We live at the foot of Dragon Peak.
It was finally exposed.
The next day, early in the morning.
Before the capital city’s streets became crowded, we returned to the Moss Garden.
We wanted to talk more with the hero and the kings.
However, our plans are only half complete.
Besides, once the sun rises and the capital becomes crowded, we, who are incognito, can no longer leave our home.
That’s why we returned home promptly.
“Good morning, Mistral.”
“Elnea. And good morning to you too, Sefina and Madrine.”
Mistral was already taking care of Old Sleigsta in the Moss Garden.
And Old Sleigsta, who was being taken care of by Mistral, had a very tired expression.
The cause is…
“Ho ho, you have the nerve to look at me there?”
“Good morning to you too, Demon King!”
Well, there’s no need to think about it, is there?
Sefina and Madrine were diligently helping Mistral.
So, I guess I’ll be dealing with the Giant Demon Lord?
“Uh, we have new companions joining us to go to the Mad Abyss Demon Lord’s country! They are Listea, the great hero of the Armēdo Kingdom, and her partner, Slaton!”
“Kukukukuku, you are truly amusing. Wherever you go, you always bring back results that are far beyond everyone’s expectations.”
“Are you sure it’s just your imagination?”
Mistral, Sefina, and Madrine seem to be talking about yesterday while polishing Old Sleigsta’s scales.
About how I became nervous, and about various topics afterwards.
“Report in an amusing and interesting manner. If it’s not amusing, I’ll burn down the Dragon Forest.”
“Hey! You wicked old woman!”
Old Sleigsta bares his fangs and threatens, but it has no effect on the Giant Demon Lord.
I told the Demon King about yesterday’s story, saying it would be terrible if the Dragon Forest were burned down.
“In the Dragon Forest, I met Listea and Slaton. Oh, and Lily was being lazy again!”
Then I told him about the commotion in the Dragon Forest.
Unfortunately, Lily was on the run and not in the Moss Garden.
If she had returned obediently, she would have been scolded by Old Sleigsta. Surely, she must have anticipated that I would be having this conversation and is hiding until things cool down.
Her likely refuge is, without a doubt, my mansion in the Forbidden Territory.
“And then, although they initially refused the cooperation of Listea and the others? But their wives got angry, asking what value a hero and her partner who don’t adventure have, and…”
It seems I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stand up to their wives.
The Demon King listened to my report with a laugh.
While drinking alcohol!
Drinking alcohol so early in the morning, as expected of a Demon King!
“After that, it was my greeting…”
It’s a slightly embarrassing story.
But I will tell it without hiding anything.
Because if they can read my thoughts just by thinking about last night, there’s no point in keeping silent.
So, should I try not to even think about it, or make an effort not to have my mind read?
That’s impossible!
“After I successfully greeted the kings, we ended up having a long-awaited reunion.”
My parents were there, and Sefina’s parents were there too. If the hero’s entourage joined, it would become a small banquet.
“Elnea-kun, I heard from the Dragon Race. The Dragon God’s messenger is a special position that even those Dragon Race people bow their heads to, isn’t it?”
“Please tell me in detail. Does serving the Dragon God mean you are no longer a follower of the Goddess?”
I answered the questions from the king and Celeia.
“Mother, you misunderstand. The Dragon God is, so to speak, like the mother of all dragons. So, the Dragon Race doesn’t have a religion worshipping the Dragon God; they admire a great mother and respect us, her messengers, out of admiration.”
That’s why the dragons staying in the garden of my family home can sense our presence but remain quiet, considering our incognito situation.
And neither Madrine nor I have abandoned our faith in the Goddess to newly worship the Dragon God.
Well, when you say “Dragon God,” it’s understandable for humans to compare them to the Goddess of Creation.
But even the divine race calls themselves “gods,” yet no humans worship them; rather, they are seen as a fearsome race, like the demon race.
When I explained such things, Celeia seemed convinced.
“The Dragon Race wants to eventually reach the Dragon God and have their accomplishments recognized. That’s why they live their days aiming for greater heights, and they hold us in high regard because we have been recognized by the Dragon God.”
However, they are, after all, a proud Dragon Race.
Like the Wyverns we encountered at the northernmost tip of Dragon Peak, even the Dragon God’s messengers can be attacked if they let their guard down.
“Oh, that’s a profound story. So it’s not just about reaching higher and then ending it all?”
Listea nodded deeply at my words.
“So, I shouldn’t think that serving Armēdo Kingdom and its people as a hero is enough and then be satisfied?”
“King, Listea is starting to harbor ambitions!”
“Hmm. Elnea-kun, you call Celeia ‘Mother,’ but you don’t call me ‘Father,’ do you?”
“You’re worried about that?!”
“It can’t be helped,” I said, and when I called him “Father,” the king grinned with delight.
As I was hugged by the overjoyed king, I thought:
Actually, I’ve been gaining more “mothers” lately, so I didn’t feel any resistance to calling Celeia that.
Sefina and Madrine, who knew my feelings, were laughing.
