We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Find the culprit.
“The owner of the mansion has been identified. It’s a secondary residence of a regional noble named Emeldor.”
“Then, is he the mastermind?”
“Well, don’t be so hasty. Please listen to me leisurely until the end, while having a drink.”
“No, no, I won’t be drinking.”
News of the intruder’s infiltration quickly reached the upper echelons of the kingdom. After all, the national army is responsible for security. Word of such a disgrace would spread in no time.
Then, based on our information, Rudoriado-san arrived with new clues the next day.
They are swift. As expected of a prince with excellent subordinates.
Rudoriado-san and we faced each other in a spacious reception room.
The participants were me, Mistral, Yufilia, and Nina. Rudoriado-san and his subordinates. A man of the dog race, a woman of the pig race, and a woman of the cat race. Also, several knights and guards who are providing security for my family home.
Ruiseine, Laira, Priscilla-chan, and Nimia are out at the Mimicho Race village.
Priscilla-chan has been evacuated to a safe place with the excuse of “you have to go home once in a while.”
The intruder’s motive is still unknown. However, it is a fact that Priscilla-chan’s room was ransacked. Until the culprit’s motive or the safety is secured, it might be better to stay away from my family home as much as possible.
“So, who is this noble named Emeldor?”
Mistral seemed ready to charge into the mansion immediately. Although Mistral’s room was safe, the invasion of my family home was taken as a declaration of war against us, the Dragon Race. As the leader of the Dragon Peak Alliance, he was furious that his name had been tarnished.
“Ah, ah… Emeldor is a noble who owns territory facing the Shū River.”
“It’s rare for a noble to own territory, even if it’s small.”
“It’s rare for a regional noble to rebuild a villa in the capital city so quickly at this time.”
Rudoriado-san seemed overwhelmed by Mistral’s intensity. Yufilia and Nimia provided additional information.
“Territorial nobles are rare?”
“That’s right, Mistral. Compared to the noble society of the Yorttenitos Kingdom, the nobles of the Armēdo Kingdom do not hold much power. Even with the title of nobility, few people have clear territories like villages or towns.”
“As Elnea-kun says. There are quite a few who own manors or large private landholdings, but few territorial nobles with political power.”
“Hmm. I’m still lacking in my studies of the human kingdom’s system. So, this Emeldor is a privileged class with territory, albeit regional, and for some reason, he quickly completed his villa in the capital?”
“Oh, Jegashin-dono is quick to grasp things.”
Jegashin is the name of the man of the dog race. There seems to be a camaraderie between Rudoriado-san and Jegashin-san, like drinking buddies. By the way, the woman of the pig race is Kuwala-san, and the woman of the cat race is Renji-san.
“Lord Emeldor is an influential figure from the founding of the nation. And he owns territory near the great river. One city of considerable size. This is Lord Emeldor’s base of residence. There are also two fishing villages and one mountain village. There are also a few manors scattered throughout the country. Even though he is a regional noble, his status is quite high.”
“Even if the second prince, Rudoriado-san, is a dignified person, I don’t feel the impressiveness.”
“Hahaha. Even you, Elnea-kun, are a powerful figure who makes crying children scream.”
“Eek! I don’t have any power, and crying children don’t scream any louder!”
Rudoriado-san’s analogy is nonsensical!
“Ahem. The conversation is straying.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“I-Apologies… So, the mansion you found by following the scent… it seems to be Lord Emeldor’s villa in the capital.”
“Since the owner is known, shouldn’t we attack immediately?”
“Wait, wait, Jegashin-dono. Things don’t proceed so easily in the human kingdom. We can’t do that without clear evidence.”
“Hmm. I see.”
“But it’s extremely suspicious, isn’t it? To have already completed a villa in the capital city, which is still in the process of reconstruction.”
“Yes. It feels like they’re planning something.”
“Ah. That’s why I investigated a bit more…”
“Not my brother, but his subordinates!”
“My brother isn’t working at all.”
“You guys are cruel…”
I don’t know his self-evaluation, but unfortunately, Rudoriado-san is officially recognized as a lazy person by his own family.
