08-15 Afterwards
By the time Jin and Elsa reached the edge of River Torres, dawn was finally breaking.
Jin said and sat on top of a rock that was up on the riverbank. Elsa also sat down.
Jin said and Elsa nodded to confirm.
Judging from her expression in this poor light, she wasn’t just tired but also was hiding some more complex emotion.
Jin asked, and Elsa spoke a few words with a sad look on her face.
Hearing that, Jin asked Elsa.
“Yes, because it was my wish to run away. I also think I was to blame too for getting into danger. More importantly, Mine protected me and…She may have died.”
“Mine’s safe.”
“Eh?”
Jin briefly explained Mine’s circumstances, and this time tears of joy spilled from Elsa’s eyes.
Looking at Elsa who happily muttered a few words, Jin was glad that she could be saved.
After resting for a while, Jin and Elsa once more began to walk. It was already considerably bright. River mist enveloped the surroundings.
It was around six meters wide, vast enough to park two carriages in side-by-side.
Jin surveyed the area and muttered. Reiko caught that and,
She said and looked up at the skies.
Jin said a brief word, and Reiko gave orders through her ManaCom.
“Eh? Not just the Raptors, you also called in the Pelicans?”
“Yes, Laozi said to prepare them for the unlikely event that they are needed.”
“I see, as expected of him. In that case, Elsa. Go over there by the edge for a bit. …Like that.”
While Elsa didn’t know what was going on, she still moved to the edge of the riverbank as Jin said. There a black shadow swooped down from the skies.
Elsa was surprised and put herself on guard. Jin told her,
Elsa looked at Jin seemingly astonished.
Before Jin could say something in reply to that, Pelican-1 cleaved apart the mist and landed down on the riverbank where there was barely enough space. Afterwards the landing gears protruded a little bit out from the riverbank.
“Yeah, it’s transportation model Pelican-1. Come on, get in.”
Seeing an airplane for the first time, Elsa timidly took Jin’s hand and ascended the airstair.
From Elsa’s viewpoint, the plane’s inside wasn’t much different from Jin’s carriage’s. And that’s how she was able to calm down a little.
Jin had Elsa sit on the window seat, and buckled her seatbelt.
“It’s a safety belt so that you won’t get thrown off your seat in case the fuselage shakes.”
“All good, please take off.”
The pilot, Sky-1, was the top Air Force golem.
“Ah, um, wha–”
“It’s fine.”
“A-amazing.”
Then Pelican-1 raised its nose and steadily climbed in altitude. Tearing the river mist to pieces, in a moment it had flown out into the clear sky.
Elsa’s body was shivering a little. She was flying for the first time in her life, moreover she had boarded the vehicle without thinking.
Jin loosened his seatbelt and stroked Elsa’s hair. Elsa made an embarassed face, but her shivering seemed to lessen.
Once Elsa was used to the sensation of flying, she couldn’t get her eyes off the spectacle.
Pushing against the window frame, she looked at the world. Pelican-1 going at over 300 kilometers per hour was above the sea in two hours.
Looking at the unusually high-spirited Elsa, even Jin’s heart was warmed. Even if for a moment, he had made her forget about the shock of being kidnapped. That’s what he was thinking about.
“That’s Hourai Island.”
“It’s the place where my real home is, and it’s my base.”
Elsa stared at it with intense concentration.
“Elsa, the time of the landing will be a little shaky, so please sit down properly.”
Elsa obediently did as Jin told her to.
Then Pelican-1 landed on the runway in front of the research laboratory.
“Welcome, to Hourai Island.”
“Much, obliged.”
“Welcome back, My Lord. Welcome, Elsa-sama.”
“Who?”
“Excuse me my manners. I am Laozi, and I’ve been entrusted with managing this island, pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“You must be tired, please first take a bath and then have a meal.”
Jin was attended by Reiko, and Elsa by Soleil and Luna.
“Sigh.”
“Reiko, good work.”
“No, this time I didn’t do much of anything.”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
“…Yes, I will endeavour to do so.”
“…”
“Ah, it’s fine. Just perfect.”
“Mm. Thanks.”
Elsa received a warm welcome from Soleil and Luna.
Despite the designs of the Unifilers, and despite the nobles greedy for getting ahead in life, the skies of Hourai Island were blue and clear.
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