We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 1078

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

Momo-chan loves peaches.

Autumn is the season of harvest.

Various vegetables such as pumpkins, radishes, eggplants, onions, and carrots were growing in the fields.

“Don’t you think we planted too many varieties from the start?”

Mistral was worried about that, but in the end, it was a great success!
After all, we are amateurs at farming, but Uncle Luludodo guided us, and the spirits also helped.
And thanks to the Mimicho Race people who looked after the fields while we were away in the Forbidden Territory.

After eating our fill for breakfast, we all worked together to harvest the remaining vegetables.

We identified which vegetables couldn’t be harvested yet because they were too small, which were overripe, which had been eaten by insects, and which had become food for birds. Then, we excitedly discussed and harvested the perfectly sized, ripe vegetables one after another.

“It seems the birds have already taken notice. This is going to be a harvest battle against the birds!”

A man from the Mimicho Race, who had been taught farming knowledge by Uncle Luludodo, picked up a eaten eggplant and looked up at the sky.
Birds were flying freely in the sky.
Birds are also early risers. So, a battle will begin tomorrow morning to see whether the birds eat them or people harvest them, with the immature vegetables that couldn’t be harvested today as the stakes.

“You know. Priscilla doesn’t like eggplant, but she loves sweet pumpkin snacks!”
“In that case, I’ll make one for you.”
“Yes, Astel. That’s forbidden!”

I stopped Astel, who was about to create pumpkin snacks at Priscilla-chan’s request.

“Priscilla-chan, let’s make snacks together later, okay?”
“Yeah, let’s! You too, Astel?”
“Ugh.”

Astel must have wanted to say, “Why do something so troublesome!” But Priscilla-chan preemptively silenced him, and his face contorted.
We laughed at his reaction.
Astel puffed out his cheeks at being laughed at and turned away.

“I’m sorry, Astel. But making snacks and dishes with what we harvest is also part of the Harvest Festival, so please refrain from using your abilities this time.”
Harvesting with sweat and tears, cooking it, and everyone enjoying it together. That is the Harvest Festival.

“Um, there are no fruits?”
“Kuh! Priscilla-chan, to notice that!”

We started cultivating the fields with the goal of self-sufficiency in the Forbidden Territory.
However, I was too focused on the meal and had forgotten.
Yes, as Priscilla-chan said. There are no fruits among this year’s harvest!

But do not worry, Princess Priscilla.
If there are none, we can just gather them from the great nature of the Forbidden Territory!
And harvesting the fruits of nature is also part of the Harvest Festival!

“Alright. Mimicho Race people, gather around! We’re going to the Forbidden Territory’s forest to gather fruits!”

At my call, the Shooting Star Samas, for some reason, also gathered!

“We can’t go as deep into the forest as the Mimicho people, but we can handle the nearby areas.”
“We can protect you from monsters and magic beasts, so please don’t hesitate to ask.”

I thanked the enthusiastic Shooting Star Samas and asked for their cooperation without hesitation.

“Well then, let’s go gather fruits with the Shooting Star Samas, including Astel!”

Isn’t it about time for chestnuts to be harvested?
If we search, we might find persimmons and grapes too.
Now, what shall we aim for? We were discussing it when–

“Peaches!”

Momo-chan flapped her wings energetically and declared so.

“I see, peaches. Maybe we can still make it?”

Peaches are summer fruits, but if we search, we might find some left somewhere!

“I’ll go look!”

Before confirming our reply, Momo-chan flapped her wings and flew into the sky of the Forbidden Territory!
Everyone laughed at how much Momo-chan loved peaches!

“Before winter, we’ll need to stock up on food for hibernation. Deer and boars should be getting fat around this time, so it’s a good season.”

After seeing Momo-chan off, several members of the Mimicho Race began preparing bows, arrows, and traps.
In the Forbidden Territory, when winter arrives and blizzards begin, the cold makes it impossible to go outside. Therefore, we must prepare enough food for the winter by the end of autumn.

