We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Demon Lord is awaiting our arrival.
My companions, Ruiseine, and Madrine were made to sit in seiza in the center of the spacious garden.
It’s usual thing, if you ask me. But since it’s been a while since I last sat seiza, my legs are starting to feel antsy.
The ground, covered in grass, is harder than the Moss Garden, but it’s a refreshing sensation, and I don’t feel any particular pain.
Everyone had gathered around us as we sat in seiza.
In front of us was Mistral. He had his arms crossed and looked angry. Beside him, Priscilla-chan was imitating him, with Nimea perched on her head as usual.
Laira, Yufilia, and Nina were also by their side. Mother sighed in exasperation, and Karen, along with the other servants, offered bitter smiles.
Why is it that the Hero’s party, including Cerise-chan, had gathered here? Not only that, but Rudoriado and Sefina were here too.
The people of Folganne and the Beast race were also joining the circle surrounding us, as if they were companions.
“Everyone, the Folganne people are of the Beast race!
Instead of paying attention to us, why don’t you focus on our distinguished guests?”
By the way, the Demon race party was allowed to relax in a separate location.
Dealing with Ruilala, taking care of Lily, and greeting the special envoy were postponed. Mistral seemed to be handling those matters skillfully, and Mother and the people working at the mansion were unaware of Ruilala and the true identity of the frightening person.
If they knew, they would surely be shocked…
“Elnea-kun isn’t reflecting.”
“Elnea-kun hasn’t learned his lesson.”
“You two are just…”
First of all, why were we all gathered and made to sit in seiza?
Because we were late returning?
If that’s the case, then Listea, Kiiri, and Inea should also be undergoing the seiza punishment. Yet, they are just standing around in the circle, laughing as if it were none of their business.
So, what is the cause of this punishment?
Yes, I know. It’s because of the adventurer companions of Yufilia and Nina, who are sulking and puffing out their cheeks next to me.
“Honestly, I’m the one who wants to say that. Why am I, the Head Miko of the Great Shrine, representing the Yorttenitos Kingdom, being made to sit in seiza!”
“Madrine, it’s because you don’t understand the situation.”
“Madrine, it’s because you tried to get ahead of yourself.”
Upon hearing the word “get ahead,” Laira flinched for a moment.
What were you plotting?
“To make the Head Miko sit in seiza is the height of impiety!”
“Unfortunately, I am not a follower of the Temple Religion, so your statement carries no weight.”
“Grrr.”
This is a heavy statement, more than enough for Kiiri, Inea, and Ruiseine, but it has absolutely no effect on Mistral, who is of the Dragon race.
There are probably only a few people who can make Madrine sit in seiza, so Mistral’s deterrence is valuable.
“Dragon race…”
“Is that Elnea’s main wife? As expected of the Dragon race, she has a frightening presence.”
“It seems even King of Dragons Elnea cannot defeat her.”
When the Folganne people began whispering among themselves, they were glared at by my family, excluding Mistral.
“I have no intention of ceding the position of main wife to Mist.”
“Mist being the main wife is unbearable!”
“Everyone, please correct that. Mist only became close to Elnea-kun first, she is not his main wife.”
“Elnea-sama’s wife is only me!”
“!!!! Laira?!”
“Eek!”
Those familiar exchanges.
No matter what we do, the conversation always derails. Such enjoyable interactions, felt after a long time, naturally made my cheeks loosen.
“Elnea?”
“Ugh.”
“Are you properly reflecting?”
“I-I am…”
“He’s enjoying himself, nyann.”
“Uwah! Nimea, what are you saying!”
“Um, Priscilla is enjoying herself too?”
Priscilla-chan, we’re not playing here. Why are you two smiling?
Seeing us all cheerfully sitting in seiza, Mistral let out a deep sigh.
And with that, I reflected a little. They waited for me for so long, and yet I came back with not only Ruiseine but also Madrine clinging to my arm. Of course, they would be angry.
“I’m sorry, Mistral.”
But, I couldn’t help it.
We had finally returned after a long and tough journey. Seeing everyone’s unchanged faces and interactions, I could finally feel that I had returned to a place where I could relax.
Even being scolded now feels like a part of my enjoyable daily life.
“Enough. But Madrine, continue your reflection.”
“Ah! Mist, you’re cruel!”
“You are the main culprit. Please reflect a little more.”
“Kiiiih!”
Madrine-sama made a grimace, but even the Head Miko couldn’t defeat the Dragon Princess. She obediently continued to sit in seiza.
