On the morning of June 6, the same group that had visited the previous three principalities took flight once more, setting their course for the Jagus Principality.
Their destination was Jagus, the royal capital of the Jagus Principality.
Their flight path was not a direct straight line; instead, it detoured around Nameless Peak, the towering mountain at the heart of the Four Principalities that served as a natural border.
The route took them north through the Mimaka Principality, circling around the northern face of Nameless Peak. As a result, the journey was expected to take roughly the same amount of time as their previous trip to the Norha Principality.
"Still, to think that mountain has no name," Gajue Tsuga remarked as the airship drew closer to Nameless Peak.
"Lord Tsuga, balloons are ascending ahead."
"What?"
As if attempting to bar the airship carrying Gajue Tsuga and his party from approaching Nameless Peak, ten hot air balloons drew near in a slow, menacing display.
"Do not provoke them. Adjust our course."
Given the airship's speed and mobility, ten hot air balloons posed little actual threat, but rather than risking an incident over a minor dispute, Gajue Tsuga instructed the pilot to give Nameless Peak a wide berth.
"If I recall correctly, there is a mine over there," Gajue Tsuga muttered, watching the peak from a distance of over twenty kilometers.
"Yes," Manon answered. "They are most likely on alert because they do not want their mining and smelting facilities observed."
"We did give them advance notice of our arrival today, did we not?" Fione Fias asked, looking slightly uneasy.
"Of course. After all, they have a manaphone, even if it is an older model."
Though that very warning might be why they were on high alert in the first place, Gajue Tsuga mused to himself.
After that initial encounter, the airship continued across the wasteland without any further trouble.
"Hmm. Even if precipitation is rare here, it must rain occasionally, right?"
Given the circumstances, Gajue Tsuga felt there was far too little greenery in the barren landscape unrolling beneath them.
"It seems the rainwater soaks into the soil almost immediately," Manon noted.
"Once this diplomatic visit concludes, we will need to conduct the soil survey we promised the Norha Principality as well."
"Indeed."
There is a mountain of work to do, Gajue Tsuga thought with a quiet sigh.
Before long, the distant line of the sea came into view.
"We will arrive at the royal capital, Jagus, shortly."
Jagus was situated about eighteen kilometers inland from the coastline.
The other three principalities had likewise established their royal capitals slightly inland.
Surrounding the Jagus capital was a ring of satellite cities.
Viewed from above, they almost resembled sentries stationed to protect the capital of Jagus.
"All right, let us hold position here for a moment," Gajue Tsuga instructed the pilot. "When we established contact via manaphone, they requested that we wait in the airspace above the town just ahead rather than flying directly over the capital."
His explanation was aimed at putting Fione Fias at ease.
After waiting for about ten minutes...
"Look, our escort is rising."
"T-That is our escort?!"
Ascending toward them was a fleet of roughly fifty hot air balloons. They appeared to utilize wind-attribute magic for propulsion, maneuvering with surprising agility.
Moreover, every single balloon carried soldiers armed with compact crossbows.
"The Norha Principality sent four, but they have dispatched fifty here. Quite the grand reception."
"A reception... Is that really what this is...?"
A cold sweat traced its way down Fione Fias's spine.
Gajue Tsuga was tense as well, but knowing that letting it show on his face or in his posture would only further unnerve Fione Fias and the flight crew, he maintained an outward air of composure.
Meanwhile, Manon stood poised to react the instant any bolts were loosed from the balloons.
(If I deploy less than a quarter of my full output, I can erect a barrier to shield the entire airship.)
However, the encounter did not turn violent.
"You are the goodwill mission from Avalon, correct?"
A voice confirming their identity reached them, transmitted through wind-attribute magic.
"That is correct. May we ask you to guide us in?"
Gajue Tsuga responded in kind, using wind-attribute magic to carry his reply across to the lead balloon.
"We have been notified. Please follow behind the red balloon."
"Understood."
Deducing that a high-ranking figure—such as a captain or a diplomat—must be aboard the crimson craft, Gajue Tsuga relayed the order to the helm.
"Follow that red balloon."
Avalon's airship fell in behind the red balloon, flanked on either side by twenty-four balloons flying in parallel formation, with a single vessel bringing up the rear.
In other words, the airship was completely boxed in.
"W-We are surrounded, aren't we?" Fione Fias murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
"Indeed....At least in two dimensions."
In truth, the space above and below remained wide open.
With the town sprawled beneath them, their only clear escape route was upward.
"If the worst comes to pass, all we have to do is execute a steep climb."
While he doubted things would ever escalate to that point, he offered the explanation to reassure Fione Fias and the crew.
"Hot air balloons cannot execute a rapid ascent."
Gajue Tsuga noted that the escort vessels could never match the airship's climbing speed.
Even if they attempted it using wind-attribute magic, the sheer strain placed on their gas bags would risk tearing the fabric and causing them to crash.
"Ah, I see."
Fione Fias seemed somewhat comforted by his words.
Without any further incident, the airship followed its escort down to the airfield situated on the southern outskirts of the royal capital, Jagus.
"Welcome to the Jagus Principality."
Stepping forward to greet Gajue Tsuga's party as they disembarked was a diplomat who introduced himself as Pringles Kubo.
"I am the goodwill ambassador, Gajue Tsuga. A pleasure to meet you, Lord Kubo."
The two men exchanged a firm handshake, and Gajue Tsuga proceeded to introduce his companions.
"This is our deputy envoy, Fione Fias. And here is my attendant, Manon."
As on their previous visits, the pilot and co-pilot stayed behind to watch over the airship.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Fione Fias, Lady Manon."
Pringles Kubo shook hands with both Fione and Manon in turn.
"We have prepared transport for you. Please, right this way."
Pringles Kubo then led the delegation toward an awaiting golem carriage.
The vehicle appeared at once antiquated and modern... or rather, it was a design unlike anything they had ever encountered before.
(A slightly older model...? No, is this a bespoke design?...Ah, Illumina would probably know.)
Fione Fias lamented her own lack of expertise in magi-craft.
Boarding the golem carriage, the party set off toward the Guest House located on the perimeter of the royal capital.