Ch.912Peaceful City

After finishing my conversation with Lacy, I visited Asha’s diligently rebuilt workshop to say hello and ask her to come to Hestella on business sometime.

I had recently acquired a fresh dragon corpse, so naturally I needed to entrust its processing to the best blacksmith I knew.

My plan was to have plenty of weapons and armor made for Hero and Master-level forces, including spares, and then use the remaining parts to reinforce Hestella’s flying ships.

While I was at it, I suggested inviting some craftsmen from the Red Copper bloodline to the Empire.

Leopold was also in desperate need of dwarven help with processing the Amitamir corpse, so he would welcome them with open arms if they came to the Empire.

“Hmm… Himmel is in chaos right now… but I’ll try suggesting it anyway!”

Her tone suggested that even if I invited them, it would be difficult to guarantee they would accept.

Fair enough. The Republic of the Dwarves must also be on high alert due to the dragon threat, so they would naturally prioritize their own defense over another country’s affairs.

In the latter part of the original story, they somehow deployed mechanical dragons to engage in fierce battles with the dragons…

I couldn’t be certain, but that was probably a weapon that couldn’t be used right away.

Even in the original work, there was almost a year between the dragons’ resurrection and the appearance of the mechanical dragons.

Whether it took that long to build them or there was another reason, I wasn’t sure… but it probably wasn’t something they could just pull out immediately.

Anyway, with this, I had completed everything I needed to do in the islands.

—-

I arrived at Hestella’s capital three days later.

It took some time because I had been flying while slicing up every bandit and monster that came into view.

And upon my return, above the capital of Hestella…

“Kieeeeek!”

“Haaaah!”

An aerial battle between winged monsters and my companions was in full swing.

“Kieeeeee-!”

It was an Aguiryong—a hybrid monster with a head like an angler fish, a snake-like neck, bat wings, and legs like a king crab.

Perhaps because the name was difficult to pronounce, it was much more commonly known by its nickname: wyvern.

Though “dragon” was part of its name, it wasn’t actually a dragon but merely a draconic monster that crudely imitated a dragon’s appearance.

With its flying ability, hard scales, and powerful muscles, it was difficult for Master-level knights to subjugate… but it was no match for Heroes who had crossed the wall.

“Kyaaaak!”

The creature made a wide turn above the capital to avoid Millia’s arrow, then roared with its mouth wide open toward the white-winged knight pursuing it.

– Whoosh!

Black flames burst forth from inside its open mouth.

Flames hot enough to incinerate a person in an instant, though not quite matching a dragon’s breath.

“That’s nothing…!”

However, the moment Demian grasped St. George’s necklace, pure white holy light burst between his fingers, forming a translucent sphere that enveloped his entire body.

Come to think of it, I’d forgotten about that item.

St. George’s necklace, which could form a holy barrier three times a day. It was a holy relic I had completely forgotten about since there was no particular need for it after obtaining the holy sword.

While the holy sword was a divine item bestowed directly by God and capable of using all the miracles of the Church of Elpinel, that necklace was just a simple holy relic limited to creating three barriers.

It had the advantage of not requiring one’s own power to form the barrier… but with such limited uses, it didn’t offer much merit. Not yet, anyway.

But since Demian couldn’t openly summon the holy sword in front of others yet, he had no choice but to make do with that.

Anyway, the effect of the holy relic was certainly reliable.

– Tsssssk!

The holy barrier negated the wyvern’s flames, erasing them. The black flames were consumed by the pure white holy light.

In the moment the wyvern stopped its flames and widened its eyes in surprise, Demian had already reached its vicinity.

“Kiee-“

“Too late!”

The swung greatsword split the wyvern’s head in half. Not just the angler fish-like head, but nearly half of its upper body beyond the neck.

“Gweeeek…!”

The monster, now evolved into a twin-headed wyvern, fell, spilling its brain and other internal organs through the cleanly cut surface. It crashed into the pasture outside the city walls.

After confirming the wyvern’s death, Demian swung his greatsword to shake off the blood, then turned and flew into the city.

…He seems to have improved a bit while I was away.

At that level, I could probably increase the customized violence—no, training intensity—by about three levels without any problems.

I mean, I could probably beat him up like I did with Persiella.

