We live at the foot of Dragon Peak.
Us, the Mimicho Race, spirits, and myself.
We should have been at a safe enough distance, but it seems our opponent can sense our presence over a wide area.
This is no time to be analyzing things leisurely.
Without even time to check my rear, I activated Spatial Jump.
“Fwah, no use fleeing,”
“Wha!”
Even though I should have evaded with Spatial Jump, I found myself outflanked again immediately after jumping.
“Please, give up already?”
The ominous presence of an approaching attack.
But, I calmly activated Spatial Jump once more.
“No, no, I won’t give up just because of something like this!”
And then, having moved to a safe location this time, I was finally able to confirm the identity of the voice’s owner.
A petite Mimicho. She was so thin it seemed more like sickly than slender, leaning on a Great Staff and staring at me, who had skillfully evaded her.
Her staff, larger than her own height, emanated an eerie presence.
From Yunyun, Rinrin, and Sefina’s stories, I knew this figure with the ominous Great Staff was the woman they spoke of. Her name, I believe, was Istericia.
“What a fast-fleeing boy you are.”
“To me, this is child’s play, always playing tag.”
Priscilla-chan suddenly appeared beside me.
How many games of tag have I played with this little girl? I’m sorry, but the Spatial Jump used by ordinary Mimichos can’t catch me or Priscilla-chan.
Seeing our relaxed attitudes, Istericia leaned on her Great Staff and let out a large sigh.
“It saddens me to be toyed with by such a boy and child.”
However, contrary to her sigh and disappointed tone, her Great Staff’s ominous presence grew stronger. Miasma seeped out from the gem embedded in the staff, instantly wilting the surrounding flowers and grass. Yet, Istericia, who held the staff, remained unfazed.
I took Priscilla-chan’s hand, intending to distance ourselves from the miasma. But just then, Mimichos who had arrived late with Spatial Jump surrounded us.
“The chieftain went ahead, and here we find a Human Race.”
“And she’s with a Mimicho child.”
“Either way, they are our enemies!”
They raised their weapons, hostility radiating from them. It seems, as Carly said, there would be no negotiation. If that’s the case, then we will have to stick to our own principles.
“You said earlier you were displeased with me imitating the Mimicho Race, right? Well, how about this!”
I grinned wickedly at Istericia. As I did, I unleashed my power.
“I’m sorry, but I can imitate more than just Spatial Jump!”
As if responding to my call, Yunyun and Rinrin, empowered by me, manifested. Not only that, but Ares-san, in his adult form, appeared gracefully.
“We’re here to repay our debt from last time.”
“This time, we’re fully prepared too!”
Yunyun and Rinrin faced Istericia, who wielded the Great Staff.
“Now, how shall we play?”
“Um, ‘play’?”
“Priscilla, send your power to Yun and Rin. Then, they’ll be able to enjoy themselves.”
“Got it!”
Priscilla-chan, held by Ares-san, poured her Spirit Power into Yunyun and Rinrin. As a result, the manifested duo increased in presence and radiated with power.
“Impossible, that’s not a Mimicho…?”
“But it feels like a spirit?”
“More importantly, look at the other spirit.”
“What is that spirit…!?”
“You can’t read it…?”
The Mimichos who had surrounded us were bewildered by the mysterious presence of Yunyun and Rinrin. It’s understandable. Ordinary Mimichos wouldn’t know about the consequences that follow breaking taboos, let alone the result of our interference, which is Yunyun and Rinrin as they are now.
And then there’s Ares-san. Ares-san is a special being, a Spirit of the Spirit Tree. Spirit Tree Spirits can only exist where Spirit Trees grow. Furthermore, only chosen individuals among the Mimicho Race can properly sense a Spirit Tree Spirit. The Mimichos showed considerable disturbance at the fact that a mysterious spirit had been summoned by me. However, there’s no need to give our information to the enemy.
Ignoring the confused Mimichos, I drew my White Sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword.
“Yunyun and Rinrin, you handle Istericia. Ares-san, protect Priscilla-chan. I’ll take on the rest of the Mimichos!”
Upon hearing my audacious declaration, the Mimichos, while still disoriented, focused their hostility on me. We exchanged cautious glances, facing each other. Next to me, Yunyun and Rinrin glared at Istericia, steadily refining the power being channeled to them.
“Relinquish that sinful Great Staff.”
“We will never forgive arts that sacrifice spirits!”
Istericia casually dismissed Yunyun and Rinrin’s words with a yawn.
“Fwah. This is, in the first place, an item called the Great Sin Staff. I possess it with the resolve to commit sin, so I cannot hand it over no matter what you two say now.”
“Rather,” the woman finally showed a spark of interest in her eyes, gazing alternately at Yunyun and Rinrin. “This time, I will make you my subordinates. Prepare yourselves.”
“You’re the one who should prepare!”
“Don’t think we’re the same as last time!”
Yunyun and Rinrin moved. It wasn’t a Spatial Jump. They disappeared from this world for a moment, traversed the realm of spirits, and plunged into Istericia’s embrace. In their hands were blades shaped from Spirit Power.
“I am interested in you two.”
“We’re not interested in you!”
“I hate you!”
Istericia used Spatial Jump to escape. She leaped farther than Carly or Kate, but she didn’t fall into the Bewildering Technique. She didn’t disappear from our sight. Could she have broken through Grandma Yuuri’s Bewildering Technique? I’m not sure, but it’s fortunate for us that she wasn’t sent to some other location by the technique. It’s easier to provide support when I can see the flow of battle.
