The residents of Flattala City stared blankly at the sky.
It appeared from the southern sky.
Certainly, there had been repeated notifications from that ＜Paraiso＞.
They were told not to be alarmed, as forces heading to seize the Royal Capital would be passing overhead today.
They knew that flying ships had been traveling back and forth from the massive fortress of ＜Paraiso＞ built in the suburbs every day.
They were surprised at first, but they had gotten used to it.
So, the residents assumed that these aerial ships would be flying over in large numbers.
Those who could take time off work took vacations, gathered in the plaza with wine cups in hand from morning, intending to watch the start of the grand event of the Royal Capital invasion.
Stalls were set up to make a profit from this spectacle.
And then, i（・）t（・） came.
At first, it was like a speck in the southern sky.
Some people noticed it and started making a fuss, and the plaza was filled with excitement, shouting, “It’s here, it’s here!”
Then, the noise gradually died down.
Everyone realized that it was different from the familiar flying ships.
“Hey… isn’t that, like, huge…?”
Someone muttered.
It was far from the shape of the cargo planes that usually came and went.
It was also different from the small, pointed triangular ships they occasionally saw.
It was a silhouette shaped like a boomerang, a concept they didn’t have a word for.
A flying machine of the category called a Flying Wing was approaching from the southern sky.
“Is that the usual small ship flying in front…?”
A small aircraft flew in front of the giant flying machine, like a guide.
It was an air superiority fighter, often seen escorting cargo planes. It was about 20 meters in length, quite large when seen up close, but not so big when seen in the sky.
Moreover, it usually flew alongside 70-meter-class cargo planes.
But even so.
The flying machine behind it was far too enormous.
It wasn’t just the difference between an adult and a child, but more like an adult and a mouse.
“What is that…”
That was probably the sentiment of everyone looking up at the sky.
Too huge.
Too alien.
And the instinctive fear of such a thing passing overhead arose.
“Is ＜Paraiso＞ using something like that…?”
Those words were uttered by Radaeri Furatara, who was watching it from the terrace of the lord’s mansion.
She was once again filled with fear and awe at the unfathomable power of the forces that controlled them.
Fortunately, the giant ship did not pass directly over Flattala City.
If it had, the residents might have panicked.
The giant flying ship, followed by smaller ships, passed by.
Everyone watched it in silence.
“…Hey, look over there!”
Someone noticed, and everyone realized anew.
They must never defy ＜Paraiso＞. They were the rulers, the absolute monarchs.
The giant ship, and an even larger ship, many times its size, slowly passed by.
The first ship, even that, was nothing more than a knight guarding this giant ship.
Later, they were told about the formation by ＜Paraiso＞.
A giant flying fortress.
Its name was ＜Gigantia＞. And guarding it were three ＜Titan＞s.
Both bore the names of foreign “giant gods,” and were powerful armies possessed by ＜Paraiso＞.
◇◇◇◇
“What is this…? What is this…!”
In the Duke’s mansion in Afrasia, Royal Capital, Akilai Yubarden Afrasia, one of the kingdom’s three great dukes, shouted.
A giant wha（・）t（・）e（・）v（・）e（・）r was approaching from the southern sky.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed that small particles were being scattered from that something in the sky.
“D-Duke Yubarden! What shall we do…!”
The attendant who had led the Duke to the terrace in this emergency asked, still shaken.
“A Monster attack…?”
However, even a duke could not have imagined such a situation.
While he was stunned, the situation progressed further.
The small particles that had separated from the giant something approached the Royal Capital, spewing fire.
Everyone who saw it, not just the Duke, must have noticed.
The bells signaling an emergency rang throughout the Royal Capital.
“D-Duke Yubarden! Please, evacuate immediately…!”
“A-Ah…”
He didn’t know what was happening. But he understood that something terrible was about to happen. Led by his attendant, the Duke ran.
For now, he aimed for the Royal Guard Knights’ garrison. It was the safest place at the moment, with its concentration of military power.
However, everyone was confused by the sudden emergency.
It wasn’t that they weren’t prepared for emergencies, but it was too sudden.
Normally, if some force were to attack, it would be difficult to achieve a complete surprise attack.
