60-Episode 60: Angel Wings, the Devil, and a Handshake

This is the magic item.

What a surprise, the feathers on the Sky People's back weren't real, but a magic item.

''Ni, run!

As I was distracted by the magic item, the battered knights scurried away in a hurry.

''What do we do?''　Chasing?

Liliera-san asks me if I want to capture the knights.

''It's not like they're enemies, so you can leave them alone. There's someone here who could give you information.

And I point to the commander I defeated.

''For now, shall we just cast a recovery spell and examine the equipment?

I cast a heel spell on my commander before removing my equipment.

''Both armor and spears are magic items in their own right, but to call them holy spears, they're a bit of a name loser, aren't they?

Do you understand?

''Looking at the battle earlier and this location, I'm thinking it's a molded magic item given to a local defense force in terms of performance.

'I know that much. But it's funny for that.

What's that?

'The Celestial People protected that town from a powerful demon, right?　So it should be stronger than that?　Honestly, from the feel of what we just fought, you're only as good as a D-rank adventurer.

As expected of Liliera-san.

I can't believe you could have guessed that much from the earlier battle.

There are two possible explanations for that.

Like what?

'One is the possibility that the celestial man was more powerful in those days.

This is a really simple guess.

'And the second?'

It just so happens that the Sky People's magic item is compatible with demons. This is the reason why it's so important to have a good quality of life. In addition, if you are weak in the light attribute, it looks even stronger.

I see. With this strength, that's the most likely scenario.

The only problem is that this feather was a magic item.

I take the wing I took from my commanding officer and dismantle it to get a feel for its structure.

"I mean, are you sure you want me to take it apart?

It's already broken, and we just took it apart for a bit.

Hmm, from the looks of it, this isn't an ordinary magic item.

I mean, this is........

Ms. Liliera.

What?

Yesterday I explained to you why Air Island floats.

''Yes, as I recall, the soil and stones in the Sky Island contain an ore called gravium, which floats in response to magical power, right?

Yes, that's right. And it turns out these wings are made of gravium as well.

What?

See, this rock in the center is a crystal of gravium.

I point to the base of the wings, the iridescent crystals fixed to a small central plate that connects the left and right wings to each other.

'It's a beautiful stone,'

'It seems that by passing magic through this, the celestial man was flying through the air.

'So you're saying the celestial man wasn't an angel with wings?

''Based on what the commander just told me, I believe that they are probably descendants of a person who once lived in the Sky Continent.

"A human descendant of the Celestial Continent?

When I think about it, it makes a lot of sense.

''I don't know what the cause was, but just like this commander said, the Sky Continent was destroyed, and that may have caused the loss of people who could use flying magic. Maybe normal flying magic items were also lost because of that. So, I think they just happened to pull out a gravium-powered magic item that was left somewhere from the warehouse and secured a way for them to fly.

Is that the truth?

''I'm surprised by the existence of the Celestial Man, but I'm even more surprised that this Celestial Man was also an ordinary human, a descendant of the Ancient Ones.

Liliera-san rolls her eyes and looks at her commander who is unconscious.

''What are you talking about, Liliera-san is also a descendant of the ancients.

What?

Liliera-san exclaims in surprise at my words.

''And by the way, I'm also a descendant of the ancient people. Because all humans living today are descendants of the ancients, right? It's not like we're a different race.

'What?　Hmmm, if you ask me, does that make sense?

Liliera-san agrees with my words.

Yes, that's why I was surprised when I heard the name of the Celestial Race.

I've never heard of such a race even in my previous life, so I kept wondering where they came from.

Uh-uh...

Oh, the commander is awake.

I stand in front of my commanding officer, who wakes up and shakes his head.

'Well, now, let's see if you can tell me a few things.

'Oh, you?!'

The commander thrust his hand out to raise his weapon, but there was nothing in his hand.

I took it away from him while he was unconscious.

Wow, my weapon, my armor!

"And by the way, the feathers as well.

Huh?

The commander twists his head at my words and looks behind him.

What, it's gone?　My feather's gone?

Yeah, I took it away.

Where's my feather?

Here.

I point to the dismantled feather lying on the ground.

''Wow, my feather...?''

The commander crawls unsteadily closer to the feather.

"Oh, my God!　If I were to lose the feather that His Majesty entrusted to me, I would be, I would be, ah!

