We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A False Sword Dance
“Mr. Jiludo, why did you come here?”
“Ah, he actually just came here incidentally. He brought the twins to seek aid from the King of Dragons in order to defeat the Rotten Dragon King.”
“Ah, I see. It is also recorded in human fairy tales. Yorttenitos borrowed the power of the King of Dragons, right?”
“Yes. It was really tough back then…”
“Huh?”
“Yorttenitos-chan was mischievous, you see. And then there’s that free spirit, Jiludo, right? He boldly entered the Dragon’s Mausoleum with the young Yugra-boy, causing quite a stir with the old couple.”
“What’s that, sounds like so much fun…”
“Elnea?”
“Ugh… It’s a lie. You’re such troublesome people.”
Dinner was a handmade meal prepared by Airi-san. As usual, Airi-san welcomed us here.
It’s hard to imagine from that smile that this person is truly demanding one of our souls.
“The twins never came for anything else, but Jiludo-boy would come sometimes. I miss those days.”
“What did he come here for?”
“Well, perhaps to show off Stella, or to report that she had died…”
“Stella?”
“Oh my, you don’t know? She was Jiludo-boy’s wife.”
“What! I just learned her name!”
Jiludo rarely talks about the past. I knew from Mistral that he had a human wife, but I had never heard what kind of person she was or what her name was.
“She had him wrapped around her little finger. That free spirit Jiludo was so meek in front of Stella… Ah, I can’t help but laugh even now when I remember.”
Airi-san, who tells us, “When it comes to Jiludo-boy, please ask him yourself,” laughs heartily.
Her way of laughing was very feminine.
“Elnea-kun, the conversation is drifting.”
“That’s right.”
As Airi-san was laughing, Ruiseine brought her lips close to my ear and whispered.
I must not forget. We have to find another solution to lift the curse.
I called out to Airi-san.
“Is there no solution other than sacrificing a soul?”
Airi-san, who had been reminiscing, looked at me gently with a smile still on her lips.
“Do you think there is?”
“I think so! Because Airi-san is alive and well.”
“…I am dead, you know?”
“No, you are alive.”
At my words, however, Airi-san showed a slightly sad expression.
“Why do you keep it a secret when there should be another way?”
Mistral’s sharp remark followed. It’s not the time to sympathize with Airi-san’s hurt feelings. If we don’t find an answer, or at least a clue, we’ll be the ones left with wounded hearts, Mistral’s serious expression conveyed.
“How did Airi-san break such a potent curse seven hundred years ago? Could you please tell us?”
It wasn’t just Ruiseine. We all pleaded with Airi-san.
“…Well, I’m dressed like this, and I was a rather eccentric figure among the Dragon Race. So, I was a human sacrifice… you know? It was my fault for having the aptitude.”
“That… aptitude, what is it?”
The word “human sacrifice” gives me a sense of something to be avoided.
Perhaps Airi-san was bound here, tasked with lifting the curse on behalf of the Dragon Race back then.
“The Divine Dragon Sword has the ability to cleanse miasma, doesn’t it? I also possess a technique to banish evil.”
“Do you mean the ability to purify?”
“It’s not an ability, it’s a technique.”
“In that case, my Dragon Sword Dance also has the power to purify!”
At the mention of “Dragon Sword Dance,” Airi-san’s eyebrows twitched.
“Dragon Sword Dance… I believe you learned it from Sleigsta, the Guardian Dragon of the Dragon Forest?”
“Yes,” I nodded. I had already told Airi-san this during lunch as part of my life story.
“I’ve met Sleigsta-sama a few times myself… I see. Is this destiny?”
Airi-san nodded to herself, as if she had come to a realization, while we tilted our heads in confusion.
“You learned the Dragon Sword Dance from Sleigsta-sama and inherited Jiludo-boy’s Dragon Jewel. It feels like I can see that old man’s intentions through it all.”
“?”
“It’s unpleasant, isn’t it? Just because someone lives a long time, to be danced upon by beings like that is infuriating. But, I suppose it can’t be helped. If Stella were to say it, it would be all the Goddess’s will.”
Airi-san, who inexplicably became cheerful, brought out some strong alcohol and started drinking generously.
Yufilia and Nina also joined in without hesitation.
“Well, I see. That’s wonderful. I’m starting to look forward to tomorrow’s ritual. It might all depend on your efforts, don’t you think?”
In the end, Airi-san did not provide any further information.
