Chapter 127

'Gryphon'.

At that word, I was reminded of the bow and arrows that Paras had given me in the Monster Mountains.

The bow and arrows Paras had given me were made from the bones and feathers of a Gryphon.

It seemed another material used was a tree called the 'Tree of Life.'

'He told me it was an extremely valuable item and to never lose it. Though I still don't really know.'

After briefly recalling the bow and arrows from Paras, I focused back on Jereuth and asked.

"By Gryphons, you mean the monsters with the upper body of an eagle and the lower body of a lion, right?"

"That is correct. So Your Highness knows of them as well."

"Yes. They are the monster depicted on our kingdom's flag. I have also read about them in books. The rulers of the sky... a dangerous monster."

"As you say. Gryphons are powerful monsters, so much so that they are called the rulers of the sky. Because there are so many tall tales, many people think of Gryphons as imaginary monsters, but Gryphons definitely exist."

Because Paras had given me a bow and arrows made from Gryphon bones and feathers, I too had a vague idea that Gryphons were real monsters.

Jereuth continued.

"Actually, I have never seen a Gryphon myself. But Your Highness's mother—Queen Victoria told me. That in the Elves' domain, Foothill's Rest, there is a cliff where Gryphons gather and live."

“……”

"And she also told me that the Elves and Gryphons have lived together for a long time and have a friendly relationship."

"Hmm... yes. In fact, in the Monster Mountains, Paras gave me a bow and arrows made from Gryphon bones and feathers as a gift. The Tree of Life? He said a branch from that tree was also used as a material."

"Are you talking about the bow that Your Highness had lightly tied to your backpack? The arrows... the ones you used to grill meat?"

Jereuth looked at me with truly surprised eyes.

That look was, what should I say... if I had to describe it, it was a look that said, 「"You treated such a precious thing so carelessly? Are you in your right mind?"」 It was a rare look from Jereuth.

'Seeing him look like that, it must be something extremely valuable. Well... to me, who doesn't know how to use a bow, it's a white elephant.'

"Yes, that's right. Paras gave it to me, saying my mother left it behind when she left Foothill's Rest. The arrows were made by Paras himself."

"I-I see."

Jereuth nodded his head hesitantly.

After regaining his composure, he continued.

"Since Your Highness has Elven blood flowing through you, you will be able to gain the recognition of the Gryphons. Though it will not be easy."

"If I gain the recognition of the Gryphons, does that mean I can ride them like horses?"

"That is correct. Until now, there has never been a human in history who has received the recognition of a Gryphon. Among the Elves, it is said that about one person every hundred years receives a Gryphon's recognition."

From the sound of it, it seemed to be a very difficult monster to obtain.

'Still, if I can command such a monster that is said to rule the sky... it would be a great help in the war. The downside is that it's highly likely the other knights won't be able to ride Gryphons.'

But what I really needed wasn't to ride a Gryphon.

It was for the Gryphons to fight the Gargoyles.

'For now, that's enough.'

"Commander. Can a Gryphon face a Gargoyle on its own?"

"To be honest, I do not know that either. I have never seen a Gryphon myself."

“……”

"But if the Gryphon's strength is even half of half of what the rumors say, a mere Gargoyle would not even dare to spread its wings in front of a Gryphon."

If Jereuth was saying that, it was clear that Gryphons were truly strong monsters. It made sense for a monster that was a combination of an eagle and a lion.

"To add one more thing, Gryphons are said to unconditionally follow their leader. In other words, if Your Highness receives the recognition of the Gryphons' leader... the other Gryphons will also follow you."

So, Jereuth's words meant that if I received the recognition of the 'Gryphons' leader,' the other Gryphons would also follow me.

'Anyway... it seems the Gryphons are the only way to deal with the Gargoyles. I have that feeling. A feeling that I must obtain the Gryphons.'

"You said the Gryphons are in Foothill's Rest, right?"

"That is correct. Among the places in Foothill's Rest, it is the deepest part, a cliff with the Tree of Life, which is permitted only to the Elder Elves and a few other Elves."

That meant that to obtain a Gryphon, I had to go to Foothill's Rest again.

A place that took over a month and a half to reach even by riding a horse as fast as possible.

'If it were up to me, I'd want to go get a Gryphon right now. But is it okay to go now? I'm in the middle of recruit training right now.'

