We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The banquet was in full swing.
The wedding ceremony, filled with tension, anxiety, joy, and liveliness, was successfully concluded with everyone’s blessings.
However, even after the wedding ceremony, the grand reception continued.
Everyone continued the festivities into the second day. Of course, we joined in, singing and drinking with abandon.
The dragon race, upon running out of food, began hunting, while the magic beasts played pranks by disguising themselves. The Mimicho Race and the Human Race clinked glasses arm-in-arm, and the Dragon Race and Beast Race competed in arm wrestling.
Among all this, I was surprised by the actions of the demons. They surprisingly blended in with their surroundings and fought alongside the adventurers, challenging the Great Labyrinth.
Apparently, the demons are trying to obtain the Thread of a Thousand-Handed Spider and show their strength to the Giant Demon Lord.
From the third day of the grand banquet, people other than invited guests began to visit the venue. Many of them were adventurers, and seeing them cooperate with demons was a sight that could probably only be seen here.
At first, the adventurers were hesitant. But upon realizing the demons had no ill will or hostility towards them, they gradually began to open up.
It’s a strange scene, isn’t it?
Demons, who are typically depicted as extremely wicked in fairy tales and adventure stories, are joining hands with humans, who are often oppressed by other races, to cooperate for a single purpose.
It’s probably special because they are demons from the realm of the gentle Giant Demon Lord, and others besides me understand this. However, I hope that such interspecies exchange will continue and the great commotion of last year will not happen again.
I asked Teruru-chan to stay at the venue for a little longer.
Teruru-chan seemed to enjoy playing with the dragons and the little ones, so she readily agreed.
Once we return to the Forbidden Territory, we won’t be able to play like this with so many people around.
Or rather, I wonder about the management of the Forbidden Territory while Teruru-chan is staying here? With such questions in mind, we escaped the grand reception, which had entered its fifth day, and retreated to the Moss Garden.
“Ughhh… please forgive me already.”
“Elnea-kun, here is some water.”
“Thank you, Ruiseine.”
The reason we came to the Moss Garden was…
“Heh heh heh. Elnea, know that if you do not defeat us, the night will never come for you!”
“Please spare me!”
It turned out that the dragon men’s harassment had been continuing day and night.
Every night, they would abduct me with a pot of alcohol in hand. And then, they would say it was a trial and drink.
Actually, I haven’t had much alcohol since I’m not used to the taste of adults. Nevertheless, I was weakened by the nightly drinking party.
“At this rate, how many more days will this continue?”
“Zan, can’t something be done about this?”
“There’s nothing that can be done about this. Unless we somehow defeat Ide, it will continue forever.”
It’s not just me who is weakened.
Unlike me, the other men had continued to drink.
The dragon men drank several times more than what they urged me to drink. And then there were the people who loved alcohol, represented by Rudoriado-san. As a result, one by one, those who fell by the wayside began to appear, and the number of people harassing me decreased each night.
However, there was one monster who drank endlessly and was not drunk at all.
Ide, who looked ferocious and wicked. This man was the biggest obstacle.
Zan, who had been secretly helping me, was giving Ide strong alcoholic drinks. However, he showed no signs of getting drunk.
And then, seeing that I was unable to break through the nightly trials, the women finally lost patience and took action. That’s why I was brought here to the Moss Garden by my wife.
We temporarily withdrew from the venue, also to rest. There were several other groups who left the venue with us.
First, the Giant Demon Lord and his executives.
Ruilala and Charlotte’s main role is to take care of the Giant Demon Lord, so the banquet commotion seems to be secondary for them. The Demon Lord is currently at my family home, drinking with my father and spending his time leisurely.
Old Sleigsta and Lily, who were the enforcers tasked by my wife to kidnap me, have returned with us to the Dragon Forest.
At the venue, the number of adventurers, curious merchants, and fearless onlookers has increased, creating a situation where we are exposed to a large number of people. Old Sleigsta does not seem to like such situations. Besides, he cannot stay away from the Spirit Tree for too long.
