Chapter 216: The Kukkoro Male Knight and Rana Volcano

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Negotiations with the “Legitimate” Elfenia progressed smoothly. When I proposed a top-level meeting, I even received a reply from Lady Orphan, the leader of the “Legitimate,” saying that they would be willing to come to Carrera City instead. To be honest, talks moved far faster than they ever did with the “New” faction.

That said, deals that go too well usually have something behind them. There had to be a reason the “Legitimate” were being so accommodating. If I misjudged that point, I could easily end up making the wrong call. For information-gathering purposes as well, I decided that the first meeting would be held at the “Legitimate” stronghold.

Still, I was, at least in name, the ruler of the Liseben Territory. I couldn’t afford to act recklessly. I mobilized all of my available wyverns and sent escort forces to the “Legitimate” settlement the day before. Only after that did I set out myself.

“Hooh… So this is Rana Volcano, huh?”

And then, on the day of the meeting. I—now a man riding rather than aboard a craft—looked down at Rana Volcano from the sky. The massive mountain body had been blown apart spectacularly, forming a gigantic caldera lake. The sight conveyed the sheer dynamism of nature. Considering that such a massive volcano had erupted so violently, it made perfect sense that the elves had entered a Dark Age afterward.

“Every time we come here, I worry that thing might start spewing fire again. In fact, it still causes small explosions now and then, scattering ash and rocks.”

Lyutikainen-kun, gripping the reins in the saddle ahead of me, said this while glancing at Rana Volcano. Wyverns, of course, lacked any sort of windproof canopy, so the roar of the wind was deafening. Still, if we shouted, conversation was possible.

“Well, if it happens, it happens.”

If a volcano of that scale erupted in earnest, the entire Liseben Peninsula would fall squarely within the lethal zone. In that case, all we could do was accept our fate. Worrying too much about things like that didn’t help anyone.

Still… A volcano, huh. If handled properly, we might be able to extract sulfur. Sulfur was an essential material for producing gunpowder-type explosives. If we could source it locally, ammunition costs would drop significantly. And if the elves started trading, they might calm down a bit as well. Maybe I should propose it during today’s meeting.

As I was thinking that, several small black dots appeared in the northern sky.

“Oh? Are those… Birdmen? Maybe they’re here to greet us?”

“…Something feels off. Normally, welcoming parties come from much farther south.”

Lyutikainen-kun’s voice was filled with tension. She grabbed the long spear mounted to the saddle and held it firmly. She was ready for combat.

“Enemies?”

“I don’t know. But birdmen have never appeared from that direction before. It’s best to stay alert, especially since Lord Albert is aboard.”

“You know the skies better than anyone. I’ll leave it to you. Should I order the wingmen to stay alert as well?”

“Please do.”

After confirming her nod, I pulled a signal flag from the holder attached to my saddle and used flag signals to order the two nearby wyvern riders to prepare for battle. Incidentally, Sonia and the guide Star Guides-sama were riding those two wyverns.

While we were doing that, the distance between us and the unknown formation rapidly closed. It appeared to be a group of crow birdmen. They wore boots fitted with hooked talons on their feet, clearly combat gear.

“Did we get tricked by the ‘Legitimate’? Are the knights on the ground all right?”

Four knights had been dispatched to the “Legitimate” settlement the day before. If the “Legitimate” were attempting an ambush, then by now they would likely be… A deeply unpleasant feeling washed over me, and I slowly exhaled. Charging straight into their territory might have been too hasty.

I guess I really can’t pull things off as smoothly as I am with Lady Dalaiya, huh…

“I don’t know,” Lyutikainen-kun said, “but for now, we should prioritize our own safety.”

“Agreed. Evasion comes first, but I authorize engagement at your discretion. Do whatever it takes to get through.”

We didn’t yet know who the enemy was, but if they attacked, we’d have to counterattack. If it turned into an international incident, we’d deal with it then.

“Understood. If we turn now, they’ll likely get behind us. It would be better to meet them head-on. Please hold on tightly.”

“Roger.”

I had some confidence in ground combat, but aerial combat was completely outside my expertise. This was something best left to the professional. I confirmed the safety harness attached to my waist.

By then, we were close enough to clearly see the crow birdmen’s faces. The hooked talons on their boots gleamed sharply in the sunlight. They were unmistakably preparing to attack. In just a few seconds, we’d be within engagement range. Lyutikainen-kun tightened her grip on the spear.

That was when—

“!?”

Another formation of crow birdmen dove down from above. They slammed into the first group at tremendous speed. Wings and torsos were slashed apart by hooked talons, and the attackers from before plummeted, spraying blood as they fell. It was a flawless strike, reminiscent of a raptor’s hunt.

“Lyutikainen-dono!?”

One of the attacking crow birdmen pulled up sharply and flew alongside us.

“Garja!? What’s going on!?”

Apparently, she was an acquaintance of Lyutikainen-kun. When Lyutikainen-kun shouted back, the crow birdman called Garja yelled with an expression of fury.

“It’s the Usurper Army! Those bastards attacked at a time like this! We can’t afford to drag you into it! Get out of here, now!”

“The Usurper Army… That would be the New Elfenia Empire, then…”

It seemed they were already at war with the “New” faction. Had we simply stumbled into a battle by bad luck? Or perhaps they were attacking to prevent contact between us and the “Legitimate.”

“Either way, we’ve got four allies still on the ground. Retreat isn’t an option. Lyutikainen-kun, take us down. Carrying extra weight will just make it harder for you to fight.”

“…Understood! I’ll drop you at the elves’ village. That’s acceptable, correct?”

“That’s fine. Go!”

After nodding, I signaled the same order to our wingmen with the flag.

Man, I really want airborne radios. Having to wave flags every time is a pain.

Putting that aside, Lyutikainen-kun guided the wyvern into a steep dive. The rapid pressure change made my eardrums feel like they were being crushed. I equalized immediately to relieve it.

“Slowing down! Hold on tight!”

Dropping to an altitude where we nearly brushed the treetops, Lyutikainen-kun spread the wyvern’s wings and braked sharply. My body nearly flew forward, but I clung desperately to the saddle. Then, with masterful rein control, she threaded the wyvern through gaps between trees toward the ground.

“Oh…!”

What I saw there were numerous crude, cone-shaped dwellings nestled against the trees—pit houses. This was evidently the settlement of the so-called “Legitimate.”

“We’ll wait out the enemy on the ground. You stay airborne. Defensive combat is authorized, but no need to fight aggressively. Signal with a smoke flare once things calm down.”

“Understood.”

After issuing orders rapidly, I removed my safety harness, kicked free of the stirrups, and dropped to the ground. I braced for a violent impact, but the thick moss cushioned the fall. I rolled to absorb the shock and managed to come to a stop.

“Ugh… The world’s spinning…!”

Staggering, I forced myself upright. I tapped my helmet and surveyed the surroundings. I could hear women screaming and the clash of blades. The elven village had clearly become a battlefield.

“Well now… Things are getting interesting for sure…!”

I muttered that half in resignation. Naturally, it was sarcasm. Honestly, what a troublesome situation this had become.

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