“Bubbles, bubbles~!”

“Amazing~!”

“So weird~!”

“Yeah, it’s weird, isn’t it… Sigh.”

Just look at them. Look at these kids, all smiling and happy. I’ll admit they’re adorable, but my brain still can’t process it… I mean, these kids, who are staring at soap for the first time like it’s the most interesting thing in the world, were rampaging just a moment ago, screaming stuff like

““”““GABIBIBIBIBIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!”“”””

You know? And they were literally mincing the enemy soldiers around them. And now, not even an hour later, they’re going “Bubbles, bubbles~?” My brain is going to break.

“It’d be nice if you could show a little more restraint… Here, give me your foot. I’ll wash it for you.”

“Okay~!”

There’s only so much I can do with my wings, but I manage to wash their feet and claws. Of course, I’m carefully making sure to get all the little bits of flesh stuck between their claws. The secret is to not acknowledge what you’re touching.

So that’s how we ended up coming here to wash up, but when I stopped one of them from trying to eat the soap and taught them, ‘This is how you wash your body,’ the entire flock glommed onto me, wanting me to wash them too. At this point, I either have to do it until they’re satisfied, or wait until they forget everything. So, I’m reluctantly washing them.

It was really chaotic after that battle. Once my kids go on a rampage, they really don’t stop. It’s either they’re satisfied after killing all the enemies, or they rampage until they collapse and wake up having forgotten everything. They get angry when their other friends are attacked, but it seems like me getting hurt is the absolute worst-case scenario for them. They just turn into killing machines.

After they had taken care of a certain number of enemies, the rest tried to flee towards the forest, and my kids tried to chase them. But these idiots, without me, they’d just forget the way back to the nest and never return, so them going into the forest could mean a permanent farewell. So I had to forcibly block their path, or try to distract them by humming tunes I used to sing to pass the time when we ran across the highlands together, and somehow managed to hold them back.

…Ah! Of course, I didn’t let them eat any human flesh! You can rest easy on that front!

Well, maybe thanks to that? The enemy soldiers managed to escape, and my kids calmed down since the enemy was gone. …But well, I think less than a hundred of them got away.

The enemy soldiers were throwing away their weapons and forcing their horses to run in order to escape. My kids, rampaging in their anger, had targeted the noisy ones—well, the commanders—and trampled them, so probably only the regular soldiers managed to get away. If these kids had been in their right minds, I could have had them capture everyone and hand them over to Matilde-san and the others, but… you know.

In that enraged state, if there was a human in front of them, they probably would have kicked them into oblivion without a second thought…

So, after I managed to calm them down, I did all sorts of things while being the center of attention to forcibly erase what had just happened from their minds. Some of them had already forgotten why they were angry, but I proved that I was completely unharmed, told them some familiar fairy tales from my past life, and sang them songs. Yeah, it was basically a daycare. And with that, I finally wiped their memories clean and returned them to their usual selves.

This is the Ostrich-style Art of Oblivion! After blowing away all their memories, if you put them in a good mood, they can’t even remember what happened…! I might not be the one to say it, but are you guys really okay with this? I guess you are…

By the way, I had them stay in a position where I could protect them, but when I introduced them to the Plaque soldiers and the adventurers, they didn’t attack. Even as one of them, I have no idea what my kids are thinking, but it seems like the conditioning of ‘I hate all humans! I’ll kill them!’ didn’t happen. I was seriously relieved about that.

If they had become hostile towards humans, I would have had no choice but to go home…

And so, since they looked pretty gruesome and covered in blood, we moved to a nearby river and are now in the middle of bath time. When we were about to head to the river, a soldier who was apparently going to handle the cleanup gave me a large amount of soap specially made for beast-kin, the bird-type ones, so that’s what I’m washing them with right now, see? It’s their first time with soap, so at first they tried to eat it… but once they recognized it as a toy that makes bubbles, they’ve been properly washing themselves.

“Do you have any itchy spots, customer~?”

“Cus-to-mer?”

“Ah, you don’t get it, huh. Anywhere itchy? I’ll wash it for you.”

“I don’t know!”

“Alright, alright, then let’s just give you a full-body wash.”

Still, we did just massacre a whole bunch of humans. Is that going to be okay? After the battle, I talked a bit with Matilde-san and the soldiers, and the faces of the people I spoke to were bright. But an overwhelming power is something to be feared. Even if the soldiers are fine with it, there’s a chance that other, ordinary people will be scared of us.

What if they start throwing stones at us while yelling ‘Get out of here!’… Ugh, I don’t want to think about it. It might be a good idea to talk to Matilde-san about that area a bit more.

“She did say they were going to have another feast after the cleanup is done. Maybe I’ll ask then.”

“A feast~? Ah! A festival!”

“Oh, you remembered? That’s amazing, you deserve praise. You’re absolutely right. We had a lot of delicious food yesterday, didn’t we? They’re doing it again today. And it seems like they’re gathering a lot of people for a festival, you know? A victory festival.”

“Food! Food!”

Yeah, yeah~, let’s eat a lot~. I say as I wash the blood off this one’s body.

…Ah, come to think of it. It’s been a while since they last went on a rampage, so I’d forgotten, but tomorrow is going to be rough. The power my kids used today was all borrowed, in a sense. Their anger released their limiters and they unleashed incredible destructive power, but tomorrow they’re going to be dying of muscle soreness. When they wake up in the morning, they’ll probably be writhing on the ground in pain they have absolutely no memory of the reason for. Something like, ‘It hurts, it hurts!’ ‘Why!’ ‘Unyiiii!’

Back when we were in the highlands, we had to move to a safe place before the muscle soreness set in, but now that we’re near a town, it’s a relief not having to worry about external enemies.

Well, it heals in a few hours, so it’s not that big of a worry~

◇◆◇◆◇

The scene changes, to the Nagan Kingdom. In this room, prepared for the ‘Strategist,’ the slightly fluffy and relaxed atmosphere of ‘I wonder if the report of victory will come soon~’ that had been forming until just a moment ago…

However, with the report from that purveyor merchant and spy, Aran-san, everything collapsed. A space worse than a wake has now formed.

Shall we take a little peek at the Strategist, struggling and suffering in such a place?

“E-Excuse me, Aran-san. My ears must be playing tricks on me, because it sounded like you said, ‘The Plaque invasion force has been defeated, number of survivors unknown. The mage corps was literally annihilated, and both General Derotado and Boble were killed in action’…”

…I-I’m afraid that’s…

“Wait, really? For real, for real? Wh-why?”

They say that when people are confronted with an unbelievable reality, they become unable to believe anything… and this must be that very moment. The Strategist, wanting to believe his own ears are broken rather than believe his words.

He shot up from the chair he was sitting in out of shock, letting words of confusion escape his lips. His heart is screaming that it has to be a lie, but the face of Aran-dono displayed before him looks like it could drop dead at any moment. As long as his own eyes and ears show him this is reality, this report is no illusion. The strength left his body, and he collapsed back into the chair he had just been sitting in. How pitiful.

Wait, we lost? The 5,500, and a unit composed of Nagan’s prized mage corps, at that? To a defense force of only about 800, even including mercenaries?

Various possibilities flash through his mind, only to disappear.

It was hard to believe that the army led by the general and the mage corps were defeated due to a lack of coordination. The soldiers certainly held the ideology of human supremacism, but the commanders were people who could set that aside for a moment and face reality. General Derotado and Boble. With the two of them, they should have been able to properly command the troops and fight in perfect formation. If one of them made a mistake, they would have been able to cover for each other instantly, and they weren’t the type of people to do something as foolish as squabbling over command authority. Neither of them was a talent that should have been lost in a place like this. That’s what the Strategist thought.

Looking at this fact, it’s hard to think there was some kind of problem on Nagan’s side. Which means the reason 5,500 soldiers vanished in an instant lies with the enemy.

Normally, as the person who sent them to their deaths, I need to mourn them and take responsibility. But if I have time for that, I must act as the ‘Strategist.’ Devise a plan, execute it, and continue to seek the country’s profit. That is my way of mourning.

As his thoughts spun, he calls out to Aran-san to get more accurate information on ‘that existence.’ No matter what plan he executed, what he needed now, above all, was information.

“…Is the cause of this defeat the mercenary corps that arrived in Plaque yesterday?”

Y-Yes! That group calling themselves the ‘Ostriches’ launched a lone charge, broke through the shield soldiers. Then, after annihilating the mage corps, they… the surrounding invasion force…

Ostriches, I see. So that is the name of this mercenary corps, the ‘Ostriches’…

Aran-san spins his words, trembling. Is it fear that dominates his heart, or is it self-reproach? To calm him down even a little, the Strategist urges him on with a gentle smile. But inside his mind, countermeasures against the ‘Ostriches’ were being considered at high speed.

A group whose leader is a bird-type beast-kin calling herself Reis. All members are of the same race as the leader, a group of bird-type beast-kin who likely run on the ground instead of flying.

From what he’d heard about the banquet last night, the Strategist inferred that the intelligence of those other than the leader was low. Or perhaps they were just pretending… he even considered that possibility, but that’s an unnecessary worry. From the information Aran-san had seen and heard, he also noticed that she has a relatively gentle personality and a deep affection for her own kind. This information, depending on how it’s used, could also be considered Reis’s ‘weakness.’ So the Strategist seems to think… but his face remains downcast.

…However, in the case where we exploit their ‘love for their own kind.’ If we fail, that phenomenal combat ability will be directed at us.

