The journey to the Kingdom of Astrosa was arduous.
To reach this damn country, we had to pass through two cities and an additional kingdom.
However, every time we had to stop at an airport, they changed pilots and refueled with magic stones, which made the time longer.
The estimated time to reach Astrosa was approximately 45 hours.
—Lunch for the second day has already been served.
Enjoy your meal.
Fortunately, meals were provided separately on board.
It was a bit better than dog food.
The kind of food that made me long for Rue.
Also, the noise that accompanied small aircraft during landing and takeoff was horrendous.
I felt like my eardrums were about to burst.
And then there was the bathroom problem.
The problem of sleeping arrangements.
The problem with annoying guests in the rooms.
Problems upon problems, and so on.
I thought I could withstand most inconveniences based on my experience in the Magic War, but this was still...
—Do you go through these difficulties every time you go to Astrosa?
In response to my question, Yeager skillfully took off his earplugs and replied.
—It's quite a challenge, isn't it?
Haha.
It can't be helped.
The kingdoms of the North Continent rarely grant entry permits unless you're from an allied country.
Besides, since there are no visitors who can go there, there are no real flights or pilots available to go there.
My father invested in creating this flight route with great difficulty.
I can only hope that someday it becomes more convenient.
—How often do you go to Astrosa?
—I think I go once per season.
He really was serious about the Northern Continental Union.
While I admired Yeager's passion, the plane continued flying and we arrived at a land where perpetual snow could be seen from afar in the night sky.
It was the first time in my life I visited the kingdom of Astrosa.
However, to my dismay, I was denied entry upon arrival.
—What?
How is it possible?
Why are they denying us?
It's been more than two weeks since I received the permit for my new companion's entry.
I even have the confirmation document here!
The language interpreter, who calmed the angry Yeager, began to have a conversation with the immigration officer once again.
And once again, we were firmly rejected.
—It seems there is a problem with the entry procedure?
In response to Jean's question, Desherro, carrying only a small suitcase, replied.
—It's something that frequently happens in the Northern Continent.
Entry permits can be revoked half a day after being granted.
—Why are they so closed off?
—Fifty years ago, there was a massive influx of proselytizing missionaries from the Holy Church who immigrated here, and some of them were caught trying to smuggle drugs and alter Rogue's order.
Since then, the image of imperial citizens has been tarnished.
Ah, so that's what happened.
While the three of us were standing in the middle of the windy airport (Andert ignored Yeager's request to stay still and was wandering around the airport), Yeager, who had been involved in a heated discussion, returned.
—I'm very sorry, but it seems entry has been denied to everyone except me, so we'll have to wait a while.
The Astros are…
—Well, maybe returning to the Empire wouldn't be so bad…
—What are you talking about, Viscount Desherro?
Haha.
If you wait a little longer, everything will be resolved.
It's not like we haven't experienced this a couple of times before.
Yeager, with an annoyed look, pointed to the blond young man who was leaving the airport alone.
—That interpreter of mine is from Astrosa.
The capital of Astrosa is an hour from here and there is a person from our company who handles various administrative matters on behalf of our company in the capital.
We will make a separate request to him.
An hour to reach the capital?
That meant we would have to wait at least 2 or 3 more hours.
I was going to die waiting.
"The country where Rue lives is problematic from the first moment." I left my luggage and sat on the floor.
Astrosa was cool.
Maybe it was because it was in the north, but even in that same summer it wasn't stiflingly hot and the wind wasn't unpleasant.
With this kind of air I could probably sleep for a while.
—It seems there is someone here who can vouch for Mr.
Yeager.
May I ask who it is?
—Of course.
It's Viscount Belvoa.
Once he gets involved, the entry permit will be granted quickly, so don't worry.
Desherro, who initially said he would just return, seemed to develop a lot of interest after arriving in Astrosa.
He became enthusiastically involved in various conversations with renewed energy, asking about this and that as if he were going to devour Yeager.
I also listened carefully to his stories, but as time passed, my attention began to waver.
It wasn't because the stories were boring, it was because I noticed a difference in my surroundings.
