Published: March 21, 2026
After we could see the continent for a while, the airship finally arrived in Yamato Country. If I were walking on my own legs that would be one thing, but spending ten days on a ship left me feeling uneasy, so I was relieved it was over. Flying is somewhat safer and easier than crossing the sea by boat, after all.
The port, which should have been able to berth many ships, had apparently been notified — there wasn’t a single vessel. The airship was docked against a conveniently vacant space.
“We’re being stared at so hard… Are we really okay getting off like this?”
The only way to disembark from an airship that couldn’t land on the water or touch down on land was to jump from the hovering ship, and around the landing area a group of armed men, likely soldiers of Yamato Country, had formed a perimeter. They didn’t seem hostile, so they were probably just securing the area, but the number of them felt excessive for a reception. Whoever gave the order must have been wary — sending night ahead as notice before arrival may have raised even more suspicion.
We couldn’t just say we’d come to stop the war, so officially the purpose was to return Amaryllis, who’d been sheltered in the Beastmen territory, and hand over the humans sheltered in Morte. I didn’t know if any of the three sleeping humans were from Yamato Country, but we couldn’t keep them on the ship forever; we had to confirm and turn them over.
We could wake the three and ask where they were from, but that would interrupt Amelia’s skill, Forced Sleep, halfway. There was no guarantee it could be re-cast, or if they could be awakened cleanly afterward. Given that uncertainty, it was best to leave them to the country. It was easier for us, too, if they stayed asleep.
The remainder of the Beastmen — including the rat beastman who’d woken recently — would disembark here after handing over the humans, then head to the Beastmen territory with Noah and the others to bury Crow. Other Beastmen and Ringa would be put down there as well.
“This is wartime, so the vigilance makes sense. We’ve got Amaryllis and the humans rescued at Morte who might be from Yamato Country — unless they’re idiots, they won’t attack. Hurry and get down.”
I gave Sato a light kick when he froze at the sheer number of stares the moment he stuck his head out. I get it, but sulking wouldn’t make the soldiers leave, and we’d already given the names of Sato, the hero, and Amelia, the Elf race royalty, as our representatives. If they didn’t step out quickly, it’d be a problem.
Honestly, even if these humans attacked now, our defenses would probably shrug it off, so there was nothing to fear.
“Ugh, okay…”
Sato screwed up his face pitifully; I tilted my head. As student council president in school he’d stood in front of hundreds of students before, so being the center of attention shouldn’t phase him. He said he’d stayed in Yamato Country before meeting us — maybe he’d had a bad experience there.
Sato and Amaryllis got off first, then Amelia and I jumped with Yoru.
Mr. Zeal and Noah were reluctant to come all the way; they were tied to Reytis Country and stayed behind. Real stayed to help defend the airship, and Lattice Nail and Ringa remained as well. If things went south, Real’s barrier and Sonora’s earth wall could hold, and Noah could pilot the ship away from the continent. In that case it’d be a failed negotiation — I told them to carry the sleeping humans back to Brute Continent and leave us if that happened. Let’s hope Yamato Country doesn’t make a stupid choice.
As we disembarked, the soldiers’ atmosphere rippled. Not at us, but they’d spotted something else that unsettled them.
“What is it?”
“No idea.”
While we wondered, whispers spread through the troops. One clear voice reached us.
“Well, well — reclusive Lady Kaminari appearing in the sun. How rare.”
“If you say so, who’d have thought the self-defense captain would poke her nose into this.”