We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
To the paradise of dragons and spirits.
“Kyaa!”
We screamed and fled from the demon lord, whose eyes fiercely glittered with malice.
Just then, lightning flashed above our heads!
“!”
Blinding lightning filled our vision in an instant, accompanied by a piercing roar.
Sefina, Madrine, and I hugged each other, realizing anew the terror of the wicked demon lord!
“I am deeply offended.”
“…Huh?”
It wasn’t Sefina or Madrine, but a voice I recognized. I opened my tightly shut eyelids.
As my vision, scorched by the lightning, gradually recovered, I saw her.
“Istericia? …Does that mean this place is…?”
“I despise Elnea-kun. I was so close to getting my undies back from the spirits’ prank.”
The small, long-eared girl yawned lazily.
However, her actual age was far greater than ours.
And despite being of the long-eared race, she looked fittingly in her Miko’s Attire.
Yes, she was Istericia!
“It’s been a while, Istericia. Still the same as usual, huh? Here, I’ll give this back to you, alright?”
“M-my undies!”
I returned the cloth, which the spirits had just forced into my hand, to Istericia.
Istericia blushed and snatched the cloth from my hand.
Truly, speaking literally.
I watched Istericia run away.
“Hmm. The demon lord transferred us to Yorttenitos Kingdom as promised. …But to the eastern edge!”
That’s right!
We seemed to have been transferred to what’s commonly known as paradise, specifically the legendary land of dragons and spirits located just before the Great Forest on the eastern border of Yorttenitos Kingdom!
In this paradise, a temple was built where the clergy train, and Istericia and other volunteers from the long-eared race are spending their days training there.
In other words, Istericia’s presence, as she ran away from us, clearly indicated where we had been transferred.
“This is troublesome? How will I get to the Capital City where Madrine’s parents live? No, before that. Sefina and Madrine, let’s stop fighting over me now, shall we?”
This is troublesome, isn’t it?
While I was analyzing the situation, Sefina and Madrine, who were clinging to me, cheerfully fought over me.
Well, I did enjoy the soft feeling of women on both sides, though?
“Ahem, Head Miko.”
Then, with a slightly hesitant cough, a voice called out from behind.
Turning around, I saw a worried-looking Miko standing there.
“Look, Madrine-sama. Don’t show such untidy behavior to the Miko.”
I urged Madrine, who then tidied herself up while throwing a tantrum.
In this regard, she is still the Head Miko, after all.
“It can’t be helped. Yes, that’s right. I am the Head Miko of the Great Shrine of Yorttenitos Kingdom. Well then, could you guide us to the shrine? Elnea-kun and Sefina, let’s discuss our future there as well.”
Madrine asked the Miko who had spoken to guide us to the shrine.
Even though we knew we had been transferred to paradise, we didn’t know exactly where in paradise we were.
Looking around again, we were deep in a dense forest.
I wondered why a Miko would happen to be in such a place, and immediately realized.
I see. It must have been Istericia.
This morning, Istericia, having been pranked by the spirits again, was running around paradise trying to retrieve her stolen underwear. And the Miko, while helping Istericia, was likely dealing with the spirits.
That’s when we were transferred along with the lightning.
The Miko showed no particular surprise at our sudden appearance.
Apparently, this level of abnormality is commonplace in paradise.
Whether that’s good or bad, it might be a very suitable place for clergy to train.
“Well then, this way.”
The Miko responded with a smile.
And she guided us in the direction Istericia had run off to.
“Fufufu, that was fun.”
“Ehh? I’m not tired of playing yet?”
“Well then, what should we do to play with Istericia next?”
“Everyone, take it easy.”
Even in the densely wooded paradise, there were animal trails, and not only dragons but also animals and birds lived there.
As we walked, guided by the Miko, listening to the cheerful chirping of birds since morning, we soon arrived at a newly built shrine.
Around the shrine, even though it was still early morning, the Miko and Shinkan were already beginning their training, watched by dragons.
The spirits also manifested and played pranks on the Miko and dragons, having fun.
“It’s nice that everyone seems happy?”
“In a sense, this has become a place for inter-species exchange that goes beyond places like the Dragon Forest or Dragon Peak?”
“The Miko and Shinkan who train here will surely build a wonderful future.”
One of them is surely destined to be Istericia.
Istericia’s figure was not visible around the shrine.
Perhaps she was putting away the underwear she had retrieved?
“Shall I go and see?”
“No, it’s alright.”
“What a shame.”
“Tch. I was hoping to use that as an excuse to play a prank on that girl again.”
“Oh dear. Istericia is quite popular, isn’t she?”
“Oh, do you think so? I feel like Elnea-kun is far more popular.”
“Sefina, that’s your imagination. The reason spirits are swarming around me is because of Ares-chan’s influence.”
“However, Elnea-kun, dragons are also gathering here. I don’t think this is Ares-chan’s influence, is it?”
“Th-that’s ridiculous!?”
“We heard! We heard it! About you lot from that Wyvern that flew in the other day!”
“They say you’re a messenger of the Dragon God?”
“Alright, let us lick them.”
The dragons, who had been enjoying their morning slumber, spotted us and began to gather in a rush!
