Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: First Flight
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"Make sure to take good care of the training-use Air Plates you've just been issued until the end of the practical session. They're not the formal uniforms worn by Sky Knights, but each set costs tens of thousands of gold without batting an eye."
'Is this an Air Plate?'
The training-use Air Plate held in his hand.
Soft leather protected even the toes and fingers, overlaid with intricate lightweight magic on the delicate steel armor.
'It's light.'
It looked fairly bulky, but the total weight felt like no more than about 10 kilos.
"They're not meant for combat, so they contain no defensive magic or mithril. However, for safety in emergencies, the Fly spell activates by default."
Instructor Viscount Atuan's booming voice echoed across the wyvern-riding field in front of the hangar.
"Tch, what is this? Even my family's soldiers wouldn't wear something like that."
"I miss the armor back home."
Arrogant chatter from the spoiled rich kids grumbling behind him.
Guys with no real skill pretending they had it.
'Wearing an Air Plate armor means you won't feel hot or cold, right?'
Sky Knights who had to fly on wyverns rain or snow.
Even a high-circle mage Blade Knight couldn't fly for long hours in extreme cold or heat.
That was why Air Plates were made.
Using the all-purpose power of magic, they created a monster impossible even for 21st-century science.
"From now until the end of training, you must wear your Air Plates at all times except when sleeping. Put them on now!"
Even without Viscount Atuan's order, he was curious about how the Air Plate felt.
Tuduk.
He tossed off his cloak and donned the armor over his trainee uniform.
'Light and comfortable enough to put on without a servant's help.'
The training Air Plates were roughly sized to fit.
Helmet, torso, legs, and arms were separate pieces.
"If you channel mana, the armor will equip itself automatically."
Viscount Atuan's helpful explanation.
He lightly channeled mana.
Swish swish.
Clank clank.
As mana flowed in, the separated parts clicked together like iron drawn to magnets.
'Whoa, not a breath of wind gets in.'
Even as a training model, the Air Plate's performance drew admiration.
It was comfortable right away.
The insulation magic kept his body temperature steady, maintaining peak condition.
'Shall I try the helmet?'
A bulky helmet with a transparent glass-like material over the eye sockets.
True to training use, the Air Plate had no decorations, but fine attention to detail was evident.
"And soon, the Sky Knights who will assist with your training will arrive. You'll be living with them for months, so greet them respectfully."
'Sky Knights?'
"Give it your all, trainees. Remember, failing flight training means no second chance!"
Sky Knights ran strictly on practicals.
That was why they became renowned knights continent-wide.
"S-Sky Knights are coming."
"Oh! Those are the Imperial Guard Sky Knights!"
'Imperial Guard Sky Knights!'
Some trainees equipping their armor tensed as the approaching Sky Knights came into view.
'There she is!'
He hurriedly turned his head and spotted the Sky Knights.
Among them, one woman stood out strikingly.
'Countess Irene, Reaper of the Skies...'
Countess Irene, who had helped him in crisis months ago.
She walked with her red cloak and silver Air Plate mail, black scarf contrasting her long, transparent silver hair flowing slowly in the wind.
Her lithe beauty, like Metal from Galaxy Express 999, made his heart pound hard.
He had kind of missed Countess Irene.
She seemed even more beautiful after months apart.
"Welcome, Countess Irene."
"You've worked hard."
Despite being much younger, Viscount Atuan bowed respectfully to the approaching Countess Irene.
Irene returned a light nod to Atuan.
"Th-the Reaper of the Skies, Irene!"
"The Irene who took down over ten enemy wyverns alone?"
Though he, Alfonso, and Luciera had ties with her, surprised voices erupted from trainees who didn't know.
'Alone, ten of them?'
Irene looked like a single proud lily.
It was hard to believe she had slaughtered over ten wyverns.
"I'm Countess Irene. Pleased to meet you trainees."
Irene spoke in a stiff, military tone, her small red lips fluttering.
"From today, I am pleased to train alongside you, the future leaders of the Empire."
Pabat.
Their eyes met then.
Sssk.
Irene's eyes flickered with slight surprise as he smiled at her, disrupting her commanding gaze over the trainees.
'Whoa! She smiled back at me!'
A faint, thread-like smile from Irene.
She clearly hadn't forgotten him.