“In-In any case, as far as I’ve investigated, that mansion doesn’t seem to be used by Lord Emeldor himself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t I say? Lord Emeldor is a great noble with territory near the Shū River. He also possesses a city of considerable size. Therefore, there are influential families and wealthy merchants living in that city. The villa in the capital seems to be used as a base for the children of such people to spend their year of departure.”
“I see. Especially now, accommodations around the capital are crowded. If you provide a place to stay at such a time, you can gain favor with local influential figures and incur their favor, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, the people using that mansion are those who have turned fifteen?”
“It’s a rough investigation, but there are about ten to fifteen children using it. And about twenty servants. Since there’s no need to report to the country when using it, this is all I could find out in such a short time since yesterday.”
“No, no. To be able to investigate that much based on the information from last night is amazing. As expected of your excellent subordinates!”
“I-I gave the orders!”
We all looked at a flustered Rudoriado-san with “Ohh” expressions. Even the beastkin looked at him that way, which means they also understand Rudoriado-san’s personality. How unfortunate.
“So, what do we do now?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Mistral asked, so we started to devise a plan.
“Good afternoon, Princess Sefina.”
“Oh, you’ve come again today. But it’s impossible. We cannot allow those without qualifications to go to Dragon Peak.”
A red-haired boy, accompanied by three companions, greeted Sefina-san. Jegashin and I watched from a distance.
West of the capital. A checkpoint built on the ruins of a western fortress. Sefina-san is usually stationed there. Her primary role is to prevent adventurers and those who boast of their strength from recklessly trying to enter Dragon Peak, following the commotion last year and my year of departure. In the past, there was a western fortress and an outer wall dividing the west and east, which unintentionally hindered passage. However, they were completely destroyed by the demon race’s attack. Now, one can easily enter Dragon Peak without a king’s pass if they manage to sneak past the checkpoint.
But reality is not so forgiving. Those who slipped past the checkpoint into Dragon Peak. Those who ignored Sefina-san and her colleagues. The safety of such reckless people west of the checkpoint is not guaranteed. Whether they get lost or injured, or are stranded. Neither the human nor the dragon race will be held responsible. In other words, anyone entering Dragon Peak without formal procedures at the checkpoint does so entirely at their own risk.
Conversely, those who enter Dragon Peak with the kingdom’s official pass will be taken care of until the first village. However, they must reach the easternmost village on their own. But if they decide it’s impossible midway or become stranded, they will be rescued by members of the dragon or human race if they have a pass. This year, an agreement to this effect was concluded between the Armēdo Kingdom and the Dragon Peak side.
Incidentally.
If attacked by dragons or magic beasts. Even with a pass, it is useless against such races. Dragons and magic beasts generally do not fit within human frameworks. Even if I am the leader of the Dragon Peak Alliance and am on good terms with many magic beasts, to them, other people are just part of the masses. They show no mercy. Furthermore, even Dragon Race members cannot handle dragons themselves. As allies of the Dragon Peak Alliance, they cannot interfere with their usual activities.
In short, even with a pass, if any problems arise between here and the easternmost village, they will be taken care of. But ultimately, without sufficient strength, one can never have enough lives. That is why Sefina-san and her colleagues assess people’s abilities at the checkpoint.
According to what I’ve heard, several groups of adventurers have obtained qualifications and entered Dragon Peak so far. However, apart from the three members of the Styler Family, no one else has been able to proceed beyond the easternmost village.
“Do we look like we lack skill that much?”
“Unfortunately. I think you have some skill, but not enough to survive Dragon Peak.”
“It’s a shame to be evaluated so poorly without even being given a chance to test our skills.”
The red-haired boy is exchanging words with Sefina-san. Their attire is neat, and their equipment is more than adequate. They are clearly children from wealthy families. And the fact that Sefina-san is directly dealing with them indicates they have considerable status.
