Arc 7, Chapter 55B "Madness in the Fortress City"
--Time goes back only slightly further than the attack of the winged beings.
"Ugh, I've failed again...... I'm really no good at this......"
A boy walks down the street, shaking his peach-colored head.
The boy from the city's biggest mansion - Schult - is wearing short pants that expose his white legs. With a sigh, Schult, his face downcast, holds and opens his thin, soft, not-too-sturdy hands.
Still young, Schult has already designated only one master for the rest of his life.
Born in a poor village, Schult was reduced to a meagre existence by the weight of that year's tax collection, and was to starve to death on the side of the road after being evicted from his home. Hungry and thirsty, he chomped on mud and almost made it his last meal of life, but the sun came along and saved him--.
His way of life, which burns the whole world to the ground, saved him and made him the Schult he is today.
That is why Schult truly wants to devote everything he has and will ever have to his indebted master.
And yet--,
"I hate myself for not being able to help at all......"
A deep sigh - and even that sigh was weaker than humanly possible due to lung capacity issues - Schult's head, chest, and heart ached collectively at his own inadequacy.
Recently, he was scrambling to fulfill a role assigned to him by his precious Lord and failed.
It is a simple task to fill the bathhouse with hot water, but the water overflows, and the magical ore used to boil the water is mishandled, leaving the workers in a hectic state.
He had only been in Priscilla's service for a short period of time, and that too for a short time, and he is annoyed with Rem, who has a bad leg, and this time he feels sorry for himself for being so pathetic.
"Priscilla and Al both tell me that I don't have to change in a hurry......"
He is glad that the kind Priscilla and open-minded Al feel so comforted.
But Schult hates himself for not being able to give anything back to them. In this respect, he feels that Heinkel, who sees things differently from the two of them and treats Schult in a different way, understands.
It was Heinkel who taught him that the sword practice that Al had taught him was not suited for Schult, so he taught him a different way to do it. Thanks to that, he feels that he has made him a little firmer at the fist.
"I was more suited to Heinkel's way of doing things every day than to Al's way of taking ten days off after one day of swinging. I don't want to disappoint Al, so I can't tell him......"
Anyway, with those signs of growth, Schult was in a bit of a funk.
And the heavens did not forgive Schult for his indulgence and arrogance. This led to the fiasco in the bathroom, and Schult reflects on it greatly.
He wonders if Rem is helping her master, Priscilla, bathe in the bathtub that has been re-filled with hot water. He sincerely thinks that Rem is capable of anything and he can respect her.
"She's just like Yae-sama. ......Yae-sama, how have you been......"
Suddenly, a woman named Yae Tenzen, a cheerful and bright maid who used to work for Priscilla, came back to Schult's mind.
She was in charge of Priscilla's personal care, was always happy to talk with Al, and was kind to Schult, which Schult liked very much.
But one day she had a family mishap and abruptly quit her job at the mansion and went back to the country. Schult didn't have time to say hello and was very sad to see her go. Al, who saw her off for the last time, told him that she said hello to Schult.
Perhaps Rem could take Yae's place as Priscilla's sidekick.
As a kind and hardworking person, Schult is very happy when Rem does that. He gets along well with Priscilla and he is sure Rem would enjoy that.
Above all--,
"We are all so happy when we are with you, Priscilla."
His own personal experience, which is nothing else but his own, makes Schult tell the story of the magnitude of Priscilla's presence.
Rem, too, is at an age when she is troubled by many things, and she is often gloomy and thoughtful. She thought that her sun, Priscilla, would shine brightly on her gloomy, troubled face.
"Ah, Shoolt." (TL's note: i have no idea what is written here)
"Mhm! I am!"
With this thought in mind, Schult, who had been raising and lowering his head, stopped in his tracks. The reason was because he heard a familiar voice and saw someone pointing at him in front of him.
A young girl with dark hair dyed peach-colored at the ends was pointing at Schult as he walked down the street. The girl had a young man next to her, and when he noticed Schult and the girl's mutual awareness, he brightfully let out a cheerful "Yaya!".
"I thought the butler was there. The princess is not with you, is she?"
"Priscilla is relaxing at the mansion, Flop-sama. Was she with Utakata-sama on a stroll?"
"Ooh, it's rare to be called 'Sama'. It's funny."
The young man smiling softly and waving his hand - Flop - nods an "I see" to Schult's question. The girl with him, Utakata, also puts her hand on her cheek and seems to be deeply moved by the name Schult called her.
Schult first became acquainted with both Flop and Utakata when he arrived in Guaral. According to what I have heard, Flop is a peddler who travels from town to town, and Utakata is a warrior from a tribe called the "People of Shudrak".
They are both fine people with their own places to stand.
"Oh? You look kind of buoyant, Mr. Butler. I wonder if you might be having some trouble with that face."
"Huh!? Th-, that's great! Flop-sama, you understand!?"
"Oh, yes, of course I understand! Most people have problems! And my sister, who doesn't seem to have any problems, has them, too!"
"Middy, you didn't seem bothered."
"I am! Surprise!"
Putting his hands on his own hips, Flop opened his mouth wide and laughed out loud. Seeing Flop's cheerful attitude, Schult also felt somewhat cheered up.
Flop, like Priscilla, is like the sun that brightens up the surroundings. Surely that many colorful flowers will bloom around Flop.
"He is like a prince in a field of flowers."
"Hahaha, I'm not a prince, I'm just a peddler! So, Mr. Butler, what is your problem? Why don't you talk to me?"
"Is that okay? I thought you were on a walk......"
Leaning back from the waist, Schult is afraid of Flop, who asks him that. He glances at Utakata, who was supposed to be taking a walk with Flop.
But Utakata's round eyes narrowed and she shook her head, not at all uncomfortable.
"Uu, I'm bored. I was bored playing with Fuu, so I asked him about Schu's problems."
"I know. Oh, please don't think of it as a form of boredom. Every problem is important to the person who is suffering from it. So, I will listen to you carefully."
So, after a not-so-tough chest-beating, Flop takes both Schult and Utakata to the end of the road, toward the curb of the flower bed there.
So the three of them, butt on curb, started talking in the breeze.
Schult's problem, as mentioned above, is that of being unworthy.
For Priscilla's sake, he wants to be more of who he can be.
"It is not going well. How did you and Utakata-sama become the splendid people you are today?"
"Hoho, I see. How did I get to be who I am now, how...... that's philosophical!"
"Philosoph-...... is that so......"
At the smiling Flop's answer, Schult braced himself for a hint of unlearned study.
Without knowing its philosophy, can he get an answer to Schult's problem? If so, he is willing to study that philosophy as well.
"Uu became Uu, Mar gave birth to Uu so."
"Mar, is it? That's......"
"Uu's mother! She was good friends with Ta. But she stabbed herself to death."
"I-, is that so......?"
Flapping her floating feet, Utakata tells the story of how her mother died.
Her attitude was unconcerned, but Schult was surprised to hear what she did not expect to hear. Flop who was opposite of her gently stroked Utakata's head with her between them.
"I see, your mother did that. That's a terrible thing to hear, Utakata-sama."
"Uu said, it was more difficult for Ta than for Uu. Uu is totally fine because Mee and the others helped her grow up. She grew up like this."
"Yes, indeed, Utakata-sama is growing up very well. I am sure your mother would be pleased to hear that."
"--? Mar is dead or not, I'm not pleased. Fuu, that's a funny thing to say."
Utakata looks at him strangely while Flop pats her head. However, she did not feel bad about being stroked by Flop and did not try to stop him.
At Utakata's reaction, Flop quietly squinted his blue eyes.
"Now, Miss Utakata's answer was very good. In fact, don't think I would have given the same answer if I told you how I got to where I am today."
"Same answer...... So you were raised by the Shudraks the same way as Utakata-sama, weren't you, Flop-sama?"
"If so, I'm so glad I have so much family! But the only family I have is my sister, Medium, as everyone else is dead. It is very sad and lonely."
"......Is that so?"
The first half of Flop's statement is in his usual tone, and the second half is a little less shrill. With his eyes downcast at his answer, Schult again feels his inadequacy.
He had heard some very insensitive things from both Utakata and Flop.
Even Schult, when asked about the family that abandoned him, can't give a very happy answer to those who ask. He should have thought more about things before asking.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Mr. Butler. You will learn from now on. And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"Is this the same answer you gave to...... Utakata-sama earlier?"
