◇Miguel's POV◇
…Flap… Flap…
The sound of the wings of the dragon I summoned echoed through the dense mist.
Visibility was poor, but dragons have excellent sense of direction, so there was no risk of getting lost.
"Eugene-sama, Sumire-san. Compared to an airship, a dragon's back shakes quite a bit. Are you okay?" (Miguel)
When I asked that…
"Yeah, I'm fine, Miguel-kun." (Sumire)
"No problem, Miguel." (Eugene)
Sumire-san and Eugene-sama both responded calmly.
We were heading to the land of dragons via a route that regular airships don't use.
We planned to rest the dragon at uninhabited islands along the way, and the journey would take a full day. A rather intense schedule.
"Long-distance travel on dragonback can be really rough for people who aren't used to it…" (Miguel)
I warned them, but…
"I'm good. If it looks like Sumire's struggling, we can add more rest stops." (Eugene)
"I once had a mission in the Flower Crown Knights where I rode a wyvern for three days and nights to hunt down a rampaging stray monster, so compared to that, your dragon is way smoother, Miguel-kun. I think I'll be fine." (Sumire)
"I-I see…" (Miguel)
Their replies indicated they had no issues.
(But…maybe they're just pushing themselves…) (Miguel)
So I thought, but…
"Yawn… I'm getting a little sleepy now." (Sumire)
"You can lean on me. I'll hold you steady." (Eugene)
"Ehehe… Then I think I'll take you up on that." (Sumire)
Sumire-san leaned on Eugene-sama and fell asleep.
"Suuu… suuu…"
She was truly asleep.
(Sleeping while riding on a dragon's back… What nerves she must have…) (Miguel)
Even in my village, almost no one could manage that.
I was honestly impressed by how amazing Sumire-san was.
Eugene-sama, supporting her, gazed vaguely at the white mist surrounding us.
Seeing that side profile for the first time in a while, it looked more refined than I remembered, and my heart skipped a beat.
"There's a lot of monsters around…" (Eugene)
Eugene-sama muttered.
"Huh?"
I hurriedly looked around, but saw no signs of monsters.
"Ah, sorry. I didn't mean nearby. I sensed around a thousand monsters within a five-kilometer radius, so I meant there's a lot. But they're probably mostly sea monsters." (Eugene)
"You can sense that much?" (Miguel)
"Kind of. When you're riding a dragon, normal monsters don't come close. Even the ones in the sea are staying away." (Eugene)
(Amazing…) (Miguel)
He apparently trained during the three years he was sealed inside the Zenith Tower…but what kind of training makes someone that strong?
"By the way, Eugene-sama, at the Zenith Tower, what kind of—" (Miguel)
Just as I was about to ask…
"Wait! There's a swarm of monsters approaching us…and there's a lot. More than a hundred." (Eugene)
"What!? From which direction!? I'll change our course!" (Miguel)
"No, that won't work. They've locked onto us. Miguel, I'm leaving Sumire to you. I'll handle the monsters." (Eugene)
"B-But! We're in the sky. Wouldn't it be better if Sumire-san and I helped too…?" (Miguel)
"It'd be worse if we made a commotion and got spotted by a patrol from the Blue Waters Federation. Let's finish this quickly and quietly." (Eugene)
Eugene-sama stood up gracefully and moved to entrust Sumire-san to me, but…
"Eugy-kun, looks like monsters are getting close." (Sumire)
Sumire-san suddenly woke up and readied her staff.
"Yeah. I'll handle them, so you stand by." (Eugene)
"Okay, got it." (Sumire)
The exchange between Eugene-sama and Sumire-san was perfectly natural.
(And yet I haven't even noticed the monsters approaching…) (Miguel)
Were monsters really coming in this poor visibility?
Maybe they were just imagining things… I thought skeptically when…
—Kyakyakya!
A series of high-pitched laughs rang out.
Shapes emerged from the mist with several sharp whooshing sounds.
They had the heads of humans and the bodies of birds.
We were surrounded before I realized it.
(That's right… I heard sailors say these monsters recently built a nest around here…) (Miguel)
"Eugene-sama! It's a flock of Sea Harpies!! They've been expanding their territory around the former Black Sea islands after the Black Mermaid Vepar disappeared. They're troublesome monsters that hunt cooperatively!" (Miguel)
I shouted.
Sea Harpies prefer human flesh.
Despite their appearance, they're vicious and will even go after monsters larger than themselves in packs.
Damn! If only we detoured properly…
"Huh… There weren't any Sea Harpies in the Zenith Tower." (Eugene)
Eugene-sama slowly walked toward the dragon's tail.
The dragon shook considerably in flight…
But Eugene-sama's body didn't sway at all.
He placed his hand on the white sword at his waist and leisurely watched the monsters.
"Screech!!"
One of the Sea Harpies dove at Eugene-sama from directly above…his blind spot.
"Watch out—!" (Miguel)
Just as I began to speak…
"..."
The Sea Harpy that was diving passed by us slowly and fell.
Splash
I faintly heard the sound of something hitting the sea.
(Huh…?) (Miguel)
What just happened?
Eugene-sama still had his hand on the hilt.
The blade wasn't even drawn.
"Kiiee!!"
"Kieeaaah!!"
The Sea Harpies kept attacking without understanding the situation.
"Eugene-sama! Dragons can't maneuver quickly. And with us riding, dodging will be—!" (Miguel)
Just as I raised my voice…
...…Splash
...…Splash
......…Splash
One after another, Sea Harpies fell into the sea.
(W-What…?) (Miguel)
I couldn't tell what was going on.
Before I knew it, their numbers had dropped by nearly half.
"Wow, amazing, Eugy-kun. I can't even see your sword swings." (Sumire)
Sumire-san's words finally helped me grasp what was happening.
