We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
While the Demon Lord is away.
“Nuaaaah. I’m sooo tired.”
I slumped onto the bed, where a fluffy futon was laid out. The futon, dried in the early spring sun, seemed to beckon me into the world of dreams.
“You’ve worked hard. However, you don’t have much time to rest, you know?”
Mistral, who was in the middle of folding everyone’s laundry, offered me a wry smile.
“Ugh, Mistral. I’ve already exhausted all my energy and spirit. Ah, I wish for some healing.”
As I lay there, I glanced at Mistral with a longing look.
“Yes, yes. We’ll get to that once this is done.”
“Hooray!”
I wonder what I’ll get once she finishes folding the clothes? I’m really, really looking forward to it!
While lounging, I watched, wondering when Mistral’s work would be over.
Currently, only Mistral and I are in this room. Yufilia and Nina are with Priscilla-chan, on duty to take care of Lily. Ruiseine is comforting Madrine. And Laira is probably out for a walk with the Queen in the garden?
This is a detached annex of a detached palace used by the royal family of the Yorttenitos Kingdom for summer retreat. Five days have already passed since the magic sword user incident.
“Speaking of which, what happened to the Demon Lord all of a sudden?”
“Who knows? He said something came up, but who knows what it was?”
These past five days have been tough dealing with the Demon Lord. During the day, Madrine challenged the Demon Lord repeatedly to get back the great staff, but he’s a top-class demon. She couldn’t lay a hand on him. This caused a huge commotion, and we got caught up in it too. At night, I had to join the alcohol-loving Demon Lord for drinks. It was quite a task! Yufilia and Nina are the only ones in the family who can hold their liquor, but even they ended up succumbing in the end.
Me? Yes. Of course, I got drunk after just a few sips and woke up in the morning. My head pounding, feeling nauseous, I’d get pulled into Madrine’s troubles yet again… Still, we couldn’t recover the great staff in the end.
The Demon Lord suddenly announced he was leaving. Even though the Queen was right beside him, he generated miasma that was harmful to those not resistant to it and tried to teleport away. I said, “If you’re going, please ride Lily,” but he seemed to be in a real hurry and left on a lightning bolt. I was impressed by the various ways to teleport. But no sooner had I thought that, Madrine’s scream alerted us to the fact that he had made off with the great staff.
Madrine is heartbroken right now. Ruiseine is trying to comfort her, but I wonder if she’ll recover.
“I bet it’s a big deal for the Demon Lord to be summoned like that, right?”
“Indeed. Perhaps an emergency occurred in his own country, or he was called by someone higher up…”
“Someone higher up, huh? Speaking of which, how many beings are there above that Demon Lord?”
It was a small question. As far as I know, above the Demon Lord is someone who truly rules the demons. And I’m aware of Sleigsta (Old Man), Asher, and a young girl with striking red markings who, along with two Demon Lords, overwhelmed the battlefield in an instant, as his attendants. So, are there any others like that?
“I wonder? Like Elnea, I only know of two. Could it be just them? The thought of multiple beings superior to the Demon Lord is enough to send shivers down my spine.”
“You’re right. It just gives me a bad feeling.” If the Giant Demon Lord alone is like that, the world would be in serious trouble if there were many beings superior to him! Just imagining it sends a chill down my spine.
But the shivers were for a different reason.
“Elnea-kun!”
BAM! The door to the room burst open. And the one who stormed in with great momentum was Madrine, who was supposed to be depressed. Oh no. I have a bad feeling about this. Ruiseine, who entered a moment later, her dejected expression confirmed my premonition.
“I’ve decided!”
“Rejected,” Mistral immediately replied before Madrine could even say what she had decided.
“Muuuugh!”
Madrine stomped her foot when Mistral rejected her before she could even explain.
“That staff is truly a very important item!”
“Y-yes, it is…”
“As the Head Miko of the Yorttenitos Kingdom, I must recover the staff no matter what!”
“Y-yes…”
“And so, from now on, I will accompany Elnea-kun’s family on our activities!”
“Eeeh?!”
Well, I had imagined it from the momentum and atmosphere when she entered. But…
“Um. While I agree that recovering the staff is important, you can’t just abandon your duties as Head Miko, can you?”
“That’s right, Madrine. I will take full responsibility for recovering the great staff, so please wait patiently in the Yorttenitos Kingdom.”
Ruiseine tried to calm her down, but Madrine’s ears were closed to her words.
“I will definitely. I will definitely become a member of Elnea-kun’s family!”
“Hey, your true feelings are showing.”
“Hah!”
The three of us, excluding Madrine, let out a big sigh.
