The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent-Chapter 342

It was the gaze reserved for figures from legend—awed and reverent.

You don’t get that kind of look just from riding a wild animal.

So, clearly, griffons in this world aren’t simply dangerous beasts. They’re treated more like divine or mythical creatures.

Even in a fantasy world like this one.

*

It became clear that this world wasn’t ruled by a single unified government.

In the thick of battle, I hadn’t noticed because I was too busy fending off attackers and retaliating—but once the fight was over, I got a look at the soldiers inside the cathedral and the reinforcements that arrived later. They all wore different uniforms.

I had no way of asking directly, so I just eavesdropped on the people talking nearby. From what I gathered, the three powers involved were called the "Goddess Cult," "Belvur," and "the Empire." The Goddess Cult was, as the name suggests, a religion centered around a goddess. That much I’d already figured out. I’d heard the people who imprisoned me talking about the goddess plenty of times.

Belvur seemed to be a neighboring country to the Theocracy ruled by the Goddess Cult. The Empire, in turn, was a nation bordering Belvur. They all just called it “the Empire,” so I didn’t catch its full name. Maybe I’d hear it eventually if I kept listening.

And then there was one other word I’d heard over and over.

Fangryphon.

I had no idea what it meant, but whenever I was with Sylvia, I heard it constantly.

The first time I heard it was when a knight muttered it while staring at Sylvia sitting on my back, so I assumed it had something to do with that image...

Riding a griffon’s back? Maybe that’s all it means? But from the reverent expressions people had when they said it, it didn’t seem like it was just describing the act.

Hmm.

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I guess I’ll shelve the question for now.

I thought about trying to write something on the ground—but then I remembered I didn’t know this world’s written language. If I carelessly wrote something in Korean and people started calling it “the ancient script of the griffon” and began studying it, that would be way too much trouble.

I just escaped, after all. I’m not about to let myself get captured again. Not that there’s anyone in this world with the guts to try.

*

“......”

As I walked, people naturally formed a circle around me.

It didn’t feel like they were watching me, or trying to guard me. It was just that everyone instinctively kept their distance—like staying away from a volatile, dangerous material.

Was I really that scary?

Sure, I looked intimidating, but it wasn’t like I’d ever gone out of my way to frighten anyone.

I mean, yes, I had torn into bleeding beasts and eaten them whole... but that couldn’t be helped. If they had given me cooked meat, I would’ve gladly eaten that instead. But no—they insisted on feeding me raw meat.

At least Sylvia didn’t seem afraid of me.

We took a train from the Theocracy to the capital of Belvur, a city called Lutetia. That was the same place where the cathedral I had escaped from was located.

Even on the way here, the meaning of the word Fangryphon remained a mystery—but I had managed to figure out one thing: it was a ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) family name belonging to the Imperial House.

Sylvia, Alice, and the Emperor—Arthur, I think? When people called out the full names of the other captured nobles, Fangryphon always came with them.

Still, even knowing that, the way people reacted—gasping and exclaiming just at the name—still felt over the top. There had to be some legend or meaning behind the name. You wouldn’t make that kind of dramatic face every time someone mentioned a noble family.

Riding ahead of me in the carriage were the two princesses. It was a large, luxurious vehicle, open-topped like a convertible. It didn’t seem to have a roof at all—probably built for days like this, when the weather was perfect.

A gentle breeze stirred her short black hair.

In that peaceful, somewhat sleepy atmosphere, I trailed behind the princesses’ carriage, my thoughts wandering—

Blare—!

What the—!

The sudden blast of sound caught me completely off guard, and I flinched in a way that was not very griffon-like at all.

I didn’t raise my forelegs into the air in full panic or anything, but I definitely made a big enough motion that the people watching me enter Rondarium took notice.

A thunderous trumpet blast.

Cheering that nearly drowned it out.

Confetti and flower petals falling from above.

And Lutetia—retaining its elegant, early-20th-century European charm—blended perfectly with the festive atmosphere.

Every gaze that met us was filled with joy.

It was the first time I’d seen anything like this since coming to this world.

I was being welcomed—not rejected, not hated, not chained or beaten.

I paused for a moment, looking around, and when I snapped back to reality, the carriage in front of me had stopped. I must have wandered too far ahead, so they stopped the whole procession to match my pace.

Sylvia was looking back at me.

Right. Fangryphon, wasn’t it?

I suddenly felt a mischievous urge.

The moment our eyes met, Sylvia’s face shifted in alarm, as if she’d realized exactly what I was thinking—but by then, I was already moving.

Screams rang out around me. I could hear the knights behind me scrambling in confusion. Further ahead, people were still cheering, unaware that anything had happened.

I clamped my beak gently around Sylvia’s nape and lifted her up, placing her on my back.

Silence fell.

I turned to glance at her, and Sylvia quickly adjusted her posture and sat upright with perfect poise on my back.

And just like that, the cheering resumed, louder than before.

Alice, still in the carriage, stared up at me in shock—but I held my head high with pride.

Then I strode behind the carriage again with all the grandeur I could muster.

...Okay, maybe it was a little too dramatic.

But hey—how would I know? I’ve never seen another griffon walk.

And neither had anyone else here, I bet.

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So of course, this would be the first time they saw how a griffon walks.

Even if my posture was a bit awkward, no one would notice.

The farther we walked, the closer the palace came into view—the same one I had glimpsed when I flew over the city the first time—and the louder the crowd’s cheers became.

My heart was pounding.

Everyone here was celebrating my presence.

Sure, I wasn’t the only one being celebrated—but no one was hating me, cursing me, or waiting to chain me up again.

Just shouts of joy.

The years of bitterness and pain I’d carried into this world hadn’t completely washed away yet.

But at least now, it felt like I’d never have to go through that again.

I glanced back—and my eyes met Sylvia’s.

She narrowed her eyes at me for a brief moment... then sighed deeply, like she was saying, Whatever. Fine.

Yeah. It’s all thanks to her.

Thanks to her, who never once tried to use me.

If she hadn’t broken that gem in that moment, I would’ve gone on hating humans until the very end.

Well—fine.

If I owe her, I’ll pay her back properly.

And while I’m at it, maybe I’ll snag some free meals too.

I raised my head high, stretched out my wings, and walked forward in all my griffon glory.

When I heard the cheers grow even louder at the sight of my wings, for the first time since coming to this world—

I felt... happy.