New chapter of Single Old Man is out! (1/2 chapters)

 

 

 

Test Run

(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)

After Rosso and the others had gone, I began crafting the protectors for the motorbike.

I created light yet durable pads to protect the chest, back, elbows, knees, and shoulders. With those in hand, I went to a tailor specializing in custom clothing and requested that the protectors be sewn into a jacket and trousers. I also found a fine pair of gloves and bought them. After my measurements for the jacket and trousers were taken, I was told they would be ready in two days.

I returned to the workshop and began work on the helmet.

“Now then, how shall I proceed? I prefer a full-face type. Sunglasses exist in this world, so I can use their material to make the visor. The helmet’s shell, if made of metal, would be too heavy and unbearably hot under sunlight. Perhaps I should craft it from the light and sturdy scales of a Plastic Wyvern. I will first create the mold with earth magic using Alchemy.” (Gentoku)

With earth magic, I imagined a full-face helmet and formed the mold from soil. Then, I melted the Plastic Wyvern scales and poured the liquid into the mold. Once it solidified, I removed the mold and smoothed the surface with a file.

Inside, I lined the helmet with Gel Slime, which absorbed shock, and added sponge material to absorb sweat. To prevent heat buildup, I carefully carved air holes into the helmet. Next, I purchased a sheet of sunglass material, bent and shaped it into a visor, and attached it so that it could be raised or lowered.

“Excellent. It looks just right.” (Gentoku)

I looked over the helmet and muttered quietly.

“The color… right, what color should it be?” (Gentoku)

The completed motorbike was still gray, the natural shade of its materials.

“What color should I choose?” (Gentoku)

Rosso was red, Ao was blue, Blanche was white, Verde was green. Valen was orange, Lind was yellow, and Ung was purple. Sandrone gave the impression of gold, Richter gray, and Yeran brown.

That left me.

“Yes. For me, only black will do. It is decided. I shall paint it black.” (Gentoku)

I ran back to the tailor and said…

“Excuse me, please make the jacket and trousers black.” (Gentoku)

Then, I returned to the workshop and painted both the motorbike and the helmet a jet-black shade.

As I painted the bike in the corner of the first-floor workspace, I realized something.

“It feels wrong to keep it in the corner forever. Very well, there is no time like the present.” (Gentoku)

I closed up the workshop and dashed to the Real Estate Guild. I arranged to purchase the vacant lot beside my workplace, received a recommendation for a skilled carpenter, and had a small shed constructed there the very same day.

A shed, yes. A garage for the motorbike.

The vacant lot was quite spacious, even after building the garage, and there was plenty of room left.

When I returned to the workshop, I was already tired from all the running around. I should have used the prototype motorbike for travel.

Why had I insisted on running back and forth on foot?

I stepped into the newly bought land beside my workplace and assessed the space for the garage.

“It will only store the motorbike, so there should be no problem. Perhaps I should also include a small area for maintenance. A long, narrow space, about four tatami mats in size. Yes, that should do.” (Gentoku)

The vacant lot was large, about the size of two basketball courts, so there was ample space. The carpenter would come the next day, and since it was a simple shed, he could build it on-site after hearing my requirements.

With that arranged, my work for the day was finished.

“Nyaa.” (Daifuku)

“Oh, sorry. It’s time for your meal, isn’t it?” (Gentoku)

Daifuku came down from the second floor to where I was. Shiratama was gone. It seemed that Yuki-chan had taken her away without my noticing. I prepared Daifuku’s meal, and he ate everything before going back upstairs and falling asleep on the bed I had made for him.

“For now, today’s work is done. Ah, I am exhausted.” (Gentoku)

The bike work was nearly complete. At last, it would be time for the test run.

 

—

 

Four days later, the small shed, about four tatami mats in size, was finished beside the workshop, and I moved the motorbike inside. The shed had shelves, a place for the new jacket and helmet, and space for gloves and boots.

Instead of a door, it had a lockable metal shutter. For security, I reinforced all sides of the shed with metal plates, and the shutter lock was one of my own designs. No thief would take it easily.

“All right.” (Gentoku)

I opened the shutter, put on the jacket, boots, and gloves, and pushed the bike out of the garage. Taking the helmet in hand, I looked at the jet-black motorbike.

“Let’s go, my partner.” (Gentoku)

I immediately felt embarrassed for saying that. It was only a test run, hardly the time for such sentimentality.

At that moment, Hikuroku arrived.

“Ossan.” (Rosso)

“Oji-san.” (Ao)

“Ojisama.” (Blanche)

“Gentoku, we are here.” (Verde)

“Oh, it’s you.” (Gentoku)

Rosso and the others arrived on their bicycles, with Hikuroku following behind them. As they entered the lot, Hikuroku sat down obediently and waited. The three stopped their bicycles and approached.

“Ossan, we came as requested.” (Rosso)

“Yes, thank you.” (Gentoku)

That day, I had asked Rosso and her group for a favor.

Today was the day of the test run. I planned to leave town, and I wanted them to accompany me. There were magic beasts outside the walls, and though I would be riding the motorbike, I could not be careless. They would follow on their bicycles, while Ao and Verde, who specialized in ranged attacks, would ride on Hikuroku’s back and run alongside.

Before long, Sandrone and Richter appeared, and behind them came Valen, Lind, and Ung.

“Gentoku, we came to watch.” (Sandrone)

“Oh, you all came. Quite the crowd.” (Gentoku)

Sandrone cast a glance toward Valen and the others.