Reis and her ‘Ostriches’ can move at a speed that easily surpasses the charge of cavalry. And a kick with that speed can easily destroy our Nagan’s shield soldiers. That is to say, a kick powerful enough to cleave through them, who are protected by full heavy armor and thick iron shields. Even without that speed, their attack power is surely not something to be ignored.

And, ‘by some method,’ they have gained a strong resistance to lightning magic, the Strategist speculates. They charged right through lightning magic and kicked the enemy away in the blink of an eye. He even seems to be considering the possibility that they have a strong resistance to magic in general, not just lightning.

“A Special War Potential usually refers to an individual, but… they become one as a group, is that it?”

The information Aran-san saw from atop the ramparts, and the distance being what it was, he couldn’t determine how accurate it was. Nevertheless, it seems they handled 5,000 troops without a single injury. An opponent that could be called a ‘Special War Potential’ without issue, so the Strategist judged.

“I thought I had sent spies to every country and was gathering information on Special War Potentials with an almost neurotic level of care, but…”

A military force that suddenly appeared and is far too excessive for the Heed Kingdom. The ability to handle 5,000 without injury is more than enough to be a Special War Potential. There is a standard for identifying a Special War Potential: whether or not they can annihilate 10,000 soldiers with one hand. The battle between the ostriches and the Nagan Kingdom does not meet this condition… but the Strategist judged that even if he had prepared double the forces, the result would have been the same.

Convinced that it was strange for such a dangerous group not to have been caught in the Nagan Kingdom’s intelligence network, he seemed to have secretly decided to investigate again, certain that there was a double agent somewhere, a spy who had defected to the Heed Kingdom’s side… But the ostriches came from the ‘Highlands,’ an undeveloped region for humanity. His useless work just increased.

“…I understand, Aran-san. Thank you for your report. I was the one who gave the order for this invasion, thus all responsibility lies with me. You must have much on your mind, but please, be strong.”

Y-Yes! Th-Thank you very much!

“Now that an irregular has appeared, this plan must be abandoned and a new one devised. Aran-san. Until the next plan is decided, I ask you to investigate that mercenary corps, the ‘Ostriches.’ No matter how small the information, get as close to them as you can without arousing suspicion. If necessary, you may praise them as heroes of national salvation. After all, you are ‘Plaque’s purveyor merchant.’”

…Understood.

“And one more thing. The Heed Kingdom does not possess long-range communication capabilities like we do, so they will likely try to inform the royal capital of this invasion via fast horse. Delay that transmission as much as possible. I will give orders to the other embedded spies, so do not overdo it.”

Yes, sir!

“Then, until the next regular report. May you have the fortunes of war.”

The Strategist accepts his bow and cuts the communication.

Aran-san and all the other spies were trustworthy people, all trained under him. No matter how bad the situation got, no matter how much their own lives were in danger, they were people who would work for their country. The Strategist seems to be anguished about doubting such spies and suspecting them of being double agents… But he gives his head a light shake, and seems to have put that worry in the back of his mind for now.

From here on, it’s my job. Time is limited. I must report to my king. And immediately devise the next plan.

Putting strength into his whole body, he slowly rises from his chair. Walking towards the king’s private chambers, he checks his appearance.

A ‘Strategist’ must not be flustered. No matter what happens, I must make it seem as if everything is within my grasp. To friend and foe alike, of course. To give despair to the enemy, and relief to our allies. By doing this, I have been entrusted with this position, with being the ‘Strategist.’ In order to live up to the trust from the King, and the trust from the soldiers, I must never break this stance.

This incident is an extremely large failure. The loss of 5,000 soldiers is painful, but what is more painful is the annihilation of the mage corps. What they possessed were magic tools created from the best of Nagan’s technology. And 500 soldiers who could wield them. The fact that they were annihilated in the blink of an eye means that almost all of those important magic tools have fallen into the hands of the Heed side, of the ostriches.

It seems that in order to prevent technology leaks, the curriculum for the mages included instructions to destroy their magic tools… but as the Strategist expected, very few mages were able to do so. If hundreds of brand-new ones were handed over, it wouldn’t be strange for the other side to reuse them and form a similar mage corps, and if they were used for research, it wouldn’t be strange for them to be mass-produced within a few years.

It’s as if we just gifted them the results of all our research.

The damage doesn’t stop there. How much time and effort does it take to gather and train 500 people who can use magic? In fact, to the Strategist, this was a heavier loss than the magic tools.

In the first place, only a handful of people can use magic. All living things in this world possess mana, but the number of those who can release that mana externally is surprisingly small. And the amount they can release varies from person to person, and if you include attributes and the like, the variations are endless. For a village of a hundred people, you’d be lucky to find one or two citizens who meet the standards required by the army. It’s common not to find a single one.

Therefore, these 500 are extremely precious. How much time will it take to prepare the same number again…?

They were all men who were prepared to die when they became soldiers. However, all of them suddenly disappeared at once. They were the ace in the hole for a decisive battle. In fact, they were a corps that had begun to be formed to counter ‘Special War Potentials.’ If possible, they were a force he wanted to keep hidden until the battle with that ‘Empire,’ which would be the greatest enemy in the Nagan Kingdom’s goal of ‘continental domination.’ And they were gone… The Strategist’s shock must be immense.

To begin with, our Nagan Kingdom is surrounded by three nations, including the Heed Kingdom. And as luck would have it, the two countries other than Heed each have one Special War Potential. In contrast, our country has no one. I am praised within the country as ‘a Special War Potential because I can annihilate 10,000 soldiers with strategy,’ but the true ‘Special War Potential’ is not such a simple thing.

In the first place, it’s an existence that is presumptuous to even express in words. Such monsters are ‘them,’ the Strategist continues in his mind. In past battles, he seems to have come face to face with several of these Special War Potentials as enemies on the battlefield… but it seems he’d rather not fight them ever again. In the battles at that time, he somehow managed to incapacitate them and succeeded in neutralizing them by ending the war itself, but it seems they aren’t opponents that such a tactic would work on multiple times.

“If I think about it that way, the ‘Ostriches’ are still on the lower end, among the Special War Potentials. It’s too early to say for sure, but can I call that a silver lining…?”

Unlike the Special War Potentials he knows, the ostriches don’t change the tide of battle all by themselves. They need to fight as a flock.

In other words, the fact that they move as a group means that strategy can still work, the Strategist thought. If there are 300 of them, then their individual preferences and desires will vary. If he can skillfully exploit that, he’ll be able to see a chance for victory. He might not need to take troublesome measures like trying to cause a split in the country they belong to in order to weaken it, just to avoid a fight with other Special War Potentials.

“…But, there’s no way I can feel relieved.”

Just as he says, if the ‘Ostriches’ were to invade Nagan, it would surely be the end. The Strategist’s main forces are deployed on each border to deal with skirmishes with neighboring countries and cannot be moved. In other words, if the ostriches were to use the ‘corridor’ to launch a counter-invasion… it would be a straight shot to the royal capital. The head of his Majesty, the Strategist’s superior, would be raised high to the heavens, and the kingdom would be destroyed. The end. They were not an existence to be fought right now.

“If they were the Heed Kingdom’s special forces, this royal capital would be a battlefield by now. No, a hunting ground. I’m truly grateful they’re a mercenary corps that does nothing more than what their contract states.”

According to Aran-san’s report, Reis and her group haven’t left the vicinity of Plaque, and there’s no sign of them preparing to attack anywhere. The Strategist isn’t certain yet, but he’s hypothesizing that the ‘Ostriches’ are just a wandering mercenary corps. Who is behind them, what is their purpose there. Even if they are just a mercenary corps, questions like why such a powerful group hadn’t been discovered until now are endless…

…Hm? Could it be, from their location, further south of that town, from the ‘Undeveloped Region’? No, that’s impossible, surely.

To the Strategist and the rest of humanity, the ‘Undeveloped Region’ is a truly unknown world. There are records of survey teams heading there in the past, but none of them ever returned. There are rumors that a world of nothingness spreads out, or that it’s a paradise for powerful monsters, or that there are cannibalistic tribes, but they are all just rumors, and the only thing that’s known is that everything is a mystery. For people to come from such a ‘Highland’ shrouded in darkness is unthinkable by common sense. The Strategist, having nearly reached the correct answer, discards that thought.

“If Aran-san can successfully get in their good graces, the mysteries will begin to unravel. The objective of the one called Reis, the leader of the mercenary corps; if it’s something we can offer, we might be able to offer more than the Heed Kingdom and win them over. And even if that’s impossible, if we can grasp the preferences of those other than Reis, we can aim for an internal split.”

In other words, they need information on the ‘Ostriches,’ and they need time to gather it.

Therefore, what he must do now is.

“Buy time. And ensure that our Nagan Kingdom is not destroyed by the ‘Ostriches.’ We must create a situation where the Heed Kingdom, their client, cannot attack us. And quickly.”

For that purpose, the Strategist asked Aran-san for a ‘delay in transmission.’

It is an undeniable fact that the Nagan Kingdom invaded. Before this information reaches the Heed Kingdom’s royal capital, a plan must be established. The timeframe, with obstruction efforts pushed to the limit, is two weeks. In that time, a plan to prevent the ostriches from attacking, and if possible, a plan to draw them to their side.

“The minimum goal is the conclusion of a non-aggression pact. The best case, a military alliance. Without forgetting the line ‘let’s forget all past disputes.’ …To conclude it before the fact that we attacked comes to light. It’s a cowardly move, even I’m disgusted with myself.”

The Strategist understands. The moment the situation comes to light, they will surely be resented. However, once a treaty is signed and declared to the surrounding nations, they will not be attacked.

