We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Spring is the season of new beginnings.
With each rain shower, the season changes into one that is more comfortable to live in.
Listea and her group continued to challenge themselves in the nature of Dragon Peak, starting from the easternmost village.
Certainly, if they put their minds to it, they could have reached the next village. However, they were a cautious group of heroes.
It seems they intend to continue gaining experience without any carelessness until the dragon race’s caravan, marking the end of the Lunar New Year, descends. And then, they plan to seriously challenge Dragon Peak, timing it with when the caravan people return.
I parted ways with that group of heroes and moved on to the next task.
That’s right, the migration of the Mimicho race and the Spirits is finally about to begin!
In the Mimicho village deep in the Dragon Forest, a grand farewell party was held to send off those who would be migrating.
Of course, our family participated as well.
“Hey, Elnea. I’m leaving Grandma Yuuri in your care.”
“Well, knowing her, even you might get swept up in her schemes.”
“Hahaha. It’s finally my time to reign!”
There was no sadness among those sending them off.
For the Mimicho people, Grandma Yuuri has been a gentle presence by their side from birth until death.
Though their lives will continue for decades, even centuries, no one thought for a moment that this was a final farewell to Grandma Yuuri.
Rather, they were talking about how Grandma Yuuri would probably just pop up in the village again.
There were also movements in the northern lands.
It was regarding Jab’s migration.
However, because the news came so suddenly, it was decided that it would not be a complete migration this time, but rather a temporary relocation.
Well, they still need to guide the young Mei, and it seems Jab is still necessary for the Beast race.
Still, Jab is immortal. The day will eventually come when he formally migrates to the Forbidden Territory. …How many decades from now, I wonder!?
“Or rather, Grandma Yuuri and Jab are kindred spirits, aren’t they?”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because they both stir things up and live life joyfully in their own way. This migration plan, too, was initiated by Grandma Yuuri’s sudden proposal, which swept up the Mimicho race and the Beast race.”
However, Mistral and the others tilted their heads for some reason at my opinion.
“As you say, but isn’t Elnea-kun always at the center of it all?”
“Just as Ruiseine says. Therefore, it would be more accurate to say that the three of you, including yourself, are kindred spirits, not just Grandma Yuuri and Jab.”
“We did it! Grandma, we’re companions!”
“Oh my, that’s wonderful.”
“Fufufu, companions indeed.”
The three of us – myself, Grandma Yuuri, and Jab – rejoiced. Seeing our joy, everyone else just laughed, saying they weren’t praising us.
And so.
Unlike Listea and her group, who were steadily gaining experience, we took a shortcut and moved to the Forbidden Territory.
Of course, the migrating Mimicho race, the Spirits, and Jab were all with us.
As planned, we received help from Nimia and Revalia.
My parents, Priscilla-chan, and I, along with Grandma Yuuri, Carly, and Kate, rode on Nimia and headed to the Forbidden Territory ahead of time.
The migrating Spirits also followed Nimia to the Forbidden Territory.
Yunyun and Rinrin also moved to the Forbidden Territory with us, so the Spirits immediately began to enjoy their new lives.
The rest of us flew to the northern lands with Revalia, bringing Jab with us.
Knowing Revalia, I had worried that she might dislike carrying people other than my family, but Revalia-chan, who had mellowed with age, had no problem flying with Jab.
“So Elnea, what is this situation we find ourselves in?”
“Uh, well…”
Mistral, who had joined us, pointed it out, and I found myself staring at the mansion.
A man-made structure that stood out amidst the nature of the Forbidden Territory. The grand mansion, embracing two lakes in its courtyard, was a scene of great liveliness.
“Is it just my imagination? Elnea-kun, I seem to be stumbling a lot today. Am I getting old?”
“No, no, Jiludo-san. From Grandma Yuuri’s and Jab’s perspective, you’re still just a young’un!”
Jiludo-san, looking uncharacteristically tired, grumbled. When I told him it was the Spirits’ pranks, he laughed, saying it couldn’t be helped then.
“Elnea-kun, have you seen my underwear? The ones I was drying have disappeared.”
“Uh, Sefina-san, I assure you, I am not the culprit.”
Sefina-san was searching the vast mansion for her missing underwear. This was also the Spirits’ doing, and I prayed that sparks wouldn’t fall on me. I hoped I wouldn’t find them tucked away in my own drawer!
And then.
*Thump-thump-thump*
*Flap-flap!*
*Whoosh!*
“Um, next, let’s try and catch the Fire Spirits.”
*Thump-thump-thump*
*Swish-swish*
*Bang. Bang. Bang.*
The mansion had turned into a venue for a grand sports festival.
The organizer, of course, was Priscilla-chan.
“Mistral, this is…”
“Elnea, you don’t need to say anything. I understand perfectly.”
Mistral slumped his shoulders wearily as soon as he arrived.
However, seeing her parents, Grandma Yuuri, and the Spirits playing along with Priscilla-chan’s commotion, and Yunyun and Rinrin joining in the fun, he seemed to understand.
“The Spirits are also excited about their new life in this new environment, aren’t they? I presume the Grand Elder and the others have decided this is for the best.”
“Yes, that’s right…”
The mansion, in its chaotic state, was like a battlefield.
Carpets were turned inside out, and vases were filled with sand.
Some rooms had plants that had grown due to the Spirits’ magic, turning them into botanical gardens. The numerous bathrooms in the mansion had transformed into a variety of water features, from cold baths to inferno hot springs.
Honestly, the mansion had become a different world.
“When the Spirits calm down, will you help with the cleanup?”
“Yes…”
We could only watch the rampage of Priscilla-chan and the Spirits. After all, when Grandma Yuuri told us that the Spirits were trying to get used to their new life, we had no choice but to understand.
