We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Ares’s Trap
I ate the Spirit Tree Fruit with single-minded devotion.
No matter how many times I stuffed my mouth full, the flesh of the fruit never seemed to run out.
I started to wonder, “Where’s the seed?” It was just then that I finally saw a pure white object in the center.
It was a pearl-like white sphere. The inverse of the fruit’s size, it was very small, about the size of a grape.
“I wonder if you’re satisfied with the taste.”
Asher spoke up, timing it perfectly with my pause.
“Yes! This is the most delicious fruit I’ve ever eaten!”
“That’s good.”
The Spirit Tree Fruit was so, so delicious that I almost mistook it for Asher having set such a trial to convey its deliciousness to us.
“Perhaps I shall bestow an Amulet for each person.”
“Huh? Do we really need the Spirit Tree Amulets in the end?”
I couldn’t help but interject at Asher’s words.
We have gained the ability to communicate with spirits, animals, and plants. I don’t know the origin or extent of this power yet, but I thought we wouldn’t need the Spirit Tree Amulets anymore.
After all, Asher’s trial was only superficially about retrieving the Spirit Tree Fruit; the real purpose was to gain the ability to communicate with beings who cannot speak, wasn’t it?
“What, I just thought I’d give you a reward since you overcame the trial so quickly.”
“A reward?”
“Don’t get your hopes up. Come on, hand over the Amulets quickly.”
I wonder what kind of reward it will be.
My chest swelled with anticipation as I carefully removed the seed from the Spirit Tree Fruit I hadn’t finished eating. Then, I wiped it clean and handed it to Asher.
Everyone else also removed their seeds and placed them in Asher’s large hand.
Nimia, Fiorina, and Rim placed their seeds along with ours, but Asher, without any particular comment, clasped the Spirit Tree seeds we had given him.
“Exciting!”
Priscilla-chan’s eyes sparkled even more than mine as she gazed at Asher.
“Don’t be so hasty. Such preparations can’t be made immediately.”
However, Asher’s words made us all droop.
“Ku ku ku. There’s no need to be in such a rush. You shall all stay the night here.”
“Can Revalia and the others also stay?”
“It’s fine.”
“That’s great, Revalia!”
“Hmph!”
The Tyrant snorted and turned away, but Ruiseine and the others could read her mind again and were teasing her.
Sigh. I always think of her as “the Tyrant” in my mind, but now that everyone can read my thoughts, all sense of awe has vanished.
She’s been working hard for Dragon Peak, and has been active in the Yorttenitos Kingdom. She always listens to the whims of Lyra and me, and is surprisingly affectionate towards her children, looking after Fiorina and Rim.
Perhaps I shouldn’t think of her as “the Tyrant” anymore. Maybe I should think of her as “Revalia” in my heart from now on.
“Hmph! I won’t be manipulated by you all!”
Perhaps Ruiseine and the others teased her too much, as Revalia let out a roar and fiercely took off from the Moss Garden.
“Good heavens. What a spirited creature.”
But everyone watched her leave with smiles. Old Sleigsta also gazed at the departing Revalia with the look of someone watching their grandchild.
“Uwah, look! This is bad!”
But I saw it. Clinging to Revalia’s back as she flew away from the Moss Garden was Priscilla-chan.
“That child, always doing things on her own…”
She must have jumped onto Revalia’s back right after she took off. Priscilla-chan was happily bouncing on Revalia’s back.
“What should we do?”
“Nimiah was on the child’s head. I don’t think there’s any need to worry.”
Asher replied indifferently to my words.
“Even if she flies from here, she cannot escape my barrier. She is merely flying around the surroundings. She will return when she gets tired.”
So said Old Sleigsta.
It’s true, the entire Dragon Forest is enveloped by Old Sleigsta’s Bewildering Technique. It’s impossible to cross that barrier to enter or exit by one’s own will.
Indeed, Revalia, who had taken flight, was flapping her wings desperately to get away from the Moss Garden, but she found herself flying towards us, or trying to ascend but not gaining altitude.
Revalia seemed frustrated that she couldn’t fly as she pleased, and her flight was more erratic than usual. However, Priscilla-chan on her back seemed to be enjoying it, looking excited.
“Ah, she’s given up.”
Revalia, having given up on escaping. But instead of returning here obediently, she landed beyond the Ancient Tree Forest.
“Ku ku ku. Your companions are all interesting.”
“Come on, everyone. You’re bullying Revalia too much.”
I started to feel sorry for Revalia.
“I’ll go and see her.”
With that, I picked up two more Spirit Tree Fruits, which we had plenty of.
I’ll try to soothe her with these incredibly delicious Spirit Tree Fruits. Revalia ate them so deliciously, so I’m sure this will cheer her up.
“I’ll help! I’ll help!”
Then Ares-chan also came over, holding a Spirit Tree Fruit in both hands. Once she held it, the Spirit Tree Fruit disappeared from Ares-chan’s grasp.
“Thank you.”
“Leave it to me! Leave it to me!”
Ares-chan smiled and continued to make the Spirit Tree Fruits disappear.
Speaking of which, Ares-chan hid my and Mistral’s weapons in the Yorttenitos Kingdom too. I wonder what the principle behind that is.
“Elnea, please take care of Revalia. We’ll prepare dinner.”
“I’m sorry. I got too carried away. As an apology, I’m preparing some delicious food, so please bring Revalia-sama back.”
“Okay, I understand.”
The day had passed quickly with the traveling from the morning and Asher’s trial. It was already nearing sunset.
But there was still a little time before dusk.
“I’ll hurry!”
I said to everyone and then ran towards the forest where Revalia had landed.