"Now, line up in front of the Sky Knight you wish to train with! Knights to knights, spirit users to spirit users, mages to mages!"
'You choose directly?'
A truly unconventional class format.
As future nobles leading the Empire, they got one-on-one training.
Tadadak.
Trainees rushed to line up behind the Sky Knights in formation right after the order.
Emblems on sleeve ends distinguished knight, spirit user, and mage, so trainees queued before their preferred Sky Knight.
'Whoever it is, rest in peace. Tsk tsk.'
Some deranged Sky Knight gawking with mouth agape as the lovely Highness approached.
If he knew the woman heading his way was the only daughter of the Empire's mad dog family, he'd want to flee to enemy lands on a wyvern.
"Why are you still standing there?"
Power kids had claimed most spots before Imperial Guard Sky Knights, local nobles before regular ones.
As it sorted out.
He alone hadn't chosen and remained.
"Still? I've already chosen."
"Chosen? Whom?"
Viscount Atuan, always watching him, asked what he meant.
"Isn't there only one Sky Knight left here?"
With those words, his eyes turned to Irene.
"N-No, there must be a mistake. Countess Irene is handling overall command..."
"It's fine, Viscount Atuan. I'll take this trainee."
"B-But... Your Ladyship must oversee..."
"It's not my first time taking trainees. No need to worry."
Viscount Atuan panicked, as if this had never happened before.
'Whoa! Jackpot!'
Sir Rosero was an acquaintance, but Irene drew him inexplicably.
If training under someone, better her than sweaty guys by a hundred—no, thousandfold.
"Then we'll start the first day's practical immediately. Head to the wyvern hangar with your chosen Sky Knights."
No long talk needed.
Intensive march from day one of training.
'Time to fly the skies?'
He could fly solo with Fly spell, but piloting a wyvern—like a modern fighter jet—for the first time.
His whole body tingled just imagining it.
'Uwooo!'
Lovely Irene strode ahead.
He walked amid envious stares from male trainees.
And the faint feminine fragrance wafting on the wind.
Only the bold win the beauty.
In that sense, he was a true hero.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Countess Irene, you have training?"
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
'Ah, why is that bastard here?'
The Crown Prince, guarded by a dozen Imperial Guard Sky Knights.
He scanned Irene with madness-soaked pale gray eyes.
His level wasn't yet ready for open clash with the Crown Prince, so he bowed despite the grudge.
"Yes, Your Highness. Training for trainees starts today."
"Does Countess Irene really need to step up? And a male trainee, not even a woman..."
The Crown Prince glanced at him while speaking.
'Huh? This psycho got the hots for Irene?'
The Crown Prince exuded raw male aggression.
He showed open hostility toward him.
"Didn't Your Highness train under me too?"
"Sure, but comparing me to that guy is a stretch, no?"
'What? That punk after Irene!'
A slight unpleasant feeling boiled up.
Irene, lily-like, didn't match the brutal wolf Crown Prince at all.
His already rotten first impression soured further.
"To me, Your Highness and this trainee are the same."
"Haha, disappointing. Me, Crown Prince of the Empire, and that unpleasant black-haired... Wait, you're Kaier!"
'You know me?'
Poltbiran spat his name accurately, as if he knew him.
"Doesn't the Crown Prince ask?"
A nearby knight bellowed and approached.
"I am Kaier."
"You're the one called Kaier. The scum who trampled noble and imperial authority."
'Already tattled? That piss-pants coward Ted snitched to the Crown Prince for sure.'
Chang!
The punk suddenly drew his sword.
'This guy?'
Decent mana reserves, but way below him—pure psycho.
Shiiik.
The sword swung to behead him.
Chak!
Clean motion, sword at his throat.
No killing intent, so he didn't dodge.
No, it was absurd.
'To die, what wouldn't you do.'
"Kukuku. Commoner scum daring to mock noble and imperial authority... A mere bug like you."
Poltbiran grinned offensively, stirring manly ire.
"What is this!"
Irene's voice rose sharply as she watched.
"Lady Irene, stay out. I'm warning this cur who treats the Empire and all nobles like roadside shit."
"Ah... Even as Crown Prince... This act stains the honor of Emperor Bahalrain the Founder and current Emperor Habitron! Not just anywhere, but here—the Empire's pride—and threatening a Sky Knight trainee treated as knight... Sheathe your sword now!"
