In the foothills of Dragon Peak, we live.
To where we should return.
Ristea, the legendary hero who revived the Flame Holy Sword and brought back a new Great Holy Sword.
And, along with her brilliant return, she displayed great achievements.
People chanted the names of the hero and her companions with joy, creating a lively scene.
I confirmed the appearance of my best friend, praised at the center of the crowd, and quietly left the scene.
“Well then, shall we go?”
“Ruiseine?”
Then, without any signal, my whole family fell into step with me.
And, as if she knew my future actions, Ruiseine smiled.
Could it be that her Dragon Eye saw not only my movements but also my thoughts?!
I thought.
“It would dampen the mood for the hero and the holy sword’s revival, so is this our job now?”
“Mistral!”
To my surprise, Mistral had also read my movements.
Not only that.
“We’ll leave this place to the heroes.”
“We’ll leave this place to Serise and the others.”
“However, the delicious parts should still go to Elnea-kun, right?”
Yufilia and Nina pressed their chests against me from both sides. …It’s hard to walk! But, it’s bliss.
And Sefina, who had been commanding the adventurers, also joined us.
“Elnea-sama! I will accompany you as well!”
Of course, Lyra also came along.
Furthermore, looking up at the sky, I could see Leveria, with scales shining crimson, leading the way, along with wyverns and winged dragons that had assisted in the battle against the evil races.
Not only that.
“This time, I descended to the plains at the request of the Dragon Princess, but surely we belong on this side?”
“I’m not particularly interested in the human festival. So, it’s probably right to follow you, the leader of the Dragon Peak Alliance.”
Id and Zan. And the dragon-kin warriors. Even the Earth Dragons followed me.
However, the dragon-kin warriors seemed to be following because Id, the Dragon King, and Zan, the foremost warrior, had moved.
“Everyone…”
Mistral smiled at my surprised reaction.
“Fufufu, we may not be as progressive as you, but we are growing day by day, you know?”
“That’s right. I’m not a special existence, so what I notice, Mistral notices too, right? And Id and Zan too.”
“Elnea-kun, we noticed too, you know?”
“Hawawa. Elnea-sama is a special existence to us.”
“That’s right, Elnea-kun. You are special to our family.”
“That’s right, Elnea-kun. You are special to everyone.”
“It might be presumptuous for me to say, but Elnea-kun’s existence is special to the dragon-kin and dragon races as well, which is why everyone is following you, I think.”
Oh dear. I wanted to say that everyone, like me, thinks about various things and notices various things. For some reason, they latched onto the part about being a special existence.
We, who had quietly slipped away so as not to be noticed by the people celebrating the heroes, had, before we knew it, become a lively gathering surrounded by my wives.
“Just as the humans were longing for the hero’s return, Mistral and the others have also been eagerly awaiting your return. Understand them.”
Zan’s words made me reflect.
“Everyone, I’m sorry. I really am special, aren’t I! And, I’m home.”
Saying it formally felt a little embarrassing. But I have to say what needs to be said.
In response to my greeting of return, my family members said in unison, “Welcome home.”
“…So, where exactly are we heading?”
At that moment, a young dragon-kin warrior hesitantly interjected.
Id let out an obvious sigh. The dragon-kin warrior flinched his shoulders as if frightened and froze.
“You guys. To think you can call yourselves dragon-kin warriors with such capabilities. Take the warrior’s trial again.”
His monstrous physique made even the sturdy dragon-kin warriors look small.
Furthermore, his appearance, with a shaved head and tattoos, was frightening just to look at.
If Id glared at them, they would naturally shrink like a frog stared down by a snake.
However, Id wasn’t the only one who sighed.
Zan also looked at his fellow warriors with disappointment.
“While I can understand it for Elnea, who is one of the Eight Dragon Kings, or the Dragon Princess Mistral, even the wives who don’t have titles have noticed. And yet, for you guys…”
Wow, if they go back to Dragon Peak, the dragon-kin warriors will have a tough training under Id and Zan.
