We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Is it wrong for a meeting to continue?
To the citizens of the Armēdo Kingdom and those living in the lowlands, Dragon Peak was a remote and inaccessible foreign land, close yet distant.
The nature of Dragon Peak was incomparably harsh and terrifying.
One of the most significant factors was the existence of dragons.
Dragon Peak, where the dragons, who stood at the apex of all races, dwelled.
Even the Dragon Race lived carefully, so they wouldn’t provoke the dragons.
Dragons inhabited every part of Dragon Peak.
No matter where you went along the long north-south range of Dragon Peak, you could feel the dense presence of dragons.
However, there was a place that even the dragons themselves were cautious of: the northern part of Dragon Peak, known as the Dragon’s Mausoleum.
The Dragon’s Mausoleum.
As its name suggests, it was the place where dragons slept their final sleep.
Even a race that inhabited various parts of Dragon Peak and ruled with absolute power could not overcome old age.
Elderly dragons wished to leave the world of might-makes-right, where strength was everything, and pass away peacefully.
Therefore, old dragons who wished to spend their remaining years in peace gathered in the Dragon’s Mausoleum from all over Dragon Peak.
Nevertheless, Dragon Peak was still Dragon Peak, and the threats of the law of the jungle and nature relentlessly attacked even the old dragons.
Even old dragons who wished to spend their remaining years in peace could sometimes get caught up in danger and turmoil.
Younger dragons might attack seasoned dragons, trying to show off their strength. Sometimes, old dragons who had lost their fighting ability were hunted by monsters or yōma.
As a result, the Dragon’s Mausoleum gradually became filled with the grudges, regrets, and remorse of old dragons whose final peace was threatened, leaving them with unfinished business.
Since they were dragons who ruled at the apex of all races with overwhelming power during their lives, the remnants they left behind were not ordinary.
The “final lingering regrets” left by the dragons gradually gathered and accumulated in a specific area of the Dragon’s Mausoleum, namely, this dormant volcano where the Dragon King was enshrined. Eventually, these remnants would thicken and turn into miasma.
The miasma generated in the Dragon’s Mausoleum brought misfortune not only to the old dragons quietly spending their remaining years but also to them. If the miasma was left unchecked, there was even a possibility that malevolent beings, the Primogenitor Race, could be born.
Therefore, Airi had lived alone at the Dragon Altar for hundreds of years, continuously purifying the lingering regrets and feelings left by the old dragons.
And, to assist Airi, who bore such a harsh fate, the Dragon Race people of northern Dragon Peak visited the Dragon Altar once every seventy years to fulfill the role of offering tributes and souls to the Dragon King.
“The Dragon Sword Dance was necessary for the Dragon Race people to dispel obstacles and miasma along the way, wasn’t it?”
“It wasn’t just that? It was by their safe arrival at the Dragon Altar and my performing the Dragon Sword Dance with the Dragon Sword Dance that the entire Dragon’s Mausoleum was purified of its corruption.”
“That’s right!”
The role of the Dragon Sword Dance was actually quite significant.
However, the Dragon Sword Dance was passed down to Yufilia and Nina, and is currently entrusted to old Sleigsta.
Therefore, the means for the Dragon Race people to safely traverse the Dragon’s Mausoleum and for Airi to purify the corruption have been lost.
“Returning the Dragon Sword Dance would be the quickest and easiest solution.”
However, Yufilia and Nina cherish and use the Dragon Sword Dance dearly. Airi and the Dragon Race people understand this, so they allow them to possess it.
“…So, without returning the Dragon Sword Dance, we need to find a new way for the Dragon Race people to safely enter the Dragon’s Mausoleum and for Airi to purify the corruption. Is that why we were tasked with this?”
While eating, we recounted what we knew about Dragon Peak and its inhabitants, the Dragon’s Mausoleum, and Airi.
We incorporated what Airi desired into our own task.
“Hmm. What we can do…”
We all shared our opinions.
“Isn’t it unnecessary to combine a treasure for the Dragon Race people to enter the Dragon’s Mausoleum with a treasure for Airi to purify corruption?”
Mistral’s opinion was met with a nod from Ruiseine.
“Since Airi-sama purifies the Dragon’s Mausoleum by performing the Dragon Sword Dance, I think it would be good to give her a pair of swords. However, for the Dragon Race people, it doesn’t have to be swords, right?”
Madeline interjected with a “Wait a moment” to Mistral and Ruiseine’s opinions.
“Wait a moment. If that’s the case, the connection between the Dragon Race people and Airi-sama will be broken. On the surface, it may seem like the Dragon Race people are using the Dragon Sword Dance to overcome the hardships of their journey into the Dragon’s Mausoleum, but that’s not it. The act of the Dragon Race people delivering the Dragon Sword Dance to Airi-sama is what is most important, and it signifies the connection between the modern-day Dragon Race people and Airi-sama, who carries a grave destiny from the past.”
“Madeline is making sense.”
“Madeline is speaking the truth.”
“Grr, I say good things sometimes too!”
“Only sometimes, huh?”
“You’re self-aware.”
Madeline puffed out her cheeks indignantly as Yufilia and Nina interjected. Priscilla-chan imitated her, playing along. However, I also thought Madeline’s point was spot on.
“So, the substitute for the Dragon Sword Dance must be something that shows the bond between the Dragon Race people and Airi-sama?”
What could that possibly be? Sefina tilted her head, and Lyra offered an opinion.
