“Are you ready to go?” Prince Atol asked, staring at my face.
“Yes, we are. What about you guys?”
“Y-yes.”
“Yes, anytime.”
“Yes, we’re good.”
Shouhei, who was obviously nervous, nodded awkwardly, and Rouge had her usual composed expression. Aoi smiled and replied back.
“Jaja and Nana are asleep, and if they were awake they would have been scared, so now is our chance.”
I looked at the twins, who were sleeping peacefully in their stroller, sleeping comfortably with their little foreheads pressed against each other.
“Oh, I’m going to be lonely. I hate it. I want to go too. Maybe I’ll take a break off work.”
Dad, I understand how you feel, but that doesn’t mean you should hang on to the stroller.
It’s disgraceful.
Also, go to work. I’m begging you.
If dad loses his job now, our family will fall apart. Please, please, please do your best!
“Please take care of my dad and Azui and the others.”
“Yeah, have a safe trip. Leave it to me and have fun.”
I bowed lightly to Yuri, who was carrying Aoi’s luggage, and received it.
While we were gone, the Kazamachi household’s kitchen was left in Yuri-san’s hands.
I’m worried about the food for my dad, Wera and Azui. I’m really grateful that she’s willing to do this.
“Have a good day, Rouge-sama and Aoi-sama. We’ll be fine. We have some gardening to do.”
“Yes, it will be a bit lonely without Jaja-sama and Nana-sama, but we’ll bear with it.”
The two little ones who had been peering into the stroller beside dad waved their hands.
They had only arrived at our house two days ago, but Wera and Azui were already in love with the twins.
They are the daughters of Aoi, the daughter of the Sky Dragon King, so they are Jaja-sama and Nana-sama.
That’s what they call them, and they and Rouge have been taking care of the twins. There are many times when Aoi and I are in the middle of something., so it’s been a big help.
“Shouhei, you have a wallet, right? Don’t put too much in it, put it in your bag or socks, okay? Also… you have your medicine, right? You seem to be doing well lately, but you’re always falling asleep when the environment changes.”
Dad opened the zipper of Shouhei’s backpack as he said that.
When he finally left the stroller, he went over to Shouhei.
He’s so overprotective.
“I put them in my nii-chan’s and Aoi-neechan’s purses separately. And the medicine is fine.”
Was he afraid of his first trip abroad, or was he afraid of his first transference magic?
Shouhei was unusually timid, as befits his age.
I understand how he feels. I’m a little scared too.
“Kunpei, I leave it to you. Don’t do anything dangerous, okay? And make sure to tell that Alba to be careful too.”
“How many times is it already? You worry too much, Dad.”
In the meantime, I’m being protected by Prince Atol and the others over there.
I’m a guest, so to speak. There’s no way I’m going to a dangerous place, right?
“But even so… Dad’s never been abroad before.”
“Don’t worry, father. You are all related to the rat sage. You are also dragons. I swear by the name of our country, which worships the sea dragon, I promise to protect you.”
“Dailan is a very nice country! It’s more rural than a developed country like Japan, but it’s warm all year round and the people are generous.”
Kayone and Utai, who were waiting by Prince Atol’s side, called out to reassure father.
Kayone was quiet. Utai was as loud as ever.
Utai. I told you, the twins are asleep. Turn it down! If you can’t, don’t talk!
“Utai. The babies are sleeping. You shut up for a minute.”
Prince Atol spoke for me as I pushed back my words from my mouth.
“Ah, Kazamachi father. I understand how you feel, but don’t worry. I’m sorry for the trouble I caused you in the previous duel. I swear to protect you on my honor during your stay.”
“See, the prince says it’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”
“… Oh, okay. I just have a bad feeling about this.”
It’s all in your head, it’s all in your head.
It’s the first time that Shouhei and I have been away from home together. And for a long time.
“If everything’s all right, let’s go. Only those with crests can go down from here. This is as far as you can see us off.”
Then Prince Atol raised his right hand.
Oh, you mean this pattern written on the back of both hands?
It was a red dye made by grinding up some herb called ‘red henna’ or something like that, and the fine patterns were applied to everyone by Kayone just now.
It is said to be a harmless dye that is hard to remove once it dries and will disappear in a week or so as long as you take a bath.
