We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Yufilia and Nina.
Everyone has a dominant hand and a dominant foot. While some people are ambidextrous, in daily life, there’s the hand used for holding chopsticks, the hand used for writing, the foot used for kicking, and the hand that instinctively reaches out. Almost without exception, the right and left hands have different roles.
Perhaps because of this, the right and left hands differ not only in dexterity but also in grip strength.
Even sword masters consider this difference between their hands and use their dominant hand for a heavier, longer sword suited for offense, while their other hand wields a lighter, shorter sword for defense.
I, myself, always hold my white sword in my right hand, and my Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, Spirit Tree Spirit Sword, or the Soul Spirit Seat in my left.
The white sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword or Spirit Sword have different weights.
Perhaps because of this, like most people, my grip strength differs between my right and left hands.
So, with my right and left hands having different grip strengths and different roles, can I truly draw the Kageuchi with the same force and at the same speed?
Even Airi-san, who has guarded the Dragon Altar for many years, apparently could not draw the Kageuchi because she couldn’t meet that condition.
Airi-san is the one person who has held the Ryūhōken, which is identical in nature, length, and weight to the Kageuchi, for longer than anyone else. But even she failed due to misjudging the balance between her hands, right?
And yet, can I succeed?
No, I can state it with certainty.
I absolutely cannot draw the Kageuchi!
The conditions for drawing the Kageuchi were told to me by Airi-san before we even departed, let alone by Lord Diodoraldo.
It was Airi-san who, for some reason, allowed only Yufilia and Nina to accompany me.
That is to say, it’s that kind of situation.
Neither Airi-san nor I can draw the Kageuchi. No matter how delicately I adjust my force and speed, there will always be a difference between my dominant hand and the other, leading to failure. This is the only reason why the Kageuchi has remained undrawn by anyone for so long.
However.
There is someone here.
Two people who can move at the same force and speed, completely simultaneously!
“This trial is easy.”
“This trial is simple.”
With perfectly synchronized gestures, the twin princesses offer confident smiles. Yes, Yufilia and Nina.
I wonder if Lord Diodoraldo can tell them apart? He absolutely can’t! Even now, besides my family, no one can distinguish between Yufilia and Nina. Not even the Mimicho Race who live with them in the forbidden territory, or the Spirits themselves. Well, there is a hidden method of differentiation, like how Priscilla-chan distinguishes them by the presence or absence of a mole on her inner thigh, but that’s impossible for anyone but a select few!
“Haa? For him to face the trial of the Kageuchi?” Lord Diodoraldo rumbles, looking at Yufilia and Nina’s confident smiles.
“I’m not the only ‘Messenger of the Dragon God,’ you know? My entire family are ‘Messengers of the Dragon God,’ so Yufi and Nina should be qualified too. And I believe this test was designed for Yufi and Nina from the start,” I say.
“Elnea-kun is right. Because it’s me and Nina who are using the Ryūhōken,” Yufilia says.
“Elnea-kun is right. Because if it’s the Kageuchi of the Ryūhōken, it’s a problem for me and Yufi Nee-sama,” Nina adds.
Holding hands, Yufilia and Nina spin around gleefully. Which one is Yufilia, and which one is Nina? Lord Diodoraldo spins around, dizzy from the identical twin princesses.
“Well then,”
“We will draw the Kageuchi.”
Saying this, Yufilia and Nina move with cheerful steps.
A large space existed beneath the volcano. Lord Diodoraldo’s illusionary dragon arts dissipated, and the lava river and lake that had been churning behind us vanished. And now, the Kageuchi, whose existence had been erased, revealed itself before us! In the center of the underground space, two greatswords were stuck into the ground, crossed.
Yufilia and Nina approach the Kageuchi with light steps. I watch with bated breath, while Lord Diodoraldo marvels at their flawless, identical movements. Ignoring us watching, Yufilia and Nina, without any signal or glance at each other, placed their hands on the Kageuchi simultaneously. Yufilia holds one Kageuchi’s hilt with both hands. Nina holds the other Kageuchi’s hilt with both hands.
“Yufi and–”
“Nina’s–”
““Kageuchi Drawing Sword!!””
And then, their voices and movements synchronized, they drew the Kageuchi simultaneously!
“Tch!!” Lord Diodoraldo is speechless. But I’m not surprised, as it’s the expected outcome. I’m sure not only everyone in my family waiting for us at the Dragon Altar but also Airi-san were certain of this result.
The two greatswords deeply embedded in the ground were pulled out by the twins Yufilia and Nina. Yufilia and Nina each hold one Kageuchi with both hands and raise them high.
But…
Yufilia and Nina, proudly holding up the Kageuchi, simultaneously tilt their heads.
““Elnea-kun””
“Y-Yes?”
Called by both of them at the same time, my face contorts. This is because my gaze, just like Yufilia and Nina’s, is fixed on the raised Kageuchi.
“The Kageuchi… is rusted…”
“I-It is as I thought!!”
It wasn’t our misjudgment. The Kageuchi of the Ryūhōken, unsealed after a seemingly simple yet extremely difficult trial. However, the Kageuchi had rusted and turned a rusty iron color!
“No way…” Now we are speechless. We never imagined that the treasure chosen as a substitute for the Ryūhōken would be rusted…
“It’s no wonder. The Kageuchi was sealed here long before I took on the role of guardian here. And this is the heart of a volcano. At times it was submerged in lava, and at other times it was constantly exposed to the heatwaves blowing from the volcano.” As Lord Diodoraldo says. The illusionary spell is broken, and the lava river and lake have vanished from the underground space. But still, we feel hot winds, so much so that sweat pours from our bodies. This means that further into the underground space, there is a real lava river. And this volcano is not dormant. It must have erupted at times. If so, the scorching lava that overflowed from beneath the volcano must have repeatedly swallowed the Kageuchi stuck here. Nevertheless, it may have been due to the strong seal that it was not buried in volcanic rock or decayed.
