The mining city of Novan is also known as the Dwarven capital.
It is a small city with a population of about 1,000, but about 60% of its population are Dwarves.

Dwarves are a stocky race with a general image of being craftsmen with dexterous hands that do not match their appearance.

On the other hand, they are also known to be excellent miners due to their robustness and willingness to do simple tasks.
Most of the dwarves living in Novan are also miners, and we often saw them pushing carts in the streets, covered with dirt.

The urban structure of Norvan is also quite unique.
About 300 buildings are clustered or scattered from the hillside to the foot of the Norvania Mine, and many roads full of slopes and stairs connect them irregularly.

For this reason, moving around the city requires repeated ascents and descents, and my personal impression is that it is very hard.
However, the dwarves who are the main inhabitants of this city do not seem to be particularly bothered by this structure due to their robustness.

Besides...

'Huh ......, you guys seem to be ...... quite relaxed .......'

This is a great way to make sure that you don't have to worry about your own safety.
I had already climbed a number of stairs and slopes, my breath was coming in blatant gasps, and my knees were starting to laugh from a long time ago.

But on the other hand, I saw Satsuki and Miy walking up the stairs with ease, and Cyril, who seemed to be somewhat more relaxed than me, if not as relaxed as them.

I'm proud to say that I'm still physically stronger than most of the wizards at the magic academy who are more like researchers, but it's also true that I'm not a specialist in physical exercise.
I'm not sure if I'm as good as her, but I can use my aura and I'm light-weight, and I've had some training as a warrior.

'Oh, so Will has a weakness too. I'm a little surprised.

Satsuki, who turned around a dozen steps ahead of me, looked down at me and said so.

'Oh, of course. ....... What do you think I am? ......'

'Uh, ...... a perfect superhuman?'

'No, of course not. Apart from being able to use magic, I'm an ordinary guy. ......'

'And you're smart too. Can't you use that magic to do something about it?' ......

'I can. ....... And I regret that I should have done so. In the event that you've got a lot of time, you may want to take a look at the following: ...... but you can already see the destination in front of you, so why not use it now? ......'

I looked up and saw my destination, Mayor Novan's mansion, a dozen steps up from Satsuki's position.
I had come this far, thinking that I was almost there and would be fine, but it seemed that my remaining strength and my estimate of the distance to my destination were slightly off.

'Hmm. You don't use magic because it's a waste of mana?

'Oh, ....... I'll catch up with you in a while, so Satsuki and the others can go ahead.'

'I see. And then...'

Satsuki walked down the stairs with a light step.
And when she came next to me..,

'Yo,' she said.

'......!

Satsuki lifted me up in a princess hug, as if I were in a state of exhaustion.

I know that this is easy for her, as she is able to use her aura to strengthen her physical abilities, but...

'Hey, hey, what are you doing, you ......!

'Because it's faster if I carry you like this, right?

With me in her arms, Satsuki ran up the stone steps with a comfortable gait.
But I, for one, was not in the mood for this.

'Are you stupid? Are you stupid, Satsuki? We're in the city! No, it doesn't have to be in the city, but ......!

I feel good. I feel good. I've always been on Will's back, so why don't I help him out once in a while?

'You're not helping! Just put me down!

'Oh, no. But we're already here.

Satsuki climbed to the top of the stairs in a flash.
She slowly lowered my body to the ground.

And then I heard a voice that made me despair.

'...... What? ...... What the hell is that?'

It was a familiar man's voice.
I fearfully looked in the direction of the voice.

Sure enough, in front of the gate of the mayor's mansion, there were four senior adventurers who were looking at us with stunned expressions.
The voice that sounded familiar was that of a fighter who seemed to be their leader.

He turned to me and said.

'Hey, kid. Didn't you just get a princess hug from that kid?

'...... Can't deny it.'

'Aren't you ashamed of yourself?'

'...... No, I'm very embarrassed.'

'I see. ...... You're in a lot of trouble too, kid.''

After that, the senior adventurers were led into the mansion by the servants of the mansion, who gave me a pitying look and went into the mansion.

And then two of them, Mee and Cyril, arrived late from the bottom of the stairs.

'Satsuki...... that wasn't very nice......'

'What ......? Too much of what?'

'William, I feel for you. I'm sorry for your loss.'

Cyril patted me on the shoulder and I nodded my head.