We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Dedication Dance Pilgrimage
If Priscilla-chan were here, she would no doubt be happily riding on Grandma Sirshralar’s back.
However, the princess of the Mimicho Race will not be accompanying us on this journey.
Thus, we and Grandma Sirshralar decided to climb the mountain together.
Grandma Sirshralar is a splendid winged dragon, though small in stature. However, she walks the steep slopes with us without using her wings.
We followed closely behind Sirshralar-sama, who walked slowly at the front with Sefina.
“I realized my own lack of skill. I thought Sirshralar-sama was asleep and I hadn’t been noticed. Moreover, I didn’t even realize someone was quietly tracking me from behind.”
“Oh, is that so?”
As Grandma Sirshralar ascended the steep slope without using her wings, Sefina spoke of her own immaturity. At that, Grandma Sirshralar narrowed her deep blue eyes and smiled softly.
Airi, who followed behind her, also smiled.
And then, she taught us.
“Sefina-chan, don’t be so discouraged. After all, I am a splendid winged dragon who participated in the battle against the Rotten Dragon King.”
“What!!”
My reaction was more sensitive to Airi’s words. Seeing this, Mistral laughed and said, “You’re such a boy.”
“Hey, hey, Airi-san, Grandma. The Rotten Dragon King, you mean *that* Rotten Dragon King, right!?”
“Elnea-chan, if you knew of another Rotten Dragon King, I’d be the one surprised.”
I can’t believe we’d meet a dragon who participated in the battle against the Rotten Dragon King from about three hundred years ago here.
The average lifespan of dragons varies greatly depending on the species, but winged dragons typically live for around five hundred years. Considering that, it’s not strange for a dragon active three hundred years ago to be spending their remaining years quietly in the Dragon’s Mausoleum.
“That’s amazing! Grandma, what was it like back then?”
Forgetting our struggles with Dragon Peak’s harsh nature, I eagerly asked Grandma Sirshralar, filled with curiosity.
In response, Grandma Sirshralar curled her tail and purred a little shyly.
“Oh, I’m sorry to have raised your expectations. It’s Airi’s fault? While I participated in that fierce battle, I was in charge of rear support. I can’t tell you the exciting stories you’re hoping for.”
“No, that’s not true! We’ve also experienced several major battles. I always fought on the front lines, but I believe that was only possible because of everyone who supported me. So, rear support is also a splendid and praiseworthy role!”
I see, I realized.
The reason why even Sefina, who can read everyone’s presence better than anyone else, misjudged Grandma Sirshralar’s movements was because she possessed the skill that was effective in the battle against the Rotten Dragon King!
Even rear support doesn’t always mean just assisting and supplying in places without battles. Sometimes, they directly deliver supplies to those fighting on the front lines, and in some cases, rear support personnel are also put in danger.
To provide support from the rear safely and reliably, one must acquire different survival skills than those who go into battle.
“Grandma, you honed your skill in disappearing to support those fighting the Rotten Dragon King, didn’t you? It would be dangerous if the Rotten Dragon King found you!”
Everyone nodded deeply, saying, “I see.”
Sefina also praised Grandma Sirshralar, saying, “So this is the skill of those who fought against the Rotten Dragon King.”
To our honest impressions, Grandma Sirshralar curled her tail further, embarrassed.
She’s small for a winged dragon, and her gestures are cute!
“To think that a day would come when I am praised by the Messenger of the Dragon God. It’s good to live a long life, isn’t it? I’m happy too.”
Grandma Sirshralar was very surprised when we introduced ourselves as the messengers of the Dragon God. But she already knew.
Why?
Because she actually saw our incredibly giant Dragon God covering the sky this summer.
It seems to have caused quite a commotion in the Dragon’s Mausoleum as well.
The Dragon God descended upon Dragon Peak.
The sky over the Dragon’s Mausoleum seemed to be covered by the wings spread by the Dragon God. Thus, the elders among the dragons often discussed that a crisis had befallen Dragon Peak, and the Dragon God had descended.
And then, Grandma Sirshralar witnessed another event.
Yes. From the summit of Dragon Peak, which we have finally reached.
After the Dragon God descended upon Dragon Peak.
This time, a commotion occurred in the Forbidden Territory mansion that we always looked down upon.
Someone with extraordinary intent set up an impossibly strong barrier and trapped me.
Even outside the barrier, a fierce battle ensued.
At that time.
The Guardian Dragon of the Dragon Forest, whom I had seen during the battle against the Rotten Dragon King, was transferred.
And so, Grandma Sirshralar seemed to realize.
Ah. It must be those children of man that we always looked down upon who saved Dragon Peak from crisis by becoming the messengers of the Dragon God. It must be because they were requested by the messengers of the Dragon God that the Guardian Dragon of the Dragon Forest left the Dragon Forest and transferred to the west.
And.
Precisely, that’s right!
Or rather, Grandma Sirshralar had been watching our daily lives closely!
