We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 759

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

The grass is always greener on the other side, isn’t it?

“Lord Elnea, I can see the capital city of the Yorttenitos Kingdom.”

“You’re right. The winter capital city has a charm of its own.”

Lyra chirped from Revia’s back.

I wrapped my arms around Lyra’s waist from behind, holding her close, and looked down at the capital city spread out before us.

The main streets that ran through the city were lined with trees, and parks abundant with flowers and grass were maintained in each district. The capital city of the Yorttenitos Kingdom, in harmony with nature, had also welcomed winter.

The street trees had lost their leaves, and the parks lacked vibrancy.

However, unlike the colorful seasons, the capital city, dyed in calm shades of brown from fallen leaves and withered grass, was also lovely.

We spent a few leisurely days at a wonderful inn, a favorite of the royal family, in Ambis, the secondary capital of the Armēdo Kingdom, before setting off for the Yorttenitos Kingdom.

Our purpose was to offer New Year’s greetings to the King and other familiar faces.

Well, if I received a personal letter from the King of the Yorttenitos Kingdom asking me to come for New Year’s greetings, I had no choice but to go!

At Lyra’s request, Revia arrogantly flew above the capital city.

Following behind, Nimia was accompanied by Fiorina and Rim, who were gamely keeping pace.

And slightly distanced from the imposing Revia and Nimia, the Wyvern Knight Order, who had flown with us from the Armēdo Kingdom, followed behind.

Late last year.

The Dragon Knight Order from the Yorttenitos Kingdom had joined us as reinforcements for the subjugation of the Evil Race. To be precise, the situation was resolved by the Hero Listea’s efforts before the vanguard Wyvern Knight Order arrived.

They did not return immediately but stayed in the Armēdo Kingdom to see out the new year, attended the New Year’s celebratory events, and then began their journey home.

We flew to the Yorttenitos Kingdom together with the Wyvern Knight Order, who were staying in the Armēdo Kingdom.

“Um, I want to go flower viewing?”

“Let’s make flowers bloom on this withered tree?”

“No, no, Ares-chan. If you cause a miracle in peacetime, it will cause a huge commotion. Priscilla-chan, let’s go flower viewing when it’s a little warmer, okay?”

“Everyone is saying they’re looking forward to spring.”

In addition to me and Lyra, Alicia-chan and Ares-chan were riding on Revia.

The two young girls were positioned near Revia’s neck, leaning out to gaze at the ground below.

And the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword was, as usual, at my right hip.

Since then. That is, after the mysterious coma incident.

It seemed Mistral and the others had also come to accept it with a sense of reality.

Once Spirit Tree-chan, who was a member of our family, was planted, we would no longer be able to fly around together as before.

Therefore, they had agreed without complaint that until Spirit Tree-chan was planted, we would humor her wishes as much as possible.

So, what was the first selfish wish Spirit Tree-chan made?

“Um. Priscilla wants to eat dumplings surrounded by flowers with Ares-chan and Spirit Tree-chan.”

“I wanna eat, I wanna eat!”

“That means you just want to eat snacks, even if you’re not surrounded by flowers!?”

“I wanna eat!”

“No, no, Spirit Tree-chan can’t eat solid food!”

It seems the name “Spirit Tree-chan” has already become a fixed term.

Spirit Tree-chan asked Priscilla-chan to accompany them when they went to visit the Yorttenitos Kingdom.

And that’s how the young girls were able to join us.

Actually, I had planned for Priscilla-chan to stay a little longer in the Mimicho Race village and behave herself until Alicia-chan returned.

“That’s impossible, nyan.”

“That’s right, impossible! Wait, what are you talking about? Nimia-chan?”

Our family, other than us, was riding on Nimia’s back as usual.

And there was one special guest.

Priscilla-chan, who adored her older sister, was accompanying us without any hesitation, and the reason was that person.

“Alicia, stay still!”

“Alicia-san, please behave yourself while in the sky!”

The one being scolded by Mistral and Ruiseine on Nimia’s back was, of course, Alicia-chan!

“Um, I wonder if it would feel good to jump off from up here in the sky? Nimia-chan, Alicia is going to jump now, so could you catch me midway?”

“Unya! It’ll be bad if I fail, nyan.”

Yufilia and Nina hurriedly restrained Alicia-chan, who looked like she was seriously about to jump.

I never imagined there would be a troublemaker surpassing even those twin princesses.

Lyra and I, riding on Revia’s side, exchanged bitter smiles at the commotion unfolding on Nimia’s back.

