A dark cloud covers the town of Dexi.
　People rush home before it rains.

It's looking like it's going to rain.

　Under such a sky, Lasse, who has come to treat the old people's back pain with a unicorn escort, murmurs.

"I guess so. There's going to be a storm tonight.

　An old woman being healed by a unicorn responds by looking at the color of the sky.
　Her face shows more pleasure at the feeling of being cured by the unicorn than anxiety about the storm.

That would be a bad idea.

　But Lasse's expression is hard.

"Oh, what's wrong with it?

Our office is a shack built with a little money, so when a storm comes, there is a high probability that it will break down.

　This was neither a joke nor a metaphor.
　Lasse had purchased a piece of land outside of town to live in the city of Dexsi, but no matter how urban the city was, buying a large piece of land, including a dragon, would cost a good deal of money.

　He is a first-generation nobleman with a family name, even if he's only a household name, so he had to buy the land as a nobleman rather than live on the land of his lord like most people.

　Of course, even for a nobleman, buying and selling land requires problems, ties and connections.
　In that sense, Lasse didn't have the connections or knowledge, so he bought the right to rent the land.

　This is the same logic as building a villa house for a provincial nobleman to live in when he comes to the capital, and Lasse followed suit.
　The price also includes a kind of frown upon the lord, which is unnecessary for a well-connected nobleman, which is why Lise is short of money.

Oh dear. There's a pretty strong storm that comes through every year around this time. That's why the houses around here are built so well, did your master say anything about it when he was building the store?

　That being said, Lasse recalled that his master had told him something similar when he was building a shack.
　But at the time, we didn't expect the storm to come so early and we wanted a place to shelter from the wind and rain, so we had a cheap office built for us.

I feel like I was told: ......

"Oh, but you'd better ask for a new house sooner rather than later. This time of year the storms are more than once. Just as your son and daughter-in-law are about to have a baby, if you ask for a house now, they will give you priority. I'm sure the master's son will need the money.

"I didn't know that.

　Apparently, the master carpenter's son was also a carpenter, and Lasse had learned how much money he needed to rebuild his house from the old men who had come to treat him.

Thanks to you, the horse doesn't hurt when the seasons change.

"I told you that's not a horse!

　A unicorn shouts in protest at the old woman's words.
　It's a formulaic conversation in the old people's treatment.

"My old wounds hurt when it rains, but thanks to you, I don't have any pain this year!

"Don't use weird abbreviations!

　The unicorn protests again, but the old men just laugh and refuse to engage.
　His stress is about to reach its peak.
　But then, a savior appears.

Grandma.

　A little girl.
　A little girl comes running towards Lasse and the others.

What's wrong, Mei?

　An old woman asks her grandson a question in a catnip voice.

'It's going to rain soon, go read Grandma.

　It looks like they've come for the old woman.

"Oh my goodness, thank you.

　The old woman, having finished healing, stands up and takes her grandson's hand.

Then this is today's payment. See you later, horse.

"Was!

See you later, horse!

"Mm!　You can come anytime!

　The unicorn is about to protest to the old woman, but she happily responds to the little girl's words.
　He doesn't care about the little girl, as long as she's there.

Well, we'll go home.

　The old men are leaving one by one.

Then we'll go home too.

"Mm.

　Lasse also headed home before the rain.

It's time to start thinking about a new house, now that we have some money saved up.

"I hope the shack doesn't blow up first.

　The unicorn laughs with a buzzing laugh.

"That's okay,

　A little smugly Lasse replied.

　.

"Holy shit.

　Lasse murmured uneasily inside the shack.

　Just as they returned to the ranch, the rain began to fall and Lasse hurriedly ran inside the hut.
　Inside the hut, a salamander-like demon, who had an aversion to rain, took refuge with a human-shaped demon like the harpy Lamia.

　And with each passing hour, the rain increased in intensity, the wind blew and the hut began to creak and scream.
　Already, leaks began to appear through the cracks, and a trough was placed to prevent the floor from getting wet.
　But at this rate, the roof could blow off at any moment.

　And then the screams of the shack suddenly cease.

Huh?　Is the storm over already?

　Wondering about the screeching of the shack that stopped unnaturally, Lasse opened the door and found a large wall standing there.

'This!'

　It was not a wall.


　It's a large collection of scales.
　The scales pulsate and shake occasionally.

A dragon.

　Yes, standing in front of the hut was the dragon he was using.

"There was a lot of screaming in this hut.

　The dragon used his body as a shield and turned his wings into an umbrella to protect the shack from the blows of the rain and wind.
　I'm sure he was the reason the hut didn't collapse.

