We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Autumn on Dragon Peak.
The first sign of unrest from the Dragon Race that I noticed was when I went on my first errand with Ruiseine. Fake Dragonkin and a fake hero. Then, Mistral and the others, who were investigating the origin of a magic sword that closely resembled a holy sword, uncovered collusion between the northern Dragon Race and demons.
However, there was no physical evidence, and the Mistrals hesitated to interfere in a dispute within the same race, opting instead to monitor and appease the northern Dragonkin.
In hindsight, that ended in failure.
For the past year, the Dragonkin from the central to southern parts of Dragon Peak had been working to resolve the problem. But the situation only continued to worsen.
Just when we thought it was only the secret activities of the northern Dragonkin, the shadow of Orta, a nightmare from the past, began to appear, and their connection with the demons became increasingly evident.
From around summer, clashes with the northern Dragonkin had become unavoidable.
We strengthened the bonds within the Dragon Race and formed an alliance with the dragons to prepare for the coming events.
And then, finally, the time had arrived.
The winters on Dragon Peak are said to be unimaginably harsh for us humans who live on the plains. Especially in the north, blizzards continue throughout winter, and in some years, many people freeze to death.
Before the frigid winter, the northern Dragonkin made their move.
“You saw my departure from Dragon Peak as an opportunity and made your move, didn’t you?”
Mistral looked at Cornelia with a stern expression.
“It’s not your fault. This is a disturbance that was bound to happen. Sooner or later, the northerners would have attacked.”
Mistral was a deterrent. The Dragon Princess is the title of the strongest among the Dragon Race. Just her presence on Dragon Peak might have made the northern Dragonkin hesitate to act.
But because I got Amelia and everyone else involved and went on an expedition to the Yorttenitos Kingdom…
“So, Dragon Peak is in turmoil right now, so you two should go play for a while longer.”
Cornelia said amiably, as if making small talk. But neither I nor Mistral could nonchalantly nod and say, “Yes, we will.”
“Mother. I am the Dragon Princess. I cannot remain uninvolved in the critical events of Dragon Peak.”
“Cornelia-san, is there anything I can do to help?”
Cornelia isn’t an irresponsible person. She doesn’t want to involve us humans in the problems of the Dragon Race. And she’s considerate enough to worry about us if Mistral were summoned alone. That’s why she’s trying to keep us away from this turmoil, along with Mistral.
Perhaps Asher-san told me not to return until my trial was over, and then looked distressed when I returned sooner than he expected, because he knew this would happen.
However.
I understand Cornelia’s feelings, and the consideration of the Dragon Race, but.
“I overcame the trials of the Dragon Race and was recognized as a warrior, wasn’t I? If so, as a warrior involved in Dragon Peak’s affairs, and as Mistral’s partner, I want to be part of this turmoil.”
At my words, Cornelia’s gentle expression changed, and she directed a sharp gaze at me. It was a gaze not as Mistral’s mother, but as a Dragon Race warrior.
“Do you have the resolve?”
I met Cornelia’s gaze head-on.
“This will be a bloodbath between the Dragon Race. If you, a human, enter and kill a Dragonkin, you will surely be hated. Not only by enemies, but also by allies.”
The Dragon Race is a superior race to humans. I had experienced and felt this countless times before. If a human, who belongs to another, supposedly inferior race, were to step in and even kill a Dragonkin, albeit an enemy…
My acquaintances, the Dragonkin people I know, are all good people. But still, there might be some among them who look down on humans. From their perspective, it’s understandable that some would not welcome me barging into a conflict between their own kind.
But…
“I am prepared. The moment I decided I wanted to marry Mistral, I wanted to connect with the Dragonkin people beyond our races. But I don’t want to do anything superficial, like avoiding the conflict and trying to deepen our fellowship with pretty words. If I am to be deeply involved, I want to accept and embrace both good and evil, and share all sorrow and joy. If it’s necessary as a step towards that, I will accept the hatred born from my actions. I believe that deepening understanding and resolving resentment and misunderstandings with those who dislike me is my trial. If I run away from it, I don’t think I can truly connect with the Dragonkin people from the heart.”
