We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
A mother’s love is strong.
“Fufu. Fufufu.”
Luiseine was smiling with satisfaction.
Apparently, she had been busy with various important tasks while we were at the royal palace. To reward her, I embraced her and petted her head as Luiseine wished.
Due to her job as a Miko, Luiseine cannot participate in the glamorous events in the public eye. I had been enjoying delicious food and having a lively time, while Luiseine was working hard. Mistral and the others, perhaps out of consideration for Luiseine, who had been through a lot of stress, seemed to be relaxing in the same room without disturbing us.
This is my room at my parents’ home. We were finally taking a break after all the New Year’s greetings were over. I wonder why, but traveling back and forth in my neighborhood feels more tiring than adventuring in distant, unfamiliar lands. Especially at the royal palace, my shoulders were stiff. I felt like I was going to pass out from the unfamiliar formal wear, language, and etiquette.
I envied Priscilla-chan, who had escaped so early! Apparently, she had explored the capital city with Karen. The adorable Dragon Knight and her loyal attendant had become the talk of the capital in the past few days.
“Elnea-kun, what are you daydreaming about now? You’re neglecting your task.”
“Oh, my apologies. Besides, I wasn’t daydreaming?”
I tightened my arm around Luiseine’s slender waist, not the hand that was petting her head. Luiseine pressed herself against me without resistance and smiled with satisfaction again.
Now then, what should I do next? I am the husband, and Luiseine is the wife. The sun is still high in the sky, but it’s okay to have impure thoughts! Rather, it’s healthy, isn’t it!? Should I push her down backward? Or should I move my hand from her waist to her head and attack her modest chest? Luiseine’s lips are moist today!
Luiseine must be expecting the next step too. …Right? Mistral, Laira, Yufilia, and Nina are also around. However, Mistral had said, “I’ll let Luiseine have her way today,” at the beginning, so she couldn’t interfere. Yufilia and Nina, who had been plotting at the royal palace, were no match for Mistral, and Laira couldn’t go against Luiseine. Therefore, there was no one to stop me and Luiseine from making out in front of them. Could this be… !?
“Luiseine.”
“Elnea-kun…”
Luiseine and I gazed at each other.
“Elnea, are you in?”
“Kyaa!”
However, the sweet moment was instantly shattered. Just as I was about to embrace Luiseine and push her down to show off to Mistral and the others, my mother suddenly opened the bedroom door and entered. How embarrassing!
My wife and I screamed and quickly separated. My mother burst out laughing when she saw us playing on the bedding. “What is it? Was I interrupting?” “No, Mother-in-law. You came at the perfect time.” “Is that so? Then that’s good.” Mistral and the others were also laughing. Only Luiseine and I were flustered, our faces bright red.
It’s not embarrassing to be seen by my wives. But my mother is different! My mother, who knows everything about me. But this is different. Luiseine can dote on me and Mistral and the others as much as she wants, but I’m sure she wouldn’t want her mother-in-law to see this.
My mother was holding her stomach laughing, probably finding our embarrassment hilarious. A servant passing by the room peeked in, wondering what was happening. Then, they walked away, tilting their head. “Ahaha. I haven’t laughed this much in a long time. It’s not shameful for a couple to be close. Come on, you, the husband, should be confident.” “Ugh. Even if you say so… So, Mom, did you need something?” I poked my head out from under the covers and glared at my mother, my cheeks puffed out.
“Ah, right. Elnea, about this time… If Mist is here, shouldn’t I ask her instead?” “Ah, Mom, you just thought I wasn’t dependable, didn’t you!?” “You aren’t dependable, you know? Mist is many times more dependable.” “Gugh, I can’t argue with that!” What a terrible mother. She trusts her daughter-in-law more than her own son.
“So, Mist, is this the kind of clothing I should wear?” My mother was wearing extremely thick clothing despite being indoors. It was a thick fur garment meticulously tanned by the skinning ape race, who possessed unparalleled leather processing technology among the beast races. The hood was made of high-quality, fluffy rabbit fur. She was also wearing gloves. They were finely crafted gloves that allowed all five fingers to move individually, not just the thumb. At first glance, it looked like an outfit for entering a snowy mountain.
Mistral unreservedly looked my mother up and down and then put her hand on her chin, deep in thought. “The journey will likely be leisurely, so you probably won’t sweat. Therefore, wearing such thick clothing might be appropriate. However, when the weather is bad and cold, it gets much colder than you imagine, so it might be good to prepare a leather cloak for both warmth and wind protection.” “Oh my. Is it that cold?” “Although it’s after the beginning of spring, it’s much colder than the plains in mid-winter.” “Can we really go to such a harsh place?” “That won’t be a problem. We will escort you properly, and more importantly, a dragon race will be with us.”
