We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A confidant to royalty.
Revalia, ignoring the approaching knight order, curled up to heal from the fatigue of her long flight.
As I petted her neck, soothing Revalia, Sefina, perhaps curious, tentatively touched its crimson scales.
Having carried me on her back once, Revalia apparently didn’t mind being touched now. She remained curled up with her eyes closed, accepting our gentle ministrations.
Ares-chan, meanwhile, hugged me and smiled contentedly.
“Honestly, these horses are useless. They should consider the feelings of those of us who have to walk in armor.”
“If you say that, General, then perhaps you should consider the feelings of the horses carrying us in armor.”
“Besides, wyverns must be terrifying for horses. We can’t push them too hard.”
“Hear, hear! If you’re going to say that, then spare a thought for us who are being rushed around under you.”
I recognized the people from the knight order who arrived, grumbling. I especially remembered the face of the one at the front, complaining the loudest.
“Rudoriado-san, it’s been a while.”
“Oh, it’s rare to see my brother working so diligently.”
“Hello, Elnea-kun. And Sefina. How have you been?”
Arriving with a light chuckle was Rudoriado-san, the second prince of the Armēdo Kingdom and General of the National Army.
The knights hesitated to approach Revalia, fearing her, but Rudoriado-san approached without concern and shook hands with us.
It turned out the knights I recognized were subordinates from when Rudoriado-san was leading a patrol squad.
They had lurked unseen during the fight against the false hero or silently understood Rudoriado-san’s intentions. It seemed they were indeed excellent soldiers. Or rather, I just realized now, they might be Royal Knights who protect Rudoriado-san.
“So, Elnea-kun, setting you aside, why is Sefina here?”
Rudoriado-san’s question was reasonable, and Sefina and I explained the situation.
“I see. I’ll inform the stationed Wyvern Knight Order. Hey, someone go tell them!”
“No, no, General, you should go yourself.”
“But it’s almost sunset. Isn’t it a bother?”
I wondered if this man, even as a General, wouldn’t work after dark…
Looking at the amicable atmosphere with his subordinates, I suspected he still slacked off on work.
“Alright, reporting tomorrow is fine, right?”
“No, I don’t think that’s acceptable…”
“But, you know, I have business with Elnea-kun from now on.”
“You have business with me?”
Already, so soon after reuniting, what business could he have with me? As I tilted my head, Rudoriado-san scratched his head with a troubled look.
“Understood. I’ll handle my own affairs. I’ll speak to the Wyvern Knight Order myself. Brother, is that alright?”
“What, if you’re fine with that, I have no problem. But don’t disappear after saying that, alright?”
“I have a promise with Elnea-kun, so I’ll be staying in the capital for a while.”
“What’s this promise you speak of?”
“I can’t tell you, Brother. It’s a secret between Elnea-kun and me.”
“Elnea-kun, be careful. It might be odd for me to say this, but my sisters aren’t normal!”
“Don’t say that, you brother who settles for mediocrity!”
With that, Sefina threw a punch without warning. However, Rudoriado-san lightly dodged and gently patted Sefina with a relaxed movement. Then, Sefina was sent flying through the air.
For a moment, I couldn’t understand what had happened.
Sefina landed gracefully and rolled on the ground.
“I won’t be outdone by my little sister,” Rudoriado-san grinned at me.
Sefina got up as if nothing had happened and brushed the dust off her clothes. However, her expression was one of slight frustration.
I knew Sefina’s physical abilities.rudoriado-san, who had dealt with them as easily as twisting a baby’s arm, was indeed no ordinary person.
I had a feeling of it during my first errand, but Rudoriado-san’s skill was undoubtedly first-class.
“Setting Sefina aside, if we keep standing around chatting, the sun will really set. Let me convey my business to Elnea-kun before that.”
“Do you need me specifically? I believe Jura, the Dragon King, remained in the capital, correct?”
“Ah, I consulted him once, but he refused, saying only Elnea-kun could do it. When did you become so amazing?”
“When I first met Rudoriado-san, I was still useless.”
“No, even back then, I sensed something unusual about you. I never imagined you would rise to become a hero who would save humankind. Without you, humankind would have perished by now. Well, rewards and such are the Emperor’s domain, not mine to discuss. Talk to His Majesty thoroughly after you’ve completed your year-long journey. More importantly, this is a consultation, which is why I came all this way.”
“You saw Revalia flying this way?”
“Ah, that’s right. I thought a different girl was riding her. I intended to have that girl relay the message to you.”
The girl must have been Laira. It was Laira, riding Revalia, whom I met with Rudoriado-san near the northern fortress during the demon invasion.
“So, what is this consultation? Is it urgent?”
“It’s not urgent, rather, it’s something we’re troubled by.”
As I tilted my head wondering what it could be, Rudoriado-san looked towards the capital.
“Well, you see, the capital has completely vanished due to various circumstances.”
My heart skipped a beat. I had been too involved in those “various circumstances”…
“And then winter arrived. Reconstruction has begun. The kingdom is providing as much support as possible to the citizens, but everything is in short supply.”
