Chapter 168: Weren’t You Supposed to be Not Participating?

Aquila Port was outside the east side castle gate, so for convenience of port users the terminal was near the east side castle gate.

Living around not that far from the east side castle gate, so Kazui with Aura Speeder activated would arrive immediately.

While cutting the morning air, in front of Kazui running on roofs the east side castle gate appeared.

The large brick building built near the castle wall on the right side toward the castle gate also appeared in Kazui’s eyes.

(Like Yokohama’s brick warehouses.)

Seeing the terminal building, Kazui muttered in his heart.

When in Japan on Yokohama sightseeing he had seen, retro brick warehouses, the terminal was similar in appearance and size.

Still as a whole Aquila not a time work starting.

But around Aquila Port seemed different, already people and cars starting to gather.

Kazui carefully chose a place so as not to collide with people and jumped down from the building roof to the road.

Several people who noticed raised surprised voices, so Kazui lightly bowed his head then dashed toward the terminal building.

Immediately Kazui arrived in front of the open entrance.

Releasing the no-longer-needed Aura Mail and Aura Speeder, Kazui while a little tense entered inside the terminal building.

What Kazui stepped into was a lobby of about gymnasium size.

(Like an airport lobby.)

Kazui who entered the lobby recalled the airport lobby he had used when in Japan.

Not of large metropolitan areas but old small airport lobbies in tourist spots.

Counters for selling tickets and doing various procedures, and parts like waiting spaces where tables and chairs lined.

On the walls several flip-flap type departure and arrival display boards posted.

Similar type to those at Japan’s airports and stations, so that being departure and arrival display boards, Kazui knew.

One of them, the departure and arrival display board posted on the wall left side from Kazui’s view, Kazui walked close with quick steps.

(If there’s a passenger ship going to Virgo good.)

Kazui stopped in front of the departure and arrival display board written "Passenger Ship Departure Arrival Schedule" and checked the departure arrival schedule of terrestrial ships of passenger ships.

From various autonomous cities five terrestrial ship departure arrival schedules displayed on the departure arrival board.

(No ship seeming to go to Virgo... almost only regular flights with nearby autonomous cities.)

No desired passenger ship, so Kazui dropped his shoulders dejectedly.

(Better wait for flights to Virgo after tomorrow? Or ride a flight going west and transfer somewhere?)

While thinking Kazui walked toward the information counter.

To ask staff the schedule of flights after tomorrow and if transferring to go to Virgo which ship to ride.

Arriving in front of the information counter similar to the guild hall counter, Kazui asked the staff inside the counter.

"The closest flight that can go to Virgo, what time does it become?"

A clean-feeling woman who seemed mid-twenties wrapped in a gray pantsuit that seemed uniform, while checking a file returned an answer.

"July 18th 10 a.m. departure, Virgo arrival scheduled within the 25th flight."

The arrival side not clarifying time, "scheduled within the 25th" because terrestrial ships often did not arrive as scheduled.

Due to monster or thief attacks, climate influence and such, tended to become so.

"18th means three days later..."

Thinking could not wait three days, Kazui asked the staff again.

"If transferring at other autonomous cities to go to Virgo, the ship seeming able to arrive earliest, what time does it depart?"

"If transferring..."

Predicting that question, the staff already with the file had started investigating which flight good if transferring to go to Virgo.

"Around here gateway Cygnus has regular flights passing Virgo once every two days, so today’s 9 p.m. flight to Cygnus becomes the shortest, but arrival date time to Virgo I think around the 25th."

The port for terrestrial ships where routes heading to various autonomous cities gathered was gateway.

"Transfer at Cygnus becomes depending on luck, so if luck good possibility of arriving on the 24th, but if bad possibly shifting to the 26th..."

Terrestrial ship arrival often did not go as scheduled.

Naturally transfer timing whether going well also depended on luck.

"Personally I recommend waiting for the 18th flight. The route between Aquila and Cygnus recently many monster appearances, arrival tends to be delayed."

"I see. Thank you for various things, I’ll think a little."

Saying so and lightly bowing his head, Kazui turned his back to the information counter and started walking toward the waiting space with chairs.

Thinking worrying in front of the information counter would trouble other users.

(Either way arrival around the 25th. Which is better?)

While thinking and walking, a familiar face person walking in the lobby, Kazui noticed.

The other side also made a face of noticing himself, so Kazui while walking close to the other called out.

"Good morning, Uraka!"

The other woman was Uraka.

Same as yesterday the wine red combat uniform quite stood out, so Kazui immediately noticed.

"As expected Kazu! Morning!"

Uraka also returned greeting to Kazui.

Uraka also walked close to Kazui, and the two faced and would do standing talk.

"Still in Aquila."

"Repair took time, so delayed more than planned. About to depart, was doing departure procedures."

(Ah! Come to think of it... Uraka’s ship said going to Virgo.)

Recalling that, Kazui confirmed with Uraka for form’s sake.

"Uraka’s ship was to Virgo, right?"

"Stops at two other autonomous cities midway, but to Virgo."

The departure arrival guide board Kazui saw was for passenger ships, so the departure schedule of Gabalda Trading Company’s Gabalda Roja that was a cargo ship was not loaded.

"Arrival to Virgo around what day?"

"Delayed one day more than planned, so 22nd. If no trouble from Aquila to Virgo roughly arrives in seven days."

(If 22nd can arrive three days earlier!)

As if a ship coming across, Kazui begged Uraka.

"Please! Let me ride to Virgo!"

Kazui bowed his head to Virgo.

"I have to go to Virgo as soon as possible, but no ship to Virgo until three days later!"

"Thought you were preparing for travel, you intended to go to Virgo."

Seeing Kazui shouldering a large rucksack, Uraka had noticed preparing for travel.

"Virgo’s Reverse Festa, weren’t you not participating?"

Kazui raised his face and answered Uraka’s question.

"Not for participating in Reverse Festa, going to help Iron Maiden!"

When Aquila received attack of a large group of monsters, saved life by Iron Maiden’s Ebony and Ivory, Kazui told Uraka.

Of course that himself was violated by the succubus, hidden.

To return the favor to Iron Maiden who saved life, though meager to participate in searching for the culprit who used Hell Gate, wanting to go to Virgo....

That kind of things Kazui explained to Uraka.

"I see..."

Knowing the purpose was returning the favor, Uraka muttered as if impressed.

"Our ship is women-only, so decided not to let men ride."

(Come to think of it only saw woman crew. If women-only ship impossible to be let ride...)

Kazui inwardly disappointed, but Uraka’s talk was not over.

"But well this time as exception specially let you ride."

"Is it fine?"

With a face half surprise half joy Kazui asked Uraka.

"Fine."

Uraka answered immediately.

"Thank you!"

Happily saying thanks and bowing, then Kazui asked.

"Then um... the fare side?"

"Not needed. Have a favor of being helped by Kazu. Gabalda Trading Company also has to properly return received favors."

"Then properly received thanks money, so I’ll pay the fare."

"Just adding a little on the thanks money, that favor not fully returned."

"No but... being let ride for free feels bad..."

"Then until arriving at Virgo can you escort our ship? Kazu seems reliable as escort."

"Then I’ll do so!"

Thus Kazui in the form of escort boarded Gabalda Trading Company’s Gabalda Roja and it was decided to depart for Virgo.