Chapter 271

Chapter 271. Additional Labor

DING―!

[A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Sudden Quest has appeared.]

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been a long time since a quest last appeared.

“I'll ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍bring the Forest Witch.”

As ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Head Maid bowed and left, the youngest son, alone in the empty room, scanned the System Window.

――「Sky ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Island Fortification Plan」――

[Description]

: As a floating island in the West, Sky Island is a natural fortress in its own right, but your ambitions know no bounds.

Now that it has become the East's new front line, no amount of defense is too much, and the more talented people you have, the better.

[Objective]

: Attempt anything you wish to strengthen Sky Island's defenses, and succeed.

[Reward]

: Calculating in real time….

――――――――――――――

‘So that's how this one works.’

The youngest son smiled faintly as he looked at the System Window.

‘The reward changes in real time depending on how good my defenses are and how well they work. I like it.’

That only made him more eager.

‘It's like it was with Eclipse. The reward improved according to how many magitech buildings I put up back then, too.’

Given his position at the time, there had not been much he could do, but things had improved in several ways since then.

Granted, Sky Island was far from the family and a little smaller than Eclipse.

‘There's always work to be found if I look for it.’

If he had plenty of land, he could use it accordingly. If he had little, he could make the most of the advantages that came with a smaller area.

And someone who could make use of both those advantages and drawbacks, as well as the conditions peculiar to a floating island, was here.

“Young Master. I've brought the Forest Witch.”

“It's been a while since we've met like this, President. Is there something you want me to do?”

“Yeah.”

The youngest son nodded and pointed to the outer wall.

A complete map of Sky Island, which had belonged to the Master of the Tower of the Sky, was affixed to the wall. It showed the extent of the land and the purpose of each building, making it both a map and a blueprint.

The youngest son jerked his chin toward it and continued.

“I'm going to spread the hundred Towers of the Sky that guarded the neutral zone with the Imperial Family around Sky Island. But that won't be enough.”

“Right. You said those Towers of the Sky are better suited to keeping watch and warning us of intruders than attacking.”

“Right. So you weren't asleep during that part of the meeting.”

“I was awake for that part.”

“Well done.”

“Thanks.”

After that highly productive exchange between president and employee, it was time to talk business.

“We'll use the hundred Towers of the Sky to keep watch, too. Here on Sky Island, we can receive every signal they send.”

By now, the Forest Witch understood what the youngest son was getting at.

“So we scatter the Towers of the Sky around like mines, and then we need bows and arrows to shoot at approaching enemies. And walls to shoot from.”

“Right. To retake Sky Island, the enemy will have to come through the air. They'll need airships.”

“So you expect a fleet of aerial warships.”

“Right. I think there's a strong chance Wisdom's Family Head will push in regardless of the Second Daughter.”

The Forest Witch let out a dry laugh beneath the brim of her hat.

“Isn't she his daughter?”

“To him, there's only one daughter—one child.”

He could say that with certainty. He had once been a player of Wisdom himself.

The Family Head would likely find some way to reassure his own child, then bring his aerial warships.

“Forest Witch, I need you to build walls.”

“Well, I do like making forests. But you know why there aren't many large buildings on this island, President.”

The youngest son nodded.

“There's a limit to how much weight the island can bear.”

“If I grow trees here and weave them into thick walls, the floating island won't bear the weight.”

“Hmm. You really do think things through, Forest Witch. Though sometimes you make me doubt it.”

“…?”

As the Forest Witch cocked her head, the youngest son went on.

“There's a limit to what the island can bear, but the ground down below has no such limit.”

“…President. I don't know if you realize this, but this island is so high that the clouds are beneath our feet.”

“Isn't that right at the limit? That's what I understand, anyway.”

“Sigh. How do you even know that?”

Despite having said just moments ago that she liked this sort of work, the Forest Witch rubbed her head.

The president said to his employee,

“Do you know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk?”

“…I do.”

“That's the name of this operation.”

The Forest Witch, who was to provide the beanstalk seed for the operation, could not help grimacing.

“Sigh.”

Still, she soon nodded in resignation with another sigh.

“How long do I have?”

“A week.”

“Sigh….”

That was her third sigh. He had drawn three sighs from the Forest Witch in less than ten minutes, but he had something to say in his defense.

“You remember, don't you? I brought you all those rare herbs from the Imperial Palace, the ones they'd used to keep His Highness the Crown Prince healthy by force.”

“…I remember.”

“If this goes well, I'll give you all the rare plants in Wisdom's Majia, too.”

“I'll work hard.”

Having motivated his employee, the president rose and approached the map of Sky Island.

“It doesn't matter if the enemy climbs them. No, we can even make them tempting to climb.”

“You want to use them as a trap?”

“Why else would I call the operation Jack and the Beanstalk? Once the seed is planted, it's Jack's turn to climb.”

“You don't look entirely certain yourself, President.”

The youngest son, whose acquaintances had been reading his expressions more often lately, gave a small laugh.

“You're right. For the beanstalk to become a staircase for Jack before it becomes a wall, Jack has to leave his house.”

“You think he might come out, or he might not.”

“Exactly. But we should be ready.”

After all, the treasure on the floating island atop the beanstalk—the Second Daughter—was someone Jack would surely want to rescue.

