We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Visitor in Winter
I feel the presence of someone stealthily approaching.
It must be close to dawn. I was sleeping alone, hogging the large bed. We had a lively time with the whole family last night, but everyone seemed tired from the commotion and went to their own rooms to sleep. Apparently, someone decided to slip out early this morning?
Speaking of slipping out, could it be Laira? I haven’t had any alone time with just Laira yet. However, the presence I feel is of multiple intruders. I wonder who it could be? I’ll pretend to be asleep and see what happens.
The intruders softly opened the door and approached me with silent footsteps. At this point, I was certain it wasn’t Yufilia or Nina. Because if it were them, they would have definitely locked the door from the inside to deal with any pursuers or other intruders after entering my room. Besides, they wouldn’t sneak in like this. They would probably barge in noisily and abduct me in a frenzy.
So, could it be someone else? Mistral? Ruiseine? It’s probably not them either. Not to brag, but they should have woken up much earlier than me and already be active. Mistral is probably already at the Moss Garden, attending to Old Man Sleigsta. Ruiseine should be diligently practicing her morning ablutions and training as a miko. Considering that, should I exclude Madrine as well? Madrine, who often teams up with Yufilia and Nina to cause trouble, never compromises on her miko discipline. Therefore, I believe Madrine is also engaged in her morning duties with Ruiseine.
Then, could it really be Laira? Or perhaps, unusually, Sefina?
The intruders killed their presence and approached the bed where I was sleeping. Then, they fumbled their way under the futon.
“Gah, so heavy!”
The intruder who burrowed into the futon pinned me down! Another intruder pressed something hard against my stomach!
“This feeling and presence… it’s Fiorina and Rim, isn’t it?”
“Uwaaaan, you’re right!”
“Wake up!”
Rim lay on top of me, and Fiorina pressed her horned head against my stomach. Thus, they disrupted my sleep.
“Hngh, I won’t lose. In the cold winter, indulging in deep sleep in a warm futon is supreme!”
“Rim, you wouldn’t understand!”
“If you don’t wake up soon, Revalia will blow this room away!”
That would be trouble! I quickly jumped up!
Fiorina and Rim purred with laughter at my haste. It seems Fiorina’s joke. What a terrifying child she is to make such jokes! Her mischievousness is definitely a bad influence from Old Man Sleigsta.
Sighing, I stretched for the first time that morning and began to prepare. I took off my sleepwear and put on winter casual clothes. Then I washed my face and tried to fix my bedhead, but I gave up! Shall I have someone fix my hair? I’m not exactly a child, but I like having my wives comb my hair.
By the way, in case I woke up at any time, the fireplace in the room was already lit, and water for washing my face was prepared in a basin. In other words, before I even noticed the intruders Fiorina and Rim, someone had already entered the room and made various preparations. I’m so grateful.
“Well then, first, I’ll find someone to fix my hair!”
“Ooooh!”
I put on my thick outer jacket and left the room with Fiorina and Rim. I stepped out into the long corridor and started walking towards the great dining hall. It’s a very, very vast mansion, but when we eat, we all gather in the great dining hall. For relaxation, we head to the living room with the large fireplace, and for playing, we choose the spacious rooms. If I head towards any of those places, I’m sure I’ll meet one of my wives.
My guess was correct. When I arrived at the great dining hall, Sefina was preparing breakfast.
“Oh, good morning, Elnea-kun.”
“Sefina, good morning. So, you’re in charge of breakfast preparation this morning?”
“Laira and Lady Shooting Star are also helping in the kitchen. More importantly, you want me to fix your bedhead, right?”
“That’s correct!”
“I’ll help!”
“Rim too!”
“Then, could you two,” I said to Fiorina and Rim, “go to the kitchen and bring the remaining dishes?”
“That’s not the kind of help we were looking for!”
Although they grumbled, Fiorina and Rim went to the kitchen as Sefina instructed.
“Alright, Elnea-kun, please sit in that chair.”
“Yes, here’s a comb.”
“Fufufu, you’re well-prepared, aren’t you?”
Sefina moved behind me as I sat in the chair and began to comb my hair. The sensation of the comb passing through my hair. The feeling of the comb’s tip touching my scalp. When I comb my own hair, it just doesn’t feel as pleasant for some reason. But when someone touches my head, my heart somehow calms down. And I start to feel sleepy.
“Now, now, you’ve finally woken up, so don’t fall asleep again?”
“Okay.”
“You’re so obedient. By the way, Elnea-kun, what would you have done if you had met Lady Shooting Star and the others before meeting me or the family? It would be embarrassing to be seen with messy hair.”
“Hah! I completely forgot!”
Right, of course! In the great dining hall, not only family members but also the Shooting Star Miko, Astel, and the Puppet King dine together. So, there was a possibility of meeting people other than family. I’ll be careful next time. As I reflected on this, Sefina laughed, seemingly amused.
“Elnea-kun.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have any free time today?”
We chatted while Sefina combed my hair. Then, Sefina uttered a meaningful remark.
“Rather than free, I don’t have any plans. Is there something you need?”
Days where I do absolutely nothing are rare. In the forbidden territory during winter, the heavy snowfall restricts outdoor activities. Nevertheless, even if I don’t have special plans, my daily routine of splitting firewood, exercising, training, entertaining spirits, and visiting Spirit Tree never disappears. In other words, Sefina was asking if I had any plans outside of my usual routine. And indeed, my schedule for today was open. Sefina, after confirming my lack of plans, nodded and said while stroking my now-combed hair,
“How about going out with Laira?”