Did Her Majesty leave this with you?　So I guess that means this feather is a supply?

What's the harm in finding out that the feather is broken?

'Of course!　Feathers are sacred equipment, along with spears!　It's a rare and precious commodity that cannot be replaced!　If they find out about it, I'll be executed!

Well, it's an antique.

But the execution is also very troublesome.

No, if the magic item using this gravium is the only way to get down to earth, then it's that valuable.

It seems that there are no craftsmen who can repair it.

But this is an opportunity.

"You look bad.

Kyuun.

Yes, one in the back and one in the back, please be quiet.

Man over there, we need to talk to you.

Huh?

The commander, who was half in tears, looked at me to see what I wanted.

'Do you want me to fix that for you?

...What?

The commander was momentarily scowling at my suggestion, but then rolled his eyes as he understood the meaning of the words.

"So, you can do it!　Can you fix it?

The commander grabs me firmly by the shoulders and makes a desperate face.

Yes, if you answer my question, I'll fix it for you.

Ask me anything!

Haha, you're really in dire need of help.

''Earlier you said His Majesty and this country, but is this empty island a nation?

That's right, the empty islands around here are ruled by His Majesty the Sky King, the Holy Sky Kingdom of Seraphium!

"Wha-ha!

Mr. Lex?

Hey, the Holy Sky Kingdom... What kind of name is that?

It's a name that would have been laughable in a previous life.

It's a good idea to use the name of a sacred being as the country's name, that's a very funny thing to do.

I mean, who in the world named the country after this thing?

"Uh, are you okay, Mr. Lex?

Liliera-san notices that I'm acting funny and comes over to care for me.

I'm sorry, I'm just trying to hold back a laugh.

''Yes, it's okay. I was just caught off guard a bit.''

But it's still a country with a name I've never heard of.

Obviously, it's a name for a country that didn't exist when the Celestial Continent existed.

Because even if I didn't know it, if it was such an amusing name, someone I knew at the time would have definitely talked about it as a story.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.　This magic item is a magic item that uses gravium, right?

'Gras?　What's that?

Oh, you don't know anything about that, do you?

It's going to be hard to get information like this from a commander's level.

"By the way, do you know why the Sky Continent collapsed?

I don't know. It's just that when I was a child, my parents told me in fairy tales that this Empty Island was once part of a huge empty island called the Sky Continent.

'Is that something the other residents usually know about?'

''It's a classic old story. The king of the great world that once ruled the sky and his people lived in the Sky Continent, but an evil demon people invaded and started a war.

And although the king made a wise decision and successfully defeated the demon people, the Celestial Continent was shattered in return.

Hmm, the demon people are definitely the demons.

And that the Celestial Continent has been destroyed by war.

Just what was the great world king who used to rule the sky?

If I remember correctly, we lived in the Sky Continent...

Mr. Lex, something's coming.

Liliella looks at the sky and cries out in alarm.

''Is that........''

The sky beyond Liliera's gaze was shining silver.

When she activated her detection magic, she felt nearly a hundred people reacting there.

''It's the main unit of the Celestial Knights of the Sky.

The commander looks up at the sky while turning pale.

That's right, the knights who escaped earlier called for their friends.

''Hurry up and fix my wings!　If they find out I broke a feather, I'll be held as a sinner!

Apparently, this commander is in a complicated position, too.

But..........

Well, you're not gonna make it.

Yeah, with the speed the Knights are coming at us, we won't be able to fix it in time.

Oh, really?

What do we do?　Even if you're not very strong, it's a bone to pick against that many.

Liliera-san suggests that we should retreat when we see the number of enemies approaching us.

But I guess it's the other way around. I can say it's just the right time.

No, let's intercept them. I'm sure we'll hear a lot more about it if we defeat them.

Yes, a unit commander level commander couldn't get much information, but a commander of that size would be able to get more information since he was probably of that rank.

''Liliera-san, please stay back. I'll use my magic to wipe you out.

Okay, okay.

When Liliella-san straightforwardly steps back, Fluffy Mofu waits behind me and lays back down as well.

''Cuuuuuuut.''

I feel like I have zero motivation to write a limp.

I guess he didn't like the fact that the wings were fake.

"Kewl.

He turns over and stretches his arms and legs dalliantly.

