Chapter 1696: Noontime Founding Festival with Shallow Vernal ③

By some mysterious force, we got into the gondola without waiting for our turn. No, I don’t really know if they call it gondola here or not, but it looks like a gondola, so I’ll just call it that.

When entering the gondola, I glanced at the side and saw a sign that said “Height Limit: 3m or less”. There are many different species of people of varying heights in this world, so having such a sign certainly makes sense…… but I don’t usually see that many huge people in the city.

The reason is that people with a physique of over 3 meters are almost exclusively among Demons, and despite their differences in skills, all Demons can use magic.

Demons with large physiques are taught at an early age by their parents or other members of the same species how to use magic to change their body size or Humanization Magic. It’s some kind of etiquette, and even Megiddo-san mostly takes on a humanoid form when coming to the Human Realm’s cities for that reason.

[The interior seems simple. There’s plenty of room for two people, but it might be a bit cramped for four people or more.]

We entered the gondola and sat down. It really does feel similar to a Ferris wheel gondola, and when there are two people inside, sitting facing each other feels just right.

……Doing it that way feels just right…… but Shiro-san sat down next to me with a casual expression on her face, as if her actions were a matter of course.

[……Umm, Shiro-san? In this situation, wouldn’t it be more natural for us to sit opposite each other?]

[I suppose so. However, I wanted to sit next to Kaito-san, so I’m sitting next to you.]

[W- When you say it like that, I can’t say any complaints back anymore. Let’s stay like this then.]

The gondola seemed to be quite stable, and I also don’t mind Shiro-san sitting next to me, so there’s no problem at all.

Soon after, the gondola slowly began to float in the air. According to the attendant’s explanation, it takes about 20 minutes to slowly circle over the Royal Capital.

[Ohh, this is rather amazing. For something this big to be floating in the air……]

[It’s actually just moving as if tracing a trajectory drawn up in a magic technique. The box itself only has Levitation applied to it, and is being pulled along by other magic tools.]

[I see……]

[Now then, Kaito-san, let’s confirm an important fact.]

[Yes?]

The view from the gondola in the sky, overlooking the Royal Capital crowded with many people, is a pretty good view. Especially during the Founding Festival, the scene is lively and enjoyable even when viewed from the sky.

[……It’s just the two of us now, isn’t it?]

[……………………..]

What comes back to my mind is my own statement from a little while ago…… The line which Shiro-san described as a “definite promise”. And then, how conveniently, we discovered this attraction “by chance”.

C- Could it be, Shiro-san…… Were you aiming for this development? N- No, wait, let’s calm down here. Right, that promise was made after we discovered the attraction…… However, it is true that it’s now just the two of us and it’s no exaggeration to say we got a good atmosphere between us.

[Twenty minutes, we have a reasonable amount of time, and I’m looking forward to this.]

[……I- I suppose so.]

The incredibly refreshing smile on Shiro-san’s face left quite an impression in my mind. It seems like this is going to be a long 20 minutes.

……Wait, this really is just going to be 20 minutes, right? There’s no Time Manipulation or anything like that that’s gonna happen, right?

<Afterword>

Serious-senpai : [Ah, this looks bad……]