We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Before Departure
“Grandpa, do you know about the Full Moon Flower?”
“Ho ho, have you gotten yourself involved in something strange again?”
“That’s cruel! It’s not like that. It’s a condition for my marriage to Ruiseine, demanded by the temple. They won’t approve unless I bring them the Full Moon Flower…”
“Good grief. Humans are truly foolish.”
“Asher, do you know about the Full Moon Flower?”
“I don’t. I’ve never even heard of it.”
“What? Even Asher doesn’t know…?”
Lyseine and I decided to cooperate with Listea and her group.
The temple’s condition had been that we act separately from our respective companions – Mistral and his group for us, and Cerise-chan and her group for Listea. However, they approved of Lyneia and my joint activities.
Therefore, before undertaking the trial, we decided to gather information.
Listea’s group apparently plans to search the royal castle’s archives.
The capital of the Armēdo Kingdom was located in a region vulnerable to wyvern attacks, so treasures, important clothing, and historical books were stored underground. Thus, even when the surface town was destroyed, the underground storage had survived the disaster. Listea, along with Cerise-chan and the others, is investigating old texts and books.
As for me, I came to consult with the wise old man and Sleigsta the Elder.
However, the replies were not promising.
The Full Moon Flower – a flower unknown even to Asher, an Ancient Dragon Species. Sleigsta the Elder also closed his eyes with a sigh.
What kind of flower is the Full Moon Flower?
Without knowing even its appearance, there’s no way to search for it.
According to Listea’s group, it’s a flower that often appears in fairy tales and legends, but there are no accurate descriptions. The color, shape, and size vary with each story, making it impossible to know which is the correct information.
“At any rate, you will be going on a journey for a while. In that case, you should mention it to the Spirit of the Spirit Tree.”
“Yes. If I don’t greet them, it won’t be funny if the capital turns into a forest by the time I get back.”
Perhaps the Spirit of the Spirit Tree, who is knowledgeable about nature, might know. With a sliver of hope, I ventured deep into the Ancient Tree Forest.
The Spirit of the Spirit Tree is Ares-chan, but she only offered a gentle smile.
Ares-chan seems young too, perhaps she doesn’t know?
But a spirit attached to a motherly Spirit Tree that must be thousands of years old might know.
As I walked deeper into the forest holding Ares-chan’s hand, various spirits began to gather as usual.
“Everyone, I’m sorry today. We’re a bit busy.”
When I told them I wouldn’t be able to play with them, they said they’d just come for a walk and followed. Well, a little bit of that should be fine.
We walked happily through the forest. Then, we reached the roots of the Spirit Tree.
“Hello, Spirit of the Spirit Tree.”
“Yes, hello.”
“No, no, I wasn’t just greeting Ares-chan, you know?”
Indeed, Ares-chan is also a spirit of the Spirit Tree.
Beneath the Spirit Tree, whose top was too high to see, I sent my greetings into a space from nowhere. Then, the space shimmered, and a beautiful woman appeared.
“You didn’t come yesterday.”
“Urk. I was busy with various things. Besides, I can’t come every day.”
Since the end of the year, I had been visiting this place frequently.
There are still trials from Sleigsta the Elder to complete, and I have a promise with the woman, the Spirit of the Spirit Tree.
To elevate the Dragon Sword Dance to a higher realm. And another thing. I continued the continuation of an important trial here in the plaza of the Spirit Tree, with the woman’s assistance.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“You know I’m not here for the continuation of the trial, don’t you?”
“I can tell by your presence. You’ve brought trouble with you.”
“Urk…”
The woman, the Spirit of the Spirit Tree, sat on the roots of the Spirit Tree with alluring movements. Her seductive demeanor surpassed that of Yufilia and Nina.
“So, what is your request?”
“Yes, actually.”
And so, I asked the woman about the Full Moon Flower.
“How foolish. It’s so insignificant that I don’t even feel like teaching you.”