Ultimately, the insurmountable gap between the Dragon Race and humans still exists, which is why I might be hated even by those who should be allies. Cornelia worries about me, and I’m causing her concern.
But that’s proof that I’m still not fully accepted by the Dragonkin people.
If that’s the case, I have no choice but to act to earn deeper trust and be recognized as the Dragon King.
“I want the Dragon Race’s problems to be my problems. If you’re going to let me into the Dragon Race’s circle, I don’t want to be excluded from inconvenient matters. I don’t want to look away. So, please let me participate!”
I wonder if my words got through. Did my intentions reach her? I looked back at Cornelia with sincere eyes and spoke my feelings.
Will they laugh at my cheap sense of justice? Will I be scolded for being a human who interferes too much? Will I be dismissed, wondering what good I could possibly do?
But even so. I want to do everything I can. If I can be of even the slightest help to Dragon Peak and the Dragon Race, I want to use this power without reservation.
Cornelia’s expression, which had been sharp, softened back to its usual gentleness.
“I have heard your resolve. Then, Dragon King, please lend us your strength.”
And with that, Cornelia bowed deeply to me.
“If Elnea-kun is going, then I will go too.”
“I will be with Elnea-sama!”
“Where Elnea-kun goes, that’s where I go.”
“Where Elnea-kun goes, that’s where I will proceed.”
“Um, are you going out? Pricilla wants to go too!”
“Ehhh, everyone’s going too!?”
I wanted only Mistral and I to be involved in the Dragon Race’s turmoil, and for everyone else to stay in a safe place!
“Fufufu. Mistral, you have a wonderful family.”
Cornelia smiled gently as she watched everyone’s eagerness. Mistral sighed as if troubled, but the corners of her eyes were softened.
“What hasty people. They return only to leave again. Here, take this. Don’t push yourself too hard. If anything happens that injures Nimia, I’ll chase you to the ends of the earth and tear you apart.”
Asher-san said that, let out a divine roar, and threw something towards us.
What is it? We went to pick up the object that fell onto the moss carpet.
“This…!”
The object, thrown carelessly, was a sphere of familiar size. However, the spheres in my memory had a faint white glow like pearls, while the one before me shone with seven colors. Just like a Dragon Jewel.
They were about the size of grapes, and eleven of them lay scattered on the moss.
“I told you yesterday. This is a reward for your trial.”
“Are these Spirit Tree Jewels?”
We picked up the small, iridescent spheres and examined them closely.
Ruiseine and the others were exclaiming about them being like gems and their beautiful glow, but Mistral and I held our breath as we looked at the Spirit Tree Jewels in our palms.
“Spirit Tree Jewels can contain Dragon Energy. This one has my Dragon Energy imbued in it. Cherish it.”
“Hmm. You can think of them as small Dragon Jewels. Just looking at them, they seem to have defensive power. Keep them close and cherish them.”
Sleigsta (Old Man)’s supplement caused Ruiseine and the others, who had been excitedly chattering, to stop and look at the Spirit Tree Jewels in their hands, just like I was.
Their faces twitched slightly.
“Is it alright for us to receive something so amazing?”
“Don’t make me say it again, Miko. This is your reward from the other day. And since I’m entrusting Nimia to you, I’m worried about the weak defensive power of mere humans.”
Hmph, Asher-san snorted like Revalia and turned his head away.
In other words, protecting us means keeping Nimia, his beloved daughter, away from danger. He’s cooperating as much as he can to protect Nimia. And that also means he agrees to let us take Nimia with us.
“Nyan, I’ll do my best, nyan.”
“Pricilla will do her best too!”