Looking back, even the Wyvern Knight Order following from behind had a subtle expression of surprise mixed with amusement on their faces.

However, they probably wouldn’t imagine that this chaotic scene was normal for my family and that they were quite used to it.

In any case, we had arrived at the capital city of the Yorttenitos Kingdom.

Guided by the welcoming Wyvern Knights who had flown from a nearby fortress, we descended towards a detached palace on the outskirts.

“Flying before me means you wish for death.”

“Hii!”

“Now, now, Revia. Don’t threaten the wyverns who are working hard.”

While we were having that exchange, Revia landed in the courtyard of the detached palace without causing any disturbance.

And the escort wyvern, glared at by Revia, shot off like a bolt of lightning, ignoring the Dragon Knight’s attempts to restrain it.

“Elnea-kun, in the Yorttenitos Kingdom, you will make time for me, okay?”

“Sefina-san, did you jump from Nimia!?”

Before we could even dismount Revia, Sefina-san was waiting for us in the courtyard.

Sefina-san should have been riding Nimia.

However, Nimia was still high above the roof.

It seemed Sefina-san had jumped from Nimia’s back once the altitude had decreased and had circled around to get ahead of us.

Sefina-san, who had been busy with official duties around the New Year, hadn’t been able to spend much time with us. Finally, frustrated, she had followed us without question.

And just as she had spent individual time with each of the family members, Sefina-san claimed she wanted to have exclusive time with me.

Therefore, while prioritizing making memories with Spirit Tree-chan, I had to entertain Sefina-san in the Yorttenitos Kingdom.

Also, speaking of the Yorttenitos Kingdom…

“Elnea-kun, I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Hello, Madrine-sama.”

That’s right. I hadn’t forgotten.

As if she had some business at the royal palace, Madrine-sama appeared in the courtyard and hurried towards us.

Her behavior, uncharacteristic of the Head Miko, made the accompanying Miko and Shinkan accompanying her turn pale!

Nimia landed on the ground, and everyone began busy themselves with unloading the baggage. I also actively started moving, greeting Madrine-sama and the people from the royal palace who had come to meet us.

However, I couldn’t see the King or any high-ranking officials.

Perhaps they were not at the royal palace for the New Year’s holidays?

“By the way, Madrine-sama, why are you at the royal palace?”

“Oh, that’s my line. Ah, perhaps. You’ve finally come to pick me up, haven’t you?”

“No, that’s not it!”

“Grrr! Why did you deny it so immediately?”

“No, no, I didn’t exactly deny it. I just thought you, Madrine-sama, still have duties to attend to, you see.”

“You don’t need to worry. Rubia is very capable. With this, she could be appointed Head Miko within a few days…”

“No, no, no, that’s too hasty and forceful! So, why were you going to the royal palace?”

“That’s right. I was summoned by His Majesty and came here.”

“We are here for New Year’s greetings.”

As I was exchanging words with Madrine-sama, whom I had met again after a long time, a man in royal guard uniform appeared in the courtyard.

“Welcome. Please, come this way. His Majesty and everyone else are waiting.”

And with a gentlemanly smile, he invited us inside.

So, while everyone else was busy, I proceeded inside.

Of my family members who accompanied me, only Lyra and Madrine-sama came with me.

When I glanced back, Mistral and Ruiseine were chasing Nimia, Priscilla-chan, and Ares-chan, who were running around the courtyard immediately after arriving. And Sefina-san was interacting with Yufilia and Nina.

Once the baggage was removed from Revia’s back, she flew off somewhere with Fiorina and Rim.

In any case, guided by the royal guard, I proceeded inside the detached palace.

“Elnea, I am displeased.”

And when we were led into the reception room, the King, who was waiting for us, said something outrageous right away!

“Whaaat? Why? Is it because you rarely visit with Lyra? Or are you still not satisfied with your solo journey!?”

The King’s face twitched slightly at the mention of “solo journey,” but he still looked at me with his lips pursed.

Hmm, what could it be?

It’s very unusual for the King not to smile when Lyra is present.

And it’s troublesome that I can’t recall anything that would displease the King.

“Hahahaha! His Majesty is angry!”

Lyra flustered at the King’s demeanor.

Madrine-sama also seemed slightly surprised by the King’s unusual emotion.

However, we wouldn’t get anywhere if this continued. So, with a slight tremor in my heart, I decided to find out what the King was displeased about.

Then, the King spoke.