“You’re so thoughtful, Sefina?”
“Am I?”
“Yes. I was thinking I should make time to spend with Laira soon, but I haven’t had the opportunity.”
“Fufufu, you were caught up with me and Madrine, weren’t you?”
“That’s important, so it’s a separate matter.”
“Oh? In that case, will I and Madrine get another separate slot of time with Elnea-kun?”
“Hah! If Yufi and Nina hear this, it’ll be a disaster!”
“Elnea-kun, I’ve already heard.”
“Elnea-kun, I’ve already overheard.”
“Kyaa!”
When did the twin princesses appear behind me!? I screamed and jumped out of the chair, then fled at once. Three pursuers behind me! Sefina also joined her two older sisters and chased after me.
“Laira!”
I shouted and dashed into the kitchen.
“Y-yes!”
Laira, who was washing dishes, turned around in surprise when I called her. I grabbed her hand and ran!
“Laira, your hands are cold?”
“I was washing dishes.”
“Yes. Thank you for always doing that! So, let’s go out together, right now.”
“Hahahaha, Elnea-sama!”
Pulling the bewildered Laira’s hand, I ran out of the kitchen. And, as if to shake off the five people chasing us, I burst out of the mansion!
“Elnea-kun, please wait!”
“Laira-san, please stop Elnea-kun!”
“Ruiseine and Madrine have joined in for fun!”
“Hahahaha, Elnea-sama!”
“Laira, let’s go!”
Don’t look back! If I show even the slightest opening to these wild beasts, I’ll be attacked in an instant! Now, where shall Laira and I go! If we head west from the mansion, it’s to Spirit Tree’s place. If we head north, it’s the Dragon King’s Forest. If I borrow Revalia’s wings, I can go anywhere! I tightly gripped Laira’s hand and fled from my wives!
“E-, Elnea-sama.”
“Haa, haa, we’ve finally reached…”
Catching my breath, I looked around. A deep forest. A narrow beast path in a snow-covered forest. Laira and I had escaped into the Dragon King’s Forest. It was far… For the current us who have forbidden the use of dragon arts, the Dragon King’s Forest was farther than we expected. Nevertheless, we managed to reach it, and now we are lost deep within the Dragon King’s Forest. Of course, it’s deliberate. If we get lost, our wives chasing us should also get lost? By shaking them off, I could reliably be alone with Laira. This was the only way. Revalia wouldn’t listen to my story when she was curled up in the courtyard, and even heading to Spirit Tree wouldn’t let us escape our pursuers. So, we escaped to the Dragon King’s Forest. However, upon arriving here, I suddenly became aware of a big mistake.
“Laira, I’m sorry?”
The reason for my apology is clear. I barged into the kitchen and forcibly dragged Laira away. However, Laira was in the middle of washing the tools and dishes used for breakfast preparation. In other words, Laira was wearing only indoor clothes suitable for movement, not clothing for walking in the true winter wilderness of the forbidden territory.
“So that’s why Ruiseine and Madrine were desperately trying to stop us. I’m sorry.”
“Hahaha, it’s alright. I’m warm from running with you, Elnea-sama. More importantly, I’m happy. I can finally be alone with you, Elnea-sama.”
Laira hugged me tightly. I hugged her back to prevent her flushed body heat from cooling down in the winter chill.
“Found you!”
“Yaaay, here are your clothes!”
However, our sweet time alone was quickly over. Fiorina and Rim flew down from the sky, bringing Laira’s outer clothes and our breakfast.
“Fio, Rim, thank you.”
Although we’re warm now after exercising, our bodies will soon get cold. I handed the thick outer clothes Rim brought to Laira and received breakfast from Fiorina.
“Still, how were you two able to chase us?”
The Dragon King’s Forest is enchanted with a bewildering technique. So, even within the forest or in the sky, if one enters the domain of the Dragon King’s Forest, they should get lost equally. Fiorina answered my question.
“Uwaaaan, we received a message from Rinrin!”
“Hou hou?”
Didn’t Yunyun go to the dragon forest as Priscilla-chan’s guardian? Is Rinrin staying in the Dragon King’s Forest to take care of the spirits? A message from that Rinrin? In other words, did Rinrin want to convey something to me, and did that lead Fiorina and Rim here without getting lost?
“So, what was the message?”
I asked, wondering what it was, but before Fiorina could convey it through her dragon heart, I learned what she had wanted to communicate.
“What a lovely forest?”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind us. Turning around, I saw a woman of the Mimicho Race standing there. Soft, flowing golden hair that reached her waist. Slender limbs without unnecessary muscle. A young Mimicho woman of impeccable beauty. She wore a slender sword at her waist.
“!”
The Dragon King’s Forest is protected by a bewildering technique, so it’s not strange for someone to suddenly appear nearby. But…! This woman definitely came to our location without getting lost in the bewildering technique! As if to confirm my certainty, the woman spoke, smiling gently.
“A magnificent forest watched over by Lord Yuuri. A wise one guides the spirits, and deep bewildering techniques gently nurture the forest. Someone has entered this forest without hesitation, and children of Wyverns and Winged Dragons have flown in. I wondered who it was, but it turns out to be you?”
The blonde Mimicho woman gazed at Laira and me. Then, she drew her slender sword.
“Well then. Shall we begin right away?”
The tip of her slender sword gleamed as it pointed at me.