Irene's fury sliced the air.
"Insolent! Even a countess dares such treason to the Crown Prince!"
The wolf's loyal pups bared fangs.
'She's brave.'
Crown Prince waved his sword dramatically, but no real threat.
With focus, one spell could make him well-roasted kebab.
Yet the Crown Prince blustered about imperial and noble authority before him.
He watched the antics.
Ready to smash that yapping head if needed.
In that situation, brave Irene defended him.
"Puhahaha!"
The psycho suddenly burst into mad laughter.
"Good! I like that Countess Irene. Very appealing."
A crown prince without dignity.
He eyed Irene like prey with bulging eyes.
"Still thinking over my proposal?"
Brrr.
Irene trembled at the Crown Prince's subtle query.
Her flushed face showed humiliation.
"I-I said again, never—even over my dead body! Never!"
She emphasized "never."
"Is that so? Haha. Curious how long that resolve lasts. How long I'll ask so politely... also curious."
His polite tone chilled to half-command suddenly.
'This bastard Crown Prince or back-alley thug?'
"Trainees await, so I'll take my leave."
Trainees and Sky Knights already waited before the wyvern hangar—called stables.
"Kukuku..."
Crown Prince leered instead of replying.
'I guarantee it. If this guy becomes Emperor, the Empire crumbles in three years.'
Not Crown Prince material—neighborhood punk psycho.
Short nod to the punk, then Irene departed.
"Excuse us."
He bowed and followed Irene.
"Kuku."
The psycho just laughed wordlessly.
But his madness-filled eyes screamed he wanted to tear Irene and him apart.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
"Prepare two-seater saddles."
"Yes!"
He followed Irene to the black wyvern hangar.
After Crown Prince encounter, she crossed hangars without a word.
She ordered the waiting knight.
'So cool!'
A beautiful woman wise and bold—rare.
Even before next Emperor Crown Prince, Irene held head high, voicing opinion.
Like a career woman living boldly—cool.
'What kind is it? Irene's wyvern...'
He anticipated Irene's black wyvern slightly.
Ruler of skies for Bazran Empire.
Heart pounding, he awaited hangar door opening.
Grgrgrgrgr.
Soon, hangar door opened.
Massive warehouse for wyvern rest.
Magic-operated, it slid open naturally.
'Ooooo~!'
Noon sun centered in sky.
In blinding glory rejecting earthly dark, a black-gloss wyvern slowly revealed.
Kuo ooooo!
Flutter flap.
Seeing light and Irene through open door, it short-cried and flapped wings.
Whooo, whooo.
Huge wings whipped ground winds.
"What of the Blessed Spear?"
"Basics flight today. No need to mount."
"Yes!"
Blessed Spear.
Sky Knights' signature weapon—spear-form magic item.
Channel mana, throw—flies at massive speed to target. Essential attack tool.
'Could ride without.'
Heard of it, never seen.
Not cheap magic item; unavailable in normal shops.
Empire banned for danger.
"Mount."
"Pardon?"
"Like this."
Not a Yacht, Irene pointed to wyvern back and said mount.
Pat!
She lightly kicked off.
Chak!
'11 out of 10!'
Mana-launched, she leaped lightly to ~4m-high wyvern neck saddle—perfect landing.
Olympic gymnastics gold effortless—graceful.
'Can't lose.'
His seat behind Irene's saddle.
Taat!
Mana-boosted jump.
'Huhu.'
Elegant mental image of landing.
First try, but no issue for him.
Parararak.
Sudden gust aside.
"Huh!"
Puk.
"Hohohoho, hohohohoho."
"Puhahaha, puhhahaha!"
Careless—derisive laughter.
Wyvern's slight dodge and wing wind.
'Y-You oversized chick! Kraaaaa!'
Not saddle—wyvern's hard back where body slammed via wing wind.
And his precious egg(?) near shatter.
Burning pain—folk remedy saliva on nose to soothe swollen balls.
Zzirit.
"Keum..."
Irene couldn't help, but glared at lower-seniority ground crew.
They coughed awkwardly, turned away.
"Understand. Tradition everyone faces first wyvern mount."
Silver beauty smiled coolly at his angry face.
'Not birthday pie, flight pie? Fine, tradition—I'll endure. But... you chicken head, daring mock pinnacle of creation—human! Remember this!'
