We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A gift at the end of our journey.
Everything eventually comes to an end.
Our fun trip was finally approaching its final act.
Taking off from the ruined village where we camped, Revalia flew towards the detached palace.
We advanced slowly, taking breaks along the way at beautiful plains and by rivers flowing through mountain valleys.
Nevertheless, the journey through the sky, free of any obstacles, covered distance in the blink of an eye, and by the evening, we could finally see the detached palace by the lake come into view.
Revalia, emerging from the complex ridgeline, was quickly spotted by the Wyvern Knight Order guarding the detached palace.
Two Wyvern Knights flew towards us, as if to guide us.
But, this was Revalia.
“Do you wish to die by flying in front of me?”
With such a roar, the wyverns, not even listening to their riders, flew away.
Revalia, after driving away the hindrances, landed in the courtyard of the detached palace with a graceful attitude.
As if to welcome the Queen and us, the people of the detached palace appeared.
Laira took Lady Reneila’s hand and dismounted from Revalia’s back.
Finally, the end was drawing near.
While it wasn’t a farewell for this life, it was still sad. As we greeted the people who came to welcome us and handed over souvenirs, we saw that the two were surprisingly smiling.
They didn’t have any lingering regrets that would make them cry and part.
They would meet again someday, and they had made enough memories to endure until then.
However, seeing Laira and Lady Reneila looking so happy made me want to do something for them.
Though I wondered if my unsolicited kindness was unnecessary, I gave the two my final souvenir.
“Hey, Laira, I think I’ll go and check on the eastern territories from now on. In the meantime, you can rest here, okay? Oh, but I’ll be borrowing Revalia for travel.”
At my proposal, Revalia snorted with dissatisfaction, while Laira smiled brighter than ever and jumped for joy.
“Thank you, Lady Elnea!”
I hugged Laira, who hugged me in her happiness, and took the opportunity to enjoy her chest.
“Well then, Laira, Lady Reneila, please take your time.”
After handing Laira over to Lady Reneila, I mounted Revalia.
“Lady Elnea, have a safe trip.”
And so, with everyone waving goodbye, Revalia and I ascended into the sky.
“To the eastern fortress, now!”
“Shall I throw you off?”
“Oh no!”
Revalia deliberately looked back and glared at me, but spread its wings fiercely and took a skyward path to the east.
“Whoa! As expected, Revalia, this is what you’re like!”
I cheered with joy at Revalia flying with such a force that it felt like it might throw me off.
Then, as if it found me boring, Revalia’s flight became as docile as when it was carrying Lady Reneila.
Truly, Revalia is gentle with Laira, but cold to me.
Nevertheless, it’s been a while since I’ve been alone with Revalia.
On Revalia’s back, flying at high speed without restraint, I stretched out widely.
The powerful wind pushing my body backward and the rapidly changing landscape below all felt good.
I briefly thought about how wonderful it would be to go on a journey to tour the world like this.
However, I don’t want to go on a long trip leaving my wife and family behind, and there are still many problems around us.
But someday, I want to travel the world with everyone!
And when that time comes, we’ll have Revalia and Nimia work hard for us!
We took off from the detached palace by the lake in the late afternoon. As expected, we couldn’t reach the eastern fortress while the sun was still visible.
Revalia and I decided to camp in the wilderness.
Revalia, still full from eating a whole cow the previous day, didn’t hunt for prey.
Inevitably, I munched on emergency rations.
I filled my stomach with smoked venison, hardtack, and warmed goat’s milk from the detached palace.
“The Kingdom of Yorttenitos has not only mountains and forests, but also wilderness like this.”
Even though it had gotten dark, I could see far with dragon energy in my eyes.
Looking around, I noticed sparse trees, few grassy areas, and many rolling stones, giving it a desolate appearance.
It was flat terrain, allowing me to see far into the distance.
However, even though it was night, I saw no bonfire lights, and I knew we were the only ones camping in this area.
As Lady Reneila had told me last night, there are still places in the Kingdom of Yorttenitos where people do not live. And someday, someone will settle in these wilderness areas and build villages and towns.
And to hasten the arrival of such times, we must stabilize the security near the eastern border.
I also wondered if it would be fun to spend the night with adventurers or merchants camping somewhere, but I gave up, as the dark plain stretched out before me.
Incidentally, I didn’t start a bonfire either.
In fact, I couldn’t.
This happened just before sunset.
I gathered dry branches that seemed suitable for firewood from the sparse trees around me and brought them back, then asked Revalia.
“Hey, hey, Leva-chan. Light the firewood!”
