Chapter 70

"Ah? What's wrong with everyone!?"

Suddenly, Prati appeared.

"Kyaa!? Lady Prati!?"

The three new girls trembled in fear at her presence.

"It's not like that! I wasn't trying to sneak away without saying anything...!?"

"I just wanted to show them this land."

Seeing her like a child caught in mischief, I quickly stepped in to support her.

"They just got here and don't know their way around. It's more important for them to understand this place before starting work, right?"

"Oh, that's true. I did prioritize talking about work and skipped a few steps."

Prati chuckled, a bit embarrassed.

She's such a playful lady.

"Lady Prati...?"

"Such a meek attitude...?"

The new girls, confused by our exchange, looked at each other.

"By the way, what exactly are those humanoids...!?"

"If this is the territory of the Demon Clan, as I suspect, it doesn't make sense for humans to be here."

And so on.

"What are you talking about? This isn't the territory of the Demon Clan."

"Wh-What!?"

"Not only that, it's not the territory of the Human Clan or the Mermaid Clan either. It's a completely independent district."

Independent district.

It sounded so powerful.

"The Holy Pioneer Kidan's settlement. Anyone who tries to cause trouble here, whether human, demon, or mermaid, won't get away with it. So you can live here in peace."

"Wh-What? But, Princess Prati?"

"Is an independent district even possible? From both humans and demons? What if they attack?"

Indeed, that's scary.

Very scary.

"Will the orcs and goblins working in the fields be used? While monsters can be relied on as a fighting force, there are only about ten of them. They can't stand up to an army...!"

Lamp Eye, the former mermaid guard, offered her professional opinion.

"Don't worry. The orc boys are mutants, each with the combat ability of an entire army. They're super strong."

"Wh-What!?"

"Besides, if they can't handle it, there's always him..."

At that moment, the sound of flapping wings came from above.

"Master, I'm back!"

A dragon flew in with its large wings spread.

"Kyaaaaaahh!?"

"Dragon!?"

"Wh-What!?"

The new girls, seeing the massive creature for the first time, were all terrified and fell to the ground. Gara Rufa fainted, foaming at the mouth.

"Hey, Prati. Which is stronger, a witch or a dragon?"

"Obviously, the dragon."

Right.

I just asked.

"Been flying around and got hungry!! I bet there's a lot of food for the welcome party tonight, right!?"

Of course, the dragon speaking was my wife, Vier.

While exercise before a meal is good, I wish she would do more constructive work.

...Well, it's fine.

That's just how dragons are.

"Princess Prati!! I will defend this place with my life! Princess, please run to safety!!"

Lamp Eye, in a state of panic, stood unarmed in front of Vier...

"It's fine. This one is like a pet to my husband."

"\"A pet!?""

"My husband can control even dragons. With just him, he could wipe out an entire army of humans and demons in an instant. So you can relax."

No, treating a cohabitant as a pet is questionable.

Vier doesn't do regular work, just eats and sleeps, and ignores me when she's not in the mood, but demands attention when she wants to play.

And when I pet her head or scratch under her chin, she purrs contentedly.

...Yeah.

Just a pet.

"But... 'husband'?"

"Of course, my husband. The master of this place, the Holy Pioneer."

Hearing this, Paffa and Lamp Eye shuddered.

Gara Rufa was still unconscious.

"Husband!? So, Princess, you're married!? To that Holy Pioneer!?"

"Yep."

"Married a 'Crown Witch' and can control a dragon...!? Who are you!?"

"Who else but the one standing right here?"

At this, Paffa and Lamp Eye suddenly realized.

Gara Rufa was still unconscious.

"What? You mean...?"

"Is the human standing there... just a servant?"

Just as I was about to introduce myself, I felt a bone-chilling cold.

"Kyaa!?"

"What is this cold...? Even I, the 'Frost Witch,' feel chilled to the bone!"

This presence.

He must have come too.

"Oh, good timing."

"No, I called him. We're having a welcome party for the new girls, so I thought he might want to join."

Mr. Nolife King.

He arrived, exuding a powerful aura.

"Nolife King came...!?"

"Not only a dragon, but Nolife King too...!?"

The aura of the King of Death, whether spiritual or magical, finally pushed Paffa and Lamp Eye to their limit, and they fainted.

Gara Rufa, overwhelmed by stress, woke up from her faint, saw Mr. Nolife King, and fainted again.

"Lord Holy Pioneer, I am deeply honored to be invited here."

"No, no, we're neighbors. These are our new residents, who are currently unconscious. Please take care of them."

The dragon and Nolife King.

As two of the world's greatest calamities, encountering either one would require a nation to prepare for its own destruction. I wanted to introduce them as soon as possible, but perhaps it was too much for the new girls to handle all at once.

Next time, I'll plan better for their introductions.

* * *

After Paffa, Lamp Eye, and Gara Rufa woke up, the welcome party for the three new girls began.

We served a feast made with vegetables from the fields and meat from the mountain dungeon.

"Delicious!! So damn delicious!!"

"Princess Prati, the seasonings you make in that warehouse create such a feast!!"

"I want to make seasonings too! I want to study bacteria!!"

The three new girls praised Prati as they devoured the food.

...I made the food, though.

Prati's seasonings did play a crucial role.

The welcome party included Prati, Vier, the orc boys and other monster team members, Bati Verena, and friends like Prince Aruana and Mr. Nolife King. The party was lively.

I'm glad the three new girls will quickly get used to this place.