"I see, so it feels something like this."
Muttering those words to myself, I let my thoughts rotate.
Though I have become quite exceptionally strong compared to the old days, I suddenly found myself wondering exactly how far I could go, so I am currently checking what I can do. Well, you could call it a re-evaluation of Lais-chan's specs as a solo unit. Things are going smoothly all around right now, so I have no plans to return to the Highlands, nor do I ever want to return. However, there is always the possibility that by some fluke, we might have to go looking for a new "place."
Since it cannot be completely ruled out that a Beast King-level guy might suddenly pop up to offer a "greeting" with the vibe of, "Yo Boss! Working hard?!" confirming what I can do is surely important. It is highly primitive, but my grandma (whose face I've never even seen) used to say that as long as you have Power, you can survive anywhere. Might makes right, after all.
Back when I was in the Highlands, every single day was such a living hell that if I didn't think, I died. Over here, though, things are a bit too peaceful, so I end up slacking off before I know it. I have to stay properly on top of things.
（Consequently, my personal abilities consist of...）
An Apparently Monstrous Amount of Mana
A Regeneration Capability Absurd Even for an Ostrich
A Pseudo-"Mana Cannon" via Mana Release
Technique to Manipulate Air
Human-level Intellect
Ostrich-level Physical Power
For the time being, that should about cover it. ...Eh? You're asking what the technique to manipulate air is? Why, it's this "Jet Form" thing I'm using right now. Once I actually started doing it, it turned out to be quite fun, and I'm currently taking a stroll through the sky while practicing my mana manipulation. I can't take my eyes off the children, so I haven't gone terribly far or raised my altitude too high, you know? Ah, this is perfect—look down! They are so unbelievably cute!
"She's flying—!"
"Amazing—!"
"Mama, amazing—!"
"Want to fly too—!"
"Me do it—!"
The children waving their hands at me from below. Their eyes are practically sparkling to an absurd degree. There's even a child flapping their wings frantically, attempting to copy me. Of course, they haven't magically become clever enough to learn a technique, nor has their memory capacity been enhanced. Those kids are merely hopping up and down purely with ostrich leg strength. So adorable, aren't they?
At any rate, I have completed a reasonable baseline of learning. To be sure, I haven't reached a level of mastery where I can unleash attacks useful in actual combat or in the Highlands, but it has become completely possible to create a sort of foothold in the air like this, allowing me to perform double jumps or triple jumps. Rather than flying through the sky, it feels closer to continuously kicking the air.
（But the fact that three-dimensional combat has become possible without consuming mana is massive.）
Under current circumstances, I don't need to worry about mana consumption, but precisely because the total volume is so massive, my mastery of mana manipulation hasn't progressed in the slightest. While I can launch attacks by sheer brute force, I honestly believe that if the current me were to eject mana from the soles of my feet to fly, it wouldn't be strange if I shot clean out into outer space. I certainly don't think I can survive in a place devoid of oxygen, let alone air, so it is strictly banned.
Consequently, establishing a movement method that doesn't rely on mana is an exceptionally wonderful thing... but under current circumstances, I can't use them simultaneously. While I can handle Jet Form itself, my mana manipulation still refuses to work smoothly, so I can only manage one or the other. It isn't causing any trouble at the moment, but it will be problematic if aerial combat becomes necessary, which is exactly why I'm practicing right now, treating it partly as amusement.
（Now then, let us return to the main topic.）
The core of my personal strength remains, without a doubt, my Mana and my Regeneration Capability. I can crush things with my excess mana, and even if I take a hit, as long as I'm only half-destroyed, I can manage somehow. With the current situation where I can no longer grasp the total volume of my own mana, I don't even comprehend how far my continuous combat endurance extends. Normally, this alone would be enough to claim the title of the strongest, but...
"Not in the Highlands, it wouldn't be."
Over there, it is a daily occurrence for the terrain to be altered or scorched to the point where the ground turns to glass. It's a place where you can get by as long as you smoothly navigate around the habitats of the truly dangerous entities, but the ceiling is just so high that I honestly feel like there's nothing to be done about it. In all likelihood, even if I were to generate a fireball with all my might and unleash an attack capable of blowing everything to smithereens... there's bound to be a guy who would come charging at me with the high-energy vibe of, "Now that's the first hit that's stung in ages! Here's your return gift!"
Judging by what I've heard regarding these "Special Tactical Forces," it sounds like entities of that caliber exist within this human society as well. ...Different worlds are truly terrifying, aren't they?
...Well, even so, I believe I've secured enough power to manage to a certain degree. Questions never cease regarding how my mana keeps expanding or why I remain alive even when my brains are blown clean out, and I don't comprehend it at all. Even if I wanted to train my strengths, the only method that comes to mind is blowing my own brains out, so there isn't much I can actually do. Perhaps it is best to remain satisfied with the current state?
