"So there's nothing to be done, then."

  At the king's words, as the atmosphere in the room grew somber—the Prime Minister spoke up.

  "Not necessarily.

  It hasn't been decided that thing will fall."

  "That's right. If only we could understand why it appeared..."

  "We can't learn anything from down here, but might there be something up there?

  Something controlling it, perhaps."

  'Ancient ruins maybe... though this isn't Lap*ta.'

  While the Interior and Justice Ministers were speaking, Celeste was thinking such trivial thoughts—when the Court Mage addressed Daharat.

  "Military Affairs Minister. Earlier you mentioned flying vehicles?"

  "Ah, yes... but now isn't the time for—"

  "No, now is precisely when we must discuss it...

  If Lord Royal Father's ability could bring one here, couldn't we investigate what that thing is?"

  "Ah."

  At that, everyone's gaze turned to Celeste.

  But Celeste himself didn't look confident.

  "If only I could.

  True, I can materialize an aircraft here.

  But I can't pilot one.

  Even driving that automobile required studying how to operate it and all sorts of things.

  And if I make a mistake, it's a life-or-death matter."

  "I see..."

  The atmosphere was about to turn somber again.

  "Um, I may be misunderstanding something, but...

  Weren't there also flying things that weren't 'vehicles'?"

  "Hm?"

  At Daharat's sudden remark, now everyone's gaze turned to him.

  "If I recall, in those 'douga'—those moving pictures we saw on Earth—there were things that flew just the camera, I believe."

  "Just the camera...? Ah!

  That! Right, that existed!

  Good job, Da-chan!"

  "D-Da-chan!?"

  "Your Majesty! I'm going to Earth right away!

  I've remembered a way to investigate what that is!"

  "Mm, I don't quite understand, but in any case—I'm counting on you, Lord Royal Father!

  I permit you to open a Gate to Earth here and now!"

  "Yes! I am most grateful!

  Then I'll be going!"

  Leaving only those words, Celeste passed through a Gate and vanished to Earth—leaving only Daharat before the king and ministers in the conference room.

  "Da-chan..."

  "Good that the two made up, but..."

  "-chan... pfft."

  "Look, that was a slip of his tongue, so I'd appreciate if everyone could forget—"

  "I think it's already too late for that."

  "Even Your Majesty!"

  Returning to Earth, Amashiro immediately searched for the nearest place to obtain 'that thing' from his apartment, confirmed stock at a certain large electronics retailer, and rushed straight out to the store. Normally he'd ask store staff various questions, but with no time this once, it was actually more convenient not to be shown around.

  Operating it on Earth would require following legal regulations and such—but since he'd be using it in Tusita, that didn't matter.

  The remaining issue was whether complete amateur Amashiro could properly pilot it... but he'd have to wing it and try.

  "Right, need to hurry back...

  Wait.

  What if I could open a Gate connecting to Tusita from here?

  Back then I was afraid of being seen, and since I wasn't pressed for time, I'd only tried it inside the apartment—but now I want to save every second."

  Thinking that, Amashiro entered a stall in the electronics store restroom and waited until he sensed no one outside.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Fortunately, being a weekday afternoon, there weren't many customers in the store, so after a while the restroom fell quiet. Even so, he confirmed no one was outside the stall before opening a Gate and returning to Tusita.

  "I've returned! What's the situation!?"

  "Ah, Lord Royal Father—you're back.

  That thing still shows no movement.

  It remains hovering above your estate."

  "I see... that helps.

  Then I'll go reconnoiter, so everyone—"

  "No, I'm coming too.

  If something happens to that thing and the capital is destroyed... we're all in the same danger wherever we are.

  In that case, I want to confirm it with my own eyes.

  Prime Minister and Interior—stay here to coordinate countermeasures.

  The other ministers may do as they please."

  "Of course! I'm coming along!"

  The Court Mage raised her hand cheerfully.

  "Thought so. And Da-chan— er, Military Affairs Minister.

  You're coming as well, aren't you?"

  "...I shall accompany you."

  In addition, the Commerce Minister indicated her intention to come along. The Foreign Minister would handle foreign ambassadors who'd noticed the situation. The Finance and Justice Ministers would each remain for their countermeasures. Once the party was decided, Celeste led them out to the plaza before the palace.

  "Right then, first this goes like so... assembly complete.

  Now to duplicate in case of accidents... done.

  Battery... mm, really helpful that they sell these somewhat charged already at times like this...

  Just to be safe, enlarge!"

  Muttering to himself as he opened 'that thing's' box and extracted and handled its contents, everyone behind watched with interest (Nairan's eyes particularly gleaming).

  "Now, to fly this... manual, manual... like this!"

  — Whiiiirrr

  A box-shaped body with four arms extending in all directions, each arm ending in a thin oddly twisted plate.

  When those four thin plates began rotating with a strange vibrating sound—the object, enlarged to about table size, rose into the air.

  "Ohhh?"

  "Everyone, please stand back.

  This is my first time piloting, so I might make mistakes."

  However, the royal party behind had no time to heed that warning, captivated by the 'flying object.' Not just them—the palace people and soldiers busily moving around them were the same.

  "Uh, ascent is this... and forward is... whoa, backwards! Whoops!"

  With Celeste's unpracticed control, 'that thing'—a drone—flew in a staggering manner like a drunkard, but it was enough to catch the attention of people made half-panicked by the 'flying island' overhead.

  After all, it was Tusita's first ever 'artificial object' to fly.

