We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Warriors of the Dragon King’s Forest.
The dark space seemed to stretch infinitely, yet also felt as thin as a single sheet of paper. We plunged into a crack in this darkness and, in the next moment, found ourselves transported to another place.
A single, humble house that, while it might sound bad, was just enough to shelter us from the wind and rain, existing in harmony with nature.
That was it, along with a barn and a workshop, in a tiny, tiny village where we landed.
“My, my. I wondered who it was, but it’s Elnea-kun and the others.”
“Grandma Yuuri! I’m sorry for surprising you. We heard it was an emergency, so Teruru-chan brought us here.”
“In front of Teruru-chan, even the Bewildering Technique is useless, isn’t it?”
“Does that mean!?”
Teruru-chan had brought us to the newly established Mimicho Race village in the Dragon King’s Forest. And it seemed Grandma Yuuri was the one who reacted most quickly to our arrival.
It wasn’t because she was drinking tea with Jab under the shade of a tree. She probably sensed acutely that someone had broken through the Bewildering Technique she cast.
However, knowing that Teruru-chan had broken the technique and that we had appeared in the village, she must have been relieved.
Without much preamble, I began asking about the Mimicho Race who had invaded the Forbidden Territory.
Carly, who had brought weapons out of the barn, answered me.
“Those brutes. They just came into the forest without a word and attacked.”
Carly, boiling with anger, said so with her irritation evident, while she checked the tension of a large number of arrows and several spare bows.
Priscilla-chan’s father was working with Carly.
Carly and Priscilla-chan’s father had apparently gone out into the forest that morning, combining their daily wild vegetable gathering with their patrol of the Dragon King’s Forest. Suddenly, a large number of unfamiliar Mimicho Race people had entered the forest without permission.
Furthermore, the invading Mimicho Race had unilaterally attacked Carly and the others, who were wondering what was happening.
That’s why the two of them had hurriedly returned to the village.
“They were led by a woman wielding a strange Great Staff, and they were trying to push deeper into the forest. That’s when Grandma Yuuri activated the Bewildering Technique.”
“So, are the invaders lost in the forest right now?”
“But they’re Mimicho Race too. We can’t deny the possibility that they’ll break through the Bewildering Technique and attack here.”
Next to appear were Kate and Priscilla-chan’s mother.
Kate was giving instructions to the spirits as she approached us.
Priscilla-chan’s mother also approached with a grim expression.
Priscilla-chan quickly hid behind my back.
She probably thought she was going to be scolded for running away from home. However, Priscilla-chan’s mother didn’t mention her daughter’s runaway, prioritizing the invaders in the forest.
“Elnea, please lend us your strength.”
“Yes, that’s why I came.”
It seemed everyone was fully prepared to face the invaders.
Even Yunyun and Rinrin exuded a determined aura.
“I owe that woman.”
“That’s right!”
However, I had no idea how to devise a strategy.
While it was one thing for me, Carly, and Kate, who had combat experience, we couldn’t force Priscilla-chan’s parents or the elderly two to overexert themselves.
Of course, my true desire was for Priscilla-chan to stay in a safe place, and I wanted to ask Yunyun and Rinrin to guard her.
But Yunyun and Rinrin rejected my suggestion.
“If possible, please leave that woman to me and Rin.”
“As a Sage, I will properly educate her!”
Carly joined in, hearing Yunyun and Rinrin’s words.
“Then, leave the surrounding Mimicho Race to us.”
Priscilla-chan’s father nodded next to Carly. Furthermore, even Priscilla-chan’s mother and Kate rolled up their sleeves.
“No, no, that’s too dangerous! Besides, if we all leave, who will protect Grandma Yuuri and Jab!?”
However, Carly, hearing my opinion, shoulders slumped as if to say, “What are you talking about?”
“Without thinking, the strongest among us is Grandma Yuuri. Besides, she is protected by the forest and spirits, so we don’t need to protect her. Jab is also safe under Grandma Yuuri’s protection.”
“But Priscilla-chan’s parents are…”
“Oh, Elnea, you don’t know? Before I or Alicia were born, it was Lidyana-sama who was in charge of guarding the Dragon Forest? And then, after Lidyana-sama retired for childcare and before Priscilla was born, wasn’t it Allen-sama who took over as her successor?”
