◆ Above the Kingdom of Avangarde ◆
The forces of the Nation of Kashiram, including Beastkin and Giants, had divided their strength. Concerned about the invasion from the Noibranz army, the King had first redirected troops for the defense of Kashiram, leaving the remainder to guard the Avangarde Royal Capital. The King also considered the possibility that the commander, Rudred, might be lying, worrying that even if they sent aid, the enemy might attack from another direction. He didn’t fully trust Noibranz, but if he completely rejected them, he couldn’t predict what the desperate Dragon Cavalry might do. After some deliberation, I decided that I had to take action.
“I took this on impulsively, but if Rulud has already decimated the Noibranz forces, that would make things easier.”
“That’s not something I would expect from you, Lua-chan.”
“Well! They attacked Negesta before, and now they’re at it again! What is wrong with that country? It should just be wiped out!”
“…I think the King is the one at fault here.”
Kurinka was right; the people living there weren’t to blame. I had heard before that Noibranz had been heavily taxing its citizens to strengthen its military, leading to dire situations. According to Baran, in some places, people were even gnawing on tree roots because they had nothing to eat.
“How pitiful. I want to help them…”
“I understand that, but… Lua-chan, you see…”
“What is it?”
“Never mind.”
“What is it?”
After that, Kurinka fell silent. I was curious, but it felt like something I shouldn’t pry into, so I let it go. If it was something difficult for her to say, it might be something that would make her angry if I asked. Of course, that wouldn’t make me dislike Kurinka, but I didn’t want to make either of us uncomfortable.
“The King of Avangarde has managed to survive, but he might not have much time left… With all the stress he’s endured, it wouldn’t be surprising if he collapsed.”
“Can’t Kurinka’s regeneration help?”
“I can heal illnesses and injuries, but I can’t reverse aging or restore a body weakened by stress. So if we grow old…”
“Let’s not talk about that!”
“I’m sorry… But isn’t it strange that we can’t regenerate aging?”
The captured King of Avangarde was severely weakened, and Kurinka’s regeneration had barely kept him alive; this was hardly the time for discussions. To be honest, I didn’t particularly like him, but the continuity of the Kingdom of Avangarde was thanks to him. Despite the existence of terrible rulers like the King of Noibranz, the King of Avangarde had genuinely considered the welfare of his people, which was why the kingdom thrived. The Avangarde Festival had been enjoyable, and I could always find delicious food at the shops. In Noibranz, there was hardly anything to eat.
“Still, it’s surprising he wasn’t killed by Vandalsia. If anyone would have done it, it would be him.”
“The King of Avangarde is, after all, a descendant of Vandalsia… Just like how he was kind to the Evil Nobility, he couldn’t be ruthless to those who share his blood. That’s just a guess, though…”
“…Why didn’t he extend that little kindness to everyone?”
I often wondered why Vandalsia was the way he was, and the same went for the Comet Wolf Brigade. What was the difference between him and me? Even his obsession with that Ribbon left me puzzled, and defeating him would still leave questions unanswered.
“Hey, once things settle down, shouldn’t we live quietly for a while? We just got married, and we have to think about where we’ll live.”
“That’s true… but…”
“I want to keep living in Ikana Village. We can build a house together, and there, I can be with Dad and Mom too. And then…”
“Before that, we need to figure out something about the Nation of Noibranz.”
“…Lua-chan.”
I regretted saying that right after. I felt like I had disappointed Kurinka and that I had taken our married life too lightly. I had sworn to be happy, yet here I was. No, that’s not it. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to it.
“I know it’s a bit late to say this, but… we’re just Adventurers. Sure, being A-Rank means we can’t avoid requests from the kingdom, but oh, I did have that fight with the King before, didn’t I? Haha, sorry! Forget I said anything!”
“Kurinka…”
I understood what Kurinka wanted to say. She had tried to dodge the topic, but deep down, she felt that we didn’t have to get involved in everything. I didn’t think Kurinka was heartless. I understood a little; we didn’t have to stick our noses into everything. What Kurinka had hesitated to say earlier was about this. Vandalsia had exploited my weaknesses, and this was a significant vulnerability. I needed to overcome it, but that also meant becoming colder. I wasn’t sure if I should overcome it.
“If you don’t want to, then let’s not. I’m sorry for troubling you.”
“I’m not against it; I’m really happy to fight alongside you, Lua-chan. But just a tiny bit, I thought it would be nice to take a breather.”
“After all, it was me who brought this up… I didn’t notice.”
“So it’s fine now. I’m the one who should apologize for troubling you. Now, we should be arriving soon!”
