We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Past and Precepts
“Mist, sit!”
“Wh-why…?”
“That’s right. Mistral-sama, sit.”
“Mistral, sit.”
The women, who were just boisterously chatting, suddenly took on a strange atmosphere.
Why is Mistral being told to sit in seiza?
Besides, it’s always me who gets yelled at while in seiza, so it feels strangely off.
Mistral tilts his head, confused. However, due to his guilt over keeping his transformation a secret and the pressure from everyone’s imposing presence, Mistral sits in seiza.
I shouldn’t be smirking, thinking I’m seeing something rare!
“Hey, hey, why is Mistral in seiza?”
“Ah, Elnea-kun is also in seiza.”
“Ehhhhh!”
How did this happen!
I’m made to sit in seiza next to Mistral.
Everyone surrounds us, looking down at us.
Priscilla-chan, for example, crosses her arms and pouts.
No, no, you don’t even understand what’s happening, you’re just enjoying the atmosphere, right?
“Meow.”
Nimai chirps happily on Priscilla-chan’s head.
“Elnea-kun, you’re too lenient with Mist.”
For some reason, I’m scolded first, not Mistral, who was initially told to sit. But why? I tilt my head, having no idea why I’m being lectured.
“Moo.”
“Moo.”
Fiorina imitates Ruiseine and meows amusingly.
“Well then, Mist. Why have you kept your transformation a secret from us?”
“That’s right. Not just Mistral-sama, but all of you Dragonfolk have kept it a secret.”
Now that I think about it, that’s true. Why have the Dragonfolk and Mistral kept their transformation ability hidden from us? And this question was something I should have asked Mistral first. Is that why I’m being scolded too?
Transformation ability. Is it called “Human-Dragon Transformation” because they become close to dragons? I don’t really know.
Mist bows her head in apology to everyone’s questioning.
“You accepted us so readily…”
Mist unconsciously clutches the hem of my clothes as I sit beside her.
“But not everyone is as strong as you are.”
Mist explains. The past failures of the Dragonfolk and the precepts born from them.
It seems rare for Dragonfolk to choose a mate from outside their own race. If you descend east from Dragon Peak, you’ll quickly reach the capital of the Armēdo Kingdom. Caravans visit the capital several times a year. If you descend west, you’ll find the Demon Race’s countries. To the south of Dragon Peak, there are tribes that have contact with the Divine Race’s country.
In such an environment, it’s not uncommon for Dragonfolk to fall in love with other races.
“However, only Dragonfolk have the ability to change their form from human to dragon.”
Humans and Divine Races look similar. As for the Demon Race, some are naturally monstrous, but apparently, none have the ability to transform like that. Beast races can transform between human and beast forms, but Dragonfolk are different. They don’t fully transform into dragons; they might sprout wings or develop scales, but they only resemble them. Some people apparently grow tails, but no one fully transforms into dragon form.
But because of that. The form of being human yet not human appears strange and frightening to ordinary people.
We’re somewhat desensitized because we’re used to seeing dragons and magic beasts, but when you put it that way, it’s true that seeing a person change into a monstrous form might be scary.
In the past, there were cases where people were frightened and ran away after seeing their Dragonfolk mates transform, or families who cursed them, calling them deceivers, and broke their bonds.
From this, a precept was established within the Dragonfolk.
When accepting someone from another race who doesn’t know about Human-Dragon Transformation, those around them must cooperate and keep it a secret. If it’s to be revealed, the Dragonfolk who accepted the mate from another race must do so themselves. However, if there isn’t a deep bond, it must not be revealed.
There are also cases where those who took a mate from another race left the Dragonfolk village without revealing the truth. This is because if they continued to live in the Dragonfolk village, it would inconvenience other Dragonfolk who couldn’t transform.
Even with the deepest bonds and love, some people are still afraid of forms that are not human. This is especially common among women and those who are mentally immature.
“Then, did Mistral not trust me? Is the bond between me and Mistral still shallow?”
Listening to Mistral’s explanation, my heart sinks. Mistral hugs me as I look down.
“No. I’m sorry. It was just my own cowardice. It was my own foolishness…”
Mistral says she should have confessed from the beginning. When Old Man Sleigsta brought up marriage talks, she should have shown him what Dragonfolk look like.
“But I couldn’t… Because I thought you would hate me. I thought I would lose you.”
I hug Mistral tightly, who is hugging me tightly.
“Thank you.”
I don’t want to lose Mistral either. No matter what form she takes, she’s still Mistral. While I was initially captivated by her appearance, now I love her, inside and out.
“H-hold on. This is a time for scolding. Hugging is forbidden!”
“Mistral-sama, it’s unfair to monopolize love by exploiting Elnea-sama’s feelings!”
“She’s a calculating woman.”
“She’s a villainess.”
“Ugh, include me! Include me!”
“Rim too!”
“Um, Priscilla will do her best too!”
“Meow.”
How did this happen! In the end, we always end up in a huge commotion. Revalia lets out a deep sigh as she watches us descend into a second commotion.
“Still, don’t the Dragonfolk have many precepts for marrying someone from another race, including bride training?”
“That’s unavoidable. When interacting with other races, various problems inevitably arise.”
