Chapter 58: The Sky Continent and the Sky People

“Whoa, what is that!?”

Liliera raised her voice in surprise, looking at the sky. That was only natural, as what was floating in the sky wasn’t a cloud, but an island. And a lot of islands, at that.

“Those are sky islands.”

“Sky islands?”

“Yes, just as you see, islands floating in the sky. Among them are things like the Sky Continent, which is the same size as a continent.”

“A flying continent!? How in the world is it flying!?”

Ahaha, Liliera’s so surprised she keeps looking at the sky islands. We decided to change our base of operations and tour rare lands around the world. As the first location, I brought Liliera here to Skyland.

“The soil and rock of sky islands contain a substance called ‘Gravium,’ which has the property of floating in response to magic power.”

Gravium is only found in the material of sky islands, and it’s so sensitive it reacts to the magic power in the air or the magic power emitted by natural creatures, which is how even uninhabited islands can fly.

“W-What is that!? If something like that exists, couldn’t you fly all you want without magic?”

Yes, Liliera’s impression is correct. In the past, Gravium was extracted from sky islands and the Sky Continent to develop many flying magic items.

However, Gravium became unnecessary with the development of flight magic, and excessive mining of Gravium put the sky islands and Sky Continent at risk of collapse, so Gravium excavation was banned.

“No, magic power is needed for both magic items and flight magic anyway, so it was decided that flight magic, which allows free movement, was more convenient, and magic items using Gravium fell out of use long ago.”

The power source for Gravium extracted from islands became almost exclusively human magic power, so in the end, it was judged that the type that flies with flight magic was easier to control.

“I’m curious how you know that, but well, it’s you, Rex-san.”

For some reason, she sighed as if resigned. No, no, I think you could learn about that stuff just by going to a library.

Incidentally, I was the one who developed said flight magic and the magic items that run on flight magic. It was for the protection of the sky islands, and because my superior ordered me to make magic items that didn’t require Gravium.

“But I don’t see the Sky Continent. I thought it was around here.”

“Maybe it’s in another location?”

“No, at that size, I should be able to spot it right away even if it’s far away.”

Despite that, all I see are sky islands. Also, were there always this many sky islands? And there’s an unusually large sky island I don’t recognize.

“Hmm, since we’re here, why don’t we try going to a sky island?”

“Yes, I’d love to see one.”

Liliera agreed, as if she’d been waiting for me to say that.

“Kyuu!”

Fluffy also agreed, looking curious. We leaped into the sky with flight magic and flew towards a sky island.

“Beautiful…”

Liliera let out a sigh as we approached the sky island. A large amount of water flowed down from the edge of a fairly large sky island, looking just like a celestial waterfall. Furthermore, the water fell onto a sky island below, kicking up a large spray and creating a small rainbow in the air.

The waterfall falling from the sky provided us with a fantastical view.

“Amazing… it’s floating in the sky, but it’s properly an island.”

Just as Liliera said, trees and grass grew thick on the sky island, and springs and rivers were visible. The water flowing from them headed to the island’s edge, creating the celestial waterfall.

“Kyuu!”

I looked, and Fluffy was attacking and eating a sky island beast. I see, so you came along because you wanted to eat, huh?

“Hey Rex-san, I wonder if there are sky islands above those clouds, too?”

Liliera asked, seeing the waterfall descending from within the clouds above the sky island.

“Probably. The altitude of sky islands changes depending on their Gravium content and the number of living creatures on them.”

“An island above the clouds…”

Liliera stared at the sky above the sky island with sparkling eyes.

“Ah, there’s a town nearby. Let’s spend the night there today!”

I just happened to look down from the sky and noticed a town nearby.

“Right, I’m getting hungry, or rather, my magic power is getting dangerously low. It seems I got a little too excited.”

Oops, not good. Liliera’s magic is in a pinch. We finished our sky island tour and returned to the ground to look for an inn.

◆

“Welcome, customers.”

The clerk at the counter greeted us cheerfully as we entered the inn.

“Two single rooms and one pet, please?”

“Sorry, we’re crowded today, so we only have one twin room left. As for the pet, it’s fine as long as it doesn’t make a mess.”

