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The sound of hammers reverberated loudly across Mount Kuguse.

At present, Mount Kuguse has undeniably witnessed the highest influx of humans in the past few decades.

Commissioned by the royal palace, the Duke Foster Household had formed and dispatched the Mount Kuguse Defense Force, and they were constructing an encampment there.

Lucella gazed upon a spread-out map, placed upon a large tree stump. It depicted the terrain of Mount Kuguse, crafted before Kafal settled there. While the facilities and roads had been lost, the landscape remained largely unaltered.

Across the map, two men faced each other. The man in his forties was a human knight donned in relatively lightweight armor, wearing a robe-like surcoat. His physique bore the markings of a well-trained warrior, but perhaps due to his inherent figure, he also gave off a bony impression.

He was Viscount Murdu, also known as Christophe Murdu.

The significance of noble titles varied slightly among countries, but owing to the historical evolution from the “Human-Dragon War,” where the united forces of human races eventually splintered into distinct nations, certain commonalities existed on a global scale.

In some countries, noble titles were determined by the territories they governed, and it was possible for individuals to hold multiple titles concurrently. However, in general, noble titles were bestowed upon the heads of families based on their social standing, subsequently passing down through hereditary lines.

Those directly bestowed with lands by the king and entrusted with governance were referred to as “Lords.” Depending on their respective positions, they could be addressed as dukes, marquises, or counts.

Furthermore, as vassals to the lords, lower-ranking nobles known as viscounts and barons existed, responsible for the administration of cities or specific territories (in some countries, an additional rank of “baronet” existed below this). While the king could grant these lower-ranking noble titles, lords also possessed the authority to bestow them upon their vassals as they saw fit.

Additionally, commoners who served as important officials or dedicated soldiers under the patronage of nobles could be granted the honorary title of knight, representing a non-hereditary noble rank limited to a single generation.

Kugutfulm served as the domain of the Duke Foster household, and within the Setulev Kingdom, Mount Kuguse was placed under their custody.

Christophe held the position of a vassal within the Duke Foster household.

However, it should be noted that Christophe was not the lord entrusted by the Duke Foster Household to oversee Mount Kuguse.

The lands granted to Christophe by them were situated in a southern city. Nevertheless, on this particular occasion, he had been appointed by them as the commander of the Mount Kuguse Defense Force and had journeyed here for that purpose.

Lucella had been cautiously preparing herself for the encounter, but fortunately, Christophe proved to be a person worthy of respect and admiration.

“The Variants aren’t exactly the retainers of the dragons, so they wouldn’t listen to orders. They would even try devouring them at the first opportunity,” Lucella explained.
“I see. Then how are they controlled?” Christophe asked.
“Normally there’s no choice but to let them run free, but this time…” Lucella took out a charred stone with a peculiar and strong woody aroma and showed it to Christophe. “This is a stone charred using Breath over a long period of time. It has a strong enough smell for humans to smell it, so monsters will notice it even easier. There are no absolutes, but Variants normally don’t approach places that the dragons claim as their territory. If you arrange these skillfully, you can temporarily keep them locked in a certain area.”

Dragon’s Breath possesses a unique aroma.

Well, most victims subjected to one would meet their demise before having a chance to smell anything. However, this was the distinctive “Dragon Scent” that permeated the dragon’s body.

Kafal would utilize her Breath to scorch several trees surrounding her nest, imprinting this scent and asserting her territorial boundaries, effectively keeping the Variants at a distance from Lucella.

Interestingly, this scent was believed to originate from the dragon’s saliva. The crystallized form of dragon saliva, known as “Ambergris¹,” was highly valued not only as a premium fragrance but also as a sought-after alchemical material.

The Variants provided by the blue dragon group, much like the pre-existing ones in the mountain, were well-acquainted with the scent and power of the dragons.

By leveraging this knowledge, their movements could be effectively constrained.

“When the enemies arrive, all we have to do is spray the lure and stimulants, and the monsters will become agitated and launch their attacks. This method has been proven effective. As long as we keep the Variants calm until it’s time to unleash them and direct them as needed, we can control the situation,” Lucella explained.
“I understand; that is enough. I would prefer to have everything set up today if possible…”
“That should be possible.”

A mighty flapping of wings engulfed the sky, and the sunlight waned.

Looking upward, they witnessed Kafal flying, gripping a colossal octopus with a wolf’s head in her hind legs.

Humans naturally couldn’t handle the Variants, so it was Kafal’s duty to move them around.

