After some polite talk with Jude, their conversation had to stop because Layla had arrived.
She entered the room slowly, leaning lightly on the arm of the old butler, Spatto. Her face has a little bit of color now that she has hope to complete her mission. Akira's protective magic seal had worked perfectly, saving her life from the deadly magical strain.
When she saw Akira standing with her husband and daughter, she had a gentle smile on her face as she spoke, "Good morning, Akira."
Spatto stepped forward and placed a thick leather folder on the table.
"Everything you asked for is ready," Layla said, pointing to the folder. "Inside is the best map of the Western Continent we have, along with your fake merchant passport. A private ship is already waiting for you at the port."
Akira took the folder, checked the documents, and put them away safely into his storage ring. Everything was ready.
Before Akira could activate his flying magic to depart immediately, a small hand firmly grabbed the edge of his cloak. He looked down to see Lucy looking up at him with a big pout, her arms crossed tightly.
"You promised you would show me a new trick next time, but you didn't say you were going to leave without eating breakfast!" Lucy said, her stomach letting out a perfectly timed, loud growl that made everyone in the room chuckle.
Jude smiled warmly and stepped forward, placing a hand on Akira's shoulder. "She is right, Akira. You cannot go on a long journey across the ocean on an empty stomach. Please, sit with us. Consider it a proper send-off from the Heartfilia family."
Layla nodded gently, gesturing toward the empty chair next to Lucy. "Please join us, Akira. It would bring me great joy to share a peaceful meal together before you set sail."
Seeing the sincere looks on their faces, Akira paused. He let out a soft laugh, slid his mask back into his storage ring, and pulled out the chair. "Well, it would be rude of me to decline such a kind offer. Thank you."
The breakfast was a lively and warm affair. Lucy sat right next to Akira, happily chatting about her favorite books and asking endless questions about what the ocean looked like. Akira listened patiently, occasionally using a small bit of magic to make her silver spoon float in the air or turn a piece of fruit into the shape of a little bird, making the young girl clap her hands with delight.
Jude and Layla watched the scene with deep comfort in their hearts. For the first time in years, the heavy air of worry had completely vanished from their home. Jude poured Akira another cup of hot tea, sharing a few useful tips about the famous trading ports in the West, while Layla quietly ate, her color returning more and more as she watched her daughter laugh.
Once the meal was finished and the plates were cleared, Akira stood up from the table. The relaxed, gentle aura around him shifted back into that of a focused wizard. He did an elegant bow and spoke,
"Thank you for the wonderful breakfast," Akira said, his voice deep and serious as he looked at each family member. "I really appreciate it. Please rest and take care of your health, Lady Layla. The next time I come back, I will bring the Aquarius key and your maid, Grammi, with me."
With a final nod to the grateful family, Akira turned into a cloud of black smoke and flew out the window into the bright morning sky.
…..
The wind blew gently across the ocean as Akira flew through the bright morning sky. After a short flight, the grand Heartfilia mansion disappeared behind the green hills, and the distant sound of crashing waves began to fill the air. Soon, the busy port town of Caelum came into view.
From high above, Caelum Harbor was packed with life. Large wooden ships lined the docks, and hundreds of merchants, sailors, and workers moved around like ants, carrying heavy crates of fish, spices, and magic crystals.
Akira dropped out of the sky like a falling shadow, landing smoothly in a quiet, empty alleyway near the edge of the harbor. The black smoke around his body quickly vanished. He adjusted his dark clothing and stepped out of the alley, joining the crowded street.
Walking through the busy docks, Akira could easily spot the ship Layla had prepared for him. While most of the trading vessels in the harbor were old and crowded with noisy crews, the Heartfilia private ship stood out. It was a beautiful, large merchant vessel made of polished dark wood, with white sails that fluttered gently in the sea breeze. The family crest of the Heartfilia group was clearly painted on the side, showing its noble status.
Standing right by the boarding plank was the ship's captain, a stout man with a thick grey beard and a sharp, experienced gaze. He was busy looking over a clipboard until he noticed Akira walking toward him.
Seeing the strange, masked traveler approaching his ship, the captain raised an eyebrow. "Hold on there, friend. This is a private vessel of the Heartfilia family. If you're looking for a passenger ship, the public docks are further down the harbor."
Without saying a word, Akira reached into his pocket. He pulled out the high-tier merchant certificate that Layla had given him earlier that morning and handed it over.
The captain took the paper, his eyes scanning the official magical stamp at the bottom. His strict expression changed instantly. He quickly straightened his posture and gave a respectful bow, handing the certificate back to Akira.
"Ah, please forgive my rudeness, Master Akira," the captain said, his voice turning polite and welcoming. "Lady Layla sent word early this morning that a very important VIP would be arriving for an urgent journey to the Western Continent. Everything is ready, and the crew is just waiting for your command. Welcome aboard."
"Thank you, Captain," Akira said, his voice calm behind his dark mask. "We should set sail immediately. Time is of the essence."
"Right away, sir!" the captain barked, turning to his crew. "All hands on deck! Raise the anchor and unfurl the sails! We are heading west!"
The crew moved with practiced speed. Sailors hauled ropes, the large white sails caught the wind, and the grand wooden ship slowly began to glide away from the busy docks of Hargeon.
When the boat began to move, Akira quickly went inside his room and closed the door. Then, before the motion sickness could kick in, he activated his Take Over Magic and used the Rimuru form. Then, without any hesitation, he let go of the body's control to the Great Sage.
Then his eyes turned red, and the motion sickness that had appeared disappeared as Akira's face turned to an indifferent look. This is one of the methods Akira found out to bypass the motion sickness inherent to dragon slayers.
After all, unlike Akira, Great Sage could never feel things like motion sickness. As an artificial intelligence built entirely on logic and analysis, the Great Sage did not possess a human nervous system or a Dragon Slayer's sensitive inner ear. By handing over physical control, Akira successfully isolated his consciousness from the biological drawbacks of his magic.
"Report," the mechanical voice of the Great Sage echoed inside his mind, sounding completely flat and emotionless. "Body functions are stable. Discomfort neutralized. Estimating journey duration to the Western Continent: approximately five days under current wind conditions. Shall I maintain active control until arrival?"
'Yes, please do,' Akira thought back, feeling a wave of relief inside his own mindscape. 'Just keep the body safe and notify me immediately if anything unusual happens or if we encounter any sea monsters along the way.'
"Understood. Beginning long-term body management and magic energy regulation."
With the Great Sage running his body on autopilot, Akira's physical form sat down cross-legged on the cabin bed. His posture was perfectly rigid, his breathing rhythmic and precise.
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