We arrived in Vettant—one of the top five metropolises in Zebludia—without falling too far behind schedule.
It was a city rivaling the imperial capital in grandeur. The outer walls were thick, the streets sanitary, and the people milling about somehow had an air of refinement about them.
I hadn't known this, but apparently Vettant had an airship terminal where only the Empire's most important figures were permitted to board.
Airships. Flying ships, literally. I had no idea how they flew without being Treasure Weapons, but apparently it was achieved through a combination of technology and magic. The design was supposedly based on an airship Treasure Weapon that had been discovered at some point, and personally I found the whole thing fascinating.
But first, I needed to get my preparations in order.
I arrived in Vettant on schedule and went to bow repeatedly to Franz, asking for some time off.
I understood that an escort making such a request to his employer was wildly outside the norm. But ultimately, this was all in service of protecting His Majesty the Emperor.
If the airship went down, I planned to grab the Emperor and fly off to safety at all costs. Klyuse and the others could fend for themselves—they were Mages, after all. Franz would manage too. He was a Royal Guard.
As I fumbled through these vague explanations, Franz's expression shifted dramatically.
He went blank for a moment, flushed red, and launched into an angry tirade. I kept bowing my head beneath the shouting that felt like it was splitting my skull. Not to brag, but I was very well accustomed to being yelled at.
When I stubbornly insisted that I needed time to prepare without giving any real reason, Franz showed absolutely no sign of backing down. It was at that point that His Majesty stepped in.
"Franz, it's fine. We have a margin of time. And Muriina seems a bit fatigued from the long journey."
"But, Your Majesty. Remaining in one place is dangerous. There's no telling when the Fox will launch an attack—"
I couldn't help but chime in.
"…It's still better than being attacked in the air."
"And just who do you think could possibly attack an airship in flight!? Besides, why weren't you prepared in the first place!?"
Honestly, though? You'd be surprised. I mean, it was improbable, but if the enemy really could control dragons at will, a flying airship would be nothing more than a flying coffin.
Even short of that, there was the possibility of a Mage who could use flight magic attacking, or flying Phantoms showing up. Being grounded made the city safer, in my view. But I kept quiet, since I'd just be pouring fuel on the fire.
His Majesty let out a small growl and spoke in a tone that gently reproached Franz.
"We've repelled them many times already. If we know they're coming, there are ways to be vigilant. That man has his own considerations as well. It's more problematic to depart unprepared."
For reasons I couldn't fathom, His Majesty seemed to be on my side. Long live high recognition levels.
Franz glared at me like I was his parents' murderer. He was apparently from a prestigious noble family, and being a noble seemed like no cakewalk either.
"…You have His Majesty's mercy to thank for this. Three days. That's what you're getting—three days! Not a single day more! Ensure you're fully prepared! Now go!"
--- I went and bowed repeatedly to Klyuse, securing her as my charge partner.
She'd scolded me earlier for bowing too much—beside the point, really. She'd written me off as a "weakling," but she seemed bothered by exactly how pathetic I actually was.
This was my first time in Vettant. Given enough time, I'd have liked to find a nice café or something, but unfortunately I had no such luxury.
I left the Emperor's protection to Term and rented out the largest of the many Hunter training grounds available.
I rented it out because carpet riding was extremely dangerous.
I was weak, but I still had a decent amount of weight. If I lost control of that unruly carpet and collided with someone, my Barrier Ring would keep me safe, but whoever got hit wouldn't walk away unscathed. The 'Dark Wings of the Night'—which had similar speed—had actually killed a Hunter.
The training ground, empty even in the middle of the day, had a somewhat ominous atmosphere. The cold, dusty-smelling air sharpened my focus.
The bare earth meant that falling headfirst would certainly mean death. The walls were metal and looked sturdy, but crashing into them wouldn't leave my body unscathed either.
I glared at the casually drifting carpet with the intensity of a Hunter about to engage in a duel. Behind me, Klyuse, who had been following, spoke up.
"Hey, weakling, should I step out?"
"Huh? Why?"
"What do you mean, 'why'… There are techniques I'd rather not let even you see. Besides, practice footage is basically an information leak."
Klyuse really was a good kid… But it was fine. There was nothing about me she couldn't see! Besides, if Klyuse wasn't here, who would pour magic into the carpet, my shirt, and my Barrier Ring?
It might be embarrassing, but that was what practice was. Klyuse jerked her thumb backward. Standing there was a man dressed entirely in black, laughing in that suspicious "ke ke ke ke" way of his.
"I don't know why you followed us, but Kecha, I think it'd be best if you stepped out too."
"Nah, you're both fine staying. I mean, I doubt it'll be very entertaining… But it's dangerous, so stay back a bit. Today, I'm—going to get serious!"
"!?"
I had my moments. I regulated my breathing, stretched my arms and legs. The unruly carpet looked utterly unimpressed. (I say "looked" as if it had a face.)
That confidence of yours won't last. I'd already tamed even the 'Dark Wings of the Night' that had killed that Hunter. Though I'd die without my Barrier Ring.
The 'Unruly Carpet' flicked its right corner back and forth, beckoning me to come at it with an almost taunting gesture. I clenched my fist tight.
Could it be… that this carpet, precisely because it was so unruly, was actually rarer and more valuable than a normal 'flying carpet'?
"HaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Even I thought the roar sounded weak, but I leaped at the carpet.
The instant my right hand grabbed the carpet's right corner, the carpet shot violently into the air, and I slammed my head into the ceiling at full force and died.
--- "Weakling, what's the point of doing that? This carpet is defective."
"No amount of practice is going to make this worthwhile. What use could this carpet possibly be?"
"I'm the one charging the Treasure Weapon here! Give it a rest! And at least do your own charging!"
"C-cut it out, seriously! Why are you having so much fun!?"
"Hah… hah… Spare me the magical energy waste, for my sake… Enough already… The constant banging is driving me insane!"
"S-stop, I'm done… hah, hah… Let's call it a day. I'm going to rest."
"…Hah… hah… ugh…"
"…………"
That carpet was tough. Just how tough? Tough enough that Klyuse, who had started out standing and watching, collapsed face-down on the ground.
I could get as far as grabbing it, but I was flung off every single time. There were occasions when I wasn't flung off, but instead I'd be driven into the floor or wall. And then I'd die.
Klyuse had been forced to charge the Treasure Weapon over and over and was now at her limit. The reason I stayed calm even in this state was that Lucia used to be just like this back in the day. Lucia hadn't been quite so blatant about it, though.
It was fine. I wouldn't die from magic depletion. Being a Spiritfolk, my mana regeneration rate should be high.
I moved Klyuse to the side and looked at the carpet, which appeared completely unfazed.
"You think I'm going to quit over this? Like hell!"
The carpet spread both its corners wide open as though asking for a hug. I dove in and was slammed into the ground.
The force of a single blow was weak since it was fabric, but this carpet… it was quite possibly stronger than me. Lying on my back, staring up at the carpet with its fancy-looking pattern.
"I know. I know what you want—you want someone to ride you, don't you!?"
The carpet made no response to my words. Instead, it placed a foot on my forehead for the first time in ages.
Had there ever been a Level 8 who had to endure such treatment?
But my predictions couldn't be too far off. After all, this was a flying carpet.
I was weak. My strength was low and my movements were slow. If it truly didn't want to be ridden, I wouldn't have been able to so much as touch it, no matter how recklessly I lunged.
But in reality, I could touch it. I could grab hold of it. This could only mean the carpet was subconsciously seeking a rider.
Still… this was a problem. With Klyuse down, there was no Treasure Weapon practice happening. Even I wasn't about to practice without my Barrier Ring.
Unfortunately, the magic power that was supposed to have awakened still hadn't activated even once since that day.
That left only one option…
I looked at Kechachakka, sitting quietly in a corner of the training ground. He didn't say anything, didn't heckle like Klyuse, just silently watched me.
His unsettling impression hadn't faded at all from when we first met, but I'd come to learn he was actually decent enough. I walked up with a smile.
"Ke ke… hee hee hee…"
"Hey, so… I have a favor to ask."
"Hee hee… hee?"
"Sorry, but if it's alright… could you maybe help me charge the Treasure Weapon?"
"Ke ke… ke ke ke ke…"
Communication was… impossible. Wait, when I first met this guy, hadn't he spoken a few words?
Kechachakka just kept making those unsettling laughing sounds. And somehow this man served as the Emperor's bodyguard. What a world.
Maybe it was some kind of special language? Was he from another country?
Ugh, I should've brought the 'Translation Staff'…
The 'Translation Staff' was, true to its name, a staff that translated speech. Its official Treasure Weapon name was 'Round World.' It was an exceedingly rare and powerful Treasure Weapon, but it had zero combat capability, it was enormous and difficult to carry, and since the destination on this trip was the Sand Country where the official language was the same anyway, I hadn't brought it. If only it had been a ring—I could've worn it at all times. If only the world worked that way.
"Uke ke ke ke…?"
"Uke, uhi hi…"
"Ke!?"
I tried chatting randomly, and for some reason he seemed startled.
This was hopeless. Even Klyuse had apparently bonded with him a little… Could Klyuse actually be surprisingly adaptable?
What to do… The sun was already starting to set, and there was no sign I'd be able to handle this carpet anytime soon. With only two days left, I really wanted to practice nonstop…
Right then, the training ground door burst open with a bang. I was sure I'd put up the "reserved" sign— But I turned toward it, and the figures that entered made my eyes go wide.
It was a strange group draped in white sheets. And there was more than one.
Kechachakka, who was always smiling, stood up bare. The carpet, as if sensing something, quickly hid behind my back.
The group of sheet-draped monsters filed in and lined up neatly before me.
There were exactly five of them. Klyuse, who had been sprawled on the ground, looked at the group and made a terrible face, as if she were having a nightmare.
But I knew. I couldn't reveal it since Kechachakka was here too, but these were the companions I trusted most in all the world.
"You guys… You came to help me!"
This—this I could work with! I had no idea they'd followed us all the way here. What worrisome friends.
The Thief Monster lunged toward me, only to have its skin grabbed by the Alchemist Monster carrying an enormous backpack. I shrank back and addressed the colossal shadow that dwarfed all the other monsters put together—clearly the one who'd had the hardest time squeezing through the door.
"Hey, Big Monster—that's some impressive sheet you've got there."
"………………Mm."