We live at the foot of Dragon Peak.
A place that is both far and near.
“How do we get across?”
That was the honest question.
Even though it’s a spring, it’s quite large. It’s as wide as the southern half of our circular village.
And the water is terrifyingly deep.
With my spatial jump, I can’t quite reach the rocky area where the Dragon Shrine stands in a single leap.
I wondered if Mistral’s jump might reach, so I asked, but she said it was impossible.
So, how do we get across?
As I was thinking, Ruiseine, who had finished clearing the dishes, caught up to me.
“Well then, shall we cross?”
With that, Mistral began stomping her feet near the water’s surface at regular intervals.
Following Priscilla-chan’s lead, who was intently watching the water’s surface, I stared intently as well.
It appeared!
It started to float up!
From the depths of the dark blue abyss, a large shadow began to surface.
I shivered seeing something floating up from the incredibly clear depths of the spring.
It felt somewhat eerie.
However, ignoring my apprehension, Priscilla-chan clapped her hands joyfully at the emerging entity.
Ares-chan also peered intently into the water with curiosity.
And then.
What slowly floated up peeked its head out of the water.
Its entire body was a deep blue, with a head like a fish. However, it had magnificent horns on its head and its body resembled that of a dragon. It had webbing between the fingers of its hands and feet, and its tail was flat vertically.
“Could this be a dragon?”
“Yes. We’ll ride on its back to cross.”
“Hello, Mr. Dragon.”
When Priscilla-chan greeted it, the water dragon responded by blowing bubbles from its mouth.
Then, the water dragon slowly emerged onto the land.
“Wow, amazing. It can move on land too.”
Being a water dragon, I had assumed it only lived in water.
“Now, get on its back. Be careful, or you might slip.”
The water dragon remained still while we got on its back. Then, when Mistral gave the signal, it slowly returned to the spring.
This time, it floated on the surface of the water without sinking and carried us to the rocky area of the Dragon Shrine.
“Thank you.”
Upon arrival, Priscilla-chan stroked the water dragon’s head, and it narrowed its eyes happily.
I and Ruiseine also expressed our thanks.
Although the water dragon couldn’t speak human language, it seemed to understand the meaning perfectly. It wagged its flat tail happily and returned to the bottom of the spring.
“So there was a water dragon living in the spring.”
I was surprised that a dragon race was living so close to our village.
“They are a docile race. When they are in a good mood, they sometimes bring us fish from the deep parts,” Priscilla-chan explained proudly.
“In exchange, we occasionally give them beast meat.”
Ruiseine let out a bitter smile, and I imagined it and laughed, thinking, “Indeed, they are dragons.”
“Alright, we can talk about that later. Let’s go.”
Urged by Mistral, we stepped into the vermilion Dragon Shrine standing before us.
It is said to be a place where the Dragon Jewel, inherited by those chosen, is enshrined. With a mix of doubt about whether we should enter so easily and a solemn feeling of being somewhere special, I entered and was taken aback.
There was nothing inside the Dragon Shrine.
The interior was also dyed vermilion, but that was all.
Inside the octagonal building, there were no furnishings, let alone the Dragon Jewel.
“Perhaps there are no Dragon Jewels here now?”
In response to my question, Mistral pointed to a section of the floor.
“There is an entrance to go underground there.”
“Um, is it okay to tell me that so easily?”
“There’s no problem. It’s properly sealed now. Besides, all Dragon Race people know about it.”
“I see.”
I didn’t understand why they would enshrine something important in a place that everyone in the Dragon Race knew about, but if Mistral said it was okay, then it probably was.
“Gather around me.”
We did as we were told and gathered around Mistral, who stood in the center of the empty Dragon Shrine.
Soon after, a familiar 3D magic circle surrounded us.
It was Sleigsta (Old Man)’s dragon arts.
I closed my eyes to the blinding light, and when the light subsided and I looked around, we were back in the familiar Moss Garden.
Frankly, my impression was how anticlimactic it was.
