Chapter 31

"Wow! The view is breathtaking!"

"Indeed, the gold coin fare is worth it. The food is also excellent."

"The dessert is delicious too."

Erich, who works as a low-ranking official in the capital, was getting married, and to attend his wedding, I and El were boarding the magic airship that departs once a week from Breichburg.

This magic airship is said to be a legacy of the ancient magical civilization that once perished.

It was miraculously excavated from a ruin almost undamaged and is now operated using modern magic technology.

While modern magic technology is inferior to that of the ancients, it is capable of simple repairs and maintenance, even if building a new magic airship is impossible.

About eight ships were excavated from ancient ruins, and the Kingdom of Helmut operates four routes: the route to the capital of the Northern Arkart Sacred Empire, the route to the territory of the Western noble, the route to the territory of the Eastern noble, and the route to the territory of the Southern noble.

The kingdom operates them directly because the magic airships are also useful military weapons and can be requisitioned by the military in times of emergency.

Additionally, the Northern Arkart Sacred Empire also operates a few ships excavated from ruins, so the existence of magic airships does not necessarily give the Kingdom of Helmut a military advantage.

For nearly two hundred years, the ceasefire has not been broken, and it seems that both countries' political figures agree that there will be no war for several hundred years.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for the magic airship routes to be set up.

"But it's really fast."

After successfully boarding the magic airship, we had been traveling for a full day and had already covered about 40% of the route.

Surprisingly, the magic airship moves at high speed, and looking out the window, the grand nature of the Kingdom of Helmut spread out below.

Most of the land is undeveloped or the territory of monsters, so it's only natural that there are few places where people live.

"Hey, kid, what are you looking at? Did you see a monster?"

"Of course not. It's common knowledge that monsters, with a few exceptions, don't leave their territories."

The person who spoke to me was Brantark Ringstadt, the head mage of the Breichrader Margrave, and also the master of Alfred Reinford, my master.

Although the head mage of the Breichrader Margrave seems quite busy, when I asked him to delay my training a bit because I was going to the capital for my brother's wedding, he surprisingly declared that he would be our guardian and escort, and really boarded the magic airship.

"Like Al, who became a Lich."

Ordinary monsters almost never leave their territories.

So, it's not uncommon to see a farmer peacefully tilling the land right next to a monster's territory, which can look quite surreal from the outside.

The only exception, the Lich, was originally human.

Because they have lingering attachments, it makes sense that they leave their territories to fulfill them.

However, most humans who die in a monster's territory become zombies or ghouls.

Zombies and ghouls have no lingering attachments, so they never leave their territories.

Some do evolve into higher undead like Liches and occasionally leave their territories, but they are few in number and are quickly eliminated.

"Are there no other exceptions?"

"There are, but they are written in books from thousands of years ago."

The rare exception is when a dead dragon becomes undead like a Lich.

"However, this applies only to small dragons like Wyverns or territorial dragons. They become undead but do not leave their territories."

"Does that mean...?"

"Only ancient dragons, as sought by the previous lord, can leave their territories."

Their blood is said to cure all diseases, as written in ancient texts.

Previously, the previous Breichrader Margrave sent an army into an unknown monster's territory to obtain this blood.

The result was disastrous, but why does Brantark insist on the existence of ancient dragons, which no one has ever seen?

"Do you doubt the existence of ancient dragons, kid?"

"I don't believe in things I haven't seen."

It might be the same as ghosts or UFOs.

I didn't believe in either of them.

"Many people are like that. But ancient dragons do exist."

However, they live deep in territories that ordinary humans can never reach and live for tens of thousands of years, so they don't easily become undead.

Therefore, they rarely show themselves in human territories.

"Meeting one would be a miracle, right?"

"For most humans, it would be a disaster on the scale of a natural disaster."

There is no part of their body that is not valuable, but the strength required to obtain them is also a miracle.

Ordinary humans would be killed instantly if they encountered one.

A being of overwhelming power and merciless to those weaker than themselves.

That is what ancient dragons are.

"Considering the probability, I'll never meet one in my life."

"That's true."

"By the way, why did Brantark come with us?"

I asked about something that had been bothering me all day.

Leading a child to the capital was not the job of a head mage.

"That's just a coincidence."

According to Brantark, the Breichrader Margrave, who oversees the southern part of the kingdom, has a duty to report the local situation to the kingdom regularly.

However, it's not practical for the margrave to go every time, so the head mage steps in on such occasions.

"Because of my social status, I'm often asked to be a representative."

He also has some minor business in the capital.

Since it's not impolite to be a representative, he goes to various places.

