We live at the foot of Dragon Peak.
A trap, it’s a trap!
There are still many mysteries surrounding the ancient ruins.
It’s highly likely that it has a deep connection with the Temple Religion, given that people from the sanctuary like Alice-san and Michelle-san are intentionally using it, and magic power is closely related to it.
However, since even Madrine, who holds a representative position in the country as Head Miko, and not just Ruiseine, didn’t know about the existence of transfer magic, let alone the ancient ruins, I’m sure it concerns extremely secret matters.
This is as far as we can go for now in touching upon the “secrets of the Temple Religion.”
If I get any further driven by mere curiosity, I have a feeling I’ll get involved in matters far beyond my capabilities.
“So, I’ll leave the further explanation to Mother Alice. Shall we head back?”
“Yes, I’ll leave it up to you, Elnea-kun.”
This time, there weren’t any major disturbances.
Well, if there were disturbances every time, I wouldn’t be able to relax!
“Well then, after we get back, shall we head to the Dragon’s Mausoleum next?”
“Ugh…”
However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be problems in the future.
As I climb the long stairs with Ruiseine, having finished investigating the ancient ruins deep underground, Iri-san calls out to me from behind, and I nearly miss a step.
“My, my, oh my. Elnea-kun, are you finding it difficult to climb stairs? To go back to basics and train your legs and hips, you must go to the Dragon’s Mausoleum?”
“Ruiseine!? I’m not such a weakling that I’d give up this easily, you know? I just got a bit dizzy imagining the disturbances awaiting us in the future?”
No need to retort with “People call that a ‘weakling’!”
Phew, it’s a good thing Nimia isn’t here.
Anyway.
“The Dragon Altar, huh? To listen to the whims of the old dragons, it seems we need to go to Iri-san’s residence?”
“You say ‘we,’ but since it’s a problem Elnea-kun caused, shouldn’t Elnea-kun go alone?”
“No, no, Ruiseine. We, as a whole family, are ‘Messengers of the Dragon God,’ so I think we all need to go together?”
“But having such a large party will trouble Iri-sama, won’t it? And if no one is here when Priscilla-chan and the others return from the Forbidden Territory, I think a problem will arise on our end then?”
“For some reason, Ruiseine is being so hesitant this time!?”
Normally, Ruiseine, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, would join me on a new adventure. But she’s strangely hesitant, isn’t she?
I feel a sense of incongruity in Ruiseine’s words and tilt my head. Then, Ruiseine laughs as if amused.
“Fufufu, I was just joking. I was just teasing Elnea-kun a little.”
“Wah! Ruiseine, that’s mean!”
“Fufufufu, I’m sorry. But Elnea-kun’s troubled face was so cute, I couldn’t help myself.”
“Guf. I want to be a cool man, though.”
“Rejected! Please stay cute.”
“Eeeeeh!”
Iri-san quietly watched our affectionate conversation from behind.
Iri-san probably doesn’t want to disrupt our family’s daily life. But more than that, as the guardian of the Dragon Altar, she cherishes the peace of mind of the old dragons living in the Dragon’s Mausoleum.
The old dragons seemed to say half-jokingly that they “can’t die and are becoming Rotten Dragons,” but for Iri-san, those were words she couldn’t overlook even as a joke.
Besides, even if they don’t become Rotten Dragons, if old dragons who have lived their natural lives leave behind regrets, and those regrets turn into miasma, it would cause problems in the Dragon’s Mausoleum.
As Messengers of the Dragon God, we cannot ignore problems concerning the dragon race either.
Therefore, before serving all of our wives, we must accept Iri-san’s request and go to the Dragon Altar.
“We’ll ask Priscilla-chan’s mother to take care of the mansion. That way, it will be fine even if Priscilla-chan and Nimia return from the Forbidden Territory, and it will also allow us to gather Shooting Star Sama, Iri-san, and everyone from the Mimicho Race who didn’t participate in the training at the Wind Valley this time.”
“And so, Elnea-kun, upon returning from the Dragon Altar, will be scolded by Lidyana-sama again?”
“Uuuuh… This time, you’ll be scolded with me, Ruiseine?”
“Yes. In exchange, we’ll go out together again, just the two of us?”
“I can’t help it. Wait, is this Ruiseine’s trap!?”
And so, Ruiseine obtained the right to go out with me one more time.
As we walked up the stairs, chatting amicably with Ruiseine, we emerged above ground.
Looking up at the sky, the sun had already begun to set deeply in the west, and I was surprised to realize how long we had been underground.
“Is it alright to leave the entrance to those ruins as it is?”
Then, Iri-san opened her mouth while looking around the surroundings that were becoming dim with the shadows of the deep treacherous forest extending from the west. And she threw the responsibility to me.
“To use the ancient ruins’ transfer magic, the magic power of many priestesses is required, but leaving the entrance unattended is indeed careless, isn’t it?”
As I worried about earlier, there’s a possibility that someone might uncover the secrets of the ancient ruins and misuse them.
In dire straits, we can rely on Teruru-chan of the Thousand-Handed Spider, but we shouldn’t just leave it as is.
Therefore, we must take appropriate measures.
However, if we seal it with Dragon Arts, Alice-san won’t be able to return. Also, if a benevolent transfer user comes to the Forbidden Territory for some reason and uses the ancient ruins, they might get trapped unable to exit the ancient ruins due to the Dragon Arts seal?
As I pondered, Ruiseine offered advice.
