**Side: Reinhardt**
Two days have passed since we departed on the Float. According to Nail, who is leading the Gradia Continent expedition team, we should be able to see the Gradia Continent tomorrow. Considering that the sea route would take about two weeks and involve sailing while fending off monsters, the aerial route is incredibly fast. Furthermore, we haven’t encountered any particularly formidable monster species.
“I liked the previous room, but this one is nice too,” I remarked.
“Yes. The roof balcony is especially amazing. I wish Reinhardt and Regina could have seen it, but we can only do that in Cerejeira once peace is restored,” Lydia said.
“That’s true,” I replied.
Eris, Maruca, Ciel, and I are currently visiting the VIP room where Yamato and his group are staying. Our own VIP room is located in the center of the front of the ship, and thanks to a mirroring enchantment, it offers considerable space. However, it’s still about 30% smaller than this room. While it’s spacious enough and equipped with the latest magic tools, I don’t feel any particular inconvenience.
“Speaking of which, does Cerejeira resemble the Wing of Order much? We haven’t really paid attention, as we’re using the Multi-functional Beast Carriage,” I said.
“Since it’s owned by the Union, we can use it anytime, so in a way, it seems more convenient for us than for you. To operate Cerejeira, you have to call a dedicated driver contracted with the Riders Guild,” Maruca explained.
“Oh, right. Was that it?”
Cerejeira is an airship exclusively for the Celestial Emperor’s Family, and the Riders Guild is a new organization established last year. The Riders Guild, which handles the manufacturing of beast carriages, ships, and airships, as well as monster management for familiar and summon contracts, and the operation of regular routes, has quickly become indispensable to the people’s lives. The public beast carriages running through the towns and the regular routes of ships and airships connecting several towns are particularly popular, and it’s no exaggeration to say they have made the Philia Continent feel smaller.
For this reason, dedicated drivers are hired from the Riders Guild for the Celestial Emperor’s Family’s exclusive airship Cerejeira and for the airships of other royal families. Strictly speaking, it’s not just drivers but also cooks, butlers, and knights for guarding. However, airships are used at most once a month, and on the Philia Continent, one can travel from one end to the other in just three days. Since these individuals cannot make a living with such infrequent requests, they must plan their schedules at least a few days in advance when Cerejeira or royal family airships are to be used, requiring coordination with each guild. The Union-owned airship, which doesn’t require such hassle, seems enviable to us.
“Our airship is basically for short-distance travel. Ah, and we use it to pass the time when staying in labyrinths,” Yamato said.
“The facilities are luxurious, but we’ve only actually used them during overnight stays in labyrinths. Also, with a small group, we don’t really have much leisure time,” Ciel added.
“I understand that. We’ve used Cerejeira a few times, but depending on the destination, we haven’t even had time to use the game room, let alone the large public bath. While shorter travel times are welcome, it’s still a dilemma when we can’t use the facilities,” Eris said.
“It’s a luxurious problem to have, though,” I responded.
I agree with Eris and Maruca’s concerns, but they are indeed luxurious problems.
“Using it for labyrinth攻略? Only the Wing Crest can do that, right?” I asked.
“Yes. However, the hull that can be connected to the Multi-functional Beast Carriage is useful, and Reinhardt-sama said he would place an order for its production soon, didn’t he?” Ciel replied.
“Ah. After I abdicate, I won’t be able to use Cerejeira. By then, I’ll be accustomed to traveling by airship, and since it will be used by the four of us, I don’t intend to make it as large as the Wing Crest,” I explained.
“In our case, we also considered using it for the Alliance. That’s why it became so large. Well, we don’t know if we’ll have the chance to use it in the Alliance,” Yamato said.
That’s true. The Multi-functional Beast Carriage was originally developed by Yamato to transport a large number of combatants with only a few units. As its name suggests, this beast carriage with numerous functions has become standard among royalty and nobility, and wealthy hunters also own them. However, being nearly twice the size of a normal beast carriage, it lacks maneuverability and is difficult to use in towns. This drawback has been resolved by omitting the troop transport function and downsizing the beast carriage itself. Although the Multi-functional Beast Carriage can also be connected to optional ships and airships, the larger the beast carriage, the larger the ship or hull becomes. Therefore, the airship for the earliest model of the Multi-functional Beast Carriage, the Wing Crest, has become comparable in size to Cerejeira. While it’s not unusable, the opportunities to actually use it are few, and Yamato and his group find it somewhat excessive. It is highly effective for troop transport, but with the increase in Ancient Classes in recent years, the opportunities for such transport are likely to diminish significantly.
“Aren’t you planning to build a new beast carriage?” Lydia asked.
“No. While it’s a bit cumbersome to use, I still like it, and I might end up using it for some reason,” Yamato replied.
“Besides, branches of the Sacred Tree aren’t bestowed unless it’s a very special occasion. Well, considering Yamato’s achievements, he should be able to receive as much as was used for that beast carriage,” Ciel added.
That’s only natural. Having conquered numerous labyrinths and even defeated Demise Species, he could be bestowed any number of Sacred Tree branches. I’m even considering building a mansion for Yamato on Ou Renten Street. However, Ou Renten Street is a district where only King Amister and the Celestial Emperor are permitted to build residences, and it is said to have been prepared by the gods for that purpose, so it’s probably impossible.
“I’d like that too, but for now, I have no intention of building a new one. I’m attached to it,” Yamato said.
“It’s been almost three years, so that’s understandable,” Ciel chimed in.
