The Spearmaster and the Black Cat

g the Heim River like this.” (Shuuya)

“Nya.”

The flight had slowed down into a comfortable pace.
Since I never had seen her flying appearance from a distance, I could only imagine it, but… I’m certain that the flying Rollodeen looks just like a gryphon.
Her foundation is that of a black-haired beast with limbs after all.
Well them should I check it after a long time?

[Status]

Name: Shuuya Kagari
Age: 22
Title: Super-Warrior of the Water Goddess
Race: Light Demon Lucival
Combat Occupation: Magic Spear Darkness Warrior – Chain User

Strength: 20.8
Agility: 21.9
Stamina: 19.9
Mana: 25.4
Dexterity: 19.9
Spirit: 26.2
Luck: 11.2

Current Status: Exalted

Skill Status

Obtained Skills: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Permanent Skills: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Extra Skills: , , ,

My status has grown in average.
I touched that I had acquired.

※※

You share senses with your contracted divine beast to some extent.
The movement performance rises sharply.
The more you mount it, the faster the experience of the divine beast will accumulate and grow.

The more I ride her, eh? That’s good.
I erase the status screen.
I gaze at the sky where the clouds are drifting about.
The calm wind feels great.
It’s my second time in the air, but I like this feeling.
I want to fly as much as possible.
It’s a refreshing sensation.
There’s the Heim River flowing far below us.
The stream of water that twisted and turned into a large river appeared to be similar to a dragon or snake.
It’s not as narrow as the one on the journey together with Raglen.
The flat ridges of potato fields are visible.
Houses similar to little specks and forests that look like the hair and beards of dwarves can be seen.
The speed accelerates even further with the flapping of the black wings.
Reflexively I put strength in my hands holding the tentacle reins.

“Nn, nya? Nya~”

『Worry?』『Alright』『Acceleration』『Fun』『Play』
Rollo’s feelings are transmitted to me.

“It’s fine.
I don’t mind if you enjoy yourself a bit either.” (Shuuya)

“Nya—.”

Her lively meowing resounded in the sky. RollodeenHuge Lion does flight acrobatics by performing somersaults by drawing circles in mid air.
— Hahaha, you’re having fun, aren’t you, Rollo?
However, in this height the headwind should be far more terrifying, but…
I feel less wind resistance than at the time when I moved through the sky with and , and when we ran on the surface just now.
Is that the result of her releasing mana from her wings?
Once I confirm with Magic Observation, I see that mana is definitely being emitted.
Is the mana giving birth to some kind of repulsive force, I wonder?
I will enjoy myself while obediently accepting the current situation.
I bend down into a posture similar of sitting while hugging Rollodeen’sHuge Lion fluffy back.
Like that I said in my mind “up the speed.”

“Nyaa.”

Alongside a consenting voice, the wings’ angle shifts and she suddenly speeds up towards above.
We dashed through the sky similar to a fighter launching its afterburner.
Shooting through the clouds, we plunge into the azure sky with its dazzling sun light.

“— Woohooo.” (Shuuya)

As my tension rises, I scream naturally.
In the middle of it I spread both my arms while overflowing with feelings.
It feels great… I want to fly to unknown places in far, far away lands that are not noted down on any maps.
It’s a feeling as if I had become the ruler of the sky.
Once we exit the sea of clouds, she slowed down to a gentle pace again.
Thereupon I looked at the rear of RollodeenHuge Lion.
I see.
It seems she’s setting the direction by swinging her black long tail left and right just like the rudder of a ship.
I survey my surroundings.
We freely flew through the sea of clouds… the blue sky.
The wonderful scenery of this boundlessly continuing sea of clouds surely extending into the far distance is…
At that moment a black shadow is— nuoh? A whale?
Eh? A whale!? Looking back a second time, I stare at the spectacle.
A huge whale is devouring a huge jellyfish.
Even the sky being what it is has struggles for life and death, I suppose… yeah.
There are other strange monsters around as well.
Let’s head down since it’s scary.

“… Let’s lower the altitude a bit?” (Shuuya)

I give the instruction while gently caressing the side of her black lion-like head.