Putting aside the future developments, I explained the situation to the dragon-kin people who were accompanying me, still not grasping the full picture.
“It’s not over yet. It’s true that the evil race took a blow from the Great Holy Sword. But it seems they weren’t completely defeated…”
Upon hearing my words, a tension ran through the faces of the warriors who had been nonchalant until then.
“To still be alive after taking such an attack!?”
Even the dragon-kin warriors had barely noticed. That means no one among the humans would have noticed.
However, it was not a mistake.
The evil race is indeed alive.
Like a snake shedding its skin, sacrificing its thick outer scales, the evil race endured the Great Holy Sword’s blow, which seemed to rain down from the sun.
Then, it dissolved into the world, disappeared from people’s sight, and escaped.
“But it seems the bastard was barely able to escape with its life.”
Zan nodded at Id’s words.
We received reports from Mistral and the others through Ares-chan.
The evil race would appear from nowhere, cause some trouble, and then disappear again.
Presumably, they had a nest or a lair somewhere, and all the adventurers searched the mountainous regions. But they never managed to find the evil race’s habitat.
However, this time is different.
Despite taking the blow from the Great Holy Sword, the evil race stubbornly survived. But, even for them, they must have sustained mortal wounds, because they finally showed their tail when they fled.
We noticed it, and that’s why we’ve started to clean up the mess.
“Don’t worry, it’s an easy job from here on. We just need to finish off the dying evil race.”
Id showed a cruel smile.
Milly-chan next to him is stunned!
However, is it really an easy job?
Even when it was healthy, it only sustained minor injuries from Mistral’s full power. Could they easily finish it off even if it’s on the brink of death after being hit by Momo-chan’s great magic, the Eastern Magician?
However, strangely, I was the only one who felt uneasy.
“We haven’t lost sight of its tail. It seems their lair is beyond one mountain. They can no longer escape. So, let’s head there at a leisurely pace.”
Zan, who usually prioritized certainty, spoke optimistically.
Then Mistral also agreed with her childhood friend’s opinion.
“While we’re heading to the evil race’s lair, please tell us about your journey.”
“Ehh, now!? I thought I’d tell you about this arduous journey later, when things calm down?”
Winter has come. And the end of the year is near.
Keeping Mistral’s promise, I returned within the year.
So, I thought I’d tell them about the journey with Ristea and the others slowly after returning to the mansion in the forbidden territory?
“Youngsters listen. They’ll excitedly listen to a thrilling adventure tale. But adults. It’s also fun to know the synopsis first and hear the detailed circumstances as a snack with drinks.”
Come to think of it, if we were to go home to the mansion in the forbidden territory slowly, it would mean I couldn’t tell Id, Zan, and the other warriors who worked hard on the surface in my absence.
In that case, my original plan would be invalid.
And, Id’s words also had some truth to them.
For us, it was a journey of continuous hardship, but since we returned safely, it should become a story we can tell with joy.
And adults sometimes prefer casual, lively conversations over thrilling adventure tales.
If I tell the synopsis of the journey here, it will be easier to listen to it later without worrying about the plot.
And it will become a new topic of conversation, with interjections and unexpected points being raised.
So, I started telling the story of the holy sword revival journey as we headed towards the evil race’s lair.
“Hey, have any of you heard the rumors? There are Primogenitors among the demon race who have the ability of material creation. They’re called the Cat Duke…”
Cat Duke, Astel. And his attendant and bodyguard, Toris.
The journey with Toris, who had jet-black arms, was very stimulating.
Even in a world ruled by demons, there are humans with such spirit.
His way of fighting, verbally attacking demons and using schemes that would make demons blush, was interesting.
I parted ways with Toris on the way back.
Or rather, he just returned to his place of residence.
“I’d like to go sometime. Dragon Peak, where Elnea-kun is the leader, is also interesting, and I’ve never heard of a Hero’s country beyond that!”
When we parted ways at Astel’s mansion, we promised to meet again.
I feel like I’ll meet Toris and Astel again, and also Sheria of the Black Cat Demon Race.
