We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Let’s go observe.
This incident, which initially seemed confined to Dragon Peak, has begun to involve not only the Armēdo Kingdom but also the lands of the Demon Race and the Human Race. However, even after the incident and its problems were discovered, it wasn’t as if it would be resolved smoothly from there.
First, Dragon Peak.
Apparently, there have been increasingly unsettling movements among the tribes in the northern region, particularly those bordering the territory of the northern Demon King. According to someone who was secretly investigating, not only the tribes initially suspected but also the surrounding tribes are cooperating and plotting something.
Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, it seems to be within the range predicted by the Dragon Race. After all, it would be difficult for the Demon Race to cross Dragon Peak with the actions of only one tribe.
It had been suspected for some time that, in addition to the tribes in question, other tribes were cooperating with them.
However, this incident has made it clear.
The Dragon Race members working to resolve the problem are currently divided into two groups.
One group is investigating the movements of all the northern tribes. They are trying to determine which tribes are the traitors, and whether the entire village is betraying them, or only some individuals.
The other group is focusing on their objectives. It’s unlikely they would betray their race without a purpose. They must be acting with some aim or goal.
Simply gathering evidence and condemning the northern tribes without understanding their objectives or goals would be no different from plucking the leaves of weeds that have grown above ground. If you want to eradicate them, you must properly deal with them down to the roots, or the same problem will eventually reoccur.
Therefore, they seem to be investigating carefully and thoroughly.
There are people who have been investigating this since last year, so it might be understood sooner.
The other group is focused on persuading the Dragon Race.
Since only those with a dragon heart can communicate with the Dragon Race, only a limited number of individuals can be involved.
As I also have a dragon heart, I participated in the activity, of course.
Even so, my involvement was mostly limited to persuading the Dragon Race around Mistral’s village.
Next, the Human Race’s side.
Information is being relayed one by one through Id, one of the Dragon Kings accompanying Listea, and a Beast race woman named Millie, who can use reciprocal telepathy.
The Beast race is a species almost non-existent in the Human Race’s country, let alone Dragon Peak, but Id and Millie met at Dragon Peak and became best friends.
And it seems Listea successfully resolved the Giseiken incident. It was communicated the other day that she defeated the Demon Race members who were distributing the Giseiken and recovered or destroyed the Giseiken and cursed swords that had spread.
However, the incident on the Human Race side is not over yet.
Just like with Dragon Peak, it won’t be fundamentally resolved unless the Demon Race’s objectives are thoroughly investigated.
Therefore, they are now heading towards the Yorttenitos Kingdom in pursuit of the next clue.
It seems Listea has been able to recover. As expected, Listea looks best when she is full of confidence and leading her companions.
And finally, the Demon Race.
Information from this side is scarce. This is because Wol, the Dragon King representing this effort, entered the territory of the Giant Demon Lord and seems to be working with the Demon Race, but he hasn’t returned to Dragon Peak for a long time, making the information sporadic.
However, there was information that the Giant Demon Lord and the northern Demon King seem to be in conflict over something.
The Giant Demon Lord is friendly towards Dragon Peak, but the northern Demon King is radical, and skirmishes with the Dragon Race are incessant even now.
It was the common understanding of everyone that there was some connection between this and the Dragon Race tribes operating behind the scenes in the north.
Incidentally, the issues with Orta and the cursed wyvern are also being dealt with simultaneously, with the northern tribes being involved.
The situation surrounding Dragon Peak is rapidly changing.
However, we continued to spend our days in much the same way.
Once I had finished persuading the nearby Dragon Race, my duties were temporarily over.
It seems that when humans like me are too successful, it affects the pride of the Dragon Race. As if to compete with me, who had achieved accomplishments, many members of the Dragon Race showed their efforts.
Although visible changes were few, the world began to move little by little. In the meantime, the snow remaining on the highest peak of Dragon Peak thinned, and the temperature gradually began to rise.
Even so, it was much cooler than the plains. In fact, there were days when the mornings and evenings felt so cold it made you wonder if summer was just around the corner.
And then one day. While the sunlight was a little strong and we were all cooling our feet in a spring, news arrived.
“It seems humans have finally started hunting wyverns.”
Information from Armēdo Kingdom’s Royal Capital was brought by a Dragon Race man who frequented a village on the east side of Dragon Peak.
“Are they going to kill the wyverns?”
Priscilla-chan looked up at me and asked.
Priscilla-chan, who is friendly with Nimia and the baby earth dragons, seems to have reservations about the term “wyvern hunting.”
I smiled at the anxious Priscilla-chan.
“We’re not going to kill them. We’re going to capture the wyverns and make them our companions.”
“Um, can you become friends if you capture them?”
This might be a difficult question for little Priscilla-chan. It’s unlikely she would understand if I simply said they would trap them, train them, and make them their familiars.
“Elnea. I would like to see the wyvern hunt.”
Lyra, who was cooling her feet in the spring with me, looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Lyra is truly fascinated by anything related to dragons.
