We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A quiet village on the frontier.
Soon after we started walking, Priscilla-chan tugged on Amira-san’s sleeve.
“Um, are the swans soldiers?”
“Oh, I’ve made you misunderstand, Priscilla-chan.”
Amira-san smiled, “Fufufu.”
“I’m sorry, they aren’t swan soldiers. There’s a custom of comparing the Heavenly Army to winged creatures when referring to them.”
“So does that mean the First Army’s Heavenly Army is like an army of swans?”
When I asked this, Amira-san nodded.
“I believe it meant a Heavenly Army as beautiful and elegant as swans.”
“Then what about the flaming sword you mentioned?”
Alf-san had said that the First Army’s military banner was a white swan and a flaming sword.
If the white swan represents the state of the Heavenly Army, then the flaming sword should symbolize the Divine Army.
Alf-san answered my question in place of Amira-san.
“The Flaming Sword is the divine sword wielded by General Eiran, who leads the First Army. It’s said to be a legendary divine sword that can set even the sea ablaze once drawn from its scabbard.”
“Wow, it can burn the sea…?”
Just hearing about it, I knew it was a divine sword of immense power.
Perhaps it was a weapon comparable to the armaments of the Nine Demon Generals passed down among the Demon Race.
“So, is that General Eiran a great warrior?”
“Are you an idiot? Of course he is. The First Army is the elite of the elite, directly under the Emperor’s command. If you trace its origins, it was the first army established when the Emperor founded the country. He leads that honored army. In other words, he’s the most outstanding among the Divine Generals.”
“He’s an amazing person! But General Eiran is a Divine General, not a God of War, right? So that means Wender-san and the Glamorous God of War Teyu are still more amazing, right?”
“You’re mistaken. While it’s true that a God of War is ranked higher than a Divine General, the comparison itself is irrelevant because their roles are different.”
“What do you mean?”
“A God of War is chosen, so to speak, based on individual ability and loyalty to the Emperor. On the other hand, a Divine General, while of course requiring individual skill, is primarily sought for their ability to command an army.”
Ah, I see. I understood.
“Divine Generals have to fight by manipulating tens of thousands of people like their own limbs, don’t they?”
“That’s right. Sometimes they have to devise strategies and tactics, and not only deal with the battlefield but also manage logistics and command from the rear. The most important ability required of a Divine General is whether they can run an army. In that regard, a God of War, who doesn’t command an army, is most tested on their individual prowess.”
“Wait a minute. Gods of War don’t have armies?”
“That’s right. Gods of War may have private soldiers or personal subordinates, but they fundamentally do not possess armies. Well, if a God of War says to lend them an army, the Divine Generals have no choice but to obey.”
The structure of the Divine Race Empire is very unique and interesting.
Divine Generals commanding armies, and Gods of War whose importance lies in their individual skills. Both are highly honored Divine Races, but their roles are completely different.
Armies led by Divine Generals mainly handle large-scale warfare and defense. On the other hand, Gods of War undertake tasks requiring finesse upon the Emperor’s decree.
To give a familiar example, mobilizing an army to investigate the internal dealings of Gildia or the secrets of the descendants of the Fighting God would attract too much attention. In such cases, a God of War would operate discreetly.
It’s an amazing system, even to an amateur observer, that skillfully balances suppression and mobility.
I listened to Alf-san’s explanation, nodding.
However, Priscilla-chan, who had initiated the conversation, had already drifted away from it.
“Um, near Priscilla’s house, there are lots of lakes, and lots of swans and water birds come there.”
“Oh, how wonderful. May I visit someday?”
“Yes!”
It seems that young girls and women weren’t interested in military matters.
Priscilla-chan, holding Amira-san’s hand as they walked, was talking about the Forbidden Territory.
Or rather, the mansion in the Forbidden Territory isn’t Priscilla-chan’s house!?
When you grow up, you’re going to become the chieftain of the Mimicho Race in the Dragon Forest!
