Chapter 512 - Episode 6: The Dragonewt
I hadn't thought about it deeply, but receiving the protection of the Four Great ones is apparently a massive deal.
The Dragonewt, who received the ring from the Gnome, immediately declared he would live with the Dryad of the Royal Capital area and swore to the Dryad to be the guardian of her forest. The witnesses were various races including the Four Great ones. Of course, humans were included. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a deterrent.
Whether it's called a ceremony of swearing, he cut his palm with a knife, and while blood dripped onto the ground, he chanted something in a language humans don't understand. It's a bit scary.
"That's a vow to the ancestor of the Dragonewts. He's saying he'll fight to protect the neutrality of this forest."
Violet told me.
Whether the ancestor of the Dragonewts is a dragon or a god-like being, I don't know, but it's likely the equivalent of the Goddess to me. In other words, it's a sacred and solemn vow.
The Beastmen, who had been cheering during the swearing, became quiet once he drew the knife and just watched the turn of events. He said something to each of the Four Great ones in turn, and the Four Great ones said something back. Violet said he was confirming that the vow had been established with all of the Four Great ones. Whether it's the Dragonewt's way or his personality, I don't know, but he's quite thorough. He might be meticulous.
For example, in the case of humans living on the White Island, the Vow of Silence to the Goddess is famous. However, the procedure is extremely simple: you just vow toward a statue of the Goddess... anything is fine... or a portrait... anything is fine... in the presence of a priest of Bishop rank or higher. Depending on the circumstances, the witness can be just a regular priest, or there might not even be one. And certainly, no blood is shed.
Perhaps there are rules for each individual movement, as he's taking his time. Because he's so meticulous, I find myself getting nervous just watching. Humans are haphazard. If this meticulousness is a characteristic of Dragonewts as a whole, dealing with humans who do nothing but sloppy things would be irritating. Maybe this is where they had their falling out.
Once the series of rituals was over, he cast recovery magic on himself and turned toward me.
"Now, Jeanne-dono. Once again, I look forward to working with you."
"Ah, yes. Likewise. I look forward to working with you."
He's really serious.
The Dragonewt, saying that since he made a vow he must fulfill his duty, immediately requested confirmation of the territory. Since it was a hassle, I left it to Henry-sama and the others and decided to return to the banquet.
"Thank you, Jeanne. I never thought you'd secure a Dragonewt's protection... and for the Gnome to become the backing... truly, thank you."
I was hugged by the tearful Dryad of the Royal Capital area.
"Jeanne is truly amazing. I didn't think things would settle so well."
"It was worth me giving her the stone."
The three Dryads were showering me with praise. Flora and other Alraunes also gathered in swarms.
"Next is the operation of the orchard and medicinal herb garden. You're good at that field, so it should be fine, right?"
"Yeah. I want to say 'leave it to me,' but what kind of things do humans like?"
There's no need to worry about that point.
"Dryad, it's okay. There's a farm managed by Jeanne and her companions, and I'm there too. That place, you see, also coordinates with the state-run farm of the Kingdom of Sertoria."
It was Flora. The concept of an orchard using the power of spirits had been devised even before coming here. Lyudmila, Miana, and Flora work together to devise various cultivation methods. Wilson-san practices them at the vast farm testing ground in the Royal Capital area and finalizes them as methods that can be done on a large scale by humans alone. Simultaneously, they also do breed improvement. We just need to convey those methods. Since it's the Dryad, Alraunes, and herbivorous Beastmen doing it here, even better results can be expected.
"I see. That's amazing. See? Just as I said, Jeanne is amazing, isn't she? I'm the one who recommended her."
The Wolf Man leader had come over before I knew it. Moreover, he's taking the credit.
"Listen, if you keep saying things like that, you'll be buried by the Gnome again. Ah! Look, look out!"
"Eek!"
At Renata's words, he crouched down holding his head with both hands.
"It's a joke. A joke."
"W-What, don't scare me like that."
Everyone laughed. The Dryad of the Royal Capital area also broke into a full smile.
The next day, we decided to go meet the Dragonewt's wife. That said, unlike humans, she can move quite a bit, so we decided to meet at the Wolf Man Elder's house.
This time too, I was the only human. However, I felt safe since Violet and the three Dryads were with me. Unfortunately, the Beastmen from Regnentes were excluded.