The Heed Kingdom, like the Strategist’s Nagan Kingdom, is surrounded by multiple nations. If, after the treaty is concluded, the Heed Kingdom attacks, saying ‘Payback for hitting us before!’, the surrounding countries will see it as ‘they’re ignoring the treaty.’ As a result, those surrounding countries, having gained a just cause, will likely gang up on them. In an age of warfare, that is what it means to show weakness. In other words, if this Strategist’s plan succeeds, it means the Heed Kingdom will be unable to attack, and the ‘Ostriches,’ the mercenaries hired by the Heed Kingdom, will not invade.

“It is true that we attacked first, but even if we are pursued on that matter… It’s truly regrettable for those who fought for their country, but if we apologize under the guise of ‘an arbitrary action by a few’ and provide simple monetary compensation, we can still manage.”

The Strategist also considered the case of ‘the mercenary corps acting on its own and invading our country,’ but judged the possibility to be low based on his mental speculation of her, Reis, the leader of the mercenary corps’s, personality.

“…Well, either way, if we’re attacked, we’ll lose, so there’s a part of me that can only hope that doesn’t happen. Welcoming them with a white flag, or being forgiven with just my head… well, that’s probably impossible. If they would forgive us for that, they wouldn’t have annihilated 5,500 soldiers. …In any case, I should do what I can now. I must receive the King’s permission.”

If he can conclude the best-case scenario of a military alliance, he might have a chance to see the ‘Ostriches’ with his own eyes. If, while that military alliance is in place, the Heed Kingdom is invaded by another country, they could also aim to improve relations by sending reinforcements. With that thought, the Strategist steeled himself and knocked on the door of the king’s private chambers.

After this, the Strategist succeeds in persuading the king, but then has to fight with nobles who persistently point out this failure, heads to the Heed royal capital with a churning stomach, and engages in a lot of covert operations in that capital, but… I’m starting to miss the ostriches, so let’s return our point of view.

◇◆◇◆◇

“Po, po, puu~!”

“Po!” “Po!” “Puu~!”

““”Po, po, puu~!!!”“”

“Ahahahaha! You guys are so cute!”

“…Say, Reis-dono?”

Hm~? What’s wrong, Matilde? Why the worried face! It’s a victory feast, isn’t it? The townspeople have even come outside to celebrate, my kids are enjoying the delicious food, and everyone’s in a good mood, creating a fun atmosphere! The alcohol is delicious, and I’m super satisfied! I’m not going to go all ‘Drink more~!’, but it’s a waste not to have fun, isn’t it?

“W-Well, that’s true, but… That song. The one your subordinates are singing so happily, does it have some meaning?”

“Hm? Nah, nothing like that. They’re ostriches, you know?”

That’s just a rhythm my kids liked and started singing on their own, I guess. The ‘Po-po-puu Song!’ There’s no particular melody or lyrics, they’re just repeating ‘Po, po, puu~!’ It’s just a string of meaningless words, I guess? See those kids dancing mixed in with the townspeople? That group that you can’t tell if they’re flapping their wings to dance or just jumping around. The girl third from the right. That’s the rhythm she suddenly started.

“That’s it! Should we make your name a rhythm too? Yeah, you. Come over here!”

“Unyu? What is it~?”

“From today on, is it okay if your name is ‘Rhythm’? You’re our person in charge of music! Sing a lot!”

“? Sing~!”

“…Is it really okay to decide names like that?”

It’s fine, it’s fine! This one can’t remember her own name anyway! …Well, a long time ago, in the beginning, there was a time when I gave everyone names and called them by them, but none of them could remember their own names. When I was the only one using them, it started to feel like everything was wrong… I felt like I was going crazy, so I stopped. In fact, I was seriously depressed for about two years after that.

“Ah…”

“I remember all the names from that time, and I decided that once these kids can properly remember things about themselves, I’ll name them again. So Rhythm was just a little early~”

“Early! Rijumu! Pom-pom-puu!”

“Yep, cute. I’m gonna pet you all over.”

For us, who can’t retain memories, short, easy-to-remember, and catchy sounds are a great help. Come to think of it, I feel like this one was the source of most of them. Thinking about it that way, ‘Rhythm’ might not be such a strange name. It might be a little too simple, but… I doubt they can remember anything over four characters…

“Po, po, puu~! Po, po, muu~!”

Yeah, it was something like this, wasn’t it? It spread through the flock in an instant, and on the day she started it, we sang this song all day long~. Everyone sang it while we were running and moving, some were even singing it for some reason while hunting, and some were even saying it in their sleep at night. I was really surprised at that time, I thought, ‘Maybe if I make them memorize things with songs, their memories will stick…!’

Well, they all forgot by the next day, though.

Today’s battle. Everyone but the ostriches will probably remember it, but because I was attacked first, those kids went on a rampage. At that time, they had become monsters that wouldn’t stop until they had destroyed everything in their sight. To forcibly bring them back to normal, I used the ‘Po-po-puu Song.’ While hitting all their bodies to give them a shock, I sang the song to distract them. They won’t stop unless I do that much. If other individuals are angry, it seems their anger reignites without even knowing the reason. To stop them all at once, a song is about the only way. During the mating season, these kids dance like the original ostriches for their courtship, so maybe their intelligence related to music is comparatively high.

“Well, something like that, I sang it today and made them remember, so that’s probably why they’re singing it~”

“I-Is that so… I thought it was some kind of post-war ritual… You know, you were doing it near the place where that ‘cleanup’ was finished, right? Covered head-to-toe in blood.”

Ah~, so that’s why the soldiers started staring at my kids with those intense eyes the moment they started singing at the feast. Like, ‘What in the world is about to begin!?’ I guess if you imagine the scene, it could look like a group of cultists trying to summon something terrible… they were covered in blood, after all.

Man~, my bad, my bad. But in the first place, do you really think ostriches have the intelligence to perform such rituals! An ostrich is a creature that completely forgets what happened three seconds ago, you know? Here Matilde, look, look at that one running towards us.

“Oh, in its mouth… is that a plate? It’s running with it in its beak… and it stopped.”

“And then it starts eating, ‘Oshishishi!’ Yep, delicious, huh? Then after looking at me, it starts running towards me at full speed… and stops right away. It repeats this. Matilde, do you know what it’s doing?”

“Wait, could it be…!”

Right, it found some delicious food, so it thinks it’ll give it to me, and comes running over here with the whole plate in its beak. But in the middle of running, it forgets what it was doing and stops. Then, what’s this, it’s holding a delicious-smelling dish in its beak! It tries it and, as expected, it’s super delicious! I have to take this to the leader right away… And so, it’s eternally looping like this.

“So that’s why it would run towards me, then turn back, over and over again…?”

“Exactly, isn’t it silly? That’s what’s so cute about them. Well, it’s a lot of trouble if you have to deal with it all the time, though.”

Only a very small fraction of them can successfully deliver the food to me. Some finish eating it all on the way, leave the plate, and move on to the next place that interests them, or some who aren’t full yet go back to the area where the cooks are. In that cycle, a ‘Ostrich Express’ periodically arrives from where the cooks are. Well, it almost never arrives, though.

“Somehow… that’s amazing.”

“I know, right?”

As I say that, I chug my alcohol. While having a fun chat with Matilde, I saw the face of the merchant Aran-san, coming over while holding a large platter with both hands. As usual, he’s exchanging a few words with the festival participants with that shady look on his face. From an outsider’s perspective, he just looks like an old guy plotting something evil… but Matilde says he’s a trustworthy merchant, so I guess this is what ‘you can’t judge a book by its cover’ means.

As I was thinking that, he seemed to have spotted me and is heading this way. This guy really has a habit of walking while hiding his presence, I’ve got him in my sights but I get the feeling he’s not there… Don’t approach my kids with that, okay? They might get startled and kick you into next week. You don’t want to die in a place like this, do you?

“Ah, there you are!”

“Oh, Aran-dono! Are you feeling better already?”

“Hahaha, embarrassingly enough, not at all. However, there are not many more joyful money-making opportunities than this, so I forced myself to come.”

“Hm? You’re not feeling well? Aran-san.”

As I take the dish he brought me. When I asked him about it, it seems that even though he’s a merchant, he had climbed up on the ramparts and was apparently trying to fight, thinking, ‘I have to do something for this town.’ Hmph~! I thought he was some suspicious guy, but he does things like that, I’m impressed, I’m impressed! Well, but he saw our rampage with his own eyes, and since he didn’t have much of a tolerance for that sort of thing, he collapsed on the spot and had to go to the rear to rest, apparently.

“You’ve got guts~! And sorry about that, okay? My kids just can’t be stopped when they get angry.”

“Tch… N-No. Please don’t mind it. It is thanks to Reis-dono that I am able to conduct business in good health even now…”

“Oh, really? Then, sorry, but could you get me some more alcohol?”

As I say that, I lightly lift the barrel I had been holding with my foot until just now. At first, I was pouring it into a small, cute mug-like cask and drinking, but it got to be a pain doing it bit by bit, so I was just drinking straight from the large barrel~! Because of my bad manners, Matilde-chan gave me a look like she was seeing something incredible, but it’s a drinking party, so please forgive me~!

“Can I get about three more barrels?”

“…Are you serious?” “…Are you serious?”

“Eh, yeah. I can drink it, but…”

Ah, and I’m not talking about three of these small barrels, that’s not the kind of petty thing I mean. This large barrel I’m holding now. Bring me three barrels big enough for a person to fit inside… Oh! If you two want to drink, just say so! I have no intention of hogging it all! My kids don’t drink at all, so… I was thinking I could just drink their share! But if you want some, just say so! I’ll share!

