At the Knights’ Conference, countermeasures were decided for monsters that had evolved due to Demon Crystals.
Though referred to as countermeasures, it primarily involved our Wing Crest going to Vagenbach, while Rex and the others from the Ancient Order, along with Saya, headed to Polar.
While only the G-C rank Blue Fenrir and M-C rank Flood Crane were confirmed monsters, several other Catastrophe Species seemed to have evolved. There were also rumors of Leo Species, so we decided to remain vigilant.
It was also decided that Ritter would be selected to be dispatched to the Facer’s Guild by the Knights’ Conference to be held next month.
After things settled down a bit, Rex, as the Grand Order’s Master, would also make appearances at the headquarters of each Ritter’s Guild.
It was necessary to make it clear who the Grand Order’s Master was. In particular, since there were still some defiant Dragoners in the Dragoner’s Guild, it seemed they wanted to be made aware of the possibility of the Ancient Order intervening.
And so, the first Knights’ Conference concluded.
Afterward, a sort of social gathering was held, and Mina and I were forcibly made to participate.
Miranda was there, but Rex had to rush off to Polar, so it seemed to be partly in his stead.
The next day, we set out for Vagenbach.
The team consisted of ten people: myself, Prim, Mana, Mako, Mina, Flam, Lydia, Ludia, Athena, and Eos.
Hilde couldn’t leave Deseo, Rika couldn’t leave Memoria, and Yuri couldn’t leave Feel. Aria had just evolved into High Class, so she would be staying behind this time.
Ed, Marina, Fiana, Fiana, and Camellia would also be staying behind in Alka.
Raus, Rebecca, Carol, Seras, and Reina were in charge of Prada Village.
Lucas and Lyra were stationed at Amagi Castle to monitor the situation in Polar.
However, if anything were to happen, the only options would be to use the Communication Tool in Emperor Reinhardt’s private room or to transfer to Alka using the Gate Stone installed in Emperor Reinhardt’s or Sayuri’s mansion on Ou Renten Street.
Float’s Fraydlancia Ten-year residence was planned and construction was commissioned, but since it was only decided three days ago, it would still take a long time to complete.
We secured a location near Amagi Castle, so once it’s finished, communication should become easier.
We arrived in Vagenbach aboard the Multi-functional Beast Carriage that Eos was carrying.
Vagenbach is a country bordering Retisencia, and due to this relationship, the land is vast.
Its main industry is agriculture, and since one of Vagenbach’s three bridges is entirely a farm, it’s also known as a “Bridge Farm.”
While I couldn’t help but wonder how it was done on a bridge, they probably prepared a lot of soil, as there were even flower beds.
The farm is managed by the Trader’s Guild, and not only do they grow wheat, but also potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, and lettuce. The bridge is quite large, so many traders are involved in agriculture.
It was said that they exported to over a third of the bridge cities, including Lichtenfels, Gran Rêve, Acquario, and formerly Estrella.
However, due to terrain, the farms are mostly on the Retisencia side.
Although there is a considerable distance from the border, there have been reports of farm thieves recently.
Upon arriving in Vagenbach, we headed to the Bridge Duke’s Residence.
Not only for the Bridge Duke, but even for Beast Dukes, their residences were still under construction, so the mansions they had been using served as their palaces until completion.
However, the Grand Duke of Lichtenfels had renovated and was using the castle from the former Grand Duchy of Lichtenfels.
For countries on bridges like Vagenbach, it is quite difficult to secure land. While Lichtenfels, which already had a castle, and Acquario, which had an island in between, were exceptions, other bridge countries likely had more of a mansion than a castle.
“We have been expecting you. Welcome to Vagenbach.”
Upon arriving at the Vagenbach residence, Duchess Katarina herself greeted us at the entrance.
“Thank you for welcoming us personally, Your Grace. It is not much, but please come inside.”
Although it was presented as a request, a request for ten Ancient Class individuals would incur an exorbitant fee.
It wouldn’t necessarily burden the national budget, but considering it had just gained independence and was undergoing reconstruction, it was difficult to accept the full fee.
Therefore, Mina and I were officially on an Order mission, while Prim, Flam, Lydia, Ludia, Athena, and Mako were simply accompanying me.
Mana, though troublesome, was participating as the Lapislazurite Ten-year Noble, a representative of Emperor Reinhardt.
Mina and I would receive a small reward as part of the Order, and all monsters defeated, whether An or Catastrophe Species, would become ours. So, it wasn’t exactly unpaid labor.
“We received a report from the Grand Order’s Master the other day, and the border with Retisencia is under strict surveillance. Fortunately, no monsters have been sighted yet.”
In the drawing-room of the mansion, Duchess Katarina explained the current situation.
The fact that monsters had not yet approached the border meant we had arrived before Vagenbach was directly threatened.
“What about the Retisencia side?”
“We can’t say. The Soldiers stationed in Vagenbach are barely able to handle An Species, let alone Catastrophe Species, so reconnaissance is difficult.”
Vagenbach is close to the Retisencia border, but the area facing the border is a town called Sirio.
Even so, it is said to be a three-hour journey to the border, and the same applies to Recion, Retisencia’s border town.