The surroundings were wilderness, and moving a large army would be visible for days in advance. Even if they were to launch a surprise attack on horseback, dust would rise if it was sunny, and they would be bogged down in the mud if it was raining.
In the first place, moving an army directly without going through the several towns in the surrounding area was not realistic due to the problem of water and food.
However, the group that appeared to be the enemy had cleared this problem with the unconventional method of descending from the sky.
“Duke Yubarden! I apologize for bringing you to such a place, but please, this way!”
“Hmm…”
Akilai Duke Yubarden was guided to a reception room inside the Royal Guard Knights’ building.
The inside of the building was filled with the sound of knights running around, the metallic sounds of equipment, and the voices of commanding officers shouting, creating a din that made him want to cover his ears.
“Duke Yubarden, shall I go and check the situation?”
“Ah… no, not yet. Calling them now would be a hindrance, it’s best to wait until things calm down a bit. There won’t be a role for me for a while…”
The Duke calmed his flustered attendant and settled heavily into the sofa.
Now was the information-gathering stage.
If the Duke were to ask for a report, someone of considerable status would have to respond.
Since it would have been conveyed that the Duke had evacuated here, someone would come to report eventually.
And if the confusion was so great that no one came, it would be better to stay put.
“Ha… Excuse me. If the kitchen is usable, I will prepare something to drink. I will be back shortly.”
“Please do.”
After confirming that the attendant had left, the Duke exhaled deeply.
There were currently two units of Royal Guard Knights in the Royal Capital.
One was the Royal Guard Knights led by Akilai Yubarden.
The other was the Royal Capital Defense Force, headed by Duke Grogalia Mercatia.
The two Royal Guard Knights operated independently, as their names suggested—or rather, they didn’t, and each acted independently.
Moreover, they were in a state of semi-hostility.
This was due to the power struggle currently raging in the Afrasia United Kingdom.
The three dukes were hostile to each other, and were constantly trying to bite each other’s throats at any opportunity.
Of these, Riana Kalbark was the one who outwardly did not possess military power, but she controlled the economy, so there was currently a strange love triangle.
However, Akilai Duke Yubarden did not believe that Riana Duke Yubarden had no military power.
“D-Duke Yubarden!! A-An armed group believed to be Riana’s forces!!”
Just then, a flustered attendant and a large man in glittering armor burst in.
“Your Excellency, I will protect you!! I apologize, the vice-commander has sortied to deal with the Monsters outside, so I will stay by your side!”
“Hmph…! The Royal Guard Knights Commander, I’m sorry. I see…”
That might have been expected.
The Royal Guard Knights were in chaos due to the external enemy. The Defense Force would be the same.
From here, someone would move to break the stalemate. Looking at this situation alone, well, it wasn’t a bad move.
But could they face the external enemy in a state where they had reduced their strength by fighting internally?
“The outside of the castle walls seems to be surrounded by giant spider Monsters. And above, something many times larger than a dragon is perched, dropping spider Monsters.
To be honest, I don’t understand what’s going on at all.
Furthermore, taking advantage of the gap when our Royal Guard Knights sortied, an unidentified armed force has launched an attack.
Judging from their equipment, they are probably the mercenaries that Riana had gathered. The number of people is small, so perhaps this situation is unexpected for her as well…”
“Damn… You fool who can’t read the situation…”
Akilai Duke Yubarden cursed and hid behind the Royal Guard Knights Commander with his back to the wall. The attendant followed suit, taking a position to shield the Duke.
And then.
“So, this is the place!!”
“There he is, the Captain of the Royal Guard Knights!!”
Men in full armor burst into the room, kicking down the double doors.
“Kill him!!”
The men were armed with new-model bows called crossbows. I knew better than anyone the power they possessed. After all, the Royal Guard Knights were the first to adopt them.
The fired bolts assaulted the Captain of the Royal Guard Knights and the retainer who shielded him. The Captain of the Royal Guard Knights deflected them with astonishing reflexes, but the retainer, not a combatant, could do nothing. He collapsed, taking three bolts to the torso.
“Damn!”
“Gaaaaaaah!!”
“Oraaah!”
The Captain of the Royal Guard Knights clashed with the charging men.
And then.
Everything was enveloped in dust and sand, accompanied by a deafening roar.