We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A New Wind
“No, no, Spirit King. So you’re saying if it didn’t work out there, you’ll just move here?”
If you started saying things like that, even if I managed to get you to give up on the valley this time, you’d probably just move somewhere else and settle in again, right?
And then, we’d be stuck endlessly persuading the Wind Spirit King to leave all the places in the Forbidden Territory until there were no more locations left, and this problem would never be solved.
Ah, I see. I finally realized the root of the problem Mistral and the others were concerned about.
Mistral and them knew from the start.
They knew that the Wind Spirit King, who had so readily given up on the Dragon King’s Forest, would end up lingering in another part of the Forbidden Territory like this.
He’s the Wind Spirit King, the personification of the free-spirited wind itself.
Completely driving out such an uninfluenced wind from the Forbidden Territory is an incredibly difficult task.
It would truly be a long-standing problem unless we forcefully commanded the Wind Spirit King to leave. However, even with the great sages Grandma Yuuri, Yunyun, and Rinrin as our allies, we cannot resort to forcing and commanding him.
Because it was us who taught the Mimicho Race living in the Forbidden Territory to command spirits not with force, but with friendship. If we ourselves were to easily choose a solution using force, it would be inexcusable to the Mimicho people who have worked so hard until now.
We must persuade the Wind Spirit King, who has decided to take up residence and become a guardian on his own, to give up. But a solution through force is absolutely out of the question. That’s why Mistral and them were troubled, wasn’t it? And then, the task fell to me.
“Mumumu,” I said, pushing myself up from the ground in surprise, and faced the Wind Spirit King anew.
“I see! The Spirit King likes this valley, doesn’t he?”
“That is correct, human brat, Elnea.”
The gale was no longer raging. Even as I tumbled in surprise and spoke, he showed no signs of hindering my movements. It seems that even with his free-spirited thoughts, he possesses the depth to engage in conversation. As expected of the Wind Spirit King!
“So, how will you answer me?”
The Wind Spirit King asked me, as if testing me. Surely, if I couldn’t provide a satisfactory explanation or persuasion, the Wind Spirit King would truly become the wind that rules this valley.
I let my thoughts race, and at the same time, I calmed my mind. Without being swayed by the Wind Spirit King’s sudden declaration, his beautiful appearance, or the wind dominating the valley, I sharpened my consciousness and arrived at an answer.
“Well…”
At my voice, the Wind Spirit King turned his gaze of interest toward me, silently waiting to see what I would say next. I looked directly at the Wind Spirit King, whose gaze was beautiful yet strong, and said clearly!
“Isn’t it fine?”
Affirmation.
The Wind Spirit King’s overly free behavior, which Mistral and them had been troubled by. However, I honestly acknowledged it. The Wind Spirit King becoming the guardian of this valley.
My casual affirmation seemed to have surprised even the Spirit King. He stared at me with his beautiful eyes, now like dots. So, I added with a laugh.
“Here, please feel it. Or rather, if you’re the Spirit King, you can sense it better than I can, right?”
I spread my hands. I could feel the gentle wind, no longer a gale, caressing my skin and flowing by. The trees of the primeval forest covering the valley swayed gently. The earth spread peacefully, the river flowed softly, and the clouds in the sky drifted leisurely.
I felt the abundant nature that pleased the Wind Spirit King with my whole body. At the same time, I sensed the presence of the spirits.
“I’m tired of playing.”
“It’s never been this lively before.”
“It was noisy, but not bad, right?”
“I surprisingly like it?”
“The spirits in the forest over there live like this every day, don’t they?”
“It’s wonderful!”
The spirits were chattering busily. It was the Wind Spirit King’s gale that had swept through, and he had taken up residence in the valley without permission. However, the spirits living there seemed very happy. The wind spirit who was tired of playing. The earth spirits who were bewildered but accepting of events they had never experienced before. The fire and water spirits were also satisfied. Other spirits also seemed very happy. I said to the Wind Spirit King as I read the spirits’ presences.
“If the spirits who originally lived in the valley had disliked it, I might have tried to drive you out with all my might. But the spirits seemed to have fun?”
When the Wind Spirit King was toying with me, the spirits who lived in the valley were also playing along by being carried away, hiding, and running away. I had been sensing their presence all along. That’s why I never thought of getting angry at the Wind Spirit King, retaliating, let alone drawing my white sword.
“If you wish to be the guardian of the valley, I think it’s fine. The spirits would probably be happy about it too, wouldn’t they?”
As if to support my words, the surrounding spirits gathered around the Wind Spirit King favorably. It was like children doting on their mother and father.
“And, one more thing.”
The Wind Spirit King himself, who had made a somewhat arbitrary statement, probably hadn’t expected his claim to be accepted so easily. He was still looking at me with dot-like eyes. I, laughing without reserve at his expression, uttered another decisive point.
“You are merciful, and I have judged that you possess proper rationality.”
“Why?” The Wind Spirit King finally let out a single word.
“Why? You can tell by looking around. Besides, I heard it from Mistral and them.”