“Eeeeh? Please teach me! From the way you speak, you definitely know, right?”
“You are someone who aims for the heights. Then, do not easily receive answers from others. Find it yourself.”
“Even so. I don’t expect to be told where it blooms, but at least I should know what kind of flower it is, otherwise, I can’t search for it.”
What if the flower blooming at my feet was actually the Full Moon Flower? But if I had no knowledge of it, I might overlook it without realizing it. Or, should I collect every flower in the world? Impossible, impossible. I could never achieve such a thing, even in hundreds or thousands of years.
Perhaps Sleigsta the Elder was worried about that possibility.
Sensing my confused thoughts, the woman shrugged her shoulders with a look of exasperation.
“What have you learned from Sleigsta? What have you learned here? Look back at your journey thus far. If you do, the world will lead you to the Full Moon Flower. This is my advice. After that, find the answer yourself.”
My past journey?
I met Sleigsta the Elder, formed a bond with Mistral and his group, and had various adventures in Dragon Peak, the Armēdo Kingdom, and even in distant lands like the Yorttenitos Kingdom and the Demon Race’s Country.
Could the answer to finding the Full Moon Flower lie within them?
“The world guides those who desire. Have confidence. You are loved by the Spirit Tree.”
“Yes. I don’t think I’ll find the answer immediately, but I will definitely reach the Full Moon Flower. Thank you for your advice.”
I bowed deeply to the woman, the Spirit of the Spirit Tree.
The branches and leaves of the Spirit Tree swayed gently.
It felt encouraging, as if the Spirit Tree was cheering me on.
The spirits who had gathered also seemed to be cheering, jumping with joy and dancing with light.
No, wait.
“You want to play, right?”
“We knoooow.”
“Fufufufu.”
“We’re not letting you go today?”
“No, no, I’ll be back before sundown!”
“This is unavoidable. I’ll play with you.”
“Hii, when you show up, things get really bad!”
“Hoo-kok-hoo-kok.” (Sound of a child)
“Ares-chan, if you keep quiet about this, I’ll secretly give you a treat.”
My information gathering seems to have concluded.
“Find the answer yourself.” Since the woman, the Spirit of the Spirit Tree, said so, the flower’s shape, color, size, and where it blooms must be hidden within my past experiences.
Now that I know that, it’s up to my effort.
I have to repay her for her advice. Therefore, for the time being, I will spend my time giving back to the spirits and the woman until they are satisfied.
Today, including the woman who was strangely eager to play, we ran wild at the roots of the Spirit Tree.
“To conclude, there was absolutely no reliable information about the Full Moon Flower.”
“I’m sorry. I searched through books and documents, but there were no clues.”
“Surely, I just need to find a red, black, yellow, rainbow-colored, transparent, large yet small flower that attacks people, causes hallucinations, and has a sweet scent!”
Listea’s group and our group searched separately, and everyone gathered at my family home to compare information.
Listea’s group had been making inquiries and investigations with the country.
“Still, it’s such a magnificent mansion! Isn’t it bigger than the house Listea was given?”
Naimi, who helped me search, moved around the room like a small animal, finding everything she saw interesting. A young girl followed behind her, giggling, doubling the noise.
“…What a strange flower it is.”
“No, no, Lyra. You shouldn’t take Naimi’s words at face value.”
“I’m sorry. The appearance and shape of the Full Moon Flower differ in every document and story I search, so I have no idea what the real clue is.”
“No, thank you, Creacio. Slaton hasn’t returned yet, has he?”
Since returning to the capital, Clissio, who had been waiting for Slaton to return near where the East Triumphal Gate once stood, had also come to help.
“There’s no information about such a flower in Dragon Peak either.”
“That can’t be helped, can it? The Dragon Race doesn’t worship the Goddess, so it’s natural they wouldn’t know about a flower cherished by the Goddess.”
Not just the hero’s party. My family had also gathered. Before departing for the trial, I am allowed to see everyone.