The Twin Princesses and Lyra are talking while Mistral and Ruiseine, who were separated from me, are also talking. For us humans, other races are distant existences. Dragon Peak, where the Dragonfolk live, is a bit west of the Armēdo Kingdom’s capital, but ordinary people can’t easily enter. The number of people who interact with the occasional caravans is limited. The Mimicho Race hides in the Dragon Forest, but surely no one knows about them. Thus, humans, who have few customs of interacting with other races, have no such precepts as the Dragonfolk. Because the Dragonfolk interact with many races, they have this special precept.
By the way, bride training is also one of the precepts, isn’t it? I still haven’t heard what bride training actually is. Ah, there’s something else you’re keeping a secret from me! This is something I absolutely must get to the bottom of! I exclaim this only in my mind. I’m being crushed by Nina’s ample bosom, and my nose is practically buried in them. I suspect there will be more differences and secrets with the Dragonfolk from now on. But that can’t be helped. After all, we still have parts that the Dragonfolk don’t know about, and the Dragonfolk have various entanglements. But no matter what secrets there are or what surprises occur, I will never come to dislike Mistral. I wanted to tell Mistral that loudly. But I was so close to suffocating between her breasts that I couldn’t! I’ll whisper sweet nothings to her later when we’re alone.
“Meow, I’ll translate what Elnea-big brother is thinking, meow.”
No! Nimah, don’t! It loses its meaning if you say it!
“Nimah, that’s forbidden!”
My shout was swallowed by Lyra’s bosom this time and never reached them… Revalia flies south at high speed. The destination is a village inhabited by Southern Dragonfolk, a place where Dragon Kings often gather for meetings. Now that I think about it, the method for the Dragon Kings, scattered throughout Dragon Peak, to gather regularly in one place must have been through Human-Dragon Transformation and flying, right? In response to the commotion among the Northern Dragonfolk, warriors from the southern regions are beginning to assemble. If the commotion drags on and engulfs the south as well, they might be taken advantage of by the Demon or Divine Races. Perhaps the Dragon race is also sensing the danger of the curse, as they are beginning to unite and move under the Dragon Peak Alliance.
However, the matter of Alta seems likely to be the most important. Alta stole the Ryūhōken. Unfortunately, we could barely escape and couldn’t retrieve the Ryūhōken. I believe the commotion among the Northern Dragonfolk and Alta are connected. This can be inferred from the information so far, the cursed Dragonfolk, and the Dragonfolk who ride them. And Alta also has connections with the Demon Race. The dragon-slaying weapon and magic sword she initially possessed, and her black armor, are not items owned by Dragonfolk. If so, where are they supplied from? There’s only one answer. However, it’s strange that the Northern Dragonfolk, who were most at odds with the Demon Race, would associate with them. We still don’t have enough information. Other Dragonfolk must also be seeking more information. Therefore, we decided to join forces with the Dragonfolk handling the situation. We fly over the peaks of Dragon Peak, dyed in autumn colors, heading towards the village. We can’t keep making a fuss forever. While remaining vigilant of our surroundings, we take a short break on Revalia’s back. It’s only now that I realize, looking back at everyone’s state with a clearer mind, how intense the battle with Alta was. Our clothes are dirty and frayed. Mine are so torn that my upper body is practically bare, a pathetic sight. As for Mistral, well, it can’t be helped that her back clothes were torn when she sprouted wings. We cleared a section of peaks higher than the clouds, and our view opened up. We should arrive at the village soon. Everyone must have thought so. However, what greeted our eyes was the sight of Dragonfolk warriors engaged in aerial combat. “Uwah. Lots of secrets are flying around!” This isn’t a time to be so flippant! We have to do something! But in the entangled melee of aerial combat, I can’t tell who is friend and who is foe among the Dragonfolk. In that case… “Revalia, fly right into the middle of the aerial combat as if to intimidate the Dragonfolk! Nimah, could you grow big just once?” “Hmph, it would be best to burn it all down.” “No, no, that’s absolutely forbidden!” “Nyan.” I somehow managed to calm Revalia, who seemed displeased, and jumped onto the giant Nimah. Priscilla-chan clung to me, so I grudgingly accepted her. Nimah separated from Revalia and ascended above the clouds. Revalia let out a fierce roar and plunged into the midst of the fiercely battling Dragonfolk. The Dragonfolk stopped fighting and scattered into the sky in a panic. Then, the giant Nimah and we appeared from above them all. “Nimah, give them one!” “Meow.” A terrifying sight, unimaginable from its cute meow, spread across the mountainside. The trees, dyed in autumn colors, vanished, instantly transforming into a world of pure white ash. While this is a familiar sight to us, the Dragonfolk warriors, witnessing Nimah’s dragon arts for the first time, let out screams. Nimah slowly lowered her altitude according to my instructions. That alone caused the aerial combat to cease. It was probably the Northern Dragonfolk. Several transformed Dragonfolk quickly flew north in a panic. We continued to descend and landed in a village near a lake. Revalia landed shortly after us. And after that, the transformed Dragonfolk warriors landed with an awkward atmosphere. You can easily convey your support by clicking the heart. Support Login if you have an account. Learn more about the reading experience on Kakuyomu.
