405 Hectic Times (1/2)
”'News in Eich, First Edition'? What!? This magazine wasn't made by the fairies?”
”It's a new magazine published together by San Antonio, the Mage Country and several other major countries. It's having astonishing sales success in all the countries. Whoever controls the information has power. Nobody is an idiot about this.”
This morning, a Blue Dragon flew into my campground and tossed down a gift bag including an invitation letter and this magazine.
Although this magazine didn't have color printing, its paper was of good quality and its vocabulary well chosen. The content also had black-and-white pictures to go along with the articles.
”Let me see what news was so important that the fastest dragon species was chosen to deliver it to me.”
But the moment I flipped to the first page, I immediately closed the magazine.
”Ultraman vs. tiny monsters? Isn't the style wrong?”
The headline news seemed ridiculous. Just at this moment, however, the silly cat jumped out of a corner.
”…Let me see. What Ultraman are you talking about? The headline clearly says 'The vanished Cloud Giants forgotten by mankind have returned. In the battle between Bardi and the Holy Church army, the Cloud Giants viciously taught the dragons a good lesson. Halent's army retreated after numerous losses.' Eh, Cloud Giants? There are actually still Cloud Giants in the mortal plane?”
Indeed, these glowing giants really did resemble Ultraman. The dragons being beaten into submission on the ground did seem like tiny minions destined to die in a humiliating fashion.
Cloud Giants were one of the strongest species of giants. Known as the favored children of the Titan Giants, they were the tallest of all giants and had the most extravagant and beautiful appearances. It was said that their entire species consisted of handsome men and beautiful women that wore equally beautiful clothing. They were born with the natural talent of being able to control the clouds and weather, and they were also naturally skilled at Divine Arts. However, they were most famous for their excellent talent in art and music. Many majestic palaces remained in this world that were their creations. Even now, bards sung their songs, which were considered as classics.
Also, Cloud Giants had the highest Intelligence of all giants. Their race was capable of producing mages and priests. Not only that, they were one of the few giant species that worked cooperatively with each other in teams and groups. Individually, they weren't as skilled in physical combat as Magma Giants, but Cloud Giant squadrons would be the most frightening type of giant squadron there was.
Cloud Giants hadn't appeared in the mortal plane for an incredibly long time. Legends had it that they avoided the Intelligence-lowering curse on the entire giant species by escaping from the mortal plane. It would seem that since their ancestors, the Titan Giants, summoned them back, these legendary lovers of peace and art decided to go to war for the sake of their brethren.
”If the Cloud Giants attacked, then it's easy enough to understand why Halent lost. Since the Titan Giants are able to control things from afar and understand what's going on in the outside world despite being sealed, I think I need to raise my assessment and vigilance against the Titan Giants…”
The most attention-grabbing part for me was the tiny addendum at the end.
”PS: Rumors have it that angels appeared in this battle. But according to our investigation, they were only a group of Winged Tribe mercenaries that participated in battle. The underhanded Holy Church attempted to masquerade these Winged Tribe members as angels in order to shake the Bardi warriors' morale.”
”Angels appeared?”
I asked this directly, and Kaid nodded.
”Yeah, that's what I heard, but doesn't the report say that they're actually the Winged Tribe?”
Considering the political backers of this magazine—the most powerful countries—it naturally would be biased towards royal authority rather than church authority. It certainly wouldn't print pro-church articles. Because this article said that the angels were Winged Tribe members, I felt it to be far more likely they were real angels.
The difference between Winged Tribe members and angels was like the difference between a chicken and a phoenix. Winged Tribe members were similar to flying humans, while angels were of an immemorial bloodline on par with dragons. Their difference in strength on the battlefield would be far too obvious.
Considering how normal humans in Eich considered angels as venerated personifications of extreme good, as well as God Envoys, if angels truly appeared to fight for the Holy Church, it would be a serious blow against the newly rising Church of Pure Holy Light. If angels appeared in the enemy's side, the normal Bardi warriors would definitely have their morale severely shaken, not to mention how angels were strong warriors to begin with.
In that case, if the Holy Church's vanguard army received support from both angels and Cloud Giants, it was only natural that Halent ended up losing.
”The enemies are the pure angels and the art and peace-loving Cloud Giants? While our side is filled with undead, evil dragons, Dark Elves, evil Underground creatures and greedy goblins? Why do I feel like we're the antagonists?”
”Have you realized it only now? With Cloud Giants and angels in the enemy's side, our soldiers' morale will probably be affected.”
”…It doesn't matter. A species doesn't represent justice, nor is a species an excuse to slaughter. Why should we be frustrated about these foolish outdated ways of thinking?”