"Yes, that's right. I am the same as Utakata-sama, in that I was influenced by the people around me, and that is how I became the person I am today."
He spreads his hands and laughs as if Flop is showing off what he is now.
His cheerful smile and reassuring tone of voice, both of which are important to Flop's Flop-ness. He wonders if this is also something that has been cultivated through the influence of others.
"I was living in a very bad environment. We had very little food, we didn't get paid for our work, and the adults there beat the children whenever they got into trouble. It was a terrible place."
"Th-, that's a terrible place......! What are children supposed to do in such a place?"
"If it was Uu, we would burn it down."
"We will burn it down!"
"Hahaha, that might have been one idea. But it didn't turn out that way."
Schult agrees with Utakata's proposal of a fire attack on Flop's harsh past. But Flop, who laughs at their answer, has already passed through that past.
How in the world did they get past that--,
"Well, I'm a little out of touch. There was a benefactor who helped us. That's me and my sister's family, who are dead now."
"......I was helped, is that right? That was great."
"You know what I mean, Mr. Butler?"
"I understand...... I was also saved by Priscilla-sama."
Gently placing his hand on his chest, he feels at his fingertips the fact that it is no longer a body with only bones and skin floating in it. That is the proof of what Priscilla has given to Schult until today.
The tougher, stronger, healthier and more splendid Schult becomes, the more he can prove that Priscilla's actions that day were not a mistake. And Priscilla will not be made to regret it.
At the glint in Schult's red eyes, Flop chuckled a little and said,
"I've generally had similar feelings. So I am working hard to make my big goal come true. It's a tough road, but I'm not going to give up."
"I hope you don't give up! Ah! But I would like you to be a little more specific. How are you doing, Flop-sama?"
"Mm, yeah. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I'm going to tell you a story about...... not about me, but about my sister. My sister who is taller than I am and has more arms and more energy."
"Oh, yes!"
Flop was a big hand up, perhaps because the sister of the topic is such a big person.
This was not the first time he had heard about his sister from Flop in this way, but Schult had never met her in person. This is because when he and Heinkel came to Guaral to join Priscilla, Flop's sister had already left for another place.
Anyway--,
"Middy, she's big and strong. Me too is impressed."
"She has a big voice and is not afraid to talk. Of course, as her older brother, I'm also proud of her skill! I've been working hard to become stronger."
"To become stronger......! I respect you!"
He is sure that he worked hard to become stronger, staying positive and never losing his ambition.
Keep trying and don't rot, that may be the key to improving, or so Schult tries to take it. But "No, no," shrugged Flop.
"You'd think so, wouldn't you? But, by the way! Medium got stronger for a slightly more backward reason."
"B-, backward? What does that mean?"
"Yeah, it's easy. --Medium, you know, when I was beaten up by an adult, she kept gently stroking my wounds."
Flop speaks of this with the corners of his eyes lowered, nostalgic for the past.
Schult is bewildered by the discrepancy between the gentle tone of his speech and the content of what is being said, however. He stroked the wound where he was hit, and even though he was told that it was the beginning of becoming stronger, he could not connect with it.
I am so sorry to hear that he was beaten. But what was Master Flop doing when his sister was gently caressing that wound?"
"Me?" he said. I was smiling. I was happy for Medium's feelings, and if I hadn't been smiling, Medium would have been bothered by my covering for her.
"----"
So the first time an adult hit me because I couldn't cover up for him, the medium was surprised from the bottom of his heart. When someone strokes the wound from a beating, it hurts. It doesn't heal or make the pain go away. It's very unfortunate."
Shaking his head loosely, Flop replied forlornly.
Hearing Flop's answer, even the less perceptive Schult finally understands his true intentions. He also wonders how his sister could aspire to be strong and not give up.
I didn't want it to hurt, so I had to avoid getting hit. Middy, you think so?"
'Well, that's how it is! A very simple and good answer, even though she is my sister. It made Medium stronger and our siblings' journey safer, though!"
Then Flop, smiling broadly, looked a little different to Schult.
Not only is she cheerful, she looks proud. He is sure that Flop is proud of his sister from the bottom of his heart. And he envies her very much for that.
"I want to be as strong as your sister, Flop-sama......!"
"I'm sure Medium would love to hear that. It's not often you get to be someone's role model, and that sounds like a lot of fun."
Schult clenches his small fist tightly, and Flop gives him a drumstick with a smile.
Listening to their exchange, Utakata asked, "Schu?" and looked at Schult.
"I want to get stronger. I want to be strong."
"A bow, is it? But I also practice with a sword...... no, I do! I will do both! I will make me twice as strong!"
"If I could do both, that's exactly what I'd do! Smart!"
Flop tuned in with Schult, who was burning with determination, thrusting his hands up to the sky. And so the promise of training together made Utakata puff out his nose and puff out his chest.
As she showed Schult the bow on her back,
"Uu will also work hard like Schu. Be a master like Schu."
"I would like to meet Ta-sama. Why do you want to become a bow and arrow expert, Utakata-sama?"
"Mar said Uu killed the traveler with a bow and arrow."
"I see. ......I SEE!?"
The answer was more radical than expected, and Schult's understanding was delayed for a moment.
It sounded like it was to kill travelers, but what exactly did that mean? Schult, who had just reflected on the situation, wondered if he was allowed to ask for more details.
--And so, while Schult was troubled, the time for questioning was taken away.
"--Mr. Butler! Utakata-sama!"
"--!?"
"Fuu?"
Suddenly, Flop's expression changed and a sharp voice called out to Schult and Utakata. Schult's shoulder jumps at the momentum, and Flop's arm grips it tightly.
Then, pulling Schult and Utakata sitting on the curb, Flop shouted.
"The sky is looking dangerous! Let's just panic for a minute and get out of here!"
△▼△▼△▼△
--When the herd was spotted beyond the sky, Heinkel's figure was in the city hall.
The people present were the real commanders of the forces stationed in the fortress city.
Originally sent to the city, two generals Zikr Osman and his men joined Priscilla - or more precisely, the man named Abel - under the curtain when they attacked the fortress city.
Then there are the "People of Shudrak", a hunting tribe in the jungle who are fewer in number than the imperial soldiers, but whose individual abilities cannot be underestimated, and Mizelda, the acting chief, who leads them.
When Heinkel visited the government building, the two men were in the midst of a face-to-face meeting to discuss the future.
Priscilla's tales of prophetic omens, and although he does not believe she has the power to foretell the future, Heinkel knows not to underestimate the power of the eyes of such a substandard being.
Not only Priscilla, but those who bear special powers and destinies have a different perspective than ordinary people.
The difference in the height of their eyes means the difference in the view they can see. Ordinary people - or rather, ordinary people - will never be able to understand these people, who can see things that ordinary people cannot.
Heinkel has learned this painfully in his forty years and a little more.
Therefore, he will not dismiss them out of hand because he does not understand them.
This was also the reason why he did not dismiss Priscilla's words and went to the city hall.
And then--,
"----"
Outside the window, the first person to notice the anomaly was Mizelda, who sniffed and looked as if she had an intuition about something.
The former Shudrak chief who apparently lost one of her legs in a battle during the capture of a fortified city. She lost her right leg below the knee and has attached a stick like the tip of a cane to her right leg as a replacement for the leg.
The same sound was made when he turned around as he did so, for every time he walked, the sound of his cane was heard.
The moment Mizelda's strong-eyed beauty and her profile tightened, Heinkel and Zikr, who were present, instantly realized something was wrong and looked in the same direction.
That's how Zikr muttered to himself as he looked at the swarm of black spots surging in from beyond the sky.
"--Flying dragons, the herd."
"Wh--! Zikr! Inform the men! I'm moving the Shudrak!"
Immediately afterwards, Mizelda, realizing the danger of the situation, leaped from the roof of the government building, kicking the floor with tremendous force, stretching out Zikr's round shoulder.
However, she has just lost one of her legs. Instead of leaping herself out the window, she skips down the stairs and heads outside in a great hurry.
Caught up in the momentum, Zikr sharpened his bland expression.
"Ring the bell! Enemy attack! They're coming from the sky!"
He shouted this and kicked his entourage in the back, making the entire fortress city aware of the critical situation.
After a quick glance at those reactions, Heinkel also put his hand on the sword at his waist. Then, as loud and sharp as the ringing alarm bells, he clicked his tongue.
"Heinkel! Where's Priscilla......"