They brought back meat as souvenirs and have started comparing them.
Oh, right. Before I was kidnapped, the Spirit Tree that had been temporarily planted in the Wyvern Hunting Ground was properly recovered.
Thanks to the Spirit Tree’s ability to communicate with me, it understood that that place was not its permanent home. So, even when it took root, it did not grasp the soil firmly, and Old Sleigsta and Asher were able to easily pull it out.
It was so impressive to see the Spirit Tree, which had grown as large as a small mountain, being pulled out by Old Sleigsta and Asher, who were as large as small mountains. It became a bit of a spectacle, and everyone at the venue cheered.
Then, separated from the soil, the Spirit Tree returned to its usual form.
A form that anyone close to me recognizes. It transformed into a Spirit Tree Wooden Sword and hung at my waist.
Many were surprised that the wooden sword I had treated so carefully was actually that mysterious giant tree.
Asher, who had pulled out the Spirit Tree, then flew off somewhere to escort Micheila-chan and the others.
As expected, it was Asher who brought in the mysterious group.
I didn’t expect their true identities to be the Dragon God or the Kensei, but thanks to Asher bringing them, we were able to start walking a new path. I should thank him when I get back.
No, considering her husband, wouldn’t it be better for her to return to her hometown soon…?
Yuuri-sama has invited Jab to the Mimicho Race village.
They haven’t seen each other in hundreds of years, and they probably have a lot to talk about.
Speaking of which, these two seem to be connected through a witch. According to them, the witch is in a different position from Micheila-chan and the others.
In the first place, I don’t know exactly what Micheila-chan’s position is. So I don’t really understand the witch either.
It’s surprising that there are different levels even among unfathomable beings. The world is complex.
Listea and the others, who watched me being kidnapped, were eager to challenge the Great Labyrinth.
They must be having a hard time in the Great Labyrinth right now.
It’s the Great Labyrinth created with such effort by Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan. Even the Hero’s party won’t be able to conquer it easily.
As I looked back on the chaotic past few days, I took a sip of the Spirit Tree’s dew given to me by Ruiseine.
Actually, the banquet is still ongoing at the venue, and someone from my family is still there, so I should be there too.
Well, it will probably end in a few more days.
Since I am the one who will make the closing declaration for the grand banquet, I plan to return to the venue once I have recovered.
“However, you must also be tired. Why don’t you take a break?”
It’s rare for Old Sleigsta to show concern for us!
“Heh heh. You have finally become the emissaries of the Dragon God. If I look out for you, something good might happen to me too.”
“Uwah, so that was your intention after all. Or rather, emissaries of the Dragon God?”
I remembered.
When I first met Asher.
Old Sleigsta had jokingly called me that.
But what does it mean to be an emissary of the Dragon God?
It’s true that the Dragon God granted us immortal life, but we were told to find our own purpose from now on. We were not told to help anyone or to become a member of any organization.
Moreover, Micheila-chan, the Dreaming Shrine Maiden, and Lairna, who assessed us, all seemed to be beings of equal standing, not subordinates of the Dragon God. Therefore, it would be strange for us, who were tested by these four, to be under anyone.
“Those who have reached the Dragon God while still alive are called emissaries of the Dragon God. It is said that emissaries of the Dragon God guide us dragons.”
“So we have become beings who guide Grandpa and the others?”
“It is merely a legend. You don’t need to worry about it. However… perhaps it would have been better for you to receive life from the Kensei.”
“Could it be that we could have received immortal life from any of those four?”
I, who put away the Dragon Sword Dance. Receiving immortal life from Kensei Faruna, the founder of the style, might have been the greatest honor. While I think that, I still…
“I am glad I received it from the Dragon God. After all, I am with everyone, and above all, my connection with Old Sleigsta is my beginning.”
“Hmm, you say such pleasant things.”
“In a few years, that will become a burden.”
“Lily, you shouldn’t say what you’re thinking!”
“You convey it even if you don’t say it once you think it.”