“I investigated with the temple, but it was no use.”
“Since it’s a temple trial, I thought there would be at least some clue as to what kind of flower it is, even if it only appears in legends and has no sightings.”
“What a shame. There were no documents, and nobody knew!”
Everyone tilted their heads in unison at the fact that even the temple had never seen the Full Moon Flower nor knew what kind of flower it was.
“Then, how is the Head Miko woman going to distinguish the real flower?”
Mistral’s words made everyone deepen their head tilt.
“So, Elnea, did you not obtain any information? To be honest, I suspect the legendary dragon in the Dragon Forest would have the most reliable information.”
“About that…”
Everyone looked at me.
“Grandpa remained silent and I couldn’t get anything out of him. Maybe Grandpa doesn’t know either.”
“Does that mean there are no clues at all? The only signpost is heading north.”
“No, wait a moment. I couldn’t get anything from Grandpa, but from another woman…”
My words, “I was able to hear,” didn’t finish.
“Elnea has already started cheating on us without us knowing.”
“It seems Elnea was meeting with a woman we don’t know.”
“Uwah, no! That’s a misunderstanding! That person isn’t human!”
“Elnea?”
“Elnea-kun?”
“Elnea-sama?”
As everyone closed in on me, I hastily ran away. But I haven’t done anything I shouldn’t! We were just playing tag or hide-and-seek.
“Your family is quite lively…”
Listea’s group chuckled as if it were none of their business.
“W-well, there was a woman similar to Asher…”
“When that child takes that form, she’s incredibly sensual.”
“Mistral, what are you talking about?!”
Everyone, please behave yourself. We are not alone right now. And we are in the middle of an important discussion.
But it’s always like this.
My family is always lively, no matter what. They don’t forget to have fun and always enjoy themselves. It’s common for discussions to go off-topic. After making a commotion like this, they always return to the original topic once they are satisfied.
…Right?
“Well, leave that aside. I’ll interrogate you about it when you get back.”
“No, no, there’s nothing to interrogate about, I haven’t done anything strange!”
Women like Mistral and Cerise-chan, who are excluded from this trial, are not allowed to go to the Northern Land with us.
This is a trial to see if Lyusia and I can take the Miko as our spouse; we cannot borrow the strength of our other brides.
Therefore, when we head to the Northern Land, we must part with Mistral and the others for a while.
“So, what did you hear from that secret beauty?”
“No, no, I didn’t say she was secret or a beauty!”
Well, she is undeniably beautiful.
While interjecting to the smiling Listea, I presented to everyone what the woman, the Spirit of the Spirit Tree, had told me.
“Elnea’s journey thus far.”
“That’s what she said, but I don’t think it’s limited to me. Lyseine has been on adventures for much longer than I have. I think her experience is definitely superior. So, I think her words apply to Lyseine and everyone else too.”
“In other words, the true identity of the Full Moon Flower is hidden within what we have experienced and learned so far?”
“I think that’s a possibility.”
“Then, why did Yashura point to the Northern Land?”
“We need to think more about that.”
“Ah, that’s right. Although we didn’t get any information about the Full Moon Flower, we did acquire some other information.”
“We inquired with the adventurers.”
Listea’s group seemed to have gathered information from various places in a short time. I have to admit, they are amazing in this regard. They are accustomed to adventuring, so their information gathering is efficient.
“The Northern Land. More precisely, north of the Wyvern Hunting Ground. That area is said to be uncultivated, but it’s not entirely unknown territory.”
“Meaning?”
“Adventurers have set out on expeditions to the Northern Land before.”
“I see. Uncultivated lands are places that surely excite adventurers!”
“Exactly. So, we were able to speak with an adventurer who had set foot in the Northern Land. It seems the Beast Race lives there.”
“They said it’s a dangerous land where they are divided into several tribes and are at war.”
The information about the Northern Land brought by Listea’s group filled me with a bad feeling.
