We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The time for farewells.
“Elnea-kun. I will definitely make my dream come true!”
“Yes. We’ll be far apart, but I’m rooting for you. If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”
“Thank you. I’ll visit Dragon Peak again someday.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I shook hands firmly with Friel.
“Hmm. You two should also come visit anytime. I promise that all the citizens of the Yorttenitos Kingdom will always welcome your visits.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you. I’ll come visit again.”
“I might go train at Dragon Peak too. It seems interesting.”
“Caster. You first train Friel. And learn much from the Earl.”
“Kuhaa. I didn’t want to become a general of the Dragon Knight Order. Such a troublesome position.”
“Don’t say that. The Dragon Knight Order and Yorttenitos are about to undergo change. You royal family members must become the foundation for the next era.”
“We will watch over the Yorttenitos Kingdom as it changes from Dragon Peak.”
“We will strive not to betray the Dragon King’s expectations.”
Three days after the ceremony. Finally, the day came for us to return to Dragon Peak. After preparing for the journey in the garden of the detached palace, we exchanged farewell greetings with those who had taken care of us.
“Laira, please come visit anytime.”
“Yes. I will never forget your great kindness this time. I will certainly come to see Your Majesty again.”
We watched, smiling, as the King and Laira shared a warm, fleeting embrace.
“Fio. You should return to your nest. You have played enough.”
“Uwah. Grandpa, be well. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Yugra-sama seems to be staying in the Yorttenitos Kingdom with Friel. However, Fiorina, the leader of Dragon Peak, must return soon.
Yugra-sama and Fiorina rubbed noses in a farewell greeting.
Yugra-sama’s three attendants will also remain here.
“Elnea-dono, please ensure Fiorina-sama safely reaches her nest.”
“We will remain with Yugra-sama and learn more about the human race’s world.”
“We will assist with our humble efforts in Elnea-dono and Friel’s ideals.”
I shook hands with the three attendants in farewell.
“Elnea-sama, please take care.”
“Anya-san, you too. Please continue to get along with the dragons.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Um. Can’t we go to Dragon Peak?”
“We want to train at Dragon Peak and learn more about the dragon race.”
“Media-san, Tolkinea-san, why don’t you ask Friel and Earl Yugra about that? Also, I would like the three of you, along with Anya-san, to become role models for the other dragon knights. Show them that it’s possible to communicate and get along with dragons. It’s not too late to come to Dragon Peak after that, is it?”
“Understood. First, I will work hard for the country rather than for myself.”
“I’ll quickly train the other dragon knights and go visit Dragon Peak.”
“Yes. We will welcome you then!”
The trio of dragon knight maidens were tasked with building a bridge of connection between the dragon race and humans. Their efforts are indispensable for Friel’s dream to be realized.
“From now on, if you encounter any trouble, please don’t hesitate to tell me. I promise that the Yorttenitos Kingdom will support you with all its might when you are in need.”
I returned my sincere thanks for the Chancellor’s kind words. Then, looking at the many people gathered to see us off, I bowed my head.
“Everyone, thank you for taking care of me. I am truly grateful.”
After a deep bow, I headed toward Tyrant and everyone else who were waiting behind me. Grave-sama was the one who called out to me.
“Elnea.”
I turned to Grave-sama.
The match for the Twin Princesses was a complete victory for me and Nimia. I had not only crushed, but shattered Grave-sama’s pride and desires, which made me feel a bit awkward facing him. However, Grave-sama looked at me with a demeanor that suggested he had already moved past something.
After the match, Grave-sama lamented his own inadequacy and shaved his head. His handsome face was ruined, but it reflected his state of mind.
“I lost to Elnea. I admit it honestly. I’ll give up on the twins for good. So, you must make those two happy. Otherwise, I won’t forgive you.”
“Grave, you are commendable. But Elnea, don’t just make the Twin Princesses happy, make Laira happy too?”
“Elnea-kun. If you neglect the priestess Ruiseine, the Goddess will unleash her wrath upon you, you know?”
“Ugh!”
I nodded deeply at the words of Grave-sama and the King, then flinched at Madrine-sama’s threat. Neglecting Ruiseine is absolutely out of the question, but using the Goddess against me is unfair.
