Nordura asked.
「So… are you going to investigate that thing?」
「No, that’ll have to wait.」
「Putting it off, huh?」
「There’s something I want to do first. That takes priority.」
I had no intention of making detours.
First, I needed to head to the Duchy of Fraud and gather the Dragon Balls. That was the mission.
But I did say.
「Still, I will come back here one day and investigate that rock. There’s no way it’s just some random lump of floating matter.」
If there’s even a barrier around it, then it must be something important. No doubt about that.
The thrill of uncovering its true nature, I’d save that for later.
___________
Nordura began her descent.
We broke through the sea of clouds and returned beneath them.
She soared through the sky, heading toward the Duchy of Fraud.
Flying.
Flying.
Flying.
Seated on Nordura’s arm, I fully enjoyed the magnificent views from above the clouds.
Eventually.
We crossed the border into the Duchy of Fraud.
Flying along an aerial route over the mountain ranges, Nordura entered the duchy’s airspace.
「Maintain this altitude,」
I instructed Nordura, and explained why:
「If we fly too low, we might startle the locals.」
Flying closer to the ground would expose Nordura’s massive form to the people of the duchy.
If a dragon like Nordura flew right over their heads, mass panic was almost guaranteed.
「Understood. …So, which direction do we head from here?」
Nordura asked.
「Head northeast. We should see the ocean before long.」
「To the sea, then? Got it.」
Nordura adjusted her course toward the northeast and continued flying.
But as the sun began to set, we decided to land for the night.
I made sure to pick a location as far from human settlements as possible.
We touched down in a vast area filled with mountain peaks, a long mountain range.
Nordura landed on one of the mountaintops.
「Phew…」
I dismounted from Nordura’s back.
All around us were fields of grass, blooming flowers, exposed rock formations, and steep cliffs…
All of it was bathed in the warm light of the setting sun, glowing with breathtaking beauty.
「What a view.」
I had seen countless breathtaking sights during our journey through the sky…
But the scenery atop this mountain peak was something special.
「It’s been a while since we rested anywhere besides the Fiorito Rockfields.」
「Yeah. New surroundings are food for the brain. Let’s enjoy it.」
I began preparing for the night,
And so, I spent a peaceful evening atop a majestic mountaintop.
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