“M-Matilde-sama. I’m just going to check the warehouse, so…”

“You always have my thanks, Aran-dono…”

“This is also part of my job… Well then, you two. Please excuse me for a moment.”

With that, he gives us a bow and quickly returns to the town. Apparently, his company owns a warehouse in the town, and he’s going to bring it from there. While he’s at it, he’s also going to bring supplies? to the cooks, who are currently under a fierce ostrich assault and their front line is beginning to collapse. Two days in a row, thank you for your hard work…!

“May I sit next to you?”

“Hm? Oh~, if it isn’t Amelia-san~. Are you drinking?”

“I’m a lightweight, but… Guardian-sama, please excuse me as well.”

Saying that, the elf Amelia-san sits next to me and partakes of the dish Aran-san brought. Behind her, resting her chin on Amelia’s head, is Dere, humming the ‘Po-po-puu Song’ that’s currently booming among the ostriches. Hmph~, you two have gotten close before I knew it. Dere, are you causing any trouble for Amelia-san? Are you sure?

“I’m fine!”

“I wonder about that?”

“There were a few things, but… well, she’s a dear.”

…De_re? Didn’t I tell you not to cause trouble! As I say that, I grab her by the scruff of her neck and ruffle her face with my wing. Jeez, Dere! Mom’s not playing, she’s angry! It’s not an ‘Ehehe~!’ moment! Amelia-san is laughing and forgiving you, but what kind of trouble did you really cause…? What, is it better if I don’t ask? No, really, that just makes me worry, so it’d be a great help if you’d stop…

I need to ask what Dere did, but I don’t want to. But completely ignoring my feelings, Dere looks at me with a happy face and urges me on with a ‘More!’… Sigh. This is special, okay? Just until Aran-san brings the alcohol.

“So, what’s up, Amelia-san? Do you need something from me? Or from Matilde?”

“Reis, I’d like to ask for a little of your time, later.”

“My time?”

“Yes. I think it’s a great waste to do nothing with all that mana you have.”

Apparently, she intended to tell me much sooner, but when we were in the highlands, it was pretty much a forced march, so there was almost no time to stop and talk slowly. Just when I thought we’d finally arrived in town and could relax, that thing happened early this morning. Talking about magic and mana seems like it would take time, and she just didn’t have the chance. Also, being a mage, it seems she was hired by the army until just now to help with the cleanup. So that’s why she finally came to talk to me at this time.

And what does she mean, cleanup… Ah, I see, you burn them, dig a hole, and purify them so they don’t become undead. That’s pretty heavy labor, so they gather mages and have them work like heavy machinery. Then they call people from the church, have them do various things, and it’s over. I was giving my kids a full-body wash right around that time so I didn’t see, but that’s what was happening~.

“So, what did you mean by ‘a waste’?”

“Mages can usually tell by ‘looking’… and the amount of mana you possess is very large. Everyone has their own aptitudes, but with that much mana, you should be able to easily use magic you don’t even have an aptitude for.”

“…Wait, does that mean I can use ‘magic’ too?”

Probably, she continues. I had no idea at all, but apparently I have a lot of mana. …Could it be that? I’d almost completely forgotten about it recently, but I was reincarnated and came here, so maybe it’s some kind of perk? I’ve only lived a primitive life for the past ten years, but finally, the hallmark of isekai fantasy, magic, is in my hands…!

“So I was wondering if you could give me a little time.”

“Of course! Please, teach me! Oh, is tomorrow morning okay? I’ll be completely free for a few hours then!”

“…You don’t have to look after your children?”

“Hm? …Ah~, come to think of it, I haven’t told you, have I?”

My kids, see, they’re fine during a normal hunt, but when they get angry like today and exert power beyond their physical limits, they’re all unable to move the next morning due to muscle soreness. It heals up in a few hours, but there’s nothing I can do about it. It’ll probably be quite distracting, but… during that time, I won’t have to look after these kids, so I’ll be free.

“…Are you sure it’s okay? You know, with everything.”

“Well, we’ve done this many times over there~. Why don’t you come and see too, Matilde? I think it’s a sight you don’t get to see often. It’s not much fun since it’s just these kids saying ‘it hurts, it hurts’ the whole time, though.”

“Then I shall, for what it’s worth. Besides, I’d like to see Amelia-dono’s instruction as well.”

Apparently, elves are a race that doesn’t often leave their own country. And because that country is on the northern continent, they are a very rare race on this southern continent.

According to Amelia-san, in the past, they used to be complete shut-ins in their country, but recently, compared to the old days, persecution like ‘There’s a weirdo with long ears! Kill him!’ has decreased, so the number of people who go on trips has increased. Well, even so, there aren’t many elves who go all the way to a different continent, so elves are rare around here, it seems.

“Well, there are things like hidden elven villages over here too, and some live settled in towns, but… in this town, Plaque, I’m certainly the only one.”

“Hoh~”

“I hear there is also magic unique to elves. I have made my way with a single spear, so I am ignorant of such things. I would very much like to broaden my horizons. …Besides, a fast horse was sent to the royal capital about the recent invasion, but honestly, until a reply comes, Plaque can do little more than tighten the surrounding security. If Amelia-dono gives her permission, of course.”

The fact that the enemy came to us means a counter-invasion is also possible. We just have to take the same path the enemy took. But if she did that, it would be a complete overreach of her authority. Matilde’s position is ‘Guardian,’ and her duties do not include war with other countries. The military force in this town is 500, and with that number, fighting Nagan, was it? That would be reckless. And while the troops are on the move, what about the town’s defenses, that’s the issue. So what she can do is be on alert, considering the possibility of a second wave. And at most, investigate the path the enemy took and the surrounding area so as not to be taken by surprise. Being a servant of the country is tough, isn’t it, Matilde?

Oh, well, that’s why Matilde seems to want to participate, but is that okay?

“It’s fine, it’s not like I’ll lose anything. But I plan on teaching the Imperial style, not the elven one. The explanation… let’s do it tomorrow. It’s not right to study during a festival.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right! It’s a bit of a shame, but… oh well! Then, you two! Let’s have a drinking contest!”

“Are you trying to kill me?”

“Please, spare me.”

“Aw, too bad.”

◇◆◇◆◇

And so, it’s a refreshing morning after the feast.

“Nnngh,” I stretch my whole body as I stand up. The soldiers under Matilde went out of their way to put up a tent for us, but as expected, the ostriches couldn’t understand how to use a tent. They’d probably come over here if it rained, but basically, they just lie down on the ground and snore away. Even if I teach them various things, they can’t remember them anyway, and maybe they don’t like having their vision blocked, because not many of them go inside.

Well, I can’t really use it much either since it’s pretty scary to let them out of my sight, you know?

That’s why I had it modified in various ways to keep my field of vision open… but in the end, I was the only one who used it.

While loosening the stiffness in my whole body with some stretching, I look around. It’s truly a scene of carnage. The townspeople and soldiers who were making a ruckus with us seem to have gone home, but the cooks who struggled to make food for the ostriches until late at night are collapsed again. They seem to be breathing, so they look fine, but thank you for your hard work…

And near them, also collapsed, is the merchant Aran-san. His food was being plundered one after another by the ostriches, who were very hungry after the battle. No matter how much he brought, it wasn’t enough, and in the end, on the grounds that he could cook a little, he was abducted by the cooks. He was added to the anti-ostrich front and worked to the bone. That’s how he was the whole time after he brought me my alcohol.

He’s not dead, but… Namu Amida Butsu.

“Oops, I forgot about the main event.”

I walk a little and peek into the face of one of my kin lying on the ground.

“Are you okay?”

“I-It hurts… I’m tiiired…”

“Doesn’t look like it~. There, there, pain, pain, go away, okay?”

Muscle soreness, as expected. It would be cruel to touch them too much, so I just offer words of comfort. With an ostrich’s healing power, they’ll be back to normal in a few hours, so just bear with it. I really can’t deal with nearly 300 cases of muscle soreness by myself… I guess I could cool them down, but by the time I prepare enough water from the river for everyone, they’ll all be healed, right? Once you’re better, we’ll all have breakfast together, so just stay still.

“Food? Fo… Gyapih!”

“Ah~, told you so. Just stay still, okay?”

It tried to jump up at the mention of food, but its body was in too much pain to move at all. It will probably forget soon, but I tell it to rest and go to check on the others. Well, as expected, they’re all in a similar state. ‘It hurts, it hurts…’ ‘Why???’ ‘I don’t know…’ is the general feeling. For some reason, when they woke up this morning, their whole bodies were in excruciating pain. That must be scary… I’m sorry for being such a useless mom…

“…Hm? Did I just naturally call myself ‘mom’ just now? …Oh, well.”

I feel really bad for my kids, but this is a long-awaited time when it’s okay to take my eyes off them. Even during the feast, while I was enjoying the alcohol, I never took my eyes off my kids. So I can’t really drink until I’m completely drunk~. Well, I did let loose a little on the first day. Anyway, I think I’ll go and take that magic lesson!

“Ah, Amelia-sa~n. Over here, over here~!”

“Morning, Reis. Any leftover alcohol?”

“No~pe, not a single drop.”

She drank that much… I ignore her comment and look at her. Maybe because I made her come so early in the morning against her will, her hair is a bit of a mess. Well, compared to that, we’re basically naked every day. So that much is, you know? Never mind the idiots in the flock, but I’m the one who came to a civilized area. So I could ask them to prepare clothes for me… but maybe because I haven’t worn anything for ten years in the highlands, it just feels weird. I’ve given up and decided to walk the path of the nudist. How sad.