“The magic circle in the basement is the starting point and the magic circle in the tomb of King Dailan is the endpoint. The pattern is a marker that allows the magic circle at the endpoint to accurately identify the individual. Without it, they would be a bit off from the royal tomb. It is also a key to prevent indiscriminate operations. So those of you who aren’t transferring should stop here, just in case. If you make a mistake and get caught in the transition, you never know where you’ll end up.”
Kayone smiled while explaining something scary.
Look at that. My dad’s face is all cramped up, isn’t it?
“Ah, don’t worry, no one has ever been injured, killed or disappeared by this transference magic circle.”
“They wouldn’t let royalty use such a thing.”
Prince Atol made a more convincing case for Kayone’s supplementary explanation.
I see, the stupid prince in front of me looks like this, but he is a prince without a doubt.
They wouldn’t let you use something that could endanger you frequently.
“So long, Dad. See you later.”
“Dad, make sure you clean your room and wash the dishes, because I’ll get angry if you leave it to Yuri-san, okay?”
“I know, I know. You guys too, okay? Don’t stay up too late just because it’s your vacation, okay?”
“Yuri-san, take care of father-in-law.”
“Yeah, don’t worry.”
“Hmm. Wera, Azui. Make sure to listen to father and Yuri-san.”
“I know!”
“We’ll be good.”
We were sent off with a clamor.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
Yes, today is the day we leave for the continent.
Since last night, my dad hadn’t been able to hide his worry, and Shouhei was anxious with anticipation.
It was our family’s first trip abroad.
I don’t like the fact that it all started with that rat.
Let’s enjoy the trip abroad to the fullest.
Mikuma is leaving Japan by plane tomorrow.
It seems that Mikuma’s father, who works for a trading company, will be taking a business trip with the family.
It’s a large-scale magical equipment exhibition held in Francion, a famous magic powerhouse. This is the reason for Mikuma’s father’s business trip. It’s a global event that’s been all over the news lately, much to Gasara’s teary-eyed chagrin. He’s a magic tool geek.
Mikuma also said that her father was going to take her to see the event.
He said he would spend the rest of his stay sightseeing. Her mother laughed at him, saying he was too excited.
If all goes well, maybe we can meet up there. No, I don’t know about us, because we haven’t decided on our travel schedule yet.
Alba Germain.
That rat sage who calls himself the Dragon Doctor.
Finally, he didn’t show up until today.
You’ve been saying that distance and location don’t matter as long as there’s a dragon, but since Aoi, Rouge and the twins are here, why don’t you come back often to explain?
In the letter that Alba left with Prince Atol, it said something about a major surgery that even he couldn’t be distracted with, but I wonder if there are any dragons that are that sick.
The research he asked Mikuma to do was also written up in a report, which I’ve kept.
I read it once, but I couldn’t understand a word of it.
If Alba can understand it, that’s fine. I’m sure he’ll be able to explain it in a way that even I can understand.
There are a lot of things I don’t understand and worry about, but the purpose of this trip is for Jaja and Nana’s health.
The green glowing spirit that seems to be produced from my body is a mysterious spirit that Alba calls the ‘Spirit of Life’.
It seems that those things that make no sense whatsoever, even to me who is producing them, have become a burden to Jaja and Nana by accumulating in their small bodies.
I’ve been taking them in once a week, so it hasn’t gotten to the point where they’re in trouble, but the process of taking them in is incredibly painful.
I try to do it on Friday, the day before my day off because I get so tired on the day I do it that I can’t stand up.
The fatigue and headache that hit my whole body made me feel like I was running a full marathon.
It seems that what Alba is looking for in the sphere continent is something that can alleviate such work.
The tattoos on Prince Atol’s body. It’s a magic mark to release the prince’s overflowing magic power out of his body, using an iron ore powder called azinka stone as dye.
Alba wants this Azinka.
If it might be a solution to Jaja and Nana’s problem, I have to go, sphere continent or not.
It’s just that…
If they’re going to tattoo their entire body like the prince, I’m going to have to strongly object.
It’s a last resort after we’ve exhausted all other options.
I won’t allow you to damage the skin of the twins, which is so soft and supple.
Even before that, I feel sorry for them.
“We’re here.”