I was the king. So I could just give up on recruit training and go to Foothill's Rest.

'And maybe that's the right decision. Since I'm going to get a Gryphon, which can deal with the Gargoyles, the biggest threat in the war against the monster army.'

But.

'First, I should check the Future Diary.'

Since I had obtained information about the 'Gryphons' from Jereuth, the Future Diary would surely have new content written accordingly.

Just as I wanted to go get a Gryphon right now, my future self would have too.

'The diary is in my room, so I should go to my room for a moment.'

"Commander. I'd like to go to the royal palace for a moment, will there be soldiers on guard outside? It would be best not to run into the soldiers if possible."

"Hmm... Your Highness, could you wait for a moment?"

"Yes."

Jereuth bowed his head in greeting and left the room.

Watching his back, I took a deep breath.

'I hope obtaining the Gryphons is the last piece of the puzzle. The last piece of the puzzle to stop the monster army... no, it has to be.'

***

About 5 minutes later.

Click—.

Jereuth opened the door, came in, and spoke. With a rather large robe in his hand.

"Your Highness, I have moved all the guards on the way to the royal palace. Still, just in case, I have brought a robe to cover your face. I will escort you."

As expected of Jereuth. His work was thorough and fast.

***

Five in the morning, Leonardo's room.

Head Maid Elly was staring blankly into the air in that room.

She, who was the only one allowed to freely enter Leonardo's room.

'It hasn't been long since you returned from the Wasteland of Ruin, and you're away again... and to suddenly say you're going to receive recruit training.'

Of course, she, a mere maid, had no intention of questioning Leonardo's decision. She was just resentful of Leonardo, who had left the royal palace again and whose face she couldn't see.

However, Elly didn't know why she felt resentful towards Leonardo. As she was still just a young girl, she didn't even understand her own heart well.

'For some reason, it feels strange that His Highness has enlisted....'

As she was thinking, Elly unknowingly reached for the teacup Leonardo often used.

Click—.

Suddenly, Leonardo's door opened. At that, Elly was startled as if caught trying to steal something and turned to look at the door.

She even hiccuped.

Hic—!

"W-who—!"

Elly, with the eyes of a startled rabbit, looked at the face of the intruder who had entered the room.

But it was not an intruder.

It was the master of this room, whom she had wanted to see so much.

"I saw from outside that the light was on, so I wondered if you were here, and as expected, it was Elly. Why are you here at this late hour?"

Leonardo took off his hood and said with a smile. That smile was like the sun. It was a smile that could tempt even angels and demons.

However, Elly couldn't be purely happy, because Jereuth, who had followed Leonardo in, was for some reason making a frightening face.

“……”

Jereuth didn't say anything to her, but from his expression, Elly could tell. It was a look that said, 「"What are you doing in His Highness's room at this hour?"」

As Elly didn't know what to say, Leonardo spoke lightly.

"It feels like it's been a really long time. It hasn't even been a day since I last saw you."

"Ah...."

'...Does His Highness feel that way too?'

—At that thought, Elly's heart felt warm and as if it were melting.

But his next words were again endlessly resentful. He was talking about work again.

"I'm sorry, but I'd like to think alone for a moment. Could you please leave?"

"Ah...."

Elly couldn't answer readily. Couldn't she stay in the room if she stayed quietly in a corner, wasn't that much okay, she wanted to say things like she would serve tea and then leave.

But Elly couldn't bring herself to say that.

Because....

'His Highness is looking far away again....'

Elly, who had seen Leonardo for longer than anyone, knew. Right now, Leonardo was not looking at this moment. As always, he was worrying about the future, contemplating and concerned for the kingdom.

'I shouldn't disturb him. I... am not in His Highness's line of sight. It would just be pathetic to force it.'

She was sad. She was resentful. She was annoyed... too.

But Elly didn't show any of that.

Making Leonardo as comfortable as possible was the duty of a 'maid,' so Elly smiled brightly.

"I understand, Your Highness. Then I will take my leave."

"Yes. Ah, by the way, Commander. This is the bow and arrow I mentioned earlier."

Leonardo said, holding up the bow that was leaning carelessly against the side of the desk.

Seeing that, Jereuth couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

'...To leave a bow made from Gryphon bones and feathers, and the Tree of Life, just like that. A bow that could start a war to obtain it.'

The brilliant Leonardo couldn't possibly not know the value of that bow. The reason he left it like that was probably because he had no need for it.