Sorry to bother you.

I don't care, I have nothing to do anyway.

　Lasse feels the weight of his own uselessness in the words of the dragon .
　His complex runs deep.

No, you've been really helpful. Thank you.

　To comfort the dragon, and to express his true feelings, Lasse thanked her.

"Phew, don't worry about it.

　At the dragon's forlorn smile, Lasse wants to find him a job somehow.
　I wondered if there was something only he could do.
　That's when it happened.
　The walls of the shack screamed again with a bang.
　At first Lasse thought the wind had changed direction and that he'd been hit by a downpour, but when he realized that he was outside and not wet, thanks to the dragon, he realized that the screaming wasn't natural.

'Yes,'

　When Lasse opened the door, there was a drenched master carpenter.

It's master. What's the matter with you?

　Even though it's not far from town, walking in the heavy wind and rain is a very dangerous activity.
　Parts of the buildings that were blown off by the storm could fly away, and there are dangerous monsters that will appear on the day of the storm.
　It's a good sign that you're soaking wet just by coming to this ranch, which is not far from the entrance of the town.

"Please!　Horse!　Give me a horse at your place!

　But the master clung to him as if he didn't hear Lasse's concern.

"Please calm down,

　Lasse was surprised by his master's momentum, but he had survived many times on the battlefield, so he immediately calmed down and asked him a question.
　With his hand, he signals to the demons behind him.

　Taking Lasse's signal, Lamia takes out the night, Kelpie fills it with water, and Salamander lights the furnace.
　All the while, without explaining why, the master, presumably referring to the unicorn, keeps asking for the horse.
　Then the dryad, called by the harpy, senses the situation and forces master to calm down by releasing a calming pollen that finally calms him down.

Come in.

　Lamia offers you a cup of freshly boiled water. Because we don't have such luxuries as tea in this office yet.

Oh, I'm sorry: ...... ouch!

　When the master tried to drink the hot water he received, he was surprised by the heat, blew on it a few times and took a small sip.

...... huh?

　By drinking warm water, heat returns to the cooled body.
　That heat forces the calmed mind to calm down.

What happened to you?

　At Lasse's urging, the master suddenly remembered the reason why he was here.
　Then, looking desperate, but more rational than before, he began to tell the reason.

My son's wife is in labor. My son's wife went into labor. I was told it would be a while before I was due, but then something came flying through the wall of our house in the storm and I was so surprised that I went into labor!

"Is there a maternal figure in this town?

　Calmly, considering the possibility that the panicked masters have forgotten the birth mother, Lasse slowly asks a question.

Now she's gone to help with the delivery in the next town. I said I'd be able to make it in time considering the timing of my son's daughter-in-law's birth, but I didn't expect this to happen. ......

　In this era, the prediction of the delivery time of a woman in the last month of pregnancy was based on the hunches based on the rule of thumb of the birthmother.
　When more than one woman's birth was near, a birth mother from another town or village would often go to help.

Please!　Ask the horse demon in your place to use recovery magic!

　Lasse shook his head with an apologetic look at his master, who was hanging on to him.

The unicorn's recovery magic is meant to heal injuries and illnesses, but it does not help in childbirth.

　No matter how much of a unicorn's healing ability, when it comes to giving birth, it's a different story.

"Oh, no. ......

　The master slumped down with his head in his hands.

"Why don't you ask the swift demon to bring the old lady to the next town?

　Lamia, who had been listening to the story, joins the conversation, but this time the master shakes his head.
　The demon's strong legs can run through the storm.

No! It's two days' ride to the next town. No matter how fast we are, it will take too long to get there in this storm.

　As the master said, it would be over by the time he got back to the next town.
　Worst-case scenario, the mother and child could die.

You can go to ...... if it's empty.

　Lamia was about to say how about flying, but soon realized the shortcoming and covered her mouth.

"The sky?　I see!　There's a demon that can fly!

　The master stands up with a little more hope.

No, the ......

Master, it's storming outside. Even some flying demons can't fly in this wind.

　Lasse was right.
　A flying demon would arrive in the next town in a much earlier time, ignoring the roads on the ground.


　That's when the sky is clear.
　Even if it's a powerful demon, going against the storm to your destination can be a very dangerous act.

No ......?

　The master's face is once again tinted with despair.

"With my wings, I can easily tear through the storm.

"?

　Just as the master's knees were about to buckle, a powerful voice rang out from outside the shack in despair.

A dragon!

　The voice was that of the dragon that guarded the shack.

I've heard you. My wings will bring me to the next town or so in a moment, no matter the storm. Seek me, Lord.

