We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Prayer is important.
“Look. Elnea, wake up. Everyone else is already up.”
“Mmm, just a little longer…”
“Priscilla-chan is up too, so come on!”
I could have sworn I just fell asleep, and I was jolted awake by my mother’s banging.
Apparently, my mother still woke me up as usual on my first morning at my family home.
Feeling a mix of nostalgia and intense sleepiness, I got out of the bed that felt like it was swallowing me whole.
“Your hair is exploding. Don’t you dare show yourself to the brides looking like that!”
“Uwah, cold!”
My mother said that as she brushed my hair.
When she fixes my bedhead, no matter how cold winter is, she unceremoniously drapes a wet cloth over my head. Of course, she’s careful not to drip water on the futon.
With the cold stimulus on my scalp jolting me awake, I left my head to my mother. Then, once my hair was untangled, I froze when I tried to change out of my sleepwear.
“Mother, what is this…?”
“Endure it. I’m wearing it reluctantly too.”
“But Father was wearing his usual clothes, wasn’t he?”
“Father has work. He can’t get his work done in clothes with frilly sleeves and hems like these, can he?”
“I can’t be active in frilly clothes either!”
It was undoubtedly the work of a servant. The clothes prepared in my room were dazzling, the kind worn by nobles and the wealthy.
I broke free from my mother’s grasp and rummaged through my luggage brought back from Dragon Peak. Then, I put on my usual clothes.
“Alright, I’m fully charged!”
As I raised my fist, my mother laughed behind me.
Once ready, I left my room. Guided by my mother, we proceeded down the wide, long corridor to the dining hall.
I couldn’t say I still don’t remember the room layouts…
The dining hall was also large. It felt spacious enough to eat with the servants, didn’t it?
“Elnea, good morning.”
Mistral and the others were already seated, waiting for my mother and me. Father’s work started early, so he was nowhere to be seen.
Priscilla-chan and Nimia couldn’t wait for me, and were already munching on bread. Mistral was fussing over Nimia next to him.
As I entered the dining hall, Ares-chan manifested beside Priscilla-chan.
My mother and the servants were surprised by Ares-chan’s sudden appearance.
After exchanging morning greetings with everyone, I took my assigned seat. Then, breakfast was served, and we all enjoyed a delicious and pleasant meal together.
“Elnea-kun, what’s on the schedule for today?”
“Elnea-kun, are you planning to relax today?”
“No, today is finally the day I go to greet Ruiseine’s parents!”
I cheerfully answered Yufilia and Nina’s questions.
“In that case, we shouldn’t intrude.”
“I’m sorry. You all should rest up from yesterday’s fatigue.”
“Then, I’ll take you up on that offer. Mother-in-law, we have work in the Dragon Forest this morning. We’ll be back again this afternoon, so would it be alright to talk then?”
“Oh, don’t be so formal. We’re family now. You’ll get tired if you don’t relax.”
My mother laughed heartily. Mistral and the others also smiled a bit hesitantly, saying “In that case…”
It seemed I wouldn’t have any mother-in-law problems in my new family.
That’s good, that’s good.
As I looked around at everyone, Ruiseine was frozen stiff.
“Ruiseine, what’s wrong?”
“No, I’m just nervous…”
What a surprise.
Ruiseine was more nervous than I was, and we were the ones about to meet her parents.
“Elnea, do your best.”
“Elnea-sama, please be careful.”
“Elnea-kun, you mustn’t lose.”
“Elnea-kun, you mustn’t run away.”
“Eh? What do you all mean?”
And for some reason, I found myself being worried over by everyone.
“You know, Ruiseine was worried last night.”
“Trials await, nyan.”
Even Priscilla-chan looked worried and grabbed my clothes.
It seemed everyone had heard from Ruiseine herself last night about the difficulties that lay ahead.
Trials?
I’m supposed to be nervous about greeting Ruiseine’s parents. After that, I have to persuade high-ranking clergy members at the temple.
I knew from the start that it would be difficult, a task that even the hero Listea struggled to get approved. That’s why I was prepared for the greetings and persuasion to be extremely tough.
But what do you mean, trials?
As for me, I thought the trials set by Sera-sama were the last.
Gulp. I swallowed nervously.
But I won’t run!
“Ruiseine, shall we go?”
“Y-yes.”
Suited by Ruiseine, who was also tense, I took her hand and, seeing everyone off, left the luxurious family home.
“There were trials, huh?”
“Yes, I didn’t know until I returned from my journey. It seems Kiiri, Inea, and Listea-kun didn’t know either.”
“Secret trials, eh?”
I couldn’t ask what kind of trials they were. I didn’t ask about Sera-sama’s trials either. I couldn’t be cowardly here.
Holding Ruiseine’s hand, we walked through the morning capital.
The sunlight, low in the east, poured down on us without being blocked by the sparse buildings.
For us, who had experienced the harsh winter of Dragon Peak, this was not a bone-chilling cold.
According to my father, it snowed and accumulated a thin layer this winter. When I told him that at Dragon Peak, snow could pile up high enough to bury houses, my father and mother shivered in front of the fireplace.
“Ruiseine, what were you doing at the temple after you returned?”
“It was my usual duties. However, I also entertained Mist-san who accompanied me, so I spent my time happily.”
