CH 385

Chapter 385 – Walking Around the Royal Castle

After leaving the VIP room, Isla and I strolled through Drado, the royal capital of the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom, and the royal castle that stood there.

“Hmm, should I call it solid and sturdy?”

“From the outside, it looked magnificent with its many towers, but inside, it is more practical. It was built with the main purpose of defending against monsters coming from the sky.”

The royal castle seemed to have so many spires that it would be painful if a giant stepped on them, but it seems that most of the spires were anti-aircraft defenses. Most of the windows of the castle are also equipped with metal armored doors, and it seems that all the windows can be used as defensive facilities in case of emergency.

“The castle itself is made of stone, reinforced with magical power in many places. There are also signs of recent repairs.”

“Are there regular attacks by monsters? Well, it would not be surprising if that were the case.”

There is no doubt that the royal capital of Drado and the settlements surrounding the royal capital are the area where people live, but the area surrounding it is basically the realm of monsters. 

“But stone strengthened by magic power must be very strong, right? What kind of monster would attack from the sky and destroy it?”

“A wyvern, a chimera, a griffon, a hippogriff, or maybe… some kind of demon.”

“A demon? You mean like a devil?”

“That’s what they’re sometimes called. Demons are ferocious monsters that appear out of nowhere. Their appearance is inconsistent, but their entire bodies are covered with thick, smooth skin, and they have horns and wings. They can be seen communicating with each other in some kind of language, but communication between humans and demons has never been established. Basically, they are brutal, killing and playing with humans. They don’t eat them; they just kill them.”

“That’s scary.”

“Yes, they are dangerous. Some of them can fly, and they are more powerful than most humans and use destructive magic.”

What about these “absolute man-killers”? Who created them, and how and for what purpose?

Like the man who contacted me before or the main god of the Adol religion, this world feels artificial. To be precise, I have the impression that it was created with super technology that I can’t even imagine. In such a world, or rather on such a planet, there are beings that exist only to kill people… Or maybe the very existence of monsters is like that. What is the purpose of placing vicious, hostile creatures… is it to adjust the population? Or is it to balance the power of humanity? Hmm?

“Kosuke?”

“Sorry, I was just thinking. Well, I guess there’s no point in thinking about things that have no answers.”

“Is that so? But let me ask you later. I’d like to hear what Kosuke thinks about the demons.”

“Okay. Oh, it looks like we’re out in the open.”

There are signs of people, and it seems brighter than the hallway because the sun is shining. I can feel the wind, so it looks like a courtyard or something.

“Is this the training area?”

“Looks like it.”

It seems that we have arrived at a training ground for the soldiers who work at the castle. Most of the soldiers were Lizardmen or large beastmen, mixed with those with dragon-like horns, wings, and tails. The Dragonis Mountain Kingdom seems to be a nation of subhumans.

“So the spear is their main weapon?”

“It seems so. Perhaps it is because the main weapon of the dragon cavalry is also a spear.”

“I see.”

But even at such a time, they don’t miss their training, do they? Oh, no, the soldiers’ work won’t change much when people like us come to the castle. Although the sudden arrival of more than fifty people in the castle might have had some effect.

While Isla and I were watching the training of the soldiers, a group of large beastmen appeared behind us. They all carried weapons and wore armor that was different in design from the soldiers in the castle.

All of them have lion or lion-like parts somewhere on their bodies, and the one in the lead―probably a man because of his mane―has a face that looks just like a lion. His face is exactly like a lion’s face. He reminds me of Sir Leonard, but this lion man has a much darker look in his eyes or face.

“You raw, white bean-sprout bastard. You’re an eyesore. Get out of here.”

“Huh?”

He walked past me, or so I thought, but then he stopped right in front of me and suddenly did this. I was confused.

“Oh… stay, stay, Isla, stay.”

“He needs to be disciplined.”

I grabbed Isla’s shoulder and stopped her, who had somehow pulled a short stick decorated with mithril out of her pocket. It would be bad in many ways to release magic in a place like this.

“Let me ask you something. Are you crazy? Do you know who I am? Do your superiors allow you to make insulting remarks to a stranger out of the blue? I mean, if you want to take back what you just said, now’s the time. I can still pretend I didn’t hear it.”

Perhaps sensing a hint of an argument out of the corner of his eye, he sees a high-ranking soldier―or perhaps a knight, with horns like a dragon-coming this way. If my guess is correct, in the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom, those who have dragon-like parts on their bodies are either of royal blood or from a noble family close to the royal family. I don’t know who or what this evil-looking lion man is, but if the Dragonis Mountain Kingdom finds out that the man in front of me insulted me, there will probably be trouble.

“What’s wrong with calling a raw white bean sprout bastard a raw white bean sprout bastard? You can’t handle a sword or a spear with your weak body, can you?”

The bad-looking lion man said this in a mocking tone and laughed. 

The other lion-like beastmen laughed along with him. Oh… now… why can’t I guess it right away? Or a dragon-like knight… a dragon knight already. Are they saying that even though they know that the dragon knight is coming this way?

“I don’t know what will happen to you…”

I murmured while stroking my temples. My head hurts when I imagine what will happen.

“What’s going on? I’d like you to refrain from unnecessary fights in the hall.”

“Well…”

“That man insulted my husband.”

I tried to improve the situation, but Isla said it faster and pointed her fingertips at the lion man with a bad look on her face. Isla-san?

“He called him a raw white bean sprout without the strength to fight. If he doesn’t take back his words and apologize, I will have no choice but to make him take back those words and restore his honor in a duel.”

“I see. And what about you?”

“I have no intention of retracting my words. A duel? I accept.”

Saying this, the lion man grinned. The head of Isla, who is small in stature, does not even reach the waist of the lion man, who is huge in stature. It is a staggering difference in size. From the side, one would normally think that there is no match.

But Isla is a court magician with a prodigious talent for magic. She is so skilled that she can even catch a crossbow arrow fired at close range with a physical barrier that she instantly deploys and immediately unleashes lightning magic to counterattack the assassin. The lion man may look strong, but it would be nearly impossible to face Isla, who manipulates physical barriers with mere physicality.

“I understand. If this is a duel based on mutual consent with honor at stake, then we have no right to stop it. I will be the witness.”

Huh? You’re not going to stop it? I was really surprised, but what happened after that was even more surprising to me.

“Now, let’s fight!”

“Why…? Why…?”

Why do I have to duel with the muscular lion man in front of the audience?