Ch.8282. Royal Ranch (1)

Time flows quickly.

“Are we almost there?”

“Seems like it. Should we continue on foot now?”

“The Oracle thinks that would be best.”

After traveling non-stop for days and crossing through about three vassal states, we finally realized that the Imperial Pasture was truly right before us. After dismounting from Tarask, we climbed onto Robo and Astra and began to gallop.

Perhaps it was thanks to the special saddles placed on Robo and Astra’s backs. Despite the considerable speed they were maintaining, the two of us could move comfortably…

After riding without rest for about 10 minutes, we finally arrived near the entrance of the Imperial Pasture.

Of course, it’s only called a “pasture” in name. The scene reflected in my eyes was far from the idyllic pasture one might imagine.

The Imperial Pasture was like a massive fortress surrounded by endless walls, a unique facility where countless powerful life forces could be sensed from within.

The walls were built by meticulously stacking stone bricks to a height easily exceeding 8 meters, with gray magical energy—presumably the effect of magic maintaining and protecting the walls—rippling across the surface.

Additionally, watchtowers equipped with what appeared to be direct-fire cannons and mortars were erected at regular intervals along the wall. Soldiers who seemed to be on duty could be seen at the top of these 12-meter-high towers…

“Halt! This area is off-limits without authorization!”

Two cavalry soldiers, apparently on guard duty, approached us and called out.

Judging by their life force, these soldiers, whom I presumed to be lower-rank warriors, were elite cavalry equipped with leather uniforms, chain mail, and several simple plate armor parts.

At their waists hung weapons that could be wielded with one hand, such as cavalry swords or hand axes, and several pistols were tucked into their saddles. A scoped rifle hung at an angle beneath the saddle was also noticeable.

Moreover, they were mounted not on ordinary horses but on magical horse beasts. These brown horses, seemingly mixed with magical beast bloodlines, even had sharp fangs and claws protruding from their hooves.

…I’m guessing they must be the empire’s elite cavalry?

Anyway, facing these soldiers who were showing obvious wariness—they must have dealt with many attempted intruders—I had to speak up while pulling out the Assembly Hall’s letter of recommendation from my space-expanded pouch.

“Soldiers, I am a druid dispatched directly by the Assembly Head. Here, I have documents that also serve as identification.”

The two soldiers looked at the documents I confidently presented and whispered to each other, appearing somewhat agitated. Then, the one who seemed more experienced stepped forward and took the papers from me as I sat on Robo’s back…

“…Would you mind accompanying us briefly while we verify these documents?”

“Certainly, soldier.”

To the cautious request of the visibly intimidated soldier, I kindly replied and slowly followed them with Sophia to the entrance of the Imperial Pasture.

The entrance to the Imperial Pasture resembled a castle gate, with a massive opening and closing door in the center and what looked like a simple checkpoint nearby.

Surprisingly, the person stationed at the checkpoint was a middle-aged man who appeared to be a formal druid, exuding the mysteries of nature.

“…Oh, fellow druid! What brings you here?”

“I’ve come on business related to the Assembly Head. It seems you are the caretaker of this place.”

Just as Sophia and I noticed that the middle-aged man was a druid, he seemed to recognize that we were mid-level druids and greeted us very warmly.

Well, it’s probably because our mother is quite infamous. Basically, druids generally share an intangible bond as fellow practitioners of nature’s mysteries.

…In this case, should I say that the fear toward my master is strong enough to offset this intangible bond?

In any case, we druids, able to recognize each other, engaged in conversation based on the intimacy derived from our shared mysteries…

“Ah, I’ve kept you too long when you must have business to attend to. Fellow druid, I wish you a good day!”

“Yes!”

“See you soon!”

Having received a pass from the druid guarding the entrance, we proceeded into the castle-like Imperial Pasture.

※ ※ ※

Inside the Imperial Pasture. The landscape within the vast interior protected by the walls was… nothing short of chaotic.

The enclosures scattered throughout the immense space did a good job of recreating natural environments, and thanks to the separate spaces created for the creatures to hide, it resembled a zoo.

Each animal enclosure was separated by magically created translucent barriers.

I cautiously guess… these might be using light magic.

Throughout the area, there were buildings where the facility’s management staff resided, as well as armored soldiers, druids, and people in neat, uniform attire who appeared to be attendants.

Additionally, there were occasional nobles in elaborate clothing riding in carriages, presumably tourists.

Knights in plate armor, likely visiting to look for their own mounts, could also be seen rarely.

As this high-class zoo-like landscape of the Imperial Pasture unfolded before our eyes,

Sophia and I began walking toward what appeared to be the headquarters of this pasture, visible beyond the ridge.

‘Owl bears, winter wolves… is that a bicorn?’

Bears with owl heads, snow-white wolves exhaling cold air in all directions. Add to that black horses with two bent horns, and even bicorns, the infamous virgin detectors.

Just looking around briefly, I could see these mysterious magical creatures I had only read about in books, and as I was gazing around with sparkling eyes… Suddenly, Sophia spoke to me from right beside me.

“Gregory, look over there.”

“Where do you mean… oh? A chimera?”

The magical beast that caught my eye was, surprisingly, a chimera. Not some hideous artificial creation made by stitching creatures together, but the incredibly rare “original” chimera found in nature.

This monster, with a lion’s upper body, a goat’s lower body, and dragon wings, had four heads.

A lion’s head in the center, a goat’s head on the right, a red dragon’s head on the left, and a snake’s head protruding from the tail.

Along with physical abilities that were decent if not outstanding, each head possessed its own unique abilities.

The lion’s head could emit a fear-inducing roar. The goat’s head could shoot sound waves like bullets. The dragon’s head could breathe fire, and the snake’s head contained deadly venom.

…Despite its bizarre appearance, the fact that this creature reproduces naturally in the wild is mind-boggling.

Besides the chimera, there were numerous other rare magical beasts… though few in number for each species, they were quite diverse.

A giant hamster large enough for people to ride, a huge crayfish with flames blazing from its back,

a turtle that looked like a mineral vein transplanted whole—all sorts of rare species were gathered in heaps.

Of course, most of these creatures were only kept in ones or twos for “exhibition” purposes, while the majority of the pasture was dedicated to raising mounts or animals to feed those mounts.

Anyway, how much time had passed since we started moving forward?

A unique structure with eight tall spires surrounding a central building, reminiscent of a massive temple or castle.

“We’ve been expecting you. This way, please.”

“…Very well.”

Upon arriving at the central administration building of the Imperial Pasture, we were immediately guided inside by the guards at the entrance.

And then…

“Oh, they’ve finally arrived!”

“The Assembly Head sent them ahead!”

“So young! Yes, a prodigy has joined our Druid Assembly!”

“Ah, awawawawa…”

Inside the building, we were surrounded by excited druids, just like when I first visited the Druid Assembly.