41 The Ostriches Return
"Undead, huh?"
Listening to the song Dele was humming, the words slipped out of my mouth.
With the peace treaty with the Beast Kingdom successfully concluded, there was no longer any reason for us to remain in that town, so we were currently in the process of withdrawing. Our flock of ostriches, the soldiers from Prague led by Mathilde, and the Nagan soldiers led by the Tactician. Everyone was gathered together, heading home nice and friendly. The plan was to stop by the royal capital once to wrap up all the reporting, after which the Tactician and his forces would head straight back to Nagan, while Mathilde and I would make our way toward Prague.
To be completely honest, my children—the ostriches—could live anywhere. They had managed to survive on the high plains somehow or another, so in this relatively safe region, there shouldn't be anything capable of defeating us besides a special strategic force. As long as they had their daily "grub," they could live anywhere. It might sound like a wild argument, but basically, wherever we were was home to the ostriches.
...But you know how it is, right? It's only natural to want to live in a place you're somewhat used to, and where people will also prepare your food for you. If a place like Prague existed, anyone would choose to live there.
(Mathilde is practically the feudal lord there anyway, so she'll arrange things for us. There are plenty of understanding people in town too, making it a very comfortable place to live.)
During the meeting with the Beast Kingdom, she had worn an incredibly grave expression just like me, but the inside of her head was undoubtedly filled to the brim with question marks. Just as she had confessed beforehand, she really was completely clueless when it came to diplomatic relations, and in a way, she felt a little pitiable. It felt like she and I were just acting as the Tactician's yes-men together.
(Fortunately, the Beast Kingdom side didn't notice at all. If anything, they seemed to be deeply terrified by that very expression of hers.)
Her main profession was that of a knight, and at the same time, an internal affairs administrator. It seemed she had only started learning the ropes after being entrusted with the protection of Prague, but listening to the voices of the townspeople and solving problems together suited her perfectly, you see? Once she realized the limits of raw martial power, she had apparently focused entirely on training in that field. In fact, Prague seemed to be making an absolute fortune through the sale of monster materials, meaning she was capable enough to somehow squeeze out the food expenses for us ostriches, who had suddenly bargained into her life.
"Well, it's true that if you're suddenly thrown into a field completely outside your expertise, you're bound to have a bad time."
"Oh? What might you be speaking of?"
If a mathematics researcher were suddenly thrown into a presentation for classical literature studies, there would be absolutely nothing they could do. Thinking that what happened this time was probably exactly like that, the Tactician suddenly called out to me. ...What do you want, you? Honestly, talking to you requires using more brainpower than necessary, so I don't really want to chat. Well, since he's an ally of my employer, the Heed Kingdom, I'll interact with him normally, but still...
"No, I was just thinking that Mathilde looked a bit pitiable."
"Ah, I see. Indeed, a negotiation hall is hardly a place for someone without diplomatic experience to be suddenly thrown into."
The Tactician smiled as he spoke.
"However, from the other side's perspective, her reputation seems to be quite stellar, you know? I had the Red Knight, Lady Dorothea, go and listen in on them, and it appears that you, Count Mathilde, and myself are being referred to as the 'Three Paragons' when combined."
"...What's that supposed to mean?"
Nagan, Heed, and the Beast Kingdom. Apparently, the term 'Three Paragons' referred to the three finest individuals among these three nations.
Supposedly, from the perspective of the people from the Beast Kingdom, the sight of me, the Tactician, and Mathilde lined up in a single row looked unimaginably terrifying, which is why they started calling us that. While many of them revere physical strength, there are also those who look at an overall "strength" that includes mental clarity. It seems the Beast Kingdom is exactly that kind of country, and the Red Knight—who had picked a mock battle with them, won, and managed to join their drinking party—heard it directly from the beastmen.
"Uh, what is she even doing... Wait, was the Red Knight okay?"
"Yes, she is doing remarkably well, thanks to you. It seems the mindset of 'verifying things for herself through interaction first' has sprouted within her, you see? I had other soldiers accompany her as overseers just in case, but it appears she is moving in a very positive direction."
"Ah, I see. ...Well, isn't that nice?"
Because the Tactician was right in front of me, my reaction turned out a bit dry, but personally, it was a rather heartwarming tale.
I actually quite like the Red Knight, but unfortunately, she still seems to be terrified of me... In the end, I hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with her. I had intended to thank her for the "Jet Style" and apologize for various things, but when I called out to her and she just rigidly declined, there wasn't much I could do. Well, I did cause her to leak, so it couldn't be helped, but still...
"Ah, right. Since you took the trouble to wander over here, you must want something, right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"In that case, do you mind if I ask a question first?"
Glancing sideways at him as he nodded with a smile, I voiced my question.