  After staggering for a while, having grasped the control knack, Celeste declared to everyone around:

  "Now then—to investigate this island or rock formation or whatever it is that dares intrude upon our royal capital's sky—let us away!"

  "Ohhhhh!"

  For some reason, everyone had completely bought into Celeste's theatrical tone.

  Even the Military Affairs Minister, Marc Daharat Mengen Pahr, who'd been in a foul mood over the 'Da-chan' business and thinking he'd punch him one—even he...

  Continuing to ascend, the altitude display on the controller monitor showed they'd broken through 300 meters in no time, but still far from reaching the object above.

  "500m... 700m... just how high is that thing floating?"

  What novice Celeste didn't know—besides legal restrictions, consumer drones have software locks preventing them from exceeding 500m altitude for aviation safety. Moreover, they have safety features preventing high ascent without GPS signal reception.

  Yet somehow—

  Through Tusita's sky where GPS signals couldn't possibly exist, having long since broken through the 500m altitude limit, Celeste's drone continued ascending.

  Just as materializing a toy RC car had become an electric rather than original gasoline engine vehicle—apparently during the enlargement process it was being modified 'conveniently.'

  "Altitude 900... 950...

  ...1000! Made it! Above the rock formation!"

  "Ohhh!"

  "Proceeding to enter its airspace... wait, huh?"

  Celeste, piloting the drone, made a bewildered sound.

  "What is it?"

  "Well... Your Majesty, please look at this."

  Everyone peered at the monitor Celeste held out before the king.

  "This is...?"

  In the monitor's view—endless grassland and meadows, wildflowers blooming everywhere in a peaceful landscape.

  "Peaceful... isn't it?"

  "Outwardly, at least."

  Flying the object—island—for a while longer revealed only endlessly continuing grassland, hills rather than mountains, dubious lakes and small waterfalls whose water source was unclear—scenery like a 'vast garden'—until the drone's battery warning began displaying.

  "Ah, bad. Better land it."

  "Why?"

  To the king's question, Celeste replied:

  "Battery... its power's depleted.

  If it keeps flying it'll crash and break.

  I'll land it and go 'retrieve' it."

  "Go... up there?"

  "Yes. At 1000m altitude the air may be a bit thin, but I think we can breathe.

  The camera confirmed it, so I can open a Gate.

  Besides, investigating directly up there would be more certain."

  "I'd like to stop you, calling it reckless, but... honestly as long as we don't know what that is, we can only cower with no way to act...

  I'm asking you, Father. I don't want to send you, but it frustrates me that only you can be relied upon.

  Shall I attach some of the royal guard?"

  "No, if something happens with a large group, withdrawing would be difficult.

  Better if I go alone—more mobile."

  "I suppose so...

  Military Affairs Minister?"

  "Yes.

  I shall protect Lord Royal Father."

  As if he'd been waiting, before King Rashion could even say it, Daharat read his intent and answered immediately.

  "Please do.

  He's my precious father, and...

  To you as well, he's a friend you can't abandon, yes?"

  "Leave it to me.

  I'll protect him—my 'friend.'"

  "I-I'll also..."

  Filled with curiosity, Court Mage Comis Nairan tried to say she'd go too—but the Commerce Minister beside her, Comis Barinele Itona Mea, gently placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.

  "You heard, didn't you? Large numbers would get in the way during withdrawal.

  Besides..."

  Her usually cheerful face became sharp-eyed.

  "Don't interfere with the men's precious 'friendship'! You immature girl!"

  "Huh?"

  Watching their exchange from the side, Celeste felt a chill run down his spine.

  'Precious... wait, does she ship us?'

  "Hey, what are you doing—prepare the Gate."

  "R-right."

  Distracted by Comis Itona's 'dangerous' remark, Celeste was prompted by Daharat and summoned a Gate connecting to the island above.

  "Opening it—everyone be careful!"

  Like in airplane disaster movies—air being sucked from inside to outside due to pressure differential—he opened the door concerned that strong wind might blow from here toward the lower pressure there, but at merely 1000m up there wasn't such an extreme difference.

  "? Careful of what?"

  Not even a pressure difference—not even a breeze-level air movement.

  "Huh?"

  "Stop dawdling and let's finish the investigation."

  Daharat pushed the slightly confused Celeste's back—the moment they both entered the Gate, it vanished.

  — SMACK

  Immediately upon passing through the Gate, Daharat's large palm struck Celeste's head from behind.

  "Ow! What the hell, you stupid dog!"

  "Shut up! What's with Da-chan, Da-chan!"

  "What are you talking about!"

  "You—just before going to Earth, in front of the ministers, you called me Da-chan!"

  "When did I... oh."

  He'd said it almost unconsciously and forgotten his own words.

  "That's why I told you so many times to watch your language—"

  "Sorry! But now's not the time for that talk!"

  "Consider yourself lucky!"

  "...But hey, Da-chan."

  "Don't call me that!"

  "The breathing—it's not difficult, is it?"

  "What are you suddenly... hm?"

  Come to think of it, Daharat thought.

  The phenomenon of breathing becoming difficult at high altitudes was knowledge passed down since ancient times even in Tusita.

  Moreover, Daharat's homeland up north was full of high mountains.

  A phenomenon he'd experienced firsthand.

  Yet here, far from difficult breathing—it was almost the same as ground level.

  "Indeed, this isn't normal."

  "Right? The drone is... ah, over there.

  Let's go get it."

  As they set out walking to retrieve the drone and investigate the surroundings...