We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The young girls learned to play with clay.
It was Mistral who set the trap. Kicking up dust, he charged and swung his jet-black one-handed club down.
Jiludo, who met him head-on, took a defensive stance with his curved sword held horizontally.
But wouldn’t his curved sword break if he took that head-on?!
The one-handed club and curved sword clashed.
Mistral, please go easy on him!
That’s Jiludo’s precious curved sword, you know!
With a gasp, before us who were watching.
Jiludo’s body flowed.
Gently, Jiludo effortlessly deflected Mistral’s power and, with a smooth movement, turned to attack. Unlike the gentle motion of deflecting the one-handed club, he unleashed sharp swordplay.
The afterimage of his silver blade drew a beautiful arc.
Mistral recovered his posture and tried to parry the one-handed club with his curved sword. However, the curved sword moved as if tracing the surface of the one-handed club, producing neither sparks nor even a violent sound of impact.
Mistral, while bewildered by Jiludo’s fluid movements, unleashed his one-handed club in all directions.
The jet-black trajectory and the silver afterimage crossed multiple times.
Mistral swung his one-handed club freely with one hand. He flicked his wrist, trying to parry the curved sword in a small radius. Jiludo parried that blow with his flowing movements.
Even when parried, Mistral firmly grasped Jiludo’s movements and dodged counterattacks. While doing so, he launched a series of attacks that were extremely fierce.
It’s not just brute force. Within the way he swings his one-handed club, skillful techniques like shifting his axis, setting traps to lure his opponent, and the flow of his point of force are hidden.
By calmly observing from the sidelines, I was able to reconfirm Mistral’s exceptional skill.
Jiludo’s body swayed, gently drifting. He received Mistral’s one-handed club, which was coming at him with tremendous force, to his right and left, closing in on Mistral.
Mistral tried to create distance to avoid being drawn in. Just as he thought that, he switched to a counterattack. He pretended to retreat, but kicked off his left foot, which he had pulled back.
However, Jiludo, as always, dodged Mistral’s kick with his flowing movements and approached Mistral.
What is this?
Jiludo’s movements are like a technique that skillfully deflects the opponent’s power and unleashes his curved sword within a smooth body technique, but it had a beauty of rhythm and tempo that was different from my Dragon Sword Dance.
He wasn’t dancing. Yet, each movement was connected, and he effortlessly deflected the opponent’s fierce onslaught.
It’s a fighting style he didn’t show me during our trial.
I don’t think he learned that technique after that.
That means he was holding back during our trial.
Mistral parried Jiludo’s skillfully varied attack with his one-handed club. While doing so, he counterattacked whenever there was an opening.
Every time Mistral swung his one-handed club, shockwaves were scattered.
However, no explosive sounds were heard. That’s because Jiludo skillfully deflected the attacks.
To perfectly deflect the attacks of Princess Mistral, the Dragon Princess.
I found myself captivated by Jiludo’s swordsmanship.
By the way, the shockwaves also flew towards Priscilla-chan and Nimia, who were playing away from them. However, the young girl group continued to play happily without being bothered.
Nimia is blocking them, isn’t she?
Playing while blocking the shockwaves created by Mistral is just like Nimia.
“Meow.”
Still, what is Jiludo’s movement?
It’s different from dancing. But it doesn’t seem to have any particular form either. It’s as if he’s freely unleashing sword strikes in sync with Mistral’s movements, and his body is naturally flowing.
“I’ve heard rumors. Is it the movement of flowing water?”
“Flowing water?”
Cerise-chan was also absorbed in the high-level sparring unfolding before her eyes.
“Yes. I heard it from Listea. It’s a very advanced technique where you deflect the opponent’s movements like the flow of a gentle stream and counterattack fiercely like a rapid current eroding rocks. Just as water freely changes its properties depending on the time and situation, you fight by likening yourself to water.”
“The flow of water, huh…”
Come to think of it, Jiludo’s movements were indeed changing fluidly in response to Mistral’s movements.
Speaking of which, Jiludo was also skillfully manipulating Dragon Arts. He might be a very talented person.
More than that, I want to spar with him too!
Dragon Sword Dance is a swordsmanship that uses continuous movements, relentless offense, and not just two swords, but the legs and the entire body to draw the opponent into one’s own dance, treating the opponent as a fellow dancer. In other words, it’s a way to gain an advantage by making the opponent dance to one’s own tune.
In contrast, Jiludo uses his flowing, water-like movements to freely adapt to the opponent’s movements and, like a driftwood floating on a river, draw the opponent into his own techniques.
I wonder who can take the lead in the fight.
I’m very, very interested.
“Hey, you two. Meditate properly.”
Then, Mistral stopped and looked at us with a exasperated expression.
It seems that not only I and Cerise-chan, but everyone else too, were captivated by their fight.
“Even if you say so, how can we help it when such a fight is happening right before our eyes…”
“I can’t concentrate at all.”
“Regardless of the situation, you must learn to concentrate and meditate.”
“It’s impossible. Because even the senior Elnea-kun isn’t meditating.”
“It’s impossible. Because even the skilled Elnea-kun was mesmerized.”
Hmm. I was so engrossed that I forgot to meditate too. I can’t say anything about the others.
Mistral sighed and ended his sparring match with Jiludo.
In the end, their battle ended in a draw.
…Or rather, I feel like this is the first time I’ve seen someone draw with Mistral!
Although neither of them used flashy Dragon Arts or techniques that would greatly affect their surroundings. Nevertheless, Grandpa, who can fight on par with Mistral, is no ordinary person.