He felt again that he was truly a person without greed.

Leonardo picked up the bow. He nonchalantly drew the bowstring and released it. A 'bowstring' was extremely taut and not something that could be pulled so easily, but strangely, Leonardo handled it with great ease.

Leonardo handed the bow to Jereuth and said.

"I think it would be good for you to use this bow, Commander."

"D-do you mean you are giving it to me?"

"Yes. I don't know how to shoot a bow. It's a white elephant to me."

“……”

"If this bow is really that good, please use it to protect the kingdom, Commander."

Jereuth couldn't rashly accept Leonardo's bow. And for good reason, because in a way, it was a 'treasure of the royal family.'

'Still... it would be rude not to accept when His Highness says so.'

Jereuth carefully took the bow.

"I will cherish it more than my life. As it is more precious than the life of someone like me."

"Haha, that's not it. If I could trade it for your life, Commander, I would give you as many bows as you want."

“……”

"Well then."

Leonardo subtly raised his hand and pointed to the door. It was a gesture to leave.

Understanding the meaning, Jereuth held Leonardo's bow preciously and bowed his head.

"Then, Your Highness, I will take my leave. I will have a knight wait outside, so you can go with him when you return to the recruit barracks."

"Understood."

As Leonardo answered, Jereuth opened the door and left.

Elly followed behind him.

Click—.

The room, now with only one person left.

Leonardo immediately took the Future Diary from the bookshelf and looked at the diary while standing next to the desk.

'What I need to check is whether I should go to Foothill's Rest to get a Gryphon right now. And if the Gryphons are the last piece of the puzzle to lead the war against the monster army to victory... my ending will also change.'

I hoped.

Please, let me be able to gain the recognition of the Gryphons and get their help.

I opened the diary.

Flip—.

***

Jereuth, who had left Leonardo's room.

As soon as he left the room, he examined the bow Leonardo had given him.

'I've seen countless bows until now. I've seen ones made by Dwarves, and I've seen many bows that the imperial family of the empire, and other royals and nobles, boasted about. But... this is the first time I've seen something like this.'

It was truly an Elven bow. Was this what it meant to be on a different level?

It wasn't heavy or thick, but he could feel the power from the bow itself.

—Thinking that, Jereuth placed his fingers on the bowstring. He wanted to feel what it was like to pull the bowstring.

But.

Twang...!

"...Hmm?"

Like a string made of steel, the bowstring wouldn't be pulled in the slightest.

He tried putting more strength into it. But still, the bowstring wouldn't budge.

"Hup...!"

He pulled with so much force that the veins on his arm muscles popped out.

But it remained motionless.

'...Why can't I pull it? His Highness Leonardo pulled it so easily.'

As Jereuth struggled with the bowstring, sweating with effort.

Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind.

'Wait... this is the same feeling as when I first tried to ride Kartum.'

When Jereuth was still a 'greenhorn.'

He had accidentally found Kartum on a plain and, having fallen in love at first sight, tried to mount him.

But Kartum did not allow Jereuth. He twisted his body, went wild, and kicked Jereuth. He did not recognize Jereuth.

'Then, before I went to the war with the demons, when I really needed a 'good horse'... I met Kartum again on that plain. At that time, Kartum, surprisingly easily, let me on his back.'

At that time, Jereuth felt that Kartum had recognized him.

That Jereuth himself had become worthy of riding Kartum.

The situation and feeling now were similar to that.

It felt as if the bow, something inside it, was rejecting him.

However, what was different from that time was—.

'This bow... no, the 'Gryphon' that constitutes this bow, I am certain that it will not recognize me no matter what I do.'

Leonardo had said. This bow was made from Gryphon bones and feathers, and the Tree of Life.

If a weapon was made from such precious materials, the will of those materials would naturally be imbued in it.

Just as with any famous horse or sword.

'But His Highness pulled this bowstring without any issue. In other words, he received the recognition of the Gryphon that became the material for this bow. Does that mean... really, His Highness Leonardo can receive the recognition of a Gryphon?'

At the sudden thought.

Jereuth's gaze slowly turned towards Leonardo's door.

'Gryphons are real monsters. But a knight riding a Gryphon is a thing of imagination.'

But perhaps.

'I might be able to... see it for real. A knight riding a Gryphon.

That thought made the old general's heart burn hotly.