It's not even close to being motivated.

'Well, let's just get this over with, shall we?

I waited for the Knights to approach just the right distance before activating the magic I had prepared.

''Mana Break!''

I activated a ranged magic for anti-magic items at the knights.

"Whoa, whoa!　What's with the drop in altitude...?

''Hi, the light?　The sacred light of the spear doesn't go off!

Whoa!

One by one, the knights lost control and fell to the ground.

'Air cushion!'

I cast a broad, weak shock-absorbing spell.

''What was that?　I didn't even see anything and the enemy just went down on its own!

As Liliera-san said, the magic that was just activated did not release anything visible or wind-like, such as fire or ice.

But there was definitely something that was released.

''That was a magic that releases something invisible.

"Magic that unleashes the unseen?

Yes, its name is Mana Break. It's a magic for anti-magic items that disrupts the flow of magic.

Anti-magic item magic?　I've never heard of such a spell before!

Well, magic for counter-magic items is not a very useful magic.

It's also a good idea to make sure that you have a good idea of what you're looking for.

The army that received this magic turned all of their magic items into a mere lump of metal, and when they couldn't move properly, they were defeated at once.

From then on, the strategy of each country was changed to make it dangerous to rely on magic items.

Yes, I made this magic.

It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends and family.

I'm sure you'll be able to use it again after a while, since it's only for the purpose of temporarily disabling magic items.

By the way, this magic is a countermeasure against magic items, so it doesn't work on ordinary magic.

It's also not very effective on magic items that are too huge, like the one embedded in the last Megalo Whale.

It's a magic that disrupts the flow of small magic pathways that flow to magic items, so it's not suitable for disrupting large scale magic power.

If those knights had flown with flying magic, this magic wouldn't have been very effective.

But the reality is different.

They were deprived of their only means of flight, and even though they came down in altitude to attack us, they fell from a reasonable height.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you fall.

''Will you save them then?''

'What?　Help?　The enemy?

Liliella is confused when she hears that I said I would fight and help her.

''I didn't mean to annihilate you from the start.

I have my own agenda, you know.

'Distant Area Heal!'

We came to the Knights' side and treated them with remote range recovery magic.

''Ugh, the pain is going away...?

It doesn't hurt now, does it, gentlemen?

"?

When I call out to them, the knights look at me in surprise.

''If you're still in pain, we can fix you up.

f*ck you!　All hands flying!　Surround the enemy from the air and annihilate them with the light of the spear!

""Haha!"

The knights jumped up at the command of the knight commander.

But their wings were cruelly broken, so the knights just jumped up and down in a pitter-patter.

Why can't they fly?

It's not a good idea.　It's a broken wing!

"What did you say?　How dare you break a sacred feather from your majesty!

And the commander who was called the commander yells at me, but that commander's wings are broken too.

"But the commander's wings are also broken in the ministry.

''What........?''

At the words of his subordinate knight, the commander twisted his head and looked behind him, and there was his own feather that had been cruelly broken off.

''.........?''

The commander's face distorts in astonishment and turns even paler.

''.........? ...........?

This is what it means to be speechless, I guess.

"Well, everyone!

I turn to the knights with a loud voice.

'How is the wound?　Oh, the feathers on your back are in trouble, aren't they? I hear that if that feather is broken, it will be very troubling, but can't you fix it?

You know, I'd fix it if I could!

Yeah, yeah, if the Knight Commander has this reaction, it looks like he can't repair it after all.

''Oooh, if he finds out that I've lost the feather His Majesty gave me, my family will be ruined...''

The knights become desperate and paragraphing.

'By the way, about that feather, if I told you I could fix it what would you do?

''What, what?!''

All the knights, not just the Commander, look up and look at me.

''Do you want me to fix it?''

You sure you can fix this?

'Yes, if you all will be friends with us, we'll fix it up as a sign of closeness. Oops, but we are suspected of being spies for another country, aren't we? Can't we get along then?

I glanced at the knights from the side.

Then the knights look at each other and nod at each other.

''We didn't see any spies!　And please be my friend!

'Yeah, yeah, people are best when they're close, aren't they?

I saw a hell of a threat.

Kyuun.

For some reason, Liliera looks down at her shoulders and Mohammed makes a dumbfounded gesture.

What are you two saying?

Peaceful resolution is best.