I couldn't hear an incomprehensible foreign language in my ears.
"…It's not an illusion." The people passing through the airport were clearly from Astrosa, not the Empire.
The Astrosa citizens used the language of the Northern Continent, or well, they definitely used it, but my ears perfectly interpreted their words.
As if the language of the Northern Continent was my mother tongue.
Needless to say, I never learned the language of the Northern Continent.
Then how was this possible?
"Have I gone crazy?" Or maybe my soul shattered and that's how I acquired the ability to understand foreign languages?
"That's unlikely.
It must be some kind of magic...
Did Rue cast a spell on me?" Or… I touched my ear and I could feel the magic earring Rue had left.
I thought it only had the function of a sword, but maybe it also had a translation function.
It was very likely.
"What exactly are you trying to say?" He left after having made such thorough preparations.
It was obvious he would have been very disappointed if I hadn't followed him to the Northern Continent, right?
It was then that it happened.
Sernut, the immigration officer who was arguing with the interpreter, came running hurriedly towards us.
He stood in front of us, bowing repeatedly and apologizing.
—We apologize, esteemed guests.
We have not managed the situation properly.
We offer our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused.
This drastic change in attitude… Was it Viscount Belvoa, who was going to intercede for Yeager?
When I raised my head, I saw a tall man walking confidently towards us from behind the immigration officers.
He was a well-dressed gentleman, in a perfectly tailored suit with no wrinkles in sight and a sophisticated mustache.
While he gently tapped the backs of the officers, they disappeared in a hurry.
Yeager greeted the man with eyes that hid any fatigue.
—Haja!
We almost spent the night in this airport, I must say!
Thank you very much for helping me so quickly.
You must be the person sent by Lord Belvoa, right?
I'm Yeager Panula.
Yeager naturally spoke in the imperial language, and the man responded in the same way.
—Mr.
Belvoa is a good person, no doubt.
However, I do not come from the Belvoa family.
—Ah… really?
Where do you come from then?
The man smiled and took off his hat, elegantly bowing his head.
—Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to meet you.
I am Mont, the butler of Count Serenier.
I have come to welcome you and accompany you all to Serenier on behalf of the count.
I hope I can serve you well.
Judging by their interactions, Yeager and the man seemed to be complete strangers to each other.
What the hell was going on?
—Count Serenier… That name rings a bell.
Serenier, Serenier…
—My God!
Did you say Count Serenier?
Isn't that the father of Viscountess Weatherwoods?
My God, it must be destiny!
Wait.
—Viscountess Weatherwoods?
Morian Serenier?
That Serenier?
My mind went blank for a moment.
—Didn't you know anything about this either, Miss Daisy?
It seems the Viscountess was worried about you and sent a message to the Serenier family in advance.
Don't you understand?
From the beginning there was no Viscountess!
How could someone related to a false identity come to pick us up?
"This is a crisis." Even if it was an unfortunate choice of words, it was appropriate.
This was really an unexpected crisis.
How did this guy appear?
Wasn't Rue secretly posing as someone from the Serenier family?
Questions after questions arose.
And at the end of the questions, I decided to keep my mouth shut.
—Ha, ja!
Daisy also seems surprised.
Mr.
Mont, then, first we will greet Viscount Belvoa and then we will go to Serenier...
—No need.
We will contact Viscount Belvoa on our part, so you can rest at the Serenier estate in the meantime and then move on.
—But…
—Maybe you don't know, Mr.
Panula, but meeting Count Serenier is as difficult as meeting his majesty, the King of Astrosa himself.
—Aha.
Then… shall we do that?
He was weak before wealth and honor.
Hearing Mont's words, Yeager immediately decided to follow his lead.
I tried to stop Yeager, who was pursuing him with such enthusiasm, but then I stopped.
For some reason, the man named Mont had come to greet us so naturally.
There was no sense of strangeness, it seemed as if everything had been planned from the beginning.
Planned… could it be that?
—Is it okay, senior?
Last time, you said the Viscountess was Mr.
Rue...
Was it okay?
There was no need to think too much.
Because there was only one possible explanation for this.