We’ve been walking down the stairs ever since my dad and the others saw us off.
“It’s a long way down.”
“Of course. It’s Dailan’s secret magic.”
My question was answered by Prince Atol.
It is a long-distance transfer magic that can be used to transfer from any location on the planet as long as it is a one-way trip.
We’re going to use that magic to travel about 6,000 kilometers in an instant.
The world collided 42 years ago. At that time, a sphere continent suddenly appeared on the east side of the Australian continent.
Most of the continent is covered by a spherical wall, and in the southeast of the continent, along the sea, lies the country of Atol and his friends, Dailan.
“This is the center of the transfer magic circle. The magic circle itself covers the entire site of the mansion, so you can’t get the full picture by just this area. There are even parts of the garden that are disguised, such as the location of the trees and the arrangement of the furniture.”
After Kayone explained that, we went under the door at the end of the stairs.
Prince Atol’s mansion was several times the size of my house. There was a room the size of a small gymnasium at the end of the basement, about four floors down.
“Wow… it’s amazing.”
Shouhei, who was looking around the room, let out a loud cry of admiration.
“It’s beautiful.”
Aoi and Rouge were looking up at the ceiling.
“Are these all magic circles?”
Numerous luminescent, pale blue lines ran down the wall of a pitch-black room.
I wondered if that line running from the ceiling to the floor in all directions was a transference magic circle.
I picked up Jaja and carried her back down the stairs.
Nana was in Aoi’s arms, and Shouhei was carrying the stroller.
It’s Rouge who’s been carrying our heavy luggage with ease. I have about a week’s worth of stuff in my trunk case. As expected of a dragon. It’s no problem!
“Stop fooling around and get going. It’s hard to maintain the magic circle on this side. My servants won’t last.”
“Oh, really?”
I looked and saw five people standing in each of the four corners of the room, hands out in front of them, shaking.
Say that earlier. That maid is sweating, isn’t she?
“The magic circle on the side of Daelan’s tomb is always working without maintenance, but the activation on this side is completely man-powered. We’ve been preparing for the activation for about an hour now, and I think we’re about to reach our limit. I’m sorry to rush you, but please hurry to the circle in the center of the room.”
“I-I understand.”
“Thank you very much.”
Shouhei and Aoi bowed to the servants who were working so hard and headed for the circle that shone so strongly in the middle of the room.
Rouge and I followed, and we all entered the circle, as did Prince Atol, Kayone, and Utai.
It seems that half of the servants in the mansion collapse for a day when they use this magic circle, so Prince Atol and the others decided to return home at the same time.
“Okay, nii-chan. Can I put Jaja to bed?”
“Oh, thank you.”
Shouhei unfolded the stroller, and I put Jaja down.
Aoi did the same with Nana and fastened her securely with a belt.
Aoi grasped the handle, while Rouge and Shouhei flanked her for complete protection. I took the lead.
This is the absolute defense formation of the Kazamachi family, a formation that protects Jaja and Nana.
That’s a lie. I just thought of it.
“Are we done? Let’s activate it?”
“Yes, please.”
I nodded lightly at Prince Atol’s words, and someone grabbed my right hand.
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry, nii-chan. I’m a little scared.”
Ah, Shouhei.
It’s been a long time since my little brother has been this sweet to me, hasn’t it?
I’m glad.
“Distance acquisition. Coordinate identification. Spell pattern recognition. Confirming activation of Dailan’s royal tomb. No problem.”
Whoa. What’s going on?
Kayone was mumbling to herself with her eyes closed.
The servants in the four corners of the room also seem to have begun their work.
“Prepare to activate the transfer system. Confirm activation. Start checking the operation of each of the magic crests. Perimeter unit one operating normally.”
This time, Utai started chanting something. What? You can speak at that volume?
“Outer perimeter two functioning normally. The third and fourth are also working fine. Confirming operation of five.”
“Confirming normal operation of one to three inner perimeters. Commencing initial transposition maneuvers.”
“Next, omit the test operation procedure. Utai, make it a little quicker.”
Prince Atol crossed his arms as he looked alternately at Utai and Kayone, who had begun to glow faintly.
“Ugh… Don’t be reckless with such a precise magic circle, Your Highness.”