"If that's the case, then to get any stronger than this... it has to be magic, after all."
In all likelihood, further improvement of my physical capabilities cannot be hoped for. Channeling mana to boost them is certainly possible, but physical growth has already completely ceased. Just like the ostriches of Earth, we ostrich beastmen reach an adult body in roughly one year. While some individuals take a tiny bit longer, it never takes more than two years. In short, this body will likely never grow any further.
That being the case, the only way to heighten my own strength is to somehow develop my magic-related aspects. If I can elevate my mana manipulation, a grand variety of doors will open. I could improve the quality of my physical reinforcement, augment the power of my current main firepower, the "Mana Cannon," and master the elemental magic systems that Master Amelia has strictly forbidden me from touching, along with various other convenient spells. If I can master them, far more doors will open.
Well, I'm currently stumbling at the very first step, though!
"I'm completely stuck~. Mana manipulation is so super hard."
According to Amelia-san's assessment, she says I can manage roughly the same level of manipulation as an ordinary person. However, precisely because my mana is so overwhelmingly vast, if I try to utilize the volume of mana that an ordinary person handles, it requires an mind-bogglingly meticulous level of precision work. ...Did I mention this before? As a method that might theoretically solve everything, there is always the option of 'blowing my brains out to optimize it' though.
"When I lost my patience and tried to do it, my kids stopped me with everything they had, after all."
Because progress was so utterly non-existent... I snapped a tiny bit, you see? When I tried to do it in secret, a child happened to be watching, and the exact instant I made an ominous movement, they went "Bwiiiiiii!" Before I knew it, everyone had gathered, and on top of that, everyone looked right on the verge of tears... yeah. I reflected upon it immensely.
It doesn't matter to me personally, but from these children's perspective, it's obviously terrifying. If they go to see what Mama is up to, and she's trying to blow her own head off, of course they're going to get startled, cry, and try to stop her with all their might. Even if I can resurrect, these children are entities that fly into a rage whenever a comrade is harmed. I truly did something awful to them...
Consequently, that method is completely sealed unless it is a situation where nothing else can absolutely be done. I'll just have to do my best through standard effort.
"Ah, it is about that time, I suppose."
As I let my thoughts revolve in that manner, I notice Mathilde waving her hand from down below. She has her hand cupped over her mouth and seems to be shouting something. She must be calling for me.
And standing behind her is Dorothea—the Red Knight-chan—looking thoroughly depressed, alongside the Strategist-kun, whose jaw has completely lost its tension, leaving his mouth wide open. Aha—! Surprised? Of course you are—! Based on the story I heard from the Red Knight-chan, acquiring this technique is supposed to take quite a considerable amount of time, right? At the shortest, it takes several years, and for people who can't grasp the sensation smoothly, it takes over a decade! But it's a technique that carries enough meaning to justify spending that much time!
When it comes to Lais-chan, it doesn't even take a single week! Muhfu—! The ostrich has become the ruler not only of the land, but of the sky as well! Since things have turned out this way, next is the sea, and finally, outer space! I shall fill this entire galaxy to the brim with ostriches...! Eh? You're asking how we're going to inhabit outer space? I have no idea!
"We'll just have to manage that part with raw fighting spirit—!"
"...What are you talking about?"
"Nnothing at all."
Slowly descending to the ground, I exchange words with Mathilde. Our acquaintance has already become quite long, so even if I fly through the sky, her reaction is merely at the level of, 'Ah, yes, so you've become able to fly now.' She has stopped being surprised at all. Also, perhaps because various things inside her broke during the recent "Red Knight-chan Wetting Incident," my Intimidation has ceased to work on her entirely...
From her own perspective, her stance is: "Honestly, at this point, it feels like even if her head gets blown off, she'll just revive, so it's faster to simply comprehend her as that sort of entity. Lord Lais isn't a bad person, after all. ...Though she is a person who acts as a troublemaker in a grand variety of ways." Oh stop it, Mathilde! Even I would die if my head got blown off~! ...I would die, right?
"So? What is it, Mathilde? That matter?"
"Yes, it is a hit. It appears the messenger from the Beast Kingdom has arrived. The location of the conference will be the site of that recent battle with the Beast King."
"OK, thank you."
While we literally blew away the Beast Kingdom's army the other day, there hadn't been a single drop of communication from their side since. However, a few days after the Strategist arrived here, a messenger finally came along, muttered something like, "We wish to negotiate a ceasefire, also we'll do literally anything so please forgive us," and then scuttled back. From our perspective as ostriches, if they aren't going to attack, there is no point in us laying a hand on them. Since the Hiard Kingdom feels the exact same way, a venue for talks was arranged.
As a side note, from our side, the participants will be myself as the leader of the ostrich camp, Mathilde representing the Hiard Kingdom, and the Strategist representing the Nagan Kingdom. Naturally, several others will accompany us as guards, along with every single one of my children, but the core will be these three.
