Procuring a carriage

Anyway, we'd decided to head to the Elflands.

With my Spatial Magic, we could arrive while lounging around at the base as usual. Heck, I could just soar through the sky, get a visual on the place, and link the space in seconds flat.

But then I wouldn't be able to snag any test subjects!

So I considered taking the Magic Engine Car at full throttle, using "building an alibi for travel" as my excuse… but yeah, at that speed we'd blow right past any bandits before they even thought to attack.

I needed something slower.

"Since we have the chance, why don't we use a carriage without any guards? It can double as bandit bait."

"A carriage? Do you have one, Onee-san?"

"Doesn't matter if I don't. I can just copy one."

When I think about it, I already have transportation that far outclasses any carriage, so copying one for personal use doesn't violate my self-imposed restrictions.

Procuring a carriage? A piece of cake for me.

… Actually, if I asked the Five Elders, they'd probably just hand one over!

They'd have everything from obnoxiously high-spec new models to beat-up old clunkers to choose from.

I opened a window from the base and peeked at Alchemia—come to think of it, will they be okay now that the person in charge is gone? I did at least mention it to Blade-senpai, but…—picked out a suitable carriage, and copied it.

Copying the horses felt a bit iffy, so I left them out.

"Onee-san's magic really is unfair… Huh? There's no horse?"

"Copying living creatures is a bit much, you know? Microorganisms, insects, and monsters are one thing… but mammals are a no-go."

I intended to save that kind of thing for the test subjects I'd be procuring from now on.

If they're criminals sentenced to death, experiments and copying should be totally fine!!

"Then what will you do about the horse?"

"I'll disguise Arthur as one. It'll be fine."

"?!"

Arthur, who'd been sprawled out in the living room, whipped his head toward me.

Haven't you been getting a bit of a belly lately? All squishy and soft? I think this would be great exercise for you. Besides, you did originally attack me, so you were basically a robber yourself, right? So it should be fine to do experiment-y things to you…?

"I could do it the Healer way—reshape your limbs and neck and all that."

"At the very least, please just use camouflage!?"

"Hmm, fine then. At least shrink down to horse size, okay? If you're too big, you'll be bumping into things left and right, and that'll be a pain. Also, I'll store your wings and tail over here."

"Got it."

Arthur graciously accepted the role of horse.

Alright, with this we should be all set for the Elflands!

… Oh, wait a second. If I capture bandits while claiming the Five Elders want test subjects instead of me, couldn't I snag some without tarnishing Dea-kun's image of me?

They did say they wanted some, after all… Presents for my local wives are important! Alright, that settles it!