We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Alcohol in moderation.
The weather today is clear and fine.
And so.
As planned, the day after visiting the Moss Garden, we decided to head to Carnela’s village, Fiorina’s hometown.
More precisely, to the nest of the golden-winged dragons located near Carnela’s village.
Revalia, who was whining that she didn’t want to go, was persuaded, and we all decided to go together.
On Nimia’s back, who had grown so much, were Priscilla-chan and Mistral and Ruiseine. On Revalia’s back were me, Laira, Yufilia, and Nina.
Tegarding adorably behind Revalia and Nimia were the young dragons Fiorina and Rim.
“Nyan is cute too, nyan.”
“That’s right. Nimia is cute too.”
Nimia, who had read my mind, protested, so I affirmed her with a laugh.
“Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Ugh, I feel nauseous.”
“You brought this on yourself.”
“Indeed. Drinking too much is not good.”
“Don’t vomit, alright? If you stain my scales, I’ll roast you.”
“Revalia, please fly gently?”
“Shall I roast you first?”
“Laira, help!”
“Yes!”
Yufilia and Nina were groaning on Revalia’s back, apparently due to drinking too much for two consecutive days.
I wonder if Nimia, not wanting to get dirty herself, voluntarily offered to carry those three and set off first.
“Nyan.”
Even though it was supposed to be a journey in the sky, Laira and I were busy attending to the hungover twin princesses.
Deep valleys, sheer cliffs, and the beautiful, short-lived summer scenery of the highlands. Carnela’s village lay beyond that, but it would be terrible if Yufilia and Nina made a mess.
As I found myself gently stroking their backs with a “what a pain” expression, the scenery of Dragon Peak swiftly passed us by.
“Speaking of which, there’s a high mountain range before we enter the basin, right?”
“Elnea-sama, Revalia has grown.”
“Hmm, could it be…?”
“Hmph, don’t underestimate me forever.”
Revalia flapped her large wings powerfully. Dragon energy filled the tips of her four wings, large and small, and she firmly grasped the air.
“Wooow. Above the clouds!”
Normal wyverns and winged dragons cannot fly above the clouds. In some cases, birds fly higher, but that was the limit for dragons of their massive size.
However, Revalia seemed to have surpassed that limit for dragons through dragon arts.
Thinking back, she flew above the clouds in the Yorttenitos Kingdom as well, but that was with Yugra’s assistance then.
But now, she was raising her altitude on her own and crossing the mountain range that blocked the flow of clouds.
Looking back from Revalia’s back, Nimia was holding Fiorina and Rim in both her hands, following closely.
Rim’s four pupils were shining as she rejoiced.
She must be happy to see the magnificent figure of Revalia, who is like a parent to her.
Yugra can also fly above the clouds, and Fiorina and Rim might be able to fly when they grow up.
To realize such an obvious thing, that dragons grow too.
Dragons possess unimaginable power from the start, so we usually don’t feel their growth or effort, but when we encounter such obvious things, I feel that dragons are just like us.
Well, it’s a bit late for that.
After crossing the mountain range that pierced the clouds, we entered the basin.
The greenery extending from the slopes flowed gently into the flatlands, stretching endlessly far into the distance.
Revalia and Nimia began to descend towards Carnela’s village.
In the midst of a vast forest. As buildings built on giant trees began to become visible, the Dragon Race people, who noticed our arrival, waved their hands to greet us.
Revalia landed in a plaza just before a certain cliff.
Nimia also landed, dismounted everyone, and immediately shrank down.
“Hello, it’s been a while.”
“Welcome. We’re glad you could come.”
“I’m sorry. I really should bring Fio back more often.”
“Fufufu, it’s alright. She is a descendant of the Earl. Traveling is her destiny. Besides, we are relieved that you are taking care of her.”
“Revalia does most of the taking care, though.”
“Indeed.”
The one who greeted us at the plaza was Carnela, a middle-aged woman with beautiful honey-colored hair. Many other Dragon Race people from the village were gathered in the plaza. Everyone had honey-colored hair.
