We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Even playing is work.
I parted with everyone and entered the Dragon Mausoleum alone.
The Water Dragon living in the springs around the Dragon Mausoleum looked at me with slightly sad, wet eyes, asking, “Won’t you invite us?” which pained me.
Most Water Dragons are useless without water, you know.
The southern half of Mistral’s village is a semi-circular spring.
According to the villagers, the spring is connected to a lake somewhere on Dragon Peak, located deep within. They say that’s where the Water Dragons come from.
I wonder how they found that out?
Did someone with a Dragon Heart hear about it?
Never mind that.
Certainly, even if it’s half the size of the village, the spring might be cramped for a Water Dragon. There’s also a small island where the Dragon Mausoleum stands in the center.
Not only around Mistral’s village, but lakes are scattered in various places on Dragon Peak: between the steep mountain ridges, where the valleys overlap, in basins, and many other locations. Their habitat must be somewhere among them.
Speaking of which, Dragon Peak has only steep torrents that flow down the harsh mountainsides, so hardly any Water Dragons live in the rivers.
It’s a place where all sorts of Dragon races gather, but thinking back, we haven’t interacted much with Water Dragons.
It would be nice if we could invite the Water Dragons somehow.
Honestly. Since I’ve been freed from the restriction of succeeding in the Wedding Ceremony on our own, I’m no longer anxious even if the number of participants increases like a chain reaction.
Alright, once I get to the Moss Garden, I’ll consult with Old Man Sleigsta.
After entering the Dragon Mausoleum and waiting for a bit, I was enveloped in golden light.
A year ago, I would head to the Moss Garden from here almost every day, but it feels like it’s been a while.
I closed my eyes against the dazzling light, confirmed through my eyelids that the light had subsided, and then opened them.
There, I stood in the usual lush green Moss Garden.
“Grandpa, Asher, hello.”
“Hmph, so you’ve emerged from your confinement.”
“No no no, I haven’t emerged. I was properly granted permission and released, you know?”
“Being confined in the first place is a disgrace. To think you can speak as if you’re in the right.”
“Asher, you shouldn’t say that if you want to end on a good note.”
“Fufu. You’re getting quite accustomed to playing the villain.”
“Is it alright for me to be the villain? Nimia will grow up to be a delinquent!”
“If that happens, you will be held responsible. That’s right, shall I eat you?”
“No no no!”
“Now, now, don’t have fun excluding me.”
Asher chased me around, turning his giant face. I playfully ran around the Moss Garden.
Then, Old Man Sleigsta watched us with envy.
He was lonely, wasn’t he? He wanted attention.
Since I had no choice, I consulted with Old Man Sleigsta about the Water Dragons.
“To want to invite the Water Dragons too, what greed!”
“I know what you’re saying an, Asher. Now that it’s come to this, don’t we want everyone who’s helped us to come?”
“You’ve finally lost all self-restraint.”
“It’s all the better that it seems to be a ceremony befitting you.”
“I was resistant at first too.”
“That resistance of yours seems to have been quite fragile.”
“No. Everyone’s momentum was too strong.”
“Excuses.”
“It is excuses.”
“Ugh… Putting that aside. Is there any good method?”
“It’s a rare request from you. I’ll think about it.”
“Grandpa is truly too soft on this child.”
“I think it’s more proper than the affection you show your daughter.”
“That’s right, that’s right!”
When I readily agreed with Old Man Sleigsta’s words, Asher glared at me.
But I don’t think it’s wrong.
The reason he bothers me so much is to distract himself from the loneliness of Nimia not being here.
I elegantly dodged Asher’s glare and then recounted the events in Mistral’s village.
Apparently, he had heard the general outline from Mistral, who visited this morning. However, Old Man Sleigsta listened to my story with a smile while lying down in his usual posture.
“I see. You’ve combined the Thousand-Handed Spider’s technique with the fighting style of someone you respect. You seem to have grown well.”