Hunting is also part of the autumn harvest.
Just as animals prepare for winter by eating the fruits of autumn, we too must prepare thoroughly for the harsh winter.

“Those going hunting, please be careful of those picking wild vegetables deep in the forest!”

Although such accidents haven’t occurred in the Forbidden Territory,
I sometimes heard or read about them in newspapers back in my hometown.
Tales of people mistaking animals for humans and firing arrows, or people getting caught in hunting traps deep in the forest.
However, they were the Mimicho Race.

“No need to worry. As Mimicho Race, we do not make such mistakes in the forest.”
“That’s reassuring!”

Initially, there were various issues with the Mimicho Race’s skills, knowledge, and pride. However, since moving to the Forbidden Territory, they seem to be gradually regaining their Mimicho Race identity.
And all of this is thanks to Carly-san, Priscilla-chan’s parents, and Kate-san!

“That’s a good mindset. Well then, today I shall teach you about hunting.”

Carly shows his enthusiasm!

“Carly, try not to lose to Elnea-kun, okay? You lost the hunting competition the other day, didn’t you?”
“Ugh…! W-well, you see, Kate. Elnea is a master hunter trained at Dragon Peak?”
“No excuses!”
“Grrr.”

And Kate-san butts in.
Recently, or rather, since moving to the Forbidden Territory?
I’ve felt Carly and Kate’s relationship getting closer.
C-could it be!?

“Elnea-kun, what are you grinning about? Come on, let’s go.”
“Yes, ma’am!”

As I watched Carly and Kate’s affectionate interaction, Sefina took my hand.

“There are peaches over there!”

Furthermore, Momo-chan’s voice rained down from the sky, and we hurriedly got ready.

“Come on, Astel, let’s go too. I’m sure it will be fun!”

Pulled by Sefina, I took Astel’s hand. Astel immediately took Priscilla-chan’s hand, and Priscilla-chan held hands with Ares-chan.
Fiorina and Rim followed.
We all stepped into the forest of the Forbidden Territory.

The first place we headed was for peach hunting, Momo-chan’s earnest wish.
As expected of Momo-chan!
When it comes to peaches, no one can match her. And Momo-chan guided us to a peach tree in the depths of the forest where the fruits remained untouched by birds.

“From today on, let’s name this Momo-chan’s Peach Paradise!”
“Yay! Momo’s peaches!”

Momo-chan happily flapped her wings and rejoiced.
She gleefully grabbed peaches from the branches, plucked them, placed them on the ground, and pecked at them.
Munching away, Momo-chan ate the peaches deliciously.

…However, Momo-chan!
My doubt was shared by everyone else, and Momo-chan soon understood.

“I won’t get full!”
“That’s right. The Great Eagle is one of Momo-chan’s magic, so the real Momo-chan’s stomach won’t be satisfied, will it?”
“Waaah!”

Momo-chan shook her head and cried sadly.
Priscilla-chan gently hugged the Great Eagle.

“Um, don’t be sad, okay? If you don’t get full, you can eat as much as you want forever!”
“Priscilla-chan!?”

That’s a devilish idea!

It seems Momo-chan can feel the taste through the Great Eagle, but not get full.
In that case!

“We’ve discovered a new possibility in magic!?”

With Priscilla-chan’s encouragement, Momo-chan’s eyes regained their brilliance!

“And thus, a gluttonous magician was born.”
“Elnea-kun, shouldn’t you stop Priscilla-chan and Momo-chan instead of laughing? Otherwise, all the peaches will be eaten, and we won’t be able to harvest them!”
“Hah!”

Momo-chan had already eaten three peaches. Priscilla-chan was holding two large peaches, one in each hand!

“You gluttons!”

As I tried to apprehend the gluttonous princesses, I felt something at the hem of my clothes and stopped.
I looked at the hem of my clothes to see what it was, and my escorts, the Shooting Star Samas, were holding onto it.

“What’s wrong?”

