We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Spirits’ Temptation
“Well then, just a little more, okay?”
Grandma Yuuri said to us, then faced the scattered, variously sized flat stones.
First, she picked up what seemed to be the largest stone. She held it in her left hand and gently stroked it with her right, as if caressing a small child’s head. As she did so, she began to speak to the stone.
Around Grandma Yuuri, adult spirits manifested.
They were the spirits that Grandma Yuuri commanded.
A beautiful Light Spirit with blonde hair. A Fire Spirit with red flames. A flower spirit in beautiful attire. A Water Spirit that looked like a girl, whom I had seen before. A Spirit Tree Spirit that had a similar atmosphere to Ares-chan.
Furthermore, Earth Spirits, Wind Spirits, thunder, ice, darkness, and so on, all sorts of spirits began to manifest.
No, no, surely not all of these are spirits commanded by Grandma Yuuri!?
The manifested spirits had various forms.
Human figures, beasts, birds, fish, leaves, flowers, pebbles. Spirits that could not take physical form appeared as specks of light or mist.
Before my eyes, the area around the ancient tree, which was enveloped in a seven-colored pillar of light, became completely covered by spirits.
We were overwhelmed by the presence of the spirits, standing there in a daze.
“…I see. But fighting is not allowed, you know. Get along with the Wind Spirits too.”
“Fufufu, you’re hungry, aren’t you? I wonder if my Spirit Power will be enough. I can’t give it all to you alone.”
“Oh dear, I’m so sorry about that. Something must be done, or it will be a difficult situation.”
Grandma Yuuri, unconcerned by the abnormalities around her, continued to converse with the flat stones.
She gently cradled them in her hands, stroking them.
Then, the things I had thought were just ordinary flat stones began to hold a faint presence of spirits. What had been stone-colored began to glow faintly with the light of the attribute it held.
When the flat stone in her hand began to hold a soft light, Grandma Yuuri returned it to its original place.
First, she placed the larger flat stone in a stable position. On top of that, she layered a slightly smaller stone. On top of that, she stacked an even smaller stone. And so, she piled the flat stones in order from largest to smallest.
Finally, she placed a pebble the size of her pinky tip on top, and it was complete.
However, there were still many flat stones scattered around.
Grandma Yuuri picked up a new, larger flat stone and began to speak to it.
In this way, she made several towers of stacked stones.
Each of the stone towers was enveloped in a gentle light.
So this is the Spirit Village.
It is said that spirits reside in all things in the world.
A place where such spirits live together harmoniously, regardless of their attributes.
It existed with a completely different concept than the villages and towns of humans. But this was a precious place for the spirits.
Grandma Yuuri listened to the angry, rampaging spirits, conversed with them, and calmed them.
The spirits, having regained their composure, disappeared, seemingly satisfied with the Spirit Village that Grandma Yuuri had repaired.
However, just as humans and dragons have various personalities, spirits also seem to have all sorts of personalities.
Some, among them, did not listen to Grandma Yuuri’s voice and tried to rampage.
They interfered with the stones, which had just regained their light in Grandma Yuuri’s hands, and tried to steal their radiance.
That would have been the better of it.
Some spirits even tried to attack Grandma Yuuri, intending to interfere. It was the role of the spirits Grandma Yuuri summoned, and ourselves, to calm and subdue such disobedient spirits.
“Calm down, calm down.”
Grandma Yuuri’s Spirit Tree Spirit had a male form.
He had a gentle demeanor and androgynous features. If he were a human, he would be considered an unparalleled beauty.
He had a strange allure, and even as a same-sex individual, I found him alluring.
The rampaging spirits around the Spirit Village also seemed to be soothed by the Spirit Tree Spirit’s allure, regaining their composure.
The Water Spirit performed water acrobatics, entertaining the displeased spirits. Other spirits also assisted Grandma Yuuri in ways related to their attributes.
“W-wait, please stop…”
And then, finally, a spirit appeared that attacked us.
A spirit in the form of a dog leaped at Ruiseine.
And then, it grabbed the hem of her clothes with its mouth…
And stripped Ruiseine of her clothes!
Ruiseine desperately tried to drive away the dog-like spirit. Just then, a spirit in the form of a cat joined in.
Indeed, it started pulling at Ruiseine’s clothes.
“P-please stop!”
Ruiseine was desperate.
But the spirits wouldn’t listen.
A spirit in the form of a goldfish, its gently swaying tail fins cute, wriggled into Ruiseine’s chest.
“Hyaaa!”
It seemed to be wriggling around inside her clothes, and Ruiseine convulsed in pain from the tickling. Then, her grip loosened, and her clothes were stripped away.
Ah, Ruiseine is going to be naked.
“Elnea?”
Hah!
I-I wasn’t staring!
Mistral glared at me.
