We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Preparations for returning home led to a great commotion.
A strong wind once carried a cold breeze from the west.
On that day, the multicolored flower petals that had bloomed profusely due to the dragon veins danced all at once, transforming the scenery into a distinctly autumnal one.
We were busy preparing to return to Dragon Peak.
“What? Leaving already?”
The King, accompanied by his attendants, visited our guest room in the detached palace every day. He claimed it was part of his physical training, but everyone in the detached palace knew his true motive was Laira.
Laira, as well, made time to spend with the King whenever possible.
“I want to do various things with Elnea-sama too, you know,” she’d say.
However, if she distanced herself from Yorttenitos, she wouldn’t be able to see the King as easily. When I advised her, “You’ll always be with me from now on, right?”, she honestly spent time with the King.
These two, they’re somehow similar in that regard.
We watched the King and Laira with fond smiles.
“Elnea said he doesn’t need a reward. But Laira, I want to give you something. You always help me with my care.”
“Oh, no. I don’t need anything.”
“Laira. I don’t think you need to be so modest.”
The King was utterly fond of Laira. He wanted to do as much as he could for her. Anyone could see that by watching the King.
In that case, shouldn’t we leave in a way that allows Laira to indulge herself fully and the King to have no regrets?
If the King wanted to give Laira a gift, perhaps we should just accept it gratefully.
With my words, Laira smiled at the King and agreed. The King and Laira, saying they would choose something from the recovered treasures, happily left our room.
“It’s good we came here.”
Mistral smiled contentedly as she watched the two.
“Yeah. At first, I wondered if it was just my own selfish desire, but I’m glad we came.”
I came to the Yorttenitos Kingdom for Laira’s sake. I thought I’d declare my marriage with Laira while visiting the King. Then, I’d bring the tyrant and get involved in a wyvern hunt. Perhaps, in the end, it was all my selfish desire. However, thanks to various commotion, encounters, and farewells, things turned out for the better.
Looking back, my selfish desires ended up being beneficial, but perhaps if I had thought things through more, they might have progressed even better.
As I recalled the events in the Yorttenitos Kingdom, which felt both long and short, Mistral gently petted my head, something she hadn’t done in a while.
“No one can act with perfect foresight. You got these results because it’s you, so be confident.”
“Yeah. Thank you.”
Mistral’s hands, stroking my hair as if to untangle it, felt pleasant.
“Nyaaa. Nyan also worked hard, so I want to be petted too, nyan.”
Nimia, who had been playing with Priscilla-chan, jumped onto my head.
Nimia’s true identity was revealed in the match against Grave. Now, there was no need to hide anymore. Thus, Nimia was now freely flying around.
At first, everyone was surprised, but with her adorable appearance and way of speaking, she quickly captivated everyone.
She’s a sinful creature.
“I haven’t caused as much trouble as Elnea-older brother, nyan.”
“Ggrrrn.”
Mistral laughed while petting Nimia and me as I scowled.
The match against Grave was one-sided. It was simply a pursuit of the blue wyvern until it was completely exhausted.
Nimia’s appearance, resembling Asher-san, caused a stir not only in the venue but throughout the entire capital.
Although it was an unofficial match, flying around in the sky was bound to attract attention. Furthermore, the one escaping was Grave’s mount, a blue wyvern, and the one pursuing was Nimia, who was many times larger and resembled Asher-san.
Rumors were swirling around, asking what on earth the prince had done.
And then, Grave finally gave up on the Twin Princesses.
Or was he forced to give up?
The King was among the witnesses to the match, and after losing, was reprimanded to conduct himself like a prince and accept the consequences.
It certainly wasn’t because when I returned, the Twin Princesses gave me a passionate hug and stole my lips.
Or was it?
“Nyaa. That was the last straw, nyan.”
Gufh. What if Grave didn’t regain his senses?
“Um, I want a hug too, Priscilla.”
When Nimia arrived, Priscilla-chan followed.
As if my worries meant nothing to the young girl group, Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan hugged me.
“Are you going to comfort me?”
Ares-chan’s words seemed to carry a dreadful meaning.
Speaking of which, no one knows yet that Ares-chan will become Ares-san.
Whether I should tell them or not is something to consider later.
“Nyan knows a secret, nyan.”
Blast it!
Nimia found out so easily!
“What secret?”
Ruiseine arrived and looked at me suspiciously.
“Elnea, do you have a secret?”
What a thing to behold.
