We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 1003

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

Welcome to the Dragon King’s Inn.

Welcome to the Dragon King’s Inn.

In the forbidden territory, autumn is a season of harvest. Fruits, wild vegetables, and many other blessings of nature ripen in abundance within the great wilderness. To survive on our own in the forbidden territory, we must gather plenty of autumn’s bounty and hunker down in our mansion when the snow piles up for winter.

However, that is only after the fruitful autumn has arrived. For now, it is still the entrance to fall, with the lingering warmth of late summer. And before the busy, harvest-filled autumn truly begins, we were aiming to achieve one particular goal.

“Haaah! This goes here, and then like so…”

Our mansion is incredibly vast, encompassing two lakes as its courtyard. Recently, the area we typically use is the northwest section of the mansion, connected to the four surrounding wings. It’s convenient for heading to the sacred mountain in the west or the Dragon King’s Forest in the north. The Mimicho Race people who live in the forbidden territory utilize the rooms surrounding our residential area.

And right now, the place we were working was on the south side of the mansion.

“Alright, it’s finished!”

I gazed up at the sign hung under the eaves, along with the Mimicho Race people, and nodded with immense satisfaction. Everyone who had been watching the installation of the sign broke into smiles.

“Dragon King’s Inn”

Madeline, the most skilled calligrapher among my wives, wrote it on a large wooden board. We then installed it under the eaves of one of the many entrances to the mansion, specifically on the south side.

That’s right. It’s finally here!

We have finally reached this day!

I had been thinking about it for a long time. How to effectively utilize this overwhelmingly large mansion. Even though we move rooms within the mansion periodically for a change of pace, there were still too many unused rooms and sections; it felt like such a waste.

While I pondered this day after day, we were also busy with our activities. During that time, it occurred to me.

The forbidden territory is a place only accessible to a select few. Illegal intruders are driven away by Teruru-chan, the Thousand-Handed Spider entrusted with guarding the forbidden territory. Even if someone managed to slip through Teruru-chan’s surveillance, the administrators of the forbidden territory would not remain silent. Therefore, only those chosen can visit the forbidden territory and this mansion.

However, we have quite a few visitors. Many of our kin have been granted permission to enter the forbidden territory. Beings like Micheila and Wellen, transcendent existences, sometimes visit accompanied by their Four Guardian Stars. Others, like Uncle Luludodo, people in similar positions to us, might drop by casually. Seeing the suffering of Uncle Luludodo, who was tired of his long life and wanted to die, made me think.

“Let’s open an inn!”

When I proposed this to my family, everyone happily agreed.

Effective utilization of our large, expansive mansion. And more than that, if we could provide a place of solace for transcendent beings like Micheila, who travel the world, and for our peers. Surely, the forbidden territory would become a wonderful resting place.

A place to relax amidst a long life, various journeys, and many trials and tribulations. It would be wonderful if our mansion in the forbidden territory could be such a place! Following my proposal, we began preparations little by little.

Which section would be opened as guest rooms? Once the location was decided, we needed to prepare guest bedding and create rooms for our guests to relax in. We also needed to arrange the landscaping, and caring for guests during their stay would require the cooperation not only of my family but also of the Mimicho Race people. Of course, we had to inform the mischievous Spirits as well, otherwise, instead of finding solace, they might end up accumulating more stress!

And so, everyone and I gradually prepared. The front garden for welcoming guests, the garden visible from the guest rooms, rooms where guests could relax, a place for everyone to eat and converse, rooms for management—these were finally ready.

Finally, we hung the sign for the inn. That day is today!

Next to the “Dragon King’s Inn” written in elegant calligraphy, a dragon and a great tree are depicted. They are beings inseparable from us: those connected to dragons and the Spirit Tree-chan! By the way, Priscilla-chan drew the picture! So, it’s a little… no, a very childish drawing. But that’s just like us, isn’t it? We want it to be a place where people don’t need to be overly respectful or guarded. That’s why the combination of the elegantly written inn name and the cute drawing is wonderful.

“Lady Elnea, it’s lovely!”

Laira exclaimed with joy and hugged me. As usual, Ruiseine and Mistral tried to pry her off.

“But, you can’t tell it’s an inn unless you come to this part of the large mansion.”