I tilted my head.
But the Shooting Star Samas’ expressions were stiff.
And their gazes were fixed on the Great Eagle.

“E-Elnea-sama… I’ve had a slight doubt for a while… That, that talking Great Eagle…?”
“That’s Momo-chan? She’s the Eastern Magician’s.”
“!!”

At my answer, the Shooting Star Samas were speechless and widened their eyes in surprise.
Why now?
I thought, but–

“Ah. Perhaps you weren’t informed? Momo-chan’s true identity is the Eastern Magician who protects the Heavenly Mountain Range. Um, I think… The Northern Witch, the Southern Sage, the Eastern Magician, and the Western Saintess, wasn’t it?”
“Um, Priscilla’s Older Sister is the Southern Sage!”
“That’s right, it would be nice if Alicia-chan could visit again, wouldn’t it?”
“Speaking of which, you know the Northern Witch too, right? Perhaps only the Western Saintess is left?”
“Northern Witch, I want to meet her!”
“I hope I can introduce you someday. I’ll definitely tell her when I see her next time, okay?”
“Yay!”

While we were getting excited, the Shooting Star Samas were petrified with astonishment.
Hmm, this is bad. If this continues, Mistral will scold me.

“I apologize for the late introduction.”

When I said that, Meijina-san, one of my escorts, came to her senses and smiled.

“No. I had a feeling from what happened in the Demon Race’s Country, but I assumed it was something I shouldn’t inquire about. Therefore, it is my fault that I did not properly inform my colleagues.”

Meijina-san knew that Momo-chan had flown from the Heavenly Mountain Range, so she probably had some intuition.
However, even if Momo-chan was the real Eastern Magician, she seems to have worried whether it was okay to speak of it so casually.
But, please rest assured. Everyone living in the Forbidden Territory already knows, and Astel and the Puppet King seemed to have known from the beginning.

Momo-chan is famous among the demons for stopping the Demon Lord Kusharilla’s ambitions.
Well, they probably don’t know that she often flies around the sky of the Demon Race’s Country creating Great Eagles with magic, do they?
Be that as it may.

“Th-this is the Eastern Magician…”
“I’m in the mountains?”
“Momo-chan still lives in the Heavenly Mountain Range, and the Great Eagle is a magic illusion so highly detailed that it’s indistinguishable from the real thing. Amazing, isn’t it!”

Without me saying anything, the Shooting Star Samas were impressed by the Great Eagle’s magic.
They approached the Great Eagle and gently petted it.
Momo-chan docilely closed her wings as the Shooting Star Samas petted her and closed her eyes contentedly.

“I was thinking, Momo-chan herself is more shy than Laira, but she’s fine as a Great Eagle, isn’t she?”
“Now that you mention it?”

Of course, when she first came to visit the Forbidden Territory, she exhibited her shyness ability.
However, she quickly got used to the Shooting Star Samas and is now getting along well with them.
Momo-chan is growing too!

“By the way, Elnea-kun. Shouldn’t you stop Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan?”
“Ah!”

Riding on Fiorina’s back, Priscilla-chan started reaching for peaches higher up!
Ares-chan, riding on Rim, is putting peaches into a mysterious space one after another!

“Hey now. You can’t harvest too much!”

There should be animals that survive by relying on the fruits of Momo-chan’s Peach Paradise. Therefore, we must leave some for those animals.
However, the group of children, as if trying to escape me, ran around, harvesting peaches into their mouths and into the mysterious space!

“Hahaha. this is interesting! And it’s sweet and delicious.”
“Astel too!?”
“Fufu, fufufu. This is fun. Now, please pick those delicious-looking fruits over there.”
“Elin-chan, can’t you pick them with threads without using dolls?”
“Fufufu. Elnea-sama, wouldn’t that be less fun? I want to harvest busily with Elnea-sama and the others too.”
“Damn it! There’s a rampant harvester here too!”

In Peach Paradise, the harvest festival became a lively event, divided into rampant fruit harvesters and nature’s mediators.