To Vivalina in Butchcombe.
It's a bit of a show, my dear. Your father will be there.
　Of course you will be out, won't you?
　It was such a lighthearted thing to say...

　I just need a second to...
　I've certainly been riding the aura of my dragon state and releasing magic from it.
　I've had very little personal experience fighting and I've never been able to use a sword or anything else but my mind.
　It's practically all magic, so...

　I looked backwards for a rescue boat.
If you're going to be a contestant, you're going to have to add Anya to your party.
　I mean.
　I mean, I can't believe that Una is so motivated.

　Anyway, I'm going to have to ask you for a quick answer.
　I'm not going to be able to get away with it, but I'm going to go on a tour of the territory, calling it an inspection.

Well, there's still a deadline to meet, so make sure you select the right people for the job.
　Vivrina laughed at me, but I couldn't help but smile back.

　Indeed, this story.
　I suppose I could say no.
　It's a personal invitation from the Lord of Batcombe, Geltar, who has been paying attention to us for some reason.

　With that in mind.
　Me, on my way to the dragon scale mining site.

'What is it, my lord?　I see you have something on your mind?
　There was Sarah, the salamander, there.

　Sarah was here.
　He summons skeletons every day.
　To those bone humans, buried deep in this cave, she continues to dig out her own scales.

　For decades' worth of adult dragon scales.
　We still haven't gotten to the bottom of it.

　These scaled weapons are already a popular item in King's Landing.
　Occasionally, the Knights would order in bulk, so it was a great success anyway.

　While I greeted Sarah.
　I noticed something strange in that cave.
''Sarah, that pile of dragon scales over there........''
　Yeah, I was just pointing at it.
　Unlike the dirt-covered dragon scales that are always dug out of the depths of the cave.

　Somewhere in there, it feels brand new, as if it's still clothed in a mucous membrane.
　Such a pile of scales had been created.

　Then
　Sarah looked a little embarrassed.
'Well no it's been a while since I've molted myself and that's the shell of it.
　When he said that, his cheeks stained with embarrassment.

　We've been mining dragon scales for a while now.
　I wondered why I was so embarrassed.

'I don't think of the old scales as anything but worn-out old clothes.
　The escapement scales... well, if I were to compare it to the sensation of being seriously scrutinized for freshly undressed underwear, I'd say...
　I see.
　Sarah and the others, from a dragon race perspective, I wondered if that's how they perceive the scales, the shells, in that sense.
　I was unconsciously impressed.

　Then.　
　Maybe it's partly due to embarrassment, Sarah.
　Back to the topic at hand.
Speaking of which, my lord, weren't you upset about something?
　Yes, he asked me again.

　So I did.
　When I told her that I was in trouble because Biblina had asked me to enter a big martial arts tournament to be held in Batcombe
'Oh, my lord, will you be able to go to that tournament?
　I would love to get out there, but I've been working here for a long time, and I don't know anyone who would be willing to come out with me.
　Sarah laughs at that.

　Wait.
　If Sarah wants to compete in this tournament, she can do it too.
　If you join me and Ugna's team.
　That's going to make one team somehow.

　So I called out to him.
'What!　I'm grateful for that.
　My lord, I have no objection to you.
　He had some kind of glint in his eye as he said that.

　In case you were wondering.
　Because it's against the law to fight by turning into a salamander, right?
'Oh, I understand that much.
　Because that's what I'm after.
　Sarah clenched her fists in both hands as she did so.
　You're going to flaunt it to me.

　I can't help it.
　I am somewhat relieved to find a very reliable helper.

　Somewhere in my heart
　I was also thinking that time was running out without finding a partner.
　Well, that's.........

◇ ◇.

　Sarah showed me around the cave.
　After finishing the inspection, I went to a school in the village at the foot of Mt.

　Although the students should have already left school at that time
'Oh, my lord!　You came all the way out here to see me, didn't you?
　and　
　Nirmana, who has been sent by the Pics as a teacher, greeted me with a big smile on her face.

　Such a Nirmana.
　Not your usual stylish appearance.
　It's like wearing armor like a heavy knight on your body.
I'm not sure I'm going to be able to get away with it, but it's a bit embarrassing.
　Nirmana smiles shyly as she says that, and holds up that big shield.

''I-''
　I'm a school teacher, though, and that includes an instructor at a knight training school, you know?
　So says Nirmana, smiling mischievously.

　Whatever.
　She is as heavy in the knighthood as she appears to be.
　They fight with magic.

So, I'm going to a big martial arts tournament in Butchcombe.
　I've been asked to attend as one of the representatives of the Picks.
　I thought I'd give it a little workout after school.
　having said that
　Nirmana waved the shield in her hand lightly.

　That shield is.
　It's made of a metal that's quite thick, and also quite hard.
　Nirmana handled such a shield with ease, and
Uh-huh. I guess you're not so sure about that.
　As he said this, he had a satisfied smile on his face.

　I am.
　While I admire her for that.

...who you don't want to take on in the first round.

　Yeah, I thought so, too.
　I had a wry smile on my face.

　I wonder if he sensed such a complexion on my face.
　Nirmana looked into my face.
'What?　Could it be that the lord will be participating in this tournament as well?
　Nirmana smiles while saying that.
'Normally, I would do whatever you say.
　That's not going to happen in this grand martial arts tournament, right?
　Saying that, Nirmana smiles again.
''After all, since many of my students will be coming in...................If I cut corners, they'll find out in one shot.
　
　Heh.
　Yeah.

　I'm usually the ladylike Nirmana.
　That's one aspect of it - somewhat surprised to find an instructor at a knight training school.
　I still don't know if I want to hit her in the first round...

　Looking back at that charming smile.
　That's what I thought.

◇ ◇ ◇.

　At the school, I talked to Yome and others after Nirmana.
　Confirmation that the school is running fine.

　Yup.
　At first I wondered what would happen to the school.
　Glad to see that things are going so well.

　There are schools in King's Landing and other places.
　In King's Landing, where racial supremacy is strong, school attendance is limited to the ethnic population, and only the wealthy seem to be able to afford it.

　But
　In this Liberty school, there is no separation between human and sub-human.
　We are all learning together.

　We're still on a small scale.
　I've been dreaming about it since I was in King's Landing, and now it's becoming a reality.

　In this school.
　I'm hoping that she will continue to grow and develop.

◇ ◇.

　When I returned to the lord's quarters after this, I went around a few places.
　Just then, Biblina asked for my room again.
　Biblina smiled and smiled at me.
What do you think?　Did you find your friends?
　You couldn't have done it anyway, could you?　I can't help it, it's a special straw party...
　Biblina, apparently, had planned to do that all along, and the application form in front of me, with one name left blank.......

　And, Vibrina.
　Doesn't this paper, what does it say, 'marriage license'?

'Wow!　No, no, this isn't the same thing!　He had this in secret, in case he needed it at any time...
　Biblina's face turns red and she pulls back the paper in a great hurry.

　Such is Biblina's appearance.
　I couldn't help but laugh.