We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
It’s time for the year-end cleaning.
Is it too early to say “Happy New Year”?
But Laila has already left, and I won’t see Priscilla-chan and Nimia again until after the New Year. As we talked about this, we parted ways with Sleigsta (Old Man), and the group from the Capital City passed through the Dragon Forest.
In the Forbidden Territory and the depths of Dragon Peak, the cold weather continues as it did last year, with snow for consecutive days. However, it seems there’s no sign of snow yet on the plains spreading to the east of Dragon Peak.
Nevertheless, a sharp, cold wind blows down from Dragon Peak, making the chill seep into my bones.
After parting ways with half of my family in the Moss Garden, I enter the Capital City, which is progressing with its reconstruction, huddled together with Ruiseine, Yufilia, and Nina.
Asher also departed for the eastern sky with Nimia, and we too will soon be separated.
Mistral has returned to Dragon Peak, but he will likely come to the Moss Garden every day to care for Sleigsta (Old Man).
If I wanted to, I could meet not only Mistral and Ruiseine, but also Yufilia and Nina. However, that would be unfair to Laila and the others, so we made a strange promise, unbefitting of newlyweds, to meet separately until the New Year unless there’s a very important reason, and then we returned to our respective family homes.
“I’m home~”
“Welcome back.”
“Ah, Karen (Ms.). You were supposed to be in charge of Yufi and Nina, but you stayed here at our house.”
“Yes. I am now a servant of this mansion.”
“Thank you always.”
The person who came out to greet me was Karen (Ms.), the former personal servant of the Twin Princesses, who has now become a servant at my family home.
I greet her at the large, luxuriously built entrance.
But, you know. Once you’ve lived even temporarily in that ridiculously large mansion in the Forbidden Territory, this family home starts to look quite ordinary.
No, no. My sense of normalcy is being distorted!
“Speaking of which, where is Mother?”
Father is probably working until the very end of the year, but I don’t see Mother, who is a full-time housewife.
“Madam is out to greet her parents.”
“I see. So Grandpa and Grandma haven’t moved in here yet.”
Father’s and Mother’s parents are both alive and well, and both families are currently living in the Capital City.
Last year’s incident caused many people in the Capital City to lose their homes. However, as a year has passed, many rebuilt houses have appeared.
But for elderly people to build a new house is difficult due to financial reasons. This is the same for my grandparents, and it was one of the problems the Capital City faced.
My family home was built with tax money, but not everyone is fortunate enough to receive such luck.
Therefore, many elderly people or residents who cannot build a house immediately live in temporary housing or collective housing built by the country.
My grandparents are also in a collective housing facility where elderly people live together.
But, you know. If Grandpa and Grandma had wanted to, they could have lived in this mansion. Even now, visiting beast race students and guests from Dragon Peak are staying here, but there are plenty of rooms available.
However, my grandparents stubbornly refused to live in this mansion.
I wonder why?
It’s such a fun place, with lively beast races who are always dancing and dragon races who tell amusing adventure stories, and dragonfolk who are kind and curious despite their appearance.
Perhaps this luxurious mansion feels suffocating to my grandparents, who are as down-to-earth as I am.
There are also servants, and everything is provided for them, so it should be a comfortable life for the elderly.
…Well, it’s just that everything bothers me.
Of course, my grandparents were invited to our wedding ceremony.
However, faced with a variety of races and luxurious food and drinks they had never seen before, they looked bewildered. Even though we had prepared a special section near the stage, perhaps they felt out of place, and by the time I noticed, they had retreated to a corner of the venue.
Even then, I tried to persuade them to live in our family home with Mother, but it didn’t seem to work.
Nevertheless, we want to relax together for New Year’s. Mother must have gone to invite them with that thought in mind.
I handed Karen (Ms.) souvenirs and went straight to the courtyard.
A little while ago, it was a lovely courtyard with a carpet of grass spreading out…
Following a certain incident, not only the courtyard but also the grounds surrounding our family home became covered with ancient trees.
Still, the courtyard has enough space for the dragon races to relax comfortably.
Upon entering the courtyard, I found dragon races who had taken a liking to my family home, lounging around.
“Long time no see, everyone.”
“The Troublemaker King has arrived.”
“Good… It seems the Mimicho Race’s young girl isn’t here.”
“I think it’s more fun with her here!”
“Oh, have you returned alone?”
“Welcome back, Elnea (Male).”
Then, it seemed that not only the dragon races but also the beast races were spending time in the courtyard, and they approached me with smiles.
However, there was a stranger…?
“Uh?”
“My apologies. I have been dispatched from Dragon Peak to take care of the dragon races.”
“Ah, speaking of which!”
Even when I’m not here, the dragon races will come to my family home and behave as they please.
They are dragon races who are fond of me, so they are generally good dragons. However, from a human perspective, dragon races still look scary.
My parents and Karen (Ms.) have become quite accustomed to the dragon races, but there are still people who are afraid and don’t approach them.
And one of the reasons they feel scared is the difficulty in communicating effectively.
