Hentai Dragon King

The fairy forest spread over the upstream of the Urethral River faster than the snow sealed the land. Because we could no longer expand the forest once the ground was completely covered in snow, Fullru had worked hard for the fairies. The fairies had also begun to appear, and the settlement had become lively. About one or two fairies were riding on the heads of the capybara girls.

The sweet-potato seedlings that had been withering from the cold were somehow surviving thanks to Fullru expanding the green. Fullru had worked hard to circulate natural energy and keep us alive through the winter.

However, snow fell almost every day. The northern sky was always pitch dark and getting closer and closer to our heads.

A thin layer of snow had accumulated around us, but more was coming.

When it got cold, I became reluctant to fly and the dog girls stopped hunting because small animals hibernated, so they spent more time in the huts.

Kemolori and the others could no longer enter the cold river and could not make dried fish.

Everyone had started closing themselves up in the huts.

It was winter.

We had done everything we could in advance. We had expanded the huts, stockpiled fish, meat, and grass, but would we be able to survive the winter?

I carried a milk jar to Margolant Castle to get milk from Milk-san. Because milk could not be stored for long, I had no choice but to go for it for Mirai-chan.

By the time I arrived in Margolant my back was already piled with snow.

While warming myself by the fireplace and learning milking techniques from Milk-san, I felt refreshed and went to the castle to greet Iria.

I told her I might not be able to come back for a while and asked her to let us evacuate to the castle in case of emergency.

Then, in the flow of conversation—

"It would be the best if Ana-san were here with her fire skill right now."

"That’s the perfect timing. Should I go meet her?"

"Perfect timing?"

"Ah. The Christmas Tournament is held in the royal capital every year at the end of December."

"What is the Christmas Tournament?"

"It’s a real-combat training held in the end of December in Lowblec. Skilled fighters gather from all over the kingdom."

Is it like the jousting tournament that was held in medieval Europe?

Royal families and noble ladies watch, and knights fight without holding back for the sake of honor and ladies.

The most common format is, as the Japanese translation says, riding a horse, holding a lance, and charging at each other. The fierce collisions would shatter shields and armor, make knights fall from their horses, and cause deaths.

The name "horse-lance tournament" makes it sound like a match using lances on horseback, but in reality there are also fights with swords and hammers without riding horses.

Because winners can take equipment from opponents or receive ransoms, it was also a way for knights with skill to earn a fortune.

...That is the so-called medieval European tournament.

"Participants who show outstanding strength with a five-person team can receive rewards from the king and be scouted by knight orders."

"Rewards? Anything?"

"Ah. A golden cup, a crown studded with gems, or a jeweled necklace—anything you want."

Uuu. Jewels are unnecessary in the Beastman Kingdom.

Still, it’s common sense that the king can prepare things with his power.

We can’t ask him to abolish slavery, recognize the Beastman Kingdom, or let Rafilia-san take the seat of the Pope of the Ralm Church.

"Powerful knights participate to show loyalty to the king, so Ana will probably come too."

"I see. So that’s why you asked if I should go meet her."

"Ah."

"But will all the powerful knights gather? Won’t there be a problem with national defense?"

"It’s winter. No country can move its main army. Especially Lumaniera, the military superpower, is completely sealed by snow, so they can’t send troops. Besides, showing the people how strong the knights are becomes a deterrent. The Christmas Tournament is held during the big market, so merchants from various countries gather."

"I see. Merchants who travel between countries spread the strength of this kingdom’s knights."

Merchants are protected even in hostile countries because trade development is good for the nation.

Speaking of which, Esty-san had said she wanted to head south soon.

The Christmas Tournament, huh.

I wasn’t interested in battle, but I did want to visit the royal capital once.

I wanted to bring back any unusual vegetables and try to grow them here in the Glans.

With Dura-san, we could learn the latest architecture in the capital and make effective use of it in the Glans.

And if I went south, it would be warm. I could go play for a few days.

No hotel fee, but I could manage somehow.

"Last year I participated with the comrades I gathered in the royal capital but couldn’t achieve good results. I would be reassured if Masaharu came with me."

"I see. Do you need an answer right away?"

"Ah. If we participate we have preparation at the venue and the tournament is close, so I want to leave as soon as possible. The answer should be quick."

"Then I’ll participate."

That meant I had to figure out what to do with the remaining three comrades.

I couldn’t take Lucia out because it would be a scam no matter what.

Esty-san couldn’t participate because her nine tails would be discovered and she’d be hunted by knights.

Dura-san couldn’t become a mecha girl.

Fullru was exhausted from making the forest and didn’t want to be fought. Besides, she probably hated fighting in front of so many humans.

Although I didn’t know their true strength, Kaka and Pipi were probably super strong, but they obviously couldn’t participate. Flying stuffed animals? Impossible no matter what.

Moreover, even if the beastmen kingdom’s children were strong, I felt hesitant to let anyone other than combat workers participate.

Esty-san was a nine-tailed fox strong enough to destroy a country, yet she was often rough-handed by everyone’s butt blankets, grabbed by cat girls, and nibbled by capybara girls or Iferaski. Every day she screamed "It hurts, it hurts! You’re eating me? Who is it eating?"

Strong or not, pain was pain.

Me too. When the capybara girls stepped on my cock while I was lying down, it hurt. Those idiots really walked wherever they wanted on top of people.

"I have me and Iria besides three others. What should I do?"

"Try to recruit them randomly at the venue. There should be people without comrades like us."

"I see. That’s the plan. Because I have one person in mind, I’ll try to recruit her a little."

"Beasts are out. If you lose, the opponent can turn you into a slave if they want."

"Don’t worry. The knight I’ll recruit is from Monvan."

I carried the milk jar back to the settlement and flew to Monvan while holding two dried fish under my arms.

Knight E, who was ranked 38th out of B-rank, should have enough power. There were 12 A-rank knights, so by ranking she would be the 50th strongest in the country, and from what I heard she was still growing stronger.

But before I even reached Monvan, I already knew E was absent.

There was no measurement value that looked like E in the Battle Power test.

I landed a little away from the north gate, adjusted my long robe I had wrapped around my neck, and walked to the north gate holding the fish.

"Excuse me."

"Ah! O-Oi Ooma-saharu-sama! I am honored to meet you!"

"Um, sorry to bother you. But is the guard captain E still in Monvan?"

"Yes. Captain E has been called to the royal capital to participate in the Christmas Tournament."

"Ah, ah— I see. I guess so..."

What a shame. E was a knight and would probably participate with her comrades. She didn’t seem like the type who would look for allies like me.

"Here. Fish I caught in the north. Please eat them if you want."

"Thank you very much."

I bowed and was about to pass through the gate—

"At the crossroads of history and fate, we shall meet again."

"Eh? Why do you say that?"

The line I had heard from Garga, the demon race who was pretending to be human during the status test.

"Oh? You don’t know, Sahar-sama? It has been popular for a while as a parting greeting."

"Is that so...? Then I should reply ’The day the black-obsidian flowers bloom is close’?"

"Yes."

It had become popular...

At one point I liked the sound and kept saying it to the gatekeeper, and passing kids. Speaking of which, Dura-san had said it too. It seemed to be quite popular.