Upon reaching the summit of the mountain.
Breathing heavily, we all looked down in the direction of the Forbidden Territory.
However, no matter how hard we strained our eyes, we could only recognize the large mansion beyond the deep nature.
We could see up to the two small lakes surrounding the mansion, but we couldn’t see any sign of the people who were supposed to be active there!
“From here, watching your happy daily lives is my recent pleasure?”
When Grandma Sirshralar said that, we felt embarrassed.
I never expected that there was a dragon who had been meticulously observing our noisy daily lives.
From now on, we’ll be more mindful of being watched and will refrain from any shameless behavior outdoors!
“Perhaps because you’ve always stayed perfectly still on this mountaintop, moss has grown on you? If you’d like, shall we clean you up?”
Moss had grown all over Grandma Sirshralar’s faded blue scales.
I suspect it’s because she lay on this mountaintop for so long without moving that she became covered in moss.
So, shall we clean her up to commemorate our meeting, I suggested.
“It’s alright, gentle child of man. I will continue to stand here and quietly greet my end. Moss will grow on my body, and I will slowly sink into nature. To have a quiet end like that is my ultimate wish.”
There was no sadness, regret, or sorrow in Grandma Sirshralar’s voice or expression.
She was facing the end of a long, long dragon life, intending to return to nature by her own will.
The fact that moss had grown all over her body was, in a way, a source of pride. To merge with nature and quietly meet her end. We wanted to respect Grandma Sirshralar’s will.
“Well then. Instead, we will perform the Dedication Dance for you!”
It’s fate that we met here. Moreover, the reason we entered the Dragon’s Mausoleum was to apologize to the elderly dragons we had caused so much trouble for.
In that case, we must also give something back to Grandma Sirshralar, who had been watching us noisily every day!
“Elnea-kun is going to overwork us,”
“Elnea-kun is going to make us go through hardship,”
Yufilia and Nina grumbled, but they didn’t refuse. Even though they were still tired from climbing the mountain, they began to prepare for the Dedication Dance with everyone.
“Now, as messengers of the Dragon God, we will perform the Dedication Dance with respect and gratitude to Sirshralar, who once saved this land.”
We performed a dance based on the Dragon Sword Dance, meant for the Dragon God.
Mistral and I danced, while Yufilia, Nina, and Sefina played the flute, bells, and drums. Laira hummed the melody, and Ruiseine and Madrine recited the celebratory prayers.
On the summit of the first mountain we entered Dragon Peak, we performed our first Dedication Dance.
However, at that time, we did not yet know.
That this event would lead to great hardship later.
“…N-No way!”
“It’s Elnea’s fault.”
“Elnea-kun is the cause.”
“Mistral! Ruiseine!?”
“It’s definitely Elnea-kun.”
“Absolutely Elnea-kun.”
“Yufi, Nina!!”
“Hahahaha, Elnea-sama, I’m already exhausted…”
“Laira, are you alright?”
“Elnea-kun, what are you going to do? Not just Laira, everyone is exhausted.”
“Elnea-kun, what are you going to do? Please take responsibility properly.”
“Waaaah!”
And then.
By the time we reached the summit of the high mountain overlooking the crater that served as the Dragon Altar.
“Did you hear? It’s said that the Messengers of the Dragon God will perform the Dedication Dance for us.”
“I saw them many times on the way. It’s a good thing.”
“Hmph. If only I had known about the arrival of the Messengers of the Dragon God sooner!”
“But it seems there’s no need to despair?”
“Surely they will perform the Dedication Dance for us as well.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Everyone wore bitter smiles at the countless old dragons surrounding us.
We performed the Dedication Dance for Grandma Sirshralar.
That was the beginning of everything.
“Well then, I expect you to perform the Dedication Dance for the grandpas and grandmas we encounter from now on too, okay?”
When Airi said that, we enthusiastically replied, “As messengers of the Dragon God, we must also care for the old dragons!” and this is the result!
On our way to the Dragon Altar, we performed the Dedication Dance to comfort the old dragons.
Then, word spread like wildfire, and it quickly reached the ears of all the old dragons living in the Dragon’s Mausoleum.
And so, our arduous journey began!
We performed the Dedication Dance here and danced there.
It was twenty days after entering Dragon Peak that we finally reached the Dragon Altar!
“Oh, but that’s still many times faster than the journey of the Dragonfolk travelers.”
“Airi-san. That’s probably because we avoided unnecessary battles and disturbances thanks to you guiding us and Grandma Sirshralar accompanying us.”
Grandma Sirshralar was very moved by our Dedication Dance. Therefore, she is accompanying us to ensure we reach the Dragon Altar safely.
But because of that, the rumors spread…
“Elnea. Once you’re done comforting the old dragons, please comfort us properly too, okay?”
“Yes, with pleasure!”
When Mistral said that, I snapped to attention and replied energetically.
My cheerful voice resonated through the sky of Dragon Peak, where snow clouds had begun to spread.