The dragon races understand human language, but humans cannot understand the feelings of dragon races without a dragon heart.
Therefore, we had arranged to have a dragon person dispatched so that everyone at home could interact with the dragon races even when I wasn’t around.
“Please take care of them. And, dragon races, listen to what this person says and don’t cause any trouble!”
“Don’t you say that!”
“Whaaat?”
I intended to say something serious, but the dragon races grumbled in disagreement.
The servants and beast races were surprised by the dragon races’ sudden discontent, and the dragon person in charge translated for them. They nodded in understanding, saying, “That’s only natural.”
My reputation…
“And so, Slaton…”
The first night back at my family home was dinner with not only my family but also the servants and overnight guests.
My grandparents, after some hesitation, saying “just for New Year’s,” have come and are now happily drinking alcohol.
And there, I am telling the heroic tales of Slaton, the comedian of the hero’s party.
Everyone burst into laughter at Slaton’s ridiculous actions and his predicament of being sat on by Creacio.
“Still, it’s hard to believe you got married so soon.”
“Father, please don’t say that with such emotion now.”
“That tiny, cute Elnea (Male)…”
“Even you, Grandpa!”
“Here, Elnea-chan! Don’t be shy, have some sweet potato.”
“Grandma, that sweet potato is the one I dug up on Dragon Peak!”
“It’s sweet and delicious.”
“Here, here, old timer. Have a drink.”
“No, no, as a dragon person, you must be more than twice as old as these grandpas!”
“Whose child are you, young man?”
“Grandpa, this is Ares-chan, and she’s a spirit.”
“Oh my, what a cute spirit. Is she the child of that dragon person girl and Elnea boy?”
“Grandma, you don’t understand the meaning of spirit.”
“Lately, he’s started to get forgetful.”
“Old man, don’t you dare say your companion is forgetful. Now, whose child is she?”
My father’s parents always treat me like their cute grandson. I don’t mind it at all, but it’s embarrassing to be seen like this by dragon people or beast races.
My mother’s mother, my maternal grandmother, is a bit out of sync with the conversation, perhaps due to her age. Her husband, my grandfather, smiles wryly at his forgetful wife, but he stays close by to take care of her.
Watching these two elderly couples, the parents of my parents, I realize that growing old is a wonderful thing.
Soon enough, Father and Mother will also grow old in the same way.
“Elnea (Male), why are you looking so serious?”
“I’m not, Karen (Ms.).”
“Here, there’s also some alcohol.”
“No, no, I’m on a break from drinking.”
“Right, you’ve overcome the customs for us dragon person men, haven’t you? So, how was it?”
“Na-na-na-!”
It’s embarrassing to talk about that in front of my parents!
The drunken dragon person cornered me. I hastily evaded and changed the subject.
“More importantly, is everyone living a fulfilling life!?”
“What a boring topic! Come on, tell us all about it.”
“Eek!”
Honestly!
This year, we parted ways with the excuse of spending a relaxing New Year’s at our respective family homes, but for me, it seems I can’t get any peace even after returning home.
In the end, it turned into a noisy night, just like when we’re all together.
I can’t talk about vulgar things in front of my parents and grandparents, so I escape to the courtyard. Then, the dragon races start asking me about the Dragon God, and it continues to be chaotic until late at night.
Midnight, as the date changes.
Finally, after the banquet ended, I returned to my room.
Perhaps it’s Karen (Ms.). The fireplace was lit in advance, so the room is nicely warm.
I sat down on the rocking chair placed in front of the fireplace and took a breath.
Pokon, Ares-chan manifested and landed on my lap. Perhaps she “borrowed” them from the banquet hall, holding a handful of nuts.
Holding Ares-chan on my lap while wearing my swords felt constrained, so I removed my sword belt. I leaned the White Sword against the side of the rocking chair and picked up the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword.
I gently stroked the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword, and the three leaves on its guard swayed cutely.
Ares-chan also ate the nuts with a smile.
“Now that you have a home to live in, I should let you take root soon.”
“I want to be with you more.”
“If you take root, you won’t be able to change back into a wooden sword anymore?”
“It’s because I’m changing my form with the secret technique of the old dragon. I won’t be able to change on my own anymore.”
“Is that so…?”
With the acquisition of a home in the Forbidden Territory, the place for the Spirit Tree to take root is almost decided.
But if it takes root, we won’t be able to adventure together anymore.
This is a difficult problem.
Ideally, I want the Spirit Tree to take root, absorb plenty of Dragon Vein energy, and grow strong. But the Spirit Tree itself wants to be with me, and I also want to have many more adventures with the Spirit Tree.
In my left hand, I always hold the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword. I can’t imagine using any other weapon. But will it eventually leave my hand…?
As if sensing my feelings, the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword creaked.
“Are you giving up?”
By the time I realized it, Ares-chan was looking up at me as if testing me.
“But… No, that’s not right!”
I, who have overcome countless difficulties, should not give up on the Spirit Tree for such a small matter.
With newfound determination, I gripped the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword tightly.
And at the same time, a brilliant idea struck my mind like lightning!
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