On July 10th, Year 638 of the Amagi Calendar, the day had finally arrived to commence our march towards the Gradia Continent.
The participating Ritters are as listed below.
Order’s Guild: High Order 250, Ancient Order 30
Father’s Guild: High Father 200
Dragoner’s Guild: Hydragoner 120, Ancient Dragoner 1
Beestar Guild: High Beestar 170
Soldier’s Guild: High Soldier 200
Facer’s Guild: High Facer 30
Rex is serving as the General Order, and Lucas has been appointed to the Secondary Order.
Hunters are also participating, but only those from Holy Grave, Falcon’s Beak, Lily Wish, Furious Lady, and our own Wing Crest; a small contingent of less than fifty strong.
Therefore, the hunters’ role is largely to escort Furious Lady and us.
In addition, royalty from various countries will accompany us, led by Emperor Reinhardt of the Celestial Emperor’s Family, followed by Phantom King Brynhild, Beast King Glisina, Duke Harut Pendragon, Duke Icelicht Granrevebashi, and Beast Duke Polaris Flugel.
Ah, and Duke Harut Pendragon is also the Grand Dragoner’s Master, so he’s concurrently serving as a Secondary Dragoner.
It’s a bit complicated, as he’s participating as royalty since he is the Dragon King’s elder brother.
Having renounced his succession rights, he became a Duke and adopted the Pendragon family name. As you know, the original tale comes from the legends of King Arthur, and he was incredibly pleased when I told him it was a story that existed, he even made it his family name.
It’s a trivial story, though.
Before the Ritters gathered in front of Amagi Castle, Emperor Reinhardt delivered a speech, inspiring and raising morale.
Many of the residents of Float were watching this, but the most exciting moment was undoubtedly when the large airship, Wing of Order, revealed itself from the dock of Amagi Castle.
The Wing of Order is currently landed at Float’s port, moored against the pier. However, its deck is flat.
This is because the cabins, which can also be used as Multi-functional Beast Carriages, are used as transport to the port, and they are all currently in the plaza in front of Amagi Castle.
After the departure ceremony, we will board these cabins and other Multi-functional Beast Carriages, and head towards the port.
The cabin-type beast carriages will be placed in their designated spots, while the other Multi-functional Beast Carriages will proceed down the passage leading to the parking space located beneath the deck.
We will do the same, guiding our Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage to the parking space.
“This is it.”
“Yeah. It’s wider than I expected, but it seems like a waste to only have hunters use it.”
“Don’t say that. Oh, Jade, thanks for your hard work. I know you’re worried about Fluorite, so I’ll send her back immediately.”
“Kuwaah!”
Jade pulled the beast carriage today, but it was also chosen for its appearance.
However, Jade was initially reluctant because Fluorite, his mate, is currently pregnant.
We managed to calm him down and persuade him, and he finally agreed on the condition that it would only be until the ceremony ended.
Jade and Fluorite lost their entire pack, including their family, when they were attacked by an Evil Drake shortly after hatching. We saved them, and that’s how we formed a familiar contract.
Perhaps because of this, the two are very close, and they spend their time affectionately in Alka when we haven’t summoned them.
So, Fluorite’s pregnancy was a joy not only for us but also for Jade.
“There! Done. Yamato, it’s finished.”
“Understood. Jade, I’m sorry. I don’t plan on summoning you for a while, so take your time in Alka.”
“Kuuaaah!”
Now that parking is complete, I’ll send Jade back to Alka.
In the Gradia Continent, Traveling is not possible, nor are familiar summoning magic spells like Calling or Summoning, which belong to the same category of teleportation.
Therefore, movement in the Gradia Continent will be by airship or on foot, and the Multi-functional Beast Carriages are designated for lodging.
That said, once we land on the Gradia Continent, we will head directly for Arrogentia (Capital City), so there will likely be no need for walking, let alone using beast carriages.
“Shall we go then?”
“Yes.”
“We don’t mind using the beast carriage, but it’s not possible in this situation, is it?”
“That’s right.”
Normally, we would sleep and rest in the Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage, but since I am a Celestial Duke and Arc Order, Mana is a Celestial Duke and the Celestial Emperor’s sister, and Prim is a Celestial Duke’s wife and the Vald Beast Duke’s daughter, and we are the key to the operation, we have been assigned a VIP suite.
The Wing of Order has five floors, and the uppermost, fifth floor, has ten VIP rooms.
The VIP rooms are also expanded with mirroring, making them quite spacious.
We will be using one of these VIP rooms, and the one we’ll be using is the largest room at the very rear.
The reason is simple: we requested a large room because there are many of us.
Even though it’s large, the beds aren’t that big, so we brought our own.
There are also five VIP rooms at the front, two on each side, with Emperor Reinhardt and his retinue in the central room; Emperor Brynhild and her Phantom King consort, Albert, in the room to the right; Emperor Glisina and her Beast King consort, the High Ulfy Hunter Volk, to the left; and Grand Dragoner’s Master Lord Harut and his wife, the Hydragonian Lady Themis, in the room furthest to the right. Furious Lady is in the furthest left room.
