We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A letter.
Autumn.
Riding on thin clouds flowing from Dragon Peak, a Great Eagle flew to the capital city of the Armēdo Kingdom.
After circling the capital city’s sky slowly once, the Great Eagle seemed to find what it was looking for and descended towards a large mansion near the Royal Castle.
Flapping its wings widely, the Great Eagle landed with its claws on the second-floor window of the mansion. It tapped the window, filled with transparent glass, with its beak.
Then, the blond young man inside noticed the Great Eagle and came to the window.
“Yo, Momo-chan. It’s been a while.”
When the blond young man opened the window, the Great Eagle entered the room without hesitation.
“Hero Lisuter, it’s been a while.”
Lisuter, who had been addressed in human words by the Great Eagle, welcomed the rare guest with pleasure, while inwardly giving a wry smile, thinking, *As usual, you can speak fluently through creatures created by magic.*
“Elnea hasn’t returned here yet, you know?”
“Yeah. I know. I have a letter from Elnea.”
“Ah, so that’s what it is.”
Elnea, who proudly declared himself a messenger of the Dragon God and defeated Kongo no Kirisame, left this land with the Dragon God who descended at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
After they flew away.
Their achievements and anecdotes were told by bards, and people gossiped, spreading rapidly not only throughout the Armēdo Kingdom but also to the Yorttenitos Kingdom and the depths of Dragon Peak.
Elnea and his family had already become legendary figures.
However, Lisuter was convinced that even though they had become legendary figures, they would still treat him the same as before. He wasn’t visible now, but he was sure they would return before people someday.
Therefore, when Lisuter received a letter from the Great Eagle created by the Eastern Magician with magic, he laughed with joy at Elnea’s message.
Then, as he was about to open it, he stopped.
“If I read this alone, Cerise and the others will be angry. Momo-chan, please wait a little.”
After saying that to the Great Eagle, Lisuter left the room once to call his wives and partner.
“Dearest Lisuter, (Note: The sender seems to omit the beginning part like “My dearest Lisuter”) …Hey hey, what does it mean to omit the beginning part?
When I asked Mistral and the others, they laughed and told me, ‘If you’re going to send a letter, ask Lisuter.’ ”
Everyone gathered in Lisuter’s room laughed at the opening of the letter.
“He’s an idiot, as always. ‘Omitting the beginning’ means you’re omitting the front part, you know.”
“So, Slaton, what do you think that ‘front’ refers to?”
“How should I know!”
Everyone sighed at Slaton’s foolish remark and continued reading the letter.
“Summer, when we defeated Kongo no Kirisame, has changed to autumn. It’s already starting to get cold where we live!
I’m sorry I haven’t been able to contact you for so long.
How are things on your end?
Are there any serious problems occurring?
Well, with Hero Lisuter around, even if problems arise, it should be fine!”
The whole body was filled with smiles from Elnea’s characteristic atmosphere conveyed through the text.
“Even for me, I can’t defeat legendary monsters. If you ask me, I’m more worried if problems are arising with Elnea and his group.”
“Fufufu. That’s true. With your sisters around, it seems like there isn’t a single day without problems.”
The recent issues were the marriage of Princess Sefina and the marriage of Head Miko Madrine from the neighboring country, but since the people involved and Elnea himself were not present, the country and temple authorities were at a loss.
Nevertheless, everyone casually dismissed it, thinking that compared to the commotion they caused, these problems were of a milder sort. Lisuter and the others chatted while conveying this sentiment.
“You know. We won’t be able to return there for a while longer. It’s not like we’re causing any problems, okay?
But if we show up too soon, it will cause a commotion in its own way, so we discussed it with everyone in the family.
So, we won’t be able to see Lisuter and the others for some time.
Sorry!”
“You guys are always flying around even when you’re here, so you don’t show up to us anyway,” Slaton’s retort made Naimi laugh.
“That’s right! You guys are adventuring way more than us, the Hero’s party!”
“Luiseine even became a Shooting Star.”
“I’m jealous.”
Kiiri and Inea’s eyebrows drooped slightly with loneliness.