“How is the ‘Fortress’ coming along?” Lucella asked.
“It appears that we’ll have something magnificent, three times larger than initially planned. The Mountain Queen has assisted us with the framework, so all that’s left is to construct the fences,” Christophe replied, tracing the pencil-drawn road on the map with his finger.

“Mount Kuguse used to serve as a trading route before it became inhabited by a dragon. It is likely that Marquis Angus’ forces will follow the traces of that road. Although the path is now buried within the mountains, it remains the most convenient route for advancing their army, considering the terrain. Furthermore, their objective is to carve a path through this mountain.”

They were currently in the midst of hastily constructing a fortress that would block this very road. Just like Kafal had done when she created her ‘home’ in the past, she employed magic to create a stone structure, or box, which was being transformed into a stronghold.

This method was frequently used by armies to establish temporary bases, but with Kafal’s assistance, they were able to construct something significantly larger and more robust than what human magic alone could accomplish.

“If I were to speak my true thoughts, it seems rather extravagant to utilize the timber sourced from this mountain for a mere defensive wall… but we have no choice. We must proceed with it. Having received the finest materials, our engineering corps will surely craft a masterpiece,” Christophe expressed.
“Please, go ahead,” Lucella replied.
“Yes… However, this alone won’t serve as a solution to counter the Regalia,” he added.

Despite the absence of enemy troops, Christophe’s countenance revealed a tense anticipation, as if there was no room for error.

“For the sake of the Kingdom of Setulev and all its people, we shall fight with our lives at stake. Yet, to secure victory in this battle, we must not only halt the influence of the Regalia but also retrieve it back. And for that purpose…”
“Yes,” Lucella affirmed without listening to the rest of it.

In battles where there was an imbalance in the quantity of the Regalia, the outcome often tilted heavily in favor of one side. To change that, a power that surpassed human understanding was required.

In other words, Kafal… and albeit she wasn’t on her level, Lucella too.

Defending the mountain without the cooperation of the knights was impossible, but the reverse was also true.

“Considering that the battle will take place within the mountainous terrain, it will be challenging for the enemy to establish proper formations. Our basic strategy is to hold the enemy at bay from our fortified positions, unleash the Variants to create chaos, and have our ‘Anti-Regalia Unit’ seize the Regalia,” Christophe explained. “We seek the aid of the Mountain Queen for aerial support. By making them use the Regalia for defense and not giving an opportunity to attack with it, we can maximize our land movement,” he added.

“I wonder if everything will go as smoothly as planned…” Wein interjected as he walked by, expressing his doubts. He and Tim were assisting in the construction work, jointly carrying a massive log.

Wein’s remark echoed the sentiments Lucella had in her mind. Assuming that Marquis Angus’ army would simply adhere to the expected plan seemed overly optimistic. Even monsters didn’t always conform to predictable patterns, let alone human armies.

“I can’t say for certain. However, that’s precisely why our overall strategy should remain straightforward. By minimizing the potential for critical errors, we can retain the flexibility to adapt to the enemy’s maneuvers, should the opportunity arise. I believe the same can be said for our enemies. With the trump card of Regalia at their disposal, I anticipate they will launch a full-frontal assault, leveraging its power to the maximum,” Christophe explained, carefully choosing his words to convey his thoughts.

He couldn’t make strong statements. Like everyone else, he deliberated extensively, wrestling with his doubts and uncertainties, yet ultimately made the decision.

“In light of that, we are currently considering various scenarios other than a frontal assault and devising corresponding countermeasures,” Christophe explained. “Even though we have viable solutions for the worst-case situations… the truth remains that a bloodless victory is simply not possible. We can only hope for a somewhat favorable resolution,” he concluded.

Amidst the echoing sounds of hammers on Mount Kuguse, the sky where Kafal restlessly flew around remained clear, to the point that it seemed to be ridiculing the heavy atmosphere on the ground.

Author’s note:

The meaning of nobility titles can vary throughout history and across different countries. However, in my work, I have chosen to maintain this kind of unified approach.

In the historical Western context, these titles were originally determined based on the land controlled by the noble. For example, when they referred to someone as the “Marquis of XX,” it signified that they were the Marquis who governed over the land of XX (while the family name remained separate). Nevertheless, in my work, the name “Foster” represents a family name rather than the specific land they govern. This decision is influenced more by my personal preference rather than strict adherence to historical accuracy.

1. TL note: In japanese, the word ‘Ambergris’ contains a kanji for ‘Dragon’, so it’s effectively a pun here.