Even though I thought I asked cutely, Revalia mercilessly spat out crimson flames.
It wasn’t just the firewood that nearly turned into charcoal; I almost did too!
As a result, the firewood I had painstakingly gathered turned to ash, and there was no flame to warm us tonight.
Inevitably, after finishing dinner, I curled up and snuggled into Revalia’s embrace.
Revalia is covered in hard scales all over its body, but its scales actually radiate warmth.
Although it was spring, the night in the open wilderness was cold, with the wind blowing freely.
However, Revalia’s large body acted as a windbreak, and with its warm body temperature, I was able to spend the night without freezing.
Revalia glanced at me as I got into its embrace, but without saying anything, closed its eyes again.
Perhaps Revalia was trying to convey, “Warm yourself by my side instead of a bonfire!”?
No, that couldn’t be it, right?
…Right?
Without freezing and spending the night safely, we greeted the next morning energetically.
We ate the same meal as dinner to store up energy for the day.
I asked Revalia if it wanted to eat dried meat. It stuck out its tongue from between its fierce fangs, so I placed the largest piece of dried meat I had on it.
Revalia swallowed it without chewing.
Of course, that’s how it is.
For the large Revalia, a piece of meat cut to a size humans can eat is not something to chew. It must be something to enjoy the flavor of.
However, perhaps pleased with my share, Revalia carried me on its back again that day.
Soaring high into the sky, Revalia flew with majestic grace.
Wherever it flies, Revalia is the conqueror of the sky.
Whether it be the sky over Dragon Peak or the sky of an unfamiliar land, once it flaps its wings, it becomes Revalia’s domain.
Even though I didn’t know where we were flying, Revalia headed towards the eastern fortress as if it knew the sky like the back of its hand.
And we arrived without getting lost.
We spotted the fortress in the distance before noon.
What was initially a small dot gradually grew larger, its outline becoming clear.
Here again, the fortress’s Wyvern Knight Order, quickly noticing us flying from the western sky, took to the air.
“Oh, isn’t that Lady Elnea!?”
The Wyvern Knight, looking cool in his white full armor, went into the sky after a brief greeting.
“Revalia, it’s not good to threaten everyone, is it? Look, the people at the fortress are troubled.”
“Hmph, I don’t care about those who scurry away tail between their legs.”
Even so, most of the wyverns working in the Kingdom of Yorttenitos were originally wyverns living in Dragon Peak. Therefore, they must know firsthand the terror of Revalia, who was once known as a tyrant.
Of course, Revalia has now reformed and become a good dragon, but even so, if faced with a terrifying roar, they would instinctively flee.
Moreover, while the Wyvern Knight Order might be somewhat accustomed, the soldiers and giants at the fortress are not very familiar with dragons, so they are unconditionally scared when Revalia threatens them.
Thus, Revalia and I circled and began to descend slowly so as not to frighten the people at the fortress any further.
The soldiers and giants, who had initially made a commotion as Revalia landed, gradually calmed down and looked up at the sky.
…By the way.
Giants are present at the eastern fortress, as a matter of course. What does this mean?
Five giants were gathered around the crumbled outer wall of the fortress.
Their enormous forms, five times the size of humans, were impossible to ignore.
Ah.
Could it be that the giants had attacked again?!
But my worry was unfounded.
We landed in a plaza suitable for wyverns. The Knight Captain in charge of the fortress greeted us and explained about the giants.
“Prince Grave granted permission, and Sir Friel brought them. The giants are helping to repair the fortress.”
Apparently, the plan to build an exchange village west of the Great Forest was steadily progressing.
However, the western side of the Great Forest is still a monster’s den.
So, Friel proposed, “How about first allowing representative groups of giants and Mimicho Race into the Kingdom of Yorttenitos?”
That’s right, there was also a plan to welcome the giants to the capital city and have them help with reconstruction.
As a reward for this, the objective was to understand the giants by providing them with food and deepening exchange.
But before that.
We need to determine if the giants are truly a race that can have exchanges.
Of course, I, Friel, and Prince Grave know from interacting with them that they are a trustworthy race, but there are others who don’t.
Therefore, first, they will help repair the eastern fortress, increasing the number of people who understand them. Then, trust and friendship will gradually grow.
It’s a painstaking process, but this is perhaps what it means to run a country.
It means carefully removing the anxieties of the citizens one by one and showing them a new future. Unlike me, who has no burden, Friel is working hard as the prince of the country.
“Well then, I should greet everyone, including the giants.”
And so, I was guided by the captain to meet the giants.
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