I had to help, I thought, reaching out to Ruiseine, who had more than half of her clothes removed. But then…
“Oh my, that’s very problematic, isn’t it? There’s nothing I can do about this. I’ll have to consult with you, Elnea-kun.”
Grandma Yuuri’s ominous voice came from behind me.
The ground of decaying leaves rustled, and a clay spirit in the form of a man like a boulder manifested.
The clay giant spirit swung its thick arms. Mistral quickly readied her one-handed club and responded.
*ZUMUN!* A dull sound echoed.
The one-handed club of Mistral dug into the arm of the clay giant spirit.
“No way!”
Even though it was hit by Mistral, who had transformed into her human-dragon form, it didn’t fly back but endured the blow!
It had a softness different from rock, a viscosity greater than earth. The giant spirit, formed of persistent clay, withstood Mistral’s fierce attack head-on. The one-handed club mercilessly attacked its abdomen. It was swung down at its head.
However, the clay giant spirit didn’t flinch, even as the parts that were attacked caved in.
Quite a strong opponent.
To be able to fight Mistral head-on.
I decided to leave this clay giant spirit to Mistral, but…
There were countless other spirits gathered here.
A spirit in the form of a bird attacked Mistral from above. Mistral’s movements slowed due to the surprise attack from overhead. Then, spirits in the form of specks of light of various colors approached.
“H-hey!”
And then they started stripping Mistral’s clothes.
Oh, what a sight to behold.
Mistral and Ruiseine, about to have their clothes stripped by the various spirits swarming them.
Ah, Ruiseine has very little left!
There are seasonal outfits for Miko’s Attire.
Since it was for summer, Ruiseine’s was a little thinner, and she was already in a state of undress.
“Elnea-kun, what are you grinning about?”
“It’s not that, Ruiseine…”
“It is! If you want me to believe you, help me quickly!”
“O-okay!”
No, I absolutely don’t have any ulterior motives like wanting to see Ruiseine get naked.
It’s not like I want to see her anymore because she’s cute, blushing and shrinking down? I swear!
But, contrary to my feelings, my body wouldn’t obey.
My hand reaching out to Ruiseine, and my gaze fixed on her who was about to be naked, wouldn’t move against my will.
“Elnea, what are you playing at at a time like this!”
“No no, Mistral, it’s not that…”
“It is! Quickly help Ruiseine… Hya!”
Mistral scolded me for not moving, but she too was gradually having her clothes taken away. The clay giant spirit was approaching from the front. Spirits in the form of light specks and bird-shaped spirits were trying to strip her clothes from around her. Mistral was on the defensive.
If this continues, they’ll both be stripped naked!
However, the spirits only stripped off clothes and did not inflict any harm that would injure us.
As a male, seeing their skin gradually exposed was blissful…
“Elnea-kun, your nose is practically dragging on the floor!”
“Elnea, just you wait until this is over!”
“Eeeek, no!”
Glowered at by both of them, I frantically tried to move.
But still, my body wouldn’t move!
And no wonder. I had been completely frozen by an Ice Spirit without realizing it.
To have been so engrossed in watching their alluring figures that I didn’t notice the change in my own body…
“Ares-chan, please cooperate.”
“Can’t be helped, can’t be helped.”
Ares-chan melted the frozen me with Spirit Arts. Only then was I freed.
However, I couldn’t go to help the two of them.
*GOU!* A deep roar echoed in my lower abdomen. Simultaneously, a heatwave washed over me. A swirling, crimson flame. The fire tornado gradually converged, beginning to take human form. And then, an overwhelming being that, just by looking at it, seemed capable of boiling my entire body, manifested.
“Be careful, okay? That child is the Fire Spirit King.”
“Spirit King?”
“That’s right. The one who commands all the Fire Spirits in this region.”
I almost swallowed my saliva at Grandma Yuuri’s words from behind me. But my throat was completely dry.
“Come here.”
“Huh?”
The Fire Spirit King beckoned me. Not invitingly. Commandingly. With a beckoning that carried an undeniable force, I resisted with a groan.
“No, no, what is eternity within a flame? I refuse.”
I resisted, my body being pulled toward the Spirit King as if by gravity. Then, the Spirit King glared at me with sharp, hateful eyes.
“If you do not obey, there is no other way.”
A sword, flickering with flames, appeared in the Spirit King’s hand. And she directed a clear will to fight towards me. It was the presence of a ruler. She showed no mercy to those who disobeyed.
Ehh. Why am I the only one in danger!?
Mistral and Ruiseine were still engaged in their clothes-stealing battle. However, they were not in a situation where their lives were in danger or they were being injured. Well, the clay giant spirit was a bit violent, but it was within Mistral’s ability to defend against it. Yet here I was, having to confront a spirit brimming with fighting spirit. And moreover, the Spirit King! A being clearly on a different level than ordinary spirits!
Sweat beaded on my forehead, but I readied my White Sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword.
“Ngh!?”
