Chapter 38

As I left the magic airship "Moon Beauty" and returned to Lulusha's tent, I was bombarded with questions from Dantes and the others about Miss Eva.

We had been talking about various events in the Holy Kingdom of Curvaan, and I had mentioned that "Miss is a very beautiful person," but it seemed they had taken my words with a grain of salt, thinking something like, "Well, it's just my employer."

"You must have had a tough time, huh..."

Dantes gave me a sympathetic look that I didn't quite understand.

"Hmm, noble ladies really do exist, huh..."

Mimino seemed to have a strange sense of realization.

"Rage-kun, the more obstacles there are, the more (love) burns! I'll support you!"

Non's passion was burning in a completely different direction. Since Non seemed to be misunderstanding something, I clarified:

"Um... Miss was my employer."

"Yes, and Rage-kun quit as a bodyguard... to become equals!"

"......"

Non's eyes were sparkling.

I think Miss is going to become the next head of the Sylies family. I felt like she had said something along the lines of "I want you to stay as my bodyguard," which made me think she wanted an "excellent bodyguard." I didn't tell Non this because it felt embarrassing to call myself "excellent."

(Not to mention... is there anyone strong enough to navigate the surveillance of the Sylies Earl and pursue a romantic relationship with Miss?)

It's impossible.

Complicating matters further, that person can even see through lies.

So, will Miss end up in a political marriage? Hmm...

(Well, there's no point in worrying about it now. Miss is only 12 years old.)

I decided to change my mindset. When I returned to the tent, Lulusha was gone, apparently out on a job.

"Well, Aba says we should have Rage's identification ready by tomorrow, so let's get the preparations for departure done," Dantes said, but his mismatched appearance, with his perfectly styled top half and usual adventurer-style bottom half, was quite striking.

"Where are we going, exactly?"

"Doesn't Rage have any leads?"

"That's the thing... I'm checking with Aba for any sightings of Lark, but if there are none, where should we go?"

I put my hand to my chin and thought. Non brought out a simple map. To the north was the "Uncharted Canyon," which seemed unlikely for Lark to go. To the south and east was the Holy Kingdom of Curvaan, and to the west was the Light Knight Kingdom. To the south of the Light Knight Kingdom, across the kingdom, was the Keithgran Federation, and to the west of the Light Knight Kingdom and the north of the Keithgran Federation was the vast sea.

(By the way, I need to inform the Margrave Muel of the Holy Kingdom about our departure.)

I had asked for the acceptance of people from "the other world," so I should return to the margrave's territory, but I wanted to prioritize Lark right now.

(If I remove Lark's innate gemstone, her condition shouldn't worsen any further. The sooner, the better.)

Lark had noticed the changes in her body.

Then, she came to the empire and stole the "Moon Beauty"—

"By the way... why did Lark steal the 'Moon Beauty'...?"

Hearing my mutter, Mimino said,

"Hmm... even if she wanted to sell it, there wouldn't be any buyers. Maybe she was a sky pirate and had something she wanted to achieve? She seemed to have companions, so maybe she wanted to provide them with a living..."

"That doesn't seem very Lark-like. I don't think she would give weapons to provide for them. I don't have any proof, though."

"Right now, your knowledge is our only hope, so I think it's okay not to have proof."

"Yes... If she stole the 'Moon Beauty' for another purpose... what could it be?"

"Maybe she just needed a means of transportation?"

"Does that mean she's going somewhere that requires flying? But is there such a place?"

Non, who had been listening, suddenly reached for the map.

"I've heard of this. To the west of the Light Knight Kingdom, there's a vast sea. In this area, there are many uninhabited islands—"

She traced a point in the sea with her index finger.

"—the currents are strong and there are many reefs, so ships can't get close. But one of these uninhabited islands is said to be home to a 'Sage'—"

"A Sage?"

"An expert in pharmacology, said to have cured all kinds of incurable diseases. But he was persecuted in the Keithgran Federation and fled to the sea with his disciples."

I was taken aback.

I had also been persecuted in the Keithgran Federation.

I unconsciously rubbed my wrist, where the mark of a former mine slave had been.

Could it be—some Japanese transmigrant with black hair and black eyes?

No, that's probably not it.

But if it was someone with medical knowledge not found in this world, it wouldn't be strange to call them a "Sage."

"Yeah, I've heard of that too. But the story I heard was that the Sage fled alone."

Dantes continued.

"Then, it's a fairly well-known story. If that's the case, Lark might have known about it."

"Yeah. It's possible that the men who were with her, who seemed to be devoted to her, might have taken her there."

"Her companions?"

"I only saw them a few times on the battlefield, but they seemed to be obedient to, or even infatuated with, Lark. If they wanted to save her life, it wouldn't be strange for them to suggest going to see the Sage."

"I see."

That made sense.

At first, I had doubted whether Lark would steal an airship to save herself. It would have been more believable if she had said she stole it because it seemed interesting.

But if her companions wanted it...

"So, while we wait for Aba's information, our immediate plan is to head toward the Light Knight Kingdom—"

I was about to say when a voice came from the tent's entrance.

"—Looking for the 'Black Sky Pirate'? I have some good information for you..."

Who is that, Rii-san?