Even though it was called the Elder's house, it was a cave. Furs were spread on the floor, but there was no furniture. Since there are foxes, they can apparently make pottery, so there were water jars and such. In any case, there was a marked difference from the house of the Elder in Regnentes.
"How did you manage food during the winter?"
"W-Well, never mind about us. The Dragonewt's wife is in the back, so please, this way."
It seems it wasn't just hunting. It would be good to teach the fox wives how to make dried meat.
The structure of the houses is the same in both Regnentes and the Sertoria Royal Capital area; essentially, multiple rooms are connected along the slope. That's because they can take in outside light that way. However, Beastmen have night vision. I don't know how much it's needed.
Being the Elder's house, there were many rooms, and we finally reached the room where the Dragonewt's wife was after passing through four passages connecting the rooms.
The Dragonewt's wife was a person with a slender and elegant atmosphere. Like her husband, she wore a white tunic and a black belt with silver thread embroidery. Her hair color was purple, and the wings growing on her back were the same color. Her eyes were also gold.
She was tall, probably about the same as Edward-sama. What she had tucked into her waist was not a sword but something like a short staff. It resembled the Knight's Staff I have. She might be a noble.
She also felt a bit young. In human terms, it would be a few years after becoming an adult, for example, seventeen or eighteen. Age-wise, there's no problem with getting married. Pre-marital pregnancy is also, well, within the range of tolerance.
"She's purple."
Violet said softly. She's probably talking about the hair color.
"She's the Chieftain's Daughter. In human terms, she's a princess."
Eh? A princess eloping?
"That's right. This person is the daughter of the Dragonewt Chieftain. At this point, she's the sole successor to the Chieftainship. But in a little while, she won't be the sole one anymore."
It was the Dryad of the Royal Capital area.
"To be precise, there are two families capable of producing a Chieftain. I am the daughter of one of those families. Therefore, I will not necessarily become the Chieftain in the future. However, as you explained earlier, I was also the sole successor to the Chieftainship."
There was a correction from the person herself, but the reality is probably fine as the Dryad explained.
Good grief. A princess eloping while pregnant? Of course they'd be wary of pursuers.
"You are Jeanne, aren't you?"
"Yes. That's right."
I placed both hands in front, bowed deeply, and gave my first greeting. I use this method for those of different religions.
"The first-timers are the two Dryads and the Arachne."
"Nice to meet you."
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you."
Non-human races are, well, like this.
"Elder, it's apologetic to say this as a guest, but could you step away? I have something I wish to speak about only to these people."
"Ah, I see. Then, I shall be in the next room. If anything happens, please call me."
"Thank you."
As expected of a princess. She kicked out the homeowner. Moreover, she's acting as if it's natural.
Once the Elder left, she said "Please sit down" as if she were the homeowner.
We sat in a circle.
First, the princess thanked us for this negotiation.
"I have heard the story. Not only did you consider peace with those living in this forest, but you even considered our safety."
Depending on how you think about it, we conveniently used the stray Dragonewts who had fled to ensure the neutrality of this forest, but it's probably better not to say that.
"I have heard from my husband. You wish to go to the Dragonewt Village?"
"Yes. I was requested by the Gnome."
I can't say I'm going along with the hobby of an old couple. The fact that I was requested by the Gnome is true.
"I wonder if a human, Dryads, and an Arachne can reach it?"
"No, the Dryads won't go. It's a human, an Arachne, an Elf, and a Dwarf."
The Elf Prince was hired for camouflage countermeasures, and Alex was hired as a Teleport specialist for infiltration and emergency escape just in case. Violet is in a bodyguard-like position.
The Dragonewt princess, after widening her eyes for a moment, chuckled.
"Are you really human? Between this negotiation and trying to go to the Dragonewt Village with an Elf, a Dwarf, and an Arachne, I can hardly believe you're human."
Um, I should be human. I'm sometimes told I'm not, but according to the Headmistress, both my father and mother were human. I think I've been human for generations...
"But talking like this, I can somehow tell. That you have ties with the Four Great ones, that you're here in the Beastman village with other races even now, and that you're the only human."
"Well..."
"You aren't speaking from a human standpoint. It's as if, yes, you are speaking only from a standpoint following the teachings of the Goddess you all believe in."
"Well, I am a priest, after all."
"What is your rank?"
"I am a Bishop, for now."
"A Bishop is a high-ranking priest, then."