***

Ventus the Wind Dragon flew toward a mountain range on the outskirts of the West, on the outskirts of even those outskirts.

Here, sheer cliffs and pointed rocky peaks were far more numerous than trees.

Rather than people, the place was full of young dragons scurrying about on all fours.

Ventus entered the Drago Mountains, rode the wind deep into them, and landed lightly.

“Elder. I'm back.”

Adult dragons living in the West had to seek the permission of the one known as the Elder to deal with the West's Great Families or with humans. The same went for reporting to her.

“To give you the conclusion first, I failed spectacularly. Well, I'm sure you've heard already.”

Polymorphed into human form, Ventus scratched the back of his head as he spoke to the being before him.

The dragon, who looked like a human woman in her thirties, sat cross-legged before a small lake.

Unlike most dragons, she spent much of her time meditating instead of sleeping. She was the representative of the dragons in the West.

“It is unusual, but I have no intention of blaming you.”

Her voice was as still and peaceful as the lake nearby. Its sound alone put the listener at ease as she continued.

“There is one thing I am curious about, though. A dragon that drinks blood, of all things.”

“…I was hoping you wouldn't ask, but of course you did.”

“Would you not ask if you were in my place?”

“That's why I figured I couldn't avoid it. If it were me, I'd ask nothing but questions about the blood drinking for the next year.”

“Ha ha.”

The dragon laughed, neither loudly nor softly, and rose. Her long silver hair spilled down along her shoulders.

“I do not intend to keep you here for a year. What was it like when your blood was drunk?”

“At first, I couldn't believe it. He'd thrust his face into bladed wind, and what did he do? Bite me.”

But something strange happened immediately afterward.

“In the blink of an eye, a huge amount of my blood was gone. The bite wasn't deep enough to cause that much bleeding, but the blood poured out as though a vein of water had burst.”

“Oh dear. That must have been unpleasant.”

“Yes. Watching a fellow dragon drink all that blood without spilling a drop, looking into his eyes… it gave me chills.”

“That is why you told Page you would stay out of this war. The experience left you traumatized.”

“…….”

Ventus neither confirmed nor denied it. That was answer enough.

“There is one more thing I would like to ask.”

“You're unusually eager today. What is it?”

“The human whom that blood-drinking Fire Dragon serves as his master. The Fifth Son of Millesdusk. What did you make of him, Ventus?”

The Wind Dragon let out a faint sigh. The wind around him followed his breath of its own accord, gently stirring her silver hair.

“I only saw him once. And not for long. I can't say I formed much of an opinion.”

“No. You did form an opinion. Your green eyes tell me as much.”

“…Honestly. I can't hide anything from you, Elder.”

The Wind Dragon steadied his breath again and searched for the right words before finally speaking frankly.

“You know Cos, don't you?”

“Yes. The charming human with remarkable talent for Wind Attribute magic. I hear she is Wisdom's next Family Head.”

Arrogant would have suited that human better than charming, but never mind.

“Cos took a great interest in him, so I knew about him, but I wasn't particularly interested myself. Only…”

“Did meeting him change your mind?”

“Not quite. Though some of the things he said did remind me a little of you, Elder.”

“…Of me?”

Once again, the Wind Dragon had to search for words. He softened the ones in his head before voicing them.

“You know… the sort of things someone says when they seem to have made peace with the world and with life. Things you could only say if you'd lived an awfully long time.”

“I see. You have lived more than twice as long as the Fifth Son, Ventus, and sleeping is still what you like best.”

“Sleeping is every dragon's favorite pastime.”

Ventus pouted and changed the subject back.

“Anyway, that Fifth Son. His vantage point is incredibly high. He saw more than anyone else on that battlefield, and he used that high, broad view to take Sky Island.”

“A high and broad view…”

The silver-haired dragon turned his words over in her mind, then gave a quiet nod.

“Thank you, Ventus. That helped me a great deal, and you have worked hard. Go in and rest.”

“Yes. I think I'll sleep for a good long while this time.”

“But be ready to get up promptly if I wake you.”

“…Ah. I told you, I don't want any more part in the humans' war.”

She smiled warmly at Ventus's complaints.

“For some reason, I feel that I too will have to take part in this war someday.”

“You, Elder?”

Ventus's eyes, drooping a moment ago as if he might fall asleep at once, grew round.

“Yes. Because I think the day that human from the East you praised pushes all the way to Wisdom's heart will come within a year.”

“…Did you foresee it?”

The silver-haired dragon gave a slight nod.

“It was hazy, but I clearly saw it appear before me. It was shortly before you came to see me. Hearing what you have said has made me certain.”

“Didn't you see how the war ends?”

“I see only a fragmentary scene, like a single painting. Nothing beyond it.”

“I knew that, but it feels like more of a shame today.”

She left the spot where she had sat to meditate and approached Ventus.

“If that future does come to pass, I would like you to stand beside me then.”

“…There are plenty of dragons stronger than me.”

“But none of them care about humans as much as you do. Whether war breaks out or Wisdom falls, they will hardly care.”

“Sigh. All right, I get it. So please stop looking at me like that. You're making me nervous.”

With a small laugh, she walked past Ventus.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk.”

With that short answer, she vanished like mist.

RelatedRelatedRelated