“Nya.”

According to my instruction, she glides slightly downwards.
Flying high above the Heim River’s outskirts, she sets the direction towards south.
In this way, while riding upon the winds, we pass many small villages, plains and forests.

◇◇◇◇

I can’t see people attacking other people on the ground.
I didn’t catch sight of robbers, but I did see the figures of countless monsters and animals.
A big group of bisons similar to water buffalos and horses running across the plains, animals like giraffes and horses, hyenas, lions, huge animals that appear to be elephant-like, gigantic wild boars, huge ants, komodo dragons, big herbivorous dinosaurs, carnivorous dinosaurs similar to Tyrannosaurus rex’.
That over there might be called a dragon.
In addition there are goblins, horse-shaped creatures, jellyfish flying in the air, and figures of wild gryphons.
Although there are thickly growing forests with huge trees, there are also grasslands.
The plains give one an impression similar to that of the African savannah.
I was also able to confirm the figures of many adventurers fighting against those monsters and animals on the ground.
There are small villages and the area is dotted with spots of settlements made up of tents.
Before long something similar to a huge, round city became visible.
【Demonic Steel-City Holkerbaum】 had a quadrangle shape, and 【Fortress City Hekatrail】 has a set of high walls.
This city is surrounded by an ochre wall in a circular shape.
Even from a distance one realizes that it’s a huge city… the city’s interior was crowded by countless buildings.
It’s as if I’m looking down on a miniature model.
To be precise, it’s not circular but oval-shaped?
Since there are no walls where the city meets the Heim River, its shape is slightly lost.
When I looked briefly at it, there are three huge ring streets, inner, middle and outer.
Small lanes are radiating out from the centre of the inner circle.
They are extending straightforward in a mesh pattern.
The long and narrow lanes are connecting to the three, main ring streets.
They are distorted circles since the terrain rises and falls, too.
A huge arena like the Colosseum of Ancient Rome stood out with its presence of impressive quality in the south of the city.
Eh? Dragons? Oooh…
Dragons were flying through the air.
Moreover people were riding them.
Those are dragon knights, aren’t they?
Three of them are patrolling above the circular city in a formation.
Is that possibly the defence unit of 【Labyrinth City Pelneet】?
I’m also interested in the southern venue that seems to be an arena, but we should stop heading straight forward now, shouldn’t we?
If we directly trespassed into the city from the sky like this, we would likely be noticed by those dragon knights.
And even if they didn’t notice us, it seems that we would be arrested by the knight orders and guard units apparently stationed on the ground due to standing out.
Therefore I gave up on trespassing from the sky.
Well, that’s only my public stance though.
For some reason or another I want to normally pass through the gate at the first time.
There’s pedestrian traffic on the highway.
I will check it out.
Because there are only sporadically private houses, we fly while lowering the altitude a bit off the highway in order to not stand out.
Given that the dragon knight unit is flying towards the opposite direction, they didn’t notice me.
Just like that we descended at a place that was divided into tatami-like terraces located on the opposite side of the Heim River.

“— Rollo, thanks for your hard work.” (Shuuya)

Descending to the ground as if jumping, I immediately gently stroke the root where her tentacles are growing out from.

“Nn, nyao.”

