The bubble gondola's ascent took quite a while, but that was only the beginning. After that, they still had to climb over a thousand steps to reach Mary Geoise.
"Pant... pant... I can't do it anymore. You two, carry me up."
Oran and his group moved as swiftly as if they were flying. These steps were nothing to him, but the other Kings were not nearly so at ease.
They did not usually exercise much, so climbing so many steps in one go was no easy task. Some Kings even came with their own extra weight.
Those luxurious outfits had no practical purpose beyond looking extravagant. They were cumbersome and heavy, making movement inconvenient. For them, it was practically weighted training, and they were already gasping after only a few steps.
"Your Majesty, please hold on a little longer. We're almost there."
"Yes, this concerns the nation's dignity. Please endure a little longer."
Ordinary people discriminating against royalty was indeed troublesome in this world, but royalty looking down on royalty was another matter. Even if they said nothing aloud, they would despise someone who could not even walk properly, perhaps even extending that contempt to their entire country.
Even counting the guards, there were only a few hundred people here. Yet together, they were the political leaders of most of the world's powerful nations. If a terrorist attack succeeded here, most countries would fall into chaos.
"Say, Kate. What are you doing?"
Oran's physical fitness was among the best of all the royalty, and he was one of the first to reach the top. Even the guards had been left behind.
Those guards wearing heavy armor could not possibly keep up with them.
Looking back, he could see the royal families stretched into a long line, their differences in stamina