We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 728

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

A peach tree that bears fruit in winter.

When we exit the cave, we immediately run into a sheer cliff.

We walk in a single file, carefully, so as not to slip and fall.

Even the Eastern Magician doesn’t spend the whole year deep in a cave. So, there are footholds outside the cave, and we can move around.
However, snow is piling up underfoot, so if we let our guard down, we’ll slip and fall to the bottom of the cliff in the blink of an eye.

“Damn it, flying alone is unfair! I hope you lose the effectiveness of your wings and fall too!”
“Hahaha, that’s a sour grapes excuse. But if you keep insulting me with such foul language, I won’t help you if you slip and fall?”
“Louvent-sama, please watch over us!”

Slattone, who is desperate to escape, has a resilient spirit enough to engage in such nonsense.
Still, we need to hurry.
If the Eastern Magician wakes up, our escape will be discovered immediately. Not only will our location be easily pinpointed by that remote curse, but we might also be attacked.
The key is how much distance we can gain and how far we can move to a safe place before the Eastern Magician wakes up. And if possible, we need to rendezvous with Nimia.

“Ah, speaking of which!”

We manage to get through the narrow snowy path that stretches along the cliff, and still running at full speed on the steep slope, I suddenly think of something.

“Hey, Slattone. Can’t you summon Duranel?”

Duranel is an earth dragon with the dark attribute.
And among the dragon race belonging to darkness, those with power can move from shadow to shadow.
Duranel is still a young dragon, but he has enough ability to hide in Slattone’s shadow. So, can’t he shadow travel?
Besides, Nimia and Duranel, whom we asked to stay put after being strongly warned by the Eastern Magician, are unlikely to simply “wait” obediently, given their superior intellect compared to us.
Perhaps Duranel has already moved to Slattone’s shadow?

Slattone claps his hands in response to my suggestion. Then, he places his hand on his moon shadow cast on the snow and powerfully calls out his partner’s name.

“Appear, Duranel!”
“Guaaaa…”
“Shh, quietly!”
“S-sorry.”

Duranel appears with a surge from the shadow in response to Slattone’s call, but roaring is forbidden.
We don’t want another avalanche!

Nevertheless, being able to summon Duranel is reassuring.
We move to Duranel’s back.

“It’s, it’s cramped!”
“It can’t be helped. Duranel is still a young dragon!”

Slattone laments the smallness of his partner’s back.
I’m also used to the spacious backs of Revalia and Nimia, but I can’t be selfish.
Duranel is also entering his growth period.

“I’m sorry for all of us riding on you,” I say, patting Duranel.
In response, Duranel snorts and kicks up the piled-up snow.

“You can look down on me as a young dragon for now. I’ll show you my brave run.”
“Oh, I’m looking forward to it!”
“Hold on tight. I don’t care if you get thrown off!”

With puffs and kicks, Duranel propels himself forward into a running posture.
Then, Toris-kun, who saw me conversing with Duranel, excitedly asks,

“Are you perhaps talking to an earth dragon, Elnea-kun?”
“Yes, I am. I can communicate with dragon-kind.”
“Amazing! Does that mean you can talk to Slattone too!?”
“Shut up, don’t look at me!”
“Ah, so you can’t talk to Slattone. Is this the difference between a Dragon King and a Dragon Knight?”
“Silence, silence. I could too…”
“Noisy. If you don’t shut your mouth, you’ll bite your tongue.”
“Whoa!”

Toris-kun looks regretfully at Slattone.
Slattone avoids my gaze, looking awkward.
And when we were ready, Duranel began to run with all his might.

“Woohoo! He’s fast, just as expected!”

A terrestrial dragon running at full speed is infinitely faster than a person.
Duranel skillfully uses his limbs, as an earth dragon does, and runs with ease over the steep slope.
Then, without rest, he passes through the coniferous forest, climbs slippery rock faces without difficulty, and moves away from the cave that is the Eastern Magician’s dwelling.

“So, can’t you call Nimia?”

Once on Duranel’s back, there are no more hardships.
It’s very bumpy back there, but thanks to my “attaching dragon art,” everyone is safe from falling.
Perhaps that’s why Slattone has some余裕 in his heart and asks a question.

“Ummm…”

I focus on my dragon heart and try to call Nimia in my mind.
However, there was no response.

If we are too far apart, our thoughts will not be conveyed.
Nimia, who cannot shadow travel, doesn’t seem to be nearby.

“Nimia-dono said she was going on reconnaissance against the demon race.”

Then, Duranel informs us of her whereabouts.
I see, Nimia is a smart one.
Instead of us, she seems to have focused her attention on the demons. Does that mean she’s aware of the blizzard too?

“Do you know the meeting place?”
“I haven’t received anything with my senses, but Nimia-dono clearly received your thoughts. I’ve also heard about it.”
“Then, let’s go to the meeting place!”

Every time I converse with Duranel, Toris-kun is moved. Conversely, Slattone glares at me and Duranel with jealousy, or looks away regretfully.

Go for it, Slattone!
If you continue to work hard, you’ll eventually be able to communicate with Duranel.

As expected of dragon-kind.
Even in unfamiliar territory, if allowed to run on the ground, they are faster than anyone else.
We reached our destination before dawn.

“It really is a peach tree. And it’s bearing fruit out of season.”

I glimpsed it on the way to the cave, but this is a truly mysterious place.
While the surroundings are covered in snow, there is no snow around a strangely beautiful peach tree.
Not only that, but it’s warm like early spring weather, and several peaches are bearing fruit on the branches.

“Whoa! Sweet!”

Slattone reaches out from Duranel’s back, plucks a peach, and bites into it.
We also eat peaches.
The sweet juice fills our mouths, and we are filled with happiness.
Combined with our hunger, we unthinkingly pluck and eat the ripe peaches.