“Guh…”
Although a slight doubt remained about what I would have been called if I had received immortal life from the Kensei, Micheila-chan, or the Dreaming Shrine Maiden, instead of “emissaries of the Dragon God.”
I had already grown fond of this title.
Hmm, hmm.
A being who guides dragons, huh?
Alright, first, let’s correct Old Sleigsta’s mischievous nature.
“You are a demon.”
“It’s just your imagination, Grandpa.”
Since we have become immortal, we will be living energetically even when Old Sleigsta retires, right? I look forward to the future.
“On the other hand, Lily will be bound by her duties.”
“Ugh, yes. I will definitely come to play, so do your best.”
“Leave it to me!”
For us, who have not yet found our purpose, it is no exaggeration to say that we have infinite free time. However, Lily, who will succeed Old Sleigsta, has only a limited amount of time left. And once she takes on the duty of protecting the Spirit Tree and the Dragon Forest, she will lose her freedom.
“This is an honorable position for an Ancient Species Dragon, so please don’t worry about it. Ah, but please come visit!”
“Yes, I promise!”
Even without my promise, Priscilla-chan and Nimia will undoubtedly be here often.
I can also meet the spirits, not just Lily.
Speaking of which, Priscilla-chan and Nimia are nowhere to be seen.
They must be playing with Teruru-chan and Revalia at the venue. With Fiorina, Rim, and fluffy Mei joining them, it must be quite a scene.
What if the situation is already beyond description when I visit the venue next time…
I-it’ll be alright, won’t it?
Yufilia and Nina are staying there today.
Will those two be able to control the little ones…? Rather, if they get caught up in it and go on a rampage with the ones staying behind…
“Hey, I’m starting to worry about the situation at the venue?”
I turned to Mistral, who was taking care of Old Sleigsta and Lily, who were enjoying comparing meat, with a worried look.
“It’s a crisis, Lady Elnea! Let’s go and check on it, just the two of us.”
“Lyra, what are you trying to do by pulling a fast one?”
“Kyaah, Ruiseine-sama, please forgive me.”
Ruiseine apprehended Lyra, who was about to jump on me. For Lyra and us, who wield dragon energy, Ruiseine is an archnemesis.
With her sharp dragon eyes, she saw through our movements, and we were unable to do anything. Lyra, with her intentions seen through, is in this state.
“There should be no problem. No one will die.”
“No one will die, but there might be missing persons or those with mental illnesses!?”
“You worry too much. Here, why don’t you go for a walk to clear your head.”
As Old Sleigsta said this, his pupils shone golden.
“Ah…”
The first one to shout was Ruiseine.
This was because only I and Mistral were enveloped in a dazzling light.
“Th-that’s unfair!”
As I was enveloped in golden light and closed my eyes due to the brilliance, the last thing I heard was Lyra’s sad cry.
When I opened my eyes, Mistral and I were inside the Dragon Mausoleum.
Apparently, we were told to go for a breath of fresh air.
If it was just for a breath of fresh air, I could have gone alone, but perhaps Mistral thought that if I were alone, I might cause trouble again?
Looking at Mistral beside me, she also gave me a wry smile.
“There’s no other way, shall we go for a walk?”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
Lyra always tries to take the lead. Ruiseine stops her. Yufilia and Nina also try to approach me with various schemes, but…
In the end, doesn’t Mistral always get the best deal?
Holding Mistral’s hand, we left the Dragon Mausoleum.
Around the small island where the Dragon Mausoleum is located, there are springs.
“Ah, I see. The water dragons have also been taken away, so there are no dragons to carry us, right?”
“Now that you mention it, that’s true.”
The spring bank is visible ahead.
If I were my weak former self, I would have asked Mistral to help me over.
But without hesitation, I put my arm around Mistral’s waist. Mistral, without being shy, hugged me.
“Here we go,” I said, concentrating dragon energy in my legs, and then leaped across the spring in one go, landing in front of a row of houses on the other side of the bank.
