Ch. 62 - School Trip?

"It's too sudden…"

"Haha, that's just like Aoi-san, I guess…"

Strass held his head in one hand while Eliza looked at me with a wry smile. We had gathered in the academy's courtyard, and I had explained the situation up to now. The two reacted this way after hearing it. Meanwhile, Shenley and Cote, unable to hide their surprise, stared at us, while Ayle, Liz, and Bell were excited, thinking they were going on a trip.

Strass, Eliza, and I were sitting on chairs around a table at the edge of the courtyard, with Shenley and the others standing behind Strass and Eliza.

"To Maple Leaf…" Shenley murmured with a complex expression.

Next to her, Cote stood with his arms crossed, frowning. "Given our positions, it's beneficial for us to go to Maple Leaf, but…"

While the two of them exuded a somewhat indescribable atmosphere, Ayle and the others had already started exchanging information about the trip.

"What are Maple Leaf's specialties?"

"I think they’re famous for silk and cotton products, luxury teas, and spices."

"I hear the Holy Church's buildings are as splendid as castles."

Matching Ayle's excitement, Liz and Bell joined the conversation happily.

Cote, looking troubled, said, "We're also going for an exchange with the magic academy, so we shouldn't just treat it like a vacation."

Liz and Bell promptly apologized, but Ayle frowned in displeasure. Given their age, it was only natural for them to want to have fun.

However, Ayle and her friends were nobles of the Cote Highlands. They couldn’t quite act like ordinary children.

"While I go to the place called the Magic Research Lab, you can go sightseeing with Strass-sensei and Eliza-sensei."

"Really?!" Ayle turned around energetically.

I nodded at her bright smile.

Eliza tilted her head with a wry smile and murmured, "It seems like it's decided that we're going along too."

Strass nodded silently.

They might have some complaints, but since they were kind enough to come along, I expressed my gratitude in advance. "Thank you."

"… So it's decided, after all."

For some reason, Strass's face turned even more solemn.

Just then, Cote spoke with a difficult expression. "… Aoi-sensei, there's something I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

"I hear the trip will take about a month, but including the travel there and back, won't it take more than two months? In that case, our lectures…" Cote said with a troubled look.

I nodded deeply to reassure him. "It's okay. The travel time itself will only be one day."

Hearing my answering, not only Cote and Ayle but even Strass and the others tilted their heads in confusion.

We gathered in front of the castle gate and looked back at Glenn and the others who came to see us off.

"Well, it's only for a month, but we're off," I said.

Glenn exhaled sharply. "Hmm, umm…! I-I think I should accompany you after all…!"

Glenn was excitedly volunteering, but beside him, Speyside stopped him.

"If you're worried, I can go in your place, so please stay here, Principal…" Speyside, also excited, tried to hold back Glenn.

The behavior of the two seemed strange, and when I looked closely, the others around them were the same.

"When you return, please share at least some hints about that magic," Fore Pern Roses said, and the other teachers nodded repeatedly.

It was true that magicians who could use flight magic were rare. With this thought in mind, I cast the spell.

I focused on gathering and increasing the density of the wind and intertwined it with the upper and lower parts of the carriage to create invisible magical wings.

It took about five seconds, but eventually, the carriage floated up as if it had lost gravity.

Voices echoed from inside the carriage.

"Ah, ah, ah, it's gone up! It’s really gone up! Ohhhh! I'm witnessing a historic moment…!"

"N-no way, really…?!"

Crown and Alabaruta shouted, sticking their heads out the carriage windows to look at the ground. Inside the carriage, Strass and the others watched them with wry smiles. Not only Strass and Eliza, but Cote and Shenley also had similar expressions.

"… Well then."

After lightly bowing to the noisy group, I used flight magic on myself and flew to the driver's seat of the carriage.

"… What a flashy departure," Strass, who was peeking out from the carriage, remarked in exasperation.

"We could have used a smaller carriage, but everyone brought more luggage than expected…" I said.

Strass blinked and then let out a short breath.

"… That's not what I meant, but oh well," he muttered with a sigh and returned to the carriage.

Could it be about leaving Alabarta's subordinates behind? In that case, it couldn’t be helped.

I had considered flying a larger ship but decided against it to avoid attracting attention.

Since I had received permission from Alabarta to leave them behind, there should be no problem.

"Well, I'll ask about it later."

Switching my thoughts, I looked up. The sky was blue and clear. We had already risen to near cloud height, and the horizon appeared slightly curved.

"It's a perfect day for a trip," I said, lifting the corners of my mouth gently.

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