“But, why is there only one peach tree growing in a place like this?”
“And it’s bearing fruit out of season. I’m sure peaches ripen in the summer, aren’t they?”

It’s strange, even without thinking calmly.
There are no similar plants growing around.
There’s a coniferous forest in the distance, but this is the only peach tree.
Moreover, it’s warm, even before sunrise, and peaches, a summer fruit, are ripening.

However, by observing more closely, we discovered something else.

“It’s a very old tree, isn’t it?”
“Oh, really?”

I nod at Toris-kun’s interjection.

“It looks old and weak…?”
“Even though it’s bearing so many peaches?”

However, since we ate them, there weren’t many peaches left.
We ate too much!

Then, at that moment.

“Ah, please…”

Hmm?
Did I hear a weak voice, like that of an elderly grandfather?
No, that’s not right. Was it conveyed to my heart?

As if sensing something, I focus my attention on the peach tree in front of me.
Then, my ability to hear the voices of all things captures the faint voice of the peach tree.

“Please, leave at least one fruit behind. For that child…”
“That child?”
“Hey, what’s wrong? Are you talking to Duranel again?”

Slattone tilts his head, puzzled by my sudden address to the peach tree.
I stop Slattone, who was about to pluck more peaches without hesitation, and turn my attention back to the peach tree.

“I’m sorry for eating your peaches without permission. But we were hungry.”
“Ah, it’s fine, child of man. And you can hear my voice, can’t you?”
“Yes, I can hear you.”

I gently stroke the peach tree’s trunk. Behind the rough bark, I feel a weak life force.
It truly is an ancient tree, like a grandfather.
Perhaps its lifespan is coming to an end.

“Thank you for eating my fruit so deliciously. But please, leave just one for that child.”

Who is “that child”?
I tilt my head at the peach tree’s repeated words.
Who could it be?
I know it’s not us, who have only just arrived at the Heavenly Mountain Range.
So, who is the peach tree grandfather referring to when he says “that child”?

“Come to think of it, there aren’t many left now. Then, the rest are first come, first served, right?”

Despite my stopping him, I swat away Slattone’s hand as he tries to reach for the remaining peaches when he sees an opening.

“Ouch! What are you doing?”

I explain the situation to Slattone, who complains.

“What!? Elnea-kun can talk not only to dragons but also to trees!?”
“Yes, I can. So, everyone, don’t touch the peaches anymore. And please let me concentrate for a bit?”

Unlike dragon hearts, the voices of all things cannot be heard without deep concentration. Moreover, the old peach tree’s voice is weak, and I might miss it if I’m not paying attention.

I check the remaining peaches and turn back to the old peach tree.

“Hey, who is ‘that child’? Perhaps the reason you bear peaches even in winter is for that child?”

This is something that would normally be impossible.
For a summer fruit to bear fruit in a snowy season.
Surely, this old peach tree has been nurturing a precious wish within itself as it bore peaches.
And we, in our hunger, ate them all without regard.

Guilt gnaws at my chest.
However, the aged peach tree, sensing my feelings, speaks to me kindly.

“It’s all right. I am truly happy that there are those who are made happy by the fruit I bear. Ah, is that child happy now…? At least, let me give this peach to that child one last time…”

The elderly peach tree, embracing us with its kind heart.

Ah, I see.
This strange climate, where only the surroundings are warm like early spring, is a miracle born from the peach tree’s kindness.
This old peach tree has been gently embracing and bestowing blessings upon those who rely on it for a long, long time.

And now, the old peach tree is concerned about someone.
Who could “that child” be…?

“Hey, who is ‘that child’? Is there anything we can do to help?”
“Kind child of man, thank you. Please, finally, take this fruit to that child…”

It’s no use. The old peach tree only repeats “that child” and doesn’t explicitly identify anyone.
I regret not even knowing the name.
And this leads to a sudden question.

Come to think of it, we don’t know the Eastern Magician’s name, do we?
What is her name, I wonder?

Demons dislike being called by their names by those of lower status or those they are not close to.
But other races are different. Calling someone by name is a token of affection.
By calling each other’s names, we bring our hearts closer and forge deep connections.

Thinking about it that way, by calling the Eastern Magician by her epithet, “Eastern Magician,” instead of her name, haven’t we unknowingly created a wall between us?

I realize that.
Perhaps the reason the Eastern Magician didn’t listen to our words is because of this.
After all, “Eastern Magician” is just an epithet given to her by people who heard about her fighting alone in the Heavenly Mountain Range.
What’s more, she herself might not even acknowledge it.
No matter how much we try to talk to her, if a stranger calls out to you without using your name, you’ll feel detached, as if it concerns someone else.
Perhaps there’s a clue to solving the problem around here.
But first.
I return my focus to the old peach tree.

However, the old peach tree only repeats “that child” and does not tell me the name.
Or perhaps, the peach tree doesn’t know “that child’s” name either?

Then, at least, I want to know what kind of being it is.
Is it human, beast, or something else? What race is it, and what does it look like?
I try asking, but the old peach tree only shows a weak reaction and gives no clear answers.

Ah, what a shame.
This old peach tree is on the verge of fulfilling its destiny.
Perhaps the memory of “that child” is also from a long time ago?
So, its memory has faded, and it cannot give a clear answer.
And if it is truly recalling something from the past… “that child” might have already passed away.
There aren’t many beings that live longer than trees.

However, precisely because it’s the end, I want to help this old peach tree fulfill its wish.
We have many other difficult problems to deal with as well.

I wonder if there’s any way I can help. It was while I was thinking about this.

“I’m back?”
“Ares-chan!”

The appearance of a savior brightens my heart.