Chapter 21

"Ah, what a pity..."

Standing by the coast of the Baybalon territory, I was lost in sorrow.

You see, I had gone to the party with the intention of sharing all the good things about Baybalon, but the party was cut short because Viscount Snail suddenly collapsed.

When I tried to approach to heal him with my recovery magic, the old butler said something incomprehensible like, "I'm sorry, Lady Rize! I will make sure Mr. Snail never holds such a tasteless party again! Please forgive us and don't do anything more!" The other nobles fled as if they were running away, and it was a complete disaster.

Well, at least Duke Hoehnheim, Alicia, and Irena were smiling a lot, so that's something.

I casually muttered, "I wish I could drink some better wine," and the old butler brought out Snail's secret stash of wine, so we had a great time drinking together with the four of us.

...By the way, while I was passed out from drinking, Duke Hoehnheim apparently became very interested in the 'Demurgos Religion,' which preaches that 'magic exists for the common people.' He also had a lot to talk about with Irena, who seemed to be a well-off young lady among the beastmen. I don't know what they talked about, but I'm glad it went well.

If my friends got along well, then the party was worth it.

--- Oh, right!

"Maybe next time, I should host a party myself!"

While fishing by the blue sea, I had a sudden idea!

That's right, there was no need to try to explain the good things about Baybalon with words! I should have shown them the prosperous territory with their own eyes!

If I send out invitations with Duke Hoehnheim, most of the nobles will probably come.

If they see the natural beauty of Baybalon for themselves, the negative image will surely be erased! Through the nobles, the common people will also learn about the good things, and many tourists will start coming!

Alright, I can't just sit around then!

I'll transform my house into a castle and surprise the guests! I happen to know a castle builder who was forced to construct secret passages in the royal castle and then barely escaped with his life.

I'll make the town as impressive as the capital and develop Baybalon into the best attraction in the country!

Alright, I'll need a lot of wood for that.

Well, let's start by growing about ten thousand trees!

I placed my wooden fishing rod on the ground, put my hand on it, and activated my recovery magic.

"--- Components, multiply, divide, regenerate, spread ---!!!"

Thus, the wooden fishing rod shattered into pieces and, with a tremendous roar, a vast forest was born before my eyes!

Well, my recovery magic has become quite convenient! Producing plants on this scale is no burden at all!

--- Ever since the people started venerating me as the 'Apostle of God,' my magic power has been increasing non-stop...

◆ ◇ ◆

"--- Huh, huh, keep going, everyone! We're almost there!"

"O, oh boss, wait for us!"

On the slope leading to Baybalon territory, men with fluffy appearances were running up.

They were called 'Dwarves,' a sub-human race characterized by thick fat and dense body hair.

Originally, they lived in a cold region far to the south, but a few decades ago, their country was attacked by humans, and some of them, like these men, were captured as slaves.

"Hey boss... Is it really okay to run away? And Baybalon territory is known as the worst, most desolate land..."

"Shut up! I don't know what's going on, but this is the only chance to escape while Snail is collapsed and the territory is in chaos! Even if the place we're heading to is hell, it's better than being oppressed by a rotten lord..."

While climbing the hill, the leader of the Dwarves reflected on the past.

--- Although they were brought as slaves, they were highly valued for their excellent ironworking skills.

In the Jango territory, which had a large mine, the Dwarves were trusted by the lord and performed well.

However, after the mine was taken over by a vicious 'Dragon' and the lord died fighting it, the fate of the Dwarves changed.

With iron production almost halted, the Dwarves were just useless balls of fur.

The new lord, Snail, despised them but couldn't let them go because the capricious dragon might fly away, so he kept them around reluctantly.

--- Of course, their treatment was the worst. The leader, in particular, was often beaten and had more than half his body burned by magic flames.

"Damn Snail... I'll kill him someday..."

"Yeah... Let's regain our strength in Baybalon to do that!"

"If we're all together, we can make it even in the worst territory!"

The Dwarves, using their native dialect, encouraged each other.

Thus, they finally reached the top of the hill—

"--- W-What is this...!?"