The Twin Princesses and Lyra tried to follow me secretly, but were caught by Mistral and Ruiseine.
“Whaaa, I’m going too!”
“Rim too!”
Fiorina and Rim followed me, flapping their wings.
However, soon after entering the Ancient Tree Forest, Fiorina and Rim gave up on flying.
The Ancient Tree Forest has widely spaced trees, allowing young dragons to fly. But Ares-chan and I were walking, careful not to trip on roots or steps, and it’s difficult to fly at a walking pace. Besides, if they fly too far away from us erratically, they’ll get lost in the Bewildering Technique.
They must have been planning to fly around the forest. Fiorina and Rim followed me with very disappointed expressions.
Sigh. I’m going to bring back your guardians. I can’t tell children to be more motivated than that.
I held Ares-chan’s hand, and with Fiorina and Rim trailing behind, we walked through the dimly lit Ancient Tree Forest before dusk.
By the way, the two Spirit Tree Fruits I originally carried were also stored in Ares-chan’s mysterious space.
“Uwah! The forest’s aura feels different?”
“Lost?”
“Huh, that’s strange? Revalia landed in the Ancient Tree Forest, but we’ve ended up in the Dragon Forest.”
Although both the Ancient Tree Forest and the Moss Garden are technically part of the Dragon Forest, we who know the distinctions of forest types could differentiate them by the surrounding aura and the presence of ancient trees.
Still, to cast the Bewildering Technique even on us who came out to meet her. Old Sleigsta, you’re playing too many pranks.
“It can’t be helped. I suppose if we keep walking, we’ll eventually reach Revalia’s location.”
As we started walking again.
As expected. Fiorina suddenly began to rumble in her throat and became wary of her surroundings.
“Waaaah. Scary. There are so many magic beasts!”
“Ah!”
After Fiorina pointed it out, I finally noticed the changes in our surroundings.
Fiorina and Rim spread their wings and became vigilant, emitting the low, fearsome growl characteristic of dragons.
But I knew the true nature of the surrounding presence.
“Fio, Rim, calm down. The magic beasts around us are my friends.”
The magic beasts were invisible. They were using cloaking techniques. But now, I could distinguish the location and type of the cloaked magic beasts.
“Friends with magic beasts!?”
“Sooo coooool.”
At my words, they easily dropped their guard and looked at me with eyes that seemed to be seeing something unusual.
It hurts. The innocent gazes of young dragons are painful.
But we only became friends by chance; I didn’t intend to become friends with magic beasts from the start!
I stroked Fiorina and Rim’s heads and spoke to the surroundings.
“Everyone, it’s been a while. These children aren’t scary, they are all friends!”
The magic beasts were also wary.
That’s natural, isn’t it? Even if they are young, they are dragons accompanying me. Ordinary magic beasts wouldn’t stand a chance against dragons.
They probably gathered because they sensed my presence. But after arriving, they must have seen dragons with me and couldn’t come out, hesitant. My prediction was correct.
First, a Great Wolf Majū appeared silently in the distance. It was in a low stance, ready to move at any moment. Its tail was lowered with tension.
“Hello. Fio and Rim are friends from Dragon Peak. So don’t worry.”
“A big magic beast! Cute!”
Cute, huh…
Without commenting on Fiorina’s remark, I beckoned to the Great Wolf Majū.
Upon hearing that the Great Wolf Majū was my friend, Fiorina and Rim instantly dropped their guard.
Then, the two of them sat down beside me and rubbed their heads against me.
It’s nice that they trust me so readily, but is it okay to become so trusting and defenseless? I worry about your future, big brothers.
With a low growl of wariness, the Great Wolf Majū approached me.
“Will it suddenly attack?”
“No, it won’t. Trust me.”
“!? ”
I heard the Great Wolf Majū’s voice.
Similar to the Dragon Heart, its intentions were directly conveyed into my mind.
The Great Wolf Majū looked at me in surprise at my response.
“Well, you see. I’ve gained the ability to hear everyone’s voices too.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“What a truly mysterious boy.”
“Is that a compliment?”
At my reply, the Great Wolf Majū, surprisingly, approached with audible footsteps.
Perhaps it was out of consideration for the young dragons.
The Great Wolf Majū approached, gauging the young dragons’ reactions, and then licked my cheek.
“Souvenir, souvenir.”
At that moment, Ares-chan, who had been quietly observing, brought out several Spirit Tree Fruits collected at the Moss Garden and placed them in front of the Great Wolf Majū.
“This is…”
“There were some left over, so you can all eat them.”
Ares-chan took out Spirit Tree Fruits one after another from her mysterious space.
“What, it smells delicious…”
“It smells good.”
“Mother, it’s a sweet scent I’ve never smelled before.”
“I’ve never smelled it before either, what is it?”
Enticed by the sweet scent of the Spirit Tree Fruits, magic beasts emerged from the ground in a swarm.
Fiorina and Rim’s eyes widened in surprise at the sheer number and variety of magic beasts, such as rabbit, deer, and bird-types.
The magic beasts were also tense at the presence of Fiorina and Rim, but they couldn’t resist the allure of the Spirit Tree Fruits.
“Let’s all eat.”
At Ares-chan’s words, the magic beasts bit into the Spirit Tree Fruits. Fiorina and Rim also ate their second one.
“Was it okay to be so generous here?”
I wondered if it was alright to give something that only Old Sleigsta could eat to magic beasts so easily, even though it was Ares-chan, the Spirit Tree Spirit, who was offering it.
“Feeding them, feeding them.”
“…”
Could it be that you were the one who came here instead of reaching Revalia’s location!
Ares-chan responded to my suspicious gaze with a beaming smile.