“Huh? Aren’t supplies being transported from the Schranel River?”
“Supplies, yes. But without manpower, logistics won’t move. And moving people costs money. Even with reconstruction, we can’t make people work for free.”
This means that people engaged in reconstruction activities also have their own lives, and if they work for free, they won’t be able to sustain themselves.
“Before winter, the biggest problem is dealing with the cold. We are urgently building temporary housing, but problems are arising. We’re short on timber.”
Rudoriado-san explained the current situation in the capital.
The capital originally consisted of sturdy stone buildings, anticipating wyvern attacks. The rebuilt capital would likely be the same, but stone buildings take time. Both firing bricks and quarrying stone. Therefore, temporary housing is made of wood, but it’s impossible to prepare buildings for tens of thousands of residents in a short period, and many people are still sleeping in underground shelters.
This is unavoidable, no matter how abundant the supplies are.
However, timber is used for more than just temporary housing.
It’s needed for cooking, heating, and crafting household goods, all of which will be essential as winter approaches.
Furthermore, even if not as severe as Dragon Peak, the cold winter has descended upon the flatlands.
More firewood will be needed than ever before to keep warm.
Currently, most of the necessary timber is being transported from the mountains and forests around the secondary capital. However, the distance is considerable, and the labor costs for transportation are an issue.
So, why aren’t they gathering timber from around the capital?
Anyone would know the answer to that.
To the south lies the vast Dragon Forest. However, cutting down trees in the Dragon Forest was strictly forbidden.
To the west, there is a deep forest spreading at the foothills of Dragon Peak. However, it was overrun by magic beasts.
Although there are abundant forest resources nearby, none of them can be utilized.
“That’s why I need your help…”
Rudoriado-san continued, scratching his head as if finding it difficult to say.
“You’re close to the guardian of the Dragon Forest, aren’t you? As this is an emergency, could we be permitted to use the trees from the Dragon Forest?”
“I see. It’s an impossible request for Jura.”
Even as the Dragon King, such a proposal couldn’t be made without close ties to Old Man Sleigsta.
I understood after hearing Rudoriado-san’s explanation.
“To be honest, I don’t know about the Dragon Forest. It’s a truly important forest. However, I also have acquaintances among the magic beasts, so I’ll inquire about the western forest.”
Through encounters with Great Wolf-type Magic Beasts and other magic beasts living in the Dragon Forest, with whom we managed to cooperate during the demon invasion, I decided to ask for their help. I wondered if they could spare some timber from the western forest. And, please, don’t attack the people doing the logging.
“It’s almost sunset, so I’ll hurry. Will a reply by tomorrow morning be acceptable?”
“Ah, there’s no need to rush that much.”
“No, with matters like this, the sooner the better.”
“Then I’ll entrust it to you. As for a reward…?”
“I’m merely acting as an intermediary, so I cannot decide on a reward on my own at this moment.”
“That’s true. My, how that little boy has grown.”
“I’m not a little boy!”
“Hahaha, that’s right. If I treat Elnea-kun too casually, I might get hit by that blunt weapon-wielding girl.”
“I’ll tell her you said that.”
“Oh, it seems it’s better not to make an enemy of you.”
“How enviable,” Sefina said, looking at me.
I wondered what she found enviable. I should try not to think too deeply about it.
“Well then, I’m heading to the Dragon Forest now. I’ll meet you in front of the forest tomorrow morning.”
Saying that, I urged Revalia on. Revalia, who had been quietly curled up, whined with dissatisfaction. Rudoriado-san stiffened, looking tense. Sefina also looked at me with slight surprise.
“It’s alright. She’s not angry. Now, just a little more cooperation, please.”
I gently stroked Revalia’s neck and climbed onto her back.
With a single roar, Revalia took to the sky with powerful wingbeats.
“Then, please count on us.”
“Elnea-kun, let’s meet again.”
“Yes. Some other time!”
We waved goodbye. Revalia flew with me on her back for the third time. The Dragon Forest was close by if one flew directly over the capital. As I looked down at the capital before sunset from above, the deep forest soon came into view.
But before that.
The scenery of the capital caught my eye for a moment. The white ash covering the ground had been gathered around the Royal Castle Ruins, forming several small hills.
If they were going to discard it, I would expect them to gather it on the outskirts rather than the center. I wondered if there was a purpose behind it. I would ask Rudoriado-san about it tomorrow.
And many people were looking up at Revalia flying fiercely through the sky.
Acknowledging the gazes of many people, I entered the airspace above the Dragon Forest and flew south until the capital was no longer visible. The atmosphere of the flowing wind and the presence in the air changed.
The dimly lit sky I had seen a moment before was replaced by a flight beneath the canopy of a Spirit Tree’s branches and leaves. Tracing a thick branch, my gaze landed on the massive trunk of the Spirit Tree. And before the Spirit Tree stood one familiar black hill and one pink hill.
Revalia let out a displeased cry and reluctantly landed on the Moss Garden.
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