“But, this is really…?” Yufilia and Nina bring the drawn Kageuchi to me. Looking at it closely again, it is indeed completely rusted from the tip of the hilt to the blade. I also notice something else.
“Even though it’s the Kageuchi of the Ryūhōken, it doesn’t have any decorations or jewels, does it?” That’s right. The Kageuchi, not just the blade but also the hilt and guard, were made exactly like the Ryūhōken. However, the guard has no jewels, nor are there any beautiful decorations. What’s more, unlike the Ryūhōken, which shone with a golden color, the Kageuchi was the color of rusty iron. I never expected the Kageuchi to be in such a state? I am bewildered by the unexpected conclusion. It was then that Yufilia and Nina’s chests attacked me!
“Ugh! Yufi? Nina!?”
“Elnea-kun, don’t misunderstand!”
“Elnea-kun, don’t be mistaken!”
“The Kageuchi is the Kageuchi. So, it doesn’t have to be exactly the same as the Ryūhōken.”
“The fact that it’s rusted, or lacks decoration and jewels, is a minor issue.”
““Because it is our role to make the Kageuchi a new treasure from now on.””
I, who was almost suffocating in their chests, snap back to my senses at their words!
“That’s right. We must not forget that! …I’m running out of breath…” I manage to poke my head out from between Yufilia and Nina’s chests and smile at them. Yufilia and Nina also smile happily.
“Kukuku. Hahahahaha! Delightful. How delightful, Messengers of the Dragon God!!” Lord Diodoraldo, who had been watching the unfolding events, bursts into laughter.
“To think that such a delightful and exhilarating conclusion would be reached. Not only overcoming a trial that no one could accomplish, but also facing an unexpected outcome with resolve. It was a role passed down from the previous generation as a way to pass the time until my soul burned out, but I never imagined it would reach such a wonderful conclusion! Well done, children of man! I shall praise you. As a dragon, I shall praise the great deeds of the Messengers of the Dragon God!” Lord Diodoraldo expresses his emotions by striking his limbs and tail on the ground with extreme joy. Each time the colossal Lord Diodoraldo stomps his feet, the ground shakes, making it difficult for us to stand.
“Waaah!”
“Kyaaa!”
“Ugh!”
And then, as the three of us hug each other, I am once again engulfed by Yufilia and Nina’s chests.
“Wahahahahaha! Thus, the role that the successive old dragons has taken on as a pastime in their remaining years has ended. From now on, until the day I die, I shall pass down the tale of your great deeds here!” The role of guarding the Kageuchi of the Ryūhōken was a pastime for the old dragons who visited the Dragon’s Mausoleum! Regardless of that truth!! Lord Diodoraldo continues to strike his limbs and tail with joyful emotion, causing the underground space to tremble so violently that it’s difficult for the three of us to stand close together. And then… A foreboding rumble begins to echo throughout the entire underground space from somewhere.
“Yufi, Nina?”
““Elnea-kun?””
N-No way…!? Lord Diodoraldo, please calm down! Otherwise!! I try to shout, but since I’m buried in Yufilia and Nina’s chests, I can’t even shout properly. Instead, Yufilia and Nina’s screams echo!
“Kyaa, it’s lava!”
“Kyaa, it’s an eruption!”
Whaaat?! As expected! These tremors and rumbles are signs of volcanic activity, aren’t they!?
“Nuu. It seems I got too carried away for my age. Eventually, this place will be swallowed by lava, and the mountain will erupt in flames.” No, no, no, now is not the time to be so casual! Ah, I see. Lord Diodoraldo can withstand the heat of lava. But we will melt if we are swallowed by lava!
“Nina, let’s escape.”
“Yufi Nee-sama, let’s escape.”
“Ugh. But we must hurry…!” From further into the underground space, we strongly feel the presence of ominous rumbling and heatwaves approaching.
“Lord Diodoraldo!”
“You don’t need to tell me. This is my reward to you for completing the trial. Ride on me!” Without dragon energy, we can’t escape from the underground of the volcano before being swallowed by the erupting lava. If it were a truly desperate crisis, I wouldn’t hesitate to use dragon energy. But if there’s a reliable means left, I want to continue the trial I’ve set for myself, right? Out of selfishness, we accept Lord Diodoraldo’s offer.
We hastily climb onto Lord Diodoraldo’s back. Lord Diodoraldo runs with us on him. We break out of the underground space and ascend a long cave.
“Elnea-kun, the underground space has been submerged in lava!”
“Elnea-kun, the lava is closing in!”
“Lord Diodoraldo!”
“Worry not. I will ensure you reach the outside safely.” Lord Diodoraldo accelerates further. The rumbling of the colossal Lord Diodoraldo’s gallop, or perhaps the roar of the entire volcano just before eruption, causes the cave, or rather the entire volcano, to vibrate. Nevertheless, he truly was an earth dragon who had fought fiercely against the Rotten Dragon King. Lord Diodoraldo, carrying us, is not caught by the lava surging from deep within the earth, and we emerge. He then descends the volcano at full speed!
“Elnea-kun,” I am called out to simultaneously by Yufilia and Nina, and I look back from Lord Diodoraldo’s back. It was then that the volcano, starkly bare rock amidst the snowy landscape of Dragon Peak, began to erupt in brilliant red flames!
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