The expression on the inspector’s face, who had unpacked Luke’s belongings, was quite grim.
There were a strange number of unusual items.
Unlabeled medical potions and processed, refined mana herbs in plastic bags.
For an item to come out of a 10-year-old’s bag, it was far too suspicious to say anything.
Moreover, wasn’t this sleeping bag military-grade? The pouch labeled as a medical kit also had the word “military” stamped on it.
These were not the types of items that should come from simple travel gear.
Even if one were worried about injuries, basic disinfectants, healing potions, or bandages would suffice; what use is a tourniquet or an emergency surgery kit?
That was not all.
There were well-dried ropes, flashlights and igniters, a multi-purpose pocket tool… of course, all military supplies.
There were even military emergency rations.
At this point, one might wonder if the contents of the luggage had been switched, but the stark contrast presented by the neatly folded clothing and daily necessities for a girl was truly astounding.
“Did you pack all of this yourself?”
“Yes, is there a problem?”
“There are… a lot of problems…”
First of all, the unlabeled potions and powders needed to be sent for separate inspection, while the other prohibited items would be confiscated.
“There’s no helping it; I guess my luggage will have to be a bit lighter.”
This was the result of not knowing the rules of this era, so whom could one blame? Since it was his own mistake, there wasn’t much inclination to get angry or protest.
Moreover, the confiscated items would allegedly be returned upon his return, so there was even less reason to be angry.
Luke lightly closed his eyes and scratched his chin, as if to say there was nothing to be done.
The inspector, witnessing his nonchalance, was utterly bewildered.
“Why in the world did you pack all of this?”
“If something were to happen, I might find it useful. I merely prepared in advance.”
“……”
Prepared, preparation…
Well, the intention is good.
However, to have such thoughts and pack this kind of luggage at the age of 10 raises concerns about excessive safety paranoia.
These were items one would almost expect to use only when suddenly crashing into the ocean and finding themselves on a deserted island.
Where would one even find items of this caliber?
“Oh, that’s just stuff from Yerna, the Forest Keeper. I simply brought what was lying around at home.”
“Alright, that clarifies my curiosity about the amount of military supplies. The child lives with a Forest Keeper.” But there was still one major issue remaining.
Beep beep beep—
“……”
The mana built up in the child’s heart is overwhelmingly strong.
Among the documents submitted by the child, there was, of course, material about his current physical anomalies.
“Mana Accumulation Syndrome,” commonly referred to as a heart condition known as a “Circle.”
The magical circuits used in airplanes are so delicate that they are highly sensitive to mana, leading patients with this condition who have mana accumulating in their bodies to be provided with “protective gear” suitable for their mana levels.
Specifically, equipment that suppresses mana exposure.
Usually, it is crafted like accessories, taking the form of bracelets or necklaces, yet unfortunately, there was no equipment to suppress the mana originating from the World Tree even for them.
——-
“……”
Yerna, who had heard the situation, was left speechless.
She already knew Luke’s mana levels were tremendous, but she had no idea he was harboring mana as powerful as a typical World Tree’s core in his heart.
According to the inspector, Luke had almost no possibility of boarding an airplane.
No, this went beyond simply not being able to board an airplane; it became a matter of Luke’s very survival.
When Luke’s mana levels were first tested, they had not been this high.
Back then, they said the mana concentration was too high to handle.
One would have thought that was the end of it, but now it had surpassed a double circle, reaching a triple circle, a rarity among all the manifestors worldwide.
Moreover, the rate at which mana was accumulating was astonishing.
If he already possessed World Tree core-level mana after just six months, what would it be like a few years down the line?
Typically, the stronger the mana contained within a Circle, the harder it becomes to manage its overflow.
So, what about Luke, who must live with that mana in his heart for the rest of his life?
If an overflow occurs, there would be no way to control it.
Modern magic offers no means to calm the violent World Tree core-level mana raging in one’s heart.
Yerna sat down hopelessly, staring at the ceiling.
Although Luke seemed unconcerned about the accumulation of his mana, this could truly lead to a fatal issue.
According to the airport emergency medical team, surviving up until now was a “miracle”…?
Recalling the expression of the staff member who said that, Yerna slowly lowered her head, covering her face with her hands.
“But Luke is a chimera mixed with a dragon and a beast.”
Legally, and on the surface, he is a “mixed-blood beast,” but Luke is strictly a chimera created through experiments.
Moreover, he heals from wounds quickly, can transform into a dragon, breathes fire, is incredibly strong, lives passionately, laughs easily, excels in studies, and sings well. And he is so cute.
There’s no way that such a child could die just from mana overflow, right?
That’s right; it must be so.
“Karina? Are you crying?”
The girl with blue hair, tilting her head beside her, was none other than Pyris.
Looking at the face that could belong to Luke if he were two to three years younger, Yerna felt at her eyes.
No tears flowed, though.
“Huh? No, why would I be crying?”
“But you look sad.”
Well, that was a rather sharp observation.