“But you’re becoming more and more like a non-human, aren’t you? I thought Listea was the non-human one!”
“Hahahaha, I became too non-human and lost my lifespan!”
“!!”
When I blurted out the truth, Slaton’s eyes widened like saucers, and he froze like a statue.
However, only Slaton froze; my parents, Listea and her wives, and the king and Celeia were all normal.
“…Could it be that only Slaton didn’t realize it?!”
“No, Elnea. If we hadn’t heard something similar from the Dragon Race, we wouldn’t have known either.”
“So, you mean?”
Now it’s my turn to ask Listea.
Listea, with a wry smile, explained.
“After you defeated Kongo no Kirisame and flew west of Dragon Peak, we heard from the Dragon Race. You have become a transcendent being as the Dragon God’s messenger, and you will serve the Dragon God for hundreds or thousands of years, transcending the limits of your lifespan.”
The reason we disappeared from everyone and stayed quietly in the Forbidden Territory was to wait for these stories to spread and be properly absorbed.
It seems our plan is proceeding smoothly.
Everyone except Slaton!
“When the Demon King appeared from the sky, I was so surprised I almost jumped out of my skin. But when it comes to you, my understanding was too naive. I never imagined the Dragon God was so colossal it could cover the sky… Did you know? When did you become the Dragon God’s messenger, and when did you request cooperation in defeating Kongo no Kirisame?”
I then revealed the behind-the-scenes story of defeating Kongo no Kirisame to Listea’s question.
Actually, I became the Dragon God’s messenger at our first wedding ceremony.
It seems Listea and the others should have seen the Dragon God at that time as well.
I told them that among the guests who exuded an unapproachable aura, the woman with long hair and horns was the Dragon God in human form, and not only Listea but everyone was surprised.
“We transcended our lifespans at that time. That’s why we told Sefina and Madrine that becoming a messenger of the Dragon God, just like us, was a condition for marriage.”
That was the condition for marriage, and it was a trial from the Goddess that not only Madrine but also Sefina had to overcome.
And the method we took to overcome that trial was that grand declaration, involving the Dragon God.
“With Sefina and Madrine involved, I declared ‘Messenger of the Dragon God’ and summoned the Dragon God. Afterward, we couldn’t say, ‘Actually, it was only Sefina and Madrine who were different,’ could we?”
“You… You are a truly terrible person!”
Listea, upon learning of our grand plan that used the Dragon God, who is revered as an ancestor and mother even by the Dragon Race, froze with wide eyes like Slaton.
Only I, Sefina, and Madrine were laughing at the sight.
“Unless one has such a far-fetched way of thinking as you do, they will not be recognized by the transcendent beings.”
The Demon King laughed merrily as he listened to my report.
And he drank alcohol.
“So, you returned after having a pleasant banquet all night?”
“Yes. Oh, of course, we also moved forward with the marriage ceremony. …Did it progress?”
“Why are you asking that as a question?”
While gently refusing the alcohol offered by the Demon King, I continued my story.
I waited for Listea and the others to regain their senses and then spoke of our future plans.
“We intend to hold our wedding ceremony on flatland.”
If it were on Dragon Peak or in the Forbidden Territory, many people wouldn’t be able to attend, and there would be complaints.
Therefore, just like our first wedding ceremony, I want to hold it on flatland.
Incidentally.
We refer to the area east of Dragon Peak, such as the Armēdo Kingdom and the Yorttenitos Kingdom, as “flatland” due to the influence of the Dragon Race people.
And another aside.
The reason I refer to “Sefina-san” and “Madrine-sama” as I used to in conversations is that I cannot address them by their first names in front of their parents before marriage!
“But this wedding ceremony…”
“Regarding that matter, what do you think? Will you entrust it to us?”
The king said this before I could even bring it up.
“For your wedding ceremony, please entrust it to those involved with you. We wish to praise and celebrate Elnea-kun and the others.”
We knew from the beginning.
That this wedding ceremony would not be organized by us, but would be entrusted to the hands of humans and everyone else.
So, we readily accepted the king’s proposal.
However, the king’s expression clouded with a hint of disappointment.
“Actually, I proceeded with that matter without consulting you, Elnea-kun and the others. But it seems the venue will be on the Yorttenitos Kingdom side.”
“Is that so?”
Even if the plan for the wedding ceremony was entrusted to us.
We had not anticipated where the venue would be.
I was vaguely thinking, “Maybe the Wyvern Hunting Ground again?” But it seems that was not the case.
“You can ask about that when you go there. From now on, you are going to visit the Head Miko’s parents and the Great Shrine of the Yorttenitos Kingdom to pay your respects, aren’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right. Since the venue will be there, I will inquire about the details there.”
“So, as promised, please send us to the Yorttenitos Kingdom?”
When I asked, the Demon King replied, “Did you think demons would honestly keep their promises?”!
“Whaaat?!”
Not only I but also Sefina and Madrine were surprised by this.
And they stopped tending to Old Sleigsta and gathered here in protest.
The Demon King, seeing us, laughed and his pupils gleamed evilly!
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