Besides, if I started wearing clothes, my kids would probably want them too… Just think about it. Helping 300 people get dressed every morning? And they’d definitely run off in the middle of getting changed. Or rather, they might not even be able to understand the concept of clothes. The moment it’s mistaken for a toy or something, it would definitely be turned into a tattered rag.

Well, for that reason, we’ll probably stay like this until some kind of necessity arises. Compared to that, messy hair is a cute little thing.

“Still, what a scene of carnage… The cooks, that suspicious merchant, they’re all collapsed, and you guys are shivering for some reason…”

“Ahaha… Oh, right. Where’s Matilde?”

“She should be here soon. I met her on the way, and I asked her for ‘something.’ It was bothering me a little during yesterday’s work.”

As we’re talking about that, speak of the devil. I can see Matilde-san running from the direction of the town. Is she always conscious of being on the battlefield? She’s in her armor again today. I mean, she’s always wearing armor, isn’t it heavy? She was like this during the feast too… Well, if it’s not bothering her, it’s fine. If you don’t have any casual clothes, should I give you some of my feathers? I can’t give you that many, and it would probably only cover the important parts, though.

Clanking and clattering with a loud noise. Though inferior to an ostrich, she runs at a considerable speed. In her hand, something yellow was gripped. …For some reason, it’s an object I feel like I’ve seen before.

“Sorry to keep you waiting! Reis-dono, Amelia-dono, did you sleep well?”

“Perfectly!”

“Not so much for me.”

The party members were still sleeping, Amelia-san continues. Sorry for making you cut into your precious sleep~! When we’re done, you can ruffle Dere’s cheeks all you want. …What, you’ll do it on your own without my permission? I see, how clever. It’s true that as long as Dere doesn’t seem to mind, I won’t say anything…! It’s the perfect crime! Then as a co-conspirator, Amelia-san. I’d like to make an employment contract with you as Dere-chan’s exclusive keeper, how about we hash out the contract details now?

“Fine by me, but we’ll run out of time for magic. It’s a rare opportunity, isn’t it?”

“True!”

“Then let’s start right away, from the basics.”

Matilde and I exchange glances and nod. I sit cross-legged on the ground, ready to listen. The magic lecture begins.

“First, ‘magic’ is the act of consuming the mana that all living creatures possess to affect the world. Like this… creating water, or rapidly growing a plant from a seed. Magic is what allows you to do things that are normally impossible.”

As she says this, she opens her left hand and creates a sphere of water. Then she takes out a small seed from her pocket and throws it into the water sphere. The moment she chants some words, the seed sprouts and begins to grow rapidly. While we are marveling at the sight, Amelia-san casually tosses it to the ground, and a small tree immediately sprouts from the ground. I can’t help but cheer and clap. …Since I have wings instead of hands, is it a wing-clap? How do you even read that…? Oh well. Anyway, amazing!

““Ooooh!””

“By the way, this is magic unique to elves. …Now, you need two things to handle magic, ‘mana’ and ‘aptitude.’ But this area is a bit difficult to explain… I taught my apprentice like ‘this’ in the past, so. Let’s use a shop as an example.”

…Ah, is this explanation going to be super long? Then I’ll try my best to change my voice… Ahem! (CV Amelia) I’ll explain.

When we want to use magic, we need to go shopping at the ‘Magic Shop.’ The payment is a currency called mana, but… unfortunately, the size and shape of this ‘currency’ varies from person to person, and you won’t know if you can use it until you actually bring it to the ‘Magic Shop’ and have the shopkeeper take a look.

The reason for this is that the ‘Magic Shop’ owner doesn’t make the magic all by himself, but orders it from craftsmen of each attribute and delivers it to us.

Well, they’re a middleman. The fire attribute craftsman loves this shape, the water craftsman hates this size of currency, and so on. If you pile up enough currency, any craftsman will take the job, but… well, I don’t recommend it. They’ll rip you off to an unbelievable degree.

“By the way, I’m good with ‘plants,’ ‘water,’ and maybe ‘earth.’ I have an aptitude for ‘fire,’ which I used to dispose of the bodies yesterday, and ‘lightning,’ which I was planning to talk about later, but their fuel efficiency isn’t very good.”

“Hoh~, by the way, how do you know what your aptitude is?”

“Guts. You just try everything.”

“Eeeh…”

You can get your aptitude checked at a church, but in a remote town like this, there are no clerics who can do that. The quickest way is to study under someone and try out all the magic they know to find out. …Oh, Guardian-sama. I’m not dissing Plaque. It’s an objective fact.

“I can understand that, but, it hits you in the heart, you know. I want to try and develop it a little more, though…”

Let’s get back on topic.

So, once you find the attribute that suits you, you place an order. You need to explain to the magic shop owner ‘I want this kind of magic.’ This explanation is the ‘chant’ or ‘incantation.’ When I used magic earlier, I was muttering something, right? I placed an order like that, paid the price with mana, and used the magic.

There are really a lot of ways to place this order, and each has its own merits and demerits, so you have to find what works for you… For now, I’ll teach Reis the Imperial style of chanting. You put mana into the process of vocalization and declare it to the world. You chant with that image in mind.

“This is actually the easiest way. The Empire, which at first only had a territory shaped like a long, thin shoe-like peninsula, its growth into such a powerful nation is probably also influenced by this chanting method. It’s simple, yet powerful, and can be arranged by individuals. Honestly, compared to the fossil-level elven chanting or runes and other incantations, the Imperial style is by far the best. I only use this one myself these days.”

“Hoh… (Somehow, every time I hear about it, the Empire sounds like a crazy country).”

“Mmm, I’ve even had a history lesson. It’s good to hear from our predecessors after all.”

So, let’s get right to chanting… is what I’d like to say, but. Reis? This is just a guess, but.

“Eh? Ah, yeah. What is it?”

“Did I tell you that you have an amount of mana that makes me doubt my eyes? Well, you have that enormous amount of mana. If you use magic without any countermeasures, there’s no telling what will happen. In the worst case, this whole town will be blown away.”

“…Seriously?”

“Seriously. It could become a case of ‘That was not a Great Explosion… it was a Mini Fireball!’ Well, if you want that, I don’t mind. …What was that reference from again?”

“N-Not good at all! You won’t do it, you won’t do it, right, Reis-dono!”

So, the first thing you should learn is mana control, okay? If you master this, you won’t have to worry about misfires blowing everything up, and if you use it well, you can even aim for an increase in physical abilities. You circulate mana at high speed to enhance your body’s performance.

I had a disciple who was a monster-level prodigy, and at an age where she couldn’t even swing a sword properly, she learned mana control and was pulling out the pillars of her house. With your amount of mana, you might be able to do even more, don’t you think? It’s like adding on to your original abilities, so this alone should be a significant enhancement.

“…Still, that brings back memories. Being buried under rubble and almost dying. I never want to have an experience like that again. …So, I’m going to teach you the knack and everything from now on. So do your best.”

If you can control your mana, you should be able to control the amount of mana you use when casting magic. In other words, you should be able to avoid the kind of accident I just mentioned and lead a convenient magic life. Also, this is just a hunch. But I think you’re the same type as my disciple. Once you get the hang of it, you should be able to do it right away.

◇◆◇◆◇

“U-Ugh-gh-gh-gh-gh! Wh-What is this! Hey, Amelia-san! Is this thing supposed to be this hard to move!”

“…Maybe your mana is too big. I thought it would be a little more, you know, manageable.”

After Amelia-san taught me the image of mana, the knack for moving it, and various other things, I’m trying it out in practice… but it’s not going well at all. I’ve been trying my best for about 30 minutes with my face bright red, but with no results at all. According to Amelia-sensei, there is some kind of moving force acting on the writhing mana in my body… so it seems I’m not a ‘poor child’ with no talent. However, probably because of the sheer size of my own mana, it doesn’t seem to move at all.

“It’s like, you know, a shoulder that has become so stiff after being neglected for years that it’s hopeless. A stiff shoulder that doesn’t improve at all even if you hit it with a pickaxe. But yours is… It looks harder than the shoulder of an elf who was trapped in a large tree after it grew around them while they were asleep for about 300 years.”

“Wh-What is that?”

Uh, that’s a long-lived race joke, right? …What? It’s an incident that happens so frequently it’s become a social problem for elves? Because they fall asleep for hundreds of years like animals hibernating, when they’re clearing the forest, they excavate dried-up elves? And they revive when you pour water on them? What is that creature. Ostriches are crazy, but elves have some pretty crazy specs too…

“Well, the force seems to be acting on it, and the force you’re applying is getting bigger, little by little. You were able to grasp the existence of mana right away… so if you keep at it, you should be able to do it, don’t you think?”

“H-How long…?”

“Let’s see… about ten years?”

Hey, the standards of a long-lived race! This is pretty tough, you know!? It feels like my past-life human self is pushing a reinforced concrete building inside my body! Th-This is pretty tough!

“Still, I wonder why your mana has increased so much. I feel like it’s clearly beyond the scope of a living creature.”

“…Is Reis-dono’s mana really that much?”

“Well, maybe more than the demon king that appears in fairy tales? Well, I’ve never seen one, but. …Reis, you don’t have to say if you don’t want to, but have you ever, by any chance, wandered the brink of death?”

The brink of death? …Could it be that? The brain explosion parade the moment I remembered my memories. The period when the ostrich brain couldn’t withstand the amount of information from my past life and repeatedly exploded and regenerated. Was it half a year? There was a time when I was bedridden~. In a sense, that might have been the moment I was wandering between life and death. Normally, you’d die if your brain exploded.