“Concentrate, Uta-chan. Here are the results of the five outer perimeters.”
Um, we’re not supposed to do anything?
I’m feeling a little restless.
“Don’t get nervous. Don’t worry.”
Prince Atol, who sensed something, looked at me sideways and opened his mouth.
“No, I’m sorry.”
I apologized for something.
“Fue… fueeeee!”
“Ah, Jaja, did you wake up?”
I heard a cute cry coming from inside the stroller. Aoi hurriedly bent down and patted her head.
“Nnngh, nbii…… nyaaahhh!”
“Oops, Nana too?”
I guess they were sensitive to the atmosphere around us.
However, we’re on the verge of starting the transition. I’m afraid to take her out of the stroller.
I reached out and touched her cheek to pet her.
“Huh…? Whoa! A large amount of magic power is flowing in from the outside! Some of the formulas have been tampered with! This is happening too fast!”
“What?”
When Prince Atol heard Utai’s report, he rushed down to one knee and dropped his right hand to the ground.
“Your Highness! There is an anomaly in the spell pattern identification! We’ve confirmed that the shifting magic circle is fully operational! Everyone, please evacuate immediately!”
“Dragon-sama’s! Kazamachi! Get out of the room!”
Prince Atol looked at me with a menacing expression.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I move my legs to move the stroller.
“Huh?”
I can’t move my legs.
Not only can’t I move my legs, I can’t even move my fingers.
What the hell is this?
“No! I can’t make it in time!”
“Are you sure the destination is the royal tomb?”
“What the hell! What’s the meaning of this technique? I mean, where is this magic power coming from? No way! How can such a detour interfere so much!”
“Your Highness! Please get ready! Everyone!”
“Kunpei-san, come here! Kunpei-san!”
“Nii-chan! What are you doing?”
“Kunpei!”
A chill ran down my spine as I listened to everyone fussing over me.
Something was touching me on my back.
Something soft was wrapped around my arms and legs, tightening them painfully.
I couldn’t even make a sound as I was being pulled backward by a strong force.
“‘Coordinates confirmed! It’s definitely the Royal Tomb! I’m sure of it! One location has been added! That’s ridiculous! There’s no way we can go anywhere but the tomb!”
“Kunpei-san, what’s wrong! Why aren’t you answering me!”
Aoi, noticing my strange behavior, grabbed my shoulder and shook me.
“I’m checking the spells one by one! Affected personーーKazamachi-kun! Run away!”
“Nii-chan!”
Utai looked at me and shouted, and Shouhei grasped my hand tightly with a frightened face.
“It’s no good! The magic power injected into the formation has surpassed the prescribed value! The transfer door will be forcibly opened from the outside! Everyone, stay close!”
“Kunpei!”
Protect Jaja and Nana, who were still crying, Rouge called out to me.
I felt a sharp pain in the center of my brain, right between my eyes. It’s so hot I think my insides are igniting.
My heart was beating faster and faster like a broken metronome as something unidentifiable moved around my heart.
I’m being probed.
Someone was searching every inch of my body.
A flickering light ran across my entire field of vision, and I feel like I’m going to cry from the pain in my eyes.
The next thing I knew, green luminous bodies were flying around, filling up this room.
It was the ‘Spirit of Life’ as Alba called it. But not only did I see familiar butterflies, but I also saw small lizards and small fish.
I wonder if it’s just my imagination that they’re crowding around me. Perhaps they’re worried about me.
The green butterflies that touched my face gently caressed my cheeks, and the green lizards that clung to my feet grasped my clothes tightly. Small green fish swam around me, their movements reminiscent of giant waves.
Instead of my face, which I couldn’t move, I shifted my gaze to the back of my hand.
The spell mark that Kayone had written on the back of my hand was glowing green.
Something began to swirl on my back. It was slowly getting bigger.
The sound of the wind was deafening, and slowly, slowly, my body was being sucked into it.
“Byaaaaah!”
“Niiieeeeee!”
I put all my energy into reaching out towards Jaja and Nana’s voices.
The sound of something breaking and my body moving at the same time.
“J-Jaja! Nana!”
I finally managed to raise my voice and called out for the twins.
My hand reached out with a squeak, like a machine that hadn’t been oiled.
“Kunpei-san!”
