Chieftain Kakula

Wyvern knights. One of the few troop types capable of securing air superiority—the air force of this other world.

But due to the excruciating condition of having to train in both Mana and aura simultaneously, they weren't particularly well-regarded. Thanks to that, I'd never had the chance to see a Wyvern knight in person in my life. Delt was closer to just knowing how to ride a wyvern than being a Wyvern knight, so it's right to consider him an exception.

But above all, what made me look forward to them was that those called Wyvern knights by the royal family were undeniably first-rate individuals recognized for their skills. Although the standard was limited to warfare, meaning there were likely other tactical factors mixed in beyond personal combat ability, it would never be at a level that could be ignored.

"Sir Bisquente, have you ever actually seen a Wyvern knight?"

"I have seen them from afar at kingdom events, but this is also my first time seeing their actual fighting."

Bisquente also had considerable expectations about the Wyvern knights coming. Unlike a typical noble, he had a talent for storytelling; as he warmed himself by the campfire, he was excited like a child, sharing anecdotes about Wyvern knights he knew. Well, in a way, since they were the ones who served the royal family most closely, it was understandable that a properly sane noble like Bisquente would admire them.

"Come to think of it, I heard that one Wyvern knight is assigned among Princess Mesina's close aides. They say she's so skilled that she's expected to be the next commander."

Huh, for someone so clingy and tactless, she seemed to hold considerable power. I was inwardly marveling at the unexpected story when Bisquente, searching his memory, brought up a slightly more detailed account.

"Her name... Ah, it was Sir Heiri. She was originally from the eastern Hibish baron family but became a Wyvern knight. Even before that, she was said to be a natural-born warrior, and her reputation was widespread."

Wyvern knights, who could only be maintained by the royal family, were literally like a royal guard. Therefore, under the pretext of not being swayed by family ties to make decisions harmful to the royal family, they abandoned their surnames and did not form families until retirement.

When you looked closely, they were even more extreme than temple knights. The religions of this other world had no restrictions on clergy marrying and forming families. And since it wasn't a world with fixed retirement ages, I'd heard that most Wyvern knights died without leaving heirs.

"Since Princess Mesina personally intervened, perhaps one of those dispatched this time might be among them."

"Haha, that might be difficult. Sir Heiri is Princess Mesina's closest aide and also acts as her butler. However, as Sir Ega said, if Sir Heiri were to come here, it would mean that Her Highness intended to examine this matter that much more carefully."

A butler? For a moment, the female attendant who had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been with the clingy princess when she suddenly appeared flashed through my mind.

"Is Sir Heiri a woman?"

"Yes, that's right. If you've met the princess, there's a high chance you've encountered her. Since she's always by her side."

Huh... I guess that was it. So that person was that formidable? It was a bit deflating that even though I'd met her so close, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I hadn't felt absolutely anything.

It had happened so often that I couldn't even recognize a landmine right in front of me, so I considered figuring out a way to sense aura, but after thinking a little deeper, I concluded there was no need.

Since the strength or weakness of the other party had no meaning in my life's judgment criteria anyway, what would I use it for even if I knew?

As I sat by the campfire listening to the heroic tales of legendary Wyvern knights, wyverns began to appear from the distant sky, flying in formation.

"Finally... they're coming."

"...It's more magnificent than I thought."

Bisquente nodded in agreement with my brief impression. Despite the considerable distance, they were clearly so distinct that you could easily tell that the one leading the flight was Gies and those following were Wyvern knights.

To the point you could call it the difference between a regular horse and a warhorse.

"At that level, just flying low would seem to break the enemies' necks."

Bisquente's metaphor was accurate. From the length of their tails and wings to the wyvern-specific armor they wore, combined, they looked one and a half times larger than the transport wyverns. They were like modern fighter jets, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just four of them were sufficiently threatening.

"......!"

When the distance got somewhat close, the one at the front waved his arm to signal behind. Even though he was wearing all sorts of cold-weather gear and something like goggles, making it impossible to recognize his face, the wyvern somehow looked familiar. Just as Gies had said, it seemed they really did have different appearances like dogs or cats. Just that one was very familiar.

"Eldmia! It's been a while!"

Sure enough, the bundle of clothes waving his hand as he slowly descended the wyvern had Gies's voice, and I smiled and waved back. In the meantime, the wyvern that had finished landing quickly moved aside and began to cry toward the descending wyverns behind, as if giving a parking signal. Then the speed of the wyvern that had seemed to be descending a little faster noticeably decreased, and only after all four wyverns safely completed landing did Gies, who had dismounted, approach along with the knights.