Well, it’s probably better than the resident Spirits fighting with the migrating Spirits. Let’s overlook the temporary mess in the mansion due to the overwhelming liveliness. Priscilla-chan’s parents were also tacitly permitting their daughter’s wild behavior, claiming they were mediating between the Spirits.
“Now then, everyone who has migrated. While the Spirits are being a bit rowdy, let’s find rooms where we can stay together!”
Leaving the Spirits to Priscilla-chan, Yunyun, and Rinrin, we decided to attend to Grandma Yuuri and the others.
“Um, are there any usable rooms…!”
Carly and Kate seemed to have been so stunned by the sheer scale of the mansion standing in the Forbidden Territory that they hadn’t spoken a word since arriving.
It’s understandable. After all, its scale made our family home in the capital city of the Armēdo Kingdom seem small. And we were going to live there from now on.
“We usually sleep and stay around here…”
The area we usually use was currently in the midst of a great disaster. At this rate, we would have to stay in different rooms. So, we all moved together, searching for usable rooms. We found a section spanning the south side of the two lakes that seemed usable.
“Priscilla, no roughhousing around here!”
“Yes!”
Scolded by her mother, Priscilla-chan snapped to attention and replied. We laughed, thinking how scary her mother must be.
Nevertheless, having secured living spaces, we finally began to unpack. The furniture was already in the mansion, so we only brought clothes and important personal items for the migration. Priscilla-chan’s mother took charge of these tasks, giving quick instructions to everyone and working efficiently. I, too, worked like a horse!
It seemed that not only her daughter but also we were intimidated by Priscilla-chan’s mother…
Meanwhile, the elderly folks took a break in the courtyard, watching us busily at work. Jiludo-san was casually drinking tea with Grandma Yuuri and Jab.
“This is a nostalgic place.”
“Fufufu, it is.”
“Hou hou, have you two visited this land in the past?”
It was a rare sight to see Jiludo-san playing host. He seemed surprisingly happy, diligently preparing refills of tea and snacks.
“A long time ago. I was brought here by a witch. The sight of so many lakes spread out below from the sky was truly breathtaking.”
“I was also able to stop by during a long journey with the Beast race. At that time, I didn’t know this was a forbidden land. It seems someone was protecting us, who visited without knowing.”
It appeared that, unbeknownst to us, both of them had received permission to enter the Forbidden Territory long ago. Although they were surprised by the size of the building upon arriving at the mansion, their lack of astonishment at the vast surrounding nature was because they had been here before, we now understood.
“But I never imagined that Mist would end up owning this land.”
“There are many things about the future that we cannot know.”
A gentle aura enveloped the area around Grandma Yuuri and Jab as they chatted amicably. Perhaps the calm Spirits, influenced by their leisurely atmosphere, were beginning to settle down.
“Elnea, your hands have stopped.”
“Yes!”
Lost in thought while gazing at the courtyard, I was called back to work by Priscilla-chan’s mother.
“Elnea-kun, those clothes are for summer. Please put them in the dresser over there.”
Then, following Ruiseine’s instructions, I efficiently stored Grandma Yuuri’s and Jab’s clothes. But then, a question arose.
“The mansion is so large, and we can use any room freely, but may we unpack all our belongings here?”
“And what do you mean by that?”
Carly, perhaps having finally gotten used to our new environment, asked for clarification.
“Well, once the Spirits settle down, we’ll be able to use rooms in other areas. We might find even better rooms then, don’t you think?”
We chose to stay on the south side of the mansion because the Spirits’ commotion hadn’t affected that area, and it was also far from our living quarters. We could decide on the rooms we’d use long-term after things had calmed down a bit more. If so, there would be no need to unpack clothes that we wouldn’t wear for the current season.
My family nodded in agreement with my opinion. However, Carly and the other Mimicho race members had a different reaction.
“No, even if it’s provisional, it’s better to unpack. If we just tie them up and leave them in a corner of the room, they might be moth-eaten by the time we want to use them.”
“But they won’t get moth-eaten in just a few days.”
“A few days, perhaps.”
We tilted our heads at Carly’s words.
“Elnea, you must not forget. We did not migrate to this land for our own sake. We came here to facilitate the smooth migration of the Spirits.”
I nodded at Priscilla-chan’s mother’s words.
“Therefore, although the Spirits are excited now, once they calm down, we will also be active in interacting with the Spirits of this land. At that time, we will likely be living in nature, away from this mansion.”
Ah, I see. We had been making assumptions. We had assumed that we would all be living together in the Forbidden Territory from now on, and thus, we had the preconception that we would all be living in the same place.
However, the Mimicho race, like Carly, was primarily concerned about the Spirits. And when considering the Spirits, a limited area around the mansion would surely be too small. The nature of the vast Forbidden Territory would surely be more appealing.
“We apologize for the trouble you went to, Elnea and the others, but once the Spirits settle down, we will explore this land. And we will find a place where the Spirits can live comfortably and take care of them.”
I had been shortsighted. I had been overjoyed and perhaps a bit carried away by the prospect of having more companions living in the Forbidden Territory. But Carly and the others had migrated here as representatives of the Mimicho race. They had parted with their tribe members and were resolved to fulfill their mission with firm determination.
“No, it was I who was too naive. I will cooperate with all my might!”
“Thank you. Elnea-kun’s cooperation is indispensable. And once the matter of the Spirits is settled, we will also be staying in this mansion.”
Dusk was gradually approaching. The three people who had been chatting in the courtyard also returned to the mansion.
“Um, Priscilla will help too!”
“Help, help.”
“Nyan will try her best too, nyan.”
And then, the young girls, declaring they were hungry, ran over energetically.
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