“That face. So you have. …It’s a very rare case, but it seems that sometimes mana increases rapidly due to super-regeneration after a near-death experience. You probably have that kind of constitution, Reis.”

Because of that, my body has become one with a disgustingly large amount of mana, Amelia-san continues. I see… Wait, am I that disgusting? That’s quite a shock… I mean, I have become able to perceive mana, you know. But it seems I still haven’t been able to fully grasp all of it within my body… This is going to be a long road.

Still, that period when I was bedridden. The pain of my brain exploding was just agony because I was fully conscious, but if there was a benefit like that, then I guess it was good? It’s thanks to the explosions that I have my current intelligence. Both my mana and my intelligence are thanks to the amazing ostrich regenerative ability! …Wait, now that I think about it, isn’t my regenerative ability weird? Even for an ostrich, you’d die if your brain exploded, right? Why am I alive? Is there some kind of boost going on? I-I don’t know…! No, if I think about this too much, it’s just going to get scarier! I am Ostrich! Confident in my ability to forget! Forget! Forget it~!

“I forghot. I wanna drink miso soup.”

“…What are you talking about. Oh well, then Reis. I’m going to talk about something different now, but keep up the ‘mana control’ while you listen, okay? If you think about using it in battle, you have to be able to do it like breathing.”

“I-I’ll do my best…”

“Mmm. Do your best, young one. Then, Guardian-sama. Could you pass me what I asked for?”

As she says that, the yellow egg-shaped object that Matilde had brought earlier is handed over. …Ah, I remember! This is the thing the people from the Nagan country who attacked yesterday had! My kids trampled them pretty thoroughly, but it’s amazing one remained in such good condition… The people who had this were all equipped with something like a mage’s staff, so could it be a magic tool?

“Correct. I was curious about it during the ‘cleanup’ too… but this is really something.”

“In what way?”

“There’s a restriction that it can only be used for lightning magic, but even those without an aptitude can use lightning magic with a small consumption of mana, and the power seems to be amplified as well. If you put this up for auction, you could probably buy a small house.”

She calmly investigates the effects while passing mana through the magic tool. Perhaps because I’ve become able to perceive ‘mana,’ I’ve come to see her skill level right in front of me. While I’m doing some kind of ostrich-like operation, forcing it to move with brute force while groaning ‘Ugh-gh-gh!’, Amelia-san’s control is, how should I put it, very fine. The mana flowing from her fingertips to the magic tool is as thin and shining as a silk thread.

“Judging from their equipment, they are clearly Nagan’s regular soldiers. …Is Nagan that advanced?”

“I’d say so. Also… this. It seems to have a ‘penetration’ effect on all attacks. The power amplification is one thing, but this might be the most vicious part.”

“What! ‘Penetration’ you say!”

Eh, what? Is it that surprising? Could it be that ‘penetration’ is a really bad thing? I mean, I can kind of tell from Matilde’s face… I got hit with a lot of those attacks all over my body. And I was completely fine… It didn’t hurt at all, and I’m perfectly fine now. I think if it was just that level of power, even my kids would have just felt a little tingly. Let’s see, in terms of feeling… a little weaker than a shocking pen?

“…Normally, I think you’d be pierced by lightning and burned to a crisp.”

“Your tone is slipping, Guardian-sama. These children are an ‘exception.’ If you worry about it, you lose. Their fundamental make-up is probably different, and they can nullify it with the feathers on their whole body, right? Now then, we were talking about the ‘penetration’ effect.”

Now that she mentions it, I remember that electricity itself has a bad compatibility with metal, with iron. I don’t know the details, but when the opponent is wearing iron equipment, unless it’s a very powerful magic, the electricity gets dispersed and doesn’t do proper damage.

So, in this world where iron armor is common, the evaluation of lightning magic’s anti-personnel performance was apparently incredibly low.

But, there was someone who turned that around.

“One of the Empire’s Special War Potentials, ‘Henrietta Maniscala Custos Apulia’… It’s long, so ‘Hen-chan.’”

Apparently, this person named Henri developed a method to give lightning magic a ‘penetration’ effect, ignoring damage mitigation from metal. And then she went on to develop a horribly vicious magic that chains to ‘opponents with metal’ nearby, with ‘zero power decay.’ Having created that at the tender age of twelve, she went to the battlefield skipping, annihilated about 20,000 enemy soldiers, and then elegantly returned home. Well, in short, the power of this magic tool is reduced accordingly, but it seems it was a monster of a magic tool that could replicate a minimum-level Special War Potential.

“Her great achievement has reached the Heed Kingdom as well. To think they could make a magic tool out of something that was said to be impossible to replicate due to the complexity of the chant and so on…”

“Hen-chan’s magic had an unlimited number of chains, but this magic tool can manage three at best. Its power is also cute compared to hers. But against ordinary soldiers, it would be hopeless. The circuit arrangement seems to allow for a grand magic that concentrates the power of many at one point… I’m glad Reis and her group were the ones to face them.”

“Right~? The ostriches are amazing! …Well, I can’t move my mana at all, though.”

Still, I see… So there are people that crazy in this world. I thought the highlands were crazy in their own way, but human society seems to be having its own troubles. Especially that country, the ‘Empire.’ It’s probably an absolutely insane superpower. If I ever have to deal with them, I’ll make sure not to be hostile. Lock the doors, lock the doors…

“And Amelia-dono, if I recall correctly, Henrietta is a great noble representing the Empire, and in effect, the No. 2 Archduchess… why do you call her ‘Hen-chan’?”

“Hm? Oh, I used to be her teacher. She was my first disciple, and Reis is my second.”

“Eh!?”

Matilde-san shows me the most surprised face I’ve seen today. Judging from her face… wait, did she just say No. 2 of the Empire? The second in command of the presumed superpower, the Empire??? …Amelia-san, sorry to Matilde, but you’re not in a position to be an adventurer in a remote place like this, are you? In fact, you’re absolutely not supposed to come to the ‘Highlands’!

“You think so? It was almost 40 years ago… Hen-chan is a grandma with grandchildren, you know? The last letter I got had a picture of her grandchild in it. Besides, I was only her teacher for a few years. I’d spent nearly four-digit years training in magic, and she surpassed me in about half a year… I might not have been a proper teacher.”

…What is that crazy level of genius. Four-digit years in half a year? A monster???

“Reis-dono. Such an out-of-the-ordinary existence is what they call a ‘Special War Potential.’ They are beings about whom you think, ‘Ah, we live in different worlds, or rather, we’re not the same species, they’re just monsters.’”

H-Hoh…

“By the way, that includes you guys, you know?”

“Ah, yes.”

◇◆◇◆◇

Hello. This is Reis.

It was a name I decided on a whim, but it’s starting to feel right. A name to represent an individual is important, after all. In this human society where conversations with others are possible, there’s probably nothing more necessary and convenient. Everyone calls me by my name, and I don’t have to go out of my way to choose my words when introducing myself. It’s a pain to have to explain that ostriches don’t have a culture of naming because they can’t remember names.

I don’t know if it’s because of the victory festival or because my kids are cute (definitely the latter), but lately, my interactions with the ordinary citizens of the town have been increasing bit by bit. Someone would bring me sweets they made, asking if I want to eat them, or the neighborhood kids would come up to me and say, ‘Let’s race~’. Stuff like that.

The ostriches also warm up to anyone who gives them food, and they’re all kids who will play along if you play with them. Well, no matter how many times we meet, it’s always ‘Nice to meet you’ for them, though…

Is it a racial trait of ostrich beast-kin? The fact that they’re basically carefree until attacked is having a good effect. Matilde and the soldiers seem to be telling the citizens over and over, ‘Don’t attack them!’ Well, sometimes there’s a kid who tilts their head while looking at a human and says ‘Food?’, but… ah, that’s a secret.

That’s why, all the more reason. It’d be nice if they could at least remember their own names, you know? Even Dere doesn’t seem to remember yet…

Well, it’s an environment with many times more stimulation than when we were in the highlands. I guess I’ll wait patiently. When you’re able to remember, let’s all think of our own names together~. For those who mother hasn’t named yet, I’ll rack my brain and think of a good name for you.

As I think that, I kick the ground. It’s been about two weeks since we arrived in Plaque. Just as we’ve probably gotten used to life in human society, what are we doing? Hunting, of course. No matter how much we’ve come to a civilized society, our roots are ‘Hunt-y!’, so it can’t be helped.

I leap high, aiming for the prey’s skull. A light swing of my leg shatters it in an instant, and the wyvern slowly falls to the ground. Is it called a flying dragon? Something like that.

“It’s falling~, get out of the way~!”

““”Run away~!!!”“”

The wyvern I took down is in a natural freefall, and I give instructions to the ostriches at the landing point to get out of the way. If I leave them alone for too long, they’ll keep running endlessly, so I’ll give a signal to regroup on the way, okay?

We are currently in the monster habitat outside the town, at a wyvern nest that was discovered there. Yes, as I said before, we’ve come here to hunt for food. At first, as a thank you for repelling the army of that Nagan Kingdom or whatever, Matilde had been supporting us with various things like food and providing a place to live outside the town, but…

‘What’s wrong, Matilde, calling me out all of a sudden.’

‘I-I’m sorry. Reis-dono……… there’s no more food.’

‘…Srsly?’

Apparently, my little ostriches have eaten up all of the town’s stores. The merchant Aran-san had stored a large amount of food in his warehouse ‘just in case,’ enough to feed 5,000 people for several weeks, but my kids ate it all in less than two weeks. Well, people other than the ostriches, like the soldiers and citizens, probably ate some during the victory festival, but it seems we consumed most of it. W-Well, you know? My kids are big eaters, after all. Aha~!