After dinner, we continued our discussion in the separate residence.
Airi-san didn’t hold back information. I believe her words contained all the necessary information. We brainstormed late into the night, exchanging ideas.
What we wanted was the answer to how to break the curse of the Dragon’s Mausoleum, and whether there was a way for no one to be sacrificed.
Airi-san said that it depended on my efforts, not on Mistral, the Dragon Princess and the most powerful among our family, nor on Ruiseine, the Miko of the Temple Religion who also possessed a means of purification.
My efforts? If I think about it honestly, it must be about the purification using the Dragon Sword Dance.
But Airi-san also has purification techniques. Yet, it’s my efforts, not hers?
As the night deepened, I continued to think while watching everyone else, succumbing to their tiredness from the continuous days.
“Now, are you ready?”
The next day.
After a solid breakfast, we were guided by Airi-san to our destination. The building had octagonal black lacquered walls, and the pillars and beams were painted vermilion. It was the Dragon Altar we were aiming for, with a structure similar to the Dragon Mausoleum.
We opened the entrance door and went inside. The interior, like the Dragon Mausoleum, had a stone floor. However, there was no special altar; only a statue of a winged dragon carved from stone in a recess, and a bouquet of flowers offered.
“Are we going to perform the ritual here?”
“Elnea, if this is like the Dragon Mausoleum…”
Mistral’s gaze was directed at the stone floor at our feet.
“Well then, could you lend them to me for a moment?”
Saying this, Airi-san took the Ryūhōken from Yufilia and Nina. The two pouted with puffed cheeks but didn’t resist.
No, no, you should hand them over obediently since they don’t belong to Yufilia and Nina in the first place.
Airi-san gripped one Ryūhōken in her right hand and the other in her left. Somehow, she looked very natural. Without the slightest trouble from wielding the Ryūhōken, which were close to greatswords, she easily swung them both up. Then, while humming a melody like a song, she thrust the Ryūhōken into the stone floor.
“!”
A dazzling golden light burst within the room. My eyes were momentarily blinded by the flash, and my body’s balance was disrupted. However, the disruption of my body’s balance was not due to the light emitted from the Ryūhōken.
“The flo-floor is falling!”
Laira clung to me. Ruiseine and the others also winced, watching the surrounding scenery that came into view as the light subsided. The floor of the building we were standing on was sinking into the earth. The vermilion pillars and lacquered walls receded far overhead, and stone walls flowed vertically. The walls were made of beautiful stone, indicating that we were not falling into a natural hole.
“The Dragon Mausoleum also creates underground space like this to store the Dragon Jewels.”
Mistral, perhaps having anticipated this, watched Airi-san with calm eyes. The floor, which was carrying us, soon slowed its descent. It then exited the vertical shaft and entered a wide space. Finally, it stopped with no impact.
“Yes, we’ve arrived. This is the Dragon Altar,” Airi-san said with a smile, pulling the Ryūhōken from the floor.
A space several times larger than the building above ground spread out underground. Although no magic was being chanted, the ceiling high above emitted light. In this space, where visibility was not obstructed, there were few pillars or troublesome ornaments. The only obstacle was the winged dragon carved from stone that had descended with us. It was a vast, desolate space, yet it exuded a strong, inexplicable presence. It was elusive, like a vague existence, similar to the aura of the Shadow Dragon we encountered on our descent from Dragon Peak, or something even more unfathomable. The mysterious aura enveloped the entire space, and it felt as if it were quietly watching over us. Mistral and the others also sensed a vague presence, directing their attention to their surroundings.
“Alright, alright, this is in the way,” Airi-san said, unconcerned with our reactions, and pushed the winged dragon sculpture to the edge of the plaza. …She’s surprisingly strong. Well, Mistral is also a Dragon Race, so they must be stronger than humans. After moving the winged dragon sculpture and the bouquet of offerings, Airi-san returned. Then, she took up the Ryūhōken.
“Now, let’s begin the ritual. As I said yesterday, who will offer their soul?”
With that, Airi-san suddenly attacked me! A blow with no holds barred was delivered simultaneously from left and right.
“Uwah!”
I hurriedly created distance with a Spatial Jump and readied my White Sword and Spirit Tree Wooden Sword.
“Wh-what are you doing so suddenly!?”
We were flustered.
“Well, you won’t willingly offer your souls, will you? Then I have no choice but to forcibly take them. Go on, attack me all at once. Who will win? Will it be me taking someone’s soul first, or you defeating me? Or…?”
