We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Now, let’s go on a journey in the sky!
“You lying Dragon King!!”
“No, no, I wasn’t trying to lie, you know? I think it’s because Astel is resisting!”
This is high up in the sky.
I am riding on Neamiah’s back.
Similarly, Ms. Meijina is also on Neamiah’s back, enjoying the pleasant breeze.
And then.
Laira is riding on Revalia, who is flying above us, and Astel was held in Revalia’s ferociously clawed hand.
Astel, peeking out from between the terrifying claws, rained down insults towards us.
“That’s a shame…”
“Meow.”
Last night, I told Astel a great deal about how to spend enjoyable time in the Forbidden Territory.
Astel also seemed not entirely against visiting the mansion in the Forbidden Territory, showing considerable interest in the hospitality and lively daily life that I and Laira described.
However, Astel is the Cat Duke, with a personality like a cat.
The next day, meaning this morning.
“No. I’m not going. You guys go by yourselves!”
Astel said to us and then ran away!
So, we inevitably had to exert ourselves to chase Astel from the morning.
“Hehehe. Do you think a novice can escape from us in a game of tag? Hahahaha. How foolish can you be!”
“It’s Older Brother Elnea’s fault, meow.”
“Hahahaha!”
“Alright! I also want to test my tag skills, honed in the Forbidden Territory!”
Chased by us, who were full of enthusiasm, Astel ended up running away in earnest while screaming.
And then, without realizing it, Astel was cornered by us and finally driven to the entrance of the mansion!
Unaware that it was a trap.
Astel narrowly escaped the mansion. Waiting there was Revalia.
Revalia launched a surprise attack from the sky, grabbed Astel, and kidnapped her!
So.
Astel is still being held in Revalia’s grasp, flying at a higher altitude than Neamiah.
No, Revalia is the one flying, and Astel is merely a captive, unable to resist.
“Hmph. To think you would saddle me with such a troublesome task.”
“Lady Revalia, thank you for saving me.”
“It’s a debt, you know?”
“We will repay it fully to Elnea.”
After such a conversation, or rather, a transmission of dragon hearts.
Revalia casually tossed Astel into the sky!
“Gyaaaah!”
Astel screamed and fell!
“Neamiah!”
“Meow.”
Neamiah, flying below Revalia, skillfully caught Astel on her back.
“Even though this was the only way to get Astel to ride on Neamiah’s back as promised. Leva-chan, a little gentler next time?”
“Foolish as always. Be grateful you haven’t been crushed by me.”
“Whether you throw her hard or toss her, Older Sister Astel was falling, meow. So, Older Brother Elnea’s plan itself is flawed, meow?”
“That’s nice, though! I want to experience falling from the sky just once in my life!”
“Ms. Meijina, if you say things like that on impulse, it might actually happen, you know? I myself once flew with my teeth stuck between Asher’s fangs, and it was truly terrifying!”
“You! So you put me through this knowing that! And can anyone at least worry about me, for goodness’ sake!”
As Astel, angered like a cat, hissed, I tied her long fur around my waist so she wouldn’t fall off Neamiah’s back.
While doing so, I said.
“If Toris-kun or Sheria were here, they would worry about you, wouldn’t they?”
“You worry too!”
Well, well. So selfish, aren’t we?
Astel, pouting with anger, doesn’t resist.
Or rather, if Astel had truly intended to resist, she would have created a dragon-slaying weapon and counter-attacked the moment Revalia grabbed her, I think.
In other words, Astel gets angry and causes a fuss according to her mood, but deep down, she enjoys being with us, right?
“That’s a convenient interpretation, meow?”
“Fufufu. Neamiah. To become an adult means being able to manipulate those around you to your convenience, you know?”
“In that case, is Older Brother Elnea a fine adult, meow?”
“…Even though I said it myself, I feel like it’s not a flattering evaluation!”
“Nyan.”
On Revalia’s back, now at the same height as Neamiah, Laira enthusiastically waved at us. Of course, while standing on Revalia’s back using a binding dragon art.
Laira’s hope, I believe, was for me to also ride on Revalia’s back and for us to enjoy our aerial journey in a loving embrace as husband and wife.
But unfortunately, that would make it difficult to put Astel on Neamiah’s back.
Revalia doesn’t want to carry Meijina, who she is not yet accustomed to, on her back.
This means Meijina would inevitably end up on Neamiah’s back.
And we can’t leave Meijina and Astel alone together on Neamiah’s back without me or Laira.
Therefore, I am riding Neamiah, and only Laira is riding Revalia.
No doubt, when we descend to the ground for a break, Laira will become clingy.
I’ll let her be as clingy as she wants.
“By the way, Astel, are Toris-kun and the others not back yet?”
“It’s your fault they were captured by the Fairy Demon Lord. They probably won’t be back yet.”
“It’s not my fault, and it’s thanks to me they became free, you know?! Anyway, what is Toris-kun’s purpose in going there?”