After our strategy meeting, we immediately put our plan into action. We have no intention of leaving the intruder at large indefinitely. Each of us is carrying out our assigned roles. Jegashin, of the dog race, and I are tasked with investigating the people using Emeldor-sama’s villa. We are tailing the group of red-haired boys we can see from a distance.
“I can’t handle every applicant. If you want to enter Dragon Peak that badly, first gain enough achievements to catch my attention.”
“We want to gain that achievement *in* Dragon Peak, though?”
The red-haired boy, without being intimidated by Princess Sefina, the third princess, adopts an insolent attitude. Sefina-san dismisses it with her usual cool demeanor. The red-haired boys try to persist, but Sefina-san doesn’t engage them further.
“Tch. Why was that weak-looking guy allowed in…”
After a brief exchange, muttering their complaints, the red-haired boys leave the checkpoint. Even with my ears infused with Dragon Energy, I couldn’t quite make out their grumbling. Sefina-san shrugs and watches the red-haired boys depart. As soon as the youths leave, another adventurer approaches Sefina-san. She immediately resumes her sharp posture and attends to them. Sefina-san works hard like that every day.
“Hello, Sefina-san.”
The red-haired boys disappear into the crowd. Jegashin and I interrupt our tailing and approach Sefina-san.
“Oh, Elnea-kun. Welcome.”
Sefina-san entrusts the adventurers to someone else and comes over to us.
“Was that okay?”
“What was okay?”
“Dealing with the adventurers.”
“Ah, it’s fine. They come every day to report what they did or what monsters they defeated yesterday.”
“Sefina-dono, please allow me to ask. Why does that person report like that every day?”
“Jegashin-dono, hello. Well, you see, they want to prove their skills and get a pass to Dragon Peak.”
“I see, I see.”
“Sefina-san and Jegashin have met before?”
“A few times at the palace.”
“I am impressed by Sefina-dono’s skills.”
As expected of Sefina-san. She has already completed a trial of skill with a member of the beastkin race.
“So, do you need something today? If it’s an invitation to adventure with you, I’d gladly abandon my duties and go right now, though?”
“No, no. An adventure with Sefina-san would be too much for me.”
“Oh, what a shame.”
As we were chatting at the checkpoint, the people around us started to make a commotion, “What, what?” After all, Jegashin, my companion, has obvious characteristics of a beastkin, and I am talking casually with a princess. Oh, I don’t want to stand out here. Sefina-san also realized we had a reason for being there and ushered us into a private room.
“The boys from earlier?”
“Yes. I apologize for eavesdropping. But they seemed to be talking about Dragon Peak.”
The red-haired boys seemed desperate to make a name for themselves in Dragon Peak. Dragon Peak, me, and the intruder at my home. It seems there are connections.
“The red-haired one is Graus. I believe he’s the eldest son of a regional influential family.”
“From Emeldor-sama’s territory?”
“Yes, that region. You seem to know it well.”
We explained the situation to Sefina-san.
“Yes. Graus is indeed fifteen years old and is in his year of departure.”
“And the three with him?”
“They seem to be classmates. All of them looked like they had decent skills.”
“But you haven’t granted them permission to enter Dragon Peak, have you?”
“Well, of course. Their equipment is good, and they have skills. But they are just average. Besides, if they truly had the skill, they wouldn’t need permission.”
“…When Sefina-san says that, it feels quite blunt.”
“But isn’t that true? If they truly had the skill or a firm resolve, they wouldn’t need anyone’s permission. Those who want a pass are somewhat weak-willed, seeking a small degree of safety. Can such people truly survive in that Dragon Peak?”
“Sefina-dono is quite stern.”
“Of course. I’ve experienced it myself.”
Sefina-san’s reasoning makes sense. Friel also entered Dragon Peak with strong resolve, without obtaining permission. Although he went through hardships, perhaps those without such resolve or strength are the ones who desire a pass.
“So, how are you planning to find the culprit?”
Sefina-san leaned forward and asked. I explained our future plans, restraining her intense gaze with both hands as if she were about to push me over.
“Hmm. That sounds interesting. Then, should I add my cooperation to that?”
“We’ll be counting on you then.”
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