We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Beast Climbing
“You know, Yunyun is strict about studying,” I said.
“Who is stricter, your mother or Yunyun?”
“Um, my mother is scary, though?”
“I see! Then what about Rinrin?”
“Rinrin is kind, but she can’t beat Yunyun, you know?”
“As expected, a younger sister can’t beat her older sister.”
“But Nina and Yufi get along well, right?”
“That’s because they’re twins.”
I switched from Lily to Nimia and headed towards Teruru’s nest with Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan. Along the way, Priscilla-chan told me about her recent life.
Apparently, her mornings were spent studying with Yunyun, and her afternoons helping her mother and the others. It seemed like she had a very demanding daily life for a young child. Her life had completely changed from the free and uninhibited days she spent playing with us, and Priscilla-chan seemed unable to bear it any longer.
And so, she ran away from home, just like Nimia.
“Meow.”
Nimia landed in an instant within a deep crack etched into the mountainside of Sacred Mountain. She descended straight into the dark, deep crevice.
Normally, I would think that pitch-black darkness would be a scary place for a small child, but Priscilla-chan was happily meowing in my arms. Of course, Ares-chan, who had joined Priscilla-chan, also seemed to be enjoying herself.
“Welcome!”
“Hello!”
Then, from the depths of the darkness, Teruru slowly emerged. Multiple red eyes looked down upon us riding on Nimia. Teruru was so large that Nimia, who was larger than ordinary dragon folk, seemed small in comparison. Like a top-tier magic beast, the darkness was filled with a dense presence.
However, I felt no fear at all. I didn’t know if it was because we were friends with Teruru, or if Teruru was intentionally creating this atmosphere, but our visit seemed to be welcomed by Teruru. Nimia was able to land safely at the bottom of the crevice.
Nimia, after dropping me, Priscilla-chan, and Ares-chan off, immediately shrunk down and moved to hover above my head.
“Hmm. I want to ride on Teruru’s head.”
“Me too!”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“Let’s climb, let’s climb!”
In response to our requests, Teruru extended an arm from the depths of the darkness. We eagerly leaped onto the arm. And so began the Teruru climb!
We jumped over the sharp claws with spatial jumps and used the thick, rough fur as footholds to climb higher and higher. Priscilla-chan seemed to be enjoying her newfound freedom, happily meowing. However, no matter how much we climbed, we couldn’t reach Teruru’s torso.
“Too big!”
“Meow.”
“In that case, I’ll get serious!”
And so, I also jumped over the tips of the claws with spatial jumps.
“Cheating is not allowed.”
“Kyaa!”
But cheating was not permitted in the Teruru climb. With a single up and down movement of her legs, I was thrown off.
“The last one to arrive gets the punishment, okay?”
“Priscilla-chan, that sounds like you’re pinpointing me!”
Ares-chan, who had only said “let’s climb,” was now floating beside me, cheering me on. And the difference between Priscilla-chan, who hadn’t fallen, and me, who had been thrown off, was clear. Moreover, Priscilla-chan, with the agility characteristic of the Mimicho Race, hopped from strand of fur to strand of fur, climbing with ease. She was a fearless young girl. Climbing so nimbly at the bottom of the lightless crevice.
“…Hmm?”
Why could I clearly see Priscilla-chan moving far above me, even though there was no light source? It was more than just having dragon energy in my pupils; Priscilla-chan’s figure was clearly visible.
“Ah!”
I realized it then. Just as Ares-chan was cheering me on beside me, a Light Spirit had manifested to assist Priscilla-chan! Furthermore, it was reaching out a hand to prevent Priscilla-chan from falling and illuminating the surroundings so she could clearly see her footing.
“Isn’t that cheating?!”
“It’s not a spatial jump, so it’s not a problem.”
“Guh.”
It seemed that Teruru held the laws of this place. Involuntarily, I began to climb again on my own.
“Good luck, meow.”
“Nimia, go and interfere with Priscilla-chan.”
“That’s so childish, meow.”
“Because if I lose, I’ll be punished, you know?”
“I’m not thinking that might be a good thing, okay!”
“Meow.”
I aimed for Teruru’s head and tried my best. However, I couldn’t quite close the gap with Priscilla-chan. Was it because I had impure thoughts, or because Priscilla-chan was so skilled?
“Impure thoughts, impure thoughts.”
“No, it’s not like that!”
Since Ares-chan is a spirit, she didn’t need to climb by holding onto anything like us. So, while she initially ran parallel to me while floating, she eventually got bored and flew towards Priscilla-chan. *Sniffle. To be abandoned by Ares-chan.*
“It’s okay, meow. Nyanko will be with Elnea Older Brother until the end, meow.”
“No, no, I wonder about that? And if Nimia could fly me…”
“Cheating is not allowed.”
“Kyaa!”
I was thrown off again. And for the record, I haven’t cheated yet, even though impure thoughts crossed my mind?
“Older Brother, come here quickly.”
“Come on, come on!”
Priscilla-chan, who had climbed so high that she was like a mere speck, looked down at me and jumped around joyfully. Hey, hey, be careful not to fall from there, don’t get too excited.
“If that happens, Nyanko will save you, meow.”
“But you won’t save me! And if that’s the case, doesn’t that mean I can only stay below Priscilla-chan?”