Beast Duke Polaris and Duke Icelicht will be in the side rooms, leaving two rooms vacant.
“As expected of the largest room, it’s truly spacious.”
“Rather, isn’t it too spacious?”
“This VIP room was built with the assumption that it would be used by the Celestial Emperor’s Family. Isn’t that right, Yamato?”
“Yes.”
The VIP room at the very back is, as Mana said, intended for the Celestial Emperor’s Family.
So, originally, Emperor Reinhardt was supposed to use it, but the five VIP rooms at the front offer a good view, and Their Majesties expressed a desire to use them at least once, which led to this room arrangement.
Another reason is that we are the largest group among those using the VIP rooms. However, the most significant reason is that we are seen as the only ones capable of defeating the Divine Emperor, which necessitates us being in the safest position.
We don’t necessarily see ourselves that way, but the future of the Helios Orb is at stake in this expedition, and not only Emperor Reinhardt but also the kings of various countries are quite on edge, so we have accepted this room arrangement.
“I see. So that’s why there’s a loft.”
“It’s more like a roof balcony than a loft. Of course, it has barriers installed to prevent falls and intrusions.”
“Naturally.”
As befitting its status, this VIP room features a spacious interior and a roof balcony connected to the loft space.
This allows for a panoramic view not only of the rear but of all surroundings. Whether it’s necessary for the Order’s Guild’s airship is debatable.
However, since the Wing of Order is scheduled to function as the flagship for both the Order’s Guild and the Ritter’s Guild, it’s possible that important figures will board it in the future.
“Is that so? In that case, are you considering giving speeches from the balcony as well?”
“That’s right.”
Using the roof balcony would make giving speeches easier.
Since there is a voice amplification magic called Speaking in Supplication Magic, speeches can be conducted without issue even from the roof balcony.
“However, the actual speeches will be directed at the people gathered before departure. It’s impossible to gather the entire crew on the deck, and at worst, they’ll just fall off.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
Due to weight limits and space constraints, gathering all over a thousand crew members on deck during flight would inevitably lead to a crash.
Depending on the rank of the monster materials, it might not be an issue, but it would still be dangerous, so the only place to gather everyone during flight would likely be the training ground below deck with mirroring.
There are numerous speaking tubes and speaker-like devices on each floor for emergency communication, and the Communication Tool is installed on the main bridge on the fourth floor.
“Right, Mako and I are supposed to head to the main bridge now.”
“You’re the main force, or rather, the essential force. Frankly, without Yamato and Mako, it’s questionable whether we can defeat the Divine Emperor.”
“As Element Classes, we might have a chance, but not without taking damage. And we can’t be sure the Divine Emperor hasn’t done anything either.”
That might be true, but if asked whether the Divine Emperor has countermeasures against Element Classes, I have strong doubts.
However, even for Prim and the others, facing the Divine Emperor would undoubtedly be difficult.
If all the Element Classes other than me and Mako worked together, I believe we could probably defeat him.
But the possibility of someone sacrificing themselves is high, and depending on the forces the Divine Emperor has prepared, a mutual annihilation cannot be ruled out.
Of course, I will not allow such a thing, and I will face the Divine Emperor myself to settle the score from last time.
I intend to generate an Engraving Divine Artifact and defeat him in one go, so even then, it might only be half of the debt repaid.
But the very existence of the Helios Orb is at stake, so I can’t afford to be preoccupied with my own petty pride.
“Countermeasures from him? I can say with certainty that there are none. Of course, he’s probably rebuilding his forces, but I wonder about the quality, if not the quantity.”
“I agree. Those who espouse the Engraver Supremacy Theory are conceited individuals who believe they are the strongest without any basis. They might have considered countermeasures for my Wing Bit Liberator, but that’s likely the extent of it.”
Those who adhere to the Engraver Supremacy Theory are people who firmly believe the world revolves around them.
The Helios Orb has proponents of Evolutionary Supremacy Theory, who believe that those who have evolved will dominate all and become heroes, and these people are similar.
The Divine Emperor is, in essence, an adherent of the Engraver Supremacy Theory. Having been transferred to the Gradia Continent through some miracle just before my father killed him, he rose to prominence there, and likely also leans towards Evolutionary Supremacy.
For such a person to consider countermeasures against us is, frankly, impossible.
My Wing Bit Liberator is a fusion-type Engraving Tool, so they might have considered countermeasures regarding that. However, they likely don’t remember Mako’s Spirit Hexa Dipper, including its form, and above all, they have no way of knowing about Engraving Divine Artifacts, so countermeasures are probably out of the question.
But that’s none of my concern.
To protect the Helios Orb, I will definitely defeat the Divine Emperor.
I also need to take responsibility for letting the Divine Emperor escape at the Battle of Linea due to prioritizing my own trivial pride.
So, Divine Emperor, prepare yourself.
With my resolve thus set, the Wing of Order took flight from Float.
