Ch.223Chapter 223: Appreciation and Boundaries

#

No one could remain unexcited when faced with the unprecedented situation of viewing a spectacle of pure white snow covering the earth’s surface from high above.

“Wow…”

“I’ve heard that the sight of snow falling from the sky is common in the northern territories.”

“Still, I think this is our first time seeing snow-covered scenery from such a height.”

“We’ve been seeing amazing things since the moment we boarded this airship.”

The delegation members each added their comments, expressing their appreciation.

“Huh…”

Even I, who had maintained my composure despite riding an airship for the first time due to memories from before my regression, couldn’t help but let out a single exclamation at the sight.

It was so striking that upon seeing my reaction:

“If your sister could see you now, I think she would be more surprised than I am.”

Would you believe such a playful voice came from Princess Lucius?

When I suddenly heard the Princess’s words, I turned my gaze from the window toward her.

“Hmm, despite your verbal reaction, your face doesn’t show much surprise.”

I found myself facing the Princess, who fixed her gaze on me with that characteristic observant look of hers.

Thanks to the magical disguise, I appeared to anyone as a slender, handsome young man.

Though the disguise couldn’t completely hide my natural beauty, revealing somewhat androgynous features.

Having someone who always makes me dizzy whenever we meet, maintaining my composure under the Princess’s gaze wasn’t particularly difficult.

…Still, I wonder what exactly she’s been hearing about me from my sister.

The light of curiosity in the Princess’s eyes as she observed me was obvious to anyone.

If I weren’t focused on my duties as a guard knight, I would have played along with her curiosity to avoid troublesome situations.

But knowing that this Princess tends to act quite recklessly when trying to satisfy her curiosity:

“…”

I gave the Princess a slight bow before turning my gaze away from her, thus escaping her clutches(?).

“…Hmm.”

Perhaps disappointed by my response, the Princess let out a light sigh.

“Your Highness, the Golden Moon Empire has sent the coordinates for our landing site. Upon verification, it has been identified as the outskirts of Falling Moon.”

At the captain’s words from the cockpit, who was responsible for all operations of the airship:

“I see, this is the location we agreed upon last year. It was a wilderness full of undergrowth then; I wonder how much it has changed since.”

She answered in a calm voice, withdrawing her attention from me.

Relieved to have escaped receiving excessive attention from the Princess thanks to the timely interruption,

I continued performing my duties as a guard knight by maintaining my standing position and surveying the surroundings.

#

A land of pure white snow, literally coloring everything on the ground in pristine whiteness.

The Golden Moon Empire in the East, a place I had never set foot on even before my regression, would likely remain in my memory as a country where winter is exceptionally beautiful.

For good reason—even as we crossed the western coastline toward the center of the continent,

I could see that every inch was covered in pure white snow without exception.

It would be strange not to describe this as a beautiful snow country.

“We’re almost there.”

Based on the Princess’s words as she moved from the cockpit to the passenger cabin and looked at the scenery through the window, I could tell that our journey on this airship was nearing its end.

For me, setting foot on the Eastern Continent for the first time, everything I saw was unfamiliar and fascinating, leaving me with nothing but appreciation for its beauty.

But the Princess, who had visited this place several times before, seemed to know exactly where we were just by looking at the rapidly passing scenery.

‘Even if she’s visited multiple times, I wouldn’t have been able to objectively identify where we are just by looking at passing scenery like this.’

It wasn’t just me thinking this.

I suspected most of the people on this airship, except for the captain and crew, had similar thoughts.

“So this must be the endless sea of trees I saw on the map of the Eastern Continent…”

Shizu’s quiet voice confirming our current location shattered my prediction.

I had seen maps depicting the entire Eastern Continent too, but

I wasn’t able to identify where we were just by looking at this endless expanse of snow-covered trees.

“The trees in the Eastern Continent, situated at a higher latitude than the Central Continent, are predominantly coniferous…”

Like me, Shizu stood watching the scenery outside the window, but I could tell she had gleaned far more than I had from just a map.

In the past, seeing Shizu’s talents manifest like this would have stirred up feelings of jealousy and inferiority in me.

“Cal, look, unlike the Northern Territory where pollution has left hardly any trees, there are plenty of coniferous trees here suited to the climate.”

But now, as she called out to me excitedly, telling me various things, she just seemed…

“Beautiful.”

“Right? The sight of snow piled on the trees is really beautiful.”

“I meant you.”

“Uh…what?”

Absolutely lovable.

I had simply stated the plain truth without reservation.

Shizu started fanning herself, trying to cool the blush that had spread across her face.