"Sumire-san! Is…Is Eugene-sama cutting them down!?" (Miguel)
"Huh? He's been cutting them down for a while now. I can only follow about half of them with my eyes though." (Sumire)
"..."
I couldn't see a thing.
"U-Um… Eugene-sama." (Miguel)
"Yeah? What is it, Miguel?" (Eugene)
Eugene-sama turned to look back.
"Ah…"
I saw it.
Well, not exactly the sword itself.
I couldn't see him unsheathing it either.
But right where I was looking…
A Sea Harpy trying to charge us had its head and torso separate.
It had definitely been cut.
"No… it's nothing. I'm fine." (Miguel)
"It'll be over soon." (Eugene)
Eugene-sama casually said as if talking about weeding a garden.
Just as he said, the monster swarm was annihilated without a single scratch to us or the dragon.
◇Eugene's POV◇
"This area up ahead is the airspace of the Land of Dragons. There are patrolling dragon knights, so sneaking in is impossible." (Miguel)
Miguel's words made Sumire and me nod.
After a full day's journey, we reached an uninhabited island just outside their patrol range and were resting.
On the horizon, we could faintly see a large island.
That must be the Land of Dragons.
Flying around it were wyverns and dragon knights.
"There's a lot of them." (Sumire)
"Yeah." (Eugene)
I nodded at Sumire's observation.
There were a lot flying.
The excessive number is apparently because new dragon knights were made to circle the island in rotation as flight training. I heard that from Claude before.
"What should we do, Eugene-sama?" (Miguel)
Miguel asked, glancing up at me.
"Thanks, Miguel, for bringing us here. Sumire, you have that letter, right?" (Eugene)
"Yup! The one written by Claire-san, the First Knight of the Dungeon City, right? Got it right here." (Sumire)
Sumire pulled a sealed envelope from her inner pocket.
It was signed "Claire Lancelot."
"Miguel. From here, head straight for the Land of Dragons. Sumire will enter as a messenger from the Dungeon City. Let's say I asked for your help simply because it was the fastest way to travel." (Eugene)
"What about you, Eugene-sama?" (Miguel)
"I'll accompany Sumire as her bodyguard, just like I did when I joined the Blue Waters Federation. I'll keep my face hidden, just in case." (Eugene)
Saying that, I pulled up my hood and covered my mouth with a cloth.
"You're looking pretty suspicious…Eugene-sama." (Miguel)
"Yeah, Eugy-kun, that's weird." (Sumire)
"Is it no good…?" (Eugene)
I gave up on the hood and instead pulled my hat down low over my face.
And so, riding on Miguel's dragon, we boldly headed toward the Dragon Country.
◇◇
"Thank you for coming all this way, Sumire-sama, envoy of the First Knight Order! And summoner from our allied nation, Greta! Please relax and make yourselves comfortable until His Majesty arrives!"
We were led into the audience chamber of the Dragon Kingdom's royal castle, Drachenburg.
Entry into the Dragon Kingdom had gone more smoothly than expected.
Miguel's name as a summoner seemed well known, and from the beginning we were treated as guests.
When Sumire presented the sealed letter signed by Claire-san, the atmosphere suddenly grew hurried and hectic.
A high-ranking dragon knight soon arrived and personally guided us.
We expected to wait several days, but were quickly informed that His Majesty would see us right away.
We passed through the castle town and were taken to the royal castle.
Although it was called a castle town, there were few large buildings like those in the Imperial Capital, mostly standalone houses with gardens.
The population didn't seem very large.
What stood out most was that every single home had a wyvern in its yard.
In the Dragon Kingdom, it seemed there wasn't a single person who couldn't ride a wyvern.
(So this is Claude's homeland…) (Eugene)
As I took in the scenery of the castle town, I remembered a conversation we had back in our days at the Lykeion Magic Academy during sword training.
"Hey, Eugene. Someday I want to go to the Imperial Capital of Grandflare. You'll show me around, right?" (Claude)
"Yeah, leave it to me. I want to see the Dragon Kingdom, too." (Eugene)
"It's way more rural than the Empire, you know? There's not much to do or see." (Claude)
"I heard there are more wyverns than people. Is that true?" (Eugene)
"Like hell it is! At most, one per household!" (Claude)
"I still think that's a lot…" (Eugene)
Back then, I doubted him, wondering if it was true, but Claude wasn't lying.
We arrived at the royal castle as I recalled all that.
The castle had a rugged design, more like a massive fortress than a royal palace.
I observed our surroundings while we waited.
The audience chamber wasn't very large. Maybe a third the size of the Empire's, which could hold up to 300 people.
"His Majesty the King is entering!"
A booming voice rang out.
Sumire and Miguel quickly bowed their heads, and I followed suit.
The King of the Dragon Kingdom was a middle-aged man with orange hair and a beard.
"Raise your heads."
He said.
Sumire and Miguel appeared to lift their faces.
But I kept mine turned downward.
(Claude is here.) (Eugene)
Behind and to the right of the king.
Probably as a bodyguard?
I couldn't let my face be seen, so I remained kneeling.
I was only here as Sumire's guard after all.
Nothing strange about that.
"Hmm, I said to raise your head."
The king spoke.
(He's talking to me…isn't he?) (Eugene)
Would a king really say that to just a guard?
It felt odd, but I had no choice. I lifted my face.
Claude seemed to notice something, but said nothing.
The King of the Dragon Kingdom looked over us and spoke.
"Thank you for coming. Sumire-dono of the Flower Crown Knights. And Miguel-dono, chief summoner of the Greta Country."
Then…the king looked at me.
"And Eugene Santafield, the imperial hero who repelled the dark dragon Glasya Labolas. The Dragon Kingdom welcomes you all."
His Majesty gave a sly smile.
He knew who I was all along.