We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 196

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

There’s no way my Elnea can be this muscular.

“Hey. Listen to what I’ve realized.”

I am Slaton Warugal. A fifteen-year-old young man with lean muscles, tall stature, and a handsome face, receiving way too much adoration from women whenever I go into town.

As the childhood friend and close friend of Hero Lisuter, I, with my brilliant mind, realized something terrifying during this incident.

“I acknowledge Slaton’s statement.”

Given permission by Naimi, who is serving as chairwoman this time, I rise from my seat. The burning gaze from Creacio, who is sitting next to me, is painful.

By the way, “twirling Naimi” is a nickname I gave her. It’s because she always flits around Lisuter like a small animal.

“Listen up, everyone. Hear me with an open heart.”

It was just the other day that we resolved the incident of a big idiot causing trouble with a fake holy sword in town, near the capital of the Yorttenitos Kingdom, along the main road.

Now, we are in the middle of a strategy meeting, based on newly acquired information.

Everyone has gathered in the room where Lisuter and I are staying, exchanging opinions in a circle.

“This time, there was another fake holy sword incident. It seems there are others spreading fake holy swords and magic swords besides the demon we defeated last time.”

“Everyone already knows that!”

The miko, Inea, interjects with a tone as if asking, “What’s the big deal now?”

Hahaha. This is just a confirmation; my discovery is something else, Inea.

My entourage and I have been rushing about since early spring due to the mass occurrence of fake holy sword and magic sword users. There were times when Lisuter became dejected, but it goes without saying that my friendship and efforts saw us through the difficulties.

The encouragement from someone called Dragon King Sestarinis, which Kiiri and Inea received, and Cerise’s devoted companionship are negligible compared to my achievements.

Oh, right. At that time, Kiiri and Inea apparently met Elnea. And what’s more, when I heard that she had also acquired a title called Dragon King, I was incredibly surprised.

Is the title of Dragon King something one can easily obtain? If I can get it, I should be able to obtain it too.

Cute Elnea obtained it. I should be able to acquire it with ease.

Speaking of Dragon Kings, another Dragon King named Id is accompanying my entourage and me.

Apparently, the incident we are pursuing is connected to the commotion at Dragon Peak, and he was dispatched for information exchange.

I don’t fully understand the mechanism, but Id communicates with Dragon Peak through something called telepathy. Well, thanks to him, we’ve been able to move much more easily, so welcoming him was the right choice, I suppose.

However, Id is currently not participating in the strategy meeting. He went out from the inn, saying it was time for his regular report.

“Hey, come on. Don’t play coy, just say it already.”

Lisuter is looking at me with a troubled expression. Oh dear, without me, he’s just a holy sword fanatic. It can’t be helped. I’ll tell them the truth I discovered.

“This might be shocking, but don’t fall over from surprise, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Enough with the nonsense, just say it.”

Hahahaha. Creacio, my jealous one. You’re irritated that the most beloved me is capturing everyone’s attention.

“Listen up. We are being intentionally led east, further and further east. Chasing after incidents, and with each new fact we uncover, we move east, advancing towards the Yorttenitos Kingdom. But this is a trap. Whoever it is, they are trying to drive us out of the Armēdo Kingdom!”

In fact, even with the information obtained this time, the root of the problem is to the east. Signs of another disturbance were faintly appearing in the capital of the Yorttenitos Kingdom.

But this is clearly strange.

Why east?

The incident we are pursuing seems to be connected to Dragon Peak. Yet, instead of getting closer to Dragon Peak, we are moving further away.

According to the information we’ve obtained, a villain called the Black Dragon Knight is secretly transporting dangerous items to the Yorttenitos Kingdom.

But why the Yorttenitos Kingdom?

Even if demons or someone were plotting a civil war, or planning something terrible, wouldn’t it be closer to Dragon Peak and easier to operate in the Armēdo Kingdom?

There’s no reason for them to be secretly operating in the distant Yorttenitos Kingdom.

If that’s the case, we should look at it from a different perspective.

Besides my entourage, only a handful of adventurers can operate across both the Armēdo Kingdom and the Yorttenitos Kingdom.

Knights and soldiers from both kingdoms have their hands tied by obligations when they move to the neighboring country.

The number of people who can pursue the incident is limited.

And then, there’s the fake holy sword. Isn’t this intended to lure out Lisuter, the hero? If a fake holy sword appears, the true hero cannot stand by and do nothing.

In other words, isn’t this series of incidents a skillful manipulation, designed to drive us away from the Armēdo Kingdom?

If that’s the case, perhaps the truth of the incident lies not in the Yorttenitos Kingdom, but within the Armēdo Kingdom.

Lisuter and the others appear to be holding their breath, listening to my hypothesis.

“We are being trapped. Where we should be heading is not the capital of the Yorttenitos Kingdom, but the Armēdo Kingdom!”

Concluding, I raised my fist high.

Now, dudes, let’s advance. Our target is the Armēdo Kingdom!!

My excitement soared. However, everyone else was frozen in place.

It’s understandable. It must have been too shocking. It will take some time to recover from their stupor.

“Ouch!”

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my shin, and I writhed in agony.

Wincing in pain, I looked to see Creacio holding her self-defense dagger, scabbard and all, next to me.

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

Even as an expression of affection, that’s way too painful.

As I crouched down, rubbing my shin, I faintly heard a sigh from beside Lisuter.

That position would be Cerise’s.

When I turned my face, I was met with a cold gaze.

The princess’s cold stare. Oh, this truly chills me to the bone.