Not male—female wyvern, no horn crest.
He ground teeth, vowing revenge today.
"Mount saddle, buckle belt."
Front seat had four reins wrapping beak/head unlike rear's two safety rings.
'Too close?'
Two-seater at wyvern neck.
Sitting meant body tight to front seat.
Gulp.
Mouth suddenly watery—unknown saliva.
Swallowed, took seat behind Irene.
'These devices for here.'
Two holes near Air Plate waist for safety straps.
Secured ring to wyvern saddle belt line.
Click.
Ring-design—easy connect.
'This is wyvern...'
Thump thump, heart raced.
Not flown yet, but >4m above ground—high.
Wyvern's slow thumping heart transmitted via saddle—indescribable thrill.
"Vivirian, please."
'Vivirian? Name unfit for wyvern.'
Irene's wyvern, now etched in his grudge: Vivirian.
Kuo~!
Short cry.
Thump thump.
'Whoa!'
Vivirian moved for flight.
Tons-heavy wyvern's muscular shifts vividly felt.
Suuuuuuwook.
Black wyvern's vast wings unfolding.
"..."
Tension blanked mind.
Modern equivalent: fighter jet.
21st-century normies never experience.
"Fly! Vivirian!"
Irene shouted powerfully.
Ground crew already retreated far.
Flap, flap, flappp.
'Flying! Finally airborne!'
Dreamed wyvern flight.
Not his own—borrowed Irene's—but first sip doesn't fill.
"Hold tight."
'Tight? Where?'
Proper-centered man.
No way he'd fearfully hug Irene's waist.
"I'm fine."
Could control posture plenty.
Doong.
'Euhek!'
Words barely out—takeoff lift, butt clenched hard.
Flap, flappp.
Shiiiik!
Then Vivirian's vigorous wingbeats.
Body surged skyward sharply.
"Uwaaaaa!"
Legs clamped, but nothing to grab ahead.
Sudden backward yank—body hairs stood.
Warak.
Hands instinctively flashed, clutching Irene.
'Euaak!'
But trouble didn't end.
Grabbed unconsciously—at Irene's chest area.
Over Air Plate, but hands precisely on her two breasts.
'Ah, what side!'
Said fine just minute—no, ten seconds ago—now this disgrace.
Cracked sturdy Kang Hyuk pride.
'Huhu... still nice.'
Chi-like hug from behind Irene.
Odd fantasies flitted mind—chest warmed.
Shwyk, shwyk, shiiiik.
'Ah... this is flight.'
Stabilized—scenery unfolded.
Irene's wyvern rise followed by dozens starting flight.
Spectacle.
Wyverns' mighty momentum—like war deployment.
And him at forefront.
Deeply felt what Sky Knight meant.
'Awesome!'
Unspoken, but heart-thumping word.
Now hundreds meters high, he dreamed mighty future flights.
Someday—his own cool flights...
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"Arrogant bitch..."
Wyvern formation carrying Sky Knight trainees soared skyward.
One man smirked coldly, glaring first-risen wyvern.
"Your Highness, just order. Countess or not, mere woman."
A direct Imperial Guard Sky Knight knowing Crown Prince Poltbiran's mind spoke up.
"Say that again."
Crown Prince turned to knight at words.
"For our future Emperor to be rejected by Countess Irene on marriage proposal—kidnap her even..."
Puk!
"Guk!"
Mid-sentence—sudden Crown Prince Poltbiran's powerful kick flew.
Slammed knight's gut.
"Dare call my chosen woman 'bitch'?"
"Y-Your Highness..."
Kwaduk.
All Imperial Guard Sky Knights held noble titles.
One such floored by single blow—foot stomped belly.
"Know what I hate most?"
Poltbiran bared cold beastly killing intent.
"Those who overstep without knowing place. Especially before me!"
"Y-Your... Highness mercy..."
Sky Knight knew Poltbiran's nature—face ashen.
Secret known only closest: Crown Prince kills without hesitation.
"Remember henceforth. Obey my command—glory follows. Defy or step forward... only hell's gate opens."
Crown Prince's warning clear in tense knights' ears.
All bowed.
Unyielding Crown Prince command.
Not imperial dignity—terror.
Mad blue glint only tyrant without interference shows.