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The next morning. In front of the Black Tortoise Hotel.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Efrain, fully recovered, appeared before Lucella and others in a neatly tailored suit, just like the morning before.

Although his suit must have been damaged when he was captured, he likely purchased a replacement in the city, probably covered as an expense.

Laza, despite its dangerous reputation, was a city thriving with people and goods, so as long as one had money, most things were obtainable.

“How’s your health?”
“Thanks to you, I’m doing well. Still fit for the journey.”

He laughed cheerfully and lightly tapped his thigh, which should have been severely injured, over his pants.

“Never thought the day would come when we could travel together.”

Lucella expressed her emotions and Efrain seemed troubled.

“I’m a guide, so I can’t afford to play around.”
“It’s a perk. What’s wrong with that?”
“Have you always had this personality?”

Lucella chuckled ambiguously.

Lucella had always been a serious person, but she had come to realize that being overly serious could make one vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous individuals. It seemed that being moderately selfish and carefree was a necessary wisdom for people. She wanted to live happily if she was to live, and if not, it would make Kafal sad.

“I didn’t know you were Lucella’s friend. My daughter has been in your care.”
“Oh no, it’s the other way around.”
“Mom, when did you learn to talk like that?”

Kafal bowed to Efrain in a human-like manner.

Not knowing where ears might be listening, Lucella had kept her history with Efrain a secret even from Kafal. She had only told her yesterday.

Whether it was the composure of a dragon or something else, Kafal had shown no particular hostility or concern towards Efrain from the beginning. However, upon learning that Efrain was Lucella’s old friend, Kafal had changed her attitude towards him.

“Can I ask about Lucella’s past?”
“Of course.”
“Wait. If there’s anything you want to know, I’ll be the one to tell you.”
“If I hear it twice, it will be twice as pleasant.”
“Isn’t it fine? It won’t cost you anything.”
“Monica, what’s that notebook?”

In the empty moments of the journey, what one desired were stories to pass the time. In this situation, it was predictable what the doting parent and the mischief-maker would do.

“Haah… Fine, whatever. I’ll tell you everything. But promise me you won’t ask Efrain when I’m not around.”

Lucella desperately unraveled her memories, creating a catalog of stories she didn’t want to share.

Floating Archipelago was a land characterized by the nature of the ‘wind’ and was a common sight in such areas. Small islands, resembling clusters of rocks, floated countless in the air like scattered stars.

If there were several islands big enough to build several houses, the land would be considered usable. Bridges connecting islands, lift towers linking to the ground, numerous windmills spinning endlessly, waterfalls flowing from the islands and dispersing in the wind, and unique crops floating in the air like airships.

In such lands, people somehow devised ways to fly through the sky in their daily lives.

In the vast Floating Archipelago region of the Roflarey Territory, where there were no land paths and you could only cross the floating islands, zip lines and gondolas suspended from them were often used. While it was a commonplace means of movement and transportation for residents, the view of crossing the sky in the midst of magnificent scenery was a spectacular sight for tourists.

“You don’t have enough gondolas?”

However, the ferryman greeted Lucella’s group in a seemingly indifferent manner, sitting casually on the wreckage of bird carts.

“I told them to stop, but those idiots started some ridiculous construction on the other side of the mountain. The Guardian has been acting up lately. It’s a damn mess.”
“Guardian?”
“Probably the one we shot down earlier.”

While riding a carriage on the road just now, Lucella’s group was attacked by a giant bird about half the size of Kafal herself, so she roasted it whole. It wasn’t particularly tasty.

“I got pretty beat up by it yesterday. Sorry, but this one is the best we have left. I have literally no means to get another one.”

A gondola, like a carriage used in parades, with no walls or roof, was attached to a mythril-knitted zip line, and a magnificent hippogriff was tethered to it.

