REFDL 118
Whenever the people of the Ilba Archipelago were relocated to a new settlement, several former resistance fighters would accompany each group to help lead them.
Meina was always in charge of the biggest group.
She roughly patted Kaelus on the back.
“It’s even nicer to see you here! How did things go? Did you manage to resolve the matter?”
Whoosh!
Meina’s subordinates charged in with equal ferocity.
“Aaah! Lady Meina, please!”
“You mustn’t be rude to His Grace!”
“This isn’t the Ilba Archipelago!”
“Come on, what’s with all this? I’m just happy to see them, that’s all!”
“Lady Meina!”
While Meina was being dragged away by her entourage, Kaelus stood there like a statue. One of her subordinates, who appeared to be her chief aide, approached him, wiping cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. His very posture exuded a willingness to submit.
Kaelus, who had suddenly grown weary, waved his hand dismissively to indicate he wouldn’t make an issue of it. The aide’s face lit up with relief upon fully understanding.
[Kael. Did you say hello? I saw familiar faces.]
The now-shrunken Yuram scampered over. When Kaelus held out his palm, he hopped onto it.
Both the jumping dragon and the one receiving him looked very much comfortable with each other.
Meanwhile, a few people broke away from the group and approached. Though they wore plain, rough clothing, they were such beauties that their faces seemed to glow.
The woman standing at the front looked familiar.
It was Meili, Meina’s older sister.
With tears welling in her eyes, she approached and bowed to Kaelus and Yuram.
The others who had come with her did the same. Then, the group watching the situation from afar bowed in unison, like dominoes.
The unfolding scene, the exchanges taking place, and the presence of the Kremlis had made it clear to them who had come to visit.
Even Meina, who had been struggling while her arms and legs were held by her subordinates, straightened her clothes and bowed her head.
It wasn’t an exaggeration. In the literal sense, they were the saviors of the Ilba Archipelago.
The islands were still slowly sinking. While the Sea of Trees on the mainland encroached on the land one step at a time, the Ocean Forest devoured the islands by a finger’s width every day.
But it wasn’t too late.
Now they would live as mainlanders, not islanders.
Some of the more rigid-minded lamented that they should have died at sea instead, but Meili’s thoughts were the exact opposite.
Because now, they no longer had to fear the sea.
‘We are all children of the sea. Not being able to live by our parents’ side or fearing our parents to the very core of our being, which is truly the more lamentable fate?’
‘……!’
As descendants of the great sea, she no longer had to fear her homeland.
Neither their elders, nor their own generation, nor even the descendants yet to be born would ever again view the sea as a nightmare.
She believed that was the most important thing.
Although it was regrettable that they would have to live far from the sea, the Emperor of Firmus had promised:
Once they had settled in, he would not prevent them from saving up money to move elsewhere.
In other words, if they were confident they could handle the exorbitant prices and housing costs of the port city, they were free to go there and live as people of the sea.
The day would come when they could kick the waves with their feet and stroll along the beach, laughing, just as they had in the past.
The islanders had found new hope and a new goal.
Yuram looked down at the shining eyes beneath their bowed heads and felt certain.
They would do well.
“……We should stop this nonsense and keep moving. We need to reach the halfway point before sunset.”
“You are right, Your Excellency. Thank you. Everyone, move out! Pick up the pace a little!”
“Get the kids back on the carts! Make sure no one’s falling behind!”
Meina bowed her head once more and ran to the front of the group. Her people scattered in all directions. Meili returned to her original spot. Back into the crowd.
She would watch over the people, encouraging them and boosting their spirits.
‘Actually, I was a little worried.’
There was absolutely no need for that. Yuram, who had jumped out of Kaelus’s arms, moved slightly to the side and puffed out his chest. A small gasp erupted from the group. The pace of those nearby slowed again, causing a brief traffic jam.
Yuram scratched the back of his head with the tip of his claw.
[It might actually be better if we leave quickly.]
