◆ Near the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Avangarde, Noibranz Army Garrison ◆
“How are the results, Assistant to the Early Brigade?”
“Y-Yes… I must report that due to the intervention of the Kingdom of Metallica, the expected outcomes have not been achieved. It seems we cannot compete with the medicines provided by Lady Natchu…”
“How about the hunting?”
“…It appears that there are those who have escaped from Titanis.”
“What?!”
The tense exchange within the tent tightened my heart even further. Although this was only part of the Third Brigade dispatched from the homeland, the formidable Captain Souzen was present. With a waterfall-like white beard, he was a seasoned warrior renowned for his individual strength, said to rival even the Ten Destroyers. I found myself in the same space as such a significant figure, who had even been chosen as an advisor to His Majesty.
A person of his caliber should not be in the same room as someone like me, yet he furrowed his brow. The Earth Beast Titanis, the Servant of Captain Souzen, was well-known. That monster, possessing hardness akin to orichalcum, would be unbeatable even if a squadron of mid-level commanders banded together against it. The synthetic Servant, completed under Captain Souzen’s leadership, had overwhelmed the Vandalsia army during the last invasion operation—until that strange masked figure named Rulud appeared.
“Was it sighted?”
“Still under confirmation, but it seems to be the talk among Adventurers. There are rumors of a rock-like creature that has appeared within the country. If no one had escaped alive, such rumors would not have arisen.”
“There’s also the possibility that someone is lurking in the shadows… but I cannot believe Titanis would make such a blunder.”
“Captain Souzen, what shall we do?”
“Udaaaah!”
“Wha?!”
“…Prepare some iced tea.”
I nearly wet myself. I genuinely thought I was going to die just now. I had come here with the mindset of blending into the background as a mere errand girl. This was bad; my hand trembled uncontrollably as I held the cup.
“I-Iced tea, coming right up!”
“Very well.”
Just being near him was suffocating, even inducing a sense of nausea. Why did he have to shout?
“We cannot let this go. If our schemes are discovered, it would tarnish His Majesty’s prestige. Assistant to the Early Brigade, head to the Royal Capital immediately. You understand what you must do, yes?”
“Y-Yes! Right away!”
“There’s no need for that.”
As he lifted the tent flap, a man entered as if it were only natural. He exuded a boldness akin to barging into a close friend’s home uninvited. With neatly arranged black hair and an average build, he wore only minimal armor, save for a token breastplate. I could tell he was not a soldier from Noibranz.
“Your name was… Eeks, wasn’t it?”
“Wow, for a country that was just recently closed off, you seem quite knowledgeable. Did you rush to gather information?”
“When it comes to a renowned warrior from a friendly nation, it would be rude not to be informed.”
“You sent monsters after Adventurers who were desperately trying to clear the land in your country.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I don’t intend to engage in a lengthy debate. Just step outside.”
Eeks provocatively gestured outside with his thumb. The sight that greeted me outside was more than enough to make my knees buckle. This garrison was supposed to be off-limits to anyone not involved, even to the upper echelons of Avangarde. Yet, Eeks’s undeniable power allowed him to enter freely. Noibranz soldiers lay scattered about, some sprawled like corpses but still alive, groaning occasionally.
“…What is this?”
“What do you think, Captain Souzen?”
I wasn’t shocked by the fallen soldiers. It was the mountain of Servants towering in the center of the garrison that took my breath away. Various sizes of Servants were piled atop one another, as if boasting a grand display.
“What does this mean?”
“No, no, I’d like you to explain. After we repelled these attackers, they fled at incredible speed. And when we chased them, we ended up here.”
“Attacked, you say… What on earth are you talking about?”
“You’re impressive. To maintain such composure without breaking a sweat in this situation, you must be the fiercest warrior in Noibranz. Hey!”
A throng of Adventurers and Avangarde soldiers poured into the garrison. But that wasn’t all; behind heavily guarded barriers was the King of Avangarde. Though he appeared gaunt and frail, his gaze still conveyed that he was not yet dead as a king. He sat in a mobile chair, flanked by high-ranking officials and guards. The sheer number of people made it feel as though we were completely surrounded.
“The King of Avangarde…”
“…It is truly regrettable. I believed we could build a friendship with Noibranz and illuminate the entire continent in the distant future. Let’s avoid secrets and lies; what you have done is already well-known. Many Adventurers here have suffered, and many owe their survival to Eeks’s assistance.”