I intended to ready them. Looking down at the unfamiliar feeling in my hands, I saw that I was holding a daikon radish in my right hand. And a burdock root in my left!?
A spirit was fleeing. A snake-like spirit, coiling its White Sword and escaping. And Ares-chan, holding the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword dearly, was running off!
“It’s going to burn, burn!”
Yes, the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword might burn. Although it was a Spirit Tree Wooden Sword so strong that it wouldn’t even be scratched by ordinary weapons, my opponent was the Fire Spirit King. If it were to burn, it would be irreversible. But… a daikon radish and a burdock root isn’t fair!
To my stunned self, the Fire Spirit King mercilessly attacked.
“Burn and become flame. Then you will be mine forever!”
“Waaah! I’m not yours!”
The flaming Spirit Sword was swung down. I hastily dodged and fled. I couldn’t fight with vegetables! At least I had to get my White Sword back, so I chased after the snake-like spirit.
“To flee, what cowardice. Burn and be reborn in flame.”
“I refuseeee!”
While fleeing with Spatial Jump, I chased the snake-like spirit. But this was a place with a strong presence of spirits. The snake-like spirit passed the White Sword to a bird-like spirit. The bird-like spirit flew away. I pursued it. The Spirit King was chasing me. What is this situation!? When the bird-like spirit was about to be caught, it threw the White Sword away. A boy-like spirit caught the thrown White Sword. The boy-like spirit ran away. Though it looked like ordinary running, it was a spirit after all. It moved away with terrifying speed. I defended against a blow that was unsparingly aiming for my torso with the daikon radish. The daikon radish split in two. I hastily rolled sideways to evade and chased the boy-like spirit. Looking closely, the snake, bird, and boy-like spirits were all Fire Spirits carrying the White Sword.
“Grrr, this is unfair!”
The boy-like spirit was running away from the seven-colored pillar of light of the Spirit Village and towards the depths of the forest. If it went deep into the forest, it would be a disaster. I would be separated from everyone, and other spirits might interfere again. Well, spirits were already interfering. In any case, I had to get the White Sword back. In front of me, in my desperation, the boy-like spirit burst and disappeared. Before I could even comprehend what had happened, a blue-robed beautiful woman manifested. In contrast to the fierce Fire Spirit King, she possessed serenity accompanied by calmness. Her thin clothing clearly outlined her body. Her blue hair trailed to the ground, creating a small pond. Her moist eyes exuded a gentle aura, and she smiled softly.
“It’s the Water Spirit King.”
“Now it’s water!”
Grandma Yuuri smiled from a distance. But the situation was not amusing.
In the hands of the Water Spirit King, who had made the Fire Spirit boy disappear, was the White Sword. I thought she would return it, but it didn’t seem like it.
“Little one, come here. Let us spend a peaceful eternity together in the water.”
“So, it’s going to be like this again.”
The Water Spirit King invited me gently. Though her demeanor was gentle, like the Fire Spirit King, there was a strong compulsion at play. I resisted with a groan.
“You, are you interfering with me?”
“You are interfering with me.”
And then, despite inviting me, the Fire and Water Spirit Kings bared their fangs, excluding me. The Fire Spirit King, standing behind me, ignored me and pointed the tip of her Fire Spirit Sword at the Water Spirit King.
“This is mine. I will show no mercy if you interfere.”
“I laid eyes on the boy first. Let’s settle this.”
“No, can’t you give it to me?”
“It seems we have no choice but to take it by force.”
“So, by brute force, I suppose.”
You know what. I kind of expected it. As the Fire Spirit King and the Water Spirit King glared at each other, ready to fight, other spirits with similar presences began to manifest. They all had a different aura than ordinary spirits. In other words, they were all Spirit Kings.
Surrounded by them, the Spirit Kings were like sparks flying. I trembled uncontrollably within the circle of Spirit Kings. I wonder which element I’ll be spending eternity in!? This is my desperate crisis. But Mistral and Ruiseine didn’t come to help. They had lost their clothes and were running around trying to get them back. Only Grandma Yuuri was someone I could rely on, but she was gently watching me and talking to stones.
“My, my, won’t you calm down? This one is under my protection.”
Just as everyone was preparing their weapons, about to begin a fierce battle. Hearing a familiar voice, I was convinced that a savior had appeared. The circle of Spirit Kings broke. All the Spirit Kings lowered their eyes. It was the Spirit Tree Spirit. Yes, the woman I always receive care from at the base of the Spirit Tree.
“My word. The Spirit Tree Spirit King has also appeared.”
Grandma Yuuri was surprised, as if it were truly unusual.
“This one is my property. I shall not permit any interference.”
And so, the Spirit Tree Spirit commanded the other Spirit Kings. And just like that, the Spirit Kings obediently complied.
“…No, no, I’m not yours!”
But in the end, my situation didn’t change. What will happen to me?