“We finally met Momo-chan, the Eastern Magician, in the Heavenly Mountain Range. But at first, it was really tough, you know?”
Momo-chan woke up from her weakened sleep four days later.
We hunted a lot in preparation for Momo-chan waking up.
In the end, the winner of the hunting tournament was Alex.
I never expected Alex to be such a master hunter.
I still have a lot of training to do.
Momo-chan was grateful for the unexpected gift of a jewel from me, a large amount of preserved processed meat, and animal furs.
And then, we learned a fact that accelerated the arduous journey.
Yes, it’s about the Great Holy Sword.
Surprisingly, there was more beyond the depths of the cave where we were imprisoned.
In other words, it’s Momo-chan’s magic.
Just like she materialized the Great Eagle and iron bars, the back wall of the cave, which we thought was a dead end, was a phantom created by Momo-chan’s magic.
A truth that even Demon Lord Kusharilla overlooked. And beyond the illusory wall sealing the cave, the Great Holy Sword, into which Momo-chan had poured her power for many years, was stored.
“However, even for a great magic, that power was extraordinary. It seems to place a great burden on the user, doesn’t it?”
I answer Id’s question.
“Actually, there’s a slight drawback. Once it releases its power, it becomes unusable for a while.”
“For a while?”
“About a hundred years?”
The Great Holy Sword that brought the evil race to the brink of death, and Momo-chan’s great magic.
However, there are not only advantages.
Ultimately, no matter how powerful it is, tracing it back to its origin leads to curse magic.
The Great Holy Sword has a great magic sealed within it for fighting evil races.
However, if its power is released, it takes a very long time to recharge the curse magic for its reuse.
And it’s an incredibly long time.
This time, Ristea won against the evil race with the Great Holy Sword.
But the next time its power can be wielded will be at least a hundred years from now.
“Hey, hey. For us dragon-kin, it might be fine, but for humans who only live about fifty years, that’s a very long time, isn’t it?”
“But, it’s exclusively for fighting evil races, isn’t it? If evil races keep popping up every few decades, it would be troublesome, so it’s probably fine, isn’t it?”
Ristea and I had discussed this beforehand.
The symbol of the hero will continue to be the Flame Holy Sword.
And the Great Holy Sword, the trump card against evil races, will be stored in the Great Shrine of the Armēdo Kingdom, to be unsealed only when necessary as humanity’s last hope.
“This way, people won’t realize it’s lost its power most of the time, right?”
This devious plan was probably influenced by Toris.
The Flame Holy Sword will be used to get through the period of recharging. And the Great Holy Sword will only be wielded in dire emergencies. If we do that, I think we can manage for about a hundred years.
“That’s a clever idea. Still, great magic. To have an influence reaching here from the far western lands.”
“Ah, speaking of which.”
Saying that, I looked up at the sky.
Then, mixed with the dragons flying in the sky, a large eagle was following us.
“As expected, it seems I can’t use remote magic in unfamiliar territory.”
That’s why the large eagle appeared.
The eagle’s eyes are connected to the crystal that Momo-chan possesses.
Through the eagle’s sight, Momo-chan is currently observing me and this land.
It means that the remote magic that incinerated the horde of yōma was activated because of the visual information transmitted by the eagle.
By the way, that large eagle is an illusion created by magic; the real great eagle, my best friend, is in the Heavenly Mountain Range.
“I promised Momo-chan that I would invite her to the mansion in the forbidden territory someday. Perhaps I can meet the Witch there.”
The Northern Witch, who secretly supported the Eastern Magician.
However, for some reason, Momo-chan has never met the Witch face-to-face. So, as a thank you for this time, I should at least make arrangements.
“By the way, Elnea. You keep saying Momo-chan, Momo-chan. It’s an unusual name, isn’t it? Should I call it archaic?”
“Ah, well…”
The naming was done by me!
It’s good, isn’t it, Momo-chan?
It’s cute, right?
“Nya.”
Nimia, who flew from the Heavenly Mountain Range to the Armēdo Kingdom in just two days, is now tired and resting hidden in my breast pocket.