“What are you staring off for!”
The moment I turned my attention to Yunyun and the others, the Mimichos attacked.
“Fools.”
Ares-san, while holding Priscilla-chan, elegantly evaded the Mimichos’ sharp blades. However, only a few Mimichos attacked Ares-san; the majority of them came at me. Blades attacked from all directions, and arrows rained down. Hey, wouldn’t those hit allies too? No, such consideration was unnecessary. The countless arrows avoided the Mimichos and moved as if targeting only me. It seems a spirit art was in play. If this continued, I’d be riddled with holes. Therefore, I began to perform the Dragon Sword Dance without holding back. I summoned a fierce, storm-like wind, deflecting the trajectory of the incoming arrows. I lightly swung my White Sword, neutralizing the approaching white blades. The Spirit Tree Wooden Sword seemed to be drawn to the Mimichos’ bodies, striking them in beautiful arcs and knocking them down one after another.
“Don’t underestimate us!”
Realizing they were at a disadvantage in close combat, the Mimichos retreated. Then, they began to interfere with their spirits to use spirit arts.
“Obey those with power.”
“Do not resist!”
Priscilla-chan reacted, her expression filled with unease as she gazed into the void.
“Obey me!”
“Now, submit to power and become my limbs!”
Several Mimichos attempted to attack Ares-san, who was holding Priscilla-chan. However, those who confronted Ares-san collapsed before accomplishing anything. Yet, Priscilla-chan, despite being protected by an absolute guardian, wore a very sad expression. She then looked at me, her eyes pleading for salvation.
“Yes, as Priscilla-chan pleases!”
I drastically changed the nature of my Dragon Sword Dance. From a dance of martial suppression to a light and joyful one. I moved with cheerful footwork, almost unbelievable in the midst of battle. My swordplay was light, and my movements synchronized with cheerful melodies. Yet, even before this transformed Dragon Sword Dance, the Mimichos were being defeated.
“You cheat!”
Frustrated by me, the Mimichos forcefully commanded their spirits and activated spirit arts! Fireballs, imbued with a heatwave that seemed capable of burning even the forest, approached. Sickle-like whirlwinds, slicing through the air, closed in. I followed the spirit arts cast by the Mimichos with my eyes and felt the movements of the spirits with my body. As I did, I spoke to the spirits with all my heart.
“Everyone, isn’t it painful? Isn’t it unpleasant? Rather than obeying these overbearing Mimichos, why don’t you play with me! Come, let’s dance together. I won’t force you, but I want to have fun with everyone.”
The Mimichos who had invaded the forest had all subdued spirits by force and were coercively using them. Seeing the Mimichos forcibly dominating the spirits with Spirit Power and making them use their abilities, Priscilla-chan looked very sad. I was taught long ago that Mimichos sometimes subdue spirits by brute force. It’s their tradition and culture, and I know some spirits won’t obey otherwise. But I also know something else. Like Priscilla-chan, there’s a way to become friends with spirits and cooperate with them. I am not a Mimicho, so even if I can feel the presence of spirits, I cannot control them. But perhaps, I can become their friend. Like Ares-san, like the spirits of the Dragon Forest, and the spirits I recently befriended in the Dragon King’s Forest. Therefore, I ask.
“So, spirits, which do you think would be more fun to join: the Mimichos or me?”
I danced the Dragon Sword Dance lightly and joyfully, as if inviting the spirits. I flowed Dragon Energy into the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, converting it into the power of the Spirit Tree and scattering it around. Playing with me and Priscilla-chan is very fun, you know? Cooperating with us will bring even greater rewards! So, please break free from the Mimichos’ control and come over here. In response to my call, the world of the spirits began to liven up. If anyone could see the spirit world, they would surely be astonished? The presence of spirits around the Mimichos faded, while it became dense around Priscilla-chan and me. It seems that the spirits, responding to my invitation, began to break free from the Mimichos’ control. The approaching fireball veered away from me. The whirlwinds, instead of slicing me, soared up gracefully, dancing within the storm of the Dragon Sword Dance.
“What!”
“That’s impossible!?”
Realizing that spirits were increasingly breaking free from their control, the Mimichos began to panic.
“Hey, hey, stop tempting our spirits.”
“I-it’s your imagination!”
Just then, a familiar voice was heard. Simultaneously, countless arrows flew. Their target was not me. Riding the storm of the Dragon Sword Dance, the arrows gained momentum and approached the Mimichos.
“Honestly. Didn’t I tell you to leave the attendant Mimichos to us?”
“I’m sorry!”
Spirits began to dance joyfully with me. However, some still followed their masters’ will. Some Mimichos were overcome by sudden sleepiness and fell asleep. Others fell into holes that suddenly appeared in the ground, their bodies buried up to their necks. Still others were ensnared by plants. Spirits are well-trained! Yes. The ones who completed their tasks without betraying their masters were the spirits of the individuals who had just arrived. And those individuals were my reliable companions! Thus, with the arrival of Carly, Allen, Lidyana, and Kate, the numerous Mimichos were swiftly subdued. As for me, I was dancing the Dragon Sword Dance with the lively, boisterous spirits. Actually, I can’t stop! If I stop now after seducing the spirits and making them my allies, I have a feeling things might get bad, especially for me! Looking over, Priscilla-chan had also detached herself from Ares-san’s arms and started to happily skip.