“Well, the laundry is folded now. Elnea, Ruiseine, let’s go outside.”
“Hey! Don’t leave me out!”
It looks like Mistral’s healing will have to wait. If it were just Ruiseine being added, it might have been fine, but in front of Madrine, we can’t be affectionate.
We exited through a window facing the outside and entered the palace’s courtyard. Of course, Madrine followed, grumbling indignantly. The palace, as expected of royal property, is large and wide. The courtyard is also divided into several areas by ponds, buildings, and corridors. In the courtyard facing the annex we are using, two Dragon Race members wereRelaxing.
“Lily, some alcohol.”
“Lily, some meat.”
“You two just want to drink as much as you want, don’t you?”
“Umm, Priscilla wants to eat sweets?”
“Priscilla, no sweets. Mistral will get mad at you.”
“Priscilla, no sweets. Ruiseine will scold you.”
This was Lily, the black dragon, playing with Yufilia and Nina, with Priscilla-chan climbing on her head. Lily was left behind by the Demon Lord, so we have to take care of her. Also, some distance away from Lily, Revalia, her crimson scales shimmering in the sunset, was curled up.
“Your Majesty, the Queen, this dragon always carries me.”
And near Revalia, or rather, at a subtle distance, were Laira and the Queen. The Queen, hiding behind Laira, looked up at Revalia fearfully.
“It’s alright. Lady Revalia is very gentle.”
It seems Laira wants to introduce Revalia to the Queen. However, the Queen was completely intimidated by Revalia, who was significantly larger than the Dragon Knights’ dragon race, with four wings in total and four pupils—a bizarre appearance.
Today marks our fifth day staying at the palace. Actually, we intended to return immediately. After all, despite the great commotion, the Queen was in a state of confinement from the world’s perspective. Friel and the others not showing themselves to the Queen was their way of indicating they couldn’t casually visit someone in confinement, which was a display of their will. So, we planned to return with the King. Laira, though reluctant, had also decided to leave.
But then, it was the Demon Lord who caused trouble here again.
“Hmm. I like the scenery. I shall stay here.”
When he said that, the people of the Yorttenitos Kingdom were in an uproar. As a result, our stay was also decided, as we were caught up in it. And with his parting words, “Elnea, you’re in charge now,” the King entrusted everything to me. As a king, he had to host the Demon Lord with the treatment befitting a state guest, but he couldn’t stay long at the palace where the Queen was confined. I believe he had many internal conflicts. However, due to the aftermath of the commotion and various other matters, he decided to return. “Laira, please take care of the Queen.” And he entrusted important sentiments to Laira as well. Laira, who was asked by the King, seems to be fulfilling her role properly.
“Your Majesty, the Queen, please touch Lady Revalia. She will surely be pleased.”
“L-Laira…san…”
Still, it feels a bit awkward. It’s like they’re being too formal, or there’s a distance between them. In fact, it’s as if an invisible wall exists, hindering their feelings. Hmm, I wish I could help bridge the gap between them. The Queen, hiding behind Laira, looked at Revalia hesitantly, with a complex expression.
Their relationship, past grudges. There must be many things, but Laira has surely moved past her past. That’s why she came to help the Queen and is actively trying to connect with her like this. The Queen must also be fully embracing Laira’s love and kindness. At that time, before she left chasing the magic sword user. The Queen had responded to Laira’s feelings and opened her heart. But now that things have calmed down, they’ve become awkward again.
“Laira.”
Seeing their awkward relationship, Mistral, unable to bear it, took action.
“Why don’t you call her by her name? Everyone other than demons wants to be called by their name, not by their title or status!”
Ah, I see!
“That’s right, Laira. Since we’re here, why don’t you call each other by name?” I say, who usually refers to everyone by their titles like “King” and “Queen.” But after all, to become closer, calling each other by name, rather than by title, leads to a much deeper relationship. I also prefer being called by my name rather than “Dragon King” or something similar.
“B-but… Her Majesty the Queen is a noble person.”
Laira looked a little troubled by Mistral’s advice. However, at this moment, the Queen took the initiative.
“L-Laira, please call me Reineira.”
“Hahahaha!”
Madrine, who was being prevented from her advances towards me, was also shouting.
“Madrine, that’s the only thing I can’t do.”
Even though we went out to the courtyard, Madrine was still the same. Or rather, I wonder if the Yorttenitos Kingdom is alright with someone like this being the Head Miko. Mistral and Ruiseine prevented Madrine from pouncing on me. I also ran to avoid being attacked. While we were making a fuss, Laira and the Queen were communicating more deeply than ever before.
“Now, Lady Reineira, please touch Lady Revalia.”