Hey, Mistral, you should have said “Because I, the pillar of this family, am here” instead! So, my mother and the others are going on a trip. Huh!? You don’t understand? I didn’t understand either when I first heard about it.
“Elnea-kun, we are going to Mist’s village!” Sera, the mother of Yufilia and Nina, said this. I was told this abruptly when I visited the royal palace! Dragon Peak is a truly dangerous place. Only a handful of adventurers have ever reached the villages in the easternmost part of the mountain range. Even though I know that, the Mother’s Federation suggested this.
“It wouldn’t be right to have Cornelia come all the way here all the time. So, we will also go to Mist’s village, no, to Cornelia’s village!” There was no prior consultation with us. Cornelia, who would be the host, Sera, my mother, and Luiseine’s mother, Risene, apparently made the decision. I wonder how the plan proceeded so smoothly with Risene, a high-ranking Battle Priestess who wouldn’t go overboard, and the reliable Cornelia. In any case, the Mother’s Federation made this travel plan and asked for my post-approval. And I was inevitably tasked with filling in the gaps in their plan. The biggest issue, of course, is safety. The journey is difficult even for skilled adventurers, yet queens of noble status and my mother, who has never even traveled properly, are going. It can only be described as reckless.
But precisely because of that, I wanted to show my mother the scenery of Dragon Peak. My parents, who now live a life without any hardship, were so poor just a few years ago that they had to gather firewood from the Dragon Forest to save on magic crystals. I want my mother, who has gone through such hardships, to enjoy various things from now on. While choosing Dragon Peak as the first travel destination is questionable, well, it will probably be fine.
“The craftsmen have prepared splendid saddles.” “The servants have prepared what is needed.” “There are no saddles for wild dragons, other than those belonging to the Dragon Knight Order, in the Armēdo Kingdom. It’s not something that can be prepared immediately upon request, so the plan must have been in the works for a long time, right?” “It was a secret from you. But well, knowing you were always busy, there was no fear of it being revealed.” My mother, laughing, looked truly happy. She must have been looking forward to this trip. I understand well. The most exciting part is when you’re planning before an adventure.
“The Earth Dragons who will accompany us have already arrived.” “Are you sure flying dragons wouldn’t be better?” “Mist, thank you for your consideration. But since it’s a trip, I want to go at a leisurely pace.” When my mother initially revealed the travel plan, I had planned to ask Lily and the Wyverns for their cooperation. After all, Wyverns are safe, reliable, and fast. However, Sera refused. She said she wanted to proceed slowly on the ground and enjoy the nature of Dragon Peak. My considerable stress as an escort was not considered! So, I asked the Earth Dragons for help. I never considered making my mother walk. It took me, who had Dragon Energy, such an effort to travel. I can easily imagine my mother, who is not good at exercise, giving up within half a day. The Mother’s Federation, which only made plans and then delegated the execution, is completely spoiled. I’m sure my mother and Luiseine’s mother urged them to be more considerate. But Yufilia and Nina’s mother… Those girls take after their mothers. The Mother’s Federation had made an even more outrageous decision.
“So, are Father and the others really not going?” “Father says he’s busy with work. He’s a true workaholic.” “Father has work.” “Father is staying behind.” “Father also has a schedule conflict with a ritual.” “His Majesty the King of Yorttenitos Kingdom cannot come.” It seems the Mother’s Federation plans to have fun all by themselves, leaving their husbands behind! The King has public duties, and my father claims to be busy with work, but if they had been planning this for a long time, they should have adjusted their work or avoided other engagements. Yet, this is the situation. The King, who was informed of the travel plans by Sera at the royal palace, looked as disappointed as if he were about to cry. My father just gave a wry smile.
“I suppose I have no choice. In that case, I’ll take the Father’s Federation to the Demon Lord’s country next time.” “Oh my. That would really surprise Father.” My mother burst out laughing, holding her stomach again, and Mistral and the others exchanged wry smiles. I want to show my parents more places. The northern lands where the beast race lives. The Yorttenitos Kingdom, and the New World further to the east. Eventually, I hope we can go to the Mimicho Race’s village. And one day, I want to invite them to our home in the Forbidden Territory.
“Elnea. While the travel plans for your mother and the others are important, don’t forget to take care of your own business first?” “Don’t worry. I’m going to meet Friel when the beginning of spring arrives.” Soon, it will be the beginning of spring this year. It’s the time when the boys and girls who have worked hard for a year return, and when new young people full of hope embark on their journeys. Although I was active in the Yorttenitos Kingdom and the Great Forest spreading eastward just the other day, I have to go there again. But this time, it’s not to cause trouble, but to hear Friel’s adventuring stories. While preparing for the Mother’s Federation’s journey, I also began preparing for my own.