“But, I still think that the treasure for the Dragon Race people and the substitute for Airi-sama’s Dragon Sword Dance can be different things.”
I see. Lyra’s point is also valid.
Since everyone had shared their opinions, I also started to formulate my thoughts.
“Fumu, fumu. Summarizing the opinions of Mistral, Ruiseine, Sefina, and Lyra, it means that for Airi, we give a sword that can substitute for the Dragon Sword Dance. And for the Dragon Race people, it should be a treasure that shows their deep bond with Airi-sama, and it must be something that can dispel the corruption of the dragons along the path to the Dragon’s Mausoleum.”
“But, Elnea-kun. How should we prepare Airi’s sword?”
“But, Elnea-kun. What kind of treasure would show the bond between the Dragon Race people and Airi?”
Yufilia and Nina, while teasing Madeline, seemed to lean towards her opinion. As the three of them were originally adventurer companions, they often had similar opinions at times like these. Looking at Yufilia, Nina, and Madeline, I thought they were wonderful companions, and I began to ponder.
“Yes, that’s right. Actually, I’ve also been troubled by those same questions. And what we mustn’t forget is that Airi-sama commissioned us, the ‘Messengers of the Dragon God.’ Therefore, I believe this problem cannot be solved with a superficial solution.”
“Oh? By the way you say that, Elnea, are you disagreeing with our opinions?”
Mistral looked at me with a hint of dissatisfaction. But this is a trap! She wants to make me flustered and feel guilty, so that I’ll agree to do whatever she says later!
“Correct, nyan.”
“Nimia, what is correct?”
“Nyaa!?”
Nimia hastily sought refuge on top of my head. No, no, wouldn’t Cinderella’s head be a much safer place?! Otherwise, I’ll be in danger! Everyone laughed at the exchange between me, Mistral, and Nimia. Mistral was also laughing. In other words, it was all a joke.
But we can’t afford to treat Airi-sama’s request as a joke. Therefore, not just me, but everyone else was seriously offering their opinions. However, the opinions were not easily converging. The treasure that should serve as a guide for the Dragon Race people into the Dragon’s Mausoleum must be something that shows their bond with Airi-sama. For Airi, a sword for performing the Dragon Sword Dance is necessary. However, a dull sword won’t do. Like the Dragon Sword Dance, it must be imbued with sacred power to dispel the corruption of the dragons. Moreover, if Airi were to possess it habitually, it would diminish the reason for the Dragon Race people to visit the Dragon Altar. Will the Dragon Race people continue to enter the extremely dangerous Dragon’s Mausoleum for hundreds of years to come with just a duty to deliver offerings to Airi-sama?
And, what we absolutely must not forget. It is us, the Messengers of the Dragon God, who must prepare the substitute treasures for the Dragon Sword Dance for the Dragon Race people and Airi-sama. They must not be items that would tarnish the majesty of the Dragon God. We must prepare splendid treasures that everyone can agree on!
“Gnnn… Isn’t this an unexpectedly difficult challenge!?”
Everyone else was also mulling it over. Only Priscilla-chan, having eaten her fill, was sleeping soundly in Airi’s arms.
“Fufufu, is it difficult?”
Airi, who had given us such a challenging request, watched us, her family, as we struggled and exchanged opinions, with a gentle gaze. Surely, Airi-sama must have her own thoughts and feelings. But since she had made the request, she was trusting us and refraining from unnecessary interference.
But still! We can’t find a clue to solving this difficult problem on our own!
“Airi-sama.”
As we took a break, sipping the tea that Airi-sama had kindly refilled for us, thinking it was time to take a breather, I asked Airi-sama.
“I’d like to ask you something, Airi-sama, since you’ve been watching our discussion. To begin with, can you be convinced by the conclusion we eventually reach? Of course, we haven’t reached a conclusion yet. But if we were to fulfill the request and hand over the treasure, it would be something that you and the Dragon Race people would inherit for decades, even centuries, wouldn’t it? If you were to have any lingering regrets about the answer we provide then, we would also regret it forever. Therefore, after hearing our discussions so far, could you please share any thoughts you have?”
My question shouldn’t be wrong. We received the request, but there’s no rule that the client cannot intervene. Then, Airi-sama put her hand to her chin and thought for a moment before sharing her thoughts.
“Thank you, Elnea-kun. I like your gentle consideration. Well then, I will also offer my opinion. Let’s see…”
Airi-sama smiled warmly.
“A treasure that can substitute for the Dragon Sword Dance. Maintaining the bond with the Dragon Race people. The sword that I should wield. I believe all of these are important. And, I’ve remembered something that can cover all of them.”
“Eh!”
Everyone else, like me, was surprised by Airi-sama’s unexpected words.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be mean. Truly, as I watched you all earnestly exchanging opinions, I thought about what I could do to help and remembered something.”
“Airi-sama, is that…?”
Everyone leaned forward, eagerly awaiting Airi-sama’s next words. Airi-sama smiled at us and told us.
“The Dragon Sword Dance. It was once called the ‘Dragon God Sword,’ wasn’t it? Do you remember? The Dragon God Sword was the ultimate sword dedicated to the Dragon King. And when a sword or something is dedicated, a kagemusha is made, isn’t it?”
“N-no way!?”
“Normally, after dedicating the main sword, the kagemusha is disposed of. However, there is a kagemusha. A kagemusha of the Dragon God Sword, right here in this Dragon’s Mausoleum?”