“But I’m still not there yet. I need to practice more, as that technique still doesn’t feel practical. The wind-up is too long, and I can’t use it in conjunction with other techniques.”
“So greedy.”
“They say that those who seek power drown in it, but I’ll do anything to protect everyone.”
“Hoh, well said. Then show me your spirit.”
“Ah, I spoke too much!”
“Ku ku ku. I want to see your new technique. Well then, show me your Dragon Sword Dance in front of me for the first time in a while.”
“If you fail with your new technique, you’ll be punished.”
“W-what! I’ve only used it once!”
During the match with Zan, I was desperate, so I instinctively created and executed the technique. But can I successfully recreate that condensed atmosphere-like scythe technique here?
I just don’t feel motivated, or something…
“Tension, is it? Very well. If you succeed, I shall bestow something good upon you for your wedding.”
“In return, failure means punishment.”
“Grandpa is so kind. Unlike Asher.”
“Come on, stop complaining and show me already. I’ll really punish you.”
“Eek!”
Asher is a dragon who doesn’t hold back when he means business.
I had no choice but to perform the Dragon Sword Dance.
I released the Dragon Jewel and summoned Ares-chan.
I thought she was out playing with Priscilla-chan and the others at the Chicken Dragon’s nest, but it seems she was staying by my side.
“I’m sorry for making you do this. Didn’t you want to play with Priscilla-chan and the others?”
“Later, later.”
“I see, you’re going to go afterward.”
In that case, I’ll finish quickly and let Ares-chan go.
Ares-chan transformed into dancing particles of light and merged with me.
And, just as I was about to perform the Dragon Sword Dance.
“Oh, did I come at a good time?”
“Jiludo-san, hello.”
The one who arrived at the Moss Garden was Jiludo-san, one of my masters.
He was holding a sake flask in his hand.
It seems he’d finished his work and came to chat with Old Man Sleigsta and have a drink.
“Welcome. While you’re here, entertain Elnea.”
“Whaaat!?”
“Ho ho, that sounds interesting.”
“Jiludo-san is motivated!”
No no no, that’s absolutely impossible.
I’m already unsure if I can even perform the technique properly, so competing with the skilled Jiludo-san is absolutely impossible!
“What are you saying? Elnea-kun, you’ve beaten me once before, haven’t you? It’s alright, it’s alright.”
“It’s not alright at all! I can tell now. You were going easy on me then, weren’t you? You didn’t show me those flowing movements when you fought me!”
“Hahahaha. That’s just your imagination. Perhaps it’s due to my age, I’ve forgotten things from the past.”
“Grrr! Pretending to be a forgetful old man to suit your convenience! I don’t care what happens later, I won’t be responsible…!”
“I’ll forget about what happens later too if I drink, so it’s not a problem.”
Saying that, Jiludo-san drew his silver curved sword.
When he comes to the Moss Garden, he often brings his beloved sword to test his skills against one of us.
But right now, I resent that.
“Now, show me.”
“If you’re pathetic, I won’t forgive you.”
“What is it? Are you going to do something interesting?”
If it’s come to this, I’ll just give it my best shot.
I resigned myself and drew my White Sword and the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword.
“Hmm. Is that the Wind Hammer?”
“It was just heavy, nothing special.”
“Elnea-kun, what was the technique supposed to be originally?”
“Sniffle…”
And then.
I lost to Jiludo-san.
Impossible, impossible, impossible!
During the match with Zan, I could move freely. After all, Zan aimed for a counter-attack and didn’t move an inch.
However, Jiludo-san is different.
He approached me with fluid movements, like the flow of water.
I countered with the Dragon Sword Dance.
If we fought normally, I’m confident I could put up a decent fight.
But… concentrating on a new technique while doing that is too difficult.
In the end, the Dragon Energy and Storm Dragon Arts I finally managed to send soaring into the sky fell upon Asher as a dull mass of wind.
“Since you failed, it’s punishment.”
