At noon on the 13th day, we were allowed to leave the hold for the first time.

　We climbed the stairs and stepped out onto the deck of the wooden ship.

(Ugh ... dazzling.)

　The sun's rays burned my eyes for the first time in a long time, and I narrowed my blue eyes.

　At the same time, I could smell the fresh green scent and the breeze blowing through the air rustled my brown hair.

　My eyes adjust.

　Spread out there was a green plain surrounded by a grassy field.

(It's so big.)

　In the distance, forests and mountain ranges could be seen in the distance.

　And in the center of that plain was a huge oval-shaped city surrounded by a stone exterior wall.

'Is that the Imperial City of Leda?'

　I muttered.

　All of the 20 pioneers with me were glued to it as well.

(About the same size as the royal capital, Mulia?)

　The size of the place looks like hundreds of thousands of people live there.

　On top of the outer wall, there are many spear-like magical turrets set up in all directions.
　Quite a bit of defense.

　In the center of the city, a pyramid-shaped castle-like building could also be seen.

　The primary colors of red, blue and yellow stand out in this gleaming city.

　I couldn't help but gaze at the sight of us, and the warriors of the Toluga God People who were around us looked somewhat proud.

　The fleet that carried us on board headed straight to the imperial city of Leda.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　As I got closer, I realized that the height of the exterior walls was nearly 100 meters high.

(That's tall.)

　The stone on the outer wall was shaped like scales, and the city gate set there looked like a giant snake with its mouth open.

　The fleet entered the city as if they were being swallowed by the snake.　

(Wow......)

　Spreading out beyond that was a city made up of a large number of people and pyramid-shaped buildings.

　The white-haired residents of the Trugas waved their hands as they cheered loudly at the return of the fleet of warriors of the 'Trugas God People'.

　The main street through which the fleet passes is quite wide, about 50 meters wide.

　On either side of it, people are crowding in.

　The warriors on board the ship were responding to the people, each raising their weapons.

　The pyramid-shaped buildings that stand in a row are made of stone, but they are decorated with colorful red, blue and yellow decorations and have a bright atmosphere.

　There were lots of greenery and street trees, waterways and fountains, and the view of the city was beautiful.

　In the streets, we could see people with their cattle and other livestock, but on both sides of the street, there are pillars of magic lights, and the magic technology seems to be quite advanced.

　This is the center of the Toluga Empire, the imperial capital Reda.

''........Amazing.''

　Solstice murmured with a twinkle in her eye.

　I nodded honestly, "Yeah.

　Kilt-san, Illtimina-san, and that Poe girl are also looking around with interest.

　Turkia was impressed by the first time she saw her country's capital city, shouting "wow, wow".

　As it was, the fleet continued on down the main street.

　Ahead of them was the castle of the giant pyramid, which was visible from the outside.

(Are we going there?)

　It was finely carved compared to the other buildings, with gardens of plants, trees and flowers around it, and beautiful streams and ponds, which were truly the symbolic dignity and beauty of the empire.

　The Empress Ameldus is there.

　The one we are about to meet.

(What kind of person is she?)

　With anticipation and anxiety, my blue eyes were looking up at that huge pyramid castle.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　As we entered the castle, 400 of us from the Fifth Pioneer Group were ushered into a large waiting room.

(Wow, it's like a gymnasium.)

　It was that large and the ceiling was high.

　However, the chairs, tables and other furnishings in the room were all very intricate and beautiful.

　The carpets were fluffy and the patterns were delicate.

　Flowers arranged in vases are also graceful and full of life force.

　Even the walls, ceilings and window frames were carved, and there were no gaps.

It's truly gorgeous.

　That's the only description I can come up with for the room.

　Mr. Quilts.

Hmm, it was all just to show off our national power. You could have offered me a nice drink as well.

　He laughed.

　I see.

(Admittedly, I'd be deflated if I were shown such an awesome room.)

　The diplomacy has already begun.

　And so we were kept waiting for two hours.

　And then we were called out.

　We were told that we could only have an audience with Her Majesty, up to ten people.

　The four representatives of each delegation were to be chosen, as well as our interpreters, Ms. Illtimina and Turkia.

　And.

"Merle, come with me.

　And Kirto's nomination.

　That being the case, I decided to ask Solstice and Poe to come with me.

'Why do you have to involve me in this?

　ghetto

　The shy girl yelled at me and lightly kicked me where the others couldn't see.

　That makes nine in total.

''So, for later study, can our amiukel be allowed?''

　Mr. Reidl suggested.

　Mr. Amieukel asked, "Is it you? I was surprised to hear that she was the only teenage member of the pioneer group besides us, and that she was also a 'dragon knight', a person who would take on the future of the Shumurian Kingdom.

　Now there are 10 of us.

　And so we meet Ameldus, the Empress who rules the Toluga Empire, with these 10 people.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Sandwiched between the warrior corps of the Tolga God People in front and behind us, the ten of us walked down a corridor with a marble-like floor.

　Click, click, click.

　The sound of our footsteps echoed.

　Eventually, we arrived at what appeared to be an entrance, blocked off by a red, opulent curtain.

