However, the two quickly realized that there was no longer any need to debate whether to use the Elf ball... uh, the sealing collar to bring back this unidentified beast girl lying on the ground. In a flash of lightning, the beast girl who had just been unconscious appeared ten meters away, her hands—or claws—covered in scales held in front of her in a vigilant posture, while her eyes searched left and right for her fallen long knife.
"Ah... um, hi?"
Aya hesitated for a moment before greeting, not because she hesitated to attack after seeing a pretty girl, but mainly because she had just noticed upon waking up that the girl had flowing golden pupils.
If before she could still speculate that it might be a lizard folk or some other reptilian race like a crocodile or something, now she could basically confirm that it was a race with some blood relation to her.
I thought dragonkin were extinct... After all, according to the information available in the outside world, the Dragon lineage had completely disappeared in the realm of the half-Orcs.
However, the other party showed no intention of responding, seemingly evaluating Aya's fighting power. Behind her, a long tail, also covered in blue-green scales, curled up behind her, its tip restlessly swaying.
"I say, could it be that you are the legendary dragonkin?" Aya continued to inquire.
"??!"
The girl, who had just had no reaction to Aya's question, immediately showed a shocked expression on her face, her eyes widening, her golden pupils narrowing to thin lines, quickly reaching out to touch her own cheek.
Upon directly touching her skin and the scales at the corner of her eye, the girl suddenly realized the torn and dirty cloak where she had just served as a cushion for Tiran.
"Ugh..."
Aya wasn't sure if it was her illusion, but it seemed that at one moment, the girl's cheeks flushed red, but before she could confirm, she vanished into a flash of lightning in the sky.
"It seems she hasn't suffered too serious injuries. Is it really okay to let her go like this?"
"More importantly, what's the situation here? Why did she just run off like that..." Tiran looked puzzled.
...
A day and a half later, the Fourth Army, which had been urgently dispatched by Ikante's dire order, arrived at Beacon City, despite the fact that a 20,000-strong infantry army was still at a relative disadvantage compared to the bulk of the Gallus forces that had been mobilized. However, with Tiran and Aya returning and showing their mettle, Gallus no longer dared to act recklessly.
"Lord Alex."
In the bustling Beacon City, Lopez, the commander of the Fourth Army, found Alex watching a transport ship leave the dock.
"Captain Lopez." Alex responded to Lopez's greeting, nodding and saluting. "What can I do for you?"
"Just the usual courtesy," Lopez said, putting down his hand after the military salute and also looking at the departing ship.
The ship was not carrying goods or military supplies; instead, it was ferrying residents of Beacon City—mostly civilian cargo ships requisitioned by the kingdom's military, ferrying people to safety. At the same time, many residents were leaving Beacon by land.
Although the return of Tiran and Aya and the arrival of the Fourth Army had stabilized the situation, the failed landing battle at Beolgen Port was still a defeat for Milanía. Avoiding the worst outcome of losing Beacon City did not change the fact that a breakthrough point and foothold were being handed over to the enemy.
Despite officially possessing only two Army corps of the army and a similar sized navy, the Gallus Federation's war potential was considered top-notch by most military observers. As a small island nation, unable to sustain a large standing army with its millions of population supporting economic and technological development, the system of reserves was born, with every adult man entering compulsory military service for two years, with the best quality being incorporated into the reserves.
As reservists, they spend two to three months each year participating in subsidized training, while working in civilian jobs for the rest of the time. In the event of war, they can quickly transform into combat-ready forces.
Therefore, even though at present Galleus only holds Bergen Naval Port as a base without further actions, if the port is not recaptured soon, a large number of reserve troops may soon land there.
Whether waiting until then or taking action to retake Bergen Naval Port, the city of Beacon will undoubtedly be on the front line, making it the best choice to evacuate civilians in advance.
"Lord Alex seems to be in a bad mood."
"Is it that obvious? I thought I was hiding it well," Alex chuckled, "Indeed, watching the people in the city I manage flee, and possibly face the flames of war, it's hard to stay in a good mood, isn't it?"
"That's true. But rest assured, we will do our best to recapture Bergen before then," Lopez said, "By the way, is Her Highness Tiran available? I hope to have an audience with her."
Being the second princess and the strongest knight in the kingdom, Princess Tiran's prestige is high among both civilians and soldiers. Moreover, with what Brad did, her chances of inheriting the throne have skyrocketed, so having contact with her would be a good thing.
"Her Highness probably won't be in a good mood at the moment. Even though I am the governor of Beacon, this is her territory after all, especially since Gilliast Castle has also come under attack..."
"That's true." Lopez was tactful and did not push further.
...
Only a few figures were seen on the smooth stone-paved streets, with the green plants of flowerbeds and trees on both sides of the street gradually tinted in the orange-red sunset glow, resembling a freehand oil painting.
Our second princess stood in the alley, looking at the desolate scene on the street, her expression dim.
It's not because her territory is in trouble... To be honest, Alex definitely underestimated how much she cared about her land. The main reason is that Roger, that guy, left together!!!
The artist's empty residence hit Tiran for ten thousand emotional damage. Come on, you left, fine, but couldn't you at least leave me the latest issue of the manga I preordered!
"I mean, couldn't you have shown some of this emotion when Alex was reporting earlier?" Aya stood beside her, sarcastically speechless.
"I don't care! Aya, I'm sad..." Tiran sobbed with her face buried in Aya's chest. She didn't care about revealing her return information to the enemy for some manga and fan fiction in Roger's possession!
Aya was also helpless, only able to pat Princess Tiran's head... uh, I mean, her head, of course.
After repelling the enemy's Holy Rank attack outside Beacon City, Tiran and Aya stayed in the city until now, while Mimi's group went straight back to Gilliast.
Compared to Beacon City, Gilliast suffered much more severe damage in the battle. Let alone anything else, just the damage to the front courtyard lawn would probably give Miss Mimi a headache for a while.
Leaving the increasingly quiet and solemn Beacon City behind, Aya transformed back into her dragon form, carrying Tiran, and soared through the clouds towards Gilliast Castle. With a wingspan of nearly twenty meters, Aya sliced through the air, and at the Golden Dragon's flying speed, covered the distance that would take a carriage hours to travel in a very short time.
Upon arriving over the castle, one could already see the faint lights below. Due to Glerius' landing, several small settlements near the castle were now deserted, leaving only Gilliast in sight.
The pale dragon landed slowly in the courtyard untouched by battle, immediately drawing the attention of those passing by and those stationed there. "Prince Tiran! You've finally returned!"
Most of the guards stationed at the castle, mercenaries or soldiers alike, upon seeing Tiran, reacted in the same way, not just with joy, but with a sense of relief and stability, akin to finding their anchor.
"Mommy daddy! (｡>∀ Tiran > Mimi >>> others since the incident in the magitech capital. Perhaps it was the dragon aura she absorbed when hatching from the alchemical core that made her sometimes resemble a newborn, finding solace only in Aya's presence. Well, it's not her fault. After all, Aya was gone for too long before and relying only on herself and Mimi to soothe her was too difficult.
"So you dug this hole for me?!" "Don't say that, can your own child be called a hole?" "But she's not my child!" "Then should I give birth to one for you in the future?!" The princess clenched her fists in frustration, stomping her feet loudly.
"Eh?" "... Chirp?" "Huh?" The scene fell into silence for a moment, with only the faint chirping of insects in the grass and the rustling of the wind in the leaves. That night, a total of eleven guards patrolling the courtyard of Gilliast Castle inexplicably lost a segment of their memory, and on-site witnesses claimed to know nothing about it.