Beside me, Mistral was looking at me with suspicious eyes.
“This is a desperate situation, nyan.”
“No, no. That’s Nimia’s fault, you know?”
“I’ll reveal it, nyan.”
“S-stop!”
I released the young girls I was holding and frantically tried to catch Nimia above me. However, Nimia, having flown up quickly, wagged her tail and escaped.
“Now, Elnea-kun. Confess.”
“Elnea, secrets are forbidden with us.”
As I was pressured by the two approaching me, Priscilla-chan imitated them.
“Um, I’ll confess, okay?”
Priscilla-chan hugged me tightly.
“Are you going to confess?”
Ares-chan also hugged me!
“P-help me!”
I fled, hugged by the young girls.
However, I was no match for Mistral in terms of physical ability.
In the blink of an eye, I was cornered near the bed.
“Now, confess.”
“Now, confess.”
The two of them, speaking in unison like the Twin Princesses, pressured me.
“Confess.”
Priscilla-chan laughed innocently.
“Ouch, ouch.”
Ares-chan laughed as if it were someone else’s problem.
“It’ll be known someday, nyan. You should just say it, nyan.”
Nimia laughed merrily.
“If you don’t tell, you’ll be punished.”
“If you don’t tell, we’ll get angry.”
Mistral and Ruiseine, laughing, pounced on me.
“Uwahh!”
I was flung onto the bed, as if pushed down.
“Come on, hurry up and tell us.”
“It’s about time you confessed.”
Tickled all over by the two of them, I burst into laughter.
What is this torture?!
“Just say it!”
Priscilla-chan joined in.
“Hahaha! Hiii. Stop! I’m going to die laughing!”
My whole body wriggled, and I couldn’t stop laughing.
This is definitely being toyed with!
The intention of getting me to confess the secret has become secondary; they’re just playing with me!
My sides, the soles of my feet, my entire body was tickled, and tears streamed down my face from laughing.
“Give up.”
“Come on. We won’t stop if you don’t tell me quickly?”
“Tickle, tickle.”
“Elnea, confess.”
“Oohaha! Help me!”
…Huh?
“Eh?”
“Huh?”
Didn’t that one person’s words sound different just now?
Tears streaming down my face, a little drool escaping, I grimaced and analyzed the situation. Mistral and Ruiseine froze.
“…Who… who might you be?”
“Wh-who!?”
The people who were hugging me and tickling me. Mistral and Ruiseine, and Priscilla-chan…
“Fufufu. Who could I be?”
Entwining herself around me with a bewitching smile was…
“A-Ares-san…”
Unlike the older ones with strained expressions, Priscilla-chan had a beaming smile.
“Ohh! Ares-chan!”
Priscilla-chan detached herself from me and jumped towards Ares-san.
“Good, good.”
Ares-san entwined herself around me with one hand and caught Priscilla-chan with the other.
“A-Ares…-san?”
“She’s awakened…”
Mistral and Ruiseine were frozen, looking at Ares-san, who had transformed into her mature, alluring form. Just then, the Twin Princesses, who had left the room for an errand, appeared.
“Yufi-nee-sama. Everyone looks like they’re having fun playing on the bed.”
“Nina, we have a formidable new opponent.”
Upon seeing Ares-san, Yufilia felt a sense of crisis and, pulling Nina’s hand, approached.
“I won’t lose!”
“It’s a match!”
Why does it have to be like that!
The Twin Princesses, without any questions asked, pounced on me.
What is this? Heaven? Or hell!?
It was us, making noise on the bed in the middle of the day.
“Now, you must explain properly.”
“Elnea-kun, secrets are forbidden, you know?”
Finally, after a long exchange of arguments, when everyone was tired, it was time for explanations.
Hey, everyone. Isn’t the real reason you wanted to play, right? We’ll skip that point.
Holding cups of tea prepared by Mistral and Ruiseine, everyone relaxed on the disheveled bed.
The Twin Princesses, seeming sufficiently satisfied, moved away from me and turned their curious eyes towards Ares-san.
Ares-san was on my right, then the Twin Princesses, then Mistral, and then Ruiseine. We sat in a circle of six. Meaning, Ruiseine was on my left.
Priscilla-chan was still clinging to Ares-san, who gently embraced her. Nimia was on top of Ares-san’s head.
I looked around at everyone and then at Ares-san, opening my mouth.
“Um, allow me to introduce her. This is the adult Ares-san!”