"I will attend Erich's wedding too."

Attending Erich's wedding is also part of his job.

Erich is marrying into a hereditary noble family, albeit a low-ranking one.

Naturally, higher-ranking hereditary nobles serve as patrons or leaders, so he will attend the ceremony to a certain extent to avoid being impolite.

If a powerful local noble and a central hereditary noble become too close, rumors will spread.

On the other hand, having no connection at all is also a concern.

So, Brantark, as the representative of the Breichrader Margrave, and the wedding as a stage for meeting them, seems to be the setup.

"Well, it's not that complicated. Just to confirm that there is some connection. Besides, our lord had high hopes for Erich."

In our family, the Bauweisters, Erich was relatively ordinary, but the Breichrader Margrave had high hopes for him due to his gentle and intelligent nature.

He wanted to recruit him as a vassal to handle internal affairs, but Erich declined.

"Because the fifth son of a neighboring lord becoming a favorite vassal would be troublesome."

"Trying to push Erich, the favorite, as the next head of the Bauweister family..."

"Such suspicions would arise."

To avoid such complications, Erich became a low-ranking official in the capital.

There were also other complications, like Klaus's persuasion.

I am the same in this regard, but I hoped that the Bauweisters would not be so foolish as to say something unpleasant when I eventually became the Breichrader Margrave's mage.

"The combination of meritocracy and complex human relationships based on geographical and blood ties makes it even more complicated. That's the nobility for you."

"Brantark, you are a noble's mage, aren't you?"

"I'm not a noble, and I was hired for my magical abilities. I don't have a wife or children. Oh, this conversation is off the record..."

Suddenly, Brantark stopped talking and directed a sharp gaze in the direction the magic airship was heading.

"Brantark, what is it?"

"After half a day of training, you've improved a bit. Yes, I feel a sinister magical power."

Moreover, the amount of magical power was impossible for a human.

There are humans with more magical power, but they can't manifest it.

As I explained before, their magical power is usually hidden within their bodies and can't be detected.

Brantark's magical power detection is impressive because he can detect familiar magical powers, even from thousands of kilometers away, which is slightly more than the average person.

"It's not human. It's not even a wild animal."

"It can't be an ordinary monster. This route is far from any monster's territory."

Currently, the magic airship is flying, and such considerations are naturally taken into account.

"What could it be?"

"I doubt it, but..."

It seems our suspicions were correct.

The magic airship suddenly changed its course and increased its speed to escape.

The magic airship is powered by the magic energy stored in a large magic crystal stone, and it uses a steam engine-like mechanism and sails like a regular ship to harness wind power.

Wind power is free, but the magic energy stored in the magic crystal stone must be replenished, which incurs a cost.

Therefore, for a magic airship to deviate from its economically efficient route and ignore its most fuel-efficient cruising speed, it could only mean that an emergency had occurred that warranted such actions.

"Brantark, what's going on?"

"Kid, follow me. We're going to the bridge to ask the captain what's happening."

"Why me?"

"Just come!"

I was forcibly pulled by Brantark and arrived at the entrance to the bridge, which is usually off-limits to non-crew members.

There, a dozen or so nobles and wealthy merchants were protesting to the crew guarding the entrance.

"Why did you suddenly change the course!"

"Explain what happened!"

"To ignore the fuel efficiency of the magic engine! There must be something going on!"

"I can't say anything..."

"Then bring the captain out!"

"Isn't it obvious that an explanation is required?"

Frustrated, they tried to force their way into the bridge, but the crew from inside the bridge came out to stop them.

The situation was at a standstill, but when they saw Brantark, one of the crew members called out to him.

"Are you Brantark Ringstadt, the head mage of the Breichrader Margrave's family?"

"Yes, what is it?"

"The captain wants to consult with you."

"Understood. I understand the anxiety of not knowing what's happening, but I will represent you and hear the captain's explanation."

Brantark spoke to the nobles and wealthy merchants in a manner befitting a head mage, not the casual tone he usually uses with us.

He seemed like a completely different person.

Given his status, he must be able to handle such situations.

"Well, we won't know anything if we stay like this."

"Let's leave it to Brantark."

The nobles and merchants, who had been arguing, quieted down and made way when they recognized Brantark as a renowned mage.

It seems that a renowned mage has a high social status.

Even the wealthy merchants and nobles stepped back.

"This kid is my disciple. Is it okay if he comes with me?"

"Yes."

For some reason, I was also given permission to enter the bridge, so I followed Brantark.

The bridge of the magic airship is in the same position as a regular sailing ship.

It is on the upper deck, but since it flies at high speed,