Once again, she deflected the conversation and increased our speed. At that moment, a storm raged before us.
◆ Lightuma Plains of the Kingdom of Avangarde, Near the Border ◆
As if playing in the wind, Kurinka, in her Dragon form, and I were thrown into the air. The moment we got close, we were swept away by a tremendous storm, unable to resist at all. On top of that, relentless lightning struck the ground from above. The torrential rain soaked us instantly, and the ground shook violently, creating fissures like canyons everywhere. It felt as if all the disasters in the world had converged in this one spot. Because of the heavy rain, I could barely see the Noibranz army in the distance.
“Kurinka!”
“Lua-chan… I’m sorry, I’m barely managing to hold on…”
“I’ll carry you!”
I supported Kurinka, who had plunged her wings into the ground to withstand the wind. Carrying her in her human form, I looked around again. Amidst the raging storm, I caught a faint glimpse of a figure. Normally, no one could stand calmly in such chaos. I immediately recognized that this person must be the one causing the storm.
“That guy… but where is the Noibranz army?”
“As the elegant me would do, I would head straight for him. The other cowards can just stay there and be quiet.”
“Even Gealebum, who boasts the breakthrough power of the Ten Destroyers, couldn’t handle him! I say again, we should retreat! No matter how many times we ‘appraise’ him, we can’t devise a plan to win with our current strength! And he is…”
I could faintly hear that voice; it was Sadameru. No doubt about it, why was he here?
“Kurinka, I can hear Sadameru’s voice…”
“I had my suspicions, but wasn’t he one of the Ten Destroyers of Noibranz? That massage therapist must be too…”
“Wait, what!? Him?”
“I think he was gathering information for this war… But still, a Master Appraiser working for Noibranz…”
He was the one who helped us decide on our wedding venue, and I thought he was a good person. If he was an enemy, why had he gone so far to help us?
“This is hopeless.”
“Natchu, you’re keeping your distance. You have no elegance whatsoever.”
“Who do you think helped me recover? Watch your words!”
I could hear them arguing not too far away. If the Ten Destroyers were here in this state, then Sadameru was right; we should retreat. I couldn’t confidently say I could defeat the one causing this storm while carrying Kurinka. But still, I wanted to see what kind of person they were.
“If we keep fighting, someone will die again… My instincts are usually spot on…”
“Matarnya’s assertion is correct. And if we get stubborn here, it means doubting Sadameru’s appraisal. Isn’t that right?”
There were Schwelm, Sadameru, and that massage girl. There might be others, but I couldn’t see clearly from here.
“Natchu’s right… This isn’t a gamble worth taking… Even a Master Gambler like me thinks it’s best to fold…”
“You’ve got a Gambler saying that? You should retreat!”
The fact that they were calmly conversing in such a storm meant they were anything but ordinary. I shouldn’t be listening to this conversation, but I was at a loss about what to do. Should I deal with the one causing the storm first?
“Kurinka, what do you think we should do?”
“I have an idea. First, we should tell King Braamd, ‘I’ll defeat that guy, so stop the invasion!’ If he refuses, we’ll just head back. I feel bad for Lord Sadameru, but if the Noibranz army is annihilated, our country will be safe.”
“Y-You know, Lua, that’s pretty harsh coming from you…”
“Is it?”
Suddenly, the warmth of Kurinka’s body felt frightening. No, that’s not right. It is right. Shaking off my unease, I decided to ignore the Ten Destroyers and search for the Noibranz army. They couldn’t be too far from where the Ten Destroyers were.
The storm was loud and disruptive, so I took off running with Kurinka still on my back. I headed in the opposite direction of where the Ten Destroyers were advancing, and it turned out to be the right choice; a large troop was right there. The first thing I noticed was a monster that resembled an elephant. The elephant that attacked when the Garden of Beasts invaded was only slightly larger than a human house, but this one was at a castle. Its skin was a dark blue, wrinkled mass, and at its feet were countless monsters. None of them were larger than the elephant’s knees, yet they were all large monsters. The soldiers of Noibranz were riding on their backs. If all those were Servants, then it made sense for the elephant to carry them.
“How did I not notice something that big…?”
“In this storm, visibility is severely limited… More importantly, Lua-chan, I think the one on that elephant is the King.”
On the elephant’s back was a throne, sheltered from the rain and wind. The long brown hair of the woman seated there almost reached her forehead. She looked quite old, her face lined with wrinkles, but her eyes were sharp and piercing. That must be King Braamd, the one the people of Noibranz absolutely revered. Compared to any king I knew, his stern expression was frigid.
