The Golden Tree (4)
BANG!
"No, I saw it with my own eyes! That bastard is the exact same one I killed twice!"
Friga's shout rang out as the high-quality wooden table boomed beneath her fist. Somehow the woman only grew stronger with time; a faint imprint of her knuckles now marked the center of the tabletop.
Iscal snuck a glance at the fist mark and swallowed hard. Of everyone gathered here, was he the only one cowed by the stamp of Friga's fist?
"Hahaha. Princess Friga, of course I trust your esteemed judgment. After all, you faced the creature twice—among us, you would know it best."
"Right? So we need to put together an investigation team right this second and send them the way that lizard flew!"
"There's no need to press quite so urgently."
Antonio calmly soothed the thoroughly worked-up Friga.
"Princess. The blue dragon that emerged from the gate of the Holy Land—is it the same dragon you returned to the gods' embrace during your first encounter?"
"Uh… y-yes."
"I see."
The weight of years resonated in that heavy voice. For a fleeting moment Friga even felt as though she stood before her father far away in the north.
"That dragon appeared in the princess's trial as well, and now it has opened the Holy Land's gate and shown itself in its complete form."
"Exactly. This is no ordinary matter!"
"…Hmm."
It was certainly no ordinary matter. A dragon—the sovereign of the mythic age that had existed only in the records of ancient texts—had revealed itself once more.
Those who had witnessed the dragon streaking across the sky of the Holy City each spun wild theories and chattered excitedly.
From nonsense about it being an omen of destruction, to talk of a return to the age of myth or the revival of the dragon race… Public sentiment is growing restless.
Not long ago a woman named Selina and Marquis Prius had claimed a divine mission to revive the five ancient races, and the Holy City had already been in an uproar over that.
And now another mysterious event had occurred.
What on earth does the god intend…
Was even a single clue to that great design forbidden to the tiny mind of a mortal?
Antonio pressed hard at his throbbing temples. Documents inquiring about the dragon—whether other nations had sighted it as well—were piling up like mountains.
Just the five races and the beastkin were already more than enough to keep him busy, and now a dragon! Antonio felt ready to scream.
Demonic carefully gauged Antonio's expression before speaking with cautious care.
"Ahem… regarding the dragon, I will take full responsibility for the investigation. As it happens, preparations for forming an investigation team were nearly complete. I had intended to submit the report once finished, but I never expected matters to turn out like this."
"Ah. Is that so?"
Antonio brightened at once.
If Lionheart had still been here the situation would have felt far more secure, yet the moment the festival ended the man's wandering itch had flared; he had vanished without so much as a letter.
"Yes. The fact that a dragon once returned to the gods' embrace has appeared again can only mean that something requiring a dragon's intervention has arisen… In the worst case, a great demon may have shown itself."
"A great demon…"
At Demonic's words the atmosphere in the conference hall grew heavy as lead.
Kenis, who had once had her body stolen by a demon, unconsciously stroked the hilt of her holy sword. Friga, who shuddered at the mere mention of demons, clenched the haft of her axe until her knuckles whitened.
It felt as though a massive stone had settled upon the air of the chamber.
Hans, who had been sitting quietly, studied the sunken mood and carefully raised his hand.
"Um… may I say a word?"
"…"
"Lord Hans, please speak."
Among those seated at the round table the eldest were Antonio and Demonic; the flow of the meeting therefore rested in their hands.
Demonic whipped his head away and pointedly ignored Hans, while Antonio granted him the floor.
Feeling every gaze settle upon him, Hans rose awkwardly and slowly opened his mouth.
"It isn't related to the present topic… but I forgot to mention it earlier, so I believe I ought to speak of it now."
Trailing off, Hans rummaged about and drew forth his longsword.
Two scarlet rune characters engraved upon the blade near the cross-guard radiated a fierce presence.
If one were to write with the sun itself as a brush, the color would look exactly like this.
"That… there are two rune characters now! Lord Hans! When exactly did you receive a new character?! Why would you—no. Paladin Demonic, did you know of this?!"
Antonio spoke in open astonishment. It was not merely that the number of characters had increased; a new divine character had been inscribed.
A matter of the utmost gravity.
Antonio had received no report whatsoever on the subject. Demonic likewise shook his head, indicating he had known nothing.
Meeting Antonio's blazing eyes, Hans scratched his head as though flustered.
"Ha, haha. I simply forgot…"
"To dismiss it as mere forgetfulness—… Whew. No. I grew too excited. Lord Hans, I apologize."
"Haha… s-sorry."
"After the meeting you must stop by the theology research laboratory and inform them as well."
"Aigoo, yes. Hehe. Understood."
Hans scratched his head sheepishly and sat back down. His vacant expression and exaggeratedly foolish manner naturally drew chuckles from those watching.
Whether intentional or not, Hans's little comedy lightened the heavy atmosphere considerably. Confirming the change, Antonio clapped his hands sharply to reclaim everyone's attention.
"Very well! Now that matters are roughly settled, everyone rise. Paladin Demonic, draft the plan for the investigation team and bring it to me as soon as possible."
