CH 129

Chapter 129 – Flying

“So, I’m going to the Hagwai Republic to work during the winter.”

I announced with a smug expression on my face, and Nojaloli-san offered me a cup of herbal tea with no reaction. Myrril is an excellent cook, and the problem is that I tend to overeat, but the tea after a satisfying meal is delicious.

“Is this the adventurers’ guild you were telling me about?”

“Yes. Don’t stop me; it’s a man’s dream.”

“What’s with that snickering, snorting, smug look on your face? Are you imitating me? It’s a little annoying to see someone like that. But more importantly, what exactly do adventurers do?”

“Let’s see… I don’t know much, but I think they hunt and dismantle magic beasts and sell the meat, skins, magic stone, and other materials. And also escorting merchants and gathering ores and stuff like that? If there’s a dungeon or something, maybe they go into it and hunt magic beasts there.”

“How could I stop you from doing such an interesting thing? Of course, I’m going with you.”

“I knew you would say so. As expected of you, Myrril-san, you’re so reliable!”

“If that’s the case, you should have invited me from the beginning.”

No, I had no information about the Republic or the adventurers’ guild even after researching, so I was hesitant to confidently invite her to join me.

Merel-san’s merchant network did not seem to have much contact with adventurers either, so it was possible that we might go, only to find ourselves disappointed later.

When I confessed my almost complete lack of a plan, Myrril-san half-heartedly helped me pack my luggage.

However, the main thing is to “unload things to be left behind” rather than to “pack up things to be taken with me.”

There was no use for all of the vehicles since I hadn’t bought winter tires or chains for them, and the tanks weren’t currently stored in the first place. We are not going to war, so there is not much we need regarding firearms. Most of the equipment, materials, and, incidentally, the kingdom’s currency are left in Casemaian, and in storage is an AKM and a MAC 1.0, some food and drinking water, and a few other items and also winter camping gear.

I plan to return in the spring, so the encampment is for emergency use. I have no taste for sleeping outdoors in the winter if I want to.

“You are going to the Republic with the ‘airship,’ right?”

“Yeah. It’s supposed to be a test flight within five days, so I’m going to take it to the border of the Republic.”

The weather in the vicinity of Casemaian during the winter months is rarely rough, but there is a mountain range of up to six hundred meters between Casemaian and the Republic. Therefore, adjustments were made to the departure date in order to pass through that area.

On the morning of the fourth day, when I received word that a test flight would be conducted, I headed for the Dark Forest, where I found a 50-meter-long airship moored at an airfield that had been created by clearing out the forest.

On the balloon portion of the newly built airship, the Tornado (named by Rinko) was a large three-way mark on a white background. Apparently, it indicated a tornado and the ties of beastman, elves, and dwarves.

“What about humans?”

“You and Rinko are the tornado itself, the one that is hoisting us up.”

What is that, terrible!

After a ceremony simplified by the cold weather, the Tornado, with Rinko, the dwarven technicians, the elf and beastman volunteers, and us on board, took off very easily and without a moment’s hesitation.

“”””Ooohhhh.””””

I was impressed that we flew, but it was so smooth that I didn’t really feel it. The people waving at us from the ground were reduced to peas in a pod, and the airship quickly gained altitude and speed to catch the wind in the sky.

“We’re drifting a little south, ten degrees to the left.”

“Roger that.”

Under Captain Rinko’s direction, the Tornado tested control and maneuverability and also tried flying upwind.

“We are currently flying eastward at a position 20 miles southeast of Casemaian. It is a quarter of an hour to our destination in the vicinity of Hagwai. Ah, everyone, please look to your right.”

Looking at Rinko’s bus guide-like announcement, we could see a snow-covered, ruined wasteland in the far distance.

“It is the former capital of the kingdom, which lost its large population to an outbreak of plague in the early autumn.”

Oh, yeah. That’s amazing. Scary, scary. Alright, everyone, don’t look at me.

“It must be the demon king’s curse. They got what they deserved.”

“That’s what I think, too.”

“Me, too.”

“Me too, me too.”

Yeah, yeah. Will you stop worshipping me all together, please? I won’t curse a good child. In the first place, I don’t have that kind of power.