“I don’t particularly mind being the center of attention, but…”
“Muki, please don’t lick us!”
That’s right!
It would be troublesome to be licked by dragons first thing in the morning!
Sefina and Madrine skillfully dodged the surging dragons and fled deeper into the wooden shrine.
And I, the sacrifice.
“I wish I could have run away too!”
But I couldn’t escape.
Why?
“Bec-because.”
That’s right!
There was a naughty child clinging to my leg, preventing my escape!
With a heave, I picked up Ares-chan, who had manifested, and was immediately jostled by the dragons.
“Uuuuugh, dragon scales are hard, so be gentle. Oh, you’re fluffy. Nooo, that tickles, don’t lick there!”
“If you do bad things, you won’t be forgiven?”
“Hieee!”
The dragons toyed with me.
However, they were no match for Ares-chan.
With Ares-chan’s smiling words, the dragons’ faces contorted.
Even the dragons knew it would be terrible if they truly angered a Spirit Tree Spirit.
“If possible, don’t do anything bad to me either. I’m a messenger of the Dragon God too, you know?”
“Ah, we know.”
“That’s why we’re playing.”
“Join the dragons!”
“Kuwaru kuwaru.”
“Kyaa!”
Why is this how I’m treated!?
I was being toyed with by dragons, spirits, and Ares-chan.
But I’m not one to be toyed with as they please forever!
“Kukukuku. I’ve thought of a good plan.”
“It looks like the Dragon God’s messenger is plotting something!”
“Be careful!”
“What is it? What is it?”
After somehow escaping from the lively dragons and spirits, I pointed at a Wyvern.
“Hey, hey, I have a favor to ask. Yes, this is a request as a messenger of the Dragon God.”
“Uwah, it really feels like a cheap request from a Dragon God’s messenger?”
“Th-that’s just your imagination…?”
“Your eyes are darting around?”
“Your face is twitching?”
Damn. Such perceptive dragons and spirits!
But I won’t be discouraged and will make my request.
“You know, could you go to the Capital City of Yorttenitos Kingdom and call some people for me?”
The people I’m referring to are, of course, the royal family, shrine officials, and Madrine’s family.
Just greeting Madrine’s family would suffice, but if the wedding ceremony is being discussed here, it would be best to have the royal family and other shrine officials come as well.
And then, I realized.
For us, who are acting incognito, this paradise might be ideal.
No extraneous outsiders will enter, and since it’s a remote area near the border, there are few people around.
Well, I do feel sorry for the officials who will have to travel a long distance.
The Wyvern that accepted my mission snorted.
“I have accepted your request.”
“You! That’s unfair!”
“No cutting in line is allowed.”
“I’ll be the first to inform them!”
And then, one after another, Wyverns and Winged Dragons took off.
“Tch. Those Wyverns.”
I said to the slightly disappointed male Earth Dragon.
“Fufu, you don’t understand. While the Wyverns flew off on my errand, you guys who remained can play with us to your heart’s content?”
“!”
Now then. Who is happier: the Wyverns and Winged Dragons who received the Dragon God’s messenger’s request, or the Earth Dragons who have the chance to play with the Dragon God’s messenger to their heart’s content?
At least, it’s going to be quite an ordeal for us!
“So, spirits! Round up Sefina, Madrine-sama, and Istericia who fled into the shrine too!”
“Ooh!”
“Get ‘em!”
On this day.
Paradise became more lively than ever before.
It’s not my fault, alright?
The next day.
If you say it’s early, it’s early, and if you say it’s finally here, it’s finally here.
To put it simply, when we were exhausted and worn out from playing, Wyverns returned from the west.
“I have fulfilled my duty perfectly.”
“Praise me!”
“T-I’m tired…”
Wyverns and Winged Dragons landed one after another in the cleared area of paradise. On their backs rode women clad in high-ranking Miko’s Attire.
Among them were women and girls I recognized.
Not only that.
The Wyverns that arrived later were clearly from the Wyvern Knight Order, and on the back of the last-landing golden-scaled Winged Dragon were people I was familiar with.
“Friel, it’s been a while! Your Majesty, Laira isn’t here this time, you know?”
“Wh-what did you sayyyyyyyy!”
The King of Yorttenitos Kingdom slumped his shoulders in deep disappointment.
Please don’t fall from Yugra’s back.
Friel, who was close to him, desperately tried to calm the King.
I shifted my gaze from the royal family and turned to the people who seemed a bit tired from their unfamiliar journey through the sky.
The members of the Dragon Knight Order, who quickly dismounted their dragons, offered a hand to the clergy dismounting from the backs of wild Wyverns and Winged Dragons.
Among them, I saw a person I needed to greet, and my tension soared.
I won’t make the same mistake as in Armēdo Kingdom this time!
“Big sis—!”
A girl, carried down by the female Wyvern Knight, Anya, broke into a full sprint the moment her feet touched the ground!
Towards me!?
“Gofuh.”
I doubled over, struck in the stomach by the girl’s unrestrained charge!
“Big sis, I did it! I defeated the Dragon God’s messenger! Now I can join you!”
“No, no, no, Lady Mary. Defeating me won’t make you a companion.”
What kind of logic is that! I retorted, but Lady Mary pouted with dissatisfaction.
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