"If it's Miss Priscilla, she's in the mansion. I knew something would happen. She'll start moving soon."
In response to Zikr turning around, Heinkel turns his attention to the enemy shadows in the sky.
In just a few dozen seconds, it has clearly darkened in color and increased in size, and is approaching the city at a tremendous speed. There is no longer a moment to spare.
"Assuming it was an enemy attack, do you have any idea who the attackers were?"
"--. The number of those flying dragons is extraordinary. The Imperial Capital also has the strength to mobilize that many flying dragon riders...... so there is only one possibility."
"So what are the possibilities!"
Heinkel's words become rough as time is cut short by Zikr's roundabout way of talking.
At Heinkel's pursuit, Zikr paused for a beat.
"The 'Flying Dragon General' Madelyn Eschart...... she controls a flying dragon. In other words,"
"Damn you, 'Nine Divine Generals'......!"
Heinkel scratches his own head when the familiar name is mentioned.
Heinkel is not an expert on the inner workings of the empire, but he is the Deputy Commander of the Knights of the Guards of Kingdom of Lugnica. Because of his position, he is far more knowledgeable about information from other countries than most people.
He had also heard the name and alias of the "Nine Divine Generals," the highest military force possessed by the empire.
All of them seem to be warriors with extraordinary abilities, and only the best, including Marcos, the leader of the guards, can stand up to them in the kingdom.
Then, of course, there is the kingdom's most powerful "sword saint", but--,
"We're talking about a hell of a lot more than Reinhard, aren't we......?"
The strongest swordsman in the Vollachian Empire is said to be as talented as Reinhard.
Naturally, the "Nine Divine Generals" may have varying degrees of power, but for Heinkel, the thought of being attacked by an entity that is on a par with such monsters is as nightmarish as it gets.
Originally, Heinkel had no intention of coming to the empire.
Priscilla decided on her own that she was going to Vollachia, and he was just along for the ride. He has no interest in the existence of this fortified city.
But--,
"I ain't going to let Priscilla-sama's mood get the better of me...... Even if Priscilla-sama becomes king, it won't matter if I'm sent away."
It is Priscilla who is freaky and ultimately doesn't know what she is thinking.
For whatever windfall, they have Heinkel on hand for now, but if they don't show usefulness, they could be thrown out empty-handed.
That should never be the only thing. Now Priscilla is the only person to whom Heinkel has a thread to cling.
"We don't have time for idle chatter. Let's get rid of this herd of flying dragons. Zikr, you stay here and take overall command!"
"I intend to, but what about you, Mister Heinkel?"
"--I'll do what I want."
Unlike Zikr and Mizelda, Heinkel has no soldiers or friends to lead him.
Even if there were, Heinkel's title of deputy commander of the guards would be a mere decoration. He learned the basics of military tactics a long time ago, and no one listens to Heinkel's instructions.
So there is only one thing Heinkel can do from the beginning.
"----"
Immediately after making this decision, Heinkel, without hearing Zikr's reply, ran to the balcony of the city hall and jumped down from there to the city below.
He puts his toes on the roof of a tall building, kicks off the rooftop, runs, and heads back to the next building. As it is, they repeat the leap with the wind in their face, and their destination is the top of the fortifications surrounding the city.
The flying dragon herd comes to the western sky, jumps over to the castle towering in that direction, and catches its breath.
Alarm bells were already ringing in the city, warning of an enemy attack, and everywhere in the city there was a mixture of confusion among the people and angry shouts from the guards urging them to calm down and take shelter.
"......Oh, shit."
The smell of the air changes noticeably and the taste of spit on the tongue becomes bitter.
As the blood and steel of the battlefield approached, Heinkel had to listen to a high pitched keening in the back of his ears.
Besides Heinkel, imperial soldiers rush to the western ramparts.
If Zikr's guess is correct, it is one of the "Nine Divine Generals" who will attack. What kind of resolve will they have to face an opponent who is the sole general of the empire?
Are we in a position to gather under the same banner and yet feel no discomfort with it? Or is it enough if we can fight? Are they satisfied as long as they can fight and die?
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck every one of them......tsk"
A boiling, throbbing, black heat poured from deep within my chest and flowed through my entire body.
Heinkel gritted his teeth to the point of creaking as he savored the dark-colored heat that began in his heart, traveled to his internal organs and lower abdomen, and then to the tips of his limbs and fingers.
Heinkel's hand slowly reached for the sword at his waist - the one bearing the name "Astraea" - and gripped the hilt tightly.
And then--,
"--FUCK YOU ALL, MOTHERFUCKERS!"
Heinkel's sword flashed as he howled out his unbearable rage, and the thick neck of the flying dragon, gliding to grab the bite, spurted blood and blew away with great force.
△▼△▼△▼△
The ringing of alarm bells and the exclamations of people running away from the city, which were exquisitely and frighteningly combined, turned the fortified city of Guaral into a battlefield where screams and cries reigned.
The army of flying dragons, no less than several hundred in number, rushing in from the western sky shattered the hearts of the residents, who had been reassured by the fact that the city was protected on all four sides by city walls.
If there is a weakness in that absolute wall, a wall that can withstand even the destructive power of a powerful magic stone cannon, it is only the presence of a threat that can overcome even a large wall.
A being that can straddle the city walls, or a ruler of the sky that can fly over the walls.
Indeed, it was no exaggeration to say that the fortress city was attacked by its most difficult enemy on this day.
"--This doesn't look very good."
Avoiding the boulevard, where screams were shrill, Flop peeked out from the alley and raised an eyebrow.
A few minutes after spotting the flying dragon in the sky, things took a turn for the worse, and the fortified city forgot its brief peace and was once again transformed into the same battlefield as it had been ten days earlier.
However, the change this time is even worse than that of ten days ago.
After all--,
"My master was trying to cause as little damage as possible, but...... apparently, this time the other party doesn't seem to have that kind of attention to detail."
Subaru aimed for a "bloodless" opening of the city by the daring means of dressing up as a woman.
That goal was foiled by an unexpected intruder, but even so, the amount of blood spilled would have been incomparably greater had measures other than Subaru's been employed.
The fact that the feelings of the residents of the fortress city and the Imperial soldiers stationed there did not deteriorate to an extreme degree was, in Flop's opinion, the result of such attentiveness on Subaru's part.
This time, however, the enemy seems to have no such gentlemanly ideas.
"Hee."
A tremendous roar and an earth-shaking shock travels through the air, and Schult screams beside Flop.
No wonder. That's how caustic and effective the enemy's attacks with flying dragons were.
"We just let the flying dragons carry the rocks and drop them from high in the sky."
What we are doing is simple and straightforward, just that primitive attack.
However, even a rock as big as a man's head could not avoid serious injury, and yet the rocks being thrown down from earlier were all large enough to hold a man's head or two.
Its power destroys stone buildings and makes a huge hole in the ground of the street. Of course, if a person were to be hit, it would be a disaster that could not be seen for a second time.
Flop also rushed into the alley, but there was no assurance that this was a safe area.
If there is a safe haven, it is to flee underground or head for a simple competent person.
"Me and my friends are in the big building in the middle."
"Pr-, Priscilla is in the house......"
"Ah, I see. They are both very smart and I agree with them. The problem is that we are right in the middle of both places!"
Those with dependable city defenses, such as Mizelda and Zikr.
Although it is only an individual strength, Priscilla's ability was not inferior even to that of the "Nine Divine Generals".
Flop is also in a bind as to which way to rush to.
And so, in between worrying about it--,
"H-, help...... waaaaaa!!"
Right in front of the alley Flop was in, a figure fleeing down the street screams and disappears. --No, he does not disappear. The man's body was snatched up by a shadow flying at great speed and taken away into the sky at once.
Apparently, the flying dragons that attacked the city have different roles, and they are divided into two groups: one that drops large rocks like the one just described, and the other that attacks directly.
Or, more likely, there are also flying dragons that have taken on other roles.
"Y-, you are......"
"We wanted to help, but we couldn't! And we couldn't bypass it either. If we fell under the claws and fangs of the flying dragon, all three of us would be taken into the sky together."
"Uu has a bow! It's going to bring down the flying dragon!"
In his arms, Utahkata so breathed and showed his bow and arrow. If it was Holly, Kuna, or the adult Shudraks who were here, Flop gave it a second thought.
However, Flop, who had once accompanied Utakata to bow practice, knew that her ability was not commensurate with this battlefield.