Mother was bewildered by the Head Miko of a neighboring kingdom sitting in seiza in her garden, but Karen told her to leave it be.
Apparently, Karen already knew Madrine-sama.
“So, could you please explain this group?”
This is my family home, and Mother is the head of the household, but am I imagining things, or is Mistral in charge?
Well, perhaps it’s safer for Mistral, who isn’t flustered by these things, to be in charge than Mother, who is unaccustomed to such situations. Trusting Mistral completely, Mother returned to the luxurious mansion.
…She ran away.
She averted her eyes from a space where the Head Miko was made to sit in seiza, a Prince, a Princess, a Hero, and not only that, but also Beast race and a giant Dragon.
As her son, I could keenly feel Mother’s troubles.
“Uh. Well then, I’ll talk about our adventure in the Northern Land.”
“Adventure? Didn’t you go on a trial?”
“Ugh. You shouldn’t pry into that.”
“Elnea-kun, what did you break in the Northern Land?”
“Ah. Cerise-chan, that’s a terrible accusation!”
“In the Northern Land, there was a ruined capital city…”
“Listea, the way you say that makes it sound like I destroyed a ruined capital!”
“It had become a larger flower garden than when it was Yorttenitos.”
“You know. Lots of flowers were blooming.”
“Ruiseine, Priscilla-chan, you shouldn’t say unnecessary things…”
“Hey, are you guys playing with me?!”
I pretended to cry, and Laira gently embraced me.
“Elnea-sama, I will be on your side no matter what.”
Her firm, warm chest felt familiar after a long time.
Ah, I have returned.
“Hey, Laira-san!”
“Laira, you’re being punished.”
“Laira, that’s unfair!”
“Ah, can I join too?”
“Madrine, you’re on seiza.”
“Mist, you’re an idiot!”
As we were having such a lively exchange, Mother and Karen, who had returned to the mansion earlier, came back with tea prepared.
“The weather is nice too. How about we have some tea slowly?”
I thanked Mother and the others for their consideration and finally sat down in the incredibly wide garden to talk about our journey in the Northern Land.
The current situation in the Northern Land. Our encounters with the Beast race and the incidents that occurred. And our future plans.
It was fortunate that Rudoriado was there.
The exchange with the Beast race will likely be handled by the kingdom rather than by me and Listea.
However, we made sure to mention that we, as the guardians of Mei, the leader of the Beast race, would be responsible.
In other words, it was silent pressure on the kingdom and intimidation towards the Beast race.
To be honest, I don’t think this is necessary. But it seems to be a precaution. Listea is more knowledgeable about this, so we discussed and decided on it during our journey home.
“I see. Interaction with the Beast race. Indeed, if we can operate safely in the Northern Land, humanity will prosper even more.”
“We Beast race also believe there is much to gain from trade with humanity. It would be better for both of us to be friends rather than enemies.”
“From Dragon Peak’s perspective. The Northern Land is east of the Dragon’s Mausoleum, so stable trade might be difficult?”
“But for the Dragon race living in the north, isn’t it closer than having to go south all the time to join caravans to the capital? Moreover, I think it would be appealing for the Dragon race to be able to go north by bypassing the Dragon’s Mausoleum.”
“There is a sea stretching out to the north.”
“That’s right, as Ruilala says. Ruilala does say something good sometimes!”
“Elnea-kun, your attitude towards me is cold.”
“It’s your imagination!”
Ruilala came to borrow tea and sweets from us, told by someone terrifying.
You know. It’s not that I’m ignoring you or avoiding you. It’s just that there’s an order to things.
Please, stop sending me soul-piercing gazes from afar. I’ll really die.
Everyone was laughing at the exchange between Ruilala and me.
Sometimes I wonder, it’s strange, isn’t it?
Most people wouldn’t imagine that laughter could arise from an exchange between humans and demons.
Ah, Mother and the others think of Ruilala and the others as humans. But Rudoriado and the Beast race people also had smiles on their faces.
This scene of people of different races chatting freely looks so natural, it could blow away the stereotype that demons are terrifying creatures.
“As Ruilala says, it seems there’s a sea beyond the Northern Land. If the Dragon race can easily access the sea, we’ll be able to get seafood!”
For the inland Armēdo Kingdom and Yorttenitos Kingdom, as well as the Dragon race and humans living on Dragon Peak, fish only meant river fish or freshwater fish. But if they could access the sea, they could also get sea fish.