"Well, I suppose so."
There are only four ranks including Acolyte. Above Bishop is only Archbishop. Of course, in terms of status within the church, there are various ranks below the Archbishop who is the head of the Medioland Royal Capital Great Church. Since I'm a stray, I should be at the lowest rank among Bishops. In terms of status within the church, I might even be below a regular priest belonging to the church.
"Jeanne is Jeanne."
Violet? That explanation isn't very clear.
"I see. Is that so? With the Arachne's words just now, I understand well."
Why does that make sense?
After that, it was after briefly confirming the contents of this peace negotiation and the planned future trade.
"Actually, I have something I wish to speak about only to you all. Please keep it secret from others."
She said in a lowered voice.
Just in case, I gave a brief word, took out the wooden statue of the Goddess from my item bag, and made a Vow of Silence.
Then, we huddled our knees together to form a small circle.
According to the daughter of the Dragonewt Chieftain, the Dragonewt Village has no vitality at all, and they live lives as if just waiting for time to pass. That's because, during these past thousands of years, children have rarely been born. The fact that she is the sole successor to the Chieftainship despite there being two families that produce Chieftains is also because children aren't born.
"I do not know the reason. It is even said to be the limit of the race."
The limit of the race... Is there such a thing?
"Take dragons, for example. Several individuals have been confirmed on this island, but they are not on the continent. And the individuals on this island have also significantly decreased. There are certainly individuals who were killed after conflicts with humans, but even so, it shouldn't be a number that would wipe out the race."
That might be true. Those called Dragon Slayers aren't many, even including legends. At most, a few people. A while ago, I felt like the number suddenly increased, but the opponent was a Revenant that was already dead, and only one of them.
"As the Chieftain's daughter, I wish to somehow break through that situation. To do that, I must find the cause."
It seems the problem of the land can be considered as one of the causes.
"We Dragonewts, at some point, began to live by climbing high mountains. Until then, we apparently lived in the plains like humans do now."
Few creatures live on high mountains. The temperature is low and water is scarce. Naturally, the food that can be harvested is little.
"And magic power. Magic power tends to accumulate in relatively low places. I don't think a slight difference in elevation makes a big change, but isn't there a difference after all between midway up this mountain range and the particularly undulating forests in the plains?"
There would be. That's why the ranch is established.
"I think Dragonewts should also live in the forest like other Beastmen."
I see, I see. Regardless of whether it's correct, it might be worth a try.
"I spoke of that to my father, the Chieftain, and other influential people. However, I was refused. The reason was a trivial one: that the great Dragonewt race naturally belongs in the heights and cannot live a life similar to other races."
It's certainly trivial. If they say such things, what about the Fire Dragon or the Earth Dragon? They live underground.
She tried discussing it with the Chieftain and others several times, but there was no change in their stubborn attitude. The young woman, in despair, talked about whether something could be done with her current husband, who was also the top candidate for her fiancé.
While having several secret meetings, things naturally progressed as a man and woman, and then her pregnancy was discovered. A child, which is rarely conceived, was made. She was bewildered but happy. Simultaneously, she had anxiety about the future of the Dragonewts. At least, she wanted her child to lead a life with a future. Thinking that, she apparently fled the village.
"Thanks to you, my husband was given the legitimacy to live in this forest, and moreover, we can live in the Dryad's forest."
"That's good."
"So, I have a request."
"What is it?"
"Actually, well, I want to have a wedding... I think it's an audacious request, but I was wondering if you could lend your strength once more."
Lend strength or not, I think they can have it as they like.
"The thing is, well, I have no experience with such things and do not know well what kind of ritual it is."
What, that's simple. Just consult with the Dryad or the Elder and have them act as matchmakers.
When I asked the Dryad of the Royal Capital area, she said Dryads don't have such rituals. In that case, it's the Elder.
"We are Dragonewts. I think the content of the ritual would be different from theirs."
"This is a Beastman village, isn't it? Since you as a couple will spend your time with them from now on, it's best to consult the Elder. You may be a Dragonewt, but now you live in the Dryad's forest and, by extension, the Beastman forest, so I think it's better to receive their ritual as a member of it."
"I see. Is that how it is?"
When I asked the other four, they also said that's fine.
"Then, shall I go call the Elder?"
"Ah, no, I shall go myself."
She declined the offer of the Dryad of the Royal Capital area and stood up to call him herself.