Since Yerna had composed herself, Luke gave a weak smile beside her.
“I feel quite ashamed, Yerna. Once again, I’ve caused you to come this far… I had no idea my mana levels would become such a problem.”
“No, why would that be your fault?”
“……”
Luke bit his lip, avoiding eye contact.
Well, strictly speaking, it was indeed his fault.
For it was his own mana he had accumulated.
Their homeroom teacher, Emma, had already left because it was time for the plane to depart.
One couldn’t blame her; the other kids besides Luke had their own schedules, and as a teacher, Emma had an obligation to guide them.
It was a bit disappointing, though.
Honestly, no matter how much of a teacher she is, one knows she would have had no way to assist…
At that moment, a small elf girl with white, silver hair walked toward Luke.
Shirud Triphind.
Speaking of which, this child was also the owner of a double circle.
“Mom talked to the airport over the phone. Luke can take the same flight as me.”
“Is that really true?”
———-
In fact, Shirud had already borrowed his grandfather’s plane before this incident occurred.
It was a small plane that seemed to be only about half the size of other passenger aircraft parked in a corner of the airport, but its sleek shape had changed little.
The notable point was possibly that the mana engine was mounted not on the wings but on the tail.
“Shirud, is this the plane your grandfather owns?”
“Yeah, it’s used for work when he goes abroad, but he lent it to me this time.”
When one mentions Shirud’s grandfather, it’s none other than the “Sorid Triphind.”
A veteran who had the three circles inscribed in his heart, given that he held high mana himself, he naturally had to have countermeasures regarding mana while flying.
Thus, he owned a small aircraft that was not greatly affected by mana, and lending it to a grandson with similar concerns was not at all unusual.
Though he had no idea that Luke’s mana levels in his heart were equivalent to the World Tree’s core…
If he had known, they would have included Luke from the start, but they had hurried and lost a little time.
“My grandfather said this airplane was originally modified from one that transported the World Tree’s core. So it should be fine.”
“Oh, really? That’s impressive.”
Luke looked at the airplane with curiosity, his expression bright.
It may not be a very large plane, but the magical circuit diagrams were extremely stable.
It seemed that the most vulnerable spots were designed to operate entirely mechanically, as even when observed with magic sight, those parts did not reveal any magic.
It was incredibly, incredibly fascinating.
“Right?”
Seeing Luke marvel repeatedly, Shirud felt a sense of pride.
He had thought Luke only liked large airplanes, but it seemed he also took interest in this smaller circular aircraft.
No, given that he was examining this more intently than those giant passenger airplanes, it might just be his preference.
This plane held many memories from when Shirud was younger, having flown it several times with his grandfather, and sitting inside, he felt a deep affection for it.
Today, Shirud felt quite good, as if he had gained Luke’s acknowledgement.
As the two approached the plane, the pilot welcomed them.
He greeted Shirud lightly and took the luggage, loading it into the cargo hold.
Then he tried to take Luke’s luggage, but the pilot found it impossible to lift it even a few paces, so Luke had to load his luggage himself.
Watching this, Shirud thought:
“Where on earth does that monstrous strength come from…?”
It shocked him every time to realize that this was a girl younger than him…
Once Luke climbed aboard the airplane, he was filled with admiration.
The inside of the small plane was indeed decorated like a living room.
Luxurious-looking sofas faced each other, the floor strewn with gray-brown carpet, and there was a table on the floor; it really was just as Dayton had said.
“Uh, Shirud?”
“Yeah?”
“Where do I take off my shoes?”
“Is it uncomfortable? Then you can take them off anytime. The floor is clean here.”
“Got it.”
At Shirud’s words, Luke took off his shoes.
Though he frequently wore shoes, honestly, they weren’t comfortable shoes at all.
If one were to ask why he often wore such uncomfortable shoes, it was simply because Luke had been accustomed to the attire of nobility.
In the past, most who survived and bore circles were nobles or affluent individuals, and Luke, who had acted as the head of the academy that he frequently mingled with them, had thus become psychologically uncomfortable with clothing that was too relaxed, accustomed to rather inefficient etiquette and attire from 5000 years ago.
As Luke sat down after taking off his shoes, Shirud also sat opposite him and spoke.
Luke found the seatbelt inside and pulled it across his waist, fastening it with a click, and he thought.
“Dayton’s words were indeed true.”
Well, of course, he wouldn’t lie to him.
Still, he had harbored a slight doubt, and now he felt a bit regretful.
——-
“Ach!”
“Why? Dayton, do you have a cold?”
At Yerna’s concerned question, Dayton shook his head and smiled as if nothing was wrong.
“No, just a sneeze.”
It’s interesting to think about what kind of expression Luke would have made upon realizing that it was a lie that one must take off their shoes before boarding an airplane.
I wanted to see that expression in person.
After seeing Dayton chuckle slightly, Yerna tilted her head, pondering and then asked.
“Alright… so…”
“The ticket for the flight to Beriton? I haven’t refunded it yet.”