“You finally realized it, meow.”
“So this was a rigged competition!”
Tremendous, the young girl’s alliance. However, as this was a competition, I couldn’t afford to lose. I reset myself and climbed with all my might. Priscilla-chan also seemed to have resumed her Teruru climb, and the shadow above me was hopping around. Teruru cheerfully watched the small figures climbing her legs.
Speaking of which, I wanted to ask Teruru something while climbing.
“Teruru, your job is to eliminate those who illegally intrude into the Forbidden Territory, right?”
“That’s right.”
“And that’s because you don’t want unauthorized individuals to cause trouble in the Forbidden Territory, right? Then, what if someone who *is* authorized commits wrongdoing in the Forbidden Territory? Would they be targeted?”
Acts that break the laws of the Forbidden Territory. For example, destroying nature that has been nurtured for thousands of years without reason, or indiscriminately luring in those with malicious intent. And what worries me most right now is what happens when individuals authorized by different administrators clash.
In response to my question, Teruru’s red eyes twinkled.
“Illegal intruders will be eliminated. If they have a rare soul, I’ll take it. Otherwise, I’ll observe.”
“So, even if a conflict arises between those authorized to enter the Forbidden Territory, you won’t intervene?”
“However, I don’t guarantee what happens after the conflict ends.”
“…I see. So, if the conflict results in damage to the Forbidden Territory, there’s a possibility of punishment at Teruru’s discretion.”
I noted it in my mind. That is to say, even if it’s us, doing too much in this land is dangerous. We should be especially careful with Yufilia, Nina, and Madrine!
“Elnea Older Brother is the most worrying, meow.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
I have a modest personality, you know? I didn’t destroy various facilities out of my own volition.
“Did you also destroy the Giant Demon Lord’s castle, meow?”
“Nimia, please read my thoughts correctly! It was Charlotte who broke it!”
“A scary soul.”
It seems Teruru also knows Charlotte well. I was reminded anew of Charlotte’s true nature, which could even elicit fear from a legendary magic beast.
“Um, we’ve arrived!”
“Ah, blast.”
It’s not that I was slacking off, but I was thrown off twice. This competition, which felt somewhat predetermined, ended with Priscilla-chan’s victory.
“Punishment, punishment.”
“Why is Ares-chan looking so happy?!”
“You know, Ares-chan, what kind of punishment should it be?”
“Fufufu.”
Ares-chan, asked by Priscilla-chan, looked down at me and smiled sweetly. Scary! It wasn’t the fear of being killed or injured, but a “chastity” kind of fear!
“It’s a secret from everyone, meow.”
Once the worry of Priscilla-chan falling was gone, Nimia unceremoniously flew away from above my head. Then, she began to discuss my punishment with the young girls.
“A full soul, please.”
“Does that mean I have to provide Teruru with a lot of food?”
Um, how much soul volume does it take to satisfy Teruru? I remember her being content after eating the Evil Dragon… If that’s the case, perhaps offering Nimia, who is of the same Ancient Dragon Species, is the only option.
“Nya!”
Nimia, who had read my thoughts, hurriedly grew larger. Then, she flew to me, who was halfway up Teruru’s leg.
“I’m not tasty even if you eat me, meow.”
Nimia caught me and carried me to the top of Teruru’s head. She was probably trying to buy my favor and get me off the hook.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, meow.”
“The offer to present Nimia was just a joke, okay?”
“I know, meow.”
I petted Nimia’s head again after she shrank down, and she closed her eyes contentedly.
“Priscilla wants to be petted too?”
“Pet me, pet me!”
“Yes, it’s your turn.”
I petted the heads of the young girls who jumped on me. I even petted Teruru, who shook her head happily. However, we almost got thrown off! But, well, the young girls even enjoy that.
However, the enjoyable time had come to an end. I would soon learn the meaning of “full soul” that Teruru had mentioned.
“Elnea!”
“Ah, you were here!”
A familiar presence approached me and Priscilla-chan. It was Yunyun and Rinrin. Rinrin seemed somewhat, or rather, quite, frightened, but that was probably due to Teruru’s presence. Putting that aside, Yunyun’s urgent aura caught my attention.
“What’s wrong?”
I asked, turning my gaze towards Yunyun’s presence.
“Honestly. I thought Priscilla had slipped away, but she was playing with you. However, you will return immediately. Lord Yuuri is summoning us.”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
It wasn’t the feeling of being scolded by Priscilla-chan’s mother, but a bad feeling stemming from hostility. And my premonition came true.
“It’s that woman again! She’s brought companions this time!”
“So that’s what it is!”
Teruru had felt the souls of those who entered the Forbidden Territory and spoke as she did. And the fact that Teruru was not intervening to eliminate them meant…
“As you surmised.”
What I had feared happened immediately. I embraced Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan. Then, I asked Nimia to grow larger.
“Do you want to go to the new Mimicho village?”
Before Nimia could grow, Teruru moved. She swung her giant leg upwards, cleaving through the darkness. A dark crevice, invisible even to the radiance of the Light Spirit and the dragon-energy-infused eyes, appeared before us.
“I do not intervene in disputes between authorized individuals. However, Elnea-kun and the others are precious friends.”
“Thank you, Teruru-chan!”
We thanked Teruru and jumped into the dark crevice without hesitation.
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