CH 80

As for the birdfolk…

“So, that’s why after riding the boat, we want you to take us close to the border town while avoiding any places where people might see us.”

Maki said to Sauro. He was listening quietly with folded arms.

“Sister.”

“Brother.”

He called Saikania. They stared at each other for a moment.

“Should we call them?”

“We have no choice.”

They said. And then Sauro glanced at Maki and Chiharu before flapping his wings and taking off somewhere.

“Uhh, where did Sauro go?”

Maki said frantically.

“Oh, don’t worry about my brother. There are four people to carry, right? So he went to call for help.”

“Ahh, that’s right. It would be too hard for just the two of you. Sorry for not noticing.”

“You two are fine. Because you’re both so light. And we’re used to carrying Edwy. But, that other one? No way. He’s not used to being carried, and he’s heavy. And he’s not cute either. That’s no fun.”

“Hey-hey-hey. I understand that he’s heavy, but your standard for fun is strange.”

“What are you talking about Maki? That’s the only standard.”

“I-I see.”

“Yes.”

And so the birdfolk decided to help them. Saikania stared at Chiharu and said.

“I wish I could go with you inland. There is this upward current that is very fun.”

“No-no-no. I don’t think so.”

“But Chiharu, you’ve gotten so much better at flying.”

“No way! I still have a ways to go.”

“Really? But white wings draw so much attention. These wings are good for flying high, but not for sneaking around.”

Saikania sounded very disappointed.

“That’s too bad. It would be really comforting if you could be with us.”

“Ah, you’re so cute, Chiharu.”

“Hey, I don’t want to fly! People will–ah!”

Saikania and Chiharu flew out of the castle, which resulted in them being seen by many children. Chiharu was just glad she was wearing pants under her skirt. Seriously.

Still, they had gained the help of the birdfolk. And so the next day, Maki and Chiharu appeared in the departure ceremony and smiled and waved at the people as they got on board the ship. Once the town was far away, the birdfolk quietly picked them up, along with Edwy and Aaron, and they flew away.

It was unlikely any of the soldiers on the ship would say anything. Regardless, they were told honestly that the Saintesses had to leave on an emergency mission with Aaron.

The Saintesses and Edwy ran on the ship’s deck as they took off. But Aaron’s takeoff was more awkward, and people chuckled as they watched.

It was Orne and Puel who came to the ship. This was because they were used to carrying heavy men. However, Sauro had only left during the afternoon of the previous day. Orne and Puel mainly stayed in the dwarf lands. But Sauro was with them during the ship’s departure.

Maki and Chiharu shivered with this realization. How fast were these birdfolk? It was clear now that they had been serious during their attempt to abduct them and carry them across the sea.

The four birdfolk and four passengers went around the port town and flew for an hour. Then they landed near an empty area beside the road.

“O-one hour is too long.”

Chiharu said as she collapsed. Aaron also wobbled and fell to the ground. Maki and Edwy looked at them with exasperation. But Chiharu thought Edwy and especially Maki, were the weird ones. Think about it. It was like riding a rollercoaster for an hour.

Still, Chiharu turned to Saikania and said,

“Sorry for making you carry us for so long. You must be tired.”

“You’re so cute, Chiharu. I’m not tired at all.”

Saikania was fine. She was paired up with Sauro, after all. She was only a little bit bigger than Chiharu, but had so much strength.

“Chiharu. We have to get changed now. Edwy and Aaron too. Put on your commoner clothes!”

Maki ordered.

“Hey, what are you two doing!”

Aaron looked around frantically. It was empty land with a grove surrounding them. But there was also a road nearby. There was no place to get changed.

“Huh? We’re getting changed.”

By this time, Maki had already taken off the pants under her skirt and put on some boy pants. She had changed like this a lot during gym class when she was in high school. Chiharu was also changing into her young girl outfit, though, she was still shaky on her feet. Of course, she still had her pants on.

“Alright, I need to change my top, so turn around. You too, Sauro.”

However, she was wearing an undergarment underneath her clothes. It was like a t-shirt.

“Ah, wait!”

Maki and Chiharu changed quickly, while keeping an eye on Aaron. Then they switched their head ribbon for a handkerchief and put their dirty blonde wigs on. Now they looked like inland children with long bangs. Edwy also got changed and put on a wig that was the same color as Aaron’s hair. Now he looked like a Lowlander who had just recently become an adult.

Then the three of them told Aaron to hurry up and get changed as well.

The four of them faced each other.

“Edwy. I don’t think that wig is enough for you.”

Even with the wig and the commoner clothing, he stood too much like a prince, and was also too handsome.

“And you two have changed too much. You’re like, super commoners.”

“That sounds quite rude. But we are commoners.”

Maki muttered.

“But, speak for yourself, Aaron. You look like a commoner now too.”

“It just means I’m a man of the people.”

He said angrily. But he was Nyran’s older brother. While he didn’t necessarily stick out, he was still good-looking.

“Well, it’s fine Maki-chan. It just means we’ll stick out even less.”

“I suppose so…”

Maki said with a pout. But Chiharu, who had been wobbling around a moment ago, started to urge them on.

“Now, let’s head to the next destination.”

“Yes. Sauro, please take me.”

“Alright, trade.”

“Trade?”

Maki asked. Then Sauro looked up at the sky and shouted loudly. Then four birdfolk descended in a flutter of wings.

“What?”

Aaron’s voice echoed dumbly.

“I can fly for hours when I’m alone, but even I won’t last long if I have to carry someone. And so I called in some replacements.”

“Called? When?”

Chiharu’s voice was shaking a little.

“Hmm? In the beastlands, of course.”

“But how?”

“Is there a problem? Are they not enough?”

“No-no-no-no, they’re enough.”

“Don’t worry. While you can’t see them, there are about 20 others here too. They’re flying a short distance away so they don’t attract any attention.”

“20! Uh…thank you…”

“They were all so happy to come. It was hard to narrow the numbers down.”

Sauro said with a smug expression.

“Oh, uh. How nice.”

“Right? Alright.”

Sauro’s face suddenly turned serious.

“There is still some distance to travel to the border town. So we should move on to the next point.”

He said. And with that, the four of them were surrounded by the birdfolk and quietly escorted away.

That summer in Lowland, it was said that merfolk gathered by the beach as if the bless the departure of the soldiers, and if you looked up into the sky, you would see a group of beautiful white birdfolk flying up high. The miasma seemed to grow thin, then. And the people spoke the names of the Saintesses with a feeling of gratitude.

“I said that I didn’t want to draw attention…”

But Chiharu’s muttering was lost in the wind.