"Even so, Mathilde, that's a massive promotion, isn't it? Normally, shouldn't a minister or a highly important person step forward for this sort of thing?"
"Indeed, fundamentally, a Prime Minister or a Minister would handle such matters. ...I wonder why it ended up being me?"
"Isn't that obviously because you are the closest to me, and furthermore, the highest-ranking person in this place? 'Sir Count'?"
"...I truly did absolutely nothing, though."
Yes! Consequently, here is some Happy news for everyone~! Unbelievably, it turns out Mathilde-chan has been recognized for a grand variety of achievements and became a Count before she even realized it! My, how celebratory. Apparently, her peerage shot up immensely because she successfully invited me—a Special Tactical Force—into the nation, defended Plage when Nagan launched their invasion, won the battle against the Beast Kingdom, and contributed to the subjugation of the Beast King.
...Well, if one thinks about it rationally, she brought in the exact talent the nation desired most, and on top of that, she saved the country from the brink of ruin twice, so the conclusion must have been that they had to do at least that much.
"Even so, that magic tool Nagan brought along was truly magnificent, wasn't it?"
"Yes, to think it could not only perform long-distance communication but even allow us to see the other party's face was entirely beyond my imagination."
The report regarding Mathilde-chan being appointed as a Count came in the form of the Strategist letting us know. The latest magic tool of Nagan that he brought along. It is a massive piece of equipment that takes up an entire carriage by itself, but it's a magic tool that allows for something like a video call. Using that, I had a grand variety of conversations with that old grandpa Prime Minister.
Matters like thanking us for saving the country, and so forth. Because the young Queen-chan had become a tiny bit unhinged with joy over Mathilde's promotion and the preparations for the victory celebration, I wasn't able to see her face directly. In short, that is how I ended up hearing about Mathilde's promotion~.
"But that magic tool was completely humongous in size, right? You certainly can't carry something like that around."
"...To be sure, while the speed of information transmission becomes drastically faster, it is the sort of thing that can only be placed within major cities. The fact that the Strategist is able to transport it personally must be due to his status within the Nagan Kingdom. Normally, one wouldn't be permitted to cart around something capable of turning the world upside down like that."
"Right~. Well, since it's the Strategist we're talking about, maybe he's actually miniaturized it already? How about it?"
Saying so, I toss the topic over to him, who still hasn't completely shaken off the shock of me mastering Jet Form.
"Eh! N-No, no way~, even for Nagan, that sort of thing is truly impossible, Lord Lais. Even that magic tool took a considerable amount of time to develop."
"Well, I suppose so~."
Perhaps because I threw the topic at him so suddenly, he raised his voice exceptionally loud. Even back on Earth, a considerable amount of time passed between the creation of the landline telephone and the birth of the mobile phone. Furthermore, the time it took to popularize it to an ordinary level was even longer. It seems creating a magic tool the size of a large carriage took a grand amount of time, so an era where one can carry around a mobile phone is likely far in the future.
"Well, whatever. Then, Mathilde. I'm going to go change my clothes, so once that's finished, we depart, right?"
"Yes, the preparations for the others are completely in order, so make it quick."
Organizing TurnThe Ostrich-chans
On top of becoming a tiny bit smarter, Mama has become completely monstrously strong! Furthermore, Dele has become exceptionally clever! Splendid! However, an ostrich is an ostrich. Loving Mama as always, they are thoroughly enjoying every single day as usual! The food is delicious!
The Hiard Kingdom
Because Mathilde-chan's achievements had reached an absurd level, they made her a noble (Count). Furthermore, because the Strategist made his move, the report that the Beast King had died successfully reached the young Queen. The mask she had worn as a sovereign up until that point peeled away entirely, resulting in the birth of a little girl rejoicing like a maniac. Meanwhile, the Lord Prime Minister is whipping his old bones to somehow manage the aftermath. (Since the information regarding Lais is being concealed by the Strategist, they are operating under the assumption that she is currently flying into a furious rage.)
The Nagan Kingdom
Thanks to the Strategist securing information, they have shifted their policy toward forming a friendship with the ostrich-chans, yet they continue to scheme behind the scenes to either outmaneuver them or integrate them into the Nagan camp eventually. The partial restriction of information toward the Hiard Kingdom stands as one part of that effort. Furthermore, while they came to comprehend Lais-chan's bizarre learning speed through this event, they remain completely oblivious to the "multiplication capability"—the absolute greatest threat of the ostriches. The Red Knight-chan has had teary eyes this entire time. My, my technique...
The Charda Beast Kingdom
The Lord Beast King went and died, and on top of that, some incomprehensible undead entities have started spawning. Pien, there's no way we can wage war. We'll show you our bellies, so please forgive us.