Fufufu, Airi-san smiled meaningfully.
“Damn it, my weapon was taken!”
“Damn it, my weapon was stolen!”
Yufilia and Nina regretted.
“If that’s the case then,”
“I won’t hold back!”
Ruiseine and Laira entered a combat stance. Mistral handed Nimiya Priscilla-chan and had already transformed into her dragon form from the start. Everyone was prepared to confront Airi-san. It couldn’t be helped. Someone had to be sacrificed otherwise. I found myself facing Airi-san. But I couldn’t back down!
I regained my composure from my agitation and stared at Airi-san, who held the Ryūhōken. Airi-san readjusted her stance, holding the two greatsword-like Ryūhōken with her arms spread wide. Lightly lifting her heels and stretching her body, Airi-san looked very agile. As I had suspected, the Ryūhōken were Airi-san’s weapons… I lowered my stance and attacked straight ahead! I simultaneously slashed upwards from a low position with my White Sword and Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, crossing them. Airi-san’s gaze shifted downwards towards me.
“Haa!”
“I won’t hold back!”
At that moment, Ruiseine and Laira attacked simultaneously from left and right. The tips of the Ryūhōken had not yet moved. They remained directed towards Ruiseine and Laira approaching from the sides. Furthermore, Mistral flapped her wings and brought down her jet-black one-handed club from above. Yufilia and Nina kept their distance and began to gather Dragon Energy.
“!”
A simultaneous attack from multiple directions. The cooperation of our family is not for naught! Airi-san narrowed her eyes and smiled. With a gentle, smooth movement, she slid her right leg forward, folded her left leg, and bent her upper body backward, dropping lower than my sword strike. She dodged the White Sword and Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. Immediately after, using her extended right leg as a pivot and lifting her lower body, she kicked with her left leg, blocking my charge. Twisting her upper body, which was still bent backward, she gripped Laira’s two-handed staff with her arm and then threw Laira, along with the staff, towards Ruiseine on the opposite side. Ruiseine hastily caught Laira. Meanwhile, she deflected the approaching jet-black one-handed club with the Ryūhōken in her right hand and then swung the Ryūhōken in her left hand in a continuous motion. Mistral spun rapidly in the air, evading Airi-san’s strike. Once my footing was temporarily halted, I unleashed the Dragon Sword Dance. I swung my White Sword horizontally from the right, while moving my feet sideways as if to circle around. Airi-san deflected it with the Ryūhōken in her right hand, while also tilting her body in the direction of the force. While doing so, she shifted her weight to her right leg and delivered a kick with her left leg. I had no intention of taking the full force of a kick that could obliterate a Rotten Dragon in one blow. I blocked it with the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword and received an impact similar to taking Mistral’s one-handed club head-on. Airi-san used the momentum of her kick to spin sideways. Then, she began to unleash a continuous barrage of attacks with the Ryūhōken in both hands without interruption. I, too, countered Airi-san while dancing the Dragon Sword Dance. My consecutive sword strikes, Airi-san’s flowing movements. It was as if we were dancing a sword dance together. The sound of slashes echoed, and sparks flew. The blade of the Ryūhōken could not break my White Sword. A fierce exchange of blows. Mistral and the others attacked, weaving through the gaps. However, Airi-san, even when facing everyone and not just me, handled everything with flowing movements. Yes, with a form so beautiful that it was captivating, just like a sword dance… “!” “No way…!” Not only Mistral and I. Everyone who saw Airi-san’s movements realized it and was left speechless. As my posture was broken after my strike was deflected, I temporarily created distance with a Spatial Jump. Airi-san did not pursue. I stopped moving and faced Airi-san with disbelief in my eyes. “Oh my, what are you so surprised about? After all, it’s true. The Dragon Sword Dance is originally a technique of the Dragon Race.” Airi-san waved the shining golden Ryūhōken in her hand and demonstrated a light dance. It was precisely the basic form of the Dragon Sword Dance that I had learned from Sleigsta (Old Man). “I thought it had been lost because I never took any disciples. I see. That’s why he remembered it when I showed it to Sleigsta-sama. This is why I dislike unfathomable beings like him.” “The successor to the Dragon Sword Dance…?” “Yes. The legitimate one.” Airi-san smiled. “So, don’t hold back anything. After all, your Dragon Sword Dance is a fake.” At Airi-san’s words, the tip of my sword trembled.