“Can everyone fit on it?”
“Please keep it under 200 kg, including baggage.”
“Mom can easily lighten her weight to about 2 kg, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

The view seemed promising. However, it was also natural that the ferryman’s tone did not sound very endorsing.

Lucella’s expectations proved correct.

“…Thought we’d be blown away.”

This was the land of the wind. A gentle breeze only occurred about once every ten days. Riding the wall-less gondola, Lucella was relentlessly exposed to a fierce storm.

“Oh, come on. My clothes are a mess.”

When Lucella reached the final station of the gondola, she was in a sorry state. While she had grown accustomed to bathing in the wind on Kafal’s back, her clothing was severely disheveled. The large scarf hung like a shoulder bag, and the vest-like top was on the verge of coming undone.

Lucella had received a dress as a thank-you for yesterday (for what, Lucella wasn’t sure) from an anonymous sender, and Kafal, finding it amusing, had her put it on. The dress, with modest decorations suitable for noble outdoor activities like long rides or horseback riding, had become a mess in the raging storm.

By the way, Kafal’s clothing was like an illusion created by magic along with her body, so it couldn’t get disheveled. Monica, aside from it being strangely neat and brand new, had a traveler’s outfit that seemed easy to move in. Honestly, that choice seemed wiser.

“Lucella, you look terrible. Let me fix you up.”

Kafal took out brushes for clothes and hair from her belongings and approached Lucella.

“Um… I can do it myself.”
“Why?”

Lucella modestly declined. Kafal seemed puzzled as to why.

“Are you embarrassed?”
“I-I mean…”
“Isn’t it fine? She always does it for you anyway.”

Monica, teasingly, casually tidied her beautiful golden hair with a hand comb.

Even in such a careless state, she looked elegant.

“Sigh…”

Resigned, Lucella closed her mouth and stood before Kafal.

In response, Kafal smiled warmly.

“Raise your arms.”
“Mhm…”

As Kafal undid the ties, readjusted the position, redid the dressing, and brushed her hair, Lucella remained motionless, feeling like an exhibition mannequin.

In the rest area of a station that resembled a small inn town, complete with accommodations and restaurants, people waiting for the ferry due to the gondola mishap gathered. Many of them, engaged in activities like smoking or reading, turned their attention to Lucella, and like Kafal, they broke into smiles.

Lucella’s face felt like it was burning.

“A little more. Stay still.”
“Got it.”

As Kafal quickly ran her hand through Lucella’s hair, flames ran through it, burning away the dust. With such gentle flames, not a single strand of Lucella’s hair caught fire. Her deep red hair became noticeably more lustrous.

After that, Kafal sat on a nearby chair, pulled Lucella to her lap, and brushed and arranged her hair. Once done, Kafal embraced Lucella from behind, nuzzling her cheek through the hair. It was ticklish.

“…What was the point in combing it.”
“I can’t help it. You’re too cute.”

Anyway, anytime, anywhere, Kafal couldn’t be happier than when taking care of Lucella. Lucella didn’t mind, either. However, the great dragon was somewhat insensitive to the nuances of human emotions, such as the embarrassment of being in the public eye.

“You can laugh, Efrain.”
“R-Right…”

Efrain didn’t laugh. However, his reaction was more bewildered than Lucella could have expected.

It was that night.

“Is something wrong?”
“…It’s not a big deal.”

Lucella and the others were staying in an inn nestled on a small floating island at low altitude. From the rooftop with the wind blowing through, they could see the moonlit rock formations and the distant glow of floating plants that shone like fireflies.

After dinner, Efrain called Lucella here. She didn’t know why she was summoned, but she came nonetheless.

“Do you remember? The day Baron Golt visited the juvenile dormitory.”
“The day he invited everyone to the university debate?”
“Yeah, that one. When you said that it was a scam, what did you mean by that?”

Efrain asked while gazing at the moon, not looking at Lucella, as if contemplating the unchanging moon even after leaving their distant homeland and the passage of time.