When I heard Zavilia's introduction, I exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh, that's right, the introduction of 'gray-brown dragon' is accurate! Zoil and I don't have a familiar contract, so we weren't allowed to call you by name!" (Fia)
As expected of you, Zavilia.
I had been instructed by Captain Quentin that familiar disliked being called by name by anyone other than its master, but I never thought that this applied to monsters other than familiar.
I didn't even notice because Zoil's nature was calmer than I first thought, and he didn't get angry even when I called his name!
I was happy with my new discovery and looked at Zavilia with a smile on my face, but Zavilia tilted his head in disbelief.
"No, there is no problem with Fia calling Zoil by name. Since she has a contract with me, my subordinates will also inherit the contract." (Zavilia)
"Huh? If you're Zavilia, please don't say horrible things! I've never heard of such a rule." (Fia)
Zavilia started saying something outrageous, so I got surprised and denied it.
However, Zavilia shrugged her shoulders as if it was nothing.
"Really? So, I just made it." (Zavilia)
"You shouldn't make up rules like that!" (Fia)
While I was scolding Zavilia for saying things like a child, Zoil shifted uncomfortably.
"Oh, I'm sorry, mister gray-brown dragon. I was in the middle of introducing you." (Fia)
I changed my mind and politely called his after her body color, but Zoil snorted in dissatisfaction.
Zavilia saw this and wagged his tail a little, as if to say, "See?"
"Not being called by Fia, who calls my name, it means being treated like 'A bunch of other people who don't even remember their names,' so Zoil doesn't seem to be emotionally satisfied. Well, I guess Fia can do whatever she wants." (Zavilia)
After saying that, Zavilia bent down slightly.
"I usually live near the top of the mountain, but if you like, I'll show you around. Do you want to ride on my back?" (Zavilia)
"Well, it looks like fun!" (Fia)
Now that I thought about it, it was the first time I had ridden on Zavilia's back since the time I met him at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and he took me to the Rude house.
Compared to those days, Zavilia had become so big and magnificent that I thought he was another dragon, but he was still my cute Zavilia.
Ah, no, Zavilia was cute, strong, and kind, to be exact!
Feeling proud, I asked Zavilia.
"Can you take Curtis, Green, and Blue for a ride too?" (Fia)
I asked this question because I wanted everyone to get to know Zavilia and like him even more, because the more they got to know her, the more they realized how good he was.
However, Zavilia, who was supposed to understand my feelings, paused for a beat before answering.
"...If Fia wishes." (Zavilia)
Blue made an intercessory voice. I was wondering what he thought at that time.
"Fia, if you'd like, I'll have my brother and I ride on the gray-brown dragon. Or we can climb to the top of the mountain on our own." (Blue)
Well, Blue was the type who read the atmosphere!
As I was admiring this, the former escort knight, who was not the type to read the atmosphere, naturally opened his mouth.
"I will accompany Lady Fi." (Curtis)
Way to go, Curtis.
I was sure Zavilia, who I met after a long time, was aware that he wanted to monopolize me, but the way he completely ignored me and insisted on my own wishes was even more refreshing!
I looked at it in shock, but the insensitive former escort knight did not notice my feelings and did not retract his previous statement, so we decided to split into two groups and move as Captain Curtis had requested.
Therefore, as we were sorting out their luggage to ride our respective dragons, Green and Blue let out a big sigh, seemingly unconscious.
"... Haa..." (Green, Blue)
After that, both of them hung their shoulders as if they were tired, so I worried that they might be nervous about riding a dragon, so I called out to them.
"Green, Blue, are you okay? You may be worried about riding a dragon, but I don't think it's that scary. I've ride Zavilia before, but he didn't fly that high, and he wasn't shaking." (Fia)
However, when Green heard my words, he didn't seem relieved and shook his head as if in denial.
"No, Fia, that's not true. I wasn't afraid of riding a dragon, I was just reconsidering the current situation. Just a while ago, I was supposed to be facing off against the gray-brown dragon in an attempt to defeat it. All of a sudden, I'm in a situation where I'm riding a horse. I'm a little confused as to what just happened." (Green)
When I heard Green's words, I tilted my head.
"Eh, that’s because it turned out that Zoil is a member of Zavilia, right?" (Fia)
I thought it was a simple story, since Zoil was Zavilia's friend. So, there was no need for conflict and they became friends.
That was the obvious answer, but Green waved his hand in frustration.