Has it really been that long? When the prototype Multi-functional Beast Carriage was completed, we happened to be on vacation and entered the Instant Labyrinth together. Thinking about it brings back nostalgic feelings.
“I’m back~” Lydia announced as she entered.
“Ah, welcome back. How was it?” I asked.
“I couldn’t go all out, but as long as I’m careful about that, there were few restrictions,” Lydia replied.
“That’s what it was made for. Well, even with Element or Ancient Classes, going all out would be fatal,” Yamato added.
Lydia and Ludia, who had just returned, had gone to the vast training ground located below the deck. In the past two days, we’ve been attacked by monsters several times, but they were all repelled by the Knights. However, not all Knights were able to fight; those on watch or on standby responded. Others were resting in their private rooms or deepening their camaraderie in the game room, but the most popular facility was the training ground. If one does nothing for even a few days, their body might not move when needed, leading to unexpected injuries. For this reason, the Wing of Order is equipped with a training ground spanning 10,000 square meters. While it’s not suitable for Ancient or Element Classes, it’s strong enough for Normal and even High Classes to move at full speed without issue, so it’s fine for a light workout.
“Just being able to block the magic power of High Classes is amazing enough. Well, that just proves how amazing Mako’s engraving magic, Yggdrasil, is,” Ciel said.
“Of course, it’s not effective against Ancient Classes,” Lydia added.
As Maruca said, the training ground is imbued with Mako’s engraving magic, Yggdrasil. According to Yamato and Mako, it’s specialized in maintaining its state. Frankly, I don’t fully understand what they’re saying, but in simple terms, it’s confirmed that even with the strongest of attacks from High Classes, the Yggdrasil barrier cannot be broken. Moreover, it can block up to about 70% of attacks from Ancient Classes. They say it can completely seal off even Ancient Classes if used with full power, but covering a vast 10,000 square meter training ground and being activated by an enchanted Tenma Stone instead of Mako herself causes the strength to drop. That’s also a terrifying thought, but since Ancient Classes rarely have the opportunity to unleash their full power, this is probably sufficient.
“But Rai, it’s fine that the training ground is popular, but tomorrow we’ll see the Gradia Continent, right? Shouldn’t we place restrictions on it so that we’re not only not tired but also don’t get injured?” Lydia asked.
“Ah, that’s true. Injuries can be healed with healing magic, but it puts a strain on the user,” I replied.
“I’ve already issued a notice. The use of the training ground is restricted until this evening,” I said.
Getting injured during training is commonplace. Minor injuries can be recovered by Ancient Classes in a few minutes and by High Classes in a few hours. However, in training beyond High Class, limb dismemberment is not uncommon, and in such cases, healing magic is necessary for treatment. Currently, the only individuals capable of using healing magic on this expedition are the Knights and Hunters registered as healers, and their numbers are not very large. Mako, the great-granddaughter of an Ancient Healer, and the Element Healer Mako are present, but even they have limited magic power. Furthermore, Mako has her own duties, so we cannot afford to waste her magic. Therefore, the use of the training ground is restricted until this evening.
“Even though we don’t know exactly when we’ll see it tomorrow, it’s still prohibited?” El asked.
“It can’t be helped. They probably don’t expect us to attack by airship, but Abaricia has established methods for controlling not only A-rank but also O-rank Dragons. Such a force would more than compensate for any reduction in troops. Getting injured in the face of such an enemy would be the act of an incompetent,” I stated.
“Well, that’s true,” El replied.
Although injuries can be healed with healing magic, it would be a waste of the healer’s magic power. Injuries sustained in battle are one thing, but injuries from training, especially when prohibited, are simply a waste of magic power. While it’s unlikely that such individuals are participating in this expedition, there are those who cannot calm down without physical activity. The notice prohibiting the use of the training ground is also intended to restrain such individuals.
“Ah, true. It seems more likely to be the case,” Lydia said.
“O-rank Dragons are on the level of Catastrophe Species or Demise Species on the Philia Continent,” Maruca added.
“But the Burning Dragon we fought at the Battle of Linea wasn’t that strong,” Ludia countered.
“Right. It might have been an An, or perhaps even on the same level as a Rare Species,” I mused.
“Is that so?” Ludia asked.
“Now that you mention it, it really wasn’t as strong as a Catastrophe Species. Even the Bloodruby Dragon might not have reached O-rank?” Lydia wondered.
The stories from Lydia and Ludia, especially Mako’s, were quite shocking. During the invasion by Abaricia, the Divine Emperor summoned an A-rank Red Dragon, an O-rank Burning Dragon, and rode the Bloodruby Dragon, which was also O-rank and likely stronger than the Burning Dragon. However, Mako stated that the Dragons’ strength was clearly lower than their rank, and even the top-tier Bloodruby Dragon barely reached O-rank.
“Perhaps it’s because the Gradia Continent is from another world?” El speculated.
“I think so. If it were low-level monsters like slimes, it might be possible, but it’s impossible that the gods are unaware of top-tier monsters like Dragons,” I replied.
While I still doubt whether the Gradia Continent truly transferred from another world, Mako’s point is valid. However, there will soon be no need to discuss it. In a few days at the latest, we will land on the Gradia Continent and reach Arrogentia, the capital city where the Divine Emperor resides. And by defeating that Divine Emperor, all mysteries will be solved. At the same time, the Helios Orb will be saved from the brink of destruction. That is why we are heading to the distant Gradia Continent.