I hadn’t heard the story after the Wind Spirit King gave up on the Dragon King’s Forest, but I had received full reports up to that point. That’s why I knew about the Wind Spirit King to some extent from the beginning. I will convey what I knew and what I have learned.
“Even though you could have scattered storms, you didn’t destroy nature, did you?”
Yes, the wind generated by the Wind Spirit King was a gale strong enough to easily blow me away. It seems he had mercilessly scattered gales at the Dragon King’s Forest, trying to blow Mistral and them away. However, neither in the valley, overgrown with primeval forests, nor in the Dragon King’s Forest, were the trees and flowers damaged at all. This is proof that the Wind Spirit King had complete control over the wind and exercised the utmost care not to harm the abundant nature.
“I believe I can entrust the valley to you. The spirits accept you, and I’ve seen that you won’t destroy nature.”
Therefore, I approve. The Wind Spirit King will become the guardian of this valley.
“Ah, but can I confirm just one thing?”
“What is it, Elnea?”
The Wind Spirit King’s reaction was subdued, perhaps not fully comprehending my words yet. Perhaps inwardly, he was in turmoil, thinking, “Is this really okay? Am I being tricked? Did I make a mistake?” I don’t know his feelings. And there was one more thing I didn’t understand, so I asked.
“You want to create a paradise for spirits and the Mimicho Race amidst the abundant nature of the Forbidden Territory, right? However, the Mimicho people, who are supposed to be one wing of that ideal, are not here in this valley. May I ask how you are thinking about that part?”
The Mimicho don’t spontaneously appear like spirits. There’s no possibility of them immigrating from another land to this Forbidden Territory either, because only those who are permitted can enter and live here. As if finally organizing his thoughts, the Wind Spirit King, whose beautiful expression had returned, smiled at my question.
“That is something I will honestly consult with you who have affirmed my will. Indeed, the Mimicho people who should coexist with us are not living in this valley. However, surely there are a considerable number of Mimicho living in the mansion that covers the Dragon King’s Forest and the lakeside?”
At the Wind Spirit King’s words, I grinned and thought, “I’ve obtained the answer I wanted.” Seeing my fearless smile, the Wind Spirit King tilted his head with a beautiful gesture.
“Heh, heh, heh. Is that so? The existence of the Mimicho is still necessary, isn’t it? I see. Well, I suppose I have no choice.”
“Your tone is unpleasant?”
The Wind Spirit King showed a slight hint of caution at my words. But it’s too late! As if I had secured his word, I made a certain proposal with great momentum!
“Very well! To ensure that the Mimicho also come to live in this valley, we will lend a hand. Specifically, we will propose it to the Mimicho people living in the mansion and the Dragon King’s Forest as a new place of settlement!”
However, I said, my expression becoming serious. I have to honestly convey things that the Wind Spirit King, who has only recently arrived, does not know. If I don’t handle matters fairly, the relationship could be damaged if secrets are revealed later. So, I conveyed it without holding back.
The circumstances of the Mimicho living in the Forbidden Territory and the mistakes their clan made in the past. Yunyun and Rinrin’s sins. Grandma Yuuri, the most revered great sage, will absolutely not move from the Dragon King’s Forest.
Although it was my own decision, Mistral and the Mimicho people should forgive me. By entrusting the Wind Spirit King’s problem to me, everyone has entrusted everything to me. How to handle the Wind Spirit King, who blows freely, and the secrets of the Mimicho. Everyone trusts me and has delegated all decision-making power to me. So, I speak without reservation.
Knowing the circumstances of the Forbidden Territory and the sins of the Mimicho, will the Wind Spirit King still become the guardian of the valley? No, he absolutely will. I don’t think this Wind Spirit King will give up on the ideal of “Guardian of the Paradise of Spirits and Mimicho” that he has finally reached. And I conveyed it later, so that this situation would arise! Truly, a devious strategist! I may usually be toyed with by the Demon Lords, but I can manipulate others too, you know? As I proudly puffed out my chest, the Wind Spirit King said.
“What? You’re talking so mysteriously, I thought something serious was happening. But I already knew that from the spirits’ rumors before I drifted to this land.”
“W-what did you say!?”
W-well, that’s true. Spirits, especially wind spirits, transmit events and rumors from different regions on the wind, don’t they? Does that mean the Wind Spirit King knew about the Mimicho’s hidden circumstances before I told him, and intended to build a paradise for spirits and Mimicho here with that knowledge!? If that’s the case…
It was then that I truly understood the Wind Spirit King’s greatness and benevolence.
“Please take care of the spirits and everyone in the Mimicho Race!”
I bowed deeply and made my request. It seems I had misunderstood. This commotion wasn’t a matter from a superior position where we would decide the Wind Spirit King’s treatment! In truth, the Wind Spirit King, who guided us on the correct way to bond with spirits, even knowing our immaturity as Mimicho, was showing us benevolence and magnanimity. We should have been the ones to make requests of him!
“Spirit King. I will bring everyone and come to greet you anew. Please, take care of us?”
When I made that request, the Wind Spirit King nodded with a beautiful smile.
