We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The History of a Ruined Village
The second day of our journey to the Yorttenitos Kingdom.
Last night was quite the ordeal.
Just thinking about it…
“Meow.”
I can’t tell that to Mistral and the others who stayed behind!
“Elnea-kun, remember this when we get back!”
From above, as she flew away, Nimia’s voice called out, with Ruiseine shaking her fist.
I waved vigorously at the parting main force of the Mother’s Federation.
Nimia, carrying Ruiseine and the others, flew north along the Shū River.
“Well, shall we go too?”
“Elnea-sama, will you be alright when we return? This time, just the two of us!”
“Laira, w-what are you saying!?”
“Elnea-sama is having a difficult time, isn’t he?”
“Lady Revalia, this is just my daily life, so I’ll be alright.”
Fufufu, Lady Revalia chuckled, looking at us with a smile that seemed to indicate she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
Carrying Lady Revalia, Laira, and myself, Revalia crossed the Shū River in the sky and continued eastward.
The Mother’s Federation was headed to Quadriceps Fort as planned, while we were heading to the detached palace by the lake, along the southern mountainous region and forests.
Though it meant farewell to the Queen, Mother, and Lady Revalia, I don’t think we have any regrets, as we had a final banquet last night.
As long as Laira and Lady Revalia can part ways without lingering resentment, that’s all that matters.
I asked Revalia to fly as slowly as possible.
After all, if Revalia really pushed herself, we might reach the detached palace by this evening or shortly after sunset.
Revalia let out a threatening roar at my request but flew slower than usual.
Revalia descended and flew gracefully along the mountain range.
“This is quite unusual, isn’t it!”
“It’s your request, isn’t it!”
“Thank you very much, Lady Revalia.”
“Thank you, Reva-chan, for my sake.”
“Hmph.”
Revalia, who was so grumpy towards me, seemed rather pleased when Laira and Lady Revalia stroked her scales. How cute.
Fufufu, since Nimia and Lily are not here, my thoughts can’t be read. I can think about anything I want freely.
My heart is free right now!
I feel a sense of liberation in the clear skies.
With my current state of mind, I feel like I could fly through the sky!
Even if I think that, I won’t act recklessly.
I’m not Yunyun or Rinrin, so floating in the air is absolutely impossible.
However, unlike me, who knows my limits, someone else has acted recklessly.
It’s not Laira.
Nor is it Lady Revalia.
It was a large bird monster.
Revalia was flying at a low altitude, unusually so. Then, the large bird monster, perhaps misunderstanding something, suddenly dived from above and attacked Revalia.
“Fools.”
“Everyone, hold on tight to Revalia!”
Revalia is not one to ignore hostility directed at her.
Revalia immediately counter-attacked the large bird monster that attacked from a higher position.
By skillfully flapping her four wings, two large and two small, she avoided the large bird monster’s dive with a sharp turn.
And then, with one roar.
The large bird monster finally realized who it had provoked.
But it was too late.
Revalia targeted the large bird monster with her four pupils and fiercely attacked.
This time, it was the large bird monster’s turn to scream.
However, the large bird’s scream turned into a death cry.
There was a clear difference in flight capabilities between the large bird monster and Revalia.
Revalia quickly approached the large bird monster, which was flustered and fleeing in terror, and mercilessly swung her ferocious claws.
The feathers of the large bird monster, which would likely not be damaged by human weapons, meant nothing before Revalia, a dragon of the Ancient Dragon Species.
Revalia dug her sharp claws into the large bird monster’s wing and firmly held its torso with her feet.
Without hesitation, she bit into the large bird monster’s neck with her gleaming giant fangs.
And then, she tore it off effortlessly.
The large bird monster, torn into head and torso, died.
However, Revalia continued to swing her arms. Then, the large bird monster’s wings were torn off.
“Disgusting.”
Revalia spat out the torn meat. Then, she unleashed a crimson flame towards the large bird monster’s carcass, which was falling to the ground.
The large bird monster, without touching the ground, turned to ash and scattered in the spring breeze.
“Wow, that’s brutal.”
“I show no mercy to those who direct hostility towards me.”
We desperately held onto Revalia, using Laira’s Dragon Arts to avoid being thrown off by Revalia’s fierce movements.
When Revalia returned to normal flight, we all breathed a sigh of relief.
“Lady Revalia, that was scary, wasn’t it?”
Honestly. She’s a dragon carrying guests, so she could have gone a little easier.
I think Revalia could have easily evaded, spat a little fire, and defeated it. Yet, she killed it so brutally.
However, to my surprise, Lady Revalia’s cheeks flushed, and she and Laira were excitedly pleased.
“Reva-chan, you were magnificent! I was so moved!”
Oh no.
This woman was the Queen of a country with the Dragon Knight Order!
The heroic deeds of the dragon race were a cause for joy for Lady Revalia.
“Laira, you’re good friends with such a strong Reva-chan.”
“Yes! Lady Revalia is the strongest of the dragon tribes in Dragon Peak.”
