[Imperial Guard]

　The imperial army, which was forced to abandon the invasion of the Atul Kingdom after the mysterious golem attack, had reorganized its divided forces and had retreated to the border area.

　 Upon receiving the report, General Violette shook her beautiful purple hair and stared at the map of the northern part of the Atul Kingdom.

''........We who were in the royal capital and both armies that were attacking Falbe were attacked at the same time.......No way, is there more than one of those flying islands?''

　One of the cavalrymen opened his mouth with a difficult look at Violette, who was roaring atop the carriage.

''........What were those golems? I didn't think that they were the secret weapons of the Atul Kingdom.......

''It's not. If the kingdom had such golems in its possession, there would have been plenty of time to use them more. Besides, it would take a lot of time and resources just for the Atul Kingdom to have that many golems.

　Violette denied the cavalryman's words and let out a thin breath as she traced her forefinger across her cheek.



'Five hundred top-notch sorcerers, huh? General Violette can control one of them all by herself, can't she?

　Violette looked up grimly as the cavalryman casually remarked that.

'Two hundred sorcerers equal to or greater than me, you say? It's far more solid to find five hundred ordinary sorcerers, isn't it?

'I'm sorry about this! I never meant it that way...

　As Violette was looking at the pale and excused cavalrymen with her thin eyes, a black shadow suddenly swooped down from the sky.

　Seeing this, Violette and the cavalrymen gulped and stiffened their bodies.

　While everyone's attention was focused on the black shadow, the man in black robes who had descended took off the hood he was wearing and revealed his face.

　His long, glossy blonde hair overflows, and then his long ears appear.

''........Don't surprise me, Aifa.''

　As Violette uttered this while patting her chest, Aifa looked around silently and finally looked behind Violette.

''I heard you were defeated.

　When Aifa utters this, Violette opens her mouth as she glares back at him.

''Did the peddlers or someone else who returned to the Imperial territory have a rumor about it? But we have not been defeated by the Atul Kingdom. Because it was the mysterious golems that fell from the sky that drove us to retreat.

There.

　Aifa's eyes narrowed as she bit into the butt of Violette's words.

'Tell me more about that story.

　With that being said, Violette explained what had happened so far. Aifa listened to the story in silence and snorted lowly.

''........No matter how I think about it, I can only assume that that flying island took the side of the Atul Kingdom, but what kind of connection is there?''

''That one army of golems is the largest force of the great powers no matter what you think. If the rapidly growing Blau Empire is an eyesore, they will make an honest decision to attack the Empire. Wouldn't it be less advantageous to form an alliance with a small country like the Atul Kingdom?

　When Violette showed a grim face, Aifa turned her head to the side in a troublesome manner.

''Is it your assessment that they are strong enough to attack the empire on their own without taking the trouble to increase their allies? If this was a country that wasn't much different from our country, I could surmise that they would be increasing their allies to surround them...

Then I can see where we should go next, but...

　Violette let out a sigh and shook her head from side to side as she realized what Aifa was trying to say.

''Where the flying island was headed I heard you were headed to the Leelabras Mountains.

'Yes, but ... you don't think that that flying island has a place to return to in the Leelabras Mountains?

　Aifa nodded shallowly as Violette narrowed her eyes and asked her that.

'There was a castle on that island. And a city that looks like a castle town. There are probably more than a good number of people living there. If that's the case, then they will certainly descend to the surface somewhere to obtain the supplies and resources they need. It's no wonder they have a place in the Leelabras Mountains.

''But those mountains and the surrounding forest would be like a nest of large monsters.

'I originally thought that to get to that flying island, we'd have to start at the top of a high mountain. Rather convenient.

　With that, Aifa muttered something in her mouth and floated up into the sky again.

''I'm going after the island. Tell His Majesty that.''

　Aifa said just that and flew away. At the sight of Aifa heading without hesitation to the place that can be called the demon world, Violette bites her lower lip in frustration.

''Arrogant.''

　Violette muttered a small mumble as she looked up at Aifa, who was flying into the sky.

　There, there was the appearance of the men in light armor who were desperately rushing to it.

''Excuse me, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.......!

Oh, where's Master Aifa...

　The other soldiers pointed to the sky, raising their eyebrows at the men, who were repeatedly shaking their shoulders up and down and breathing wildly.

　The soldiers looked up at the sky with their faces twitching and bowed their heads towards the soldiers and Violette who had taught them.

''By order of His Majesty, we are accompanied by Lord Aifa, so we will now take our leave.

Shit, is there a town over there?

I don't know. But I'm going to go.

　The men in light armor mumbled something and ran in the direction that Aifa had flown in. Violette looked away from their backs and then quietly opened her mouth.

''What the Empire is going to do with that flying island... no, it was a foolish question. The emperor would definitely try to take the flying island as his own. But that would lead to the destruction of the empire if one mistake was made.......

　Violette muttered that in a small voice that no one could hear, and this time a soldier on a horse came running from a distance.

　At the soldier's form, Violette and the surrounding soldiers' expressions tightened.

''What's going on?''

　When one of the cavalrymen said this and stood in front of him, the soldiers stopped their horses and dismounted on the spot.

''The Atul Kingdom has announced that it has formed an alliance with that flying island!

　The soldiers buzzed loudly as they reported that.

What the hell?

'Are you saying that the kingdom of Atul has made contact with that flying island?

　More reports followed as the soldiers were astonished.

''According to the Atul Kingdom's announcement, there is a celestial kingdom on the flying island ruled by a king named Taiki, and Princess Lettytsia of the Atul Kingdom is there.

What does this mean? Why is Princess Letizia....

Land of the Sky!

Who is this Tiki guy?

　In the midst of all the commotion, Violette, the only person in the place, narrowed her eyes in silent contemplation.

　She stroked her chin and raised her gaze.

''........A flying island, a castle and a castle town.

　Muttering that, Violette looked up. She called out to one of the soldiers who were lined up around her.

I'm going to follow Aifa and attempt to contact the Celestial Kingdom. You must deliberate on the word of the kingdom that has made an alliance with them in order to move their army. I have to tell the commanders to return to the imperial capital.

　When Violette said this, the one called out to her opened her mouth in a hurry.

'Sho, General! For such a thing to be done, you must be severely punished...

''The Emperor's interest should already be in the Celestial Land. So tell them that I will be assisting Aifa. If I tell them that Aifa is headed for the Leelabras Mountains, they will be satisfied.

　As he told her, Violette rose from her chair and muttered something small.

　Her body softly floats up and looks down at those who look up at her.

''I've left it to you then.''

　With that said, Violette flew off after Aifa.