In Mistral’s village, because travelers constantly visit the Dragon Mausoleum, we often see Dragon Race people with different hair textures.
Carnela’s village, located deep in Dragon Peak, doesn’t receive many travelers. That’s probably why we receive such a grand welcome when we visit occasionally.
It’s usual for the villagers to throw a banquet, and it’s a familiar scene for Carnela herself to come out and greet us.
However, the three attendants who should normally be by Carnela’s side were not there.
They are accompanying Yugra and Friel, who have descended to the flatlands.
Friel is apparently active near the eastern border of the Yorttenitos Kingdom. It’s said he’s raiding monster nests and assisting with land reclamation.
He seems to be having a busy year of departure, but he contacted us saying he would attend our wedding ceremony.
As we were talking about recent events with Carnela and the others, Fiorina rubbed her head against me.
“Hey, hey!”
“That’s right. We have to go see everyone.”
Normally, Fiorina plays freely with Rim and Priscilla-chan, and learns various things from Revalia.
She doesn’t show any signs of wanting to return to her hometown at all, but she is still a child, after all. Seeing her companions waiting nearby, she hurried me along.
“Go ahead. We will prepare the banquet.”
“Carnela-sama, please absolutely do not give alcohol to those two who are looking pale over there.”
“Fufufu, I understand.”
Well then, let’s head to the winged dragon’s nest.
Since Fiorina isn’t leaving my side, I’ll go with her. As for the others…
“Priscilla wants to go too~”
“Nyan wants to go too, nyan.”
“Rim too~”
So, this is the group, I see.
I thought Laira might follow, but she was diligently taking care of Yufilia and Nina.
Mistral and Ruiseine also decided to stay, so I took the little ones and entered the cliff path.
The path was narrow when Revalia walked it before, but it seems wide enough for the little ones.
They proceeded along the path, making noises of excitement. Rim, who apparently dislikes long walks like Revalia, started flying midway. Then Fiorina began to imitate her, and Priscilla-chan and Nimia seemed to be having fun riding on the young dragon’s back.
I… I want to ride too…
“Elnea-older brother is also a child, nyan.”
“Grrr.”
“Child, child.”
“Ares-chan too!?”
Ares-chan manifested and said something terrible.
Moreover, Ares-chan was also floating in mid-air.
Grrr, I’m not envious at all!
R-really!
The little ones flew around in the path, sandwiched between the high cliff walls on both sides. I followed, looking up at them.
As I proceeded, thinking how I wish I could fly like Mistral and Ares-chan, the end of the valley suddenly lit up with a dazzling glow.
It seems we’ve arrived at the winged dragon’s nest.
Even from a distance, the golden radiance was dazzling to the eyes.
“We’re back!”
“Hello!”
Fiorina flew towards her companions with a “pyun.”
Rim followed without hesitation.
Priscilla-chan, who had been riding on Fiorina’s back, left too.
Ares-chan also flew after them.
It seems Ares-chan can float in the air, but can’t fly at the speed of dragons.
And then, I was left alone.
Uh… wasn’t it better if I hadn’t come along?
Although Fiorina was initially clinging to me, this is how it turned out.
With the feeling of a lost kitten, I still crossed the valley to greet the winged dragons.
“Here comes the King of Annoyance.”
“Be careful, you’ll be blown away.”
“The nest will be trashed!”
“No, no, no, what are you all saying!?”
The winged dragons with golden scales, who had been gently welcoming Fiorina and her cute friends back after a long absence.
Yet, the moment they saw me, they said such things.
How cruel!
If so, I shall meet your expectations.
And so, summoning a storm, I ran towards them with a smile, spreading my arms and saying, “Everyone, it’s been a while!” and a great commotion ensued.
Hmm. This is fun.
“So, what were you doing over there?”
“No, it’s not like that. Priscilla-chan and the others were having so much fun, I guess my desires had accumulated… The winged dragons were also having fun, you know?”
“How long has it been since such a commotion occurred at the winged dragon’s nest?”