Laira seemed happy as Lady Revalia praised Revalia.
The two of them held hands and jumped around excitedly like young girls.
Watching them, I thought as I praised Revalia.
There are Shadow Dragons lurking in Dragon Peak.
And Nimia and Lily are…
I thought it, but didn’t say it.
Ah, this free heart is happiness.
“Still, Revalia, you’re incredibly strong. We’re desperately trying to learn how to fight so we won’t lose.”
I may have had a slightly apologetic thought towards Revalia, but normally, Nimia and the Shadow Dragons are Ancient Dragon Species, so they are in a different league.
A while ago, Revalia was unexpectedly attacked by a rainbow dragon beside Baltnowar, but that was just bad luck. Rather, it’s amazing that Revalia survived an ambush from an Ancient Dragon Species.
Revalia likely wouldn’t be outmatched by an ordinary opponent.
Revalia surely wouldn’t understand our struggles.
Revalia is always supreme, an absolute ruler.
Revalia’s coolness comes from her unyielding pride and the overwhelming power that backs it up.
“Hmph, I don’t feel any particular joy just because you’re praising me.”
I praised Revalia along with Laira and Lady Revalia, but I was only met with a scoff.
However, that evening.
Revalia, after dropping us off at a campsite she found deep in the mountains, flew off and returned with a large cow.
“I’m just hungry.”
Or so she said. Revalia kindly shared the delicious meat with us.
“By the way, where are we?”
We were eating large pieces of meat outside because the starry sky was beautiful, but looking around, I could see several old houses.
We were having dinner in the plaza of a ruined village.
Laira and Lady Revalia were also happily devouring the meat in front of the bonfire.
Then, Lady Revalia answered my question.
“This is the site of a village that failed to be developed.”
“Whaaat!”
I knew it was a ruined village due to the absence of people. But I never imagined it was abandoned because its development failed.
Laira also seemed surprised, as she didn’t know there were such places in the southern mountainous region of the Yorttenitos Kingdom.
“Why did it fail to develop? Perhaps fierce monsters or magic beasts appeared!?”
Lady Revalia smiled fufufu at my surprise.
“It’s not uncommon to find places like this. If you go to the frontier, it’s common to find ruined villages or roads that are cut off, just like this place.”
I listened to Lady Revalia’s explanation while munching on meat.
“Only the regions west of the capital city have roads extending to the national borders, with towns and villages where citizens can live safely.”
The northern part of the Yorttenitos Kingdom is a mountainous region where earth dragons live. The eastern border is a vast forest, which has become a monster’s lair, dangerous for ordinary citizens to approach. And the southern mountainous region and forests, where we are currently staying, are still under development.
“First, brave adventurers venture into undeveloped lands. If they find anything of value there, they clear the forests and mountains and settle. They come and go to the nearest villages and towns for trade, thus creating roads necessary for travel. Then, merchants, using these roads to trade with those living on the frontier, begin to come and go, and trade becomes active. As merchants travel back and forth, the developed settlements gradually become vibrant and full of people, turning from settlements into villages, then towns, and eventually becoming cities and capitals.”
However, Lady Revalia continued.
Even when brave and promising adventurers work hard to develop, things don’t always go smoothly.
Sometimes, as I mentioned, they are hindered by ferocious native beasts, or the profits are not as expected.
Some are sometimes forced to retreat due to natural disasters, or others are abandoned due to inconvenience, making the development of frontier lands surprisingly difficult.
Lady Revalia’s face clouded over slightly as she pondered what the country could do for those who develop undeveloped lands.
With incremental development, it’s hard to guarantee profitability. And it’s difficult to invest national funds in such adventurer-led development.
Instead, when they achieve great success, those involved in the development are granted privileges, or in some cases, are even accepted as nobles.
Adventurers risk their lives because of the great rewards in the future.
However, more often than not, they fail, with their lives being the price paid.
This ruined village is also the remnant of such adventurers’ broken dreams.
“Nevertheless, people keep moving forward. They advance and retreat, repeating the process many times, expanding the land where they can live safely. It is said that far to the south of this mountainous region lies the country of the Divine Race. Perhaps one day, brave individuals will connect the Yorttenitos Kingdom and the country of the Divine Race.”
Lady Revalia concluded, gazing at the stars in the night sky.
Ah, this woman is the Queen.
I realized this as I saw her, who correctly understood how the country would develop and worried about it.
Laira was also gazing at the dilapidated buildings with deep emotion.
“We were fortunate, weren’t we? We were given a safe home from the start and can travel freely. We were able to skip the part where we had to pioneer from scratch.”
“Yes. I truly appreciate the mansion built for us by the legendary carpenter.”
Our home and lives were prepared before we even realized it.
The foundation beneath our feet is solid.
So all that’s left is to clear our minds of worries and firmly grasp the happy life that has been prepared for us.
As Laira and I clasped hands with renewed determination, Lady Revalia looked at us with a happy expression.
And Revalia, having eaten the whole cow and feeling full, quickly curled up and fell asleep.
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