"That's true, but it's not. What I'm trying to say is how amazing you are to tame the black dragon, the pinnacle of dragons!" (Green)
Well, once again, should I explain that Zavilia was seriously injured when I made familiar contract...? As I was thinking about this, Blue opened his mouth this time.
"The guardian beast of the Nav Kingdom is the black dragon. Of course, Fia knew everything and probably made the most effective monster for the Kingdom her familiar, but she came looking for the only black dragon in the world. I said that it's amazing that even he follows you." (Blue)
"Ah" (Fia)
It was! I had forgotten, but Zavilia was the guardian beast of the Nav Kingdom.
I'm sure the Kingdom made Zavilia a guardian beast because of the black dragon's strong image, but being a guardian beast... huh?
As I was thinking about it, a question suddenly occurred to me, and I tilted my head.
"Come to think of it, 300 years ago, this area wasn't part of the Nav Kingdom, right?" (Fia)
...Yes, I was a princess in my previous life.
The maps from back then, when the scope of the territory was different from now, were clearly in my mind, even including foreign countries.
And, according to my memory, this land 300 years ago was not Kingdom's territory.
In other words, at some point, this land had become the property of Kingdom... and when I thought about it, it suddenly dawned on me.
"I understand! The Kingdom was happy to have made the Gazzard region, including the sacred Blackpeak Mountain, their territory, and to commemorate that, they made the black dragon as the guardian beast of the country, right?" (Fia)
When I said it, I felt like I was right, and I looked up proudly at Green, but he shook his head as if to deny it.
"No, in terms of order, the Kingdom designated the black dragon as its guardian beast first. Also, this land was a part of the Arteaga Empire that was ceded to it for free. People wouldn't go out of their way to commemorate land that wasn't won in battle." (Green)
Well, I thought that since he was a citizen of the Empire, he knew a lot about the Empire, but I got distracted by something else.
"What, this land was part of the Arteaga Empire?" (Fia)
It didn't match the map in my head.
300 years ago, the Kingdom of Nav was located in the westernmost part of the continent, just like it is now, but it did not have as large a territory as it now.
The northern region of the current kingdom, including this land, was the territory of another country 300 years ago, and other countries were not part of the Empire.
This was because the Arteaga Empire was located in the easternmost part of the continent.
300 years ago on the continent, the Kingdom of Nav was located in the westernmost part, the Arteaga Empire in the easternmost part, and there were several countries sandwiched between...
However, the current Arteaga Empire was located in the northern central part of the continent.
Other countries had risen to the east, which was once the territory of the Empire, and the Empire was adjacent to the Kingdom with only one small country in between.
In other words, if you looked at it from the west side of the continent, you would see the Kingdom of Nav (a large country), the Holy Kingdom of Dithal (a small country), and the Arteaga Empire (a large country).
However, if this land we were currently in was ceded to us by the Empire, as Green said, then that meant that in the past, the Empire included the current Holy Kingdom of Dithal and even part of the Kingdom of Nav.
Well, as I was tilting my head wondering what that meant, Captain Curtis explained to me.
"About 300 years ago... about 10 years after the death of the Great Saint, the Arteaga Empire made the entire northern part of the continent its territory. All of the northern part of the continent from the eastern edge to the western edge... In other words, half of the continent was part of the Arteaga Empire." (Curtis)
"Huh!? H-half of the continent??" (Fia)
Involuntarily, a frantic voice spilled out.
Half the continent? I wonder if such a thing is possible!?
I had never heard of a country controlling half of this vast continent.
It was true that the power of the continent 300 years ago was that the Empire was the most powerful, but its territory was at most from the easternmost tip of the continent to the northern center.
However, the fact that it controlled the land from the central part of the north to the west meant that the Empire doubled its territory in just 10 years.
"Well, the Emperor of the Empire 300 years ago was very good at fighting!" (Fia)
When I expressed my honest opinion, Blue nodded thoughtfully.
"That's right, the Black Emperor was the strongest fighter in the history of the Empire." (Blue)
"Black Emperor..." (Fia)
Oh my, there's another name I'm not familiar with.
The Emperor I knew 300 years ago had a different name, so he must be a different person.
That meant that after I died in my previous life, the Emperor took my place.
Black Dragon, Black Knight, Black Emperor... It's all black!
Even as I thought about this, I opened my mouth wondering.
"But that Black Emperor is so brave. He's willing to cede part of his Empire to us as Kingdom's territory for free." (Fia)
I tilted my head and asked, still in doubt.
Author's Note
As always, thank you for reading!
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