Mistral and the others were laughing at how Priscilla-chan casually spoke of the Forbidden Territory as her home.
“Speaking of which, is it alright to proceed as is?”
Sefina-san, walking ahead, glanced back.
“The way ahead is blocked, isn’t it? Even if we want to go, won’t we be stopped? What are your thoughts on that, Alf-kun?”
Alf-san had boasted that he would go to the Heavenly Race’s paradise no matter what and punch Count Mondo. But it was obvious we wouldn’t be allowed through if we proceeded without a plan.
Alf-san nodded to Sefina-san’s question, “Ah, that.”
Then, for some reason, he averted his gaze.
“Ah, you hadn’t thought of anything at all, had you!?”
“S-shut up. You just suddenly told me, do you think I could come up with a good plan immediately? Besides, if it were an easy plan that just popped into my head, Uncle Navi and the other merchants would have passed through long ago.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
But I never expected him to be so unprepared!
Amira-san sighed, “You always have these blind spots, don’t you, Older Brother?”
“Shut up!”
Alf-san averted his gaze. Amira-san deliberately got into his line of sight to tease him. Of course, Priscilla-chan joined in, teasing Alf-san.
“You really get along well.”
Everyone nodded, “Un, un.”
Nevertheless, we couldn’t just proceed thoughtlessly.
As we were all pondering what to do, Alf-san, escaping from Amira-san and Priscilla-chan, said something as if to redeem himself.
“I forgot to mention, we’re planning to stay at a village ahead tonight. We’ll gather some information there.”
“Oh, so we’re not sleeping outdoors tonight!”
But my joy was short-lived.
“Let me tell you, you guys are going to be with me as slaves from my house in front of other Divine Races, so don’t expect nice rooms.”
“Eeeh—!”
We pouted in dissatisfaction.
However, even Alf-san and Amira-san, being of the Divine Race, wouldn’t be able to stay in nice rooms.
“It’s an inn in a quiet village on the frontier. Even when I stayed with my brother last time, we had a shabby room. It’s just that kind of place.”
“Maybe sleeping outdoors would be more restful!”
“Maybe. But our purpose in the village is to gather information. We can’t just skip it.”
“Mumumu. I suppose so.”
If we hadn’t heard about the blockade, passing through might have been an option.
But given the current situation, staying for one night might be better.
Besides, I also wanted to experience staying in a village of the Divine Race, unlike Alex-san’s village.
Since we’re on a trip, we should gather various experiences, both fun and difficult, and make them memories.
In the end, it was decided by everyone’s agreement to stay one night at the village ahead.
However, when these sorts of things happen, we’re the ones who get involved in trouble…
“Whoa, what’s all this commotion?”
“Are you talking about the soldiers standing at the village entrance?”
We arrived at the village in question in the evening.
However, Alf-san stopped before the village entrance and showed a puzzled expression.
And where Alf-san was looking. Two soldiers stood at the village entrance.
The two soldiers were equipped with white armor and shields that reflected the setting sun beautifully. They wore vibrant red cloaks, like flames.
These were soldiers of a splendid caliber, unsuited for a frontier village.
Indeed, we understood without needing to be told.
“Hey, are those First Army soldiers?”
“Yeah. But why are they here in the village? Count Mondo’s capital is still further at the lake. Even if it’s a full blockade, there’s no need to expand it this far, is there? Besides, Uncle Navi didn’t say anything about it.”
“So, the soldiers arrived after Uncle Navi passed through the village?”
But why?
We heard that the blockade was being carried out only by the Divine Army.
Would the scarce Divine Army needlessly expand the blockade territory, thus increasing their burden?
We stopped at the soldiers we found near the village.
Then, as if the soldiers had noticed us, they called out, “You there!” and started heading towards us.
“Hey, don’t forget. You’re my household slaves.”
“Um, Priscilla is looking for her mother?”
“That was your setting, wasn’t it?”
