My ears must be rotting. I thought Dahak said something utterly absurd. Beautiful women? Did he say beautiful women? Efil, Melfina, Lion, and even Colette and Hoover are more like beautiful girls than beautiful women. The only ones who fit the description here are Sera and Rozaria. Glancing around, I can’t find anyone else who qualifies. He must be tired from the long journey and seeing illusions. Hahaha, what a scatterbrain.
“Kelvin-chan, why is everyone frozen like that?”
“Boss, so you *do* know this beautiful woman?!”
While my thoughts were in chaos, Dahak pointed at Pritia, who had approached me, and shook my shoulder violently. My efforts to ignore it were apparently in vain. It’s confirmed, the beautiful woman Dahak was referring to was Pritia.
“Oh my, it’s been a while since someone threw a direct pitch like that. Thank you!”
“Gwahh!?”
Pritia’s wink struck with the force of a slap. A giant heart flew towards Dahak, hitting his mark perfectly! – Or at least, that’s what I could visualize. It wasn’t magic. I just happened to be able to see it.
“What the heck… I’m smitten, love at first sight…”
Seriously? Dahak, is that okay with you?
“I thought the most beautiful woman was Sister Sera, but to think there’s someone even better…”
Oh, so you think Sera is beautiful too… Wait a minute, if you’re putting her in the same category as Pritia, it feels less like a compliment and more like an insult to Sera! Correct yourself, correct yourself now!
“I can’t believe such a perfectly sculpted physique exists!”
“Oh my, this child is on the verge of grasping the truth of the world…”
I can no longer follow their conversation, but sculpted physique, huh? Could it be that Dahak sees strength as beauty? No, but if that’s the case…
“Dahak, how does Mel look to you? Doesn’t she look like an exceptionally beautiful girl?”
“My Lord, to be boasting like this in a place like this, that’s…”
“No, it’s simply the truth. Naturally.”
I’m not asking the fanatics.
“Mel-neesan, you mean? Well, yes. However…”
Dahak switched to telepathy to send his message.
‘She is beautiful, but there’s something artificial about her. It’s like she’s wearing makeup enhanced by magic. Ah, this is off the record!’
‘… Absolutely do not say that to her or Colette. You’ll get killed.’
‘Understood! I don’t want to die yet!’
Melfina, who boasts the highest strength in the party, apparently doesn’t get credit for her strength gained through skill. It’s treated as if she’s had plastic surgery. Mel, next time, let’s surpass them not with your golem body, but with your real one…
Still, Dahak the dragon’s aesthetic sense is on a completely different wavelength. It seems to be based on status numbers, so it’s not just about having a muscular appearance… Could Rozaria be like that too? Now that I think about it, Azgrad also has a lot of strength. Before I knew it, I was sending a look of pity towards Rozaria.
“Um, for my own safety, I’ll explain that the aesthetic sensibilities of dragons vary by species. Dahak is a dark dragon, and I am an ice dragon. I don’t know his preferences.”
“Oh, is that so? My apologies.”
I got scolded.
“But I’m sorry. I already have someone I’ve decided on in my heart. Right, old man?”
“… Eh? Me?”
“First Sister Sera, and now Pritia-chan too!”
While all this was happening, Dahak seemed to have confessed to Pritia and been rejected.
“But, but you see… I won’t lose this love! Master, I won’t give up!”
Dahak ran off towards tomorrow. Where is he going? To avoid any further trouble, I dispelled him once he was out of sight and reclaimed my magic.
“Heh, youth.”
“No, I’d rather just decline normally.”
“Can we end this moment now? Pritia, you seemed to be in a hurry, was something wrong?”
“Ah, right! I got carried away! First of all, great job. Thanks to the efforts of Kelvin-chan and the others, Pars is safe. I couldn’t believe you managed to not only hold them back but also bring them to our side… I was surprised when the plan was made, but Rio-chan at the guild was happy too.”
“I’ve never seen Guild Master Rio happy before.”
“She’s just awkward. Well, to me, it’s obvious. So, is this handsome man Prince Azgrad?”
Pritia’s neck bent a full 90 degrees as she turned her face towards Azgrad. Hoover trembled in sheer terror.
“Ah, that’s right. That well-trained physique, you must be Gordiana Pritiana? I’ve heard the rumors. Subduing numerous S-Rank Monsters and clearing dungeons… I’d love to spar with you sometime.”
“It’s tough being popular. Fine, I’ll spar with you next time. And, Kelvin-chan. About the state of affairs in Gaun and Traage…”
“Has the battle begun? Who’s winning?”
～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～
—Traage, Trisen Border
“They’ve arrived.”
Princess Tsubaki Fujiwara of Traage and her army awaited the “Magic Knight Corps” across the great river, the “Water Dragon’s Tail,” which served as the border with Trisen.
“Kagenui, are you there?”
“…Present.”
In response to Tsubaki’s call, a man in black appeared. His head was covered by a hood, and beneath his attire, he wore chainmail and a short sword at his waist. In simple terms, he was dressed exactly like a ninja.
“The ones approaching our country were the ‘Magic Knight Corps’ of Trisen, weren’t they? Have there been any suspicious points so far?”
“The heads of the generals have been replaced. Furthermore, all the female knights are holding weapons emitting a malevolent aura. They are likely equipped with cursed arms and armor.”
“Ho, all of them? Is the general something of a madman?”
On the opposite bank, enemy troops were arriving one after another. Contrary to the dazzlingly dressed female knights on white horses, their atmosphere was unsettling.
“However, what we must do remains the same.”
Tsubaki raised one hand. At her signal, several barges rose from the bottom of the great river with high waves. Cannons were mounted on both ends, and their sights were already aimed at the target. The soldiers positioned behind them held firearms-shaped Magic Items.
“This is merely a preliminary battle. Committing the folly of fighting Traage by the water will lead to regret later—”
“…Tsubaki-sama.”
“What is it, Kagenui? This is a good part of my speech.”
“The enemy forces are retreating.”
“Retreating? They’re retreating…!?”
Tsubaki looked across the river and confirmed that the knights were indeed returning the way they came.
“They haven’t shown a force difference that would warrant a retreat. Hmm, did something happen back home, or is it a trap… Kagenui, gather information on the enemy, including the Pars and Gaun fronts. Do not pursue them rashly for now.”
“Understood.”
Kagenui’s figure melted into the shadows and disappeared.
“I saw a single bird fly out from the retreating army. Was that a messenger… Well, never mind. We will continue to set up camp here! Do not neglect to monitor from the sea!”
Keeping the submerging barges in sight, Tsubaki sank onto the prepared chair.