And why are you carrying hand luggage? It’s dangerous to question it, so I’m pretending not to see. No one dared to approach Madrine-sama, who was firmly holding the sleeve of her attendant priestess.
“I will cherish Yufi, Nina, Laira, Ruiseine, Mistral, Priscilla-chan, Ares-chan, Nimia, and everyone else! My family, all of them, I will cherish them!”
This is my true, unvarnished heart. Without hierarchy, without discrimination, I will cherish everyone and live in harmony. The King and others smiled in response to my beaming words.
“Well then, everyone, let’s meet again.”
Then I jumped onto the back of Tyrant, who was waiting for me. By the way, Nimia was on Priscilla-chan’s head. For the return trip, we would all travel riding on Tyrant’s back.
After we all said our farewells, Tyrant let out a sharp roar and took off fiercely. In the blink of an eye, those who saw us off became tiny dots. Tyrant circled once in the sky and then took flight towards the western sky.
“We got caught up in all sorts of troubles, but it was good that we came.”
Mistral muttered, gazing at the shrinking cityscape.
“Indeed. We gained many things.”
“I am grateful to Elnea-sama.”
Ruiseine and Laira nodded with deep emotion.
“Still, I never thought Laira would obtain a Dragon Heart.”
“I’m envious.”
Ruiseine looked at Laira with envy at Mistral’s words.
“And she even acquired the Spirit Tree’s two-handed staff.”
Perhaps Laira gained the most from this journey.
“It’s unfair that only Laira did.”
Ruiseine puffed out her cheeks, which was unusual. I wondered if she was a little dissatisfied, and pulled Ruiseine closer.
“Fufufu. The plan was a success.”
It was a trap! Ruiseine, who had snuggled up beside me, gave a triumphant smile.
“Ruiseine, since when did you learn such wicked ways!?”
“Ruiseine has been corrupted!”
“Ruiseine was influenced by Madrine.”
The Twin Princesses, who would normally be the first to scheme against me, looked at Ruiseine in surprise. While I was indeed surprised by Ruiseine’s unexpected words and actions, what were the Twin Princesses doing? Yufilia and Nina were earnestly entertaining Fiorina and Rim, without bothering me.
I sat Laira, who had come to my other side, not to be outdone by Ruiseine, and asked her a question. Then, she answered with a sly smile.
“I realized it. How to obtain a Dragon Heart.”
“I realized it. How to become like Laira.”
Oh? That’s interesting information. We listened with great curiosity.
“Laira was always devoted to Revalia.”
“Laira often interacted with Sleigsta-sama.”
“Elnea-kun, who already possesses a Dragon Heart, is also close to dragons.”
“In other words, to obtain a Dragon Heart, you must become close to dragons.”
Indeed, when you think about it, Laira was more interested in and tried to interact with dragons than anyone else. However…
“But if that’s the case, what about Priscilla-chan, who is always with Nimia?”
“Yes. No matter how close you are to dragons, the Dragon Heart requires dragon energy. For Nina, at least, it might be difficult, though perhaps not for Yufi.”
Mistral is right. The Dragon Heart is an ability that accompanies dragon energy. I can now use the Dragon Heart even unconsciously, but at first, I had to train my dragon energy and concentrate to read the hearts of dragons. And even Priscilla-chan, who has become good friends with Nimia, many other dragons, does not have dragon energy and thus has not obtained a Dragon Heart.
When I pointed this out, the Twin Princesses showed a perfectly synchronized smile.
“We’ll borrow wisdom from Sleigsta-sama for that.”
“For now, the priority is to become closer to dragons.”
Taking action as soon as they decide. That’s just like the Twin Princesses. We are about to go meet Sleigsta (Old Man) anyway. If so, they surely intend to become closer to dragons as much as possible before that and quickly master the Dragon Heart.
Fiorina and Rim also seemed content with the Twin Princesses’ attention and nestled close to them.
“Ugh. Then I’ll work hard too.”
Ruiseine borrowed Nimia from Priscilla-chan, who was playing on Mistral’s lap, and hugged her.
“I’ll do my best, nyan.”