“How were the human race’s reactions to Mistral and the others?”
“They were normal. Normally, they don’t have scales or wings, so they don’t seem out of place. However, they understood that they are scary if angered.”
I was too terrified to ask if it was Mistral who was scary, or the dragon race.
Walking slowly, we emerged onto the north-south main street. Even though it was morning, the main street was bustling with people.
As expected of the capital. It was lively even during its reconstruction.
Stalls selling food lined the street, and it was crowded with people buying food for breakfast and lunch.
Ignoring the energetic crowd, Ruiseine and I headed south along the main street.
Then, we saw a large building under construction coming into view. Its solemn stone walls and pillars were visible, surrounded by wooden scaffolding.
“The temple isn’t finished yet, is it?”
“Someone broke it.”
“Eh? It wasn’t me!? What a slander. I didn’t break the temple, you know?”
“Everything else…”
Ruiseine intentionally looked around.
“Ugh, that’s cruel.”
When I pretended to cry, Ruiseine laughed and petted my head.
“Elnea-kun is as usual.”
“I am a bit nervous, though. But this is my fourth time greeting them.”
“Fufufu, that’s reassuring.”
Ruiseine’s parents and the clergy apparently live communally at the temple. Ruiseine explained that the residences for the Miko and Shinkan were rebuilt almost as quickly as my family home.
As we talked, we finally reached the temple grounds.
The Shrine Plaza, where residents had taken refuge during the demon invasion, was piled high with materials, and craftsmen were already at work. Among them, I spotted a pair of incredibly strong individuals lifting a large square rock.
“Uwah! Those people are strong!”
“They are Dragon Race members.”
“Eh?”
“The suspension bridge that someone broke is scheduled for restoration work in the summer, so they are helping out during other seasons.”
“Ah… I see…”
I wonder who could have dropped a suspension bridge.
Greeting the craftsmen and Dragon Race members, we proceeded towards the temple.
Behind where the beautiful stone main hall originally stood, a wooden longhouse was visible.
“The left side is for Miko, and the right side is for Shinkan. The building in the center is for visitors, so Elnea-kun, please go there. I’ll bring my parents.”
“Okay, I understand. By the way, where is the prayer held?”
“Currently, general worship is not held here. It’s in the ruined sites of small shrines in each district.”
I wanted to pray and steel myself, but it seemed I couldn’t do it here.
Was it my imagination? I felt like the Goddess had abandoned me, and a sense of crisis washed over me.
I can only look down when they say my faith is weak, but it doesn’t feel good to not be able to pray before greeting the Miko.
And yet, I don’t really want to go back the way I came and pray at a small shrine.
Entering the temple grounds, I parted ways with Ruiseine, whose expression had become tense again, and proceeded to the designated building. Entering the central building, filled with the scent of new wood, I found a guiding Shinkan.
Seeing me, the Shinkan led me before explaining anything.
Clergy members would have a record of my face from the demon commotion. They seemed to recognize me immediately. And they probably knew the purpose of my visit.
I entered the reception room guided by the Shinkan. The Shinkan bowed politely and left the room.
Alone, I looked around the not-so-large reception room. A simple chair and desk were placed in the center.
Against the wall stood a statue of a white-winged woman, representing the Goddess.
Ah, something good in a place like this.
I went before the statue of the Goddess and knelt, offering a deep prayer.
Please, grant us permission to marry, Ruiseine and I.
Please, bring peace to my family and parents.
With nothing else to do while waiting for Ruiseine and her parents, I continued to pray.
Prayer is like meditation, isn’t it?
At first, various stray thoughts crossed my mind, but as I concentrated and continued to pray, I entered a state of 무심 (mushin – no mind), and it felt like my heart was being purified.
As I offered prayers akin to meditation, I felt the flow of the Dragon Veins even far beneath the temple.
The world is connected by the Dragon Veins.
I hope my prayers, carried by the Dragon Veins, reach the Goddess who may be somewhere in the world.
“…kun. …Elnea-kun?”
“Hah!”
Darn it. I had unintentionally drifted into meditation while praying and didn’t notice people entering the reception room.
I opened my eyes and scanned my surroundings from my prayer posture.
Then, three people, a man and two women, stood at the entrance.
One was Ruiseine. She looked at me with a troubled expression and called out to me.
And standing behind Ruiseine was…
“Oh? Hello.”
Seeing a familiar face, I couldn’t help but greet them with a smile.
“Hello. Thank you very much for the other day.”
A middle-aged man bowed deeply and respectfully.
“It is my first time meeting you. I am grateful that you saved my life.”
The woman standing next to the man lowered her head with an bow similar to Ruiseine’s.
The two standing behind Ruiseine were the Shinkan and Miko whom I had helped on the way to Nishi no Toride during the demon attack.
“Your sincere prayer has touched our hearts. You are indeed the one Ruiseine chose.”
“To think such a devout gentleman exists. We are deeply impressed. We approve of the marriage between our daughter, Ruiseine, and Elnea-sama.”
“”Eeeehhh!!””
Something, everything, had been misunderstood!
And I was easily accepted by the two people who must be Ruiseine’s parents!
Ruiseine and I let out astonished screams that echoed across the temple grounds.
