Chapter 71
While Arthur was watching the beastkin head towards the inland region, Maki and Chiharu were relaxing in the airship . It was just as he had wanted .
There were several small sofas in the airship and also a table . There was also a simple sink . The pilot’s seat was in the very front . As it was made especially for Aeris, the handle was much too high for Maki or Chiharu to control comfortably while sitting down . While Aeris piloted the airship most of the way, Van would sometimes take his place . Maki was surprised that he could be useful sometimes .
They were not flying too high, and so they were able to see the land below very well . When they looked to the side, they could see birdfolk flying in the air . If their eyes happened to meet, they would wave at them cheerfully .
“So, it’s not affected at all when the birdfolk get close?”
Chiharu asked .
“Airships are very heavy crafts . It took so much testing to find the right balance of levitations stones to keep it in the air . And while the birdfolk used to mock us up in the air, we were too busy fighting the wind back then . ”
“Hey, Aeris . Knock it off with the boring stuff . ”
Grudo interjected just as Aeris was starting to get into his long-winded speeches .
“Hmm . Well, it took us a long time to develop it . ”
Aeris ended with a chuckle .
“The birdfolk don’t bother us anymore… However…”
Just then, they heard a thud come from the ceiling .
“Sometimes they rest on top of the airship when they are tired . ”
Aeris said with a look of annoyance .
“But three hours of flight is nothing to them . They are really just resting on top because they find it amusing . Damn them . ”
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Indeed . Chiharu thought .
They passed the town of Tram, where the castle was, in no time . Then the airship continued on by the sea towards the south . The sea was blue and there were sandy beaches and cliffs that were hit by white waves . When they turned their eyes inland, they could see flatlands and wheat fields . To the west, there were mountains and forests .
“So, that direction is inland?”
“Yes . Once you pass the low mountains, you will see vast fields where they grow grain . The inlands are connected with Midland and Lowland to the south . ”
As Aeris was piloting the ship, Grudo explained this to them .
“Both Midland and Lowland are on low grand . So there is just a river that makes the border . And there are several bridges over them . However, the mountains form the borders for Highland . So there are not as many ways to go there . ”
“Is there any procedure for crossing the border?”
“There isn’t . ”
Kaider interjected . He looked very bored .
“After all, what did you even do in the dwarf lands?”
“That’s right . We just bought tickets and got on a train until we reached it…”
“Right? Well, it’s the same in the human lands . ”
“I see . ”
They had studied some of this at the castle, but it was different when you were actually traveling . Edwy looked at them a little uncomfortably and then opened his mouth .
“Maki and Chiharu . You may not want to hear this, but the actions of the inlanders during the unveiling made a lot of people angry . In fact, Highland blocked their roads after the incident . ”
Maki and Chiharu started to feel bad when they heard about what had happened .
“There is no reason to feel bad . This is a problem that affects our whole world . The reason that I brought this up is because I don’t want you to think that you’re safe, just because you’re around humans . The borders are no longer blocked . And it’s possible that there are people who might want to harm you . ”
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“Okay . ”
“Okay . ”
They replied . Edwy had become a little more serious after traveling in the dwarf lands . Chiharu felt that he had come to respect their independence a little more .
Boys grow up so fast . She thought with a warm look .
“Now, let’s land once so we can rest . ”
Aeris called out . Indeed, he had been piloting for 3 hours now . It would be good for him to take a break .
And so he landed the airship quietly by a riverside town . Apparently, they often used this small airport . So their arrival didn’t cause a commotion .
“Well, we can eat lunch here . Now, Edwy . That’s your job . ”
“Yes . Let’s go . ”
And so Edwy led them away from the airport and to the town . Then they went to the river .
“We’re still in Midland . And this is a place I sometimes visit . Here!”
Edwy pointed . It looked like a row of small cottages were floating on the river .
“A floating cottage?”
Chiharu said with surprise .
“Do they have them in your world too? They are built during the summer and taken down in autumn . There are rooms inside of them where you can eat . ”
“They had something similar . They were built on the sea and you could stay in them . I never actually went to one, but I always wanted to . ”
“So, that means your dream has come true . ”
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“Yes!”
Chiharu looked happy as she turned to Maki . Maki was looking at the river as she said,
“We would be able to swim if we brought our bathing suits . ”
“In the river?”
“Yes . ”
The river was shallow but the current was fast .
“I guess we can still put our feet in it . ”
“Yeah . ”
And then Kaider asked them,
“What’s a bathing suit?”
“Huh? It’s something you wear when you go swimming . ”
“Swimming? But you’re a woman?”
Right . You weren’t supposed to show much skin in this world . Maki remembered .
“Yeah . They taught you to swim back in school . Most people there can swim . ”
“However, clothes just for that…”
“So it doesn’t bog you down . They are cut off around here and stick tightly to your body . ”
Maki said as she held her thigh . Kaider looked around awkwardly as if to make sure that no one else was watching .
“It-it’s really that short?”
He whispered .
“Uh, yeah . A lot of them were in two pieces so your midriff was exposed . ”
“Your stomach! What kind of world…”
“Hey, Kaider . Your face looks red . Are you hot?”
Nyran walked up to them .
“No, we were just talking about bathing suits . ”
“Wait, Maki . I don’t think you should talk about that!”
“Really?”
Nyran looked at Kaider suspiciously .
“Are you sure?”
“Y-yes . I-I’ll tell you about it later . ”
“You will?”
Nyran tilted his head in puzzlement as they returned to the rest of the group .
“Maki-chan? Kaider?”
Kaider seemed to be unable to look at Chiharu in the face . He couldn’t even look at her body . After all, the bottom only went up to there . There . Chiharu realized what was happening .
“You’re horrible!”
“It’s not my fault!”
It was Maki’s fault . Maki said she was sorry as she rolled on the floor with laughter . Nyran still looked confused . Oh, well . At least he wasn’t the one that Chiharu was angry with . Now, it was time to eat lunch .