We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Cerise and I.
“Elnea-kun. I went all the way to the Yorttenitos Kingdom. And you see…”
The reception was filled with lively chatter.
After some important figures from the kingdom gave speeches, luxurious food and plenty of drinks were served, leading to a fun, standing-party-style time.
There was a slight commotion before the opening, but we, the battle-hardened ones, handled it. Silencing our presence, we quietly retreated to a corner of the venue.
It was the same at the tea party where I met Yufilia and Nina, but when you blend into a crowd of many people, you’re surprisingly inconspicuous.
And so, we found our peace. However, no matter how much we tried to conceal ourselves, there was nothing we could do if we entered someone’s line of sight.
A certain girl ran up to me, her face flushing as she spoke.
“Um, yes?”
“You know. I’ve always wanted to go to the Yorttenitos Kingdom. So, I took a leap of faith and went there in my first year of traveling.”
That’s amazing. I, on the other hand, had always assumed that traveling to the Yorttenitos Kingdom on my own would be too far and dangerous, never even considering it as a goal. This girl set a big goal and achieved it.
“And then. In the capital city there, I saw Elnea-kun!”
“What? Really?”
I never expected to see someone who had seen me in such a faraway land. I couldn’t help but latch onto the girl’s story.
“I bought a lot of souvenirs, too.”
The girl, looking a little embarrassed, started to take something out of her pocket.
Hmm, I have a bad feeling about this.
“This, this is…”
“Th-that’s!?”
What the girl pulled out was undeniably my black history: a woodblock print of the celestial maiden Elnea!
“Please give me your handprint on this!”
“What in the world are you talking about!?”
What is a handprint?
Does it become a trend for celebrities to put their handprints on woodblock prints?
Letting out a strange scream, I turned to Listea, who was grinning nearby, watching us.
“No, I’ve never done anything like a handprint either.”
“R-really?”
Why did this girl want my handprint so badly?!
No, more importantly, right now.
Perhaps because I yelled out, I drew the attention of the people nearby. And, after all that effort to conceal our presence and escape, everyone now knew where we were.
“Hey, that’s the hero, Listea-san.”
“Look, look. Isn’t that Elnea-kun, who was talking to a large dragon during the commotion earlier?”
A crowd of boys and girls started to gather.
I wonder why. I could face the demon army with courage, but these people, with their sparkling eyes, intimidated me.
“Ruiseine.”
“Yes!”
I took the hand of Ruiseine, who never left my side.
Then, without hesitation, I activated Spatial Jump.
“They disappeared!?”
“They vanished in an instant!”
“Damn it. Elnea, just for themselves.”
“Uwah. You two are so unfair!”
Listea and the others were sacrificed…
Ruiseine and I escaped the pinch through Spatial Jump.
Hahaha. No one can match our speed when it comes to running away. It’s not for nothing that we play tag every day.
Once we arrived at our destination, we again blended into the surroundings and remained quietly.
As I watched everyone mingling in the hall, they seemed to be divided into several groups and scattered individuals.
The center of these groups consisted of celebrities like Listea and Slaton, or cool guys and cute girls from various schools. The clergy group likely had Kiiri and Inea at its center. And those not participating in such conversations were happily chatting while holding food and drinks.
“Oraaaa!”
“Gwaaaa!”
In one corner of the venue, a place for testing one’s skills was set up, and Kijiru showed off his honed abilities to the fullest.
“Well then, I suppose I should head towards the mission I was given.”
“Fufufu. It’s the Demon Lord’s errand, isn’t it?”
“Yeah. If I come back empty-handed, something terrifying will definitely happen.”
“May I accompany you?”
“Of course.”
Ruiseine and I held hands and began to wander discreetly through the venue.
We were looking for a particularly important-looking soldier among those guarding the venue. From there, we needed to somehow contact Rudoriado and procure some alcohol.
As we moved stealthily, I scanned our surroundings and saw a beautiful girl I recognized emerge from a circle of nobles.
“Oh, you two.”
She was caught up with nobles, it seemed, but it was Cerise-chan.
Cerise-chan, easily spotting me and Ruiseine, who were trying to be inconspicuous, greeted her entourage and came over to us.
“It’s good we met at such a good time.”
“Yes. We’re glad to have met you too, Cerise-chan.”
“You’re traveling separately from Listea-kun and the others, aren’t you, Cerise-chan?”
When we called her “Cerise-chan,” she blushed and fidgeted shyly.
Even I thought she was cute.
The nobles watched us from a distance and seemed to be talking about us, but they didn’t approach, not wanting to disturb us.
Perhaps that’s what nobility is like. So elegant and wonderful.
“So, Cerise-chan, is there something you needed from us?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Cerise-chan’s shy demeanor changed completely. She snatched my hand from Ruiseine’s and brought both my hands to her ample chest.
“Elnea-kun, let’s go out, just the two of us!”
“Cerise-chan, what are you suddenly saying—!”
Ruiseine snatched my hand back in a panic. Then, she pulled me towards her own modest chest.
Hmm, both have wonderful qualities, making it hard to choose.
Not that!
“Cerise-chan, what do you mean? I can’t betray Listea or my family…”
“Even so, Elnea-kun, your eyes are wandering.”
“Th-that’s just your imagination!”
“Fufufu, you two are always so close. Don’t worry. I have Listea’s permission.”
“Eh!?”
“Elnea-kun?”
“Um, what should I do!?”
What is this situation?
Why did Cerise-chan suddenly want to go out with me alone? And why did Listea agree to it?
I was bewildered by Ruiseine’s cold gaze and Cerise-chan’s passionate eyes.
“Actually, I’ve been feeling stuck in my dragon arts training recently. So, I was hoping you could introduce me to Jiludo-sama.”
