Kinda makes you want to ride it!!!

Alright, car's done.

That said, it's like a giant Mini 4WD with just an engine attached in that it has no brakes or safety devices whatsoever. It can self-propel, at least.

Yes. It can self-propel, at least!

… Kinda makes you want to ride it!!!

Thus, using my Guild Card, I left the town saying "I'm going peddling toward Karkassa," and from a bit away, I boarded the magic engine car: Star-kun No. 2.

(No. 1 is that stone model mixer and the wooden No. 0 is stored in my room after a few adjustments.)

As for how I obtained it, I'll say a kind Healer old man gave it to me!

"Okay, then, departing for Karkassa — let's go! Yay!"

"Yay!!"

The enthusiastic response came only from Aishia. Dea-kun just looked anxious.

"Is it really okay to ride this?"

"Well, I can handle whatever even if we crash with my magic, no problemo."

"Please stop it before we crash!?"

"… I'll put defensive magic on everyone."

"Please stop it before we crash!?"

Hahaha. Leave it to Onee-san.

Set the Goblin General's magic stone in the power source! Switch on!

Vroom! The car lurched forward with whiplash-inducing force.

Whoa, dangerous. If I hadn't put invincibility on everyone, that might've been bad.

"Eek, aah, Master, it's shaking so much, ow!"

"You'll bite your tongue if you talk — whoa, the shaking is kinda insane without any suspension."

"O-Onee-san, there's a curve ahead, c-can we turn?"

Hmm, doesn't seem possible. The steering wheel has no effect.

Too fast; even turning, it feels like it's sliding. Wooden wheels have no grip. Plus, they're wearing down and might break.

"I'll turn off the switch for now."

"Y-Yes."

Click, I turned off the switch, and following inertia, it continued for a bit, went straight through the curve onto the grass, rattling over the uneven ground, and finally, the magic engine car 'Star-kun No. 2' stopped.

"… Is the engine inside broken?"

"Let me check with spatial perception… Ah, some pistons are cracked. Gears are chipped too. Maybe the magic stone was too strong."

It was just running, but the engine internals are wrecked.

It went to top speed instantly, so the load was tremendous. If only it was metal. Hmm, anyway, hill starts would be impossible; how did accelerator pedals adjust speed?

That said, it moved.

Without using Spatial Magic, it carried people and ran. The magic engine car 'Star-kun No. 2' did that.

Aishia leaned out of the vehicle to look back. The starting point was far behind us.

"Whoa, we moved quite a bit, Master."

"Yeah. This might actually work. What do you think, Dea-kun?"

"… There are mountains of improvements needed. We didn't feel any wind thanks to your defensive magic, but normally it would be intense."

"True, we need a windshield. Suspension too."

"This seems like it'll be rewarding in many ways."

Dea-kun's face, despite everything, showed the excited expression of a boy thrilled at heart.

…

"Wait, hold on! Dea-kun, be more girly!"

"W-What? Why so suddenly?"

"Dea-kun, haven't you forgotten you're dressed as a cute girl? You could be more, you know, bashful."

When I said that, Dea-kun scratched his cheek.

"Even if you say that, after wearing girls' clothes for so long, I've gotten used to it… And it's pointless to be embarrassed in front of you two now."

"Grr!"

Habituation. That's a serious issue.

This brazen state is too bland for the Goddess's desired shame!

This is not good, not good at all!

Something… an approach to earn shame…!!

"! Speaking of which, Dea-kun. When was the last time you took a bath?"

"Eh? Ah… Come to think of it, maybe not recently…"

Yes. I know they haven't used the bath much due to being absorbed in magic tool creation and such!

I pulled Dea-kun close and sniffed near his neck. Even if pretending, I sniff.

… He smells sweet like flowers?

Is that an Elf thing? Wow, he smells great even without bathing… But I steeled my heart and spoke.

"You smell a bit."

"…!? R-Really?"

Oh, pulling away and looking, Dea-kun's face is bright red.

Yes, yes, being sniffed by your first crush Onee-san and told you smell would be embarrassing!

Alright, one more push.

"Yeah. This… needs a thorough washing! How about we all take a bath together today, the three of us!"

"Understood, Master!"

"Ehh!? I-I can bathe alone!"

Yesss, yes! Even his ears are red!

I anticipated Dea-kun bashfully refusing. Fufufu.

Well, even if agreed, bathing together is no big deal. I've seen plenty of rods in my previous life.

"Hmm? Do you make sure to wash behind your ears? I'll prepare soap too."

"I will!"

… Ah, but forcing embarrassment like this, if he gets used to it, that's trouble. I need to think of ways to prevent habituation…

Using extreme measures temporarily leads to escalation. Ah, what to do.

"Wait, then is it okay for just me to bathe with Master?"

"… Huh?"

Somehow it turned out that way, and I ended up washing Aishia from head to toe.

I also had her as a massage practice partner, so I'm satisfied.