There are ships that go down the Shū River and fish all the way to the distant northern sea. However, what they catch at the risk of their lives is mostly affordable only by the rich or royalty.
I strongly stated that it would be wonderful to get such seafood.
“Wait a minute. Your dream is too unrealistic.”
“Huh!?”
“What you’re trying to say is that the Dragon race can obtain seafood, and humans would benefit from it too. But think about it. Only your family can move freely on wyverns. I don’t think we can get seafood from the Dragon race without any inconvenience.”
“…That’s right. What should we do?”
“Elnea-kun, please don’t look at me like that.”
“You’ve gotten carried away again, just like you. But it’s not a bad idea. If humans want to get seafood, they should work harder to become closer to dragons who can travel to the sea. You are already an example of this. If you work hard, wouldn’t the plains and Dragon Peak become even more closely connected than they are now?”
“Yes, just as Mistral says!”
“I see. That’s a clever idea. If interactions with the Beast race progress, then naturally relations with Dragon Peak will also have to progress.”
To be honest, I hadn’t thought that deeply, but it’s wonderful that new trades will bring benefits to the Beast race, humans, and Dragon Peak.
“Therefore, rather than interacting with humans and Dragon Peak on a tribal basis, we hope to engage with them as a nation in the future.”
“The Folganne people are a vanguard force for building friendly relations with humans, and they are students learning knowledge for when they establish a nation in the future.”
“I see. So that’s why you brought so many people back.”
Rudoriado nodded in agreement.
I’m sure the Folganne people and Mother were impressed by the reliable Prince’s nod.
But we know. This man is lazy.
Behind his nods, he must be plotting who to offload the work onto.
Well, if the word gets through the Prince, it will probably go smoothly.
“However, you can’t use the Wyvern Hunting Ground for exchanges, can you?”
Listea looked at me.
I nodded and conveyed my thoughts.
“In that case, building a road to the Northern Land in the eastern part…”
Unusually, Rudoriado put his hand to his chin and pondered.
Then, as if he had an idea, he clapped his hands.
“Ah, I heard that someone destroyed a village by the lakeside of Horista Lake, so we were sending a reconstruction team there. Just in time. Let’s build a road around there.”
“Eh!?”
We all stared at Rudoriado, with our mouths agape.
“Originally, we are struggling just to reconstruct the capital city. But we cannot abandon the plight of villages in the countryside. That’s why we sent a unit. We don’t have enough manpower to build a road that continues further north. So, why not have the unit that went there work on it as well? We can recruit people there too. What a great idea!”
“Is Horista Lake a beautiful lake with green waters? Our territory is also close to that area. If the Beast race also starts working on building the road, wouldn’t it be completed faster?”
“Oh, that would be greatly appreciated.”
“If a road leading to the Northern Land is built in that area, wouldn’t the development of the mountainous region, which has been a challenge, also progress?”
“Sefina, that’s a clever idea. This is good. Should I propose it to the ministers right away?”
“As expected, you’re just dumping it all on others! Aren’t you going to say that you’ll take command yourself?”
“Hahaha, Elnea-kun. I am a general of the Kingdom’s army. I cannot leave the capital right now.”
“That’s your excuse for wanting to be lazy, isn’t it?”
“Oh dear, your retort is sharp.”
Rudoriado scratched the back of his head as if troubled, but immediately began to act.
He packed up to leave, bringing a leopard-woman and a few other Beast race people with him.
“If I take all the Beast race people with me at once, those without immunity might be overwhelmed. Elnea-kun, I’m sorry, but could you look after the Beast race people until we can make arrangements?”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
“Elnea-sama, we are supposed to be taking care of them…”
“Karen… Even if we add more Beast race people now, it should be fine, right?”
Originally, Yufilia and Nina were under their care, and now they are also taking care of the Dragon race, Mimicho Race, and Dragon race. Adding just one more race to this should be fine.
When I said that to encourage them, Mistral’s fist to my head flew.
“Think a little about those who are making an effort.”
“Ugh, I’m sorry.”
I got a little carried away.
I must reflect.
Seeing me dejected and hanging my head, Karen and the other servants smiled.
“We got to see Elnea-sama’s cute side, so with that, bring it on!”
And so, it was decided that the Folganne people would stay at my house.
“So, why is Madrine-sama here in the Armēdo Kingdom?”
“Sniffle. Stupid Elnea-kun.”
“Eh, why!?”
Madrine-sama remained sitting in seiza, looking dejected all by herself.