“I suppose so. Well then….”
[Now we have to go to the Forest Village!]
“……”
[Besides the things Derick requested, I’m curious if everyone’s doing well! I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t been able to visit. Let’s get going!]
“……”
Kaelus climbed onto Yuram’s back with a sad expression.
Grrr!
The islanders waved enthusiastically at the departing dragon’s back.
***
Grrr!
I landed at the entrance to the Forest Village, roaring loudly on purpose. The villagers immediately dropped what they were doing and ran over.
“Your Excellency! You’re here!”
“It’s been a long time!”
“Max… no–the dragon came too!”
Grrr!
Who does he think he is, comparing me to the village mutt…!
“Want some jerky? Here, here.”
……Grrr.
I’ll let it slide this once, just because it’s Forest Village’s special jerky. As I opened my mouth, a cascade of chewy jerky, salty yet full of flavor, poured in.
That’s it. This is exactly what I was looking for…!
I’m sorry to the head chef at the Duke’s mansion, but compared to Forest Village’s jerky, his version just lacks that certain something…
“…….”
[…….]
I felt a look of disbelief directed at the back of my head.
The gaze lingered for a while, but when the villagers sensed the awkward atmosphere and began to fidget, it finally broke away.
“So. Is everything all right in the village?”
“Oh, with someone as great as the Duke looking out for us, what kind of problem could there possibly be?”
The villagers still felt intimidated by his high status. But they weren’t afraid. That was thanks to the soldiers and knights stationed here following the Denos raid. More precisely, it was thanks to Kaelus’s specific order to keep a close eye on things.
Actually, it was an order given with Erdion in mind.
The purpose was to plant his own people among the dispatched soldiers to gather information on the boy.
He had specifically instructed them because if the soldiers and knights treated the villagers rudely and earned their resentment, the investigation could become difficult.
Moreover, since it was a village the Duke took a special interest in, no one was bold enough to cause a ruckus or stir up trouble.
Recently, the reason for this had even been revealed.
“The Prince’s hometown, you say!”
The return of the Crown Prince, who was believed to have been kidnapped and killed by the Second Prince!
A village that had raised that Crown Prince – not exactly doting on him, but certainly caring for him with great devotion!
A plaque of appreciation had been sent directly from the Emperor, and he had even mentioned that he would personally come to “pay his respects” once major issues were resolved.
As a result.
“Are you short on firewood, old man? I’ll go get some for you!”
“This wall has collapsed. We’ll rebuild it! Repairs? What are you talking about? Just think of us as spare labor.”
“Monsters?! Hey, tools… Ah, no, grab your swords!”
And with that, the knights all rushed headlong into the Sea of Trees. The strongest monsters in the Forest Village were, at most, wolf-like beasts. The knights cheerfully wiped them out and returned triumphantly.
Given the situation, the villagers had no worries or concerns lately.
“It’s all thanks to His Grace Irelion!”
That wasn’t entirely wrong.
It was almost like a storm caused by a butterfly’s wing, but after all, it did start with the flutter of wings!
“Come on over here! We’ve just finished brewing some new wine. Would you like to try a sip? Of course, it can’t compare to the wine your noble selves drink, but it’s the Forest Village specialty, so it tastes absolutely delicious!”
“No. I don’t really drink…”
“The accompaniment is skewered grilled meat made with mushrooms from the Sea of Trees and high-quality venison! This is another dish you can only taste here in our Forest Village!”
“Your Excellency! Your Excellency! Do you happen to need any dragon herbs? They can’t compare to those from Ilba Archipelago, but there are rare herbs that grow only in the Sea of Trees…”
“……”
Kaelus stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me. I giggled, then covered my mouth and pointed toward the forest.
[Can I go somewhere for a bit?]
Kaelus nodded, almost resigned.
Caw!
Caaaw!
I went to pay my respects to my master for the first time in a long while. Perhaps all the chicks had flown the nest, for the crow master was alone.
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