Chapter 336

The golem carriage headed north towards the Border Mountains . It was shaking more than I thought it would, considering it's a golem made of stone, but in hindsight it's obvious . It's running out on the unpaved wilderness without any suspension . The carriage shaking is inevitable .

Still, it doesn't seem to be affecting the common sense here . Guendalfa is looking at the carriage with an impressed face . This is a carriage reserved for the royal family, after all . Apparently, it is also equipped with a magic tool devised to release the vibrations . It's still vibrating a lot, though .

In retrospect, the carriage I rode earlier might have shook this much while running along the highway . This carriage must be amazing after all .

(Fran, you alright?) I asked her telepathically .

"Nn... . I'm, fine..." She said, not looking 'fine' at all . Her eyes were blinking blearily, and her head was shaking back and forth . Come to think of it, we've been in battle since last night . She hasn't had a wink of sleep .

It seems that the vibration of the golem carriage induces sleepiness . The vibrations aren't periodic though . However, the feeling that your body is constantly swaying might be making her drowsy .

The usual Fran is the type that sticks closely to a regular sleeping schedule . Or rather, she sleeps a lot more than normal people do . Staying up all night like this must be difficult for her . She should definitely be exhausted . Fran struggled with drowsiness while rubbing her eyes incessantly .

(You don't have to push yourself . Just go to sleep . )

"Nn... . "

I would prefer it if she just went to sleep, but Fran stubbornly continued to fight off drowsiness .

(What is it?)

"Kiara... talk..." Fran did her best, even though she was so sleepy her speech was broken . Apparently, she wanted to talk with Kiara in the carriage .

"Fran, we can talk later . For now, just sleep . "

"Mmh... but..."

"Allowing one's body to rest is also one of the jobs of a warrior . "

"Al... right..." Fran collapsed asleep .

At Kiara's admonishment, Fran nodded and collapsed into the world of sleep .

"Hm, she fell asleep . "

"Th-, that was fast . " Guendalfa remarked in surprise . Guendalfa seems like a sensitive person after all, so he probably has trouble sleeping . I understand him well, because I was the same when I lived on Earth .

"Even though she possesses such fighting power, she has a surprisingly innocent sleeping face . "

"Well, she certainly is strong, but she is still a child . "

Fran breathed deeply in her sleep, with her head resting on Kiara's lap . Kiara gently stroked Fran's head, causing a happy smile to float to her face .

"Mu!" Out of nowhere, Kiara suddenly groaned .

"Is something the matter, Master?"

Mia and the others, thinking something had happened, looked to Kiara who had suddenly raised her voice . However, Kiara's expression was rather calm .

"No, it was just Fran's drool . "

"Please don't surprise me because of that . "

"Kukuku . It's just been decades since a kid drooled on me . " Kiara smiled from the bottom of her heart .

"You don't have to be afraid to ask Master Kiara for a lap pillow . "

"I would be happy to do so as many times as you want, you know?"

"... No, I shall refrain . "

Kiara sighed, and said, "Very well . More importantly, the rest of you should rest as well . I can keep watch . "

"Master Kiara, that would leave you tired as well, wouldn't it?"

"At my age, the time I sleep is too short to be a problem . "

"That's unrelated to this . There's no need to worry . Quina is of a species that requires little rest to function, so a lookout is unnecessary with her as the driver . "

Apparently, Baku sleep less than normal people . They aren't just about putting others to sleep, it seems . Still, I'm not sure if she will be alright with all this accumulated mental exhaustion . I should help here as well . Moving closer to Quina, I opened up a Telepathic Communication channel to her .

(Hey Quina, I can create a humanoid Clone . Do you want me to be the coachman? Even if you don't need to sleep, you must be tired, right?)

(Ah, Shishou... was it? I'll be alright . If I take a nap later, there won't be a problem . Also, any fatigue can be taken care of with a Potion . )

(Even so, how do you deal with the mental exhaustion?)

(To begin with, I am half asleep, and half awake . Even in the driver's seat, I can rest sufficiently, and the golem carriage only needs occasional instructions, so it doesn't take much effort . )

(I see . Still, I will be on guard as well . )

(Thank you very much . )

I'm glad I was finally able to tell Kiara and the others that I am an Intelligent Weapon, but it's something I should only talk about after consulting with Fran . Though, I think Fran would easily share it if asked .

"Rest is also a warrior's duty, is it not?"

"Hm . Thatiswhat Mia said . Still, to be advised by that sleepyhead who always pissed herself..."

"Wha-... . Why are you bringing that up all of a sudden!?"

"Kukuku..." Kiara chuckled . "It's true, isn't it? Right, Quina?"

"Yes . I didn't want her to be upset, so I planned to change the bedding in secret, but in the end, it was discovered by Her Majesty . I remember it well . "

"Stop!"

"Milady, Fran will wake up if you speak so loudly, you know?"

"Ugh... . "

After that, everyone except Quina went to sleep . They had fought all throughout the night, talking about one thing or another, so they were tired out . I was keeping guard while recovering my physical strength using my recovery magic .