Currently, forty percent of the Soldiers stationed in Vagenbach are gathered in Sirio in preparation for monsters, but with only about twenty High Soldiers, no reconnaissance is being conducted towards Recion.
“According to the Order’s Guild report, they were supposed to reach Kobaldia within a few days, right?”
“That report came in three days ago, so they might have already arrived. Kobaldia is closer in distance, so we still have some time before reaching Recion.”
The report from the Scout Order arrived three days prior, but the monsters’ progression speed is difficult to predict.
It’s generally fast, but some individuals get sidetracked along the way.
However, the report also stated that Carabela, the second-largest city in Retisencia north of Kobaldia, had been annihilated, so the possibility of Kobaldia having already fallen is not low.
“The problem is the lack of information from western Retisencia. The Scout Order is primarily active around Kobaldia, so the western region is only based on speculation.”
“They attacked Vagenbach a little while ago, but I heard there were no monsters then, right?”
“That’s what I heard.”
About half a month ago, Retisencia dispatched an army to bring Vagenbach under its control.
Retisencia’s domestic food self-sufficiency rate had already dropped significantly, with even Kobaldia falling to around 70%. Consequently, many small towns and villages were experiencing starvation deaths.
The advance was intended to improve this situation, but naturally, Amister would not permit it.
The result of confronting them with four Ancient Class individuals—Rex, Rosemary, Muse, and Saya—along with Delfina, was that the Retisencia army was easily repelled.
I thought they might provide some food aid, but the supply shipments were being hoarded by the Imperial King and nobles, and were instead being diverted to the army intended to attack Amister and Vagenbach, so no aid was provided.
The group led by Rex at that time also conducted investigations in the vicinity of Recion.
They did not encounter any An or Catastrophe Species then, but considering it has been almost half a month since then, it wouldn’t be strange for monsters to have appeared in the west as well.
“I see. So, we’re going to Sirio as soon as possible then?”
“That’s right. We came to Vagenbach thanks to Eos, but for Sirio, we’ll rely on Athena.”
“Leave it to me!”
We traveled from Feel to Vagenbach with Eos in his complete dragon form. For Sirio, we will depend on Athena.
Complete dragonization consumes a large amount of Mana for Dragonians, limiting it to once a day.
Athena and Eos, who have evolved into Ancient Dragonians, can apparently do it about three times, but the more times they do it, the more Mana they consume, and their movement speed decreases and they become unable to fight. Therefore, we cannot push them too hard.
Especially since there is a high possibility of fighting An or Catastrophe Species this time.
“Would it be possible to make a slight detour?”
“That is possible, but how far?”
“With this recent independence, Vagenbach and the Grand Duchy of Lichtenfels now border Retisencia. However, the majority of the border is with Vagenbach.”
Duchess Katarina produced a map of the former Libertarian Federation and pointed to it.
There was a bridge city north of Vagenbach, but it was destroyed by Solemn’s Steam Battleship.
That bridge city has been incorporated into Vagenbach, which has extended the border vertically and made it more difficult for the Soldiers’ surveillance to reach.
Fortunately, the area north of that bridge city is the sea, and there are deep mountains and valleys, so there is no human traffic. However, this is irrelevant to monsters.
Therefore, they cannot adequately deal with situations like the current one, and Soldiers have also been dispatched from the neighboring Grand Rêve Bridge Duchy. However, Gran Rêve is at the foot of the Temellario Great Sky Wall, so they cannot spare too many personnel.
“Indeed, monsters can come even through deep mountains and valleys.”
“Yes. And since Flood Crane has been confirmed, terrain is irrelevant.”
“That’s right. We don’t know if they will come, but we cannot be unguarded.”
Indeed.
The confirmed Catastrophe Species are only the Blue Fenrir and Flood Crane, but there could be other bird-like monsters. Also, there are rumors of Hippogriffs inhabiting the problematic mountains and valleys, so we cannot rule out the possibility of the An Species Hippogriff Overlord of M-I rank, or even A-C rank Hippogriff Grand Lord above that.
Because of Jade and Fluorite, we would prefer not to fight them, but we can’t afford to avoid it.
“Then we’ll make a stop there afterward.”
“That would be best. Also, if possible, we should enter Retisencia.”
“That’s also true.”
None of the Wing Crest members have ever been to Retisencia.
Even Mana and Eos used Wyverns or Ice Rocks, or went through Valentia, when traveling to Libertà. The former Amister Royal Family considered the Retisencia Imperial Royal Family a potential enemy, so no one from the Amister Royal Family had ever set foot in Retisencia.
However, since we can use Traveling, it would be best to be able to use it in situations like this. We should probably visit neighboring towns other than Recion.
Whether we enter the towns is another matter.
“Then, Duchess Katarina, we will investigate the area around Recion and the northern region, and then head to Sirio.”
“Understood. I apologize for the trouble, but thank you for your assistance.”
We ended the discussion here quickly, as we didn’t know what would happen if we took too long.
Even so, we hadn’t considered the northern mountain valleys, so coming to Vagenbach was very meaningful.
With the farms and all, we have to expand our surveillance range beyond the original plan, which will be difficult, but it can’t be helped.
We can’t possibly hunt them all, but we need to cull them to some extent.
Well, I wonder how many days it will take.
