[Tiki]

Speaking of which, Master Taiki. Which meat do you use for this dish? No cattle or other livestock?

"...what? You want to know? I suppose there are some things it's better not to know.

　When she answered that, Eira twisted her head curiously.

''I'm not sure, but does this amount to an act of looking into the abyss of magic? If it's Taiki-sama's secret art, I'm afraid...''

　Eira was back to her natural demeanor, perhaps feeling a little better after cooking and eating together. She still has a regretful look on her face, but she doesn't seem depressed.

　However, he wouldn't be able to show her the meat production process. The first time I saw that equipment, I was shocked.

　After all, it was a huge tank where small pieces of meat were bubbling away and gradually growing in size.

　The meat is circulated around the tank, and when it becomes large enough to be caught in the coarse mesh, it bounces around on the swinging net and is collected.

　By the way, the chicken, pork, beef and fish meat were all in different tanks, all side by side and all in one room.

　I haven't entered the room of lies even after seeing the egregious images, but I am thankful that the meat has arrived in the fridge before I know it every time.

'Come to think of it, which part of the kingdom should I go to? Let's go up there once and see how far away it is.

Oh, yes. It's nice to meet you.

　With that, Eira quickly grabbed the dishes and headed to the sink. She got a little used to it and washed the dishes without hesitation.

''You're already pretty good at washing the dishes.

Oh, are you sure?

'Yeah, you're learning well. I guess I'll be able to cook on my own soon enough with this one.

　He laughed with Eira, who was happy to have such a conversation, and moved to the control room, heading for the elevator.

　The screen showed a view of the ground and I could see the forest to the south. Observing my surroundings, it seemed that we had already reached the forest that stretched around the Leelabras Mountains.

　Keeping up with the hundred kilometers per hour was quintessentially fast.

''I mean, is the Blau Empire's territory surprisingly small? I went all the way to the Imperial City.

"The Blau Empire has a long stretch of territory. And no one has ever crossed the Leelabras Mountains.

So the Imperial Capital is closer to the mountains. So it's closer.

　But when you put the capital in the middle of land, does the empire not face the sea or the river?

Aren't the oceans and rivers developed?

The sea........as I thought, there are many monsters as dangerous as dragons. If it's a river, there are many ships and other things.

Is there a river in the Empire?

　Normally, civilizations develop near rivers. There is a pattern like the Mayan civilization, but it would be rare.

　But Eira contributed an unexpected answer.

'As you know, the Lord dwells in the great rivers. Therefore, cities flourish in places where the river is a bit smaller than the Lord can't enter. The empire is no exception, and the imperial capital is located at a distance from the great river that flows to the east.

　I nodded my head in agreement with that. It seems that the existence of a monster has such a great impact on people.

　Well, if a large typhoon was there every day, they would live apart.

The only way to get rid of a dragon is to run away.

　Muttering that in a small way, Eira shook her head from side to side.

''If it's not a legendary class, we can repel them or even defeat them if we're lucky. It's just that it's too much of a sacrifice, so we don't do it. Taiki-sama doesn't have any such worries, right?''

　Eira laughed in annoyance as she uttered that.

　As she laughed vaguely, not knowing what to say, she saw something on the east screen.

　It appeared to be two carriages and a horse.

'What is it?'

　When I zoomed in, it looked like a horse was running right next to the forest, chasing something, and a carriage was chasing it.

　Expanding further, the horse's running becomes clearer. A man in armor was riding the horse.

''........chasing after a man with a tail!

　He couldn't help but look at the horse's chase. Eira looked sadly at the screen and nodded.

'Those thin tails and ears must be cat beastmen. Beastmen sell for a lot of money, so slave-hunting...'

Slave hunting? What, if they catch you, are you a slave?

　Eira opened her mouth with a complicated expression as she asked back in surprise.

''This is already near the border. Neither the empire nor the kingdom has sent most of the knights and other groups. I don't know if that was a gang of bad slavers or a bandit gang, but probably, if they are caught, it will be the end of it.......

　After uttering that, Eira looked at me.

''It's not something I can ask for, but could you please help that beastman? It's not like I'm a stranger to this.

　With that, Eira bowed her head deeply. Eira was also being chased when I first saw her, so maybe she was meeting a slave hunter.

　I nodded while pondering such a tangential question in thin air.

'A1,'

　When he calls his name, the hulking gentleman looks up.

'You're on.'