“I hear that a second Holy Sword was brought to the Armēdo Kingdom. However, do you not think our Yorttenitos Kingdom lacks a similar sacred treasure, Elnea?”

“Ah, I see!”

I understood the King’s dissatisfaction.

Since their founding, the Armēdo Kingdom and the Yorttenitos Kingdom had prospered like twins.

Both countries had similarly experienced hardships and joys and had developed in the same way.

Was this because the founding kings, Armēdo and Yorttenitos, were twins? Even their national destinies were linked, and they had built history together.

However, the King seemed to think that a clear difference had emerged recently.

This stemmed from the second Holy Sword that Hero Listea brought back to his homeland after his arduous journey.

The symbol of the Armēdo Kingdom is the Hero and the Holy Sword.

Similarly, the Yorttenitos Kingdom has its Dragon Knights, who symbolize the nation.

If you ask me, I think Dragon Knights, who can be increased to tens or even hundreds with training, are more wonderful than Holy Swords, which are limited in number.

But the King thought differently.

He seemed to be dissatisfied that while the Armēdo Kingdom gained a new symbol, the Yorttenitos Kingdom received no such favor. It was a dissatisfaction concerning national prestige, fitting for a ruler governing a nation.

I finally understood the King’s dissatisfaction, or rather, the Yorttenitos Kingdom’s dissatisfaction.

However, I reasoned with the King that it was a misunderstanding.

“Your Majesty, have you forgotten? The Yorttenitos Kingdom has also been gifted a new treasure.”

Saying this, I pointed to the staff Madrine-sama was holding.

Madrine-sama, perhaps because she was to have an audience with the King, was adorned in the highest-ranking ceremonial robes and wore accessories befitting her status.

A particularly large, golden gem was set into the staff that Madrine-sama held so carefully.

“Your Majesty. This gem is a wonderful jewel that Madrine-sama finally obtained after great hardship.”

“I am aware of that. You must have worked hard to obtain it while we were traveling in the Demon Race’s Country, no?”

“Yes. I cannot tell you the detailed circumstances… However, please believe me. This gem holds power that far surpasses even the Great Holy Sword. It might save our nation from crisis if treasured, and could even destroy the country if treated carelessly.”

“Hou hou.”

After all, the true identity of the golden gem was a crystallized power of the great demon Charlotte, the Golden One.

The Great Holy Sword created by Momo-chan, the Eastern Magician, was indeed wonderful, but unfortunately, it was far inferior to Charlotte’s gem.

Therefore, when comparing the two, the golden gem was overwhelmingly more precious and a treasure that could be hailed as a symbol of the nation.

However, I couldn’t reveal everything honestly.

Because if I told them the true identity of the gem, the King and the others would probably be utterly terrified.

So, I evaded telling the truth and emphatically explained how wonderful the gem was.

Madrine-sama, standing beside me, nodded in agreement with a serious expression. The King and the high officials, who were devout followers of the Temple Religion, accepted my explanation quite readily.

The King nodded deeply, as if contemplating my words.

Similarly, the high officials gathered in the reception room whispered in surprise, “To think it was such a valuable item.”

“Therefore,” I concluded, “there is no need to be pessimistic or feel a sense of inferiority.”

I wonder if this has resolved the King’s dissatisfaction.

The King and I, along with Lyra, observed the King’s expression.

If he wasn’t convinced by our conversation, then so be it.

I would have to ask Charlotte to show a glimpse of her power.

But I wouldn’t be responsible for any chaos that might occur at that time, okay?

Then, the King began to discuss something with the high officials.

“Do you not think that he is the man I had high hopes for? Everyone.”

“Your Majesty speaks the truth.”

“There should be no objections to how quickly he resolved my dissatisfaction, should there?”

“We are surprised that you already had the answer, Your Majesty.”

I wonder what they are talking about? Lyra, Madrine-sama, and I exchanged glances.

“Then, there are no objections to the future course of action either?”

“Yes. If it’s Lord Elnea, then perhaps…”

“Madrine-sama is also here. With this many… ”

Is it just my imagination? I have a bad feeling.

The King’s dissatisfaction was probably just a light appetizer, and a more difficult main course awaits…

However, my premonitions are usually accurate.

And this time, it seems it has come true in a bad way.

“Elnea.”

“I refuse!”

“You are to go east. And you are to devote yourself to resolving the problem that has occurred in that land.”

“You completely ignored my refusal!”

And so, we, who had only come to offer New Year’s greetings, found ourselves entangled in the problems of the Yorttenitos Kingdom.