“Listen, you should have taken your time. You needed to earn our trust gradually. Right, Ritta?”
“Y-Yes, that’s right. Tiferia…”
Master Knight Tiferia. An S-rank Adventurer in this country, equivalent to the Ten Destroyers in ours. She wore light armor adorned with emerald-colored breastplates and waist guards, her slender figure imposing a silent pressure with her devil-like wings extending from her back. I wondered who was stronger, the Ten Destroyers or Tiferia. Such idle thoughts were why I remained stagnant for so long.
“Many seasoned Adventurers, led by the Five Elites, are present. I see, this is the power of Avangarde.”
“Indeed, let me show you this as well… Dogra!”
A slender, black dragon resembling an eel slithered up from the ground. Its long body coiled around Captain Souzen’s Servant, Titanis. If that weight were to crash down before me, I would surely be unable to stand. Having just buckled at the knees, I found myself rolling on the ground once more.
“Titanis…”
“Let me introduce him. This is the Jet-Black Earth Dragon Dogra, my partner. Thanks to him, we’ve captured this decisive evidence.”
“What a creature you command…”
“Since it’s called an Earth Dragon, it seems to be a rank above this rock-like creature. I won’t lose in a contest underground either.”
“Captain Souzen…”
The Assistant to the Early Brigade looked at Captain Souzen with desperation. Just as Eeks had said, despite being in such a dire situation, his calm demeanor spoke of his seasoned experience. What should we do? What can we do? If I had known it would come to this, I should have spent more time with my family. I genuinely wanted help.
“Outwardly, we will strive for reconstruction, healing the sick and showing a cooperative stance. However, behind the scenes, you conspired to reduce our numbers, didn’t you? By making us dependent on the nation of Noibranz, you aimed to gradually establish a regime… something like that, right?”
“But don’t be too downhearted. Eeks mocked you earlier, but if things had gone slightly differently, no one would have noticed. Right? I’m so scared now.”
“Captain Souzen, we do not wish to escalate this matter. Effective immediately, we will sever diplomatic relations with Noibranz. I hope you never set foot on our soil again. I will also send a letter to King Braamd.”
I thought it was a sweet judgment, yet I felt a sense of relief inside. However, Captain Souzen, after a moment of self-deprecation, gripped his naginata and swung it. The tent was torn away, and the framework bent against the fierce wind. With a single swing, the captain, known for unleashing a “storm” on the battlefield, had made his decision. As for me, I naturally tumbled lightly, crashing into the supplies and stopping in a pathetic position.
“Are you really going to do this? I expected a calm judgment.”
“Of course, I am completely calm. If I am to fall as a traitor to the nation without fulfilling the king’s decree, then I shall do so honorably as a general.”
“Indeed! Are preparations in place to evacuate the king?!”
Had he anticipated this outcome? The King of Avangarde was swiftly escorted away by his guards through a pre-planned escape route.
“Titanis! Noble soldiers of Noibranz! Here and now, we carve the future of our nation! Have you forgotten the fate inscribed upon you? If not, then rise!”
“The great… King Braamd…”
“Win for the nation…”
“Noibranz… Long live!”
Like the undead, the soldiers rose groggily. Titanis struggled to escape the grasp of the dragon named Dogra. Eventually, it used sheer force to sink into the ground along with Dogra.
“Hey, hey… I thought I wouldn’t be able to get up for a while…”
“On the contrary, these guys look like they’ll keep fighting unless we take their heads off. I wonder if our soldiers can handle this.”
“This is the Kingdom of Avangarde… They’ve faced attacks from the Demon Lord Army and Vandalsia’s forces. There’s no way the ones who survived are weak… Right?”
“We’re Adventurers too!”
“Come on, you little brats! Once more, let me introduce myself! I am Souzen, the captain of the Third Brigade of the Nation of Noibranz! Know that before my name, even thousands of soldiers are powerless!”
It has begun. Should I just pretend to be dead?
◆ Ikana Village ◆
“Lua… Lua. Look, you’ve dropped your carrot.”
“Oh, right…”
“Geez, you’re so spaced out…”
Even though we finally have a family gathering, I’m not enjoying it at all. I suddenly realized that the potatoes in the stew were gone. When did I eat them?
“Are you worried about what Meria said earlier?”
“A little…”
“Well, you know, you’re not a Hero or anything. Sure, Meria’s story was shocking, but to be honest, I’m half in doubt about it.”