“What a shame. The reward is postponed then.”
“Now, now, don’t be too down. Practice diligently. I’ll even join you. Your Dragon Sword Dance was splendid. It was so beautiful I almost got lost in admiring it.”
“Hmph, it was indeed splendid. To have refined it to such a degree. I, who taught you the Dragon Sword Dance, am overjoyed. If it’s just the dance, it might even rival a Sword Saint’s.”
“Really!?”
“Who knows. It still lacks refinement.”
“Asher is truly harsh on men.”
“It’s your imagination.”
“No, it’s absolutely not my imagination!”
“Hmph, are you sure you want to say that? Alright, send me the invitation.”
“Huh? How many…?”
“Many.”
“Asher, what are you plotting? Who are you planning to send invitations to?”
“I want to make you realize whether I’m truly strict with you or not. Come now, hand over the invitations.”
“You say ‘make me realize,’ and at that point, it’s already evident that nothing good will come of it…”
“Hand it over without complaining. Otherwise, I’ll eat you!”
“Kyaa!”
Asher lunged at me, covering me with his body.
I hastily hid behind Old Man Sleigsta.
Then, Asher bit Old Man Sleigsta.
“Angyaa!”
Old Man Sleigsta’s scream resounded across the Moss Garden.
See, just as I thought.
Asher is merciless towards males.
This place is also dangerous.
I hastily fled deep into the Dragon Forest.
To the deepest part where the Spirit Tree resides.
Even Asher couldn’t follow and just clicked his tongue at the Moss Garden.
“Scary, scary.”
“Even though I know it’s a joke, it’s incredibly powerful.”
After the test of skill, Ares-chan separated from me and manifested.
“Aren’t you going to Priscilla-chan’s place?”
“Not today.”
“Then let’s go to the Spirit King’s place together.”
Holding Ares-chan, I advanced deeper into the Dragon Forest.
Even now, I am the only one who can go to the Spirit Tree without Old Man Sleigsta’s permission.
Well, if Mistral and the others want to go, Old Man Sleigsta no longer refuses.
In fact, everyone else strictly abides by the rule of obtaining permission each time.
I’m just being lazy.
After walking for a while.
I arrived at the base of the Spirit Tree, which towered like a vertical slice of the landscape.
It seemed far away, but when walking, I arrived in a surprisingly short time. This is also thanks to the Bewildering Technique.
Upon reaching the base of the Spirit Tree, I leaned against it to rest and looked up at the sky. However, only a sliver of blue sky was visible.
The Spirit Tree extended its thick branches in all directions far above, forming multiple layers of green canopy that blocked the fierce late-summer sun.
I took a deep breath and elegantly began to perform the Dragon Sword Dance.
Ares-chan sat on the roots of the Spirit Tree, watching me cheerfully.
I danced gently, without releasing the Dragon Jewel.
The Dragon Sword Dance has mixed applications: for combat, for performance, and for offering.
I wasn’t aiming to master any one of them, but rather a dance that combined all of them.
Sharp, gentle, and beautiful.
As I performed the Dragon Sword Dance, the spirits began to gather.
Among them, a spirit with an exceptional presence appeared.
It was the Spirit Tree Spirit.
Until recently, I didn’t know this, but she is apparently the Spirit King of the Spirit Tree.
In other words, she is the highest-ranking spirit who rules over the spirits of the Dragon Forest.
“The unnecessary force has been shed, and the beauty stands out. Did you go through some hardship before coming here?”
“Yes… Hello, it’s been a while.”
“It’s good that you’re healthy. I was just thinking of ravaging the human capital again.”
“That’s not allowed!”
The Spirit Tree Spirit is also the type that shouldn’t be taken lightly!
I played with the Spirit Tree Spirit, whom I met for the first time since the spirits’ disturbance, until sunset, to my satisfaction.
I had no way of knowing then that I would be scolded for returning later than Priscilla-chan and the others…
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