Chapter 64

As I descended onto the grassy plain beside the road, curious gazes and exclamations of surprise came from all around. Pushing through the crowd that had gathered to observe us, soldiers clad in silver metal and leather armor appeared.

"Y-You there! Halt!"

Before I had even moved, I was already being told to stop. As I turned to face the soldiers after just getting down from the driver's seat, they hastily took a combat stance, looking flustered.

Just as I was wondering what to do, Arabella burst out of the carriage.

"W-Wait! I am Arabella Dôme, the Deputy Commander of the Royal Guard! This carriage is not an enemy! Stand down!"

The soldiers, taken aback by Arabella's fierce shout, hurriedly released their weapons.

"Arabella-sama!?"

"Have you returned already!?"

Murmurs of surprise could be heard, but the tension had eased. Confirming this, Arabella made a theatrical cough.

"Hem! Although I made a mistake in my arrival, this was actually an experiment with a new magic! There's nothing to worry about! However, your swift response was excellent! I hope you will continue to serve as strong soldiers of the Holy Empire!"

"H-Hai!"

Arabella's forceful words of explanation and encouragement were met with straightened backs and responses from the soldiers.

For some reason, a few passersby began to clap, but Arabella only raised a hand in acknowledgment and then looked at one of the soldiers.

"Please grant us passage! The list of permitted individuals will be issued later!"

"Y-Yes! Please proceed!"

The soldiers responded. A few remained on the spot, while others began to direct the people waiting in front of the city gate to move to the side of the road.

Feeling apologetic, I spoke up.

"It's fine. If we can just get permission to pass, we will come from above."

"Huh?"

As the soldiers tilted their heads in confusion at my words, I smiled and touched the carriage door, casting a flying spell.

The carriage lifted as if it had lost its gravity, and I floated up as if hanging from it.

Receiving stunned gazes from the soldiers and passersby, I rose above the height of the city gate in about five seconds.

"Ah, Aoi-sama! You've forgotten someone!"

Arabella's voice called out from the ground.

I had forgotten about Arabella. She had gotten out of the carriage to explain things to the soldiers.

"Arabella-sama, please pass through the city gate as usual. And, I'm sorry, but it would be helpful if you could inform people to avoid confusion when we land."

"Wouldn't there be confusion no matter what when a carriage descends from the sky!?"

"That's true. Then, please minimize the confusion as much as possible."

"Ugh!? 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