When we concluded the peace treaty with the Beast Kingdom, since it was an unconditional surrender, they had informed us about various aspects of their current internal affairs. Among those reports was the 'massive outbreak of undead.' For my part, if they were in trouble, I didn't mind lending a hand, and I thought it would make a great excuse for a trip to the Beast Kingdom since I wanted to show the children all kinds of things... But for some reason, the other side had turned down the offer.
The Tactician had just brushed right past it, and Mathilde, perhaps because her blood as an internal affairs administrator was pumping, seemed eager to ask questions about the granary regions, so I had just accepted it and let it slide for the time being... but I wondered if they were really going to be okay.
"Ah, that matter. It is likely influenced by the culture and trends of the Beast Kingdom, you see."
"Oh?"
"That nation reveres 'strength.' Even the method for choosing their king is simply based on the strongest individual, after all. They possess a culture that holds profound respect for the strong... but at the same time, they possess immense pride in their own strength. In other words, they absolutely despise submitting to a weak existence or being made to struggle by one. Well, I have handed a communication magical tool to the feudal lord of that town, so if anything happens, contact will come through them."
Ah, I see. They're in trouble because of a massive undead outbreak, but the undead themselves aren't particularly strong. They're opponents that can definitely be dealt with if they take their time. In other words, they are "weak." It was fine for them to bow their heads to us, who were strong as a nation, but they wanted to handle a domestic embarrassment like the undead by themselves. Was it something like that?
"...Furthermore, they wish to show their best side to the future Beast King. There is likely that aspect as well, yes."
"...Beast King? Me? Ahaha! No way, no way! Or rather, I was invited once before and I turned it down!"
I laughed it off lightly as I spoke.
According to the Tactician, it was common sense among them that the existence who defeated the Beast King would become the next Beast King. It wouldn't be surprising if movements toward that were already happening; rather, they actually wished for it to happen. Emotionally, and in terms of national balance, that would be the absolute best outcome for them. And the moment I entered their side, it would even become possible to revoke the unconditional surrender and continue the invasion.
...Wait, why did this guy look relieved just now? ...Well, whatever, if anything happens, I'll just blast it away.
"No way, no way! Besides, there's no merit in it for me! I'd rather pass on an increase in troublesome chores. To begin with, I didn't even want to participate in this defensive war if I could have avoided it!"
"I-Is that so..."
"Besides, I have these children with me, too."
I said, looking toward the children.
So that they can stick together as a flock even if I leave someday, Dele is currently practicing being the leader. She had been staring at me intently, pleading with her eyes as if saying, 'Let me try?', so I thought it was perfect and left the route home to her. They were all walking while singing a song together, but perhaps because Dele's commanding abilities are still a bit lacking, every now and then a group wanders away from the flock. My job right now is to catch them and bring them back.
If it weren't for these children, I would probably be walking freely around this world. Traveling through various countries every day just to learn about different cultures. Born into an alternate world, I would have faced it with the mindset of enjoying absolutely everything to the fullest. But right now, I have these children. Even though my freedom is restricted, they are my precious children and my ostrich companions. ...Well, let's look forward to the day when we can all go on a trip together, shall we?
(Though it looks like there's still a long way to go.)
"So? Since you answered my question, it's your turn next... what is it?"
Gazing at the children, I asked without looking at the Tactician's face. Coming all the way over to talk to me meant he must have some sort of business. For now, I'd at least hear him out, but if push comes to shove, I'll just use my "favor" to ignore him...! And if you do anything strange, I'll physically blast you away, got it...!
"(I-I've been feeling a chill for a while now) Yes, it is about that matter. Actually, regarding the King of Heed, Lord Luchia..."
"Luchia?"
That young Queen?
The scene shifts to the royal capital of the Heed Kingdom. This city, famous among ostriches for having a name they can absolutely never memorize—"Galtaiba"—was currently boiling with the excitement of victory.
The details had not been revealed to the citizens, but even they could pick up rumors on the wind. A new special strategic force, which had never existed in this country before, had been born, and that special strategic force had defeated the Beast King. It was a feat that couldn't possibly be grander.
Moreover, the stability of the nation itself had increased significantly. Thanks to the military alliance concluded with the Kingdom of Nagan to the west, which had continuously been a potential enemy state, they were safe. Thanks to the special strategic force defeating the Beast Kingdom to the east, they were safe. To the north was a nation that originally took a path of harmony, so there would be no war. They didn't know what lay to the south where the high plains were, which was scary, but well, they were safe (not really).
In other words, a peaceful era had arrived that this Kingdom of Heed had not experienced since its founding. An era had come where the labor previously spent on recovering what was lost to war could simply be poured into the development of the nation. Few among the citizens thought about such complicated matters, but as long as they weren't as foolish as an ostrich, they could understand that peace had arrived and a great era was beginning.
Universally, everyone praised the ostriches whose faces they had never seen, praised their leader, Wraith, and praised the young Queen who was their monarch.