Of course, if I unleashed Sky Slash, he wouldn’t be able to block it and would split back into Dem and Ian, so I should probably avoid that if possible.

Anyway, I flew after Demian into the city interior, descending to a lower altitude.

“Haaaaaaah!”

From the opposite direction where Demian had been fighting, I watched the Giant Slayer sword slashing through wyverns as if swatting flies.

The finely chopped wyvern corpse crashed diagonally into the city wall, bursting blood and sliding down like mud.

—-

The city interior was somewhat chaotic.

The wyvern from earlier might have been the last monster to attack the capital, as knights throughout the city were announcing the end of the situation and guiding citizens out of shelters.

Watching them move in such an orderly and systematic manner, I was quite satisfied that Leonore or Joshua had trained the knights very well.

“I-is it over…?”

“Yes. All monsters have been eliminated, so return to your livelihoods.”

The citizens, though somewhat confused, gradually emerged and returned to their workplaces, while the soldiers who had been guarding the walls went down to collect the wyvern corpses.

“I heard wyvern meat is quite delicious.”

“Ugh, you can still have an appetite looking at this? You really are crazy…”

Not much different from usual. Hestella was peaceful today as well.

Just like those transport unit guys who boasted of 1000 accident-free days even after smashing through and destroying the supply depot wall.

—-

Since descending right in the middle of the city would likely cause an enormous commotion, I flew to the royal palace and landed lightly in the garden.

– Boom!

…At least, lightly by my standards.

“What’s that? An enemy?”

“Are there still monsters left?!”

“Report to Lady Leonore!”

The impact and noise, which shook the garden floor slightly, caused several Rose Cross Knights guarding the palace to rush out and surround me.

Their reaction was so swift I wanted to applaud.

“…It’s me.”

I waved away the rising dust with my hand and announced my return to them.

Feeling embarrassed for causing an unintended commotion, I gently scratched my cheek with my index finger.

“Ah…! Your Majesty!”

“We greet Queen Your Majesty!”

Finally recognizing who I was, the knights hurriedly thrust their swords into the ground, knelt on one knee, and bowed their heads.

“Yes, yes. You’ve worked hard.”

I took out a Mana Herb that I had refrained from using during flight, lit it with fire from my fingertips, and brought it to my lips.

“I’m truly satisfied with your response time. Leonore has trained you all very well.”

I praised the female knights who were all showing their respect.

“It’s an honor!”

“Honor is unnecessary. I’ll be on my way now, so you may withdraw as well.”

“Yes!”

Leaving the knights who answered in unison behind me, I walked toward the palace beyond the garden.

It was time to reunite with my companions.

‘I wonder how Lena is doing?’

It was also time to see our Lena.

[You should take care of Imara like that too. Anyone watching would think that pink-haired girl is your blood relative.]

Hersella quietly complained. Her tone suggested I was showing unfair treatment, even though neither was my actual sister.

‘If we were blood relatives, wouldn’t our relationship be worse? Like your family.’

I burst out laughing, countering her complaint.

Orhan and Sahakal, Amin and Meiharin, and indirectly Dahamei too.

How could a woman who killed all her blood relatives except three say such things?

[Family? You mean the Aishan-Gioro clan? That’s absurd. It wasn’t me who slaughtered them, it was you.]

Hersella snorted, denying the charge of familicide.

Thinking about it, she was right. They all died by my hand or because of me, not her.

I directly or indirectly brought down Amin and Dahamei, and Sahakal died in the bombing I ordered.

All Hersella did was face Orhan and Meiharin…

With Orhan, she barely managed to cut off one arm, and with Meiharin, she almost lost despite having the upper hand due to Saenggansi’s intervention.

It was I who defeated Saenggansi and blocked Meiharin’s escape, not Hersella.

So both Orhan and Meiharin ultimately met their end at my hands.

[To begin with, I never acknowledged them as my blood relatives.]

No, you have to acknowledge Orhan at least.

The others might be considered strangers since they’re step-relatives or half-siblings, but half the blood flowing in this body is Orhan’s.

Thanks to Orhan, you inherited the wolf god’s blood and enjoyed all its benefits, yet now that you’ve grown up a bit, you’re trying to deny your blood relationship with your biological father.

Really, you have no conscience at all.