Chapter 76: Journey through the Sky

Father moved into action immediately. First, a kitchen car carrying our knights was sent speeding off to explain the situation to His Majesty the Emperor in the Royal Capital. Immediately, he had ‘Banshee’s Tears’ and ‘Minotaur’s Liver’, materials for the dispel potion, prepared from the hidden room and sent over here. The reason they were sent here is that neither ‘Banshee’s Tears’ nor ‘Minotaur’s Liver’ can be used as they are. Special processing is required as preparation before compounding. What is needed for that is a top-class compounder. In the game, Leon took that role, but the burden is too heavy for him currently at six years old. So this time, we decided to ask Leon‘s father, the head of the Traumerei Viscount House, Viscount Garoad Remus Traumerei, and had him come here. Had him come, or rather, brought him. By kitchen car from the Traumerei territory, forcibly. Kukuku, if we say it’s an Imperial order, he can’t refuse. It’s easier to gather everyone here than in the Royal Capital. There’s air conditioning too, so work is easier. Viscount Traumerei mastered herbalism and alchemy at the ‘Academy’, and is a magic potion expert utilizing that in territory management. His skill is guaranteed; he can be said to be the perfect person for this compounding.

“Ooh!? To think the effect is truly this different…!” “It’s amazing, isn’t it! That the ‘Pot of Acceleration’ makes this much difference…!”

Yeah, as soon as that Viscount Traumerei arrived at our place, he’s showing great excitement with his son Leon over that high-grade skin lotion. Damn like-minded parent and child… Viscount Traumerei is a handsome man like a Hollywood actor with brown hair and a mustache, but seems to have a disappointing personality. Both parent and child being herbal maniacs… Father, unable to bear the sight of the somewhat disappointing Viscount Traumerei, calls out.

“Ahem! Viscount Traumerei. Please leave that for later, I would like you to proceed with processing ‘Banshee’s Tears’ and ‘Minotaur’s Liver’ immediately…” “Ah!? Your Highness the Imperial Brother, I apologize! It was such a rare item, I just…”

While laughing to gloss over it, Viscount Traumerei briskly takes out compounding tools brought from his own territory from boxes. In addition to familiar medicine mortars and pestles, there were rare glass flasks and magic tools like alcohol lamps. Not as much as Leon, but since I was involved in potion making under the apothecary grandmother, I have a little interest in these things. Compounding using magic tools is closer to alchemy, which I don’t understand at all though. Viscount Traumerei will do the compounding, but Leon‘s ‘Gift’, [Drug Creation], will be used for mass production. If the compounding succeeds, we plan to mass-produce with Leon‘s [Drug Creation], but anyway, without gathering materials, nothing starts. Leaving the preparation of ‘Banshee’s Tears’ and ‘Minotaur’s Liver’ to the two of the Traumerei family, we must gather the remaining materials as soon as possible. For ‘Fruit of the Heavenly God Tree’, our knights riding a kitchen car have already departed for the Spirit Mountain Eldora. For ‘Honey of the Moonlight Bee’, the Grand Master, Jean‘s father, is heading to the habitat I taught him with the elite of the Knight Order. Also via kitchen car through the Royal Capital. My kitchen cars are super active. Though since they disappear in a day, they’ll have to return on foot or horse on the way back. Good thing it was a distance reachable in a day. Simply calculating, running continuously for 24 hours at 80 km/h covers about 1900 km. Like traversing the length of Japan? Running 24 hours is impossible though. But for a one-way trip, I think we can go anywhere in this country. Well, when I return, I’ll have a kitchen car go pick them up at the halfway point for the return trip. And our ‘Leaf of the Spirit Tree’ team… First, me and Kohaku-san are decided. Accompanying us as my guards are guard knight Tanya-san and maid Arisa-san. And from the le Philharmonie Knight Order, Knight Commander Patrick-san and two of his subordinates. Furthermore, since we are going to the elf village riding Oboro, naturally Ritsu joins too. Additionally, Bianca implored Father to accompany me, so she is coming along as an apprentice attendant. When it came to just one person being left out, Estelle started saying she would go too, and riding on that coattail, Jean, and even Elliott started saying they would accompany, and it got out of control.

“First, obviously, Elliott is rejected. We can’t take the Crown Prince to an elf village that can’t be called very friendly, right? And Jean is rejected too.” “Why!?” “Look, you are technically Elliott‘s attendant, right? Leaving the master you should protect, do you even have awareness as a guard? Also, Jean says what he thinks immediately, so you’re not suitable for negotiation. You seem likely to say unnecessary things and anger the elves. Furthermore, if by any chance your ‘Gift’ [Flame Sword] or Magic Sword burns the elf forest, it will undoubtedly become a war. So rejected.” “Nugugu!”

At my words, Jean distorts his face in frustration, and Bianca is nodding—un un. Even in the game, Jean was in the combat team gathering other materials, not negotiation with elves.