But perhaps this is for the best. It’s difficult to explain to Priscilla-chan with words, and she might understand by seeing it in reality.
Even though it’s an observation, we won’t be going right next to the hunting grounds, and from a distance, I don’t think the details of a fight for survival will be visible.
And by observing from afar, perhaps Priscilla-chan will be able to accept it properly as one aspect of the interaction between dragons and humans.
Therefore, although it was immediate, we made plans to go observe.
The participants in the observation will be me and Priscilla-chan. And then Ruiseine, Lyra, and Nimia, who will be in charge of transportation, making it a total of four people.
Mistral still hasn’t returned to the village.
I wonder what on earth he’s doing?
I discreetly asked those who might know, but no one would tell me.
“It’s a problem Mistral needs to overcome. You too will likely face something similar someday. But that’s not now. For now, you just believe in Mistral and wait.”
That’s the gist of what everyone told me.
It seems to be training that they don’t want to tell me about right now. Why could that be?
However, they aren’t being mean, and I’m sure there’s a reason.
Surely, when the time comes, they will tell me properly. I decided to trust that and wait for Mistral.
And so, the wyvern hunting observation tour.
With Nimia’s flight speed, it seems possible to do it as a day trip.
The wyvern hunting grounds spread out to the north of Armēdo Kingdom’s Royal Capital can be described as a vast plain. There are bushes and small hills, of course, but from Dragon Peak, they are not much different from flatlands.
And to the west of the wyvern hunting grounds is Dragon Peak, and to the south is the Royal Capital.
In other words, from the eastern edge of Dragon Peak, one can observe the wyvern hunting grounds and the Royal Capital from a distance.
We rode on Nimia and headed east of Dragon Peak, so as not to be seen by humans. That’s where we decided to watch the wyvern hunting.
“An overnight stay?”
Let’s stop thinking it’s an overnight trip when we leave the village, Priscilla-chan.
Ruiseine, Lyra, and I exchanged wry smiles at Priscilla-chan’s innocent question.
“No, we’re just going to play around a bit.”
However, it was Zan who gave us advice.
“What do you mean?”
Zan, who had secretly appeared by the water, looked us over.
“You’re all trying too hard. Children should be like children and play sometimes.”
From Zan’s perspective, we are children. Zan said he was around the same age as Mistral, so he probably isn’t much older.
“Eventually, you’ll be busy. At that time, I might have to borrow even your strength, though it pains me to admit it. Until then, just play.”
It seems Zan is showing consideration for us in his own way.
After the warrior’s trial, Zan and the other adults have started treating us as full-fledged warriors.
Before, even though they acknowledged our strength, I don’t think they treated us as complete comrades. But by overcoming the warrior’s trial of the Dragon Race, perhaps we have truly been welcomed as warriors and as family.
From guests to family. That’s a welcome development.
Some prematurely aged old men even suggested I move into their homes because they were moving to a friend’s house, saying I could live there.
But I politely declined, of course.
After the trial, we were indeed treated as family and as capable individuals.
However, in their eyes, we are still children, and they are hesitant to overwork children.
So, I think the idea is to let us rest when we can, before we get busy.
We decided to take advantage of the kindness of Zan and the other villagers and changed our plans to a two-day, one-night wyvern hunting observation tour.
“If we’re going to stay overnight, wouldn’t it be better to travel while it’s dark, rather than worrying about being seen during the day?”
Ruiseine’s proposal was adopted, and we arranged to depart late at night and arrive at the eastern edge of Dragon Peak before dawn.
We, who lived in the Royal Capital until spring, and Ruiseine understood well where the hunting was taking place in the wyvern hunting grounds.
The wyvern hunt usually begins near the Royal Capital. Then, as the participants become accustomed to it, they move deeper into the wyvern hunting grounds.
If hunting takes place near the Royal Capital, there is naturally a higher possibility of damage reaching the Royal Capital.
Therefore, it was customary for the Royal Capital to be on high alert during early summer, the season when wyvern hunting takes place.
“It’s a complicated feeling for us, given our current position, to see wyverns sacrificed.”
“I also hope there isn’t much damage to humans.”
Ruiseine and Lyra’s sentiments are understandable.
As we grow closer to the Dragon Race, negative feelings towards wyvern hunting intensify.
I certainly hope that humans don’t suffer too much damage. But just as much, I don’t want wyverns to be sacrificed.
However, without wyvern hunting, the Yorttenitos Kingdom cannot secure riding dragons.
Wyvern hunting is a tradition, an annual event since the founding of the kingdom.
I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t a mutually beneficial relationship possible. While I may think this, I don’t believe my thoughts are entirely new. The Dragon Race also suffers greatly, and humans suffer significant casualties each time they hunt wyverns.
Past wise individuals likely thought like me and went through trial and error. But the current situation remains unchanged. This indicates it’s a profoundly difficult problem.
Therefore, I can see that my efforts now, with my shallow knowledge, will not succeed.
Yet, I still can’t help but wonder if there isn’t a better way.
While pondering, I proceeded with the preparations for the observation tour along with everyone else.