"You want the best food for your children, don't you? I know."
Closing his eyes, Flop thinks of the benefactor who saved him and his sister from rock bottom.
He was blunt and crude, and yet his benefactor never wavered from his principles. Therefore, Flop wants to be an "adult" who is not ashamed of it.
We can't just sit here and hide our breath forever. We need to take some kind of action, whether we send them to the city hall or to the mansion.
In order to get both Schult and Utakata to safety--.
"--I want you both to listen. From now on, I'm going to,"
With a small gasp, Flop tries to tell them the policy with determination.
It was at that moment that the two youngsters saw Flop at those words.
"Ooooohhh--!!"
"--!"
With a blood-curdling rage, something huge falls from the sky onto the street. The object slammed to the ground with a tangle of angry screams and exclamations is a flying dragon with black blood pouring from its entire body.
The large flying dragon, whose wings spread out to a height of three to four meters, flapped its broken wings from the impact of the fall and desperately tried to escape from it.
And then--,
Don't you fucking run away! You bastard, don't run away!"
The figure fell to the ground with the flying dragon and rolled vigorously, jumping on its back. He then thrust his sword into the writhing flying dragon and skewered its heart from behind.
The flying dragon's screams extend for a long time, and the dragon falls to the spot with tears of blood.
And so, as he watched the flying dragon's breath catch--,
"Fuck you, fuck you......"
A red-haired man comes down the back of a dead flying dragon, moving his large shoulders up and down. At the sight of him, Schult in Flop's arms shouted, "Ah!".
"Heinkel-sama! Are you all right?"
"Ah?"
Schult's high-pitched voice called out, and the red-haired man turned around with a bad attitude. Immediately, Schult's throat snatches and chokes at the sight of the man whose entire body is dyed bright red.
Then, with his eyes wide open, Schult lets Flop escape his arms and rushes to the man's side. Seeing Schult, the man wiped his bloody face with his sleeve.
"Oh, it's you, shorty."
"Oh, Heinkel-sama, you're so red! Where are you hurt?"
"Injuries? Oh, this blood is from the spurt of blood. If I'm hurt, it's just a scratch."
"R-, really? Are you sure......?"
With his eyes black and white, Schult touches the floppy and bloody man's body to make sure. The man looking down at him sighed, his attitude not caring that his hands and clothes were dirty.
At their exchange, Flop exhaled the breath he had held in his last minute determination and said,
"Mr. Butler, I don't think you have anything to worry about. It seems that you are not really hurt, and not just because of your strength."
"You're the guy who...... don't know any better. You're these little guys?"
"I'm a little disappointed that I don't know better, but you're right! But I was just running around with the butler and Utakata-sama. I am relieved that you came."
When Flop smiles at him, the bloody man - Heinkel - looks away.
The reaction was not embarrassment, but displeasure. In fact, he even clicked his tongue. But it was true that he had killed the flying dragon and that he had played a role in Schult's peace of mind.
Like Schult, Heinkel seems to be one of Priscilla's followers. He thought he could fight because he carries a sword, but he seems to be a great fighter beyond my expectations.
The tremendous amount of blood that stained his body red could hardly be the return blood from the flying dragon he had just killed. It is evidence that he was bathed in the return blood of multiple flying dragons.
"I was going to go to Priscilla's now! What about you, Heinkel-sama?"
"At Priscilla-sama's? ......You'd be safer that way. But,"
"There are very few safe places in the city right now. If all you have to deal with are flying dragons, I think it's a good idea to have a building with a basement and a place where you can find spices."
"Supaices......?"
Flop interrupts the conversation between Schult and Heinkel, and Utakata tilts his head at the questionable points of the conversation. Heinkel gave Flop the same suspicious look.
If you are not too familiar with the ecology of flying dragons, this may not ring a bell.
"Flying dragons have a very good sense of smell. They can smell blood from a great distance. On the other hand, they don't like strong smells. So, if you sprinkle peppa all over their bodies, they might avoid being caught."
"......You sure know a lot about this."
"I'm still a peddler who travels from place to place! I also happen to know someone who knows a lot about flying dragons. He may have been the most knowledgeable person in the Empire!"
However, he had often heard about the good side of flying dragons from that person, so he did not expect to face them as a threat in this way.
At least, if the knowledge one has acquired does not lie, it is not without a strategy of coating oneself in spices to escape from the flying dragon.
It was fortuitous for Flop and the two children to join up with Heinkel, who could fight, but not so fortuitous for the battle for this fortress city.
"I can't say I like the idea of using the redhead as our escort."
Heinkel, who can cross with flying dragons single-handedly, is a valuable asset to a city under attack by countless flying dragons.
No matter how the battle turns out from here on, he will be one of the factors that will determine the outcome of the battle. It is not good to put him alongside the three non-combatants.
Therefore--,
"We are going underground to escape the eyes and noses of the flying dragons. I would like to ask the redhead to accompany us to a nearby restaurant or warehouse. There, we can blind their eyes...... I mean, maybe blind their noses. Once we do that, we can take care of the rest on our own."
"Flop-sama......"
Schult looked perplexed at Flop's suggestion, as if the option of breaking up had not occurred to him at all. But instead of Schult's surprise, Utakata nodded her head and said,
"Uu thinks the same way as Fuu. Uu and the others will protect Schu. Don't worry."
"Is Utakata-sama also......?"
When Utakata nodded her head, Schult's round eyes went down. Then, after a few seconds, he looked up with a determined expression and saw Heinkel.
"I understand. I will do my best with Flop-sama and the others. So, Heinkel-sama, be careful with your injuries......"
"--Since a while ago, don't get all worked up with you guys on your own. Why should I be at your beck and call?"
"Huh!?"
However, Schult's determination is empty, and Heinkel frowns and says so with a frown.
He wiped the gore from his sword with his cloak, indicating his surroundings with his chin, and said,
"I'm telling you, I don't owe this city anything. I have nothing against this city, but it would be more likely to offend Priscilla-sama if I failed to protect this little guy. And I don't want that."
"Wa-, wait, wait, wait, Mr. Redhead! Wait a minute! So you think protecting the princess's mood is more important than protecting the city? That's......"
"--Yes."
"----"
Flop snorted as he was answered in clear, definitive terms. Heinkel stared at Flop's face, his blue eyes glinting in the red dirt of his face.
"I have something more important than this city, more important than someone's life. Not this little guy. I have something I have to give up to Priscilla-sama, who adores this little guy. I don't care who or how many people die to get it."
"Mr. Redhead......"
"First of all, I'm not that big of a deal, and neither are you. You should know your place. There's only so much you can do. Don't try to reach outside of that. You'll only make a fool of yourself."
"----"
"No one can be a sword."
Heinkel's hand reached for Schult's shoulder as he spat.
Schult's thin little shoulders are gripped in his hands, and the young boy turns his moist eyes to Heinkel. The fright that filled those eyes--,
"You seem to be in a lot of pain, Heinkel-sama."
--No, it was not a fright, but a mercy.
Heinkel's cheeks slightly stiffen under the sincere gaze of the young boy. Heinkel's cheeks slightly stiffened, but this did not move his determined heart.
"I'm taking this little guy to Mistress Priscilla. If you guys want to follow me, you're on your own. But don't make the mistake of thinking I'll protect you."
With that, Heinkel turns his back on Flop, who is still holding onto Schult. With that foot, he steps out into the street and is about to head for the mansion where Priscilla is.
Flop also wondered if he should follow his advice--,
"--You're the one killing the dragon."
--A moment later, a shadow falling with that single voice landed on the ground with a furious roar.
"----"
A sudden intruder with a big hole in the ground with a thick cloud of dust and smoke.
It is a small figure standing with its short arms crossed, blocking the path of the street, right in front of Heinkel, who was about to take Schult.
--At first glance, it is slow to understand what it is.
The events that took place and the impressions that the figures give do not overlap very much.
Her small stature, lovely face, blemish-free white skin, and sky-blue attire that accentuates her loveliness. Her appearance does not seem so different from that of Schult and Utakata, and it is hard to believe that she has just appeared with a ground-shattering impact.
But the events that took place are all that matters, and nothing can deny that.
The shadow that appeared narrowed its golden eyes, glared at the four standing with Flop in the street, and nodded.
And then--,
"Reward the dragon for shedding his blood, and redeem him by shedding his blood until it is shed to all its fullness. --Fools."