“Nii-chan!”
“Kunpei!”
Aoi leaned forward to take my hand, and just when I think that the outstretched hand was almost there…
“Woah…. aaaaahhh!”
“Kunpei-san! No! Kunpei-san!”
Aoi’s face, which looked like it was about to cry, was moving away at an unbelievable speed.
The invisible ‘something’ that clung to my limbs pulled me backward at once.
My feet left the ground and my body floated into the air.
With a bang, my vision turned completely dark.
An empty space. There was no floor, no ceiling, no walls, and my body was flying through an endless dark space.
I couldn’t see anyone anymore, and fear and confusion took over my mind.
“What the hell is this? Aaaaaaaahhhhh!”
My voice reverberated like an echo.
My body was still being pulled backward.
“Guh! Aaaahhhhh!”
It’s shaking.
Everything was shaking, left and right, up and down.
My body and head were shaking violently, and the sound of something buzzing and shredding kept ringing in my ears.
“Guha!”
I hit something with great force.
The air in my lungs leaked out of my mouth.
But the momentum continued to break through that something, and my body continued to be pulled.
The pitch-black space gradually turned white.
As I watched the scenery change in a daze, I was very aware of death.
I’m going to die.
I’m really going to die.
I don’t know what’s happening, but I’m going to die here today.
I’m going to die here today, leaving the twins behind, without my father or Shouhei.
I remember Aoi’s face. The last time I saw her face. Her worried, tearful face.
I hate it. I want her to always be smiling.
I don’t want her face to be like that, watching me die.
I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die like this! I’m not going to die!
I’ll keep trying until the end!
As I raised my voice with determination, my vision suddenly turned completely white.
“Guh! Agh!”
I rolled over.
A rough feeling on my cheek, the smell of fresh trees in my nose.
The sudden shock made me close my eyes, and I had no idea what was going on.
Is this feeling… ground?
It seems I fell down.
The invisible something that had been pulling me along was gone.
The evidence was that my arms and legs were moving freely.
“What the hell is this really…?”
I was puzzled, but also relieved.
It was because I was now free of the unfathomable fear I had felt earlier.
With my eyes closed, I put my hands on the ground and raised myself up.
I got up with great force and tried to calm my still shaking thoughts by supporting my head.
“Where am I?”
I slowly opened my eyes and saw the sky.
“What the hell?”
I think it’s the sky.
But it’s not the color of the sky I know.
It was a soft milky white.
It might be easier to describe it as a vanilla color.
Under that vanilla sky with not a cloud in the sky, greenery was spreading.
A forest.
A deep forest with shadows in some places. And I’m in the middle of it.
“It’s not the Sphere Continent… is it?
The sphere continent that I had researched on the Internet and in books had a high spherical wall covering the sky.
It’s supposed to be a very strange place with large holes in the sky letting in sunlight.
At least, I don’t think it’s a scene like the one in front of me right now.
Hmm? Sun?
No, there’s no sun.
If it’s this bright, there should be a sun in the middle of the sky.
“… who is it?”
I heard a voice from behind me.
“What?”
Slowly and fearfully, I turned around.
“What brings you to…? How did you get here?”
A girl?
“Oh, um…”
The owner of the voice was a young girl.
With both knees on the ground and hands folded across her chest, she looked as if she was praying for something.
On what looked like a stage made of stone, a pure white girl was looking at me.
Her eyes were wide with surprise.
Her dazzlingly white hair was longer than the girl’s body as far as I can see.
It was left flowing haphazardly, without any attempt to tie it up, but there was not a speck of dirt in it.
Her clothes, which were as pure white as her hair, had golden lines all over them.
I wondered if it was a dress. The elegant appearance of the dress was somehow very divine.
I was admiring the girl for a little while when I realized that I was still lying on the ground.
I stood up in a panic and brushed the dirt from my cheeks and clothes with my right hand.
Then, as gently as possible, I spoke to the girl.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure what’s going on either. Where am I?”
Yes, first of all, let’s recognize the situation properly.
There’s no way I can know what’s going on.
The girl was still looking at me.
Her eyes were wider than before, and her small mouth was gaping.
“Well, I’m…”
“… are you Kunpei……?”
Huh?
“Kunpei… right?”
How do you know my name?