“I wanted to see the elf village and Spirit Tree though… Certainly, it is as Sakuraile says. Jean, let’s give up this time. We will help Leon.” “Cheh, can’t be helped…”

It’s not ‘can’t be helped’. We aren’t going to play, seriously… The next morning, fully prepared, we ride on the back of the Simurgh Oboro waiting in the courtyard. Oboro‘s back is about ten tatami mats wide, wide enough that ten people… since Kohaku-san is here, nine people and one animal? can ride safely. Not exactly seat belts, but we wrap decorative cords extending from the collar around our waist belts.

“Then, we’re off!” “Be careful!” “Return safely!”

Waving hands to Father and Mother to finish farewells, Oboro flapped its wings and started taking off softly.

“Let’s go, Oboro!” “Kuaa!”

Matching Ritsu‘s rein handling? Oboro‘s speed increases with a gun. A gust-like wind started blowing from the front, but immediately Patrick-san held up his hand and activated his ‘Gift’.

“[Small Barrier]!”

Just as a clear sound—Kiin—rang out, the wind blowing until just now stopped abruptly. Patrick-san has a ‘Gift’ called [Small Barrier]. This is a defensive ‘Gift’ that can create a barrier with a radius of about five meters. Apparently, there are quite a few users of this ‘Gift’. Though it seems it’s only strong enough to shatter upon taking a strong blow from a weapon. But when this is deployed, wind pressure on Oboro‘s back disappears, so even while flying, it feels like being on a bed. Quite comfortable. Well, if Oboro ascends or descends suddenly, we might go tumbling, so the decorative cords remain firmly tied to our bodies.

“How far is it to the elf village?” “Let’s see… at this speed, I think we will arrive in less than four hours.”

At Commander Patrick‘s words, I thought ‘Surprisingly close’, but if Oboro‘s speed is 100-150 km/h, is it 400 to 600 km away…? Umm, is the distance between Tokyo and Osaka about 500 km? Uumu… feels far yet close… By Shinkansen, a little over three hours? Can’t compare with Shinkansen.

“Kuaa” “Eh? Are you okay? Umm, Lady Sakuraile. He says with this barrier, Oboro can fly faster though…”

Ritsu said that, but I told her no need to push it. Even if we hurry that much, the difference isn’t huge, so I want her to keep safe driving… driving? in mind.

“Amazing! We can see so far away!” “Umu…! It’s like I have become a bird!”

Estelle and Bianca are enjoying the scenery from the sky without fear. Patrick-san and his two subordinate knights seem tense, but seem okay. The one not okay is…

“O, Oh Nine Goddesses of Genesis, O, Oh Journey Goddess Journey-sama, p-please, g-grant safety for this journey, p-please…! Please, let us not fall…!”

Praying while clinging to Oboro‘s back is my guard knight Tanya-san. Apparently, she’s not good with heights. I told her she didn’t have to force herself, but she declared boldly before riding, “A guard knight cannot flinch!” Well, she ended up like this. Arisa-san next to her isn’t as bad as Tanya-san but seems bad with heights too, sitting motionless with a mask-like expressionless face. Both sat in the middle of Oboro‘s back, clutching the decorative cords connected to their waists tightly. Eh? Kohaku-san? Kohaku-san is sleeping on my lap. Bold-nerved, or rather, as expected of a Divine Beast. Well, being like this for nearly four hours is boring… Maybe sleeping like Kohaku-san is the best. Eventually, bored of watching the scenery, Estelle, Bianca, and I started chatting on Oboro.

“I wonder what kind of place the elf village is?” “A village centered around the glittering Spirit Tree, existing with nature. Buildings are also made using as little metal as possible, with houses built on top of large trees. Suspension bridges are built from large tree to large tree, allowing movement above and below.” “You are quite knowledgeable. Did you hear from someone?” “Eh!? Ah, from Kohaku-san, right!? I thought I should know about elves beforehand!”

To Bianca‘s retort, I hurriedly spoke a makeshift excuse. Dangerous! Can’t say knowledge gained from a game. Kohaku-san, used as the reason for the excuse, is sleeping soundly—guusuka—on my lap. Have to coordinate stories later. After that, the three of us continued chatting for a while. Occasionally Ritsu joined the conversation, but for now, I want her to concentrate on Oboro as much as possible. Commander Patrick was also paying attention to the surroundings the whole time. Commander Patrick‘s [Small Barrier] can be sustained for a long time if it doesn’t take damage, but if it takes damage, it might disappear. Wind is fine, but a bird strike would be bad. The barrier would disappear at once, and we would be assaulted by strong wind. Well, there aren’t any birds coming toward a Simurgh like Oboro though. But there are Wyverns and flying magic beasts, so we can’t let our guard down.

“I see it! Isn’t that the elf village!?”

At Ritsu‘s words thrown back at us, we lean forward and direct our gaze ahead. Inside the vast forest, a conspicuously large tree is visible. Glittering light… is not visible? Huh? But undoubtedly that is the Spirit Tree. The elf village is there. No matter what, I must get those leaves and return.

“Landing over there.”

Oboro lands in an open area before the forest. Now, from here negotiation with elves starts. Let’s brace ourselves.