Antonio scraped his chair back and stood; the others rose as well, stretching stiff bodies.
"Ugh—sitting so long makes every joint ache. Hey, Iscal. Let's spar a round and then grab a meal. How about it?"
"Ah, a spar? Uh…"
At Friga's proposal Iscal's eyes rolled about. Seeing him fail to answer at once, Friga frowned.
"What. Got plans? Who is it—that cat bitch?"
"N-no, no! It isn't Selina. Just… you know, I promised to eat with my servant Sancho."
"…Really? You have a prior engagement… Then it can't be helped."
Whether it was imagination or not, Friga's shoulders drooped a fraction. Looking uncharacteristically dejected, she made Iscal feel a sharp prick of conscience.
I'm sorry to the princess… but Sancho said he'd teach me his secret dating know-how over a meal today.
If Sancho ever found out he would pound his chest and demand to know why Iscal had rejected the princess's offer merely for a meal with him—yet the clueless Iscal simply nodded and strode off with cheerful determination.
He vowed to return as a renewed man after Sancho's love lecture.
Hans watched the scene and shook his head.
How can a person be so utterly oblivious…
From the side everything was painfully obvious, yet the man remained hopelessly dense.
Hans would have liked to help Iscal, but—
"Lord Hans—!!"
Whoosh!
"Whoa. Daisy, that's dangerous."
The moment the conference-hall door opened, Daisy dashed forward and flung herself at Hans. Having anticipated the leap, he caught her safely and let out a quiet sigh.
Hans had troubles of his own up to his neck. Far from helping anyone else, he was the one who needed help. He could only cheer for Iscal in his heart.
"Hoo… sss—hoo… sss—"
Having run the whole way, Daisy buried her face against his chest and breathed roughly. Her face was flushed, the tips of her ears bright red, as though her stamina had given out.
She claimed she was eating well and living well, yet perhaps she was unwell somewhere?
"Daisy, Daisy? Are you all right? Your face is a bit red—"
"Y-yes. I'm fine…"
Flinch.
Daisy's pupils were slightly unfocused.
Looking again, the flush was not that of illness but of someone highly excited. Several gazes pressed against his back. Fortunately the angle kept Daisy's face hidden from them.
If anyone saw, the situation would be perfect for misunderstanding.
This is bad!
Sensing social death, Hans quickly scooped Daisy into a princess carry. He had to escape this place at once.
"Oh no! Daisy! Your fever is this high! We must hurry to the priest!"
"Hmm? Miss Daisy is unwell? Let me take a look—"
"Aigoo! Daisy, hang on just a little!!"
Great Priest Antonio stepped toward Hans, yet Hans deliberately shouted in an exaggerated, booming voice and raced out like the wind with Daisy in his arms.
"Ah…"
Watching only a long trail of dust remain where Hans had been, Kenis let out a small sigh. She had been about to invite him to dinner afterward.
Demonic clicked his tongue and approached.
"Tsk tsk. That fellow can't even manage to become a proper person."
"Don't speak of Hans that way, Father."
"Hmph."
Demonic turned his head with an uncharacteristically sulky air. The pout was deliberate and full of intent.
He wanted her to have dinner with him.
Kenis, watching that blankly, burst into a soft laugh. Ever since the duel festival, Demonic had begun expressing his feelings in this fashion more and more often.
Normally so stern and blunt, yet soft toward family?
"How much is left on the investigation-team plan? If it isn't much, let's finish it quickly together and go eat."
"…Shall we?"
The corners of Demonic's mouth curled upward. As father and daughter walked side by side in quiet companionship—
"A dragon—!! A dragon has appeared—!!"
The shout spread to every corner of the Holy City. Perhaps a holy knight on guard duty had cried out. Kenis and Demonic involuntarily lifted their eyes to the sky.
There…
Flap, flap—
"Hmm. This should be about right."
A blue dragon whose vast wings blotted out the firmament soared proudly through the heavens. It was merely flying, yet the dignity befitting the king of the skies filled every beat of its wings.
The dragon that had been circling the sky above the Holy City slowly lowered its body toward the earth.
THUD!
With a light rumble of the ground it settled beside the gate of the Holy Land.
"Kyaaaaak—!!"
"A d-dragon!! A real dragon!!"
Chaos erupted around the Holy Land's gate. The dragon paid not the slightest heed to the surrounding uproar.
"We've arrived. Get down, you monkeys."
Despite the curt tone, the dragon carefully lowered its posture. Presently someone peeked a head over the dragon's back and slid smoothly down the length of its wing.
Confirming that all of them had dismounted, the dragon slowly—very carefully—revealed what it had been cradling in its claws.
"…Here. Now this."
It was a tree shining with golden light.
A tree of a very, very small size—no larger than a sapling.
"…What on earth is that?"
"…Well. Looks like we won't need to write the plan after all."
Kenis and Demonic simply stared at the entire scene with blank, stunned eyes.
The appearance of the very dragon they had just been discussing, the figures who had descended from its back, the golden sapling…
What in the world was going on?