Before their eyes, a city unlike anything they had ever seen appeared!

There were several huge mansions, and in the center, a magnificent castle was being built at high speed!

"What, what is this!? What is this!?"

"The castle in the middle is growing every second... What's going on!?"

The Dwarves were confused by the incomprehensible scene.

Where was the desolate Baybalon territory, and what was this castle that was growing floor by floor in seconds? Their heads were full of question marks.

But the surprise was not over yet. A lean, muscular man riding a giant dragon descended before them—

"Hey, you guys look pretty beat up! Did you escape from some territory?"

"Y-Yeah... But, w-why is there a dragon here!?"

"Oh, this is Baybalon territory's pet."

"Pet!?"

The Dwarves trembled before the dragon with its black scales.

--- No doubt, this was the same kind of dragon that had taken over the mine! It even looked terrifyingly similar!

"Y-You, get off that thing! It's dangerous...!"

"Don't worry, don't worry. Our lord has modified its brain, so it's fine! If something happens, just hit it with beef, and it will calm down! But more importantly, why don't you guys get on? I'll take you to the city in one flight!"

"E, eh!?"

The Dwarves were pulled and placed on the dragon's head one by one.

Resisting was futile. Compared to the steel muscles of the man, the Dwarves were just helpless balls of fur.

"Alright, everyone's on! Dragon, fly to the city!"

"Roar!"

"..."

--- Listening to the dragon's roar, the Dwarves were completely in shock.

Their minds couldn't keep up with reality. From the moment they climbed the hill and entered Baybalon territory, everything seemed like a dream.

"Are... Are we dreaming...?"

"Yeah... It must be a dream, it must be a dream! But... Why does the feeling of the wind on my beard feel so real!?"

Riding the terrifying dragon, the Dwarves found themselves above the castle.

Looking down, they saw men with lean, muscular bodies working at inhuman speeds.

"What... What are those guys...? They're carrying huge stones and wood like they're marbles...! They can't be human! We must have somehow ended up in the 'Land of the Gods'!?"

In their confusion, one of the Dwarves spouted an impossible theory.

But the man controlling the dragon chuckled.

"Hehe... Yeah, that's right. We live in a territory ruled by the 'Apostle of God'..."

The Dwarves' spines froze as they saw the man's face.

His mouth was twisted into a madman's grin.

"Ah! What are you!?"

"Our lord has given everything to us, the oppressed! He has eradicated all diseases, provided us with infinite food, and even tamed a terrifying dragon!

Thanks to him, we, the emaciated citizens, have gained steel bodies! We, mere commoners, have stood up to mages and won!

Ah, it's pure bliss! Thanks to him—thanks to Lord Rize Baybalon, we have gained confidence!"

The man was a complete lunatic.

His drooling, roaring form was nothing else.

But... The Dwarves couldn't look away.

His shining eyes held not only madness but also a clear 'hope'.

--- If this man's words were true, and Rize Baybalon was a miraculous being, would he extend a hand to them?

"Hey, you... This Rize, is he—"

"Lord Rize. He'll kill you."

"Ah! --- I mean, will Lord Rize... help us, sub-humans like us?"

"Of course."

The lean, muscular man nodded firmly at the hesitant Dwarf.

His immediate answer showed his absolute trust in Rize.

"Lord Rize is a merciful person. He will kindly accept even fugitives like you and exiled sick people.

He is the embodiment of justice! If you follow him, you will never go wrong!"

"O, oh...!"

The Dwarves began to feel a faint hope at the man's strong words.

Thus, the Dwarves were accepted by Rize Baybalon and had their burn-riddled bodies healed, feeling deeply moved—yet they completely failed to notice.

Rize, a man with no sense of justice, was saving people for the shallowest of reasons: "I'll be nice to you, so listen to me, okay?"

Thus, another thoughtless follower was added to the thoughtless lord's ranks... Truly, it was a hellish situation.

---

I received a review from "Togashi" and "batomenba" who write adventure stories! I want to keep this pace and make it suitable for elementary school students.

I look forward to your ratings and comments!