Banishment is Fine: As a Genius Saint, I Can Shine Anywhere. - Chapter 3

The Mysterious Package:

(If he really comes from a noble family, it makes sense that he could pull some strings… But Lionel himself said that support had stopped for a while. Something about this feels strange…)

Still, it was good that the supplies they had requested had arrived safely.

“We’ll take down the last package now.”

One of the knights noticed a small bundle still attached to the Magic Pigeon’s back and reached out to retrieve it.

But—

“Gyaaaah!”

The Magic Pigeon suddenly twisted its body in protest, flapping its massive wings violently. The sudden movement sent several nearby knights tumbling to the ground.

“Whoa! What’s wrong all of a sudden?!”
“Careful, back away!”

As the knights shouted in confusion, Lionel’s firm command overlapped with their voices.

But before they could retreat, the massive bird beat its wings twice, then three times, lifting off the ground. In an instant, it soared high into the sky.

The sound of its flapping wings quickly turned into a powerful rushing noise as it disappeared into the distance.

Everyone stood in stunned silence, watching as the bird shrank to a mere speck in the sky.

“…Hey, is everyone okay?”

Lionel was the first to snap back to reality, rushing to the fallen knights. Seeing that the nearby children were unharmed, Meteor grabbed her staff and hurried over as well.

“Ah, we’re fine. Thanks to the Holy Maiden’s talismans, we didn’t even get a scratch.”
“But when that thing suddenly took off, my heart almost stopped.”
“No kidding.”

The knights chuckled, relieved that no one was injured.

“As long as you’re all okay… But that package—wasn’t it supposed to be part of our supplies?”

Lionel frowned, glancing in the direction the Magic Pigeon had flown. The knights exchanged puzzled looks.

“Maybe it was meant for another unit? But we’re the only squad stationed this far north…”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too…”

Meteor agreed, but then a thought crossed her mind as she considered the direction the pigeon had flown.

“Maybe… it’s headed over the mountains to the neighboring kingdom.”

“Huh? You mean Durandix, Holy Maiden?”

“Yes.”

Meteor nodded firmly.

Just then, the children who had been watching from a distance hesitantly approached.

“Holy Maiden, are you okay?”
“What’s this ‘Dura-something’ place?”

Meteor gently patted the head of a small child clinging to her and answered the question.

“Durandix is the name of a kingdom beyond the northern mountains.”

“…What?! There are other countries besides the Holy Kingdom of Sartarian?”

The children gasped in shock. Meteor smiled and nodded.

“There are eight countries on this continent. Five of them, including ours, are protected by a Divine Tree. But Durandix isn’t one of them.”

“Ehh?! If they don’t have a Divine Tree, then how do they get clean water?!”

The children looked even more surprised. Meteor was about to explain further when Lionel interrupted.

“We need to bring the horses over to load the supplies. It’s not safe to keep the kids here. If you want to continue the conversation, take them somewhere else.”

He was right. If the excited children startled the horses, things could get dangerous.

“Alright, let’s go talk over there instead,” Meteor said, leading the children toward the town square.