　A voice filled with absolute confidence.
　The voice assured me that nothing is impossible for the strongest species of dragon.

Master, can you take me to the next town and summon the old lady?

"Well, I got it!

　The dragon's voice startled Master, but he mustered up all the courage he could muster to beat his chest and take the lead.

Dryad, follow me to the protection of the master and the midwife. Ramia, go to master's house and explain that I will bring the birthing hag there.

I understand.

I understand.

Then I will go.

　Following Lasse's command, the master, the dryad, and the lamia will leave the hut together.

"For God's sake, dragon.

I got it.

　At the sound of Lasse's voice, the dragon sinks lower and takes a receiving posture.

Then climb in.

　Lasse urged his master to climb on the back of the dragon.

"Oh!

　The master fearlessly climbed up, but the rain made the dragon's scales slippery and he lost his footing.

It's dangerous!

　But the dryad ivy that was waiting behind him supports him and pushes him upward.

"I'm sorry.

You're welcome.

　When they are all on the back of the dragon, ivy grows out from under the skirt-like petals of the dryad and wraps around the three of them, forming a semicircular dome.
　Then, after the dome is completed, a hole is made in the wall at eye level to provide a view.

　After confirming that it is ready, the dragon slowly flaps its wings and floats into the air.

"Oh, oh?

　Your master, who has probably never flown before, exclaims in surprise.

Then I need you to show me the way.

"Okay, okay. 　Fly into the mountains over there. The next town is at the foot of the mountain.

　At Lasse's urging, the master gave him instructions and the dragon followed them to the mountain.

　.

"There it is!　It's that town!

　About half an hour after leaving the town of Dexi, the dragon arrived in the next town, less than an hour later.

Okay, drop me off around here!　I'll get Grandma Granny in a minute!

　Following his instructions, the dragon descends to the ground, and the master lands with a momentum that makes it seem as if he is going to roll off the ground.
　Then he runs off to the next town, about 100 meters away.

This should help you give birth in time.

Oh, thank you, dragon. You are indeed a powerful demon.

I'm not afraid of this.

　To Lasse's thanks, the dragon gives a curt reply.
　But his voice is proud.

"Easy to go to .......

　Dragon's words made Lasse think of something.

I'll talk to you about it when I get home.

What's wrong with you?

Yeah, I just had an idea.

　Later, the birth mother, accompanied by her master, almost fainted when she sat down, but she was safely delivered to the town of Dexi and her master's son's wife gave birth safely.

　.

Then let's go!

　The dragon declares in a joyful voice, and its body slowly floats up into the sky.

Your destination is the town of L'Este, passing through the towns of Pissien and Hamitre on the way, be careful not to drop your luggage!

　Following the warning, the humans on the back of the dragon will hold the luggage.

Let's go!

　A dragon flaps its wings to the neighboring town of Hamitre.
　And on the ground, Lasse watches happily as the scene unfolds.

"It looks like it's going to work, dragon carriage.

　After the delivery mess was over, Lasse went to consult with the town's mayor and the town's merchants.
　The business was the transportation of dragons.
　The plan is to use dragons instead of bashas, as they are faster than horses, less likely to be attacked by monsters, and can carry more cargo.
　The merchants are surprised by the huge scheme to use dragons as carriages, but they are also intrigued by the plan.

　Dragon carriages are far more expensive than carriages, but they save you time and eliminate the need to hire mercenaries to escort you to your destination.
　This was especially attractive to merchants who carried perishables and expensive ornaments, where time greatly affected the selling price.

　On the advice of the merchants who were enthusiastic about the plan, they also created a system of carpooling, in which those who wished to get off the train on the way to their final destination could do so at a slightly lower price, including through certain towns.
　This system takes advantage of the instability of the dragon carriage that doesn't go to a specific destination, unlike the stagecoach, and the more people riding the dragon, the cheaper the fare will be for everyone.


　With the explanation of this system, traveling merchants began to discuss their destinations with each other, and merchants and noblemen from other towns who heard the rumors began to take advantage of the system as well.

I'm glad to see that the dragons have a job to do.

　Lasse rejoiced at the sight of the dragon, alive and flying in the sky.
　And he was delighted by the sight of the bag of gold coins that weighed heavily in his hand.

No, but the dragon carriage is really lucrative!　This could be a mansion with just a dragon carriage!

　Lasse is beaming at the unexpected income.
　But he didn't realize it. He hadn't realized how much money was on the invoices that showed the huge saddle with seat and back that he had prepared to run the dragon carriage.

　The day when he would make a killing was a little later.