While we were whispering, the two Divine Soldiers approached us.
“Hello. From your appearance, I believe you are soldiers of the First Army. Did something happen in the village ahead?”
Alf-san greeted the two Divine Soldiers with a smile.
We stayed quietly behind Alf-san and Amira-san, observing the situation.
The two Divine Soldiers first looked at Alf-san and Amira-san, then shifted their gaze to us. They frowned suspiciously.
“Hey, who are you people?”
As expected.
Alf-san, as if he had been waiting for this, began to lie.
“We’re travelers from a village at the foothills of Dragon Peak. See, there are Dragon Race here too. This girl here came down from the mountain for some business, and we’re here on a trip for the amusement of our household slaves as well.”
“Is that so?”
The Divine Soldier’s gaze shifted to Mistral. On top of Mistral’s head sat the young dragon Nimia, and she was holding Priscilla-chan’s hand.
“The mother of this child is missing. I’m accompanying this child to search for her.”
“Um, do you know Priscilla’s mother?”
These are the detailed settings.
As we traveled and talked, the settings changed and were revised to better fit the narrative.
We, the humans, are slaves in Alf-san’s household. Priscilla-chan is still looking for her mother as before. And Mistral found Priscilla-chan in the Dragon Forest and came down the mountain together to search for her parents.
Mistral complained that her setting was different, but she lost a bet with Yufilia and Nina last night, so it couldn’t be helped.
Putting aside the behind-the-scenes story of the settings.
After Alf-san’s explanation, the two Divine Soldiers exchanged glances as if they had just had an idea.
“Hey, this might be useful.”
“A Dragon Race, huh? Convenient.”
No. For us, it felt like nothing but inconvenience!
However, without regard for our convenience, the two Divine Soldiers imposed their task on us.
“You, woman of the Dragon Race. You look like you could handle yourself.”
Well, just being a Dragon Race makes them stronger than the Divine Race. Moreover, Mistral carried a jet-black one-handed club at her waist.
Even from the story of her descending from Dragon Peak with Priscilla-chan, they could infer that Mistral was highly skilled.
However, Mistral’s expression clearly showed her displeasure at being asked about her skill at this moment, given what it implied.
Nevertheless, the two Divine Soldiers continued their one-sided conversation.
“Listen up. If you want to spend a relaxing night in this village, you’ll be of service to us.”
“I don’t want to be made to do anything. I’d rather sleep outdoors.”
“P-please don’t say that. This is an important matter for the Dragon Race as well.”
We, being slaves, stood back modestly, but Mistral had no such restrictions.
She didn’t need to be humble in her speech.
And it was normal for Dragon Race not to revere Divine Race, so the Divine Soldiers didn’t mind.
Rather, as if they desperately wanted Mistral’s cooperation, the two Divine Soldiers lowered their stance.
“You Dragon Race are loyal to your companions, aren’t you? Then go immediately to the north of this village.”
“And what should we do there?”
“Y-you’ll know when you get there. There should be an old woman of the Dragon Race.”
“An old woman of the Dragon Race!? What do you mean?”
We were already quite far from Dragon Peak.
If we looked into the distance, we could see the ridge line of Dragon Peak, but it wasn’t exactly the foothills. An old woman of the Dragon Race in such a place!?
Not only Mistral but also we were surprised.
Why would an old woman of the Dragon Race be in this place, so far from Dragon Peak?
However, the two Divine Soldiers didn’t provide any further details.
“You’ll know if you go.”
“But don’t delay, the old woman of the Dragon Race’s life is in danger.”
What on earth was happening to the north of the village?
Mistral remained wary of the two Divine Soldiers, but she seemed concerned about the existence of a fellow Dragon Race woman and decided to head north of the village as instructed.
“Hey, Elnea. You go with her.”
“Yes, Master!”
“She might be injured. In that case, I shall accompany you as well.”
And so, Mistral, Ruiseine, and I were to make haste to the north of the village.