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--Time goes back only slightly further than the attack of the winged beings.
"Ugh, I've failed again...... I'm really no good at this......"
A boy walks down the street, shaking his peach-colored head.
The boy from the city's biggest mansion - Schult - is wearing short pants that expose his white legs. With a sigh, Schult, his face downcast, holds and opens his thin, soft, not-too-sturdy hands.
Still young, Schult has already designated only one master for the rest of his life.
Born in a poor village, Schult was reduced to a meagre existence by the weight of that year's tax collection, and was to starve to death on the side of the road after being evicted from his home. Hungry and thirsty, he chomped on mud and almost made it his last meal of life, but the sun came along and saved him--.
His way of life, which burns the whole world to the ground, saved him and made him the Schult he is today.
That is why Schult truly wants to devote everything he has and will ever have to his indebted master.
And yet--,
"I hate myself for not being able to help at all......"
A deep sigh - and even that sigh was weaker than humanly possible due to lung capacity issues - Schult's head, chest, and heart ached collectively at his own inadequacy.
Recently, he was scrambling to fulfill a role assigned to him by his precious Lord and failed.
It is a simple task to fill the bathhouse with hot water, but the water overflows, and the magical ore used to boil the water is mishandled, leaving the workers in a hectic state.
He had only been in Priscilla's service for a short period of time, and that too for a short time, and he is annoyed with Rem, who has a bad leg, and this time he feels sorry for himself for being so pathetic.
"Priscilla and Al both tell me that I don't have to change in a hurry......"
He is glad that the kind Priscilla and open-minded Al feel so comforted.
But Schult hates himself for not being able to give anything back to them. In this respect, he feels that Heinkel, who sees things differently from the two of them and treats Schult in a different way, understands.
It was Heinkel who taught him that the sword practice that Al had taught him was not suited for Schult, so he taught him a different way to do it. Thanks to that, he feels that he has made him a little firmer at the fist.
"I was more suited to Heinkel's way of doing things every day than to Al's way of taking ten days off after one day of swinging. I don't want to disappoint Al, so I can't tell him......"
Anyway, with those signs of growth, Schult was in a bit of a funk.
And the heavens did not forgive Schult for his indulgence and arrogance. This led to the fiasco in the bathroom, and Schult reflects on it greatly.
He wonders if Rem is helping her master, Priscilla, bathe in the bathtub that has been re-filled with hot water. He sincerely thinks that Rem is capable of anything and he can respect her.
"She's just like Yae-sama. ......Yae-sama, how have you been......"
Suddenly, a woman named Yae Tenzen, a cheerful and bright maid who used to work for Priscilla, came back to Schult's mind.
She was in charge of Priscilla's personal care, was always happy to talk with Al, and was kind to Schult, which Schult liked very much.
But one day she had a family mishap and abruptly quit her job at the mansion and went back to the country. Schult didn't have time to say hello and was very sad to see her go. Al, who saw her off for the last time, told him that she said hello to Schult.
Perhaps Rem could take Yae's place as Priscilla's sidekick.
As a kind and hardworking person, Schult is very happy when Rem does that. He gets along well with Priscilla and he is sure Rem would enjoy that.
Above all--,
"We are all so happy when we are with you, Priscilla."
His own personal experience, which is nothing else but his own, makes Schult tell the story of the magnitude of Priscilla's presence.
Rem, too, is at an age when she is troubled by many things, and she is often gloomy and thoughtful. She thought that her sun, Priscilla, would shine brightly on her gloomy, troubled face.
"Ah, Shoolt." (TL's note: i have no idea what is written here)
"Mhm! I am!"
With this thought in mind, Schult, who had been raising and lowering his head, stopped in his tracks. The reason was because he heard a familiar voice and saw someone pointing at him in front of him.
A young girl with dark hair dyed peach-colored at the ends was pointing at Schult as he walked down the street. The girl had a young man next to her, and when he noticed Schult and the girl's mutual awareness, he brightfully let out a cheerful "Yaya!".
"I thought the butler was there. The princess is not with you, is she?"
"Priscilla is relaxing at the mansion, Flop-sama. Was she with Utakata-sama on a stroll?"
"Ooh, it's rare to be called 'Sama'. It's funny."
The young man smiling softly and waving his hand - Flop - nods an "I see" to Schult's question. The girl with him, Utakata, also puts her hand on her cheek and seems to be deeply moved by the name Schult called her.
Schult first became acquainted with both Flop and Utakata when he arrived in Guaral. According to what I have heard, Flop is a peddler who travels from town to town, and Utakata is a warrior from a tribe called the "People of Shudrak".
They are both fine people with their own places to stand.
"Oh? You look kind of buoyant, Mr. Butler. I wonder if you might be having some trouble with that face."
"Huh!? Th-, that's great! Flop-sama, you understand!?"
"Oh, yes, of course I understand! Most people have problems! And my sister, who doesn't seem to have any problems, has them, too!"
"Middy, you didn't seem bothered."
"I am! Surprise!"
Putting his hands on his own hips, Flop opened his mouth wide and laughed out loud. Seeing Flop's cheerful attitude, Schult also felt somewhat cheered up.
Flop, like Priscilla, is like the sun that brightens up the surroundings. Surely that many colorful flowers will bloom around Flop.
"He is like a prince in a field of flowers."
"Hahaha, I'm not a prince, I'm just a peddler! So, Mr. Butler, what is your problem? Why don't you talk to me?"
"Is that okay? I thought you were on a walk......"
Leaning back from the waist, Schult is afraid of Flop, who asks him that. He glances at Utakata, who was supposed to be taking a walk with Flop.
But Utakata's round eyes narrowed and she shook her head, not at all uncomfortable.
"Uu, I'm bored. I was bored playing with Fuu, so I asked him about Schu's problems."
"I know. Oh, please don't think of it as a form of boredom. Every problem is important to the person who is suffering from it. So, I will listen to you carefully."
So, after a not-so-tough chest-beating, Flop takes both Schult and Utakata to the end of the road, toward the curb of the flower bed there.
So the three of them, butt on curb, started talking in the breeze.
Schult's problem, as mentioned above, is that of being unworthy.
For Priscilla's sake, he wants to be more of who he can be.
"It is not going well. How did you and Utakata-sama become the splendid people you are today?"
"Hoho, I see. How did I get to be who I am now, how...... that's philosophical!"
"Philosoph-...... is that so......"
At the smiling Flop's answer, Schult braced himself for a hint of unlearned study.
Without knowing its philosophy, can he get an answer to Schult's problem? If so, he is willing to study that philosophy as well.
"Uu became Uu, Mar gave birth to Uu so."
"Mar, is it? That's......"
"Uu's mother! She was good friends with Ta. But she stabbed herself to death."
"I-, is that so......?"
Flapping her floating feet, Utakata tells the story of how her mother died.
Her attitude was unconcerned, but Schult was surprised to hear what she did not expect to hear. Flop who was opposite of her gently stroked Utakata's head with her between them.
"I see, your mother did that. That's a terrible thing to hear, Utakata-sama."
"Uu said, it was more difficult for Ta than for Uu. Uu is totally fine because Mee and the others helped her grow up. She grew up like this."
"Yes, indeed, Utakata-sama is growing up very well. I am sure your mother would be pleased to hear that."
"--? Mar is dead or not, I'm not pleased. Fuu, that's a funny thing to say."
Utakata looks at him strangely while Flop pats her head. However, she did not feel bad about being stroked by Flop and did not try to stop him.
At Utakata's reaction, Flop quietly squinted his blue eyes.
"Now, Miss Utakata's answer was very good. In fact, don't think I would have given the same answer if I told you how I got to where I am today."
"Same answer...... So you were raised by the Shudraks the same way as Utakata-sama, weren't you, Flop-sama?"
"If so, I'm so glad I have so much family! But the only family I have is my sister, Medium, as everyone else is dead. It is very sad and lonely."
"......Is that so?"
The first half of Flop's statement is in his usual tone, and the second half is a little less shrill. With his eyes downcast at his answer, Schult again feels his inadequacy.
He had heard some very insensitive things from both Utakata and Flop.
Even Schult, when asked about the family that abandoned him, can't give a very happy answer to those who ask. He should have thought more about things before asking.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Mr. Butler. You will learn from now on. And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"Is this the same answer you gave to...... Utakata-sama earlier?"
