Volume 7, Chapter 10 – The Meeting (1)

From then on, the journey was almost entirely the domain of the duo, Lu-chan and Mashiro-chan.

Though, all we did was use our usual combat style: I protected everyone with a Barrier, and from within it, Mashiro-chan launched Wind Blades to take down the Yellow-tail Scorpi that attacked us intermittently.

Oh, by the way, because of the failure in Airoll, I made sure to cast the Barrier on the ground this time as well, so we could handle attacks from underground.

I’m not about to end up in a pinch the exact same way again.

Anyway, after crossing the desert over the course of about four days, we arrived at Eibra, the capital of the Yellow Planet Federation of Emirates.

Despite being a desert nation, a river runs through the capital; although it is dry, there are large-scale fields, and the land seems relatively fertile.

Incidentally, this river flows from a mountain range to the north.

Those mountains are part of a great range connected to the Sky Mountain Range, and they reportedly divide the continent into north and south.

Geographically speaking, the desert with the Crescent Moon Spring lies to the north of this mountain range.

Eibra is situated in such a place, but being the capital, it is a fortress city surrounded by massive walls that must be seven to eight meters high.

The buildings lining both sides of the wide main street we were traveling down weren’t made of mud bricks like those in Izar, but of sturdy stone instead.

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They stood in orderly rows with a unified design, as if they had been meticulously planned.

Street trees were planted at equal intervals, making it clear that this was a well-planned city.

It seemed word of our arrival had already reached the city, as citizens were waiting along the main street to welcome us, but…

Seeing every last one of them lying flat on their stomachs and looking up at us was… honestly kind of eerie.

It’s not like I expected a grand welcome with everyone waving little flags or anything, but, you know…

I can’t be the only one wishing they’d just act normally.

Waving from an open carriage—we’d switched to it before entering the city—while looking at such a bizarre sight felt unbelievably surreal, and incredibly awkward.

It was so awkward that we simply rode on in silence, swaying along in the carriage without saying a word.

◇ ◇ ◇

And so, we arrived at a beautiful palace in the center of town.

This palace consisted of orderly three-story marble buildings surrounding a giant central plaza, and in the back, it was integrated with a temple featuring an onion-shaped dome.

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The temple was a beautiful blue; as we drew closer, I could see that it was based on blue tiles and adorned with intricate geometric patterns in various colors, such as emerald green, yellow, and white.

…This is incredible. It’s breathtaking.

“S-Saint-sama. This way, please.”

As I stood there captivated for a moment, the guide prompted me, so I entered the building.

The interior of the building was similarly decorated with detailed tilework, exuding a very solemn atmosphere.

Amidst this solemnity, a group of lavishly dressed people came to greet us.

Of course, they did so with the usual “flat-on-the-ground” prayer.

After the usual sequence of events, they introduced themselves.

“Saint Fiene Argentata-sama. Welcome to our Yellow Planet Federation of Emirates. I am Sharif, the President of this Yellow Planet Federation of Emirates, and this is Matar, the Emir of Eibra.”

“Nice to meet you, I am Fiene Argentata. From here, this is Christina, Mieshiro Shizuku, and Lumia.”

“My, my. Thanks be to God.”

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I see. Even the President of this country does that prayer pose to me.

So this country’s like Blue Star, then?

Afterward, we were led through the palace by the President and brought to a room where the meeting was to take place.

“Now, Saint-sama. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

As I sat down at the President’s prompting, the meeting got underway right away.

“First, I will hand over this official letter. I am delivering this to President Sharif on behalf of the King of the White Moon Kingdom.”

I took the envelope out of Storage and handed it to the President.

“Thank you.”

He received the envelope respectfully and immediately opened it to check the contents. The President’s expression quickly turned grim.

“Saint-sama. Is the matter regarding the Black Rainbow Empire true? To think that country would do such a thing…”

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“Unfortunately, it is a fact. The Black Rainbow Empire has attacked the White Moon Kingdom using Undying Soldiers and monsters. There’s a chance their invasion will eventually reach your country as well, which is why I’ve come as an envoy to deliver this letter.”

“I see. And you say that you, Saint-sama, will grant us the means to counter those Undying Soldiers?”

“Yes. I can’t just stand by and watch people be slaughtered.”

“I am grateful. As expected of Saint-sama.”

“Not at all. It’s my job, after all, and I do intend to receive appropriate compensation, so there’s no need to worry about it.”

“…Is that so.”

Judging from the look on his face, he’d apparently assumed I’d do it for free.

“I understand. By the way, Saint-sama. Why would the Black Rainbow Empire do such a thing?”

“We don’t know that either. Oh, but didn’t Sara-san say her older brother staged a coup d’état and became the Emperor? Right, Sara-san?”

The moment those careless words left my mouth, the room went tense.