“Naturally…compliment…the other’s…appearance…”

I could see the Princess, who had somehow produced a notebook and writing instrument, muttering something while taking notes intently as she watched us.

She seemed busy organizing what to do when we begin our delegation duties.

#

We’ve arrived.

The relentless journey through the sky came to an end as we caught sight of a vast plain at the edge of the endless forest,

And beside that plain, a metropolis rivaling the scale of the Solarium Empire.

Falling Moon (Rakwol).

The largest metropolis in the Eastern Continent and the capital of the Golden Moon Empire, a nation with power comparable to the Solarium Empire.

Despite its name meaning “the moon setting in the west,” the imposing presence felt from the city’s scale visible from afar was truly befitting a nation’s capital.

“We will now begin landing according to Golden Moon’s guidance.”

With the captain’s resonant voice, the airship gradually reduced speed and descended.

Just as it had taken off quietly after boarding us, making it feel as if we weren’t flying through the sky,

The airship remained quiet even at the moment it finally touched ground after a four-day journey.

This made me marvel at the greatness of magical engineering, which had only taken root in this land about a hundred years ago.

As I mentioned earlier, not only did we quickly arrive at the distant Eastern Continent across the sea from the Central Continent,

But I also knew how long it would take to cross the Eastern Continent, which, unlike the Central Continent with its mostly fertile plains except for the Dragon Claw Mountains in the north,

Has so many mountainous regions that most of the population is concentrated in the rare basin or plain areas.

A month, a full month.

Due to geographical characteristics, unlike the Central Continent, crossing the Eastern Continent where railway lines haven’t been established throughout requires this much time, with carriages being the only viable means of fast transportation.

That month-long journey was reduced to an hour from reaching the coastline to arriving at the capital.

I couldn’t help but feel differently than when I watched the airship that departed from the capital Solarium soar over the sea route to the Eastern Continent within an hour of leaving the Central Continent.

I wasn’t the only one thinking this.

“I’m worried that some officials from Golden Moon might not be able to maintain their composure when they see us arriving by airship.”

Princess Lucius was concerned about how to manage her expression in front of Golden Moon Empire officials who might have complex feelings upon seeing the imposing airship that hadn’t yet been put to practical use in their country.

Well, judging by the slight upward curve at the corners of her mouth even as she expressed these concerns,

As someone representing her country, she seemed to be quite enjoying the current situation where her homeland could demonstrate technological superiority over a competing nation.

I realized anew:

Competition between nations isn’t just about winning or losing wars where weapons clash and blood and flesh are scattered.

It can also be about displaying technological superiority like this.

If I had one wish, though:

When showing technological superiority, it inevitably damages the pride of the other nation, knowingly or unknowingly.

I hope she moderates that appropriately to avoid provoking the other side.

If national sentiments are hurt here,

It could delay the urgent transnational cooperation needed to face the impending calamity that will soon emerge.

Well, based on the Princess’s character that I had experienced even before my regression, and

“Well, the Golden Moon Empire folks aren’t narrow-minded enough to make a fuss over just one airship.”

Seeing her current efforts to carry out the delegation mission smoothly while muttering to herself like this, it seemed there wasn’t much to worry about.

Of course, having experienced many times in the previous timeline how things can go in directions different from what one hopes,

“Landing complete. It has been an honor to share this airship’s maiden voyage with Your Highness.”

At the captain’s announcement that we had safely landed, the Princess rose gracefully from her seat.

“Well then, shall we go?”

I followed her footsteps naturally toward the outside of the airship, faithfully performing my duties as a guard knight while trying to eliminate variables.

Thinking there couldn’t possibly be any unexpected situations serious enough to worry about at a diplomatic event between friendly nations,

I tried to hide the bitter smile that naturally formed as I took steps forward.

[Something…]

Paphnir’s voice, which had been silent until now, suddenly resonated in my mind as soon as we exited the airship.

[I sense a very unsettling energy.]

‘What do you mean?’

[It’s very similar to the energy of those we despise enough to grind our teeth in our sleep. Be careful.]

‘….’

I couldn’t help but stiffen my expression at the warning directed at me, who hadn’t sensed anything yet.

Hearing the warning, I spread my spiritual perception widely to try to find what he meant by this unsettling energy.

But my perception still couldn’t identify what this unsettlingness was.

Unlike the unsettlingness Paphnir mentioned, in this place where I felt only the refreshing sensation of pure white snow covering the ground and a piercingly blue sky without a single cloud,

What could possibly be there?

It seemed this would not be a moment where I could continue with light steps.