But aside from the brief moment of recognition during the descent, he was now in the role of a guide and couldn't initiate conversation. I also had no intention of putting him on the spot, so I shifted my attention to the knights whose attire looked like they had stuffed clumps of fur into every joint.

Because they had to endure the cold while flying in the sky, their armor was so heavily insulated against the cold that it could almost be called fur armor. The helmet also, unlike a normal helmet, covered the face with something like a motorcycle helmet visor; no matter the material, you couldn't see the wearer's face.

Just as I was getting curious how they could even make sound like that, the one standing a little ahead of the other knights slowly removed her helmet.

What emerged from underneath was Princess Mesina's female butler. It seemed the princess did not take this matter lightly. She looked at me with an expressionless face, gave a light nod as a greeting, then asked Bisquente.

"Sir Bisquente, correct?"

"Yes. I am Bisquente, an ordinary knight of Raviel. It is an honor to meet the Wyvern knights who protect the royal family."

It wasn't just words; Bisquente was about to kneel right then, but as if she had already anticipated it, Heiri moved her hand first to stop him.

"The situation is urgent, so let's keep it brief. By order of the princess, we have come to subjugate the orcs and investigate the gate suspected to be the cause of their sudden appearance. Have the orc attacks not begun yet?"

"In fact, there was already an attack yesterday."

"The scale?"

"I estimate that the number mobilized for the attack was a little over 200."

"You defended splendidly."

Instead of specifically mentioning the efforts of the adventurers and mercenaries, Bisquente merely nodded.

It was that Bisquente was unusual; among half-baked knights, many dismissed those in those two professions as money-grubbers who knew no honor, and though these were the royal family's elites, since we couldn't know what they thought, it was clearly a choice to avoid getting ten sneers for one compliment.

"We cannot let your efforts go to waste. After we warm up briefly, we will head straight to the orc settlement."

Fortunately, Wyvern knight Heiri seemed to be a person of normal thinking. With a light nod, she ordered the other knights to follow Bisquente, and he guided them to an empty house prepared in advance for the knights.

And Heiri, as if it were natural, spoke to me.

"It has been a while, Sir Ega."

"Please, don't..."

"Princess Mesina has not withdrawn her honorifics toward you, so I cannot do so either. Please understand."

That damn clingy princess. I couldn't make a sour face in front of Heiri, who with the perceptiveness of a royal butler instantly cut off my words, so I just nodded calmly, and she gestured lightly to walk together and continued.

"Your help was instrumental in ensuring Sir Bisquente's report was not taken lightly. The princess said she wanted to express her gratitude for that."

"...I didn't really do anything."

"But you are an experienced person. Twice, at that."

Well... the abandoned dungeon was originally a secret royal request, so it wouldn't be strange for someone of her position to know. Again, I simply nodded in reply.

"The Margrave of Levien, the abandoned dungeon gate, the traitor Envelde, the saintess of the Holy Light Cross Order and the consecutive demon subjugations, the punishment of the remnants of the rebellion, and now... should we call it an orc gate? Anyway, the princess is deeply distressed that she hasn't even properly repaid you for the great help you've given the kingdom."

That meant the clingy princess still hadn't given up, but this time I didn't care. After all, the matters up to Envelde were officially concluded and I'd even received compensation, and the later events, unlike the princess's desire to somehow reward me grandly, could be settled at an appropriate level.

"It seems I should correct that to a demon and a Demon Dragon."

So I had the composure to correct the mistake without overreacting, and Heiri flinched for a moment, then nodded and said.

"I see. I must have been briefly mistaken."

"If you're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠busy, that can happen. Isn't this the world where even in the process of buying ingredients to feed myself, I forget or make mistakes?"

"Thank you for understanding..."

"Personally, I wish that the princess, who must be busier than anyone, would forget and be quite mistaken about me."

But that and repeatedly linking me to things that could become troublesome in the future were separate issues. What exactly did she plan to do by rewarding me so grandly? It was absurd to think it was simply to praise my merits. Then what about the soldiers on the front lines right now?

This time Heiri didn't stop walking or flinch. But after a slight delay, she spoke with certainty.

"...The princess is so clever that she does not easily forget."

"I also do not doubt the princess's intelligence. But they say a person forgets thousands of things a day. There's no rule that the princess can't do the same."

Since it was still unclear whether this was Heiri's own judgment out of loyalty or the princess's order, I drew the line, hoping that my answer would reach the princess.

Fortunately, as we followed Bisquente, Heiri did not bring up the princess any further.