“When Alice-san returns, shouldn’t we temporarily remove the seal? Also, why not ask the spirits to report if anyone touches the seal array?”
“That’s a great idea! I’ll adopt Ruiseine’s plan!”
For a reward, I’ll grant her one request. When I said that, Ruiseine jumped up and down with joy.
“Well then, shall I cast a superb seal for you?”
“Eh? A-, Iri-san, wait a minute!?”
Without listening to my protests, Iri-san cast a powerful seal on the surface entrance leading to the ancient ruins underground.
“There, that should be perfect. As for the request to the spirits, I’ll leave that to you, of course?”
“No, no, Iri-san. If you cast a serious seal, we won’t be able to break it!”
“Oh, but you have Ruiseine-chan, who has the Magic Eye?”
“But Ruiseine can’t use Dragon Arts.”
“For that, you see. You and Ruiseine-chan should work together and do your best, my husband.”
“Even so, can I break Iri-san’s serious seal…?”
I have nothing but anxiety!
However, maybe I can consider this as training?
Combining with my wife’s abilities, I make an effort. Overcoming difficulties like this is also important, right?
Thinking positively, we decided to leave the rest to the spirits.
“Please play with us in return?”
“Entertain us as thanks!”
“We want a reward, nyaa!”
“Give us compensation!”
“Reward, reward.”
And so, this time, we were asked for various things by the spirits.
My peace is disappearing like this…
“… That’s what happened!”
And then.
The next day, we returned to the mansion and reported the whole story to everyone.
“Good work. Then, I’ll leave the matter of the ancient ruins to Elnea.”
“Hah! Come to think of it, wouldn’t anyone other than Ruiseine and Madrine have been fine to manage Iri-san’s seal!?”
Yufilia and Nina, together, can also handle skillful Dragon Arts. Sefina, too, can use more delicate Dragon Arts than I can.
Mistral goes without saying.
Laira could use it as training for handling Dragon Arts, couldn’t she?
“However, you promised to take responsibility, didn’t you? Then, you must bear it properly.”
“Uuu. Mistral, help me if I get into trouble?”
“Fufufu, sure? In exchange…”
“Elnea-kun is falling into Mist’s trap and is about to offer an additional reward!”
“Elnea-kun is falling into Mist’s trap and is about to offer an additional reward!”
“Hahahaha. Elnea-sama, that’s Mist-sama’s trap.”
“Muki! Mist, I’ll be the one monopolizing Elnea-kun next time!”
“Madrine-sama, the next turn hasn’t been decided yet.”
Iri-san laughs, remarking on how lively the couple always is. Beside her, Alice-san gazes at Iri-san as if she were a mysterious person.
I wonder if Alice-san has noticed. Iri-san’s secret.
“Well then, you are all going to that mountain range from now on?”
Alice-san points to the Dragon Peaks lining up to the east of the mansion.
“Yes. So, we will be leaving here for a little while. We’ve asked Priscilla-chan’s mother to take care of things while we’re away, so I think it will be fine…”
“If any trouble arises, I’ll inform you by riding Eve.”
“No, no, that will make the old dragons noisy again, so it’s forbidden! Nimia is also cautious when flying over the Dragon’s Mausoleum, you know?”
“Oh, is that so? I saw them. When they flew towards the region where the beast race lives, they passed over the Dragon’s Mausoleum quite noisily.”
“Nim-chan, what are you doing!?”
I suspect that Nimia and Priscilla-chan are partly responsible for the old dragons starting to make a fuss!
“In any case, we can’t ignore Iri’s request. Well then, everyone, start preparing.”
The wives, who had been cheerfully bustling, quickly start moving at Mistral’s command.
Mistral, Ruiseine, and Madrine prepare food and offerings to take to the Dragon’s Mausoleum.
Sefina takes off at high speed and runs to the Dragon King’s Forest.
Laira goes around informing the mansion’s residents about our situation.
“Yes, you two over there, the Twins. Don’t drink alcohol under the pretense of entertaining Iri-san! And Iri-san, don’t spoil Yufi and Nina either?”
I heighten my senses and search for the presence of the spirits gathered around me. Then, I ask them to take care of things while we’re away.
“If you play too many pranks, you’ll get angry at Priscilla-chan’s mother, Yunyun, and Rinrin, you know? You don’t want Grandma Yuuri or Priscilla-chan to hate you, right?”
“Lidyana is scary!”
“Where did Yunyun and Rinrin go?”
“Yunyun is in the Dragon King’s Forest? Rinrin went to play with Priscilla and the others.”
“I’m going to play with Yuuri-sama.”
“Okay, this time we’ll play a prank on Carly and the others.”
“Let’s play, let’s play.”
Even if I can’t see them, I can sense the strong presence of the spirits. And I can hear their voices too.
According to Carly-san.
“Why are there as many spirits gathered at the mansion as in the Dragon King’s Forest? I don’t understand.”
It seems so.
From the perspective of the residents of the Dragon King’s Forest, who are working hard to take care of the spirits, the mansion’s environment, where they gather and have fun on their own even when left alone, must seem abnormal.
It’s not my fault, you know?
It’s probably Priscilla-chan’s influence!
“Alright. Our goal this time is to return to the Forbidden Territory before the heavy snow starts!”
“You know, you declare ‘before it gets seriously cold’ but isn’t that already showing a backward mindset?”
“I see, so you get caught up in disturbances like this. When we return, I’ll report this to the Dragon God too.”
“Iri-san!? Alice-san!?”
Being pointed out by the mature two, I flustered about in a panic.
