If Bell ran through the streets, he’d cause a major scene. On the other hand, walking all the way to the city outskirts from my house near the center of the capital was far too taxing.
Because of that, I’d registered a location outside the city in my teleportation magic tool specifically for our walks. It was just outside the West Gate, so it was still a bit of a trek to the southern hill, but with Bell’s speed, that wasn't an issue.
After making some quick preparations, Sieg-san, Bell, and I teleported to the designated spot. The sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the world was bathed in shadow. I activated two floating lighting magic tools, adjusting their glow to illuminate the path ahead like a pair of high-beam headlights.
"Bell, it’s dark. You okay?"
"Gau!"
Bell had excellent night vision, so he was fine, but Sieg-san and I wouldn't have been able to see a thing in the pitch black. Actually, Sieg-san could apparently use a specific spell to see at night as clearly as she did during the day, so it was really just me who needed the light to feel at ease.
At my signal, Bell took off at an impressive clip. Fortunately, I’d already activated the magic tool for fall prevention and vibration reduction, so the ride was perfectly smooth and comfortable.
"He’s so fast. At this rate, we’ll reach the southern hill in no time," Sieg-san remarked from behind me.
"True. It’s still quite a distance—longer than our usual walk—but going straight there should work out just fine."
I offered a casual reply. Even as a cub, Bell was massive. There was more than enough room for both of us on his back, and the magic tool kept us so stable that we didn't actually need to press against each other to maintain our balance.
It felt like a bit of a missed opportunity, but if the ride had been bumpy enough for balance to be an issue, I would have been the one sliding around. In that case, I'd have probably been the one clinging to her for dear life.
"...Hmm. It isn't strictly necessary, but this feels like a bit of a waste, doesn't it?"
"Huh? What does?"
"In romance novels, when a man and a woman ride together, they’re usually pressed close enough to be conscious of each other. It feels like a shame not to have that in a situation like this."
"Ah... Yeah, the thought crossed my mind too."
As a side note, Sieg-san was quite the bookworm. She was the one who first showed me the local bookstores, and she had always enjoyed a good narrative. Previously, she’d stuck to adventure stories and the like, almost never touching romance. However, ever since we started dating, she’d begun picking up romance novels from time to time.
Following our brief exchange, Sieg-san gently reached around from behind and wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing her body against mine.
"Like this, perhaps?"
"I don't know the perfect way to do it, but this definitely feels right."
"Fufu, I like it too. Let’s stay like this until we reach our destination, then."
She wasn't holding on tight, but the warmth of her hands and her body against my back, combined with the soft sound of her voice near my ear, was incredibly soothing. It wasn't just physical closeness; it was a comfortable, heart-melting intimacy.
It didn't take long to reach the hill. There were no trees to block the view, making it the perfect spot for stargazing. Since it was quite far from the capital, it seemed no one else had bothered to come this far to see the meteor shower. While rare, monsters did occasionally wander through this area, which likely kept the average citizen away.
Of course, that wasn't a problem for us. Monsters are generally sensitive to those stronger than them and rarely go looking for a fight they can't win. Very few creatures in the Human Realm would dare attack a group with a Behemoth in its midst. While low-intelligence, high-aggression monsters like certain wyverns might still try their luck, those kinds didn't typically live near the capital. We could enjoy the stars in peace.
After dismounting, I conferred with Sieg-san and spread out a groundsheet in a good spot. Bell, as if he’d been waiting for the signal, dropped into a prone position and looked at me with expectant eyes, his tail thumping against the grass.
"...We just ate dinner, so just one, okay?"
"Gau!"
If I had to translate Bell’s gaze, it would be: "I’m being a good boy and acting as your backrest. Reward, please!"
I gave a wry smile and reached into my magic box to pull out a hunk of meat larger than my arm. It was exactly what he was hoping for.
Specifically, it was a type of giant beef jerky. It was a treat for large pets made from processed Agisauro meat—a monster from the Demon Realm that, according to my reference books, looked a bit like a Tyrannosaurus. Bell absolutely loved the stuff.
Humans couldn't eat it. Not because it was toxic, but because it was insanely hard. It was so tough that even steel couldn't put a dent in it. In fact, if a strong person swung a piece of this jerky like a club, they could probably crush iron armor.
"Gau~"
Rin and Sera found the jerky too hard to even bother with, but for Bell, the intense chewiness and flavor made it the ultimate snack. He began gnawing on it, savoring every bit.
Watching him munch happily, I leaned back against his side with Sieg-san and looked up at the night sky.