Chapter 63

Clouds swiftly streamed past behind me.

Due to the high altitude, there were no birds or similar magical beasts in sight. Only dragons flew at the same height. Occasionally, they would fly so close that it seemed we might collide, but they would hastily flee when I cast a lightning spell as a warning.

The wind was converted entirely into propulsion, so not much of it reached my seat as the driver. When a sudden gust hit me sideways, I could feel a gentle breeze caress my cheek as it passed through the thin barrier of wind I had set up.

"…The sky is so refreshing."

Narrowing my eyes, I murmured softly. Strass appeared at the carriage window with an exasperated expression.

"…To be able to maintain such a powerful magic spell and still look so cool, you are something else."

"Once you stabilize in the air, flight magic can be performed quite energy-efficiently. The initial process of lifting off and increasing speed can be a bit challenging, though."

"Challenging is an understatement… No, there’s no point in saying more. Crown has been noisy in the carriage. He came to ask how much longer it will be before we reach the ground."

Hearing this, I turned my gaze back to our destination.

"Yes, according to the map I borrowed from Aravata, we should have already passed the border… We should arrive in about two hours, I think?"

I answered with a bit of leeway, and Strass's expression became blank.

"…Two more hours, huh."

Strass's tone dropped. Perhaps I had been a bit too cautious. However, the speed was adjusted to ensure comfort inside the carriage. If we pushed too hard and got tired, we might not be able to handle any unexpected situations, so energy-efficient flight was not a problem.

"We've been out of the academy for about two and a half hours. If we rushed, we could have arrived in three hours, but to avoid overexertion, I've slowed down to arrive in about five hours. Just a little more patience, please."

I replied, trying to encourage Strass. Satisfied with my answer, Strass nodded silently and quietly returned to the carriage.

With no one around, I returned my gaze to the scenery below. Unlike the view from the ground, the sky was a deep, dark blue, and the landscape of the sea, mountains, and plains combined to form a work of art. There were long roads, beautiful towns, and small villages nestled in the rich natural surroundings, making it a sight that never grew old.

I savored the peaceful scenery and enjoyed the leisurely journey through the sky.

I confirmed our approach to the destination by observing the town and terrain.

A wide, long river reflected the sun, which was beginning to turn red, and shimmered in a brilliant orange. Right next to it was a beautiful, pristine white town. The surrounding walls, though made of ordinary stone, exuded a grand and majestic atmosphere.

The uniformity of the buildings' colors and shapes suggested that the town was carefully planned.

It was not a settlement that grew into a capital, but rather a capital built with purpose.

The town was built slightly protruding into the riverbank, likely to maximize the river's utility. If so, the Holy Empire might have developed shipbuilding technology to a considerable degree, even if not to the level of a maritime nation.

As we began our descent towards the town, I was about to call out to the carriage when a face appeared at the window as if sensing my intention.

"Wow!? So, that is the Holy Capital!?"

"Wh-What!? In just half a day…! No way!?"

Crown stuck his head out and shouted, and immediately, Aravata appeared at the same window, looking astonished. They had been cooped up in the cramped carriage for hours, yet they were still so energetic.

"We are beginning our descent. Please wait a moment."

Upon hearing this, Aravata, who had been stunned, frowned and looked at me.

"…Huh!? W-We've already passed the border fort? No, of course we have, since we're here…! Hmm, I did say we could pass through without permission, but I didn’t expect us to fly over it… This could cause confusion if our whereabouts are unknown…"

"Just send a fast horse from the Holy Capital! More importantly, this incredible magic! Look inside the carriage! Strass and the others are not at all surprised! The students are even enjoying the flight! Do you understand what this means!?"

"Shut up, Crown! I understand perfectly! If this were used in war, it would be a terrifying threat! Perhaps even more so than a large dragon…!"

"No, that's not it…! Why can't this old man understand!?"

Crown and Aravata were shouting at each other, leaning out of one of the carriage windows. On the other side, Ail and Liz were leaning so far out that they almost fell, gazing at the ground and cheering.

"Mr. Aoi, it's amazing! We really are at the Holy Capital!?"

"It's beautiful, the Holy Capital! I can't wait to walk through the city!"

Near them, Shenli and Bell were also peering out, enjoying the view outside.

As we approached the ground, more people began to notice us. The road was crowded with people of various races.

Landing on the road would be difficult.

Deciding this, I chose to land in a spot off the road, near the city gate. As the noise grew closer, people began pointing and shouting.

"…This is troublesome. I didn’t intend to draw so much attention."

I muttered, and a voice from inside the carriage said, "Hey, who are you to say that?"

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