but was surprised to see nothing but feathers there, without any noticeable bulge whatsoever.
"Pfft! Kahahah! Look at your face! I got you good! Don't you know that bird subspecies don't have boobs? Aren't you quite the virgin too, my second disciple?"
Selva shook her head, looking like we were pathetic, while I smiled wryly.
"I've got plenty of experience, master."
"That's what all virgins say!"
I had nothing to reply to such perfect logic. It was soon time for lunch and we stopped on the side of the road. As per our deal, I was supposed to provide the two with everything and did just so. I had already set aside a part of my carriage space to hold a large provision of food, water, and fodder for us and the horses. That was also where I stored any useful cooking tools, and camping equipment if we ever needed it.