Kays Translations

Chapter 29: Detour to the mansion again.

Inside the Leonardo family's enormous magic airship.

Taking a few detours, they were on their way to the Leonardo territory.

"... It's terrible."

Kaito nervously spoke to Vane.

Here, the two of them were still wearing their uniforms, engaged in conversation.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm feeling tense even though the party is coming up."

"That means you're nervous."

"Well, obviously!"

Kaito replied defiantly, and Vane chuckled.

"It can't be helped. We already knew that a party would be held because an equipment used by the Seven Heroes has been found. And it's going to be quite grand."

"... Even so, it's natural to feel nervous..."

Kaito sighed as he looked out the window of the magic airship.

Unfortunately, they couldn't enjoy the scenery due to the bad weather. It was caught in a blizzard.

Vane, who stood next to Kaito said 

"It's the era we live in. Everyone is grateful for the aura left by the Seven Heroes."

Saying that, Vane walked with Kaito towards the center of the magic airship.

A spacious area, similar to the entrance hall of a noble's mansion, was located in the center of the airship. The room was covered with deep red carpeting, and it almost looked like a luxurious inn or a noble's mansion at first glance.

The girls were sitting on the sofas placed in this spacious area.

"Oh my."

Charlotte smiled wryly as she saw Kaito.

"It's unusual. You're so nervous."

"What's wrong with that?"

"It's no big deal. You should be proud instead. The reason the shield was found was because you were chosen.”

"Right! Kaito-kun, you should be more confident!"

Nemu said, and after that:

"I'm not saying you have to be all puffed up, but you could be a little more self-assured, couldn't you?"

The daughter of the Riohard family said clearly, and everyone else nodded.

There must be a meaning to the fact that Airia was found in this era... There must be a significant, undeniable reason behind it.

Without him realizing it, the tension disappeared from Kaito's face.

"If that's the case, I guess I'll act confidently."

After seeing him return to his usual self, the girls teased him while laughing.

Vane, who was also smiling, absentmindedly looked outside through a nearby window.

"It's getting rough again."

He was captivated by the increasing blizzard.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

"Hmm..."

Estelle thought deeply while standing on the magic airship floating in the night sky.

The time they were supposed to arrive at their planned hunting ground had long passed, and now the magic airship was anchored by stakes hammered into a passing mountain.

The weather was terrible, but it didn't matter much to the Drake family's magic airship.

However, the problem was...

"It's entertaining to fight under such terrible weather, but the monsters aren't showing up."

"We might end up doing snow march training. The monsters are probably hiding in this much snow."

"That's right. However, that's not interesting enough. Even if it's snow march training, it's not something demanding for a Swordsman."

That alone wasn't intense enough.

It would have been better if he were wielding a sword in the Lion Sanctuary.

"In that case, Sister."

Sitting on a chair placed in front of the steering wheel, Verlich let out a big yawn and made a suggestion.

"Shall we head to Eupheim as it is? If we fly for a few more hours, we'll arrive there."

"What would you do in Eupheim?"

"I have something to discuss with that brat—uh, I mean Ulysses Ignat. It's about the materials I'm using for repairing Lemuria. I'd rather talk to him directly than through a letter."

It had to do with Ren passing on the Dragon Vein Furnace during that time.

Ren nodded immediately, understanding what he meant.

Estelle also had no reason to refuse, so she just listened.

"We'll spend the night in Eupheim tonight. Spending the winter at the White Crown doesn't sound bad."

Deciding quickly, Estelle left the helm and headed out into the blizzard on the deck.

Within a few minutes, she returned, brushing off the snow and smiling.

"I brought back the stakes. We can fly again."

It seems that she jumped off the deck, kicked off the mountain surface, and flew back with momentum.

The ship's forge started moving immediately, heading back into the sky.

The wind blowing around the mountain and the wind generated at higher altitudes caused the airship to sway frequently.

Without needing to take the helm along the way, Ren brewed tea for everyone in a stable spot.

The three of them spent time in the helm room, enjoying a light dinner.

"At this time of the year, it's like this during the Ice Glacier Crossing, huh..."

Ren looked at Verlich while eating.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. During the Ice Glacier Crossing, the Sky Continent floats over the northern skies of the Elfen Continent, causing unusual cold waves and winds. I don't know the exact principle. It's just one of those things."

"I see... That's why we have this weather."

As the monsters become more active, the weather becomes worse.

The Ice Glacier Crossing, which creates such a winter, only occurs once every dozen years.