Rollodeen instantaneously shrinks down to the size of her Horse Lion Mode while releasing a single purr with a throaty voice.
Once again coiling a tentacle around my waist, she carried and put me on top of her abundantly black-haired back.
In front of me the tentacle reins have been prepared.
Rollo is a thoughtful one.
Grabbing the tentacle reins with my hands, we run up a hill while I steer RollodeenHorse Lion.
At the moment we arrived at the summit of that small hill, I observe the surroundings.
Below the broad mound there are huge flower beds and common vegetable gardens.
Private houses exist here and there, too.
They continue as the highway weaves its way between them.
In the neighbourhood the large Heim River is visible as well.
Merchant ships with bulging sails can be seen advancing on it.
Let’s head to the labyrinth city along the highway that’s next to the river?
There’s a gentle slope facing towards the highway.
I descend it while imagining the cliff where Yoshitsune plunged down children headfirst. (T/N: A legend about Minamoto no Yoshitsune choosing his successor)
I immediately finish descending the elated slope.
I got on the highway from the side of a beekeeping farmer.
We proceed by blending in among the coming and going people.
RollodeenHorse Lion sets her pace with a nice rhythm while looking happy.
Soon the colour of the wall surrounding 【Labyrinth City Pelneet】 became clearly visible.
The city’s exterior is a stone wall with a trace of roundness.
The highway separated from being close to the Heim River and continued towards the right side in a manner of following along the wall surrounding the city.
The line of people is also turning right just like the path.
Following it obediently like that is boring.
… I will take a little side trip slightly away from the highway.
I go next to where private houses are lining up.
Since they are drying daikon and chopped wood at the eaves, it’s difficult to pass through.
Exiting in-between those buildings, Rollodeen’sHorse Lion feet turn towards the vicinity of the Heim River’s shore.
I gazed at the swelling, blue Heim River from atop a grassy spot.
Once I look from nearby the Heim River like that, I fully grasp that it’s adjoining to the 【Labyrinth City Pelneet】.
It can’t be seen since there’s the wall, but I was able to confirm that ships are apparently entering the port on the other side of the wall.
Liners and trading vessels.
There were plenty of wealthy clients who are using ships in Holkerbaum, too.
That means that the ship transportation business yields quite a profit.
I feel like I can understand the major dealer Eribol Macabyn, who is the foundation of the dark guild 【Owl’s Fangs】 that Serva mentioned, hindering the land routes in his deep desire to make excessive profit by using his maritime rights.
Well then, let’s return to the highway?
I go back to the highway in-between the private houses with a sidelong glance at the ocher wall that is preventing further view of the Heim River that is flowing into the city.
The wall’s height is average.
Though it hasn’t the height of the walls of 【Hekatrail】.
When I’m advancing on the highway, I not only catch sight of private houses but also work sheds and people performing various work tasks.
Dozens of people washing clothes at a laundry and a workshop for brick production where people place stones inside many stoves to bake them.
There are barrels in many colours placed in a place for producing dyes.
Even outside the wall there’s an imposing townscape.
Around this part there aren’t only peasants but also many merchants, I guess?
Races like humans, elves, dwarves and midgets, all of them are apparently carrying out various jobs.
That race, are they Hobbits since they are midgets?
There was an even smaller race possessing dog ears.
There are really many various races here, I suppose.
I could also see cattle-like domestic ducks.
The domestic ducks with their few feathers are crossing the highway while quacking.
Children happily chased those ducks while squealing.
It’s heart-warming.
It looks like the public order around here is good.
Now that I think of it… the public order was the worst between 【Leften Kingdom】 and 【Oseberia Kingdom】.
Outside the wall of Hekatrail it was really bad as well though.
As I was advancing on the peaceful highway, I could see the city’s entrance before long.
If I pass though this place, it’ll be 【Labyrinth City Pelneet】.
I’m greeted by a stone gate matching the huge city.
Slightly different from the ochre wall, the building material used here are white building stones.
The broad pillars on both sides of the gate were splendidly designed with masonry that depicted people and animals seemingly carved by skilled artisans.
A great variety of people get swallowed into the city through that stone gate’s entrance.
When I’m looking at the coming and going with its loud hustle and bustle… I’m reminded of the time when I entered 【Fortress City Hekatrail】 for the first time.
I also pass through this huge stone gate…
— Mmh? A black spiral pattern is reflected in my field of vision.
I feel uneasy.
Stopping RollodeenHorse Lion, I pay attention to below my feet.
Black steel? It continued below the wall, buried underground, as if those are railways of a broad, black-steeled tram.
Does this continue to the degree of encircling the outer part of the city?
The width of the black steel has almost the same size as the city’s wall.
Is it the foundation of the wall? Parts of text-like geographical patterns were drawn on the surface of the broad black steel.
Huh? I feel like I have seen those characters somewhere…
I turn my look towards a thick stone pillars located at the side.
There are plenty of animal decorations, but because of its peculiar round shape, it also resembled the pillar of a Shinto shrine archway.