“What!”
“I became the captain of the guard after Lord Allen, you know?”
“Um, so does that mean…?”
Let’s recap.
Priscilla-chan’s mother’s name is Lidyana.
Among Lidyana’s children, the eldest daughter is Alicia. The second daughter is Priscilla-chan.
And Priscilla-chan’s father’s name is Allen…
“Then, most of the people here are warriors representing the Dragon Forest!”
It seemed the reason these people were chosen for the migration was for reasons like this.
It’s about being a select force.
Seeing my surprise, everyone else gave a bitter smile.
“B-but, the opponents are numerous… Right, are Mistral and the others safe!?”
It wasn’t that I had forgotten. It was just that I needed to prioritize checking the situation in the forest.
Well, at the mansion, there are not only Mistral and the others but also Jiludo-san, so unless something truly extraordinary happens, I think they’ll be fine.
“The Bewildering Technique was applied to the east side of the Sacred Mountain. Elnea-kun’s mansion is also within its range.”
“That’s amazing!”
Compared to some bothersome young girl’s Bewildering Technique, Grandma Yuuri’s technique, which she had prepared over time, had immense power.
“However, because the range is wide, the effect is diluted. If time passes, it will put us at a disadvantage.”
“So, first, we should disperse and defeat the lost invaders one by one. However, even with this number of people, we can handle it, but it will be a race against time.”
Originally, the Bewildering Technique was supposed to envelop only the forest. But Grandma Yuuri, being thoughtful, extended it to cover the mansion as well.
I expressed my gratitude to Grandma Yuuri. And then, to quickly resolve this emergency, I began to move.
“Carly and Allen, you will stop the invaders at the front. Kate and I will provide support with Spirit Arts from the rear.”
I don’t know if these are skills she honed in her youth, but everyone followed Priscilla-chan’s mother’s precise instructions.
“Yun and Rin, I want you to deal with the woman who possesses the ominous Great Staff. Along with that, Priscilla, you will help them too, okay?”
“Um, I understand!”
“Elnea, I would ideally like you to guard Priscilla, but…”
“Yes, it’s alright. Leave Priscilla-chan’s guarding to me.”
From the instructions given by Priscilla-chan’s mother, I understood the Mimicho Race’s intentions.
Surely, they wanted to resolve the Mimicho Race’s issues among themselves. If that’s the case, I’ll just play a supporting role.
I will protect Priscilla-chan thoroughly and prove useful to Yunyun and Rinrin!
“Grandma, please wait here.”
“Be careful when you go!”
“If you get injured, don’t push yourselves and come back.”
Grandma Yuuri and Jab responded with their usual leisurely tone.
Perhaps, from Grandma Yuuri’s perspective, who adventured with a witch in her youth, such a commotion was commonplace.
And for Jab, who had traveled the continent, it might also be within an acceptable range of turmoil.
Their calmness was conveyed to us, creating a sense of ease in our hearts.
At Priscilla-chan’s mother’s command, we all took a deep breath together.
We filled our lungs with the fresh forest air.
From the pure, unclouded air, I felt no presence of the Mimicho Race who had invaded.
From the animals strolling around the village and the clouds flowing in the sky, no unsettling presence emanated.
But those with malicious intent had indeed invaded.
And to protect the natural cycles that seemed like everyday life, and to protect everyone who had migrated here and their families, we would fight!
After our deep breaths ended, we let out a shout of resolve. And then, we entered the forest to repel the invaders.
Carly and Allen, who were at the forefront, used Spatial Jump.
They leaped lightly from branch to branch.
Not only the forest but also a wide area to the east of the Sacred Mountain was covered by the Bewildering Technique. However, it was our side, Grandma Yuuri, who cast the Bewildering Technique. Perhaps because of that, we proceeded through the forest without getting lost.
Then, we immediately sensed multiple presences.
“Ten are hiding, nyan.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty obvious.”
I nodded to Nimia, who had snuggled into my pocket.
The forest was telling us about the intruders.
They were hiding in the bushes, suppressing their presence, but they couldn’t hide their existence itself.
The wind flowed avoiding them. The ground was trodden. I sensed several other unnatural occurrences and read the intruders’ presence.