“So, the plan is not to show themselves to the public for a while longer there either. As expected, that’s the family that supports him.”
It definitely wasn’t Elnea’s idea. Everyone nodded, thinking that it was probably due to the advice of the dependable Mistral or the thoughtful Luiseine, allowing time for Elnea’s legend to spread there and for the public to accept their position.
“Oh, right. I heard some news!
Ah, who I heard it from is a secret! But we receive all your stories properly.
So, what did I hear, you ask!
Cerise-chan, Creacio.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Two at the same time, that’s amazing!
The due date is around the beginning of next summer, right?
I’m looking forward to it!
We’ll also pray for the birth of a splendid child.
Of course, we’ll go to see the baby’s face.
Oh, right!
Hey hey, can you let me decide the baby’s name?”
Lisuter and the others were surprised by the unexpected content of Elnea’s letter.
“Where did he find out, I wonder?”
“Maybe it was Priscilla-chan of the Mimicho Race? I played with Priscilla-chan when I visited Elnea-kun’s family home the other day.”
“I see, so what Cerise told Priscilla-chan got transmitted over there. And while Elnea and his group aren’t showing themselves, Priscilla-chan and the baby dragons aren’t under that restriction, huh?”
“Hey, Lisuter. Stop it. Don’t talk about those brats… It’ll make me remember!”
Indeed. It was the end of summer, after Elnea and his group flew away with the Dragon God to the west of Dragon Peak.
Lisuter and the others, thinking they couldn’t be left behind, entered Dragon Peak again for training.
Frequent monster attacks and the presence of magic beasts lurking for an opening. They were camping and training in Dragon Peak amidst the danger of encountering dragons if they let their guard down.
Then appeared the young Mimicho Race girl, Priscilla, and the young Beast race girl, Mei, accompanied by a horde of magic beasts and dragons, playing without regard for Dragon Peak’s harsh nature!
“What are we then…”
Slaton muttered this and cried, facing reality.
“Well, setting Mei aside, Priscilla-chan… In a way, she’s freer than Elnea. Let’s not think about it too deeply.”
Lisuter steered the conversation back, saying this.
“Still, him wanting to decide the name of our child…?”
The group looked at the Great Eagle relaxing in the room.
“Because he likes peaches, Momo…”
It was Elnea who gave the Eastern Magician his name.
“A hero’s child, so maybe Yuko?”
“Pfft. Inea, isn’t that unlikely?”
Everyone but Kiiri burst out laughing at the overly casual naming and the sound of the name.
“But it’s scary how Elnea would likely name them that!”
“Then, since my child is the Hero’s partner’s child, maybe Aiko?”
“Yikes. Creacio is going rogue by herself.”
“Stop it! Don’t give him the naming rights!”
“Oh, Slaton. But I would happily accept a name given by Elnea-kun.”
“Creacio!?”
Slaton screamed at the betrayal of his beloved wife.
At that moment, Cerise intervened with a laugh.
“That’s right. The spirits by Elnea-kun’s side have wonderful names, and he might actually give good names sometimes. If Elnea-kun were the one naming… I…”
“Cerise!?”
This time, Lisuter screamed.
Seeing the men flustered, laughter filled the room again.
Lisuter is called the “Sun Hero” by people.
He came to be called that because of his actions, always brightly illuminating and guiding people with the Flame Holy Sword.
So, what about Elnea, who had risen to legend? When Lisuter thought about it, he said without hesitation:
“If I am the sun, then he is undoubtedly the moon. A being who gently embraces everyone with the stars, no matter how dark the night. Those enveloped by his gentle radiance can all laugh with happiness.”
When looking at his family. When looking at the people walking in the city. And when feeling the people of Dragon Peak.
He could always exchange smiles with anyone, regardless of their race.
This was because Elnea guided everyone not with the heat of the sun, but with the gentleness of the moon.
“Damn it, I still have a long way to go!”
“It’s rare for Lisuter to regret something.”
“But, please be a little quiet until around next summer, okay? Until Cerise and Creacio’s children are born.”