“Ah, so that’s what it is.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
So, Cerise-chan wanted to go with me to Jiludo’s place. Cerise-chan also learned about Jiludo during the recent turmoil.
“But, if it’s dragon arts, Mistral and we are here too, aren’t we?”
“Yes. We took care of you while Listea and the Elnea party were on their trial journey. However, you guys aren’t always in the capital, are you?”
“I see, that’s true.”
Once things settle down, we might move our base of operations. In contrast, the Hero’s entourage will continue to be active with the capital as their base.
And if we’re not in the capital, Cerise-chan will be without a mentor, won’t she? Considering that, Jiludo, who lives in the capital, must be an appealing person to Cerise-chan.
“Yes, Jiludo-san seems busy, but I was planning to go see him. Why don’t we go together then? I need to confirm Jiludo-san’s intentions too, so it won’t be immediate.”
“Yes, that’s right. We can’t just barge in uninvited. Thank you for your consideration.”
“Not at all. So, I can’t say it’s in exchange for introducing you to Jiludo-san, but…”
“Fufufu, is it some kind of trade?”
Cerise-chan smiled slyly.
“Um, yes. Actually…”
Cerise-chan knew perfectly well that the Demon Lord was staying at my family home. And when she heard that the Demon Lord desired alcohol, she declared it an emergency and immediately arranged it.
Apparently, the alcohol would be delivered directly to my home from the kingdom.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, if we displease that person, it could lead to a crisis for the survival of the human race.”
“Before that, my life would be in danger. It’s terrible, isn’t it?”
From the outside, we might have seemed to be having a pleasant conversation. But behind all that, something that could decide the fate of the Armēdo Kingdom was unfolding.
“We’ll come play at your mansion again sometime, Elnea-kun.”
“Yes, please do anytime.”
After a brief conversation with Cerise-chan, she returned, knowing she couldn’t keep the nobles waiting or the people who had gathered hoping to speak with her.
As expected of a princess. We were running away, but Cerise-chan was handling things properly.
And so, while evading the growing crowd, Ruiseine and I enjoyed the reception.
Our appointment with Cerise-chan was set for three days after the reception.
Cerise-chan was expecting Jiludo as a mentor, but I couldn’t just introduce them without thought. The day after the reception, I went to see Jiludo alone. He kindly accepted.
“Well then, thank you for today.”
“I brought a souvenir for Jiludo-sama.”
“I brought Jiludo-sama’s favorite alcohol.”
“I saw him just the day before yesterday.”
“Laira-san, you went ahead without us?”
“Ugh…”
“Um, Grandpa is going to make me a stone doll.”
“I’ll help carry the stones, nyan.”
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
“I brought meat too!”
“Well then, shall we depart?”
“Y-yes…”
Why did it turn out like this! Or rather, perhaps I could have predicted it.
There was no rule that I had to go meet Jiludo alone with Cerise-chan.
Listea and the others, wisely, decided to stay behind. It wouldn’t be right to overwhelm the other person with a large group of people they don’t know well.
However, my family members were all familiar faces.
Therefore, there was no problem with them coming along.
Seeing us off with “Have a good journey,” the people at our mansion watched as we set off towards the north of the capital.
Cerise-chan was surprised by the large group, but it seemed she had already become good friends with everyone. She happily walked hand-in-hand with Priscilla-chan all the way to Jiludo’s house.
Jiludo’s house had also been rebuilt. However, unlike my family home, it was a simple stone house.
I’m envious. I want to live in a simple house too.
“Hello, Jiludo-san.”
“Welcome. Come in.”
Jiludo was carving stone as usual until we arrived.
He was apparently carving a dragon statue that would be placed at the gate of my family home. He seemed to be using Nimia and Revalia as models, but considering it would be by the side of the gate, it was too imposing and problematic.
“Jiludo-san, this lady is Cerise-chan, the one I told you about the day before yesterday.”
“It has been since winter. Thank you for accommodating my request this time.”
“No, no, you don’t need to be so formal. It’s a good break from stone carving, you know.”
Jiludo exchanged greetings with Cerise-chan with a gentle smile, and promptly went back into his house to retrieve a beautiful curved sword.
“Unlike your trial, Elnea, I won’t set a strict deadline. You can train at your own pace.”
“Mine was tough…”
“It’s unfair that only Cerise gets to train.”
“We won’t forgive Cerise alone.”
“Geez. I’ve taught you twins many things before.”
“We want to learn more dragon arts.”
“We want to become better at wielding the Ryūhōken.”
“Speaking of which, you still haven’t returned it, have you…”
Isn’t the Ryūhōken a precious treasure for the Dragon Race? I wonder what’s like to have it for so long.
“Fumu. It’s good that everyone strives for personal growth.”
“But everyone, Jiludo is alone. And this time, Cerise-chan is the priority. You are all being taught in the Moss Garden, aren’t you?”
“I will be taught by Elnea-sama.”
“Laira-san, I shall spar with you.”
“Ugh. Ruiseine-sama…”
“You all, sparring is good, but first, you need to start with basic meditation.”
“That’s right. First, meditation.”
Thus, prompted by Mistral, we all began with meditation.
… Not all of us.
Priscilla-chan and the others had already started playing with Jiludo’s unfinished stone statue and scattered stones.
Watching the young girls, I sat with my legs crossed and told them, “Be careful not to get hurt.”
“Then, while you are meditating, I shall have a spar with Jiludo-sama first.”
“Sparring with the Dragon Princess. Well, let’s see how far this old man can last.”
Saying that, Mistral and Jiludo took up their weapons in front of us.
Mistral held a jet-black one-handed club and began to gather dragon energy. Jiludo, on the other hand, drew his curved sword and sharpened his presence.
Eeeeh. What an interesting match!
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