A twin room, huh.

“I don’t mind. In the old days, I often stayed in shared rooms with men because I had no money.”

Hmm, if Liliera’s fine with it, I guess it’s okay.

“Understood. Then the twin room is fine. Also, this one is properly trained, so it’s okay.”

“Kyuu!”

Fluffy raised its paw, as if to say ‘no problem.’

“Ahaha, I don’t know what it is, but it’s cute. And the twin room is one silver coin per night. If you want meals, it’s 4 copper coins per meal.”

“That’s quite expensive.”

Liliera frowned upon hearing one silver coin.

“Oh? Aren’t you customers here to see the ‘Descent of the Sky People’?”

“”Descent of the Sky People?””

What’s that?

“You came without knowing? Hmm… That’s lucky.”

“Lucky?”

“This town, you see, is a town protected by the Sky People who appeared from the sky.”

“”Sky People who appeared from the sky?””

Umm, is this some kind of legend?

“Oops, that face says you don’t believe me. But you know, the Sky People really exist.”

“Umm, what do you mean? And what are these Sky People?”

I’m completely clueless.

“This town was originally a pioneer village for people fleeing war, but perhaps because of the location, it was attacked by many monsters since long ago.”

“…”

Liliera made a bitter face, hearing they were attacked by monsters.

“Our ancestors resisted desperately, vowing not to let the land they’d worked so hard to cultivate be taken. Sometimes they hired adventurers to defend the village.”

He’s telling us the old story in a practiced tone. He probably tells this story every time customers come.

“And so the village developed into a town, and our ancestors built defensive walls to counter the monsters and established a large vigilante corps. Then one day, a very large and terrifying horde of monsters attacked the town. Everyone fought desperately, but the walls were destroyed, and the vigilante warriors fell one after another. The country abandoned our ancestors, and the adventurers fled, saying it wasn’t worth it.”

Hearing that adventurers fled, I felt bitter.

“It’s no use. Just when everyone had given up, a miracle happened. Shining spears were thrown from the sky, and the monster horde was wiped out in an instant. And our ancestors, looking up at the sky, saw a legion of winged knights descending from the heavens.”

“”Winged Knight Order!?””

What is that!? I’ve never heard of such a race!

“When the winged knights landed, they healed the injured and drove off the remaining monsters. They called themselves ‘Sky People,’ God’s Messengers.”

“God’s Messengers…”

That’s just like an angel from mythology.

“And what’s more, those Sky People are descending from the heavens today.”

“”Today!?””

Eh? Wait a minute!? It’s not a legend!?

“The Sky People… they really exist!?”

Liliera was also wide-eyed in disbelief.

“They do. I see them every year, after all.”

“Every year!?”

“That’s right. Our ancestors and the Sky People made a pact. A pact that they would protect our town in exchange for us giving them tribute every year.”

“And today is the day to send that tribute?”

“Exactly! That’s why all the inns are expensive today!”

“…”

I looked at Liliera, and Liliera looked back at me.

“We’ll stay.”

“Thanks!”

◆

“Umm, this way to the ceremonial altar, right?”

“It’s so crowded.”

After getting the room, we immediately headed to the ceremonial altar where the clerk told us the tribute ceremony would be held. In times like this, a magic bag that doesn’t require setting luggage down is convenient.

“Hmm, this will take time. Shall we go via the rooftops?”

“…Well, I suppose we have to.”

We were told by the clerk that if we wanted to see the ceremony, we’d better hurry, so Liliera also agreed to go from above.

“But no flying. If we fly here, it’ll cause an uproar in more ways than one.”

“I know.”

It’s true, if we flew on the day the Sky People arrive, we might be misunderstood. Well, we don’t have wings, so we probably won’t be mistaken.

“Hup!”

We, having enhanced our jumping power with Body Enhancement Magic, leaped onto the roof of a nearby house. And, finding what looked like the ceremonial altar from the roof, we ran across the roofs and leaped between houses, heading towards the altar.

And, as we approached the altar, a great cheer rose from ahead.

“What!?”