(Is this the audience room?)

　The red curtain opens heavily.

　Underneath it, the ten of us are led to its interior.

(...wow...)

　The audience chamber we entered was shaped like a pyramid-like triangular pyramid.

　This room was also gorgeous and gorgeous.

　Even the walls and pillars were meticulously crafted.

　The warriors of the Toruga Divine People lined the walls on all sides, and in the center, on a higher level, there was a place wrapped in a thin silk curtain.

　The audience room was filled with the sweet smell of incense being burned, or perhaps incense was being burned.

　At the center front, we knelt down.

　The two ladies, in a graceful gesture, flipped back the thin silk curtain.

　There was a plush chair, and a woman sat in it.

(This person is His Majesty the Empress Ameldas........)

　He is probably in his thirties or so.

　She wore a thin, silky robe with jewels, gold and other ornaments.

　Her white hair was braided and her slit red eyes had blue eyeshadow drawn on them, giving her a very strong impression of a beautiful woman with strong eyes.

　She was graceful and wild, and that lived together.

　Like the King of Shumuria and His Majesty the Emperor of Arun, she had a mysterious charm that attracted the gaze of people who seemed to be the ruler of a great power, and a unique atmosphere that overwhelmed people.

　............

　The air was sweet and my heart was numb.

　In the midst of all this, General Roberto opened his mouth.

''It is with great pleasure that I have received an audience with you.　

　Greetings in the common language of Albac.

　Ms. Illtimina immediately translates into Toluga as an interpreter.

(How can they both speak normally?)　

　I'm no good, I'm too nervous.

　Then, overhearing our representative's greeting, Her Majesty Queen Ameldas twisted her purple-red lips into a smile.

''I see.''

　Sweet, beautiful voice.

(Huh?)

Those words are certainly spoken by the Sea Wanderer... and for the first time in 30 years, the Ghosts of Thanatos are back in our midst.

　We were stunned.

　She spoke in the common language of Albac, a language more fluent than Turkic.

　She looked at our surprised faces and laughed.

'Don't be surprised. I learned your language from The Seafarer thirty years ago. But it's been a long time since we've spoken it.

　30 years ago........

　So you're saying that this Empress has met with the 'Third Frontier'?

　General Roberto bows his head deeply.

'I am afraid, sir.'

　And.

"Because of your dealings with our people in Shumuria?

　I asked.

　The Empress Ameldas nodded and narrowed her eyes with a nostalgic smile.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well. There were about 20 of them, if I remember correctly.

　Twenty?

(The Third Settlers were 200 men, right?)

I hear many were devoured by those black monkeys. I hear the survivors were bitten pretty deep too.

　An indifferent voice.

　Ah.....

This is a rare foreigner. As a young child, I learned about their interesting culture from the seafarers who were rescued. I learned the language we are speaking now from that time.

　Her Majesty the Empress says this with her hand on her own chest.

(.........)

　Thirty years ago, the 'Third Pioneer Group' had followed the same path as us and visited this capital of the Toluga Empire, the imperial capital Reda.

　I looked up.

"Your Majesty, Empress Ameldas.

!

　I suddenly spoke up, and the other nine people looked at me in surprise.

　The Empress also looked at me.

　Her red eyes wrapped in blue eyeshadow look at me with interest.

　I asked boldly.

''Among those protected people, was there anyone named 'Jess'?

　Turkia gave a huff.

　His Majesty Ameldas said, "Jess? And raise one eyebrow.

　Thinking for a moment.

No, there was no one by that name. --this is a harsh land. Most likely, he was killed by the 'Black Great Ape' on the way.

　He told me.

(I see.)

　Turkia's eyes were sadly downcast, perhaps thinking of her grandfather.

　I bow my head.

'Thank you for telling me,'
Yeah.

　Her Majesty the Empress nods at me hawkishly.

　General Roberto looks at me in profile and then at His Majesty Empress Ameldas.

　He bows his head, just like me.

'We thank you for your mercy in protecting our people thirty years ago. ....and are they still in this country today?

　He continued to ask that question.

　The Empress Ameldus replied.

'No.'

　And.

　We all looked up and stared at her precious face.

　Her lips replied.

"All dead.

　.............

(Huh?)

　We were stunned, and she said to us, "In this land, there is always a battle going on to stop the 'Black Great Ape' of the north from moving south.

This land has always been under constant battle to stop the Black Great Monkeys of the north from moving south. The Seafarers are all warriors. Those who were determined to live in this country participated in its battles, and all of them died with flying colors.

　There was no sadness in his voice as he said this.

　It was a rather noble tone that he had fulfilled his pride as a warrior.

　...........

　I didn't know what to say.

　I don't know what they were thinking at that time and why they wanted to live in this country.

　But their progress was over.

　It was thought that they had been wiped out from the beginning, but once again, when I was confronted with that fact, I felt as if something heavy had fallen on my stomach.

(............)

　Her Majesty looks at us like that.

　And.

You asked. I've answered your questions. I've answered your questions, now it's my turn. Now it's my turn to tell you the story of why I haven't been in this country in 30 years and what I'm here for.

　I told him in a beautiful voice.