The Prime Minister was gazing at this sight from a window in the royal palace.
"..."
The citizens and the nobles who knew nothing were rejoicing, just like those continuing the festival outside. However, his complexion was the exact opposite. It was terribly dark. That was only natural, for he knew the state of the girl he served as King.
"Your Majesty..."
After the report arrived that the Beast King had been subjugated, the young Queen had completely broken.
To begin with, she already had no interest in this world. For a young child, family and parents are the very world itself. Her world was composed of her father, her mother, and herself. Of course, it wasn't that she had absolutely no interest in anyone else. It was just that her parents occupied an overwhelmingly large proportion of her world.
If you were to tear her parents away from such a child, what would happen? The answer was practically predetermined.
The majority of her world turned into a void, leaving behind a profound sense of wrongness and hatred. She began to feel that her still being alive was wrong, and that feeling transformed into a powerful wish for death. She could feel no meaning in a world without her parents, and she wanted to go to the place where her beloved father and mother were waiting. That is what she thought.
However, she couldn't just die immediately. The cause that killed her father, the reason her mother ended up dying. If she didn't kill the Beast King, she wouldn't be satisfied.
"If only I had stopped them at that time... No, it is already over, isn't it. I must look at the present. A path for Her Majesty to survive..."
However, the young child lacked the power to fight. What she possessed was the ability to "govern." It wasn't a special ability or anything of the sort; she was simply precocious to an extreme degree. Instantly giving up on settling the grudge by her own hand, she aimed to kill the enemy using the power of a nation. While keeping this country of Heed alive, she thought only of killing him.
Fortunately, neither Nagan nor the Beast Kingdom were in a state to invade immediately. By making Heed a buffer state, they had adopted a policy of avoiding useless conflict. Understanding this, immediately after her enthronement, she decided to approach the Empire and curry favor with them. The group of nations located on this southern continent were constantly in a state of war. Given that the Heed Kingdom currently lacked a special strategic force, in order to kill the Beast King, they needed to pull one from somewhere. However, they couldn't even ask the surrounding nations.
In other words, she relied on the Empire, which possessed the most power and potential.
Borrowing a special strategic force was not something that could be done easily. However, she didn't care what happened after she died. She used the things that would be left behind after her death as bargaining chips, striving to organize them so the nation wouldn't collapse and ensure they would serve as viable trade material.
And before those negotiations could bear fruit...
The ostriches appeared.
The moment she learned of their existence, she immediately changed her policy. The fact that Nagan to the west had come saying they wanted to form an alliance also backed this up. Pit the Beast King and the ostriches against each other; if the ostriches won, that would be the end of it. She would be killed by the ostriches once they realized they had been ensnared in a trap, and she would go to her parents' side.
Even if the ostriches lost, the Tactician would manage somehow. After he handled things successfully, she could just swallow a cup of poison.
"...Her Majesty must have been thinking along those lines."
If you were to deliver the report to such a girl that the Beast King had been killed, what would happen?
It was simple: her desire would only grow deeper and stronger.
Now that the target of her revenge had been killed, she had no lingering attachments to this world. The young Queen had thought about downing some alcohol using his corpse as a side dish, but to begin with, the corpse was gone, and furthermore, she wasn't of an age where she could drink alcohol. She could only laugh out loud contentedly, wearing a maddened smile. Beyond that, she had no regrets left.
To the extent that the Prime Minister judged she was in a state that absolutely couldn't be shown to others, she had completely gone mad. She had already become an existence that was merely waiting to be killed by "Wraith."
She had been able to "govern," but she had been unable to become a "King."
If one is the King of a nation, their duty is to survive by any means necessary and leave descendants. Continuing the lineage into posterity while preserving the system known as the state. Before she could be taught that by her predecessors, she lost her parents and became King. Therefore, she had likely ended up like this.
Until that mind of hers is utterly shattered by the ostriches.
One day remains.
〇 Ostriches and the Undead
The compatibility between ostriches—who are practically the incarnation of vital energy—and the undead is incredibly poor. To begin with, for the ostriches, attacking is nothing other than "hunting." In other words, they cannot comprehend the meaning of attacking a corpse. Even if an undead approaches while groaning, they just react with "Stinky!", "Filthy!", "Go away!"
If their beloved Mama pleads, "Please do it for me ♡," they might do their best to go beat them up, but if Mama doesn't thoroughly wash their bodies afterward, they'll end up sulking.
Furthermore, regarding an undead ostrich, it is speculated that a severe bug would likely occur. To begin with, an ostrich is basically vital energy running amok. Trying to move such a thing using the exact opposite negative force would likely result in something disastrous. They might conflict with each other and explode into pieces, or they might miraculously combine, giving birth to an invincible monster ostrich that exists 'between life and death.'
Well, if Wraith-chan caught anyone doing something like that, she would probably end up taking a stance like, 'Death is salvation.'