“…”
“Huh? I’m not lying, am I?”
“That’s not it. Why is she an adult?”
“Your explanation is insufficient, Elnea-kun.”
“Ugh. That’s right.”
What should I convey? How should I explain it? While pondering, I began to speak.
“You all know that Ares-chan is sustained by my dragon energy, right?”
“The Spirit Tree Spirit, you mean.”
“Along with the Spirit Tree.”
“Yes. But Ares-chan, besides my dragon energy, also received spiritual power from Priscilla-chan.”
“Ah, I see.”
Mistral seemed to understand with just my current explanation. However, since everyone else tilted their heads, I added more details.
I explained that she stored Priscilla-chan’s spiritual power to prepare for my danger, and that the excess spiritual power allowed her to transform into her adult form. I truthfully told them that I learned this when we defeated monsters in the basin where Carnela-sama and Yugra-sama lived.
Beside me, Ares-san smiled with satisfaction.
“Sh-she’s a formidable opponent…”
“I never imagined such a hidden ace was lurking so close…”
We shouldn’t pursue what makes her a formidable opponent. A slight gaze from two individuals was unreservedly directed at Ares-san’s twin mounds.
“I can’t lose to the charm of an adult.”
“It’s a battle of adult allure.”
For some reason, the Twin Princesses became incredibly motivated by the appearance of a rival.
And then, perhaps pleased that I had finally explained her true nature, Ares-san hugged me again.
“You finally spoke of me. I’m happy.”
“Hey, you there, no more hugging!”
“Ares, restrain yourself!”
“That’s unfair.”
“I won’t lose.”
“Um, shall we play again?”
“Hii!”
Just as another commotion was about to erupt. Laira returned to the room.
“Elnea-sama, please look!”
Laira entered the room with a bright smile, then froze on the spot.
“Hoh? More unknown women have appeared. Elnea, explain yourself properly.”
The King, peeking from beside Laira, wore a strained smile.
Ggrrrn. What a day.
I explained Ares-san to Laira and the King once more.
“I see. So that little girl was a spirit.”
“Hahahaha. Ares-sama, should I call you that?”
Both of them seemed convinced by my explanation.
“Setting Ares-san aside, what is that Laira received?”
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the long object leaning against the wall.
“Yes. I received it because there was no user!”
Laira rushed to the long object and hugged it dearly.
“It’s quite old-fashioned.”
“It’s not a blade.”
“A two-handed staff… perhaps?”
“Could that be…?”
The long object Laira was holding was a wooden two-handed staff. It was slightly longer than Laira’s height. About the same length as Ruiseine’s naginata, perhaps.
However, its appearance was like a thick tree branch, only the grip part having been processed for ease of handling.
I felt a sense of déjà vu.
“I wanted a weapon too… but I’ve hardly handled bladed weapons, so I chose this.”
“Laira. Why did you choose that instead of a strong-looking iron weapon? Did you have some ulterior motive?”
Laira tilted her head in response to Mistral’s question and pondered.
“I didn’t particularly think about it. There were other two-handed staffs, like the one you mentioned, but for some reason, I chose this. Perhaps it’s because my previous one was also wooden?”
Come to think of it, when we first met, Laira was carrying a wooden two-handed staff.
“Hmm. Unconsciously, then.”
Ares-san detached herself from me and approached Laira.
“Fufufu. You’ve found something wonderful.”
Saying this, Ares-san took the two-handed staff from Laira.
“A Spirit Tree two-handed staff. To think such a thing would be here.”
As Ares-san gently stroked the two-handed staff, a strong wave emanated from it.
“I believe it’s made from a branch of the Spirit Tree. It’s a good weapon.”
Everyone was surprised by Mistral’s words.
Ah, the sense of déjà vu must have been because it was made of Spirit Tree wood. I felt a similar nature from that two-handed staff as I did from the Spirit Tree wooden sword.
“It’s been left unattended for a long time and its power has weakened. Lend it to me for a while.”
Ares-san said this and made the Spirit Tree two-handed staff disappear. It was the same way she hid our weapons before entering the capital.
As the Spirit Tree Spirit, Ares-san would likely restore the staff’s power.
We were all filled with smiles at this unexpected bounty.
“My apologies. What is this Spirit Tree? I demand an explanation.”
That’s right. The King didn’t know about Spirit Trees.
I stressed the need for secrecy and then told the King what he needed to know.
Thus, the final commotion before our journey home came to an end.
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