"Yes, that's right. I am the same as Utakata-sama, in that I was influenced by the people around me, and that is how I became the person I am today."
He spreads his hands and laughs as if Flop is showing off what he is now.
His cheerful smile and reassuring tone of voice, both of which are important to Flop's Flop-ness. He wonders if this is also something that has been cultivated through the influence of others.
"I was living in a very bad environment. We had very little food, we didn't get paid for our work, and the adults there beat the children whenever they got into trouble. It was a terrible place."
"Th-, that's a terrible place......! What are children supposed to do in such a place?"
"If it was Uu, we would burn it down."
"We will burn it down!"
"Hahaha, that might have been one idea. But it didn't turn out that way."
Schult agrees with Utakata's proposal of a fire attack on Flop's harsh past. But Flop, who laughs at their answer, has already passed through that past.
How in the world did they get past that--,
"Well, I'm a little out of touch. There was a benefactor who helped us. That's me and my sister's family, who are dead now."
"......I was helped, is that right? That was great."
"You know what I mean, Mr. Butler?"
"I understand...... I was also saved by Priscilla-sama."
Gently placing his hand on his chest, he feels at his fingertips the fact that it is no longer a body with only bones and skin floating in it. That is the proof of what Priscilla has given to Schult until today.
The tougher, stronger, healthier and more splendid Schult becomes, the more he can prove that Priscilla's actions that day were not a mistake. And Priscilla will not be made to regret it.
At the glint in Schult's red eyes, Flop chuckled a little and said,
"I've generally had similar feelings. So I am working hard to make my big goal come true. It's a tough road, but I'm not going to give up."
"I hope you don't give up! Ah! But I would like you to be a little more specific. How are you doing, Flop-sama?"
"Mm, yeah. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I'm going to tell you a story about...... not about me, but about my sister. My sister who is taller than I am and has more arms and more energy."
"Oh, yes!"
Flop was a big hand up, perhaps because the sister of the topic is such a big person.
This was not the first time he had heard about his sister from Flop in this way, but Schult had never met her in person. This is because when he and Heinkel came to Guaral to join Priscilla, Flop's sister had already left for another place.
Anyway--,
"Middy, she's big and strong. Me too is impressed."
"She has a big voice and is not afraid to talk. Of course, as her older brother, I'm also proud of her skill! I've been working hard to become stronger."
"To become stronger......! I respect you!"
He is sure that he worked hard to become stronger, staying positive and never losing his ambition.
Keep trying and don't rot, that may be the key to improving, or so Schult tries to take it. But "No, no," shrugged Flop.
"You'd think so, wouldn't you? But, by the way! Medium got stronger for a slightly more backward reason."
"B-, backward? What does that mean?"
"Yeah, it's easy. --Medium, you know, when I was beaten up by an adult, she kept gently stroking my wounds."
Flop speaks of this with the corners of his eyes lowered, nostalgic for the past.
Schult is bewildered by the discrepancy between the gentle tone of his speech and the content of what is being said, however. He stroked the wound where he was hit, and even though he was told that it was the beginning of becoming stronger, he could not connect with it.
I am so sorry to hear that he was beaten. But what was Master Flop doing when his sister was gently caressing that wound?"
"Me?" he said. I was smiling. I was happy for Medium's feelings, and if I hadn't been smiling, Medium would have been bothered by my covering for her.
"----"
So the first time an adult hit me because I couldn't cover up for him, the medium was surprised from the bottom of his heart. When someone strokes the wound from a beating, it hurts. It doesn't heal or make the pain go away. It's very unfortunate."
Shaking his head loosely, Flop replied forlornly.
Hearing Flop's answer, even the less perceptive Schult finally understands his true intentions. He also wonders how his sister could aspire to be strong and not give up.
I didn't want it to hurt, so I had to avoid getting hit. Middy, you think so?"
'Well, that's how it is! A very simple and good answer, even though she is my sister. It made Medium stronger and our siblings' journey safer, though!"
Then Flop, smiling broadly, looked a little different to Schult.
Not only is she cheerful, she looks proud. He is sure that Flop is proud of his sister from the bottom of his heart. And he envies her very much for that.
"I want to be as strong as your sister, Flop-sama......!"
"I'm sure Medium would love to hear that. It's not often you get to be someone's role model, and that sounds like a lot of fun."
Schult clenches his small fist tightly, and Flop gives him a drumstick with a smile.
Listening to their exchange, Utakata asked, "Schu?" and looked at Schult.
"I want to get stronger. I want to be strong."
"A bow, is it? But I also practice with a sword...... no, I do! I will do both! I will make me twice as strong!"
"If I could do both, that's exactly what I'd do! Smart!"
Flop tuned in with Schult, who was burning with determination, thrusting his hands up to the sky. And so the promise of training together made Utakata puff out his nose and puff out his chest.
As she showed Schult the bow on her back,
"Uu will also work hard like Schu. Be a master like Schu."
"I would like to meet Ta-sama. Why do you want to become a bow and arrow expert, Utakata-sama?"
"Mar said Uu killed the traveler with a bow and arrow."
"I see. ......I SEE!?"
The answer was more radical than expected, and Schult's understanding was delayed for a moment.
It sounded like it was to kill travelers, but what exactly did that mean? Schult, who had just reflected on the situation, wondered if he was allowed to ask for more details.
--And so, while Schult was troubled, the time for questioning was taken away.
"--Mr. Butler! Utakata-sama!"
"--!?"
"Fuu?"
Suddenly, Flop's expression changed and a sharp voice called out to Schult and Utakata. Schult's shoulder jumps at the momentum, and Flop's arm grips it tightly.
Then, pulling Schult and Utakata sitting on the curb, Flop shouted.
"The sky is looking dangerous! Let's just panic for a minute and get out of here!"
△▼△▼△▼△
--When the herd was spotted beyond the sky, Heinkel's figure was in the city hall.
The people present were the real commanders of the forces stationed in the fortress city.
Originally sent to the city, two generals Zikr Osman and his men joined Priscilla - or more precisely, the man named Abel - under the curtain when they attacked the fortress city.
Then there are the "People of Shudrak", a hunting tribe in the jungle who are fewer in number than the imperial soldiers, but whose individual abilities cannot be underestimated, and Mizelda, the acting chief, who leads them.
When Heinkel visited the government building, the two men were in the midst of a face-to-face meeting to discuss the future.
Priscilla's tales of prophetic omens, and although he does not believe she has the power to foretell the future, Heinkel knows not to underestimate the power of the eyes of such a substandard being.
Not only Priscilla, but those who bear special powers and destinies have a different perspective than ordinary people.
The difference in the height of their eyes means the difference in the view they can see. Ordinary people - or rather, ordinary people - will never be able to understand these people, who can see things that ordinary people cannot.
Heinkel has learned this painfully in his forty years and a little more.
Therefore, he will not dismiss them out of hand because he does not understand them.
This was also the reason why he did not dismiss Priscilla's words and went to the city hall.
And then--,
"----"
Outside the window, the first person to notice the anomaly was Mizelda, who sniffed and looked as if she had an intuition about something.
The former Shudrak chief who apparently lost one of her legs in a battle during the capture of a fortified city. She lost her right leg below the knee and has attached a stick like the tip of a cane to her right leg as a replacement for the leg.
The same sound was made when he turned around as he did so, for every time he walked, the sound of his cane was heard.
The moment Mizelda's strong-eyed beauty and her profile tightened, Heinkel and Zikr, who were present, instantly realized something was wrong and looked in the same direction.
That's how Zikr muttered to himself as he looked at the swarm of black spots surging in from beyond the sky.
"--Flying dragons, the herd."
"Wh--! Zikr! Inform the men! I'm moving the Shudrak!"
Immediately afterwards, Mizelda, realizing the danger of the situation, leaped from the roof of the government building, kicking the floor with tremendous force, stretching out Zikr's round shoulder.
However, she has just lost one of her legs. Instead of leaping herself out the window, she skips down the stairs and heads outside in a great hurry.
Caught up in the momentum, Zikr sharpened his bland expression.
"Ring the bell! Enemy attack! They're coming from the sky!"
He shouted this and kicked his entourage in the back, making the entire fortress city aware of the critical situation.
After a quick glance at those reactions, Heinkel also put his hand on the sword at his waist. Then, as loud and sharp as the ringing alarm bells, he clicked his tongue.
"Heinkel! Where's Priscilla......"
