Huh.....here we are.........

　When I arrived at the royal capital, Berge, and saw the pristine white palace, I couldn't help but let out a few words.
　There it is, it looks like the Taj Mahal in India. It's an all-marble tomb built by the emperor for his beloved queen. It's a chalk building that means "crown palace.
　Well, I felt the resemblance, but there are quite a few differences.
　Compared to the streets and walls made of sun-dried bricks, the white palace is very noticeable. If I were to compare it to the Arabian Nights, the capital is like an Indian palace mixed with the world of the Arabian Nights.
　The streets where the carriages run are still undeveloped compared to Belfast. However, the energy of the people there is not inferior to it.
　People of various races come and go, and the city is bustling with activity. A wide variety of cultures are mixing and developing. That's what this city is all about, I thought.
　I pass through a street lined with tall buildings and cross a long bridge to the palace. We drove over the waterways that circled the capital and entered the grounds of the palace.
　We dismounted from the carriage and walked down the sidewalk, Olga, five of us, Garun, and Rion, the eight of us, with the palace gardens at our side. Birds were playing in the beautiful gardens and squirrels were watching us from the tops of the evenly spaced trees.
　We walked up the long stairs and into the palace. Bright sunlight poured down through the ceiling light sill, which combined with the white of the marble to create a dazzling glow.
　We walked backwards and forwards through the column-lined corridor that ran through the center of the courtyard, until we came to a large ornate door.
　With a light squeak, the gate guard soldiers open the door.
　The audience room, with its spreading red carpet and light shining through the skylight, was lined with various sub-humans on either side. Every one of them was of fine build, and seemed to be the chief vassals of the country, but they had horns, wings, and a variety of other races.
　And at the back of the audience room, on a slightly raised throne, sat the king of this country.
　Jamka Blau Mismid, the Beast King. He seems to be a snow leopard beastman. He was about in his early fifties. He has white hair and a white beard, and his face shows the power and authority of a king. His eyes are sharp, and his eyes are indescribably powerful, but they also have a mischievous glow to them.
　In front of the Beast King, we all kneel down on one knee and hang our heads.

''Your Majesty the King...Oliga Strand, I have returned from the Kingdom of Belfast.
Yes, it was a great cause.

　The Beast King nods quietly. He continues to speak to Garun and Rion, who are standing behind Origa-san.

''Garun, and I'm glad that the Knight-dono of Belfast has also successfully escorted Oliga.
"Haha.

　Then the Beast King looks at me somewhat, his eyes narrowing and a small smile on his face.

'You are the ones sent by King Belfast, aren't you? According to what I heard, during the journey, you and the others killed a dragon that attacked the Eldo village on your own. Is that true?
'Yes, sir. That is correct. The other four of us here have killed the black dragon that attacked the village.

　It was Yumina, who quietly stood up, who answered the Beast King's question with a resolute attitude.

''........What about you?''

　In the audience room, the girl who looked at you without the slightest bit of nervousness looked at the Beast King with a questioning look on her face.

''I'm sorry I'm late. The King of the Kingdom of Belfast, Tristwin Elnes Belfast is my daughter, Yumina Elnea Belfast.

　A thud spreads through the audience. That's right, because the princess of a country suddenly appeared. Origa-san and Rion-san, who know what's going on, but Garun-san is surprised to see her eyes peeled back.

''My God... why is a Belfast princess in our country?''
"Our alliance with the Mismids is that important to our country. This is a letter from your father. Please read it.

　Saying that, I take out a letter from my pocket. When did I receive that one? Ah, when I was in the village, taking temporary refuge in the royal palace in Belfast.
　One of his entourage reverently takes the letter and hands it to the Beast King on the throne. After opening the seal and skimming through it, King Misumid looks at Yumina and smiles.

''I see........ I see..... I'll take a positive view of what is written here and come up with an answer in the near future. In the meantime, the princess and your people are free to stay in my palace.

　Handing the letter to his entourage, the Beast King quietly turned to us and said those words.

''And that's enough of the formalities. There is one thing that has been bothering me since earlier...''

　The Beast King's eyes turn to Amber at my side. Well, I'd be curious, usually.

''Is that white tiger there your companion?''
''Yes. You're a sort of...squire of Lord Fuyu here.
"Gau

　Ember responds briefly in affirmation. In Mismid, the white tiger is considered sacred. I wondered if it was a good idea to treat it as a squire, but since it wasn't restrained by a collar or leash, no one complained about it.
　The Beast King stared at Ember, but eventually quietly turned his eyes towards me.