By the way, they say they found Aran-san collapsed in the empty warehouse yesterday, without a single grain of wheat left. Poor guy.

Both Matilde and Aran-san seemed to understand that my kids’ eating speed was on another dimension, and they had been working at a fever pitch to transport food from other cities to deal with it… but it seems we devoured it faster than that. At this rate, the people living in the town will run out of food, and there’s a possibility that we’ll go on a rampage from hunger and ‘eat them.’ Therefore, we’ve returned to our original ecosystem of hunting monsters to fill our own bellies.

We had been doing our daily walks, or rather, runs, but there were some individuals whose bodies had gotten dull. Look here, the belly of this one, who’s the biggest glutton in the flock. It’s not that bulging, but it has the elasticity of mochi. It’s so squishy I want to make it an Ostrich National Treasure instead of a Human National Treasure. It’s a waste, but for the sake of your health, let’s get moving and slim down~!

Well, the purpose isn’t just a simple food search, though.

“You can kill them, but don’t eat them right away, okay~?”

“No~?”

“Don’t eat~!”

“Food!”

I said don’t eat it!

I grab the individual who was about to eat while saying ‘Food!’ by the scruff of the neck with my wing and forcibly stop them. You can eat after the trio of adventurers and the soldiers who came with us have collected the materials!

You guys probably won’t understand even if I tell you, but monster materials can be turned into money, the more you have. To save the finances of Plaque, which is in a financial crisis due to buying up food, just be patient for a little while! Otherwise, you’ll never be able to eat delicious food again!

“No! No! I wanna eat food!”

“Yes, yes, if you understand, then be a good kid and wait. Then you can eat as much as you want, okay~”

“…Okay!”

“Yes, a good answer.”

I proceed with the hunt while pacifying my child like that.

Wyverns, as their name ‘flying dragon’ suggests, are each quite large. The part for flying, their wings, or rather, the inedible membrane part is large, but the torso is quite thick. About the size of a large barrel? Thanks to the surprise attack on the nest, there were no escapees. We should be able to process a good number of them, and my kids will get their fill.

…Still, the monsters here are weak. If I just look around for a bit, the scene of wyverns trying to take to the sky being shot down by my kids unfolds. They’re supposed to be monsters that rule the sky, yet they’re being taken down by ostriches that jumped from the ground. I wonder how that feels.

The wyverns’ strength is weak, and by our ‘Highland’ standards, their reaction speed is so slow it makes you yawn. Most of them have their necks cut before they can even take off. And even if they’re lucky enough to get into the air, their ascent speed is completely lacking. No matter how hard they try, it’s only to the extent that a kid from the flock can jump high and score an overhead kick on their skull.

And goal into the ground! One point for Team Ostrich! But since no one can remember the score, the match is still 0 to 0! The scoreboard is completely blank!

And so, we’re in the middle of a rampage like this. In the highlands, if you jumped into the air, it was common to be slammed into the ground by something and explode into pieces… There was no safe place, not in the sky, not on the ground, not even underground. But now, it’s safe and sound to just gaze at the sky and take a nap. There are no enemies on the level where you’d be annihilated if you didn’t escape immediately, and there are no strange sounds coming from the ground. It was a daily occurrence to think ‘This is bad!’ and start running, only to look back and see the place you were just at was in the mouth of an earth dragon~!

“Matilde~! For now, all the ones in sight have been annihilated, I don’t see any enemy shadows nearby, so I’m going to take the kids for a run to distract them until the work is done.”

“Understood, we will now begin collecting the materials! Everyone, begin your work!”

At her command, the soldiers start moving as if they’ve been shot from a cannon. Maybe because they’re soldiers stationed in a town adjacent to a monster habitat, they’re extremely efficient. It’s mesmerizing to watch. Aaalright, then you all, let’s go for a little run…

“Yummy.”

“Is it good?”

“Yeah!”

“…You there?”

““Pyah!””

You’ve got some nerve, starting to eat behind my back, you? It’s not right to start eating before the rest of the flock, while they’re being patient, is it? Now, if you understand, then come with me for a little run! You’ve been getting nothing but nutritious food lately! If you don’t move, you’ll get fat! Come on, running! Let’s go~!

““”Okay~!!!”“”

◇◆◇◆◇

“I’m hungry!”

“Hungry!”

“Okay!?”

“Yeah. It’s fine, go ahead and eat.”

““”Yaaay!!!”“”

Phew. After running around aimlessly and waiting for the material collection to be completed. Having received the go-ahead from Matilde-san, we charge into the pile of wyverns. Well, I’ll be veering off to the side, though? You guys can eat at your leisure, but the leader of the flock has to have conversations with the higher-ups. So you don’t need to bring me any delicious parts, okay? Eat as you please.

“Reis-dono, my apologies for making your subordinates wait.”

“It’s fine, we’re the ones who ate up all the food~. …So? How’s it looking?”

“We haven’t been able to assess it fully yet, but I think it will fetch a good price. We were also able to secure several eggs unharmed… If they’re fertilized, they can be sold as riding drakes. Well, we could also keep them for Plaque’s defense. Unfertilized eggs are good boiled or fried. They’ll probably be on the menu for dinner.”

Hoh~, you can do that.

Apparently, wyverns can be raised as livestock for humans to ride, depending on their training. It’s that, you know, a dragon rider. How fantasy-like. I have a feeling it’d be faster to run myself, but I want to try riding one. …Still, I’m glad it seems like it’ll make some money. Honestly, seeing Matilde’s pale face yesterday as she said ‘We have no food, and we’re running out of funds to procure it’ pulverized me with guilt. I was eating without a care in the world too… I was about to think of going back to the highlands to hunt something.

“Hahaha, my apologies. It’s off-season for harvests, and we suddenly started seeking food, so there are many who are trying to rip us off. Aran-dono is doing his best to negotiate, but… the expenses are inevitably large.”

The provisions Nagan brought, the equipment they collected, and so on. They were also selling things that weren’t needed as evidence of the invasion after ‘laundering’ them so their origins couldn’t be traced… but that wasn’t going very well either, apparently. Well, in the first place, the Heed Kingdom is currently ‘not in a state of war with anyone,’ so it probably can’t be helped.

“Our policy is basically exclusive defense. Our territory and human resources are small compared to the surrounding countries. We don’t have the stamina to invade somewhere and seize territory. Therefore, there are few who would buy new arms and armor. …If the Nagan Kingdom had formally declared war, the market might have moved a little more.”

There’s been no word from the country, and it’s been almost two weeks since the Nagan Kingdom invaded Plaque. With this much time, a fast horse from the royal capital should have arrived. The fact that no messenger with a ‘declaration of war’ has come means that the recent incident was indeed a surprise attack, she states.

“…Somehow, court service seems tough.”

“Well, it has many advantages. It’s a vulgar way of putting it, but the money you can move freely increases quite a bit. How about it, Reis-dono? If your recent achievements are truly recognized, you’ll be a baron, no, a viscount for sure.”

“Spare me. Besides, I’ve got my hands full taking care of these kids.”

Yes, these kids are really all I need. It’s already so much work, and considering the breeding speed of ostriches, they’ll probably increase even more from now on. The trouble will probably increase along with them, so even if I were to receive a peerage, I probably couldn’t handle the work of a ‘noble-sama.’ Rather than receiving a title I don’t even need, I’d rather receive food so my kids don’t starve. A flock leader who lets everyone get hungry and sad, or go on a rampage, is a failure, you know. ♡

So I think an environment like this, where it’s safe and we can eat delicious human-cooked food, and where we’re thanked for hunting monsters and defeating enemies like today, is the best.

But it’s precisely because it’s such a safe place that the flock will probably keep growing.

Well. For now, let’s pray for the birth of another intelligent ostrich besides me. Sincerely. Otherwise, I’ll have to deal with an ever-accelerating number of idiots. I intend to do my best until I reach my limit, but there is a limit, you know? Really.

“Well, but… I’ll leave the complicated stuff to the future me.”

For now, it’s about what’s right in front of me. Starting with what to do about today’s meal.

“…Oh, by the way, Matilde. It’s been two weeks since that surprise attack, so hasn’t the letter reached the royal capital by now?”

“Ah. We sent out multiple messengers in case of an unforeseen accident, so it should have arrived no matter how delayed it was. Our wise Majesty will likely not launch a retaliatory war against Nagan, but…”

◇◆◇◆◇

“…Chancellor.”

“Here, Your Majesty the Queen.”

The scene changes, to the royal capital of the Heed Kingdom. A city with a name that an ostrich could never remember, ‘Garutaiba.’ In the royal castle at its center, a man and a woman were exchanging words.

The woman, called Her Majesty the Queen. No, a girl who should be called as such, sits on a throne that doesn’t suit her small stature, a grave expression on her face. However, that can’t be helped. Just the other day, an invitation for a non-aggression pact and military alliance suddenly came from the Nagan Kingdom. And it was from that man who had climbed so high with mere strategy, while many ‘Special War Potentials’ made a name for themselves with their brute strength and unique abilities. From the ‘Strategist’ himself.

This situation, where Her Majesty has deliberately dismissed everyone and is speaking to me. Including the fact that the alliance was concluded just the other day, it must be about that matter.

The high-ranking vassals of the Heed Kingdom, and the chancellor kneeling here now, all understood. The Nagan Kingdom’s movements were clearly too sudden. There was definitely some ulterior motive hidden. However, the Heed Kingdom had already lost any choice but to accept the conditions he presented. And, even with all the knowledge the chancellor possessed, it was a situation where he would judge that refusing this alliance would be more disadvantageous. Even though almost everyone understood that ‘there is clearly something going on,’ there was no choice but to accept.