“Kurinka, can you transform into a dragon and fly now that we’re this far away? I want to get to that king…”
“There are a lot of soldiers flying around as if they were guards; it might be dangerous…”
“But it was you who suggested we talk to him, right?”
“Oh, yes. You’re right…”
Resigned, Kurinka took off toward the elephant’s back, and of course, the soldiers who noticed us quickly surrounded us. They were not from the Dragon Cavalry but soldiers mounted on various winged monsters, weapons pointed our way.
“Is this a new force from Vandalsia?!”
“No! We’re, um…”
“We’re the Flash Strike Girl Lua and Flame Princess Kurinka! We’ve come to respond to the rescue request from the Dragon Cavalry’s Captain, Rudred!”
“Wait, are you saying that dragon is talking…?”
I worried that my casual tone might irritate them. I could already see the surprise on their faces at Kurinka Dragon, which would only complicate matters further. But before that could happen, the Dragon Cavalry finally caught up, skillfully maneuvering around the storm.
“Rudred’s squad has returned! We have something to discuss with His Majesty! Please let us through!”
“Captain Rudred…! To bring such a girl here during an emergency is quite the jest!”
“The King of Vandalsia and his kin have been annihilated! By the hand of this Flash Strike Girl! Any further questioning will be seen as distrust toward me!”
“Ugh, I-I understand…”
It seemed no one in this country knew about us. When we fought the squad before, Balbus had been the standout, and ultimately, it was Schwelm who killed the captain. It was only natural they wouldn’t know us.
Reluctantly, the soldiers parted to let us through, allowing us to approach the elephant. Up close, it was imposing; smaller than the Dragon God, but if it charged toward the Royal Capital of Avangarde, even a Gigas Horse would be useless. A single kick from its front legs would end it in one blow. I could feel that kind of power radiating from it. I wanted to use my Detect Ring, but this wasn’t the time.
“A girl riding a dragon? How peculiar.”
Finally, the king on the elephant spoke. I wanted to point out that there were plenty of people riding strange monsters too, but I held my tongue.
“Um…”
“Ceasefire.”
“Eh…?”
“The invasion of the Kingdom of Avangarde is hereby canceled. Notify the entire army and the Ten Destroyers.”
“By the King’s orders! Notify them immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
I was at a loss for what was happening. The king’s words spread through the army like a game of telephone. The troops below, looking like mere specks, showed no signs of panic. Despite the strong winds whipping around, King Braamd’s hair was tousled, yet he fixed his sharp gaze on me.
“Without needing to say it, we have withdrawn. I have no need to hear your conditions.”
“Uh, I-I see…”
“Look at that.”
King Braamd pointed toward the raging storm. The tornadoes twisted and turned, creating a landscape of despair that seemed otherworldly.
“Even the most renowned generals of my army could not break through. Those who have risked their lives for the nation until today have become heroic spirits. All due to my command.”
I never expected him to surrender so easily. I was prepared to fight the Noibranz army if it came to that, especially with the people around me. If King Kashiram said something strange, Weiss would surely get angry, shouting, “Your Majesty!” But here, no one said anything. Everyone seemed to accept the king’s words as a matter of course.
“I have faced a fearsome monster. Now, I am left only with regret.”
This king acknowledged his defeat to Rulud. The king of a nation that had once waged war across the continent, who invaded even to subjugate the Nation of Negesta. Just like that. As I stood there, dumbfounded, a shadow appeared through the tornado.
“Hmm… Something seems off.”
“Fofefofefofe! If you have realized your ignorance, then you should tuck your tail and flee! But remember this! The cleansing of humanity has only just begun!”
Emerging clearly from the storm was a figure wearing an inverted triangular mask. Dressed in tattered robes that looked like ragged cloth, he waved his hands ominously. Despite the storm, his robe was unaffected by the wind, nor was it soaked by the rain. Yes, this was far stronger than Vandalsia.
“This is not a punishment! It is a cleansing! Therefore, I shall flow your sins to the Divine Being! Holy Sword! Come to me!”
As Rulud raised both hands, a sword faintly appeared above him. Its hilt resembled the sun, and the blade shone white. I felt a sense of familiarity.
“With the sword that symbolizes my lineage! The cleansing begins!”
“Th-That sword… I won’t forget it… I couldn’t touch it… It’s the Hero’s Sword!”
Why is that sword there? Why is that person holding it? The sword that Aleid had, which was donated by the Kingdom of Avangarde to Lord Hast. I didn’t know what happened to Aleid after he lost his power, but the sword was right there.
