Emperor Frieder is the country that dominates the western part of the southern part of the continent.

　Nearly half of the country is rich in marine resources facing the sea, and its warm climate and rich food supply, located a little further south than the Kingdom of Atul, make it a mild and cheerful nation.

　The northern part of the country, which is adjacent to the Blau Empire, is home to large rivers, and although there are not many people living there due to the large monsters that live in those rivers, the central part of the country, which is rich in agriculture due to its finely divided rivers, the western and southern parts of the country that face the sea, and the eastern part of the country that faces the forest, are rich in resources and population.

　Because of such characteristics, the Frieder Empire does not have an active relationship with the surrounding countries, and has built a culture that is different from the Blau Empire and the Atul Kingdom.

　I looked at the screen while nodding vaguely as I received the rather rigid explanation of "I'm not sure if this is the case".

''Hmm. That city on top of that hill is definitely unique.''

　As he said this, Eira smiled prettily as she looked out at the red city on the top of a small hill.

''Taiki-sama. That's the castle that protects the eastern part of the Frieder Empire. The Frieder Empire uses its rich resources and large population to build a large castle. It may look flat, but they say those walls are big enough to look up.''

Have you ever been there?

''Although the kingdom of Atul and Emperor Frieder are neighboring countries, they don't have much interaction with each other because the large forest stretches out near the sea and you have to pass through a narrow cliff about two carriages'' to reach it. Peddlers and adventurers seem to come and go somewhat, but unfortunately, I have never...

　With Eira smiling bitterly at my side, I nodded and agreed.

''Well then, let's take a look at the castle of Emperor Frieder for a bit.

　Controlling the camera, I zoomed in on the red castle and saw an image of what looked like a rectangular castle gate. Carriages and merchant-like people are lined up and soldiers are near the gate.

　They are soldiers in brown armor that matches the red castle.

　For some reason, everyone seems to be looking at the camera and saying something, but it's probably just my imagination. This time, we are hiding our flight island in the clouds, so you shouldn't be able to see us.

'Yeah. I'm sure that if the size of a person is that big, that wall must be tens of meters long. It's amazing.

　I returned to visit the castle with a refreshed mind, this time showing images from the gate to the inside of the castle.

　When I passed through the gate, a large courtyard-like space spread out first, and at the back, a two-story square building with a watchtower lined up without gaps like a wall.

　Once I got past the buildings, I found the streets of the city, this time with a solid street. People and carriages came and went on the main street, and it seemed to be very active.

'Huh? It looks like some kind of Indian folk costume.

India?

　The people on the screen are dressed in fluttery, colorful costumes. They look like beautiful, embroidered cloth wrapped around them.

　As I was comparing the clothes, Eira pointed to the screen from the side and opened her mouth.

''The clothes are as distinctive as the clothes, but the building is also very distinctive.

'The building ... ah, true. Are they stuck together upstairs? No. Is there a crosswalk or something like a bridge?

　I agree with Eira's comments as I zoom in on the video.

　The main street was wide enough for carriages to come and go, but the pathway that stretched out on either side was quite narrow. There were several bridges that looked like connecting passageways between buildings on that road. There are places where the buildings are surrounded by what looks like verandas.

It's interesting. It's a three-dimensional town. It's a three-dimensional town. There are only wooden buildings around here.

　Muttering this, Eira pointed to the center of the city.

''Only the city walls, the outer buildings where the soldiers live, and the lord's building in the center are made of stone. Since stone is less readily available in the Frider Imperial State compared to other countries, I heard that all but the most important facilities are made of wood.''

Oh, I see. The shape of the building is very unique and interesting.

　As I was having this conversation, people walking down the street started looking at the camera again and opening and closing their mouths.

'What?' It looks like everyone is looking at us.

The island must have gone out of the clouds.

Hmmm...?

　Eira tells me to look at the other three screens. Only the front screen is a farsighted camera, but the other three show images to the west, north and south of the castle. The screen shows a white, misty island landscape, and I'm pretty sure we're in the clouds.

'Do they stick out of the clouds a bit? But for all that, it seems odd that everyone notices...

　Why is that?

　Saying that, Eira and I both nodded our heads together.





[Castle in the East]

　The Eastern Castle, one of the unique castles of the Frieder Empire that surrounds the city within the castle.

　Anyone with hostile intentions would have to pass through the large city walls to enter the city, and in case of an emergency, they would have to break through the courtyard and sturdy barracks overflowing with soldiers, leaving the residents in a sense of peace.

　It would be no easy task to capture this wide and strong castle.

　The inhabitants were firmly convinced that it would not be an easy task.

　In reality, the northern part of the city was influenced by the power of the monsters that dwelled in the large rivers, while the eastern part was influenced by the large forests and seas where large monsters lurked, a fact that did not matter to those who were born and raised in this land.

　Because of such circumstances, the territory of the Frieder Empire was rich and almost untouched by foreign enemies, and there were few bandits and other criminals.

　Suddenly, a foreign object blends into such a peaceful and relaxed routine.

''What the hell is that?

　Someone shouted, and some of them raised their voices and pointed into the air.

　There was a round shaped black object floating in the sky. The object stood silently in the air, occasionally moving slowly.

　The object, which was advancing down the main street from above, was full of gaps and creepy, like a combination of animal bones when looked at from below.

''Mo, is it a monster?''

It's faint, but I can see what looks like a feather in the sky.

Are they bug-shaped?

No, you don't look like you're alive for all intents and purposes.

　The confused inhabitants were curious about the object, but not afraid of it.

　It was about half the size of a person by all accounts, and there were no fangs or claws to be seen. Its body was scantily clad and the sky was visible through the cracks.

　If they fought, the soldiers would be stronger than them.

　That's about the extent of my perception.

　But some of them were not, and called out loudly for attention.

'Someone inform the lord now! Perhaps it must be the new golem of the Blau Empire! Maybe he's sending some kind of signal to the interloper!

You don't have a golem like that.



　The object proceeded through the buzzing and noisy main street without a care in the world.

　The destination is a large castle in the center.

　There, a group of soldiers with a man in black clothing wearing a turban come running.

　Those on horseback stopped when they saw a black object floating around and got off their horses.

''Master Surgeon! There it is!

　As the soldier said this and pointed to the sky, the man called the surgeon rubbed his eyes with a sleepy look on his face.

'Hmm? What is that thing?

　He muttered this in a voice mixed with a lack of sleep and moved his mouth in a muffled voice.

　Then, it floats up into the air with a fluffy smile.

　Silently, I approach from behind the direction of the black object's progress and observe it at close range.

　At the object that made a small sound that seemed to vibrate the air incessantly, the sorcerer sat cross-legged in the air and picked his chin.

''.............No, really, what is this?

　A soldier calls out to the sorcerer who has a question mark on his face from the ground.

'Surgeon-dono! What did you find out?!

'No, I don't think so...'

　While muttering a small reply to the soldier's words, the surgeon gazes at the object with a gaze.

''I don't even know what it's made of. No, there's no doubt that someone made it? It's not like it's some new monster that flies on bones alone...

　The sorcerer twisted his head while muttering to himself, but his body tensed up as the object unexpectedly changed its motion.

　The object, which had only been moving forward, rose further in a soft arc.

　The object slowly circled above the surgeon as if observing the surgeon, and the surgeon put one hand in front of his face.

　The moment he turned his palm upwards, the wind curled around the surgeon as if it were running around him.

''I don't know what it is, but let's try to collect it anyway.

　The surgeon said, and saw an object circling slowly above his head.

　The circular object, a drone, spinning on four propellers, just flew around the surgeon in silence.