We live at the foot of Dragon Peak.
Convey the thoughts of the dragon.
“Sleigsta, we beg you to grant us permission to enter the sanctuary.”
“Absolutely not.”
“We’ll bring you back souvenirs.”
“There’s no need for such things.”
“Permission cannot be granted.”
“Just this once, that’s all we ask. Therefore, please…”
“You all must be able to sense the sacredness of the Spirit Tree. We cannot allow you to approach it carelessly.”
Sleigsta the Elder adamantly refused to grant permission.
Just as I was about to interject, thinking I could help in some way, Asher sharply warned me.
“Elnea, Mistral, Laira, I do not permit your intervention. Persuade the old man with only those who truly desire the dragon heart.”
“B-but…”
Laira, who had been full of enthusiasm to persuade Sleigsta the Elder, became dejected and came to my side. Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses also wore anxious expressions, having lost a powerful ally. Nevertheless, they continued to strive to persuade Sleigsta the Elder.
“As a miko, I cannot seek abilities beyond divine power. However, as I continue to be by Elnea-kun’s side, I undeniably need a way to connect with the dragon race. Please, lend us your assistance.”
“I don’t want to be separated from Nina. If the dragon heart requires dragon energy, then I don’t want the dragon heart. But I also want to be friends with the dragon race. Therefore, if there is another way, I want to obtain it.”
“I have been told by Jiludo-sama that no matter how hard I try, I cannot obtain dragon energy. However, that does not mean I can give up on communicating with the dragon race. If there is an alternative to the dragon heart, I want to obtain it.”
“Your words are merely the expression of your own desires. For reasons such as those, entry into the sanctuary cannot be permitted.”
“Yes. They are desires. They are impure. However, my desire to connect with the dragon race is not a lie.”
“I am selfish. But I can also discern things. I will not do anything unnecessary. I simply want to go to retrieve the Spirit Tree Fruit. Please permit that.”
“I am selfish, but I am not foolish. I vow to do nothing other than retrieve the Spirit Tree Fruit. Therefore, please permit it.”
“Absolutely not.”
The three persisted despite Sleigsta the Elder’s stubborn refusal. However, no matter how many words they spun, no matter how earnest they conveyed their feelings, Sleigsta the Elder showed no signs of changing his mind.
We watched the three earnestly pleading before Sleigsta the Elder with serious eyes.
“Sleigsta-sama, it’s a wish for a lifetime.”
“A human lifetime is short and fleeting. Too easily obtained.”
“Sleigsta-sama, what must we do to earn your permission?”
“Sleigsta-sama, please grant us your permission.”
“What cannot be done, cannot be done.”
Seeing the three slump their shoulders in unison, Mistral, Laira, and I exchanged glances.
I see. So that’s why those with dragon hearts are not allowed to participate. It was then that we understood Asher’s words.
Sleigsta the Elder rejected the thoughts and words of Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses. However, for us who possessed dragon hearts, Sleigsta the Elder’s feelings were palpable.
A dragon heart is not merely the ability to understand the language of dragons. It is the ability to connect with dragons and read their intentions. Even the slightest movement, a guttural sound, or a subtle shift in their gaze could convey the dragon’s will and emotions.
Mistral, Laira, and I could sense Sleigsta the Elder’s feelings.
Normally, Sleigsta the Elder could easily prevent us from reading his intentions. But now, his feelings were coming through as if we could touch them.
It was so frustrating, to feel Sleigsta the Elder’s intended message but be unable to convey it to the three.
Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses, unable to read Sleigsta the Elder’s intentions, continued their earnest persuasion.
“Hey, hey.”
As we watched with bated breath, Priscilla-chan tugged at the hem of my clothes.
“What is it?”
“What are Ruiseine and the others doing?”
I offered a wry smile at Priscilla-chan’s innocent question.
“Um, well. They are asking for permission to enter the sanctuary.”
“Why?”
“Because they need the Spirit Tree Fruit, and they need to go get it.”
“Hmm.”
Does this exchange seem difficult for Priscilla-chan?
Priscilla-chan turned nine, I believe. However, the growth of the Mimicho Race differs from that of humans, and she looks no older than three or four years old.
Priscilla-chan watched Ruiseine and the others intently, then murmured softly.
“Why don’t Ruiseine and the others focus on Great-Grandpa’s feelings?”
The young Priscilla-chan suddenly hit the nail on the head.
Perhaps hearing Priscilla-chan’s murmur, the three suddenly changed their expressions.
That’s right.
Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses were merely expressing their own feelings. They were not trying to read Sleigsta the Elder’s heart. They had simply accepted his words of refusal at face value and pleaded desperately.
But that’s not it.
Dragons are contrary creatures. Even when they say “no,” their hearts can dance with joy. And humans often misunderstand. When dragons make guttural sounds, they interpret it as a threat. When they spread their wings, they think it’s an attack posture. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, they purr with joy, or spread their wings to stretch and refresh themselves.
In essence, the misunderstanding stems from a lack of understanding of dragons. And the cause of that misunderstanding is the failure to communicate effectively. They are not trying to understand dragons. They are not trying to read the hearts of dragons. That is the cause.
But isn’t that a problem? Especially for the three who are trying to obtain an alternative ability to the dragon heart.