“That sword! Why?! Hey, Lua-chan!”
“I want to know too… It’s a sword only a Hero can wield, so why is it there?”
“That’s obvious! I am the rightful owner!”
Ignoring my confusion, Rulud spoke that answer. The owner of the Hero’s Sword, that Rulud. The Calamity. In the midst of this storm, he could hear our voices from over there. It wouldn’t be surprising if he could wield at least one of the Hero’s Swords. But it nagged at me; rightful owner? I didn’t want to admit it.
“Could it be?! So that Rulud is the Hero?!”
“But Kurinka, he’s the Calamity, right?”
“Not all Heroes are good people… Just look at Aleid; he was terrible.”
“Y-Yeah, but… Oh, that guy!”
As the storm cleared and visibility improved, I was shocked once more. There stood Aboro, the Demon from the Demon Lord Castle, right there. I wished he wouldn’t confuse me any further. And before I knew it, the storm had stopped. The surrounding landscape was a chaotic mess from the lightning and fissures, unrecognizable. There stood the masked man, gripping the Hero’s Sword as if it were his right.
“His name is definitely Aboro… Why is he in Noibranz?”
“Wait! There’s a naked person over there!”
“Wah! Wow! It’s true!”
The Hero’s Sword, Aboro, and now a naked man. He stood out too much among the Ten Destroyers. Kurinka flapped around in confusion, and I clung to her back. That guy over there was even more of a mystery.
“Hey? Why did you make the storm disappear? I was looking forward to a good fight!”
“Forget that! There’s someone of much higher quality here. The strongest in the world.”
“Huh?”
The naked guy and Aboro turned to look at us. Neither Kurinka nor I could bear to see any more. It was just… something about it.
“Swinging around… Ahh…”
“Why is he naked…?”
I couldn’t help but feel an unusual sense of unease, more so than with Rulud or the Hero’s Sword. If Kurinka weren’t a Dragon, her face would surely be flushed bright red. The only time I had seen something like this was when I took a bath with my father when I was little. I wished he wouldn’t look at me.
“Fufufufu…! Fear not, this is merely a greeting. The true purging shall come in due time!”
“Ah!”
As I was distracted by the naked man, Rulud’s form gradually faded away, disappearing before my eyes. I let him escape.
“W-What should I do?! I’ve let a dangerous one slip away! Kurinka, what do we do?!”
“First of all, this isn’t your fault, Lua-chan! I never expected him to run away either…”
“…It seems I’ve narrowly escaped with my life.”
We had completely forgotten that we were standing before King Braamd. Contrary to his words, King Braamd showed no signs of fatigue, sitting upright on his throne.
“Um, so you will cease the war, correct?”
“Our nation has suffered defeat. Therefore, we have an obligation to obey the victors. The opponent is the Nation of Vandalsia… no, the Kingdom of Avangarde. We shall also withdraw from the Nation of Negesta.”
“Thank you. However, we are merely Adventurers, so I’m not quite sure how to handle the aftermath…”
“Of course. It must be quite difficult for you as well; we both need time.”
I had imagined him to be as cold as ice, but now he seemed surprisingly normal. He was the king of a great nation that had nearly unified the continent through large-scale wars. Even a king with the Divine Nature of “invasion” had no choice but to become an ordinary uncle in the face of a calamity like Rulud. Perhaps that was the case.
“I never imagined such a being existed… Dreams are not merely for dreaming. Here and now, I have resolved the future of my nation. Peace—let us seek that path.”
The battle with Noibranz, which I thought would lead to a great war, ended here. After the storm of violence had passed, a desolate landscape of devastation spread before us. Even with the absence of a being with such overwhelming power, the remnants remained, ensuring that we would not forget. I felt as if the king of Noibranz was burning this sight into his memory.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Concerns of Adolescence
Shin will listen thoroughly.
That is the duty of an adult.
If it’s Lua, she will surely become a Hero.
But at the same time, there is no life where Lua’s feelings are absent.
And no matter how great a Hero, not everything can be saved.
The more talented one is, the more they struggle with that reality.
How to reconcile with that?
That is the quality necessary for a Hero, or so Shin believes.
Hmm? Noibranz raised a white flag?
Hmm, surprisingly cowardly or perhaps calm.
Well, if one cannot even defeat a strange-faced individual and loses their troops and dignity,
anyone’s heart would break.
Braamd too, a mere human after all.
Shin’s overthinking, so I shall erase the previous report.
Erase, erase.
This—this won’t disappear, will it?