I don’t know if it’s the same method as mine, but Carly and Allen, who were ahead, also seemed to have noticed the hidden presences.
From a thick branch, he glared down at the bushes below.
Raising his bow and arrow, he hurled sharp words.
“Who are you people! Why did you invade this forest? Why did you attack us?”
Carly asked, but there was no reply from deep within the bushes.
Nevertheless, Carly and Allen patiently waited for a reaction.
However, their patience was met with malice.
The presence of three people from the bushes suddenly vanished. Immediately after, shadows appeared behind Carly and Allen.
“Ridiculous!”
Carly, who reacted quickly.
Spatial Jump for Spatial Jump.
With textbook movements, Carly took the position behind the three who had appeared behind them and swiftly fired an arrow.
The arrow hit one of them in the back.
The Mimicho Race fell to the ground, writhing in agony.
Without nocking a second arrow, Carly drew his sword from his waist. And then, he gracefully cut down the remaining two.
The exchange between Carly and the three was over in an instant.
Of course, Carly was overwhelmingly victorious.
And while Carly was reacting, Allen remained motionless, his arrow still aimed at the bushes.
Allen trusted Carly enough to believe that even the three Mimicho Race who had sprung a surprise attack couldn’t defeat Carly. Therefore, he didn’t need to react himself.
This was the ability of those who were entrusted with guarding the Dragon Forest.
“Elnea and the others, please go ahead. We’ll follow soon after we’ve secured this area.”
Kate, who had been running alongside us, told us, and we moved on.
The moment we moved, the people hidden in the bushes also stirred.
“Don’t underestimate us!”
“That’s our line. Do you really think just ten of you can do anything to us?”
Priscilla-chan’s mother smiled as she looked at the Mimicho Race who had revealed themselves.
S-scary!
We know.
That smile is the devil’s smile that portends despair!
Priscilla-chan and I quickly left the scene before Lidyana-san could show her true nature.
And then we proceeded into the forest, searching for our objective.
The Bewildering Technique seemed to be functioning properly for now.
I expanded my consciousness to try to read their presences.
Then, I confirmed several isolated individuals in various parts of the forest.
I relayed their locations to Yunyun and Rinrin. Upon hearing my words, they activated their Spirit Arts.
“I’ll put them to sleep. I have to get information from them later.”
“If they’re too noisy, I’ll bind them!”
I felt relieved within myself at the Sage’s reliable reply.
Last time, Yunyun and Rinrin were put through the wringer, but it seems they aren’t overwhelmed now. With this, they should be able to calmly deal with the woman wielding the Great Staff.
We searched for our objective while defeating the wandering Mimicho Race one by one.
According to what Yunyun and Rinrin had told me, the woman in question apparently possessed an ominous Great Staff, so I cautiously searched for her presence.
Then, in a shallow part of the forest, I found a large group that wasn’t isolated. And within it, there was a presence with a strange aura.
When I focused, I could feel the presence of spirits.
Yet, from a certain area, I felt no spirit presence at all.
To be precise, the spirits were avoiding passing by a certain person.
“That’s him.”
“He’s disliked by spirits.”
Feelings of anger were conveyed from Yunyun and Rinrin.
“Those who sacrifice spirits are disliked by spirits.”
“To think there are Mimicho Race who do worse things than us!”
“So, is that the woman we’re looking for?”
I felt the presence of Yunyun and Rinrin nodding.
Holding Priscilla-chan’s hand, I matched our pace and cautiously approached the group with Spatial Jump.
From the presences I read, the group seemed to be densely packed to avoid falling into the Bewildering Technique.
While doing so, they were searching for an opening using spirits.
Unlike the stationary invaders, I could sense the spirits moving restlessly.
Alright, I’ll carefully approach like this and somehow punish the woman with the Great Staff, I calculated as I activated Spatial Jump.
“!”
The moment I landed on a large tree branch after crossing space, I instantly sensed a change within the group I had detected.
She’s gone!
I couldn’t sense the presence of the person who seemed to be disliked by spirits.
It was right after.
“Fwah. I dislike humans who try to imitate Mimicho Race.”
A languid voice reached me from behind.
“Watch out!”
“Dodge!”
I was the target.
Before I even turned around, I felt a menacing presence approaching my back!
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