I had left the Capital City for Dragon Peak with a life-or-death determination just a few days ago. After overcoming many hardships, I finally arrived at Mistral’s village this morning.
However, from Mistral’s village, we arrived at the Moss Garden without any difficulty and in a surprisingly short amount of time.
From here, if Sleigsta (Old Man) sent me back again, I could return to my backyard.
And it doesn’t take much time to get from my house to the Moss Garden.
My home, Mistral’s village, and the Moss Garden. Despite being so far apart, the current situation where I could travel so easily left me feeling drained.
“However, this is all thanks to my power.”
Sleigsta (Old Man) looked down at me kindly.
“Ah, hello. It’s been a while.”
Indeed, I nodded and greeted Sleigsta (Old Man).
“It’s only been a few days, but you seem to have become more robust.”
I blushed at Sleigsta (Old Man)’s praise.
“Just as I predicted. I believed you would be able to reach Mistral’s village safely.”
“Oh dear, oh my, I think you were the one who worried the most, Sleigsta-sama.”
“The old man was flustered every time Elnea’s dragon energy became turbulent.”
“Grumble, you young girls.”
Exposed by Ruiseine and Mistral, Sleigsta (Old Man) averted his gaze.
“I want to travel too next time!”
“You’re still too young for that.”
“Nyahaha!”
Priscilla-chan, saying she wanted to travel, ran towards the Ancient Tree Forest holding Ares-chan’s hand, and Mistral hurried after her.
Watching their usual heartwarming exchange, I smiled.
“That’s a good smile. It must have been a fulfilling journey. Then tell me about it.”
Prompted by Sleigsta (Old Man), I recounted my journey from the beginning once more.
“Is that so? It sounds like you.”
After listening to my story, Sleigsta (Old Man) quietly murmured.
Sleigsta (Old Man) would have no reason not to know about the tyrant’s cruelty or the dragon knight who was thought to be Orta.
But I suspect he chose not to mention it, believing that the people living on Dragon Peak should resolve their own issues.
“By the way, what happened to the young girls?”
That’s right. I told Sleigsta (Old Man) the whole story of my journey, and it was already close to evening.
Yet Mistral, who had gone after Priscilla-chan into the Ancient Tree Forest, hadn’t returned. Ruiseine had also followed, but she hadn’t come back either.
I wonder if the women are currently being manipulated by Priscilla-chan in the Ancient Tree Forest.
Besides, wasn’t Priscilla-chan’s stay at Mistral’s village supposed to be only for a day or two?
Hmm, something must have happened. If I ask, I’ll definitely get involved, so I shouldn’t ask.
I decided not to ask what the women had been doing these past few days.
“Still, you will probably get involved.”
I don’t want to, I don’t want to hear it. I covered my ears with both hands and escaped reality.
“Heh heh, people grow through hardship. Just give up.”
Give up? Isn’t that what you’re saying instead of “Keep trying”?
As Sleigsta (Old Man) and I were chatting, Mistral and the others finally returned.
Yes. Priscilla-chan is covered in mud. I can’t see Ares-chan, but she’s probably back by my side.
And Mistral and Ruiseine looked tired.
“O-Welcome back.”
I greeted them, but was glared at.
“From tomorrow, you’ll be in charge of Priscilla.”
“Whoa, nice to meet you!”
“Ugh.”
Priscilla-chan’s innocent words made me gasp.
“From tomorrow, you will spend the mornings here, the afternoons living on Dragon Peak with Mistral and the others, and you will learn various things.”
I nodded honestly at Sleigsta (Old Man)’s words, but.
Before I could even learn about living on Dragon Peak, I shuddered at the thought that my year might end being dragged around by Priscilla-chan.
“Shall we head back soon?”
Mistral prompted.
And then I remembered.
Right, when we return to the village, I have to greet Mistral’s parents.
This time, I wanted to escape into the Ancient Tree Forest.
However, Mistral firmly grasped my collar.