“Liliera-san, above the altar!”

We stopped on the roof of a house on the way and looked above the altar.

“No way…”

Liliera let out a voice unintentionally.

It was a truly solemn sight. A large circular hole opened in the clouds above, and sunlight leaked from it. And from that hole, ten wings slowly descended.

“They really have wings…”

“Are those the Sky People?”

“””””Oooooooooohh!!”””””

As the ten knights, clad in silvery-white armor with wings on their backs, slowly approached the ground, cheers rose from all over the town.

“What is that, I wonder?”

What Liliera wondered about was probably the large disk in their center. The Sky People formed a circle, each supporting the disk with their inner hand.

And, as the winged knights drew near the ground, the voice was heard.

‘In accordance with the Covenant of Heaven, we shall fulfill our promise. You, in accordance with the Covenant of Earth, shall offer us proof of your bounty. This is the sacred pact between Heaven and Earth!’

“Is that… voice-amplifying magic?”

I surmised the voice, which probably echoed throughout the town, was due to magic.

And as the Sky People held their spears in a radial formation in mid-air, light burst from the tips of their spears, and lines of light colored the sky.

“””””Oooooooooohh!!”””””

The light, released from within the light pouring down from the break in the clouds, looked truly magnificent.

“O, great Messengers of Heaven! In accordance with the covenant, accept the tribute from us!”

As a man who looked like a priest shouted, the Sky People descended near the altar. And people who climbed the altar placed tribute items one after another onto the Sky People’s disk.

“That’s incredible strength.”

The Sky People’s hands support the disk. Since tribute is being piled on it steadily, the weight must be considerable. To support that with one hand, even as a group, they’re surprisingly strong.

While the tribute was being placed, the exchange between the Sky People and the priest continued.

“It’s mostly food, though.”

The tribute placed on the altar was all foodstuffs like vegetables, dried meat, and fish. There were other items, but few valuables.

“They did say ‘proof of bounty’ earlier, so maybe that means food?”

“Ah, that could be it.”

Hmm, I wonder if it’s like a ritual offering the first crops of the year to a god of the earth?

And so, when the exchange-like conversation between the Sky People and the priest ended, the tribute also seemed finished being loaded, and the Sky People began to rise into the sky again.

Ah, I see. That exchange just now was a performance to last until the tribute loading was finished.

And the Sky People, who rose into the sky, readied their spears again, released the light from earlier, and this time, slowly ascended into the sky while rotating.

Cheers rose from the town again, continuing until the Sky People’s figures disappeared above the clouds.

◆

“Still, to think a race like the Sky People existed.”

Yup, I was surprised by that too. As a former hero, I’ve met most races.

Sometimes as allies, sometimes as enemies, but this is the first time I’ve met a race called Sky People. Moreover, the only race I’ve seen with wings growing from their backs is Demons. Well, I’ve seen winged monsters resembling humans, but they can’t talk.

“Messengers of God who side with humans… They’re like mythical beings.”

“Indeed.”

Or rather, if such beings exist, why didn’t they lend us their power in the war against the Demons in my previous life?

Rather than ‘amazing,’ the question of ‘why’ feels bigger. Hmm, I’m curious. The Sky People… who on earth are they? My head filled with that question, I reached a conclusion.

“…Alright, let’s try going to the Sky People’s country!”

Yes, if I have a question, I just have to investigate. My master from my life before last also said, “If you want to know, just charge in, even if it’s the women’s bath!” and then peeked into the women’s bath and was beaten half to death. …Yup, let’s forget that memory.

At any rate, if I’m interested in an unknown existence, it’s only natural to investigate its habitat to learn about its ecology.

“Eh? Is that okay!? Aren’t they sacred messengers from the sky!?”

Liliera raised her voice in surprise at my proposal.

“That’s why. Honestly, I don’t know of any existence like the Sky People. I’m also concerned about the missing Sky Continent. If they’ve lived in the sky since long ago, I’m sure they’d know about it.”

“Well, maybe, but…”

“Besides, aren’t you extremely curious about a country above the sky islands?”