They claim they want to communicate with dragons, yet they don’t even try to understand the heart of the Sleigsta the Elder before them. They are not trying to read it.
One-sided communication, where one does not try to understand the *other* party, is ultimately empty. If they can only engage in superficial verbal exchanges, they won’t be able to obtain the alternative means that is supposed to be more difficult than a dragon heart.
For me, who already possesses a dragon heart and can sense the intentions of Sleigsta the Elder, a dragon, this truth was easily reached. But for Ruiseine and the others, it seems they have only just realized it.
Did the innocent and pure-hearted Priscilla-chan realize it through intuition?
Putting aside their pleas to Sleigsta the Elder for a moment, Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses exchanged glances. Then, the three of them bowed deeply to Sleigsta the Elder.
“We were foolish. Please forgive us.”
“We were mistaken. We were not seeing anything.”
“We were mistaken. We did not understand anything.”
The three apologized deeply and looked up at Sleigsta the Elder once more with serious expressions.
This time, they would not miss Sleigsta the Elder’s intentions. They would properly grasp the other party’s feelings. They would try to understand the other party. Such an aura emanated from the three of them.
“Finally, you have reached the entrance.”
Sleigsta the Elder also sensed the change in the three’s hearts and narrowed his eyes.
Speaking human language is misleading. When told “no,” they tend to take it literally. Especially if they cannot read the other person’s facial expressions.
Dragons are different from humans. Their faces, covered in hard hides and scales, can seem expressionless to the unaccustomed eye, making it difficult to read their superficial emotions.
One must observe them carefully and read their intentions through subtle gestures, the pitch of their guttural sounds, and the movements of their eyes.
And even then, it doesn’t mean one can easily read their emotions.
Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses ceased their pleading. Then, for some reason, they began to engage in casual conversation with Sleigsta the Elder.
Sleigsta the Elder also responded casually and conversationally to the three, whose topic of conversation had suddenly shifted.
“It seems it’s up to the three of you to make an effort now.”
Mistral smiled at the three’s transformation.
“Yeah. We can’t interfere, can we? Let’s just trust them and wait.”
“I sincerely hope they succeed.”
“Oh dear. How troublesome you all are.”
“Waaah. I want to talk to everyone soon!”
“I’m soooo looking forward to it.”
Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses are likely trying to read Sleigsta the Elder’s intentions by engaging in everyday conversation first.
When will they notice Sleigsta the Elder’s heart, which, while saying “no” repeatedly, shows a willingness to permit them?
While watching the three, we took care of the young girls.
After some time had passed.
We taught Priscilla-chan’s style of tag to Fiorina and Rim, who were getting restless, and played with them.
Priscilla-chan’s jumping distance and initial acceleration had increased. Fiorina and Rim fled skyward. We struggled against Mistral, who didn’t hold back, and Laira, whose physical abilities had further improved, and enjoyed a game of tag for the first time in a while.
“Sleigsta-sama, please permit us now.”
“Not yet.”
“Oh, your eyes are smiling.”
“We won’t be fooled again.”
I suddenly stopped, noticing the three’s exchange.
“Um, I caught you!”
I caught Priscilla-chan, who had pounced on me with a spatial jump, as if she were “it.” Then, I looked towards the three.
“Entry into the sanctuary is not permitted.”
“That’s a lie. We can sort of tell.”
“We don’t believe you. Because even though you say that, you’re not intimidating us.”
“We don’t believe you. Because even though you say that, you’re watching us with amusement.”
It seems they have finally become able to observe Sleigsta the Elder properly.
Sleigsta the Elder, who had not been trying to hide his intentions in the first place, was quite expressive if observed closely. His emotions were so abundant that they were conveyed even without a dragon heart.
“It seems you have cleared the first stage. You were told that a dragon heart is the ability to communicate with dragons. Therefore, those who do not truly desire communication and do not try to understand dragons cannot obtain it. You were lacking in that.”
Asher finally spoke.
“Old man. Is it about time now?”
“Hmm. You are still immature, but for this occasion, I shall deem you successful.”
Sleigsta the Elder looked down at the three with gentle eyes.
“It irks me to be used by Asher, but this is for your sake. And by extension, it will be for Elnea’s benefit. For this occasion, as a special exception, I grant you permission to enter the sanctuary.”
Upon Sleigsta the Elder’s permission, we who had been playing tag rushed to Ruiseine and the Twin Princesses, and we all rejoiced.
“I’m sorry for being so inept.”
I hugged Ruiseine, who apologized to me with teary eyes, and praised her.
“No, that’s not true. Grandpa and Asher are just being mean.”
“What? How am I being mean?”
“That’s outrageous.”
They glared at me, but there was no malice in their gaze.
Everyone could now tell such things.
We all laughed and rejoiced at having received permission to enter the sanctuary from Sleigsta the Elder, the first trial.
“Fufufu. I’m monopolizing Elnea-kun.”
“Ah, Ruiseine! You’re deceiving me again!”
Mistral’s eyes bulged as she glared at Ruiseine, who was smiling in my arms.
Ah, Ruiseine has been turning to the dark side lately. I wonder who influenced her… And Mistral’s anger is genuine!
We made Mistral “it” and started the second round of tag.
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