"If it's Miss Priscilla, she's in the mansion. I knew something would happen. She'll start moving soon."
In response to Zikr turning around, Heinkel turns his attention to the enemy shadows in the sky.
In just a few dozen seconds, it has clearly darkened in color and increased in size, and is approaching the city at a tremendous speed. There is no longer a moment to spare.
"Assuming it was an enemy attack, do you have any idea who the attackers were?"
"--. The number of those flying dragons is extraordinary. The Imperial Capital also has the strength to mobilize that many flying dragon riders...... so there is only one possibility."
"So what are the possibilities!"
Heinkel's words become rough as time is cut short by Zikr's roundabout way of talking.
At Heinkel's pursuit, Zikr paused for a beat.
"The 'Flying Dragon General' Madelyn Eschart...... she controls a flying dragon. In other words,"
"Damn you, 'Nine Divine Generals'......!"
Heinkel scratches his own head when the familiar name is mentioned.
Heinkel is not an expert on the inner workings of the empire, but he is the Deputy Commander of the Knights of the Guards of Kingdom of Lugnica. Because of his position, he is far more knowledgeable about information from other countries than most people.
He had also heard the name and alias of the "Nine Divine Generals," the highest military force possessed by the empire.
All of them seem to be warriors with extraordinary abilities, and only the best, including Marcos, the leader of the guards, can stand up to them in the kingdom.
Then, of course, there is the kingdom's most powerful "sword saint", but--,
"We're talking about a hell of a lot more than Reinhard, aren't we......?"
The strongest swordsman in the Vollachian Empire is said to be as talented as Reinhard.
Naturally, the "Nine Divine Generals" may have varying degrees of power, but for Heinkel, the thought of being attacked by an entity that is on a par with such monsters is as nightmarish as it gets.
Originally, Heinkel had no intention of coming to the empire.
Priscilla decided on her own that she was going to Vollachia, and he was just along for the ride. He has no interest in the existence of this fortified city.
But--,
"I ain't going to let Priscilla-sama's mood get the better of me...... Even if Priscilla-sama becomes king, it won't matter if I'm sent away."
It is Priscilla who is freaky and ultimately doesn't know what she is thinking.
For whatever windfall, they have Heinkel on hand for now, but if they don't show usefulness, they could be thrown out empty-handed.
That should never be the only thing. Now Priscilla is the only person to whom Heinkel has a thread to cling.
"We don't have time for idle chatter. Let's get rid of this herd of flying dragons. Zikr, you stay here and take overall command!"
"I intend to, but what about you, Mister Heinkel?"
"--I'll do what I want."
Unlike Zikr and Mizelda, Heinkel has no soldiers or friends to lead him.
Even if there were, Heinkel's title of deputy commander of the guards would be a mere decoration. He learned the basics of military tactics a long time ago, and no one listens to Heinkel's instructions.
So there is only one thing Heinkel can do from the beginning.
"----"
Immediately after making this decision, Heinkel, without hearing Zikr's reply, ran to the balcony of the city hall and jumped down from there to the city below.
He puts his toes on the roof of a tall building, kicks off the rooftop, runs, and heads back to the next building. As it is, they repeat the leap with the wind in their face, and their destination is the top of the fortifications surrounding the city.
The flying dragon herd comes to the western sky, jumps over to the castle towering in that direction, and catches its breath.
Alarm bells were already ringing in the city, warning of an enemy attack, and everywhere in the city there was a mixture of confusion among the people and angry shouts from the guards urging them to calm down and take shelter.
"......Oh, shit."
The smell of the air changes noticeably and the taste of spit on the tongue becomes bitter.
As the blood and steel of the battlefield approached, Heinkel had to listen to a high pitched keening in the back of his ears.
Besides Heinkel, imperial soldiers rush to the western ramparts.
If Zikr's guess is correct, it is one of the "Nine Divine Generals" who will attack. What kind of resolve will they have to face an opponent who is the sole general of the empire?
Are we in a position to gather under the same banner and yet feel no discomfort with it? Or is it enough if we can fight? Are they satisfied as long as they can fight and die?
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck every one of them......tsk"
A boiling, throbbing, black heat poured from deep within my chest and flowed through my entire body.
Heinkel gritted his teeth to the point of creaking as he savored the dark-colored heat that began in his heart, traveled to his internal organs and lower abdomen, and then to the tips of his limbs and fingers.
Heinkel's hand slowly reached for the sword at his waist - the one bearing the name "Astraea" - and gripped the hilt tightly.
And then--,
"--FUCK YOU ALL, MOTHERFUCKERS!"
Heinkel's sword flashed as he howled out his unbearable rage, and the thick neck of the flying dragon, gliding to grab the bite, spurted blood and blew away with great force.
△▼△▼△▼△
The ringing of alarm bells and the exclamations of people running away from the city, which were exquisitely and frighteningly combined, turned the fortified city of Guaral into a battlefield where screams and cries reigned.
The army of flying dragons, no less than several hundred in number, rushing in from the western sky shattered the hearts of the residents, who had been reassured by the fact that the city was protected on all four sides by city walls.
If there is a weakness in that absolute wall, a wall that can withstand even the destructive power of a powerful magic stone cannon, it is only the presence of a threat that can overcome even a large wall.
A being that can straddle the city walls, or a ruler of the sky that can fly over the walls.
Indeed, it was no exaggeration to say that the fortress city was attacked by its most difficult enemy on this day.
"--This doesn't look very good."
Avoiding the boulevard, where screams were shrill, Flop peeked out from the alley and raised an eyebrow.
A few minutes after spotting the flying dragon in the sky, things took a turn for the worse, and the fortified city forgot its brief peace and was once again transformed into the same battlefield as it had been ten days earlier.
However, the change this time is even worse than that of ten days ago.
After all--,
"My master was trying to cause as little damage as possible, but...... apparently, this time the other party doesn't seem to have that kind of attention to detail."
Subaru aimed for a "bloodless" opening of the city by the daring means of dressing up as a woman.
That goal was foiled by an unexpected intruder, but even so, the amount of blood spilled would have been incomparably greater had measures other than Subaru's been employed.
The fact that the feelings of the residents of the fortress city and the Imperial soldiers stationed there did not deteriorate to an extreme degree was, in Flop's opinion, the result of such attentiveness on Subaru's part.
This time, however, the enemy seems to have no such gentlemanly ideas.
"Hee."
A tremendous roar and an earth-shaking shock travels through the air, and Schult screams beside Flop.
No wonder. That's how caustic and effective the enemy's attacks with flying dragons were.
"We just let the flying dragons carry the rocks and drop them from high in the sky."
What we are doing is simple and straightforward, just that primitive attack.
However, even a rock as big as a man's head could not avoid serious injury, and yet the rocks being thrown down from earlier were all large enough to hold a man's head or two.
Its power destroys stone buildings and makes a huge hole in the ground of the street. Of course, if a person were to be hit, it would be a disaster that could not be seen for a second time.
Flop also rushed into the alley, but there was no assurance that this was a safe area.
If there is a safe haven, it is to flee underground or head for a simple competent person.
"Me and my friends are in the big building in the middle."
"Pr-, Priscilla is in the house......"
"Ah, I see. They are both very smart and I agree with them. The problem is that we are right in the middle of both places!"
Those with dependable city defenses, such as Mizelda and Zikr.
Although it is only an individual strength, Priscilla's ability was not inferior even to that of the "Nine Divine Generals".
Flop is also in a bind as to which way to rush to.
And so, in between worrying about it--,
"H-, help...... waaaaaa!!"
Right in front of the alley Flop was in, a figure fleeing down the street screams and disappears. --No, he does not disappear. The man's body was snatched up by a shadow flying at great speed and taken away into the sky at once.
Apparently, the flying dragons that attacked the city have different roles, and they are divided into two groups: one that drops large rocks like the one just described, and the other that attacks directly.
Or, more likely, there are also flying dragons that have taken on other roles.
"Y-, you are......"
"We wanted to help, but we couldn't! And we couldn't bypass it either. If we fell under the claws and fangs of the flying dragon, all three of us would be taken into the sky together."
"Uu has a bow! It's going to bring down the flying dragon!"
In his arms, Utahkata so breathed and showed his bow and arrow. If it was Holly, Kuna, or the adult Shudraks who were here, Flop gave it a second thought.
However, Flop, who had once accompanied Utakata to bow practice, knew that her ability was not commensurate with this battlefield.