Personally, I don’t want to take Pricilla-chan to a dangerous place. She’s a precious child entrusted to us by the Mimicho Race, and I don’t think she’s old enough to witness such bloodshed.
“That’s overprotective. If she’s ostracized, she’ll stray from the right path.”
Those were the words of the overly protective Asher-san.
“I can’t help it. Nimia, please protect Pricilla-chan?”
“Nyan.”
“I’ll protect, I’ll protect.”
Mistral and Cornelia also agreed, with Nimia not only protecting Pricilla-chan but also the Spirit Tree Spirit, Ares-chan.
“I’ve thought of a good idea.”
“Yufi (Female), that’s a wonderful idea.”
As the Twin Princesses ran around the moss garden saying that, I picked up the remaining four Spirit Tree Jewels that had fallen onto the moss. Then I handed them to Nimia, Revalia, Fiorina, and Rim.
“Fio, return to your nest.”
“Ah, that’s right. We can’t keep the Dragon Leader with us forever, can we?”
I nodded at Revalia’s words. Then, Fiorina rubbed her head fiercely against my stomach.
Ouch! My horns are digging into me, it hurts!
“Waaah, I don’t want to be left out. If you send me back alone, I’ll stray from the path!”
“Wh-what are you saying!”
“If you don’t take Rim too, he’ll stray from the path!”
“…It’s Asher-san’s fault.”
I unintentionally gave Asher-san a sidelong glance.
“Everyone, thank you for your cooperation. Well then, once we’re ready, let’s depart.”
Mistral looked at each person in turn and bowed her head.
“We are family. When we do something, we do it all together!”
With practiced movements, we quickly prepared ourselves and moved to Revalia’s back.
“Ares-chan, can you use my Two-handed staff?”
“Yep, yep.”
Ares-chan produced a Spirit Tree Two-handed staff from a mysterious space and handed it to Laira. The aura, which had been weak during our time in the Yorttenitos Kingdom, was now filled with vibrant power.
“Old Man, open the way.”
“Gladly.”
“Revalia, fly straight towards Dragon Peak.”
At Mistral’s command, Revalia flapped her wings fiercely and took flight. With a mighty roar, she accelerated west.
We waved goodbye to Sleigsta (Old Man), Asher-san, and Cornelia on the moss garden.
“First, where should we go?”
Ruiseine tilted her head.
“Before heading north, I’d like to go to the suspension bridge repair site if possible. We couldn’t help out in the end, so I want to apologize.”
If there was turmoil on Dragon Peak, the construction work might be suspended. But I felt like I couldn’t just postpone this.
Revalia understood my intentions and flew towards Dragon Peak. Sleigsta (Old Man)’s Bewildering Technique didn’t trap us, and Dragon Peak quickly approached. In the blink of an eye, the green of the forest below us turned into the green of the mountains.
Revalia immediately identified our target from the chain of peaks and flew along the valley.
The scenery flowed by at a speed that other wyverns, though not as fast as Nimia, couldn’t match. It was autumn, and the autumn leaves were beginning to spread from the mountaintops.
And in the blink of an eye, we arrived at the site where the suspension bridge was being rebuilt.
“What is this…”
But the scene unfolding below us was vastly different from when we stopped by before heading to the Yorttenitos Kingdom.
The thick ropes spanning both banks had burned away, and the materials had turned into black ink. White smoke was still rising, and the burnt smell reached high into the sky. The ropes, materials, and even the huts that the workers used for breaks and overnight stays had been burnt to a crisp, leaving scars on the ground.
“What on earth happened…”
We looked down, breathless and stunned.
“Be careful. I sense evil Dragon Energy!”
At Ruiseine’s sudden warning, Revalia ascended rapidly. Black flames swept through the sky where Revalia had just been flying.
Revalia let out an angry roar. And from the bushes ahead, where she glared sharply, nearly ten eerie, jet-black wyverns took flight.
“Cursed Wyverns!!”