''....I see. A brave man accompanied by a white tiger has killed a dragon? It's been a long time since my blood has been boiling. What do you say, Fuyao? Do you want to stand with me?
What?

　While I was screaming dumbly and pouting, the surrounding chief ministers all sighed in unison with a mixture of resignation. Eh, what's that?




　There was a large arena behind the chalk royal palace. It's like the Colosseum in Rome. This country is really too multicultural.
　I was brought here and ended up competing against the Beast King. What's going on here?

''I'm sorry, Mister Winter Night. You can't help but feel compelled to stand up to the strongest person in the room. To tell the truth, we're in trouble too.

　The person who apologized to me was Mr. Graz, the Prime Minister of this country. He is a winged man with gray wings. He is in his late 40s. He wears the same gray robes as his wings and has a moustache.

I think it's better to get a sharp pain in the ass. Give it all you've got.''
No, no, no. You're your own king. Are you sure, then?

　I looked at Graz with dumbfounded eyes. Then the people who were standing next to Graz also started to complain.

The people who were standing next to Graz also complained. What does His Majesty think of the affairs of state? And just when you think he's wandered off, he's joined the warrior group's training and beat them all up!
'I had a new weapon in mind the other day! And then he flew off to the blacksmith's shop! And how hard I had to work because of all the slippage in my schedule after that!
'He said, "Let's hold a national martial arts tournament for me," or something like that. Where do you think they have the budget for that! Hey!

　.........It's not easy for the Mismid overlords to get their hands dirty. He's a strange king. No, I think the king of Belfast is also much weirder.
　For now, I grab my wooden sword and head to the center of the arena. My companions, the Mismid overlords, and the captain class of the Mismid Warriors were stationed in the audience.
　His Majesty the Beast King was also waiting for me with a wooden sword in one hand and a wooden shield in the other. I refrained from using the shield because it would interfere with my movements and I wasn't used to using it.

'The game is to be won until one of us takes a fatal blow, if serious, or admits defeat of our own accord. The use of magic is also acceptable. However, the use of direct attack magic on the main body is prohibited. Are you both ready?

　A dark-skinned horned man who will act as the judge, the Beast King and I, will explain to each other. No direct magic attacks, huh? Hmmm, what should we do? I'm not sure if there's any need to be shy about it.

I'm not sure... are you really going to do it?
"Mmm-hmm, take it easy. You can beat me in a real fight, and you can beat me with anything you want.

　The Beast King laughs happily. It's not good, I'm serious, I can't believe he's in his fifties, he has muscles that don't look like he's in his fifties, he must be working out.
　It can't be helped. You can't blame yourself for this. Let's play it like a real fight.
　The referee raised his right hand in the air, looked at me and the Beast King in turn, and then shook his hand vigorously.

''Then, begin!''
"Slip.
What?

　Sutin! And His Majesty the Beast King fell down in a grand manner. He took the opportunity to close the distance and thrust the wooden sword at His Majesty's throat.

''Yes, it's settled,''
Wait, wait, wait, wait! You're not going to get this one! What the hell was that?
It's my non-attribute magic, Slip. I was told it's okay for anything other than attack magic.
No, no, no! Not that one! It's about the game and more than that!

　His Majesty the Beast King is complaining about an unsatisfactory resolution. Well, I don't understand how you feel. But actually, if it's a real battle, this is the most effective way to do it. It won't work against the flying guys, though.

''Do it again! This time without that magic!
What should we do? Prime Ministers?

　I call out to Mr. Graz and the others, the vizier. For a moment, they look at me like they don't understand, but as soon as they understand, they smile with a grin.

You're right. It's not a good idea to go any further, as it would interfere with our political affairs.
'Gu, Graz! Don't say that, just a little bit. Just a little bit, huh?
That's not really true, though, is it?

　His Majesty the Beast King rushes over to the Prime Minister and discusses this and that. ''I'll do it right! Or, "I'm not going to slack off anymore! I can hear that. It seemed that the overlords were giving various conditions to that, but eventually His Majesty gave a small shrug. It seems that he drank the various conditions that the viziers gave him. Did I do something bad...?

Winter's night. I'm sorry, I'd like to have another fight with Your Majesty!

　Receiving a giggling and happy Graz-san's voice in the background, His Majesty the Beast King stands in front of me again. Oh, is he a bit angry about something?

Look, this time you're not allowed to use that magic!
Yes, sir.

　Another partition. The referee swung his right hand down again.

'Begin!'