"You want the best food for your children, don't you? I know."
Closing his eyes, Flop thinks of the benefactor who saved him and his sister from rock bottom.
He was blunt and crude, and yet his benefactor never wavered from his principles. Therefore, Flop wants to be an "adult" who is not ashamed of it.
We can't just sit here and hide our breath forever. We need to take some kind of action, whether we send them to the city hall or to the mansion.
In order to get both Schult and Utakata to safety--.
"--I want you both to listen. From now on, I'm going to,"
With a small gasp, Flop tries to tell them the policy with determination.
It was at that moment that the two youngsters saw Flop at those words.
"Ooooohhh--!!"
"--!"
With a blood-curdling rage, something huge falls from the sky onto the street. The object slammed to the ground with a tangle of angry screams and exclamations is a flying dragon with black blood pouring from its entire body.
The large flying dragon, whose wings spread out to a height of three to four meters, flapped its broken wings from the impact of the fall and desperately tried to escape from it.
And then--,
Don't you fucking run away! You bastard, don't run away!"
The figure fell to the ground with the flying dragon and rolled vigorously, jumping on its back. He then thrust his sword into the writhing flying dragon and skewered its heart from behind.
The flying dragon's screams extend for a long time, and the dragon falls to the spot with tears of blood.
And so, as he watched the flying dragon's breath catch--,
"Fuck you, fuck you......"
A red-haired man comes down the back of a dead flying dragon, moving his large shoulders up and down. At the sight of him, Schult in Flop's arms shouted, "Ah!".
"Heinkel-sama! Are you all right?"
"Ah?"
Schult's high-pitched voice called out, and the red-haired man turned around with a bad attitude. Immediately, Schult's throat snatches and chokes at the sight of the man whose entire body is dyed bright red.
Then, with his eyes wide open, Schult lets Flop escape his arms and rushes to the man's side. Seeing Schult, the man wiped his bloody face with his sleeve.
"Oh, it's you, shorty."
"Oh, Heinkel-sama, you're so red! Where are you hurt?"
"Injuries? Oh, this blood is from the spurt of blood. If I'm hurt, it's just a scratch."
"R-, really? Are you sure......?"
With his eyes black and white, Schult touches the floppy and bloody man's body to make sure. The man looking down at him sighed, his attitude not caring that his hands and clothes were dirty.
At their exchange, Flop exhaled the breath he had held in his last minute determination and said,
"Mr. Butler, I don't think you have anything to worry about. It seems that you are not really hurt, and not just because of your strength."
"You're the guy who...... don't know any better. You're these little guys?"
"I'm a little disappointed that I don't know better, but you're right! But I was just running around with the butler and Utakata-sama. I am relieved that you came."
When Flop smiles at him, the bloody man - Heinkel - looks away.
The reaction was not embarrassment, but displeasure. In fact, he even clicked his tongue. But it was true that he had killed the flying dragon and that he had played a role in Schult's peace of mind.
Like Schult, Heinkel seems to be one of Priscilla's followers. He thought he could fight because he carries a sword, but he seems to be a great fighter beyond my expectations.
The tremendous amount of blood that stained his body red could hardly be the return blood from the flying dragon he had just killed. It is evidence that he was bathed in the return blood of multiple flying dragons.
"I was going to go to Priscilla's now! What about you, Heinkel-sama?"
"At Priscilla-sama's? ......You'd be safer that way. But,"
"There are very few safe places in the city right now. If all you have to deal with are flying dragons, I think it's a good idea to have a building with a basement and a place where you can find spices."
"Supaices......?"
Flop interrupts the conversation between Schult and Heinkel, and Utakata tilts his head at the questionable points of the conversation. Heinkel gave Flop the same suspicious look.
If you are not too familiar with the ecology of flying dragons, this may not ring a bell.
"Flying dragons have a very good sense of smell. They can smell blood from a great distance. On the other hand, they don't like strong smells. So, if you sprinkle peppa all over their bodies, they might avoid being caught."
"......You sure know a lot about this."
"I'm still a peddler who travels from place to place! I also happen to know someone who knows a lot about flying dragons. He may have been the most knowledgeable person in the Empire!"
However, he had often heard about the good side of flying dragons from that person, so he did not expect to face them as a threat in this way.
At least, if the knowledge one has acquired does not lie, it is not without a strategy of coating oneself in spices to escape from the flying dragon.
It was fortuitous for Flop and the two children to join up with Heinkel, who could fight, but not so fortuitous for the battle for this fortress city.
"I can't say I like the idea of using the redhead as our escort."
Heinkel, who can cross with flying dragons single-handedly, is a valuable asset to a city under attack by countless flying dragons.
No matter how the battle turns out from here on, he will be one of the factors that will determine the outcome of the battle. It is not good to put him alongside the three non-combatants.
Therefore--,
"We are going underground to escape the eyes and noses of the flying dragons. I would like to ask the redhead to accompany us to a nearby restaurant or warehouse. There, we can blind their eyes...... I mean, maybe blind their noses. Once we do that, we can take care of the rest on our own."
"Flop-sama......"
Schult looked perplexed at Flop's suggestion, as if the option of breaking up had not occurred to him at all. But instead of Schult's surprise, Utakata nodded her head and said,
"Uu thinks the same way as Fuu. Uu and the others will protect Schu. Don't worry."
"Is Utakata-sama also......?"
When Utakata nodded her head, Schult's round eyes went down. Then, after a few seconds, he looked up with a determined expression and saw Heinkel.
"I understand. I will do my best with Flop-sama and the others. So, Heinkel-sama, be careful with your injuries......"
"--Since a while ago, don't get all worked up with you guys on your own. Why should I be at your beck and call?"
"Huh!?"
However, Schult's determination is empty, and Heinkel frowns and says so with a frown.
He wiped the gore from his sword with his cloak, indicating his surroundings with his chin, and said,
"I'm telling you, I don't owe this city anything. I have nothing against this city, but it would be more likely to offend Priscilla-sama if I failed to protect this little guy. And I don't want that."
"Wa-, wait, wait, wait, Mr. Redhead! Wait a minute! So you think protecting the princess's mood is more important than protecting the city? That's......"
"--Yes."
"----"
Flop snorted as he was answered in clear, definitive terms. Heinkel stared at Flop's face, his blue eyes glinting in the red dirt of his face.
"I have something more important than this city, more important than someone's life. Not this little guy. I have something I have to give up to Priscilla-sama, who adores this little guy. I don't care who or how many people die to get it."
"Mr. Redhead......"
"First of all, I'm not that big of a deal, and neither are you. You should know your place. There's only so much you can do. Don't try to reach outside of that. You'll only make a fool of yourself."
"----"
"No one can be a sword."
Heinkel's hand reached for Schult's shoulder as he spat.
Schult's thin little shoulders are gripped in his hands, and the young boy turns his moist eyes to Heinkel. The fright that filled those eyes--,
"You seem to be in a lot of pain, Heinkel-sama."
--No, it was not a fright, but a mercy.
Heinkel's cheeks slightly stiffen under the sincere gaze of the young boy. Heinkel's cheeks slightly stiffened, but this did not move his determined heart.
"I'm taking this little guy to Mistress Priscilla. If you guys want to follow me, you're on your own. But don't make the mistake of thinking I'll protect you."
With that, Heinkel turns his back on Flop, who is still holding onto Schult. With that foot, he steps out into the street and is about to head for the mansion where Priscilla is.
Flop also wondered if he should follow his advice--,
"--You're the one killing the dragon."
--A moment later, a shadow falling with that single voice landed on the ground with a furious roar.
"----"
A sudden intruder with a big hole in the ground with a thick cloud of dust and smoke.
It is a small figure standing with its short arms crossed, blocking the path of the street, right in front of Heinkel, who was about to take Schult.
--At first glance, it is slow to understand what it is.
The events that took place and the impressions that the figures give do not overlap very much.
Her small stature, lovely face, blemish-free white skin, and sky-blue attire that accentuates her loveliness. Her appearance does not seem so different from that of Schult and Utakata, and it is hard to believe that she has just appeared with a ground-shattering impact.
But the events that took place are all that matters, and nothing can deny that.
The shadow that appeared narrowed its golden eyes, glared at the four standing with Flop in the street, and nodded.
And then--,
"Reward the dragon for shedding his blood, and redeem him by shedding his blood until it is shed to all its fullness. --Fools."