“That’s true… Even if they talk about Divine Beings, it doesn’t change our lives.”
“Lua, don’t you have anything you want to do? You used to always say you wanted to see the outside world when you were a kid, but have you found anything you want to pursue?”
I’ve thought about this before, but I still haven’t found anything. As a child, I lived only with a longing for the outside world, and now I even question whether I truly wanted to become an Adventurer. I don’t dislike the job, but I feel a sense of emptiness somewhere.
It’s not just that; I have too many things to think about right now. There’s Platiu, and the Nation of Noibranz. It’s frustrating that I can’t just cut off my ties to them.
“Thanks to you earning as an A-Rank Adventurer, our household finances are thriving. The living standards of the entire village are definitely improving. But if… if it ever becomes too much for you, don’t hesitate to tell us.”
“I’m not struggling! It’s not that… I’m just thinking about why Meria said such things. I feel like there must be some meaning behind it.”
“That’s true… And if we take her words at face value, it means we’re in a dire situation. The fact that we can live like this now is all the will of the Divine Being.”
“That’s it!”
I accidentally flipped over my empty plate. Since I’ve adjusted my strength for everyday use, I won’t break anything, but I still startled my mom and dad.
“Is that Madias really a bad guy?”
“There is no good or bad in the Divine Being. Only its will exists… As Corin said, it’s true that the concept of a Divine Being is too abstract for us to grasp, but it’s certain that it is a being far removed from us.”
“But why is it mediating? Is it having fun or something?”
“Perhaps the Divine Being has transcended even that concept. It might be an existence devoid of emotions like ours.”
“So… what should we do?”
“See, that’s why it’s something that doesn’t concern us. Please, just take a break for a while…”
That’s right, I’ve finally regained this normal life. Just as my dad said, there’s no need to worry. But still, there’s something that keeps me from sitting still. What do I want?
“I’ll say it again, you are you. What you want to do is something you decide. Thanks to you, your father and I can live our daily lives again. So I don’t want to sound condescending. But as I said before…”
“Talking about Divine Beings and such is pointless. If that’s the case, then I should take action on the things that are bothering me. If I pick away at my worries one by one, maybe something will become clear.”
My mom’s words reminded me of something. The cold attitude Platiu had on the airship. If I’ve been disliked, I want to clarify what caused it. I can’t just back down like this. I’ve been too caught up in the big issues like the Nation of Noibranz and Madias.
“Tomorrow… I’m going to meet Platiu.”
“Is she a friend? You should go see her.”
A friend, huh? Thinking about it, we only played together for a short time, so it might be presumptuous to say that. At the very least, she might not think of me that way. That’s why there’s a possibility I was disliked.
“Dad, Mom. If… if someone you thought was a close friend suddenly became cold to you, what would you do?”
“That would be tough… It would hurt me too.”
“Well, if it were me, I’d do whatever it takes to find out the reason. If I did something wrong without realizing it, I’d apologize. I don’t know if that would lead to reconciliation, though…”
“Yeah…”
“But if we just stop seeing each other, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. I’d remember it at random moments, over and over. If I’m going to worry about it, I think it’s better to clarify things, even if it means being disliked.”
What if I really am disliked? Just thinking about it makes my chest ache. But just like my mom said, I should act to avoid regrets.
“Are you going? Should I go greet whoever it is, even if I don’t know them?”
“You don’t have to go.”
“I see.”
Tomorrow, no matter what, I will meet her. I don’t know how long Silverwing will be in this country, and it’s better to act sooner rather than later. If she won’t let me meet her…
“Please don’t do anything reckless, okay?”
“Yeah.”
I averted my gaze, feeling like I was seen right through.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Lua’s special stew, hmm…
A hint of butter and freshly harvested ingredients blend together,
A creamy aroma wafts through the air.
The potatoes melt perfectly in my mouth, thickening the stew,
Creating a harmony of savory and sweetness that glides down my throat.
With this skill, I could open a shop in the capital and thrive.
As a food report, it surely guarantees high praise.
I’m glad to have settled here.
Still, having a daughter like Lua, who is such a wild child,
Must be tough for her parents.
And to think she’s a girl, well, that’s quite the challenge.
If Corin hadn’t been around, there wouldn’t have been a suitor for her.
Hmm, this stew is exquisite.
Lua, go visit Platiu on your own.
Shin is here, savoring his mother’s cooking.