Nimia buried her face in Ruiseine’s chest happily.
“A Dragon Heart is certainly useful to have. However, while that is important, Ruiseine, won’t you make other efforts?”
“Yes?”
Ruiseine tilted her head at Mistral’s strange question.
“Well, you saw it in the Kyōgeki, didn’t you? The Saintess, I believe. Isn’t being a priestess an honor?”
Ah, I see. The Kyōgeki play was a tragic love story of a Yorttenitos prince and a Saintess. The women still get excited talking about that Kyōgeki.
“A Saintess… I don’t want to become a Saintess.”
However, Mistral was surprised by Ruiseine’s clear refusal.
“Why?”
It’s impossible for Ruiseine to be lazy. If there is a higher path, Ruiseine will always strive towards it. For Ruiseine to say she doesn’t want to be a Saintess… It’s mysterious.
Laira, also surprised by Ruiseine’s unexpected response, peered in from my other side.
“Elnea-kun, a question. Why do I not wish to become a Saintess? This will test your faith, you know?”
“Ehh!” To be suddenly asked a question, I recoiled in surprise. Why does Ruiseine reject being a Saintess? I grumbled, thinking. Humans are all believers of the Goddess. I am no exception. Devout people always visit the temple on their days off. However, since last spring, whenever I had free time, I would visit the Moss Garden and study under Sleigsta (Old Man), so I didn’t go to the temple much. Now, I am being tested on my faith. A Saintess is a priestess who performed miracles of the Goddess. Miracles of the Goddess, for example, resurrecting the dead, calming natural disasters, or healing thousands of injured people in an instant. In short, supernatural phenomena beyond human capabilities. It is said that Saintesses, who performed the miracles of the Goddess, possess a fragment of the Goddess’s power within them. In other words, it is the highest title for a woman in the clergy. Yet, Ruiseine does not want it. I grumbled again. The Twin Princesses seemed to know the answer and sent me encouraging glances. I know what a Saintess is. Like heroes, they are people who become the main characters of stories. Saintesses often appeared in the many stories I read from used bookstores since I was little. As I recall, I have read several stories about Saintesses, but they never seemed to have a happy ending, did they? The Saintesses, who performed the miracles of the Goddess and saved people, somehow became unhappy afterward. But why is that? They were wonderful priestesses who performed the miracles of the Goddess, supreme women who obtained a fragment of the Goddess’s power, yet they became unhappy. Normally, they should be the most blessed beings by the Goddess and obtain much happiness. Hmm, I think the answer is hidden somewhere around here, but I just can’t figure it out any further. I surrendered. “Because Saintesses become unhappy. That’s all I can figure out. I’m sorry.” Ruiseine gently stroked my head as I hung my head dejectedly. “I’m sorry for being mean. But that is the correct answer.” Ruiseine smiled gently. “A Saintess will inevitably fall.” Then, her expression turned serious, and she spoke. “A Saintess is a priestess who performed the miracles of the Goddess. A Saintess harbors a fragment of the Goddess’s power within her. However, the Goddess’s power is too great for humans. Even if it is just a small fragment. A Saintess cannot control the fragment of the Goddess’s power harbored within her and will inevitably go berserk. Some are consumed by overwhelming power. Some are captivated by the urge to destroy. Some drown in pleasure. Their ways of falling may vary, but without exception, they break their minds and destroy themselves.” Everyone listened quietly to Ruiseine’s words. “Furthermore, it would be bad enough if they only fell. But fallen Saintesses cause the fragment of the Goddess’s power to run wild, causing immense damage to those around them. In the past, there was a Saintess who destroyed three cities.” “Three cities…” We were astonished by the sheer scale. “I do not want to become a Saintess. I don’t want to fall and be a nuisance to people, to everyone. And more than honor, I want to be by Elnea-kun’s side forever.” Ruiseine said this with a blush, then rested her head on my shoulder and smiled. “So that’s what it was. I’m sorry for saying something strange.” Ruiseine smiled and replied “It’s okay” to Mistral’s apology. You can easily express your support by clicking the heart. (Login required) Support Log in if you have an account Learn more about the reading experience on Kakuyomu.