“Fufufu. By then, maybe I, Kiiri, or Inea will be pregnant next?”
“If that happens, Lisuter’s grand adventure will have to be postponed for a while.”
“Tsk, that can’t be helped.”
Inea’s words reacted to Kiiri, and Naimi replied. Then, to Cerise’s words, Lisuter smiled wryly, but his thoughts turned to the future.
Someday, he wanted to adventure freely with his entire family in various places. Unknown landscapes. Unknown foods and drinks. Species and people and animals he had never met before. He wanted to chase such unknowns and grow old happily.
Of course, the family who would adventure with him at that time would be Slaton’s family.
And, if possible, with Elnea and his group.
“Oh, right. I actually wanted to tell you this after we reunited.”
The letter, filled with Elnea’s characteristic writing, continued.
“We’ve decided to open an inn at the place where we’re currently living!
You know, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time.
The mansion where we live is very large. And many visitors from all over the world come here, you know.
So, we were discussing whether we could provide places and time where those who travel the world could spend their time a little more peacefully.
And finally, the preparations to open our long-awaited inn are complete!”
Lisuter and the others only vaguely know where Elnea’s family lives.
They seem to own a vast land and a mansion at the western foothills of Dragon Peak.
It is said that they were flown near their territory, located on the west side of Dragon Peak, when Slaton and Duranel were kidnapped by the mist monster.
Unfortunately, it seems they couldn’t set foot there at that time due to the Thousand-Handed Spider.
Apparently, only those with special permission are allowed to enter that land. If so, they, who have not yet conquered Dragon Peak, would likely not be granted that right.
And Elnea’s family has started a new endeavor in that special place.
“Elnea, just you wait! We’ll conquer Dragon Peak soon too, and we’ll cause a ruckus at your inn!”
Creacio calmed Slaton, who declared loudly, while laughing. Then, looking at the continuing text, they their hearts leaped with anticipation, wondering what else was written.
However, upon reading the following sentences, everyone’s smiles vanished, their brows furrowed deeply, and they looked bewildered.
“And so. We are already welcoming our first guests starting this autumn.
Don’t be surprised, okay?
No, you’ll definitely be surprised!
You see, we are now, believe it or not!
Spending our days with over thirty Shooting Stars!”
…Huh?
……What!?
…… …Ehhh!!
“Wait, wait, wait! What do you mean ‘over thirty Shooting Stars’? I don’t understand!”
Lisuter and the others were bewildered.
“Kiiri. Shooting Stars are priestesses, right? Like Luiseine?”
“Y-yes. They are noble priestesses who travel the world in search of their destiny without belonging to any temple…”
“And there are over thirty of them!? What is that? Inea, does this kind of thing happen?”
“Hmm, I haven’t seen or heard of such a thing even in biographies. Usually, it’s a journey of one or a very small group.”
More than thirty priestesses would be the number of priestesses serving in a great shrine of a sizable city.
Are you telling me that a number of Shooting Star priestesses, comparable to those in a city’s great shrine, are suddenly welcoming them as guests!?
“As expected, he’s doing absurd things over there too!”
Bewildered by Elnea’s life, which went far beyond their imagination, then surprised, and finally changing to exasperated “You again…”, everyone sighed.
“You know. The Shooting Stars have their reasons, but I think there will be a time when I can tell you about it someday. So, I hope we can reunite soon!
Of course, you’re welcome to visit our mansion anytime, Lisuter and the others!
We’re all looking forward to it with bated breath!”
Given that Elnea and his group have become messengers of the Dragon God, they are likely to wait patiently for decades.
However, Lisuter vowed here.
He would definitely conquer Dragon Peak on his own feet and visit Elnea’s mansion in the near future.
“Elnea, just you wait.”
He gazed at the western sky of Dragon Peak.
Far beyond, there was a place where his best friend and his family were living busily.
At the end of the letter, it was written.
“I still have a lot to tell you, but I can’t write everything in a letter.
I want to hear about Lisuter and your recent circumstances too, so please write back!
Well then.
Though we cannot meet yet, please don’t worry about us.
No matter how many seasons change
We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.”
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