“But, we don’t know if guests will come to this part of the vast grounds.”

“Sister Yufi, Sister Nina, please don’t say such discouraging things.”

Fufu. Yufilia, Nina, and Sefina.

“You shouldn’t say that!”

Yes, I noticed. It’s a truly massive mansion, so there are quite a few entrances installed. Among them, even if we designate this place as the entrance to the inn, it’s meaningless if guests don’t head this way! Besides, in this vast forbidden territory, people who casually approach such a colossal mansion would only be those who already know us, wouldn’t they?!

“Grrr. Even so, it’s fine!”

Madeline, who had somehow joined the fight for me and was being chided by Ruiseine, said.

“We have long lives ahead of us. In that time, we can gradually let those who visit this land learn about the inn and us. It wouldn’t be interesting if everything was perfect and problem-free from the start.”

“Oh, Madeline said something nice for once? I agree. We can take our time and let those scattered across the world know that there is a place of solace in the forbidden territory, can’t we?”

“Madeline-sama and Mist are right. Besides, if everything were perfect from the start, we might get too popular and have an overwhelming influx of guests. That could exhaust us staff, and the inn might not last long?”

The Mimicho Race people nodded their heads in agreement with Ruiseine’s words. It turns out that the basic management and operation of the inn are proceeding with the Mimicho Race people taking the lead!

“We also want to be of service to the members of the Ys Family, to whom we are greatly indebted,” they said. I was so happy that I cried that day. Of course, we will also be fully involved in the operation. After all, this was my idea.

“As the basic policy of the Dragon King’s Inn, we want both guests and ourselves to be friendly, relax without reservation, and heal our minds and bodies. That’s why! But it’s not good if it becomes a burden to us or the Mimicho Race people and we end up doing it unwillingly. So, it doesn’t have to be perfect from the start. Little by little, not just us but also our guests will get accustomed to this environment. Considering our long lives, let’s proceed with a long-term perspective! That said, let’s start by having a small number of close acquaintances stay and learn as we go!”

As I was rallying everyone with such words, a cute young girl’s laughter suddenly echoed from behind me.

What’s this?

Young girls Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan won the battle for me and are now contentedly in my arms, exulting in victory. A young girl other than those two?

Everyone, including myself, turned around. And then, we froze in speechlessness.

She had somehow appeared there. Suddenly, without even Mistral or Ares-chan noticing.

“Fufufu. It seems like things are becoming fun?”

A young girl with bright red hair and a beautiful smile. Her colorful red attire was more captivating than Priscilla-chan’s as she smiled sweetly at me.

But…

We knew who this young girl was.

Everyone in the room froze, filled with tension and fear. But seemingly unconcerned by our tense atmosphere, the young girl continued to speak with a sweet smile.

“Since an inn has been established here, Master and I must come to visit, mustn’t we? However, this is troublesome. As it has just opened, you are all unaccustomed to it, are you not? From what I’ve heard, you plan to invite a small number of kin first, is that right? If so, this is truly problematic.”

“Nee-,” the young girl charmingly turned to look behind her. There, lined up, were countless Miko, frozen with tension and terror just like us.

What on earth are these people!?

We were bewildered, unable to comprehend the situation. But the presence of the bright red-haired young girl was so terrifying that we couldn’t even move or utter a sound. Still, things wouldn’t progress without communication! As the head of the Ys Family and the representative of the forbidden territory, I desperately gathered my Dragon Energy within my frozen heart to melt away the rigidity. And then, I spoke.

“W-welcome? So, what business do you have?”

Just a moment of showing displeasure to the bright red-haired young girl would surely end our lives. Regardless of whether we were recognized by the administrators of the forbidden territory or were the messenger of the Dragon God. This young girl was that terrifying. And strong. The chain magic that instantly bound the movements of the old Sleigsta, the Giant Demon Lord, Asher, and others, and with which she uttered “existence is forbidden,” could make us vanish from this world.

“Fufufu. It’s alright? I won’t treat my beloved Rosa’s favorites with such carelessness. However, this is truly problematic.”