“Have you thought about what you’re going to say carefully?”
Is it my imagination, or does Mistral’s smile look scary?
“Elnea-kun, um, that… I hope you do your best?”
Please Ruseine, don’t say such meaningful words.
My stomach started to hurt.
“Please send us off.”
Mistral requested, and Sleigsta (Old Man) activated his dragon arts.
Ah, I need to prepare myself. Regardless of my feelings, everyone was enveloped in light.
And in the next moment, we were back inside the Dragon Shrine.
We summoned the water dragon and crossed to the village on the other side.
“Do your best, do your best!”
No, Priscilla-chan. That’s not your line. Why are you imitating Ares-chan?
Only Mistral and Ruiseine smiled at the cheerful Priscilla-chan, even though she was covered in mud.
We passed by the longhouses.
My body stiffened with tension, and my heart pounded.
But I was stunned into silence by the sight I saw after passing through the longhouses.
“Hey, do you always have dinner parties like this?”
In the plaza, the Dragon Race people were noisily eating and drinking.
“Oh, welcome back.”
“You’re late.”
The people who saw us beckoned us over.
“It seems to be a welcome party for you.”
I hadn’t expected this at all. I had initially thought I would be scorned rather than welcomed.
As people pulled my hand and tried to lead me to the plaza.
“Go on. We’ll be there after we clean Priscilla up.”
Mistral and Ruiseine said and entered another room in the longhouse with Priscilla-chan.
So, the longhouses have communal facilities for the village. But this isn’t the time to be thinking about that.
As soon as the women disappeared from my side, the young men surrounded me, seizing the opportunity.
“You! How dare you lay hands on my Mistral!”
“Huh? Why is Mistral yours?”
“No, no, I was closer to her than you guys.”
Even though they surrounded me, they were arguing amongst themselves.
“Oh, so Mistral had this kind of hobby.”
“How cute.”
Then the women joined in.
“Hey, hey, the kid is in trouble. He’s the guest of honor, you know.”
“There’s a lot of meat. Eat your fill.”
And then the uncles and aunties joined in.
Being jostled by the Dragon Race people, I was drawn into the welcome party.
Was it a boar? An entire boar was being roasted. A large fish I had never seen before was being steamed. Colorful fruits were lined up, even though it was still early spring, and adults with cups were already tipsy.
It felt less like a welcome party and more like a festive commotion based on my arrival. Nevertheless, it conveyed to me that I was welcomed and accepted by the villagers, filling my heart with joy.
As I was being served boar hot pot and eating, a man approached me.
“How is it? Isn’t the boar I hunted delicious?”
“Yes, it’s very delicious without any gamey smell!”
“I see, I see. I’m happy that my son-in-law enjoys it.”
At that, I suddenly realized.
The man had silver-like blonde hair.
His sun-tanned skin was wheat-colored.
And his sharp eyes resembled Mistral’s.
“Um, well…”
I was flustered by the suddenness of it all.
However, the man, probably Mistral’s father, ruffled my hair.
“Well, enjoy yourself today. You’ll be living in this village for the next year, after all. You have plenty of time.”
He then left immediately.
“Fufufu, that was good. He liked you.”
Turning around, I saw Mistral and the others had come nearby.
“Grumble, you tricked me!”
So all that hyping me up and those meaningful words were to make me nervous and tease me?
When I stomped my feet exaggeratedly in frustration, laughter broke out in the plaza.
After that, my welcome party continued enjoyably.
We ate until we were full, talked and mingled with various people.
And so, I concluded my fun and boisterous first day in Mistral’s village.
Our accommodation was a section of the longhouse.
During the welcome party, I had felt that the village seemed crowded for its size, but it turns out this village is a place where Dragon Race people travel from all over Dragon Peak seeking Dragon Jewels.
So, there are accommodations in the longhouses for travelers, and meals are communal to deepen relationships, apparently.
As I was about to sleep, Ruiseine, who would be sharing the room with me, told me a little about the village.
