"Aaaaaaah!!! This is amazing!!!" Cecilia cheered jubilantly on my back, now that I was a horse.
Like a child riding in a convertible for the first time, she cheered excitedly.
"Pfft. You've already ridden in one before, why are you still so... excited?"
"Of course! You think you can just leave the city like that? People aren't adventurers for nothing!"...That's true.
In Esendia, where monsters could appear at any moment, there aren't even decent means of transportation, so ordinary people don't go out casually.
Even slowly traveling caravans always have guards...Thinking about it, the ordinary residents of Esendia really rarely leave their city.
Wealthy families might be able to hire an adventurer...but long-distance travel is still difficult.
Besides, even if you become an adventurer, unless your level is high enough, just traveling between cities would take dozens of days, right?
For a high-level individual, using their battle aura at full speed for just 1-2 minutes could cover a considerable distance… travel should be much easier.
From this perspective, Esendia is hardly a habitable place for ordinary people.
"And they basically don't let me go out! Although I've participated in a few explorations, I always get endless nagging…"
Pfft. Looks like you only get special treatment because you're the lord's daughter.
How could she tolerate being locked up in such a suffocating city when there's such vast and magnificent scenery to enjoy?
"Haa~ That's incredibly fast... If it were Shimo-nii's speed, I feel like I could really travel around the world..."
"Of course. Running at that speed all day long wouldn't be a problem. A round-the-world trip would be a piece of cake."
"...Ugh~ I'm so annoyed! Why can't tamable monsters run this fast...? Otherwise, I could be traveling with Leo-nii right now..."
"Pfft. Isn't this a privilege bestowed upon me by the gods? Being a superior male carrying the females around."
"...Female..." Well, those flying creatures like griffins that I've seen with Lisbeth before do exist... but on the ground, my speed should be top-tier, right?
These legs that move like a runaway train, there shouldn't be many monsters that can imitate them.
However, if it's simply due to my muscle strength, this endurance is terrifying... Is it some kind of ability that's not displayed in the status bar?
Anyway, becoming my female will allow me to enjoy these benefits.
Think it over carefully, Cecilia.
About abandoning your fiancé and becoming my exclusive female. Heh...
...Just as I was implying to Cecilia the many benefits of becoming my female, I encountered a group of adventurers who had traveled quite a distance.
Thirteen people... Quite a lot of luggage. They even seem to have hired porters.
That makes sense. Traveling this far from Radia would take two or three days on foot.
Judging by their equipment, they're going to an even farther place, so this level of preparation is definitely necessary... Most of the adventurers I've seen so far have been carrying mountains of luggage.
That group probably prepared for a journey of dozens of days before setting off?
"Oh! Isn't this Lord Divine Beast? I didn't expect to meet you here! I'm so happy!" Following Cecilia's request, I went to speak with the adventurers, but they were initially surprised, then the person who seemed to be the leader greeted me with a smile.
Judging by their age and demeanor, they were all experienced veterans... Just as I suspected.
Since they're going on an expedition, they must all be seasoned veterans, right?
"Greetings, everyone! It's a pleasure to meet you. Some of you might recognize me; I'm just a passing divine beast. And this is…"
"Radiel Neve Cecilia. A pleasure to meet you, adventurers."
"...!? Uh, it's Lady Cecilia…!"
Holy crap.
What's going on?
Why are they all kneeling?!
Ah, oh no…!
Speaking of which, Cecilia is the lord's daughter…!
She's a noblewoman!
Even though she's dressed simply, her expensive jewel-encrusted attire and the way she's riding on my back—no wonder I recognized her immediately!
Having a noblewoman as my female companion, I almost forgot the kingdom is a class society!
"Oh, no need for formalities. It's not like Radial is here; there's no need to be so formal."
"You—you're really…" Good heavens.
To ordinary humans, Cecilia's identity is even more shocking than mine as a divine beast…well, I suppose so.
My face is nothing special to the people living in Ladia, but giving a noble a sour look would be a big problem… *chuckles*.
Those nobles are actually my females.
No wonder I feel like my nose is more upturned!
"Which guild are you from? Where are you going?"
"Yes. We are from the guild called 'Wilderness Travelers.'
We've accepted a quest to obtain an ogre's heart, and we're currently on our way to carry it out…
Um, why are Lady Cecilia and Lady Divine Beast here…?"
"Ah~ We just came out for a walk to get some fresh air." The adventurers looked at Cecilia with slightly bewildered eyes.
Hearing her describe a journey that would take several days as a walk, anyone would find it absurd.
"An ogre, huh... Looks like you're all quite capable. Hmm. Very cool! Best of luck in your adventures!"
"Haha... Thank you. I never expected to receive encouragement from Lady Ei-Ai while on the move..."
Considering that it wasn't good to delay the adventurers who still had a long journey ahead, we exchanged a few pleasantries and were about to leave when
Cecilia suddenly called out to the adventurers as if remembering something.
"Ah... Speaking of which, that monster that's suspected to be the Hero Devourer. Have the adventurers found anything yet?"
