Chapter 81

The journey to the Kingdom of Astroza was arduous. To reach this accursed country, we had to pass through two cities and one kingdom, and each time we changed planes, the pilot changed and we had to refuel, causing delays. The estimated time to reach Astroza was about 45 hours.

"It's lunch on the second day. Please enjoy your meal."

Fortunately, meals were provided on the plane. They were slightly better than dog food. The kind of meal that made me long for Luga's cooking.

Moreover, the takeoff and landing noises of the small airship were terrifying. It felt like my eardrums would burst.

Other issues included:

- Bathroom problems.

- Sleeping arrangements.

- Difficult passengers.

- Various other problems.

I thought I could endure most inconveniences thanks to my experience in the Magic War.

"Every time you go through such hardships to get to Astroza?"

In response to my question, Jegersi skillfully removed his earplugs and answered.

"Very tiring, right? Haha. There's nothing we can do. The kingdoms of the Northern Continent rarely grant entry permits to non-Union citizens, and since there are no visitors, there are no airships or pilots willing to go there. This route was barely established thanks to my father's investment. I can only hope it gets better someday."

"How often do you go to Astroza?"

"Once every season, it seems."

You're really serious about the Northern Continent, aren't you?

While admiring Jegersi's passion, the airship continued to fly, crossing the night sky and arriving at a land where eternal snow was visible in the distance. This was my first visit to the Kingdom of Astroza.

And upon arrival, I was immediately denied entry.

"What? That can't be! Why can't we enter? We received permission for a new companion two weeks ago. Here's the confirmation!"

The interpreter, who had calmed down Jegersi's excitement, began to negotiate with the immigration officer again. But he was firmly rejected once more.

"There seems to be a problem with the entry procedures."

In response to Jin's question, Dshero, who was carrying a large bag as tall as himself, answered.

"It's common in the Northern Continent. Sometimes the decision is reversed within half a day after the entry permit is issued."

"Why are they so closed off?"

"About 50 years ago, there was a surge of secret entry by Holy Church missionaries, some of whom tried to spread drugs to overthrow the law. This tarnished the image of the empire's citizens."

I see, that's what happened.

While we three stood in the middle of the airfield, where a cool breeze was blowing (Andert was ignoring Jegersi's request and driving around the airfield), Jegersi, who had been arguing for a while, returned.

"I'm sorry, everyone. It seems that everyone except me has been denied entry, so we'll have to wait a bit. Damn. This is why Astroza is...!"

"Maybe it would be better to return to the empire."

"What are you saying, Mr. Dshero? Haha. It will be resolved soon. We've been through this before."

Jegersi shook his head and pointed to a young man with blond hair who was leaving the airfield alone.

"That interpreter is an Astrozan. The capital of Astroza is about an hour away, and there's someone in the capital who handles various administrative issues for our company. I plan to request their help."

An hour to the capital? That means we have to wait at least 2-3 more hours. I might die waiting.

'Entering Luga's country is a problem from the start.'

I put down my luggage and sat on the ground.

Astroza is refreshing. Perhaps because it's in the north, even in summer, it doesn't feel stiflingly hot, and the breeze is pleasant.

With this air, I could take a short nap.

"It seems there's someone looking after Mr. Jegersi. May I ask who it is?"

"Of course. It's Count Velboah. Once he hears about it, the entry permit will be issued quickly, so don't worry."

Dshero, who initially suggested returning, seemed to develop an interest in Astroza upon arrival. He started asking Jegersi various questions.

I listened to their conversation, but as time passed, my focus waned.

It wasn't because the conversation was boring. It was because I realized something strange.

I wasn't hearing any foreign language that I couldn't understand.

'...It's not a mistake, after all.'

The people passing by the airfield were clearly not from the empire but from Astroza.

Astrozans should use the Northern Continent language, and they were indeed using it, but it was perfectly translated in my ears.

As if the Northern Continent language were my native language.

Of course, I've never learned the Northern Continent language. How is this happening?

'Could I be going crazy?'

Or did my soul break and I gained the ability to understand foreign languages?

'That's unlikely. It must be magic... Did Luga cast a spell on me?'

Or...

I touched my ear and felt the magical earring Luga left behind.

I thought it only had the function of a sword, but did it also have a translation function? That seems likely.

'What's the point, anyway?'

She must have prepared everything meticulously. If I hadn't followed her to the Northern Continent, she would have been very disappointed.

At that moment,

I saw several immigration officers who had been arguing with the interpreter running towards us urgently. They stopped in front of us and bowed repeatedly, apologizing.

"I'm sorry, distinguished guests. Our response was inadequate. We apologize for the inconvenience, truly sorry."

This sudden change in attitude.

Did Count Velboah, who was supposed to look after Jegersi, already arrive?

Lifting my head, I saw a tall man walking towards us from behind the immigration officers.

The man, dressed in a perfectly tailored three-piece suit with no wrinkles, was a middle-aged gentleman with a fine mustache. He lightly patted the back of the immigration officers, who quickly disappeared.

Jegersi greeted the man with eyes that no longer showed fatigue.

"Haha! I almost spent the night at this airfield! Thank you for your quick help. Are you the person sent by Count Velboah? I'm Jegersi Fanula."

Jegersi naturally spoke in the empire's language, and the man also naturally replied in the empire's language.

"Count Velboah is a good person, but I'm not from the Velboah family."

"Then... where are you from?"

The man smiled, removed his bowler hat, and bowed gracefully.

"Gentlemen and ladies, it's an honor to meet you. I am Mon, an attendant of Count Serenye. I have come to welcome you to Serenye at the behest of the count. I hope we can work together well."

It seemed that Jegersi and the man were completely unfamiliar with each other.

What's going on here?

'Count Serenye. The name sounds familiar.'

Serenye, Serenye...

"Oh, Serenye? Isn't that the hometown of Lady Weatherwood? What a connection!"

Wait a minute.

'Lady Weatherwood? Morian Serenye? That Serenye?'

My mind went blank for a moment.

"Did Miss Daisy not know? It seems Lady Weatherwood was very worried about Miss Daisy and gave a heads-up to the Serenye family."

How could I have known?

The lady didn't even exist! Who would have thought that a real person related to a fabricated identity would come to welcome us?

'This is a crisis.'

To put it bluntly, it was a stroke of bad luck.

This was a crisis I never expected.

How did they come to welcome us? Didn't Luga falsely claim to be from the Serenye family? The questions kept piling up.

And at the end of these questions, I decided to:

Shut my mouth.

"..."

"Hahaha! Miss Daisy seems surprised too. Mr. Mon, then I'll go greet Count Velboah first and then visit Serenye..."

"There's no need for that. We will contact Count Velboah on your behalf. You can rest in Serenye and then move on."

"But..."

"Meeting Count Serenye is as difficult as meeting the King of Astroza. You may not know this, Mr. Jegersi Fanula."

"Aha. Then... let's do that?"

Weak in the face of wealth and honor, indeed.

Jegersi, swayed by Mon's words, chose to go to Serenye.

"Then, the five of you, please follow me."

I was about to stop Jegersi, who was following Mon, but I stopped myself.

Suddenly, the fact that Mon had come to welcome us felt too natural.

There was no sense of strangeness. It was as if it had been planned from the beginning.

A plan. Could this be...

"Is this possible, senior? Last time, the lady was called Luga..."

Is it possible? There's no need to overthink it.

There was only one possible scenario.