“We ran into each other by coincidence, or perhaps it was an instruction from Michaela.” (Sandrone)

“Ahaha, truly a coincidence. But we were involved a little, after all.” (Valen)

“Ohh, Occhan, that black one moves, doesn’t it?” (Lind)

“Hmm, interesting.” (Ung)

Valen and his companions stared curiously at the motorbike. That made me nervous. I looked toward Rosso’s group.

“……” (Rosso/Ao/Blanche)

“Hey, you three.” (Verde)

“We know.” (Rosso)

“Yes.” (Ao)

“Indeed, we understand.” (Blanche)

I was grateful to Verde for keeping them calm.

I turned to Valen’s group and said…

“Thank you all for coming.” (Gentoku)

“Not at all. Actually, we came to report something. Michaela has been formally recognized as the discoverer of the seventh attribute, Lightning. It seems Poisson-sama also advised her in naming it.” (Valen)

“I see.” (Gentoku)

“Yes. The official announcement will soon be made by the Magic Guild. The field of magic will be turbulent for a time.” (Valen)

“I understand.” (Gentoku)

“Does this not trouble you?” (Valen)

“What do you mean?” (Gentoku)

“Never mind. It was impolite of me to ask.” (Valen)

Whether I was the true wielder of lightning or the one who taught Poisson did not matter. I simply listened to Valen’s report with polite detachment.

After that, Valen and the others said they would watch from a distance and stepped back. I put on my helmet and took the key in hand.

“It’s completely black.” (Rosso)

“It looks cool.” (Ao)

“It is not quite a helm, is it? Can you see properly through it?” (Blanche)

“I cannot even tell it’s you, Gentoku. Can you hear us?” (Verde)

In response, I gave them a firm thumbs-up.

I mounted the bike, inserted the key, and raised the stand.

“What is this feeling, Ung? Do you sense it too?” (Valen)

“Yes, somehow. That posture, it looks impressive.” (Ung)

“Eh, I don’t really get it.” (Lind)

Valen and Ung understood.

A rider in full gear, seated astride a motorcycle, had a distinct aura of coolness. I had once admired that image, and now I was living it.

Gripping the handlebars, I let mana flow through. The magic stone reacted, and though there was no engine sound, I could feel the energy.

Then, Sandrone spoke.

“By the way, Gentoku, does that vehicle, what did you call it, a motorbike, have a name?” (Sandrone)

“A name?” (Gentoku)

The manufacturer would be “Gentoku” I supposed. But the model name, this was my original creation, and it was black. I had already decided.

“I call it the Jet-Black Meteor. Let’s ride.” (Gentoku)

I twisted the accelerator grip and let mana surge through. The tires spun, and the bike began to move.

“Whoa, this thing is sensitive.” (Gentoku)

I had weighted the frame for stability. The treads I carved into the tires prevented slipping, and the aged Rubber Cobra hide minimized bouncing. The speed was about 40 kilometers per hour. In the rearview mirror, I could see Rosso and the others chasing on their bicycles, with Hikuroku running beside them.

“I am getting the hang of it.” (Gentoku)

It was a complete motorbike.

When I stabilized my posture, it ran straight and true. Acceleration was excellent, balance perfect, the tires gripped well, and the brakes worked properly.

Of course, there were complications.

“What is that?”

“Whoa!”

“A black magic beast!”

“It’s a metal horse!”

“It’s fast!”

“Hey, that looks dangerous!”

I had chosen a less crowded route, yet it still caused quite the commotion. I might even appear in tomorrow’s newspaper.

Stopping before the west gate, I waited for Rosso and the others to catch up.

“Ossan, that was too fast.” (Rosso)

“Sorry. But that was less than 20 percent of its full speed. I held back since we were inside town. Once we reach the highway, I will not be able to restrain it as much.

“Hikuroku, are you alright?” (Gentoku)

“Woof, woof.” (Hikuroku)

“He says, ‘Don’t underestimate me. You keep up instead’.” (Ao)

“I see. Then, Ao, Verde, I leave the guard duty to you.” (Gentoku)

“Understood. Rosso, take care of the bicycles.” (Ao)

“Heh, leave the escort to us.” (Verde)

Ao and Verde mounted Hikuroku, and together they left through the west gate.

The gatekeepers gave us curious looks, but when I said it was an experiment involving a magical tool, they let us pass. With Rosso’s group present, we did not seem suspicious.

“I will gradually increase the speed, so stay close.” (Gentoku)

“Alright.” (Rosso)

“Of course.” (Blanche)

I twisted the grip gently, reaching about 40 kilometers per hour, then increased the flow of mana until the speed rose to around 70.

Hikuroku ran beside me.

“Woof, woof, woof.” (Hikuroku)

“He says he can still go faster.” (Ao)

I heard Ao’s voice clearly thanks to Verde’s wind magic reducing the headwind.

I nodded and poured in more mana. The highway was well maintained, with little gravel and no obstacles.

“Keep up, Hikuroku.” (Gentoku)

I twisted the accelerator and unleashed the full flow of mana. The front wheel lifted from the ground. A wheelie, completely unintended. A chill ran down my spine.  In an instant, the speed surged to nearly 150 kilometers per hour, and for a moment, my life flashed before my eyes.

I immediately released the throttle, applied the brakes gently, and came to a gradual stop.

Hikuroku soon caught up.

“Woof.” (Hikuroku)

“He says, ‘I lost. Well done’.” (Ao)

“That startled me. You vanished in an instant.” (Verde)

“…” (Rosso)

“Oji-san?” (Ao)

“Gentoku?” (Blanche)

“Ah, yes. I am alright.” (Gentoku)

That unexpected speed and the unplanned wheelie had drenched my back in sweat.

Yes. I would never again push it to maximum speed. Never.

 

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(Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)