The Guildmaster had been helping with the Ptero’s dispatches on my behalf while I had to stay hidden.

From what I heard, the Guildmaster frequently traveled between the Center and Pandora Forest, directly dealing with the Ptero.

Perhaps that’s why the Guildmaster and the Pteros had become quite close?

Even without verbal communication, they could exchange messages just through eye contact.

Just like how the Guildmaster communicates with Mountain Path and Minky through looks alone.

“Since we have limited time and it takes too long to reach the outskirts by carriage, let’s move by riding the Ptero.”

“……”

“Besides, since you quit, you haven’t had the chance to ride this one.”

Though I had actually ridden Pteros quite a bit, I responded as if it was my first time, very excited.

“That’s right, so I’m really happy right now!”

At that moment, the Ptero made a small cry.

―Kyaaak!

‘Dawn chatter!’

It seemed to be speaking for me to hear.

I subtly conveyed the Ptero’s opinion to Duncan.

“The Ptero is helping us a lot. I really hope we can repay it later! Maybe with dawn overtime pay… What do you think?”

“I’ll mention it to Jinjijo Transportation.”

I gave a small nod toward the Ptero as if the matter was settled.

The pleased Ptero kept chattering with its long beak open.

‘It’s a date! A date!’

‘What a great time!’

The Ptero swayed its neck left and right as if it was more excited and drunk than we were.

While stroking the Ptero’s neck, I delivered a warning-laden message.

“Why is it crying so excitedly? I’m worried it might wake others nearby.”

I’m not sure if it understood my sincere request to be quiet, but the Ptero did quiet down. I let out a sigh of relief.

“Let’s get on now. It’ll be dawn soon.”

“Alright.”

Duncan mounted the Ptero first and extended his hand to me. I took his hand and safely settled onto the Ptero.

After sitting on the Ptero, I realized two things.

First, the leader Ptero had gotten plump and chubby.

The Ptero had played the biggest role in my business’s success. I had given them plenty of the promised food, and this plumpness must be the result.

I felt somehow proud. It felt just like watching my child grow well.

Second, Duncan’s body and mine were pressed together.

I was sitting in front of Duncan, and his arms were stretched around me as he held the reins.

As a result, I was inevitably held in his embrace with no way to escape.

It had been a really long time since I’d been this close to an unrelated man.

“Please let me know if anything is uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable? Not at all.”

“That’s good then.”

“Though since this is my first flight, I might fall, so can I lean on you completely?”

This absolutely wasn’t said with ulterior motives.

I absolutely don’t want to be held in Duncan’s broad embrace.

I really! Just want to sink into his embrace because I’m scared of falling. Hehe.

“Do as you please. I’ll make sure you don’t fall.”

Duncan answered like a gentleman and shook the reins once up and down.

As if that movement was a signal, the Ptero’s large wings began to flutter.

The Ptero, which had been bouncing forward as if on tiptoe, finally took off. When I felt the buoyancy, I unconsciously burrowed deeper into Duncan’s embrace.

Just closing and opening my eyes once completely changed the surrounding scenery.

The dawn’s dimness remained, but the view was completely unobstructed in all directions.

We had taken flight into the sky.

The feeling of crossing through the air was incredibly good. I thought it would be nice just to fly like this without going to another area.

Of course, if I were alone, this speed and height might have been somewhat scary.

However, I had Duncan firmly supporting me. His presence gave me peace.

We quickly passed over the residential area and flew over an endless forest path.

Soon, a bright light cut through the dimness. The sun that would illuminate today was rising.

After flying pleasantly for a while, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘Does the Ptero know our destination? Usually, I would interpret for battle locations.’

When monsters appear and a dispatch alert sounds, the Guildmaster first contacts me. After that, I would contact the Ptero and relay the dispatch location.

The Ptero would fly to the Center, pick up the Guide and Esper, and head to the relayed dispatch location.

But today’s flight was without me playing that intermediary role.

“Sir Duncan, does the Ptero know our destination?”

“No, it doesn’t. Since I can’t communicate with monsters.”

“Then aren’t we going off course?”

“It’s fine. I’m guiding its flight direction with the reins.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that was possible.”

“Well, unless they had never worked with humans before. Pteros with lots of dispatch experience seem to understand roughly even without verbal communication.”

Duncan seemed certain. He appeared to trust the Ptero even more than me, the interpreter.

So I decided to believe in the bond between the Ptero and Duncan.

The fact that the leader Ptero came out separately to help Duncan was proof that they had built a connection I didn’t know about.

As if proving my worries unfounded, the Ptero flew without hesitation in the direction of the reins.

We quickly traversed a distance that would have taken several days by carriage.

“Whoa, whoa!”

Eventually, Duncan raised the reins to signal landing. The Ptero made a pleasant sound and began descending vertically.

Unable to withstand the strong wind breaking against my face, I squeezed my eyes shut.

The sound of air being cut continued to resonate in my ears before finally quieting down. Only then did I open my eyes slightly to look around.

The surrounding scenery had changed once again.

“We’ve arrived safely.”

Duncan dismounted the Ptero first and spread his arms as if to catch me. Then he gave a slight nod without saying anything.

I was able to get off the Ptero while being held by him.

“Wow, this is my first time here.”

Before us was a cobalt-blue sea.

Near the horizon, the orange light of the newly risen sun rippled.

The two starkly contrasting colors created a mysterious harmony.

Near our feet, white particles created by small waves sparkled beautifully.

It was the first sea I’d seen since coming to this world, and it was incredibly beautiful.

“Some people say the sea at sunset is beautiful, but to me, the sea at sunrise is more beautiful. That’s why we came here.”

“Isn’t it the same orange color either way?”

“But sunrise somehow feels like a beginning. Conversely, sunset feels like things are ending.”

“……”

“I don’t like experiencing final moments.”

At that moment, a sea breeze blew and ruffled Duncan’s golden hair.

His face beneath the disheveled hair was somehow tinged with melancholy. He seemed to be recalling some ending from his past.

Just then, the scar on his forehead that didn’t suit him became visible beneath his bangs.

That scar seemed like it might be connected to the ending he was remembering.

I couldn’t take my eyes off Duncan’s face, which was more beautiful than the sea.

As I did so, I could understand why he preferred sunrise to sunset.

Parting, conclusion… I also disliked things that meant endings.

‘I also don’t want our connection to end like this.’

After a while, Duncan’s golden eyes, looking especially clear today, met mine.

“This is like a sanctuary I visit whenever my heart is troubled or feeling confined.”

Duncan naturally took my hand and led me to where two sunbeds were placed. Next to the white sunbeds that matched the beach, there was also something like a wooden parasol.

“Would you like to sit and wait for a moment?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

Duncan went into a small building near the shore with familiarity. When he returned shortly after, his hands held two drinks and a blanket.

“Good scenery deserves good drinks.”

“Thank you.”

And your handsome face suits this wonderful scenery perfectly, too.

In this reality where everything was in harmony, I took a long sip of the delicious drink.

Meanwhile, Duncan, seated on the sunbed, didn’t drink but just appreciated the picturesque sea.

Looking at his peaceful face, I became curious about where this sanctuary that brought him peace was located.

“Sir Duncan, could you tell me where this place is?”