When I asked, Liliera crossed her arms and sank into thought. And with an unreadable expression, she said:

“…Well, I suppose I’m not… not curious.”

“Right!?”

We are adventurers. A profession that risks its life to earn daily bread, and voluntarily jumps into danger to see unknown worlds! If an unseen spectacle is right before our eyes, there’s no reason not to stand up!

And while I’m at it, let’s ask why they didn’t help in the war against the Demons in my previous life!

“Alright then, tomorrow let’s go to the Sky People’s country!”

“O-Okaaay…!”

“Kyuu!”

◆

“It’s pretty chilly.”

Aiming for the Sky People’s country, we flew. Our destination is above the waterfall descending from the clouds.

“We’re approaching the clouds soon. We’ll ascend while going around them, since plunging in risks crashing into the bottom of a sky island.”

“Understood.”

We ascended, careful not to enter the clouds.

“The clouds are breaking. We’re above them.”

We flew over the clouds and reached the sea of clouds above.

“Amazing…”

Liliera was speechless at the sight of the sea of clouds from above. Above the sky was only blue sky, and the sun’s light beat down. And below our field of vision was a sea of white clouds stretching to the horizon.

And among them…

“Found it. A sky island. And it’s huge!”

The sky island in the clouds was exceptionally large among the sky islands we’d seen so far. Not quite a continent, but isn’t it about the size of a small country?

“It’s above the sky, but land is really spreading out. It’s different from the small islands packed with various things.”

Just as Liliera said, this sky island looked like a scene from the ground was cut out and floated above the clouds. Should I call it fantastical, yet not fantastical?

“Now, let’s go.”

“Y-Yes.”

Taking the hand of Liliera, who was perplexed by the sight of the sky island, we began flying towards its center.

◆

“There are so many animals I’ve never seen before.”

Liliera raised her voice excitedly, looking at the sky island’s animals.

“That’s a Ball Rabbit. As you can see, it’s a rabbit round as a ball, and it moves by hopping, not running.”

“Kyu kyuu!?”

Fluffy is excited about something, but that’s not your relative. It’s certainly fluffy, but its ecology is clearly different from yours.

Since Liliera was preoccupied with the sky island animals, I observed the surroundings instead. And, after flying for a while, I discovered something clearly not natural.

“Ah, look. Do you see a village over there?”

I discovered an artificial village on the sky island.

“You’re right. It’s a village… or rather, a village?”

“What’s wrong?”

“No, I mean, aren’t Sky People more amazing than people on the ground?”

“Apparently so.”

The people in the town below said so, so I think they really are amazing.

“So why is it a village? And it doesn’t look that amazing, either.”

“True.”

It really is a village, now that she mentions it. How should I put it, it feels just like a normal surface village. If I had to point out a difference, it’s that the Sky People’s village has no fence. I think this is probably because, unlike the ground, there are no harmful beasts like wolves.

“Shall we try landing for now?”

We flew down to the Sky People’s village.

“Even up close, it’s just a normal village.”

“It’s a village.”

What I see are just normal houses. If I had to point out a difference, it’s that the Sky People’s village has no fence. I think this is probably because, unlike the ground, there are no harmful beasts like wolves.

“Shall we try landing for now?”

We flew down to the Sky People’s village. Since the village has no fence or gate, there’s probably no need to land outside first.

Then, a commotion could be heard from the ground, or rather, the Sky People’s village. The villagers are pointing this way and clamoring about something.

“Huh?”

Seeing that scene, I suddenly felt a sense of unease.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, look. It’s a village of Sky People, but none of them have wings.”

“Eh?”

Yes, the Sky People didn’t have wings growing from their backs like the Sky People we saw on the ground. What does that mean?

“You’re right. They don’t have wings.”

Hmm, I don’t know the reason, but anyway, let’s try to be friendly at first. I landed in the village and greeted the villagers with a smile.

“Hello, everyone of the Sky People.”

At that, the villagers’ eyes went wide, and they froze.

“Huh? What’s wrong, everyone?”

“””””A-A human just descended from the sky without wings!?””””””

Huh? Why are they surprised? I mean, you don’t have wings either, do you?