“Ah yes, about Alex and Louvent.”
I parted ways with them at Dragon Peak.
“They said they were returning to their hometown. Alex said he would accompany Ristea on her journey until the end, but the holy sword was safely revived, and they had been away from their hometown for a long time. I thought the people waiting for them would be worried, so I held back.”
But I’m sure they will return.
Perhaps Alex gained something as valuable as Ristea on this journey.
To retrieve the Soul Spirit Seat stolen from the hands of his great ancestor, the Fighting God. That is the mission of Alex’s clan.
First, they will steal a replica of the Soul Spirit Seat owned by the Demon Lord, and eventually, the true one held by the ruler.
Initially, Alex showed a considerable interest in the Soul Spirit Seat that I possess.
However, it seems he has broadened his perspective through this journey.
“Indeed, demons are not to be underestimated. With skill that cannot even defeat a Demon General, let alone a Demon Lord, one can hardly hope to achieve their goals.”
Even though he was on par with Ogre General Balvria, Alex was not satisfied with his combat results. Therefore, he plans to set out on another training journey after returning to his hometown. And he had already decided where he would train.
He’s going to rely on the Giant Demon Lord…
Alex is quite a bold person.
Ruilala generously volunteered to be the intermediary.
“Hey, listen. Ruilala, you know!”
I haven’t forgotten your existence! I confirmed it when we left the Heavenly Mountain Range. But you see…
“It’s true that you protected us in the village at the foot of the Heavenly Mountain Range and bought us time from Balvria, and I’m grateful for that, but…”
We returned to the village at the foot of the Heavenly Mountain Range to find out what happened to Ruilala, who confronted Balvria to help us escape. And there…
“Yo, Elnea-kun. I’ve been waiting for you?”
Ruilala, enjoying tea leisurely in a warm room! She wasn’t injured at all, and was even elegantly spending her holiday with radiant skin, a true nobleman!
“He confessed it himself, you know. After letting us escape, Ruilala made a deal with Balvria. It seems Ruilala had received a letter from the Giant Demon Lord beforehand. It was about not clashing with Kusharilla.”
It seemed to be a document stating that no matter what happened in the Heavenly Mountain Range, the Giant Demon Lord and his subordinate demons would not interfere. And so, Ruilala settled the matter with Balvria without escalating it.
We were apparently sold out, but well, that’s unavoidable. The Giant Demon Lord had said so beforehand. He said he would make me struggle for his own convenience.
The Giant Demon Lord had been anticipating Kusharilla’s movements from the start. And while we were guided to the Heavenly Mountain Range by Ruilala, after that, it seemed he wanted us to handle it ourselves.
Besides, if Ruilala, a subordinate of the Giant Demon Lord, and Balvria, an aide to the Fairy Demon Lord Kusharilla, had actually fought, it could have escalated into a conflict between Demon Lords. Considering that, the Giant Demon Lord’s letter and Ruilala’s betrayal are understandable.
But still, from someone who struggled, seeing Ruilala waiting warmly in a room makes me resentful.
“But you took care of that strange horse… the automatic horse-shaped one, didn’t you? So, be grateful.”
That’s right. Due to Balvria’s surprise attack, the six-colored automatic horse-shaped device entrusted to me by Astel was carefully watched by Ruilala, who was waiting behind. If Ruilala hadn’t been there, it might have been stolen by some demon and sold off by now.
“Alright, next time we meet, I’ll thank you profusely and give you a gift!”
But before that.
We have unfinished business.
I intended to briefly recount my journey, but before I knew it, we had crossed the mountain. The evil race’s lair is close now.
But…
“In the end, I couldn’t find Micheila.”
With the new trump card, the Great Holy Sword, bestowed upon me by Momo-chan, I had the means to return without needing to rely on the Witch. But to think that even the Great Holy Sword couldn’t finish it off.
Even now, doubt creeps in. I regret thinking that it might have been better to have Ristea and the others return first while I continued my journey to find Micheila. But as if to dispel my anxiety, everyone smiled at me.
“Don’t worry, he’s a persistent