“I-I’m scared…”
“It’s alright. Lady Revalia is a wonderful wyvern with great wisdom.”
Laira gently put her arm around the Queen’s waist and guided her towards Revalia. Revalia remained curled up, docile. Hmm. Revalia has certainly mellowed. A generation ago, she would have bared her fangs and threatened us.
“Threaten you? Shall I just eat you after roasting you?”
“Eek! It won’t taste good if it’s burnt!”
Damn. I sent my thoughts through my Dragon Heart. Revalia raised her ferociously cruel face and glared at me, a spark of fire flickering deep in her throat.
“Eek!”
Then the Queen, who had finally come close, was startled by Revalia’s terrifying expression and low growl.
“Hey! Elnea!”
“Elnea-kun, you shouldn’t get in their way.”
“Waaah, I’m sorry.” Mistral and Ruiseine, who were hindering Madrine’s movements, now turned their attention to me and started chasing me. Madrine also joined in the chase amidst the confusion. I ran away. Then, Priscilla-chan, who was playing with Lily, joined in, and the situation turned into utter chaos.
“Lady Reineira, please don’t worry. This is like Revalia’s greeting.”
“You are…”
As she raised her face, Revalia looked down at Laira and the Queen. However, she didn’t issue any unnecessary threats to the two who were right beside her. She’s really mellowed out, hasn’t she?
“Stand still. I shall roast you.”
“Waaaaah!”
Perhaps it was because I sent my thoughts again, but Revalia finally spewed fire at me.
“Hey, hey! You’re going to burn my beautiful garden!”
“If you think so, then be quietly roasted.”
“Help meeeeee!”
If this continues, I’ll really be roasted! There’s no choice but to jump into the pond to escape this. I ran towards the pond in the corner of the courtyard.
“Hey, Elnea-kun. As noisy as ever, aren’t you?”
“Ah. Luilala, you’re still staying?”
“How mean. Only His Majesty went back.”
In the pond where I fled, Luilala was floating leisurely. In human form, of course, wearing clothes, but since she was floating in the pond, she was soaked.
“Has your injury healed?”
“Well, it wasn’t that serious.”
Even as she said that, I knew that Luilala had spent as much time by the water as possible for the past five days. The jet-black beam fired by the magic sword user must have been quite a blow. Perhaps because the Demon Lord was also worried about Luilala’s injury, he had us take care of her during her stay instead of himself.
“By the way, aren’t you going to escape from the flames?”
“Aaaah!”
This was no time to be having a casual conversation with Luilala. I hurriedly jumped into the pond.
“Eek! It’s cold!”
“Of course it is. Winter just ended.”
“Ugh. You were floating in the pond looking so comfortable that I forgot to be mindful of things like that.”
With my jumping into the pond, Revalia seemed to give up on spitting fire. The pursuit by Mistral and the others also stopped. Priscilla-chan, why are you happily trying to take off your clothes?! Mistral hastily stopped Priscilla-chan. Ruiseine was collecting the discarded clothes. Madrine, who couldn’t keep up with our chase, was stomping angrily on the grass some distance away.
It was a bit cold, but now I feel safe. I poked my head out of the pond and looked at Laira.
“Look, beautiful scales.”
“Truly, beautiful…”
“They are the most beautiful on Dragon Peak.”
“Oh, from Dragon Peak? Laira, are you alone on Dragon Peak?”
“I’m with Elnea-sama and everyone else!”
“Is that so? Are you happy now?”
“Yes, very!”
Laira showed a beaming smile. The Queen also smiled softly, bathed in the light of Laira’s smile.
“That’s right!”
And then, it seems Laira had an inspiration strike.
“Lady Reineira, you should also participate in the Dragon Peak journey.”
“Oh, to Dragon Peak? But isn’t it dangerous?”
“It’s alright. The Queen of the Armēdo Kingdom and Elnea’s mother will also participate, and Ruiseine-sama’s mother is a Miko. We will all guide you, so it will surely be fun.”
“Right?” Laira looked at me with hopeful eyes.
“Laira, when you ask me with that look, I can’t refuse. Alright, I’ll talk to the King!”
The Queen, though her heart was complex at Laira’s unexpected proposal, looked very happy. Alright, I’ll do my part here. The Queen is in confinement and cannot move freely. However, I will negotiate with the King and work to get her out. I patted my chest in the pond, saying, “Leave it to me.” Was it my imagination that Madrine muttered “Yosh!” by the pond for some reason?
You can easily convey your support by clicking the heart. (Login required)
Support
Log in if you have an account
Learn more about the reading experience available on Kakuyomu.
