Chapter 28

After the discussion in the courtyard ended, the griffins flew away. They would stay in the Demon Forest for a while, so they would likely meet again.

"Take care, Guri-chan, Gurin-chan, Gurinbitchi-chan."

"Pai, you've already named the griffin family?"

"Yeah. Names are important, you know."

"Considering that, it's a pretty simple way to name them, isn't it?"

"Is it? Well, whatever."

Alexei felt nostalgic, thinking that Pai was still the same. She always came up with simple and straightforward names.

"The name of the one-horned rat I live with now is Ikakuchan, you know."

"Really? You live with a magical beast?"

"Yeah. It somehow wandered in."

Alexei remembered the content of the report given to him by Sergei. It said that she had been admiring flowers alone and then doing embroidery. It also mentioned that she had been talking to her pet in a foreign language, probably with a heavy accent.

She lives alone in a small annex. Alexei felt a pang in his heart, wondering if she was lonely.

"Can I meet Ikakuchan sometime?"

Eleonora nodded with a smile.

After seeing the griffins off, Alexei's soundproofing magic was lifted, and Eleonora closed her mouth.

"Is Sergei here?"

Immediately, Alexei called for Sergei and told him about the griffins' information on the magical beasts that Eleonora had heard.

"His Majesty says that a single holy light won't eliminate the magical beasts."

"That's right. It's impossible to exterminate magical beasts. Besides, it's unlikely that magical beasts would leave the Demon Forest to attack humans. Their lives are self-contained within the Demon Forest, where they maintain a balance. By the way, what were the experts on magical beasts doing at the time?"

"After the extermination of the magical beasts, there are hardly any researchers left. There were few magical beast researchers to begin with, and their numbers have further decreased. However, it's certain that a department dedicated to magical beast research still exists within the empire's research institutions."

The empire's magical beast researchers had become forgotten figures.

"Gather those experts and advance new research on magical beasts."

Listening to Alexei and Sergei's conversation, Eleonora sincerely wished that the cruel act of exterminating magical beasts would never happen again.

"And Eleonora will assist in the magical beast research. Got it, Eleonora?"

When Alexei said this, Eleonora answered with strong resolve.

"Understood."

Thus, Eleonora, who had come to the castle to convey the goodness of pies and brought homemade pies, suddenly became someone granted the power to rule over magical beasts by the gods.

(Well, I don't really understand, but I've become a pretty awesome person. It's just what His Majesty says, though. Yeah. I'll work hard to ensure that the magical beasts are never killed again!)

She renewed her determination, but she had no idea what to do.

"…What exactly should I do?"

When Eleonora asked Alexei, he answered with a smile.

"By showing everyone that you rode a griffin and landed on the ground today, I think the fear and aversion towards magical beasts have been greatly reduced. I want you to be a bridge between magical beasts and humans."

(Can I really fulfill such a grand mission? Well, I'll work hard for Guri-chan and the others!)

"…Yes. I will do my best."

Sergei, who had been watching their conversation, was grinning. He could clearly see that Alexei was becoming more proactive with Eleonora. Immediately, Sergei decided to meddle.

"Milady Eleonora, do you have any plans after this?"

"…No, I don't."

Next, he spoke to Alexei.

"Your Majesty, there are still things to discuss. How about having dinner with Milady Eleonora?"

"Ah, that's a good idea."

Alexei, with a smile, turned to Eleonora.

"I would like to have dinner with you, Eleonora."

"…I am very honored by your invitation."

"I'll assign you a maid and a knight. You can tour the castle until dinner. I have work to do, so I'll be in my office. If anything happens, come to my office."

Alexei, looking reluctant to leave, went out of the courtyard with Sergei.

Left behind, Eleonora decided to have a maid show her around the castle. First, she was taken to the garden.

(What a vast place. Oh my! There are beautiful flowers blooming. That's the flower Ham-chan gave me as a gift. He called it the Twinkling Star Flower. After becoming Eleonora, I learned that its scientific name is Multus Stella. But, I like the name Twinkling Star Flower better.)

"…I've heard that Multus Stella is a very difficult flower to grow. You must have an excellent gardener here."

When Eleonora said this, a nearby gardener took off his hat and bowed deeply. Noticing this, she asked the elderly gardener.

"…Did you choose this flower?"

She called out to the gardener.

"No, it was by the Emperor's orders. Not just Multus Stella, but also the Purpura Flago, which bears purple strawberries, and the Aurum Larus, which bears golden apples. All these plants are very difficult to grow, and the Emperor often uses his magic to promote their growth."

(All of these are things I used to like! In the Demon Forest, they grow easily, but in normal places, they are extremely difficult to grow. Besides, it's impossible to even get the seedlings or seeds.)

Eleonora was suddenly struck by a thought.

(He said everything was by the Emperor's orders… Did Ham-chan talk to the Emperor about such details?)

Finally, she realized that Alexei might be Ham-chan.