“Elnea-kun, what on earth were you doing?”
“Just… a little bit of tag…”
It was a fun time!
No, no, no.
I was simply rejoicing with my fellow dragons who were happy about the return of the Dragon Leader after a long time.
We talked about the events at the winged dragon’s nest over dinner with everyone from Carnela’s village.
Apparently, the commotion we caused reached the village across the valley.
The Dragon Race people burst into laughter listening to my story, while some grumbled, “Hmm.” Some asked for advice on how to become better friends with the winged dragons they were taking care of.
I was able to spend a pleasant evening.
Oh, right.
Yufilia and Nina are drinking alcohol again tonight.
However, they are near us, and Ruiseine is supervising them.
“Alright, you two. If you keep showing Elnea-kun your embarrassing sides, he’ll dislike you.”
Perhaps because of Ruiseine’s warning, they don’t seem to have drunk too much.
Mistral was also drinking alcohol, which was unusual, but only enough to moisten her lips. Perhaps she was making up for what Yufilia and Nina weren’t drinking, and was being bothered by the villagers.
“Gahaha! Elnea still can’t drink alcohol?”
“That’s not it. It’s not that I can’t drink; I choose not to.”
Once you get used to alcohol, I can only see a terrifying future.
Yufilia and Nina are on the cute side. There are people like the Giant Demon Lord and Lord Rudoriado, who I wouldn’t be able to keep up with.
“But if you don’t get used to alcohol now, I don’t know what will happen?”
“What do you mean? Don’t tell me you’re going to say that Dragon Race people who can’t drink aren’t full-fledged?”
“Fufufufu… If you don’t know, then it’s fine. Fufufufu… I’m looking forward to it.”
“Oh, I see, I see…”
“Well, I can’t wait for what’s to come.”
“Please, stop! Don’t say such ominous things!”
What is this, these men?
I found myself surrounded by the men of the village and was being playfully pestered. Among them, there were those who said strange, meaningful things.
For some reason, when they heard that I don’t drink alcohol, they all sported unsettling, grinning smiles.
This is definitely the face of people plotting something bad.
“Hey, hey, what are you plotting?”
“Hahaha. Nothing at all.”
“That’s right, nothing at all.”
“You’re definitely lying!”
“Hmm. In that case, shall we drink now?”
“No. If I drink now, I’ll definitely get drunk.”
“Huh? To be an Eight Dragon King and be so pathetic.”
“It’s not that. I’m just… tired from everything…”
Yes, actually, I am quite tired.
We flew to Carnela’s village with almost no breaks.
Revalia did the flying, but even just riding is tiring. It’s not just about Revalia’s flying style, but riding itself is tiring. And on top of that, we’ve been playing every day.
Ah, playing is also one of my important roles!
I played with Teruru-chan at the Wyvern Hunting Ground, and with the spirits in the Dragon Forest. Today, I played with all my might with the winged dragons.
Honestly, I’m exhausted.
If I were to drink alcohol in this exhausted state, I’m confident I would stain Revalia’s beautiful scales.
“That’s true. We are also tired.”
“We’ve been running around for the rituals every day.”
“We demand a supply of Elnea-sama’s presence!”
As I was telling the villagers that I was tired, Mistral and the others also seemed to be tired.
That’s right. While I was under house arrest, they worked hard to cover for me, after all.
“Working hard towards a goal is important, but you need to take breaks sometimes.”
Then, Carnela approached, holding a cup of tea.
“I understand, but there’s a deadline…”
“If you push yourself too hard, it can actually be counterproductive. How about you go to the Dragon God’s Spring?”
“Dragon God’s Spring?”
My family, except for Mistral, tilted their heads, hearing a place name they had never heard before.
“It’s one of the legends passed down in the Dragon Race, or rather, in Dragon Peak. It’s a secret realm where the Dragon God is said to have bathed in ancient times.”
“Wow, to think such a place existed!”
And so, we decided to head to the Dragon God’s Spring in search of a moment of peace.
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