At first, not everyone was favorable towards Nagan. And that’s to be expected. After all, they treated us as a potential enemy nation. The number of soldiers on the border, and their diplomatic attitude until now. It was clearly a situation where things could start at any moment.

For that reason, the Heed Kingdom side had also pulled soldiers from the mainland and was strengthening the defenses of the border line. In the royal court, and among the nobles scattered throughout the land, the impression of them was by no means good. …However, ever since that existence called the ‘Strategist’ came to the royal capital, everything changed.

By the time the chancellor noticed, those around him had been won over. At first, they were skeptical of even signing a non-aggression pact, let alone a military alliance, but before he knew it, everyone had started to hold favorable opinions. And just before their thinking changed, everyone had had the opportunity for a meeting with that ‘Strategist.’ The chancellor, who had led the country as the right hand of the country’s queen, conducted all the investigation he could think of. He investigated everything, whether they had been magically brainwashed, whether they had fallen into a status abnormality like ‘Charm.’

However, the results came up with nothing. The pile of investigation reports all said, ‘Normal.’ When he looked into it, everything was clean, and he understood that everyone’s opinions had been changed by ‘simple persuasion’ alone.

And finally, it was his turn. The chancellor’s turn had come. He had bought time by making excuses of being busy due to his position as an advisor to the still-young Majesty, and also his advanced age… but that was no longer possible. In the end, without finding any fault in his opponent, the Strategist, or any countermeasures against him, the chancellor had to face the meeting.

And…

When that meeting was over, the chancellor was struck with an unbelievable amount of fear. His negative feelings towards Nagan had been almost completely dispelled, and he felt a sense of friendship towards the ‘Strategist,’ as if they had been friends for several years. In just a few hours of conversation, he had fallen into such a state. When he realized that fact, the chancellor knew he had made a mistake. That he should not have met with the Strategist in the first place.

For the first time, the chancellor was made to understand the terror of a ‘Special War Potential,’ a ‘monster’ not present in Heed.

Before he knew it, there was nothing he could do, and with the young Majesty simply stating “Umu,” a military alliance with Nagan was to be concluded.

The fact that it was a treaty advantageous to the Heed Kingdom side also probably pushed the conclusion forward. The contents, aside from helping each other in times of war, of course, were the transfer of Nagan’s prized ‘communication’ related magic tools, and the regular supply of refined mithril to their side. The priority purchase rights for weapons and armor made with mithril were to be given to the Nagan Kingdom, the Strategist’s country, but even considering that, it was a very large merit. Considering the difference in national power, the alliance should have been advantageous to the Nagan side, yet they were coming in with a humble attitude. There was no way they could refuse these terms.

And then, after the alliance was safely concluded. As if it had been known from the beginning that this would happen, notifications of the alliance’s conclusion were sent to various countries at an unbelievable speed. It was supposed to have been concluded only a few days ago, yet expressions of ‘regret’ regarding the alliance were already flying in from neighboring countries. ‘It should have taken about a month for the notification to get through,’ they thought.

(Her Majesty is young, but she is a very wise person. This alliance, how to break it, or how to deal with movements from Nagan. She may already have some idea. …I must not miss a single word.)

With that thought, the chancellor stares intently at the queen’s lips. With eyes that seem to see through everything, and an aura befitting a king who leads the people. The mouth of Her Majesty the Queen, who, though young, has implemented numerous policies and gained national profit, now. Opens.

“I want pudding for today’s snack.”

“…………Shall we make it à la mode?”

“Un.”

“As you wish. Then I shall arrange a generous portion of seasonal fruits on a plate… wait!”

“You fell for it, Jiiya.”

“Your Majesty…”

Not the face of a king from just a moment ago, but with a smile befitting her age, the queen speaks to the chancellor with the name she used before she was king. It’s the same face as when, back when His Majesty the late King and Her Highness the Queen were still in good health, she, as the only princess, used to call the chancellor ‘Jiiya.’

…Ah, I’ve fallen for ‘Her Highness’s’ prank again.

“Yes, you had a very terrible look on your face. So I couldn’t help it.”

“My apologies.”

“It’s fine… Besides, I don’t think this alliance is a bad thing. It was certainly sudden, but…”

‘He’ was in a hurry. So Her Majesty continues.

As she says that and laughs, the chancellor feels that Her Majesty’s face is now exactly the same as the late Majesty’s. No, he feels she is clad in an even greater aura. The unique aura that only those who stand above the country as a king possess. Her Majesty, though young, has already acquired it and seems to be gradually developing it. Normally, if a king is a young ruler, the hearts of the people and the vassals will drift away. A ‘normal’ child should not possess the ability to govern, and no matter how much authority they have, they are still just a child.

However, Her Majesty, the Queen of the Heed Kingdom, is different.

Immediately after her accession, there was a rebellion by fools who did not know Her Majesty’s power, but since then, nothing of the sort has ever happened again.

An existence that was born to be king. She was born with the aura and abilities to prove it. However, the man called the chancellor can’t help but think. If Her Majesty had not died in the previous war, if Her Highness the Queen had not fallen ill and died from a broken heart because of it, would she still be a child like in the old days? Would she have been able to play like other children, and slowly deepen her learning?

The chancellor had been worrying about that ever since that day.

“You’re distracted, Chancellor.”

“…! My apologies.”

“It’s fine, let’s get back to the topic. Yes. He was very much in a hurry, in a way that seemed to be frightened of something.”

What would frighten ‘him’ to the point of concluding an alliance with our Heed? Let’s think simply, Her Majesty continues.

The chancellor follows the queen’s words and lets his thoughts wander. Thinking simply, the most reasonable explanation would be to conclude an alliance to solidify the eastern defenses, as the ‘Strategist’ explained. In fact, the Nagan Kingdom has two other neighboring countries besides the Heed Kingdom, and both possess threatening existences. The Nagan Kingdom holds a card that could be called the best in terms of setting the stage, the ‘Strategist,’ but they do not have a ‘Special War Potential’ that could turn that prepared stage upside down in one go. In contrast, Nagan’s two neighboring countries both have ‘those who can turn things upside down.’ Considering this, the reason the Strategist explained is not wrong.

“When Nagan was at war with the Tram Republic, the ‘Immortal’ Special War Potential, we and the other Rima Union had a temporary non-aggression pact. Isn’t this the same as that? I remember that at that time, we were also in a defensive war, and we had no choice but to conclude the treaty.”

“That’s right, that’s the most likely scenario. But… in that case, there’s no way the ‘Strategist’ would come himself.”

If Nagan were to face a Special War Potential, Nagan would have no chance of winning unless they also brought out their Special War Potential, the ‘Strategist.’ If they were to fight somewhere, or if somewhere were to attack them, it would be strange for him to be here, the queen thinks.

“So, the thing the ‘Strategist’ is afraid of is in this country. …Well, maybe because I realized that midway through, he quickly changed his policy.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. A ‘Special War Potential’ after all. I can’t win with just cleverness. There were probably other factors and objectives as well. …But you know? ‘Since they were the ones who suddenly asked, the first time. That request to join the war cannot be refused.’ That’s how it goes.”

The smile on Her Majesty’s face, her aura, grows even deeper.

“That’s all I need. With the military alliance with Nagan, and the ‘Strategist’s’ cunning… I can avenge my father.”

“Th-That is…”

“Finally, finally, you know!? Compared to other countries, we’re small and have no Special War Potential, so we’d just be toyed with and finished! That’s why we’re offering up most of the country to receive the Empire’s support! Monster materials, our meager gold mines, we gave it all up for just a bit of aid! A light aid just enough so other countries won’t attack us! I want to take his head right now! My father’s revenge!!! …Aha, finally. I can finally see it…!”

Her Majesty the Queen lost her father, the previous king, in a war. And due to the heartbreak of losing her beloved husband, her mother also passed away. And the one who killed that late king was one of the Special War Potentials. An opponent that could not be defeated even with the full might of the country, which is why she has lived on, enduring until now. Seeking even the slightest possibility of killing ‘him.’ And now, it is all coming together.

The chancellor does not know what to say to her. What he can say to Her Majesty, who adores him as ‘Jiiya.’ Overwhelmed by what could be called her obsession, he cannot send any words to the existence that could be called his ‘daughter,’ who is smiling with an expression that is somewhere even ecstatic.

However, the time that was like hell for him comes to an end with a certain event. …No, perhaps it should be said that it got worse. Just as the chancellor was about to spin some words, the door to the room is slammed open with a shout.

“R-Report! Plaque has been invaded by Nagan!”

“Wh-! Is that true…”

“…Chancellor, close your mouth. Messenger, when was the invasion?”

“Y-Yes! It was exactly two weeks ago!”

“…Slow. Fine, continue. What happened to Plaque? Was Matilde defeated?”

“N-No… That is! They annihilated 5,500 of the enemy! There were no casualties on our side, is what they say! A-And. A letter from Matilde-dono…”

The chancellor could not understand the messenger’s words at all. Looking at the messenger’s face, he himself who spoke the words probably couldn’t fully believe it. But since it came up as a report, he had no choice but to accept it as fact. He takes the letter offered with a trembling hand and passes it to Her Majesty sitting on the high seat.

Her Majesty opens it and reads on.

…The chancellor, he. He will never forget her face at that moment for the rest of his life.

“…Kehih. Ah, ah! Rejoice, Chancellor! It’s a ‘Special War Potential’!”