As we landed on the grassland beside the road, we were met with curious gazes and exclamations of surprise. Soldiers clad in silver metal and leather armor pushed their way through the crowd observing us from a distance.
"Y-you there! Stop right there!"
Though we hadn't even started moving, they ordered us to halt. As I turned to face the soldiers after stepping down from the driver's seat, they panicked and prepared for battle.
Just as I was pondering what to do, Alabarta burst out of the carriage. "Wait! I am Alabarta Domec, vice-captain of the Royal Guard! This carriage poses no threat! Lower your guard!"
Hearing Alabarta's urgent shout, the soldiers quickly relaxed their grip on their weapons.
"Alabarta-dono?!"
"You're back already?!"
The murmurs of surprise gradually calmed the tension.
Alabarta cleared his throat exaggeratedly. "Ahem! We might have arrived incorrectly, but this was an experiment with new magic! There's no need to worry! That said, your prompt response was excellent! I expect you to continue demonstrating your strength as soldiers of the Holy Empire!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Hearing Alabarta’s energetic excuse and words of praise, the soldiers straightened their backs. A few onlookers even clapped.
Alabarta responded by raising a hand and addressing one of the soldiers. "I am requesting permission to pass! I'll issue the list of those permitted later!"
"Un-understood! Please proceed!" the soldier answered. Some remained on the spot while others began directing people lined up in front of the city gate to the side of the road.
Feeling a bit apologetic, I said, "It's alright. As long as we have permission, we will proceed from above."
"Huh?" The soldiers tilted their heads in confusion.
I smiled and placed my hand on the carriage door, activating a flight spell.
The carriage rose up as if it had lost gravity, and I floated up with it.
Amidst the stunned gazes of the soldiers and passersby, we rose above the height of the city gate within five seconds.
"A-Aoi-dono! You've forgotten someone!" Alabarta shouted from the ground.
It seemed I left him behind. He had gotten off the carriage to explain things to the soldiers.
"Alabarta-dono, please pass through the gate as usual. Also, could you inform them to avoid causing a commotion when we land?"
"If a carriage descends from the sky, there will be a commotion regardless!"
"That's true. Then please try to minimize the chaos."
"Huh?! Ugh, I-I understand!" Alabarta hurriedly ran towards the gate.
Since there were no horses to pull the carriage, the plan was to travel by floating.
As a result, we were met with curious stares as we moved straight down the main street of the Holy Capital.
Soldiers walked alongside the slowly flying carriage, perhaps fearing a collision.
"That merchant! Stay away from this carriage!"
"Please make way! Move to the side of the road!"
The surroundings grew noisy, and some people, especially merchants, approached out of curiosity for the flying carriage, their eyes gleaming like predators eyeing prey.
Sensing the commotion, Strass and the others waiting inside the carriage didn't show their faces. Normally, someone like Ayle would have jumped out to experience the city firsthand, but they were holding back as well.
The stone-paved streets were lined with white buildings, giving the city a Mediterranean tourist destination vibe. It was a well-organized, beautiful cityscape, bustling with lively people.
Most of the chatter was about the flying carriage, though there were some comments directed at me.
"Hey, could that little girl be…?"
"No, no, there must be a terrifying magician inside the carriage. She must be one of the servants."
It seemed people understood the carriage was floating due to magic and were trying to identify the magician. From what I heard, no one in the crowd identified me as the caster.
However, the soldiers accompanying us from the gate were different. They had heard my conversation with Alabarta.
The soldiers glanced at me from time to time and kept an eye on the street.
"You there, move aside!"
"What did you say? Do you know who I am…?"
A young soldier sternly addressed a man in full armor who was leisurely walking in the middle of the main street. As the armored man turned around with a displeased expression, the soldier put on a stern expression and shouted, "If you don't want to die, move!"
"Ugh…"
The soldier's shout and fierce expression made the man grudgingly step aside.
It felt like a procession of a feudal lord. Though it was better than making everyone prostrate, it was undoubtedly a nuisance.
"Please don't speak too harshly."
When I called out to them, the soldiers' faces turned pale. I hoped no strange rumors would spread…