“Slaton is indeed an idiot,” Naimi said, shrugging her shoulders.

“You… you…”

Lisuter looked at me with a troubled expression.

Upon closer inspection, Kiiri and Inea also looked at me with weary expressions.

Why?

“Slaton. Seiza!”

Cerise’s sharp voice commanded, and I was made to perform seiza without understanding why.

Why, pray tell?

I was surrounded by everyone in the group.

What is this situation?!

“Slaton,” Cerise’s cold words fell upon me.

She’s terrifying. Usually, she acts like a sagacious wife by Lisuter’s side, but when angered, even Lisuter can’t handle her.

Think about it. She’s the sister of those three princesses, isn’t she? She couldn’t possibly be docile.

When Cerise is angry, no one can go against her. Submissively receiving her scolding is the best course of action.

But why am I about to be scolded now?

I couldn’t understand at all.

Clearing her throat once, Cerise opened her mouth.

“Ev-ery-one already knew that!”

Wh-what did you say!

Stunned by the shocking truth, I looked up at everyone with my eyes and mouth wide open.

“You mean… you didn’t realize until now?” Lisuter, standing beside Cerise, showed a look of disappointment.

No, that’s impossible. Did everyone already know what I, through my desperate thinking, had arrived at as a shocking fact?!

Unbelievable. Why? When did you realize?

“You’d realize that if you just thought about it a little. We are being manipulated.”

“Wait a minute. If, hypothetically, you all knew this before, then why have you continued to dance to the opponent’s tune, knowing full well what was going on?!”

This is incomprehensible. You knew you were being manipulated, and yet you continued to act as they wished? Why would you do such a thing?!

Naimi began to pat my head, messing up my wonderfully handsome hairstyle.

“The strategy meeting is canceled. From now on, it’s Slaton’s lecture time.”

Naimi, what is this agenda? I don’t accept this.

“Slaton, listen,” Cerise said with a sigh.

“Even if we know, sometimes we have no choice but to act within the opponent’s hands. With Lord Id joining us, the information we obtain has certainly increased. However, until we can precisely grasp the opponent’s objective, we can only react. Even knowing that we are being intentionally guided, this is all we have at the moment. Therefore, we have no choice but to follow that lead.”

So, to outwit the opponent, we lack information.

“Perhaps the main objective is within the Armēdo Kingdom, as you say. But the Armēdo Kingdom is vast. At the very least, we need to pinpoint the location where the disturbance will occur, otherwise, no matter where we are, it will be too late.”

Grrr. It’s frustrating, but she’s right. We have no choice but to proceed towards the path indicated, relying on the information we currently possess.

A sudden and decisive victory will have to wait a little longer. Until then, though it’s against my will, I will continue to dance.

“What, you all knew? I see, I see. I think I’ll go get some night air and reflect. I was never defeated. However, reflecting on what needs to be reflected upon is my creed. It seems I noticed it only slightly later than everyone else. I can’t just be staring at Creacio all the time. As everyone bids me farewell, I leave the room. Don’t stop me now. I want to be alone.”

Leaving the room, I step outside the inn.

“Oh. What’s wrong? You seem a bit down, which is unusual.”

“That’s not true. I’m always energetic.”

Outside the inn, in the plaza, drinking heartily, was Id of the Dragon Race.

Are all Dragon Race members as gigantic as dragons? This guy in front of me is so tall that even I, who am tall, have to look up to him. And he’s all muscle. His head is bald. What’s more, he even has a tattoo on his scalp. Isn’t his neck thicker than my thigh? Not to mention below his neck. His body, armored in muscle, is more imposing than a heavily armored knight.

Once, I tried it. Even with everyone in my entourage hanging from him with one arm, he swung his arm with ease.

Come to think of it, Sestarinis, whom Kiiri and Inea met, was also described as a muscular giant.

Is it because he’s a Dragon King that he has this physique, or are Dragon Race members just like this?

If Dragon Kings are this physique…

No, no. I can’t imagine my cute Elnea becoming such a muscle freak!

This physique must be a characteristic of the Dragon Race. They possess far superior physical abilities and intellect compared to humans. This might be normal for them.

“Whoa, whoa. I’m not interested in men. I’d be troubled if you looked at me with such burning eyes.”

“No, no. I’m not interested in men either. Rather, I’m devoted to Creacio alone.”

“I see, I see.”

“Tsk, you’re mocking me. Or rather, you should be participating in the meeting too. Don’t just sit here drinking.”

“Hahaha. Thinking is your job. I’m currently communicating with Millie. Don’t disturb me.”

How dare he say that after initiating the conversation?

Id’s stance is that human incidents should be resolved by humans, and he accompanies us in that capacity.

However, he provides us with information from Dragon Peak as it comes, and he thoroughly teaches us what we don’t know.

His skill must be more than it appears. I once saw him fight a large monster, and we were all stunned by the overwhelming destructive power he displayed.

He is probably stronger than Lisuter when he’s serious. At worst, we might not be able to win even if we all attacked him together.

To think there are such monstrous beings in the world.

I still have a long way to go.

As I averted my gaze from Id and looked at the scenery visible from the plaza in front of the inn, a gentle presence appeared behind me.

“Creacio?”

“Are you okay? Are you feeling down?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no way I’d be dejected by something like that.”

“Indeed.”

Creacio came to my side and smiled happily, as if amused by something.

Oh dear. Were you worried about me? What a cute thing.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

As I said that and started walking, Creacio followed me with a spring in her step.