Arifureta: From Whelp to Dragonlord

Part 49: Keijism

The dense clouds below whisked by at an impressive pace, a blur of white against the landscape. The patchwork of grass plains and sporadic clusters of trees intermingled with the drifting mist, occasionally revealing small, secluded villages. Yet, in the blink of an eye, they too were left behind. Despite the vessel's remarkable speed, an invisible barrier softened the wind, rendering it a pleasant breeze.

A signature ponytail swayed gently in the breeze—it belonged to Shizuku, who stood observing the vast scenery unfolding before her. Her gaze shifted upward to the sun blazing brilliantly above, casting dazzling rays over the drifting sea of clouds.

The light cascading from above seemed almost tangible, as if stretching out a hand would let one grasp it. Shizuku leaned back against the handrail, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the glare, staring pensively into the horizon. A tired thought escaped her lips as she sighed.

"Who would have thought he'd build an airship... He really can do everything, can't he?"

Indeed, Shizuku was on the rear deck of the airship Fernir, a masterpiece crafted by Hajime. This vessel, constructed from gravity stones and induction stones, boasted a myriad of intricate features and had become their newest mode of travel. Until now, Hajime had held back from using it, claiming it was "too early" for such a marvel.

While moving smaller objects with gravity stones was straightforward, lifting something as massive as Fernir demanded mastery of Creation magic. Previously, even the Cross Bits could only bear the weight of a single person. Yet, after relentless training over several intervals, Hajime's proficiency had advanced to a point where he could effortlessly maneuver a large floating structure. The culmination of that hard-earned expertise was the creation of Fernir.

When they departed from the Kingdom, the others were perplexed, seeing no wagons or magic-driven carriages as they gathered on the grass plains. Hajime's triumphant expression said it all when he revealed the airship.

"It's common sense that flying vehicles are reserved for the final stages of a journey," he'd declared confidently.

The Fernir  was an imposing 120 meters in length, its form resembling a giant devilfish. Inside, a series of passageways connected the bridge at the front to the central living quarters, complete with a kitchen and bathing facilities. Yet, with the ability to cross distances that would usually take two months by carriage in just a day and a half, how much they'd use those amenities was uncertain. Merely maintaining its flight consumed significant magical power—something only Hajime could manage for extended periods.

"So, this is where you were... Shizuku."

"Kouki..."

Shizuku's mind had been echoing Hajime's statement, musing, Just what about this is common sense? when she heard someone call her name. She turned toward the voice to see Kouki's face emerge from the hatch that had just swung open. He joined her at the handrail, resting his arms as his eyes swept over the distant cloudscape.

He whispered in awe, "This is... incredible."

"It is," she replied with a faint smile. "I'm already tired of being surprised by everything."

Kouki's admiration was directed at Fernir, though a shadow fell over his expression, dampening it. His gaze hardened, frustration pooling in his eyes, as a vast figure obscured the sun with the powerful beat of its wings.

Kouki watched as Keiji, now in his massive dragon form, soared past, his shimmering scales glistening in the sunlight. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment—blue locking onto blue—before Keiji's form crackled with energy and he executed an agile barrel roll. Kouki exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "I'll never get used to that."