"Ah, you mean that monster? Although the exploration quest has been running, it seems no adventurer has seen any trace of it." "...I see..."
"Since it leaves almost no trace, no guild is probably specifically targeting it. Everyone's probably just hoping to encounter it by chance while doing quests. That's what we thought too." The bounty is high, but the lack of clues means no adventurer is specifically searching for that thing... which is understandable. Cecilia and I only found some pit-like marks before stopping.
There weren't even footprints...maybe it was just a fake...
"Well then, we'll take our leave. Please be careful on your way back."
...... After parting ways with the adventurers, feeling it was time to return, I ran towards Ladia.
Hmm...a bit of a disappointment.
I was hoping the adventurers would turn into highway robbers, allowing me to heroically rescue Cecilia...oh dear.
Was that a terrible thought?
Killing someone outside the city seems unlikely to be discovered...it seems ordinary adventurers wouldn't engage in that kind of robbery.
However, perhaps they simply didn't want to antagonize divine beasts and nobles.
Is this luck, or an unexpected turn of events...? "...Could it be traces of monsters? We haven't found any yet..." While I was pondering the adventurers' consciences, Cecilia muttered to herself, seemingly troubled by the monster traces.
Hmm...Hero Devourer...actually, I'm not in a rush right now...I've already taken down two and driven three heroes to the brink of madness, I should have some time to prepare for the destruction of Esendia, right?
"Just live a life of quiet angst until you're caught, but why, Cecilia… Ah!
"Pfft. Are you regretting having less time with Leo?"
"Ah, uh… um… after all, he's my fiancé…" Pfft.
After all?
Using the word 'after all'?
Heh… okay.
So Leo's affection level is still higher than mine, right?
"Pfft. That's right. Once Leo's investigation is over, Cecilia will be clinging to him and won't have time to play with me anymore. Ah, what a pity~"
"Wh-what… Brother Shimo can play with you a little bit too, right?"
"Really~" Pfft.
Thank you for that.
You actually said you'd still play with me after your fiancé's investigation is over.
That's really touching, isn't it?
Well, honestly, I just want to enjoy the thrill of making me submit more.
Don't worry too much, Cecilia. Soon you'll crave me more than you crave Leo. "...Huh? What's that..." Just as Cecilia and I were having a sweet conversation, a gray group appeared near the walls of Ladia in the distance.
Uh? Those are... soldiers? Aha. Oh, they're Ladia soldiers patrolling around Ladia.
Then... Leo should be here too, right? "...Um, Brother Shimo..."
"Pfft. Okay. Shouldn't we go see our Cecilia's fiancé, Brother Leo?" "..." Accompanied by Cecilia's subtly awkward reaction, we ran towards the soldiers.
Whether they noticed me or not, several soldiers who seemed to be representatives stepped forward.
"Lady Cecilia! Lady Divine Beast!"
"Captain! Brother Leo!" Oh, they didn't kneel like adventurers?
Is it because Cecilia belongs to the soldier corps that she doesn't receive noble treatment?
They seem to respect each other... but the soldiers' expressions are friendlier than I expected.
Hmm… While some soldiers might have been completely fooled by Cecilia, she's adorable after all, so everyone accepted it…
"What's wrong? Are you resting?"
"Yes. That's right. But Lady Cecilia, why are you with the Divine Beast…?"
"Because Brother Shimo said he'd give me a ride, so I went for a short walk and came back."
"A walk, is that so…"
This soldier commander… seems a bit tired.
'I told you to stay put, that's why I didn't send you on a scouting mission, and now you're saying you went for a walk.' Pfft.
"Ah, Brother Leo… um, were you tired…?"
"It's alright. Did you enjoy the walk?"
"Um, um… um, Brother Shimo rides super fast so…"
Hmm? Although she looks happy, Cecilia's attitude feels a bit strange? Ah, could it be because of the memories of serving my Сock before? Pfft… This is really…
She's actually making a face like she's committed a crime. "That'll expose us soon enough, Cecilia." "...Brother...?"
"Ah, um, um. We've gotten closer lately, so I've decided to speak in plain language."
"Is that so...? Hmm..."
"Pfft. How's the reconnaissance going? Is it going smoothly?"
"...Not any significant results yet..."
"Is that so? Well, that can't be helped. There are just too few traces. Tomorrow's a day off, right?"
"...Yes. Thank you very much for relaying the message to Lady Cerescia..."
I asked Leo with a teasing air, my head held high.
Leo's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he bowed his head to thank me.
"Pfft. Alright. Since it's a day off I specially requested, everyone relax..."
—Boom! Boom! Boom! For some reason, I was in a great mood, and I continued speaking with an even more arrogant tone—a deafening roar interrupted my words, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Aaaaaah!?"
"W-What's going on!?" A deafening roar, like a bomb exploding, and a cloud of dust obscuring their vision.
Looking back in alarm, the dust settled... and a dark object was staring at them with scarlet eyes.