It probably existed even in the legend of the Seven Heroes. However, since such information wasn't released, it was treated as one of the weather phenomena.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Exactly at ten o'clock in the evening, Ren arrived at the Eupheim magic airship port.

Unlike the Elendil hanging Garden, the Eupheim magic airship port was fan-shaped, with several floors centered around the building, and roads extended to each magic airship port.

The three of them were walking on one of those roads where privately owned magic airships were moored.

The walls on the left and right were almost entirely made of glass, and the space was covered with glossy large stone tiles.

If Ren had made footsteps...

"Ren-kun! You really came!"

Fiona ran up from ahead.

Behind her was Ulysses.

"Ren, I'm going to talk to Verlich about tomorrow's plans. You can talk with Fiona."

It wasn't a separate plan, but they sat on a bench nearby with a view of the outside.

Ren didn't stop and continued walking toward Fiona.

"Fiona-sama, why are you here?"

This was Eupheim, and it wasn't surprising to hear that Fiona was coming home.

However, what he wondered was how she knew that they had arrived so quickly.

The answer came from Ulysses.

"A signal came from the Drake family's magic airship to this building. As expected of the Drake family, if they send a signal to this magic airship port, it will reach me too."

"I heard Ren-kun's schedule, so I thought you might be coming. I was worried because you suddenly came, thinking something might have happened..."

"N-No, no! There was no particular incident or accident or anything!"

He spoke honestly, hiding nothing about their plans and what happened.

Hearing about Verlich's request, Ulysses inferred the various circumstances.

"I see. So that's what happened. Then I'll go talk with the others."

"Understood. Well then, um..."

"There's a carriage outside, so you should ride with Fiona."

"Why?"

"Aren't you planning to continue searching for tonight's accommodation?"

That was true.

It was unexpected for the topic to shift suddenly to a carriage.

"You can stay at our place. I'll tell the others about that."

Like a friend's parent telling them to stay over because it's already late.

In terms of the relationship with Fiona, it wasn't that far off, but the other party was a Marquis.

Although it was completely different in terms of weight...

"...Thank you for your hospitality."

Even Ren's delayed reaction seemed to amuse Ulysses, who then said 

"Fiona, I'm counting on you," 

Before going to join Verlich and the others.

Left behind, Ren looked at Fiona.

"T-Thank you."

It seemed that even Fiona hadn't heard her father's proposal, but there was no way she would refuse his suggestion.

"It seems like he meant for us to go home first, so shall we?" 

It was already late at night.

It would be more constructive to discuss matters there than standing around talking.

――――Perhaps Ulysses had anticipated this from the beginning; he had arranged for another carriage to arrive at the magic airship port even though they were delayed. Ulysses returned to the Ignatius territory, and it was past eleven o'clock at night when he came to talk to Ren, who had arrived earlier.

In the office where Lessard had been present the other day, it was now a one-on-one conversation.

Despite the sudden visit, Ulysses was in high spirits.

"So, how many days are you going to stay?"

"I'm sorry, but I will only be staying for one night today."

"You're being cold. Aren't we friends?"

"I am honored to hear you say that, but I have work in Elendil in a few days."

It was a small job that Ren was planning to handle in Lessard’s stead.

It was an opportunity that would be beneficial for the future when Ren took over his village.

"In that case, you just need to come back before that day."

(An unexpected offer, huh?)

Although he was mostly joking, Ulysses would surely be happy that Ren's stay extended.

"Oh, right. The two of them will be staying at an inn. I asked if they wanted to come to my place, but it was declined."

Ren understood the sentiment.

As close as Verlich was to Ulysses, there might still be some reluctance. Perhaps Estelle wasn't as close to Ulysses.

Ren inquired about the inn where they would be staying.

"Thank you for today. Well then, I should be going."

"Ah, as I mentioned before, think of it as your own home and make yourself comfortable."

Ren left Ulysses’ office.

Though it might have been hidden in Ulysses’ words, the feeling of him considering this place as Ren's home seemed apparent.

The guest room prepared for Ren was the same as the one he had stayed in before, despite the unexpected visit.

As Ren was surprised by the sudden arrival, he passed by the same servant who served him last time.

"Please enjoy your winter vacation to the fullest."

The servant said naturally.

But Ren remained calm in response to the rather blunt statement.

"No, I will only be staying for one night."

"Well, that's a shame."

The servant let out a disappointed sigh and then left.

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