I, on the other hand, have never managed to take even a single point from Mistral. This sparring match made me realize anew the hidden strength of Jiludo, the former Eight Dragon King.
“Was that perhaps the technique your wife used?”
“I haven’t used it in a while, and it’s too much for me. I’m glad Mistral went easy on me.”
“No, it wasn’t going easy. It was difficult in a different way than when I fight with Elnea or Ruiseine, and I struggled.”
“If the Dragon Princess says so, she’ll surely be happy.”
I believe the beautiful curved sword Jiludo possesses is a memento from his wife.
His wife was human, so she departed for the Goddess’s side before the long-lived Jiludo.
Jiludo carefully returned the curved sword to its sheath.
“Now, you all meditate properly.”
“No. You too, Mist.”
“No. All of us.”
And so, we all decided to meditate again.
Mistral, as if it couldn’t be helped, came and sat beside me. Complaints erupted from the other women.
As soon as we began meditating, a warm touch was felt on my lap.
“Um, Ares-chan, that’s unfair.”
“I’m tired, meow.”
“What will we do next?”
“Is lunch ready yet?”
And then, new weight and various sensations were added to my head and shoulders.
Ah, meditating while being clung to by young girls, the stares from everyone when I open my eyes will be painful.
Ares-chan and Priscilla-chan seem to have started dozing off on my lap. Feeling those sensations, I meditated.
After meditation, we finally moved on to physical training.
As promised, Jiludo devoted himself to instructing Cerise-chan.
As expected, it’s difficult for humans to increase their Dragon Power significantly. That’s why Cerise-chan can’t handle Dragon Energy well.
The first thing we learned. How to use a small amount of Dragon Energy efficiently to compensate for the lack of Dragon Power. She was being thoroughly instructed on that.
Watching Jiludo and Cerise-chan, I realized how important an excellent master is.
No matter how much talent one has, without someone to guide them correctly, they cannot improve.
I feel grateful to Old Man Sleigsta, Jiludo, and everyone else.
And so, the training under Jiludo continued until evening.
Covered in sweat despite it only being spring, we thanked Jiludo and headed back. Cerise-chan had arranged for future appointments.
Walking side by side in the evening capital city.
The northern part of the capital city originally had many buildings related to the military. And around Jiludo’s house, the buildings were sparse from ancient times, but it’s currently in the process of reconstruction. As far as I can see, only barracks are being built around the Royal Castle Ruins, and the reconstruction of the northern part seems to be postponed.
“It was a day that made me keenly aware of my own immaturity.”
“Is that so? I think it’s amazing enough that you have Dragon Power as a human.”
“But I never imagined there would be such a difference in ability from Yufi-nee-sama…”
“I won’t lose to my sister.”
“Having Dragon Power is better than nothing.”
“I want to be at least like Sefina-nee-sama. Also, Elnea-kun, you are truly amazing.”
“No, no. In my case, I inherited the Dragon Jewel from Jiludo. Without unlocking the Dragon Jewel, my Dragon Power is lower than that of the Dragon race.”
“Is that so? I’m surprised. While I can understand not being able to win against the skilled Laira… Why can’t I win against Ruiseine? That’s a little frustrating.”
“That’s because… Well, I can’t win either.”
“What? Elnea-kun can’t win against Ruiseine either!?”
Cerise-chan looked at Ruiseine with astonished eyes, as if to ask who she was.
I couldn’t tell her it was because of my Dragon Eye.
And not only Cerise-chan, but Yufilia, Nina, and Laira also can’t win against Ruiseine. So, Cerise-chan doesn’t need to feel frustrated.
By the way, although Nina, who has no Dragon Power, is strictly speaking at a disadvantage in terms of strength… Ruiseine is a Battle Priestess. She excels in ordinary combat.
The only one who can win is Mistral, but even then, Ruiseine puts up a good fight. The Dragon Eye is that overwhelmingly powerful.
I see, for those who wield Dragon Energy, the Dragon Eye is a natural enemy.
“Elnea-kun. It’s not good that you can’t win against Mist-san and Ruiseine?”
“Ugh. Cerise-chan, you shouldn’t say that.”
I am immature. I want to show manliness and protect everyone properly, but my abilities are still insufficient.
I can manage Lyra’s brute strength or Yufilia and Nina’s coordination, but Mistral, who shows an overwhelming difference, and Ruiseine, who anticipates with her Dragon Eye, leave me helpless.
“Fufufu. Strength isn’t the only measure of a person.”
“That’s right. I alone will always follow Lord Elnea.”
“Laira-san?”
“Th-that’s not it. This is, well…”
As we walked home amicably, a pleasant breeze blew down from Dragon Peak.
The scent of sweat from Mistral walking beside me and the other women tickled my nostrils.
The smell of sweat is also a good smell. Why do women smell so good? Even though we live together, we should be using the same soap to wash our bodies.
“Elnea-kun is making a perverted face.”
“Th-that’s not it.”
“Meow.”
“Hey. Nimia, don’t say strange things.”
“In other words, you were thinking of something strange just now?”
“Ugh…”
“I see. So Elnea-kun is a pervert.”
“Cerise-chan, don’t believe my misinformation!”
Ugh… But thinking about the smell of sweat, maybe I am a pervert.
…No, I am definitely not a pervert!
Or rather, I wonder if I myself smell sweaty.
Suddenly concerned about my own scent, I secretly sniffed my jacket, but you can’t really tell your own smell, can you?
Worried that I might be thought of as smelly, I returned to my family home and hastily ran to the bath.
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