The young girl placed a small hand on her cheek and made a troubled gesture. Despite being an incredibly cute gesture, it struck me with a terror that froze my Dragon Energy-filled heart. The young girl, enjoying my reaction, pointed to the numerous Miko behind her. There must be over thirty of them! All of them appeared to be of a certain age. The youngest were in their early twenties, and some were even around forty. Who are all these Miko, and why have they come to the forbidden territory? Given that they are with the bright red-haired young girl, who is one of the administrators, they must be people permitted to enter the forbidden territory, right?

“Fufufu. In truth, you see. I have been entrusted with these individuals by the Saintess.”

“S-Saintess!?”

The sudden news made my voice crack with surprise! When I heard “Saintess,” the first person that came to mind was Ada. A tall, beautiful woman with elegant black hair. She was the Witch’s beloved disciple, and we had a brief encounter in the forbidden territory. Was the “Saintess” the bright red-haired young girl mentioned Ada? Come to think of it, “Ada” was probably a fake name, wasn’t it?

The bright red-haired young girl read my thoughts as if it were the most natural thing in the world. However, without responding to my thoughts, she pointed to the numerous Miko.

“It would have been fine to keep them until the time comes at Shuzan Palace. But, as you can see, their minds are still too immature to live alongside us, demons, which is problematic.”

No, no, it’s not about being demons; it’s just that the bright red-haired young girl and her master are too terrifying!

“Fufufu. Is that so? We haven’t done anything, have we?”

Even so, their mere existence is terrifying. Just as we are now. We have many acquaintances among demons and other races, so we don’t tend to have prejudiced or rigid views based on race, like “because they’re demons” or “because they’re divine race” or “because they’re magic beasts.” Still, the bright red-haired young girl and her master are in a league of their own. That’s how scary they are!

“Fufufu. Please get accustomed to it little by little, won’t you?”

Will such a day ever come? That thought, in itself, is somewhat frightening…

“Setting me aside for a moment. We must fulfill the promise made with the Saintess. Therefore, I brought them here, to this place which is more comfortable than Shuzan Palace?”

So, you’re saying that only a small number of kin can stay at the inn for now, she said with a deliberately cute sigh.

“N-no! We will accept them!”

I blurted out the acceptance immediately. It wasn’t because I was terrified by the bright red-haired young girl’s words and submitted. I had seen it. The downcast expressions of the countless Miko lined up behind the bright red-haired young girl. Their faces weren’t showing fear of the bright red-haired young girl or the demons’ society. Of course, they were frozen to the point of not being able to move a finger due to such emotions. But more than that, the expressions of the Miko caught my attention. All of them seemed deeply troubled. I don’t know what happened to the Miko, but I can say one thing. The Miko need a place and time for healing.

Therefore, without hesitation, I said to the bright red-haired young girl.

“We will accept all the Miko. They can stay in the forbidden territory until the appointed time.”

The bright red-haired young girl smiled at me with incomparable loveliness at my words.

“As the messenger of the Dragon God, I expected you to say so.”

Yes. We are being manipulated by the bright red-haired young girl from beginning to end. But that’s fine. For now, more than ourselves, I am concerned about the Miko who carry such despair.

“Well then, everyone.”

The bright red-haired young girl looked up at the many Miko.

“What fate awaits the Saintess? Fufufu, it is most interesting. If you all have resolved yourselves, please recover your vigorous spirits in this land. Otherwise, Master, who has entrusted you to me, will be in great trouble.”

I don’t know what fate awaits the Miko and the Saintess, but I understand this much. We just need to house the Miko in the forbidden territory and wait for the Saintess!

“Well, I am finished here, so I shall take my leave. I cannot abandon my duties to the Witch and Master indefinitely.”

“Witch!?”

The bright red-haired young girl and her Master were supposed to be missing. And yet, she is somehow involved with the Witch!? However, without answering my question, the bright red-haired young girl vanished from our sight in an instant. As the presence of the bright red-haired young girl disappeared, the atmosphere in the room lightened. Everyone took deep breaths. I, along with the spatial transfer of the bright red-haired young girl, shifted my gaze to the more than thirty Miko. It seems the Dragon King’s Inn will be booming from its very first day!

You can easily convey your support by clicking the heart. (Login required)

Support

Login if you have an account.

Learn more about the reading experience available on Kakuyomu.