On that day, an earthquake hit the imperial capital of Calcada.

　The wolfsbane of 'The Appearance of the Dragon', as reported by the soldiers who saw it.
　In response, the defending knights, who were always deployed to defend the imperial capital, began to prepare at once.

''How much can the soldiers move!''

'Three battalions or so!　Tomorrow, two more battalions would be...!

'Can this wait until tomorrow?　The dragon is right around the corner!

　The army of the Draukos Empire is so large that it is the largest on the continent. However, not all of them are stationed in the imperial capital. Naturally, the largest number of its armies are on the borders of the neighboring countries where they are still skirmishing with each other.
　And for the Draukos Empire, which has the imperial capital at its center and has a large territory in all of the north, south, east, and west, there aren't that many Knights in Defense of the Imperial Capital. This is because as long as the borders are sealed off, there is hardly any conflict in the imperial capital. Hence, the Imperial Capital Defense Knights is like a second or third son of a nobleman joining for a few years and only needing to gain a decent amount of training to be able to 'belong to a knightly order', which is something that exists for the purpose of gaining recognition.
　Isaac Wolff, the head of the Imperial City Defense Knights, sighs as he looks at them with too low of a skill level.

　The preparations have been slow, and even the notification of information has not been successful. Fewer people would have a clue what the hell was going on.
　Some of them think it's just a training exercise, or maybe they're just chatting with their friends as they prepare. It's not that Isaac is not powerful enough to yell at them.
　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has the power to shout at them. But when he was already too old and the years he had carved into his body had passed the 60 mark, he handed over the position of commander to a backbencher. But Isaac, who didn't have a particular family and was always on the battlefield at all times, had no choice but to retire, and the emperor, who regretted his bravery, handed over the position of head of the Knight Commander of the Imperial Capital Defense.

''d*mn... but I didn't expect a dragon to appear...!

'Commander!　The first and second battalions are ready to go!

"The 3rd Battalion will be on the battlements as soon as they are ready!　The First and Second Battalions will meet us at the city gates!　Third Battalion, take the high ground as the archers!

Ha!

　While giving precise orders, Isaac also heads to the castle gate.
　Isaac's vocation, given to him by the heavens, is to be a knight. And since his vocation is "knight", he is able to join the knightly order without any examinations. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on some of the best products on the market.
　But the number of battles he has fought as a knight on the battlefield is countless. The number of people he has killed is too many to count.
　And because of that much experience, Isaac had become a man with a knight level of 56, one of the highest levels in the Order.

''The goal is!

'I see them over there!　If we keep going, it looks like we'll be close to them in no time!

I never thought a dragon could be so fast...!

　The dragon approaches - the wolfsbane of the dragon's approach - and it was before noon.
　And now the sun is in the mid-heaven. In other words, it's exactly noon. The speed with which they could get from the border to this imperial city in such a small amount of time would be something that no soldier, no demon could produce.
　The three battalions gathered here now - how many of them could survive? And how many of the hundred thousand people living in the imperial city will be overrun?
　It's not likely that Isaac will be able to return alive - he stared at the incoming dragon with such a resolve.

　It was a black dot, but it gradually grew in size.
　The mere dot grows wings and legs that flap larger and larger as it gets closer to the distance. Its trajectory from the border to here without any opposition.
　Only the imperial capital Calcada is the target.

''All armies, prepare!

　With a bang, two battalions held up their spears and the archer battalion on the city wall guarded the arrows on their bows.
　With three thousand men, their expressions are pathetic. I'm sure some of them didn't know anything until they arrived here, and they are on the verge of tears as they hold their spears in front of them. I'm sure the smell that slightly smells on the nose is probably because someone is incontinent.
　That, too, is understandable.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it back alive if you're a dragon.

''Goooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　The dragon's form finally became visible to the naked eye.
　Far higher than the soldiers led by Isaac - glowering at the dragon, as if it were looking down on them.
　Its yell also made the soldiers afraid all at once. He had only thought it was a bunch of weak soldiers, but apparently these weren't the kind of people who would scatter the spiderlings and run away.
　No, rather.
　I was too terrified to move - would that be more accurate?

　Slowly, the dragon lowered its altitude.
　It slowly landed at a position slightly away from Isaac and the others.

''...?''

　I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the strange behavior.
　Dragons are a type of demon that is considered to be the most powerful being. And since they are demons, they are undoubtedly hostile to humans. If you find a group of human beings, a dragon is the entity that begins to overrun them as is.
　And yet, the dragons simply land without attacking us, as if they have no hostile intent.

Good night, puppy.

"Thank you, Mister Puppy.



　But what surprised me even more.
　Was it the fact that two figures descended from its back?
　From the back of a dragon. From the back of a dragon, the lone and most powerful species, from the back of a dragon.
　On the back of the dragon, which is not beholden to any one, and boasts overwhelming strength - a person was riding on the back of the dragon.

　One of them was a good-looking elven woman.
　She was the ultimate in beauty, as if a god could create a beautiful being to be shaped like this. Isaac had heard rumors of elves too, but he had no idea they were as beautiful as this one.
　And the other was a boy.
　He was a dark-haired, black-eyed, particularly unremarkable boy. His tattered cloak is a sign that he has traveled a long way. He is not large in stature, and his width is rather slender.
　But what's strange is that, in the face of such an army, he has an expression of complete composure. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. If a dragon were said to be a weapon, though, it would be a much better attack.
　But it's a human.
　If you're human, there is a way to talk about it.

"Hey!

...hmm?

I am Isaac Worf, Commander of the Order of the Imperial Guard of the Draukos Empire!　Where do you come from?　Identify yourself!

....

　But to Isaac's words.
　The boy smiled slightly - and remained silent.
　He has an expression of calmness, as if he's not dealing with us.
　He's just there, extremely aloof and natural.

''........''

....

　The rudeness of not returning a name in response to a name call.
　But that much rudeness would not cause any itchiness to this boy. The boy is the overwhelmingly strongest person in this place right now.

　No.
　That is why he is not saying his name.
　It means that the boy, who is the overwhelmingly strong, has no intention of talking to an opponent who could be slaughtered with a single dragon strike if he wanted to, as an equal.

''........''

....

　Isaac and the boy remained silent as they stared at each other.
　No matter how serious Isaac is, he is not confident that he can win against that dragon. Would the S-ranked adventurer that they hear about be able to take on even a dragon like that?
　But after that much silence, Isaac understands.

　That this boy is making demands in silence.
　If you're going to talk to him as an equal - call for someone who can stand in line, he says.
　In other words, that means to call the being who rules the Draukos Empire, the Emperor.

".........

....

　However, Isaac has no authority to call the emperor.
　If the body is only a messenger that appeared somewhat rudely and without warning, it can at least accept an audience. Of course, you can only protect the emperor's safety at all costs.
　The nagging vizier will probably complain about it, but if this boy says he can pass by using his powers, that's it. You have no idea how many people in the imperial capital will be sacrificed. If that's the case, the safety of the people should come first, even if it's a little dangerous.
　Now, which option is correct - Isaac stares at the boy while formulating various thoughts.

''.........''

....

　Isaac doesn't know.
　The boy - why Noah Whitefield is silent.

　He asked me what country, but when I thought about it, I realized that I haven't decided what country I'm in - and that I just can't answer that question.