Along with Toris-kun, Ruilala had also been deprived of her freedom by Kusharilla.
To rescue them, I followed Kusharilla’s request and expelled the Divine Race and the Imperial Honored Mansion from the mountainous region inhabited by the Winged Tribe.
As a result, Ruilala was finally able to carry out her mission and has now returned to the side of the Giant Demon Lord.
However, Toris-kun and Sheria have not yet returned to Astel’s side.
“They were given direct orders by the ruler of the Demon race? If I recall correctly, Toris-kun said they were going to investigate a human kingdom that uniquely exists east of the Heavenly Mountain Range, further south of the Winged Tribe’s country.”
Upon hearing my words, Ms. Meijina gasped.
“The Heavenly Mountain Range… A kingdom that exists east of the sanctuary protected by the Eastern Magician. Could that be the Alemgal Kingdom?”
At Ms. Meijina’s words, my thoughts began to churn.
Although it is a human kingdom, I do not know much about it.
It is a country in a very distant land, and we have had no contact.
Then, Astel answered in my stead.
“That’s right. It’s the country the humans are fiercely supporting as their last stronghold against the Divine Race.”
Astel spoke with surprising kindness.
The Heavenly Mountain Range, like Dragon Peak, stretches long from north to south. To the west of it lies the human cultural sphere. There are many kingdoms and cities, including the Temple City, the main headquarters of the Temple Religion.
However, humans are constantly threatened by other races, especially demons and divine races.
These demons and divine races have vast territories on the eastern side of the Heavenly Mountain Range.
And the southern end of the Heavenly Mountain Range has been constantly subjected to threats from the divine race since ancient times.
“However, there seem to have been many human kingdoms on the east side of the Heavenly Mountain Range in the past as well.”
Astel continued, enjoying the scenery visible from the sky.
In the past, human kingdoms were scattered, though small.
However, in the history where demons expanded their territories and the powers of the divine race grew in response, almost all of them were destroyed.
“Nevertheless, humans seem to have resisted. Even before the Eastern Magician began protecting the Heavenly Mountain Range, humans were continuing to resist the divine race in the kingdoms east of the Heavenly Mountain Range.”
Astel, who possesses much knowledge and ability from birth as a Primogenitor Race, is likely sharing the historical knowledge he possesses with us.
“In the past, there were apparently more human kingdoms east of the Heavenly Mountain Range. However, currently, only the Alemgal Kingdom remains. It seems the humans fear that if the Alemgal Kingdom is destroyed by the divine race, the divine race will cross the southern end of the Heavenly Mountain Range and expand their sphere of influence westward.”
Therefore, the human kingdoms to the west of the Heavenly Mountain Range are cooperating, sending large amounts of supplies and soldiers to the Alemgal Kingdom, continuing their last resistance.
“But, what do you think? The Karmal Divine Kingdom, the divine race’s kingdom that was in conflict with the Alemgal Kingdom, has lost its undefeated Divine General, Mira Jewel. If that’s the case, neither the Karmal Divine Kingdom nor the Alemgal Kingdom will be able to stop the advance of the Berisalia Empire, the eastern power.”
I wonder where Jewel-san is traveling now with Wender-san.
I know well what became of Jewel-san, who Astel mentioned was “slain.” Astel must have met her during the battle to subjugate the Demon Lord.
However, Astel omitted those parts and continued her story about the Heavenly Mountain Range.
“I don’t know what the masters of Shuzan Palace are thinking. But, the movements of the divine race are becoming unsettling, so I ordered Toris to investigate. Honestly, it’s a pain!”
Astel also curses the rulers of the demon race!? I was surprised by that.
But, thanks to Astel’s story, I was able to learn a lot.
In other words, Toris-kun went to investigate the Alemgal Kingdom, which will become the origin of the current unrest, to delve deeper into the movements of the divine race that we were aware of.
And Sheria is Toris-kun’s bodyguard.
Toris-kun, being human, will likely blend in well with the human kingdom. And Sheria, who appears to be nothing more than a black cat, cannot be distinguished by humans who lack the ability to discern races.
If someone in the human kingdom has the ability to see through Sheria’s true identity, they would indeed be a scout for the divine race. I understand that this is the reason for this selection.
“So, Astel didn’t go with them?”
“I would only be a burden. It would be less of a bother for Toris and the others if I stayed quietly in my territory. That’s what was said!”
“…So, the Giant Demon Lord told you that, right? And yet, you got caught up in our commotion?”
“How dare you speak so shamelessly!”
“No, no, if we hadn’t been troubled by the Puppet King, we wouldn’t have involved you, Astel either, you know? Yes. It’s all the Puppet King’s fault!”
I nod in agreement.
Astel, complaining about me and the Puppet King, thrashes around on Neamiah’s back.
Hey, hey. If you thrash around too much, the fur tied around your waist might come undone, and you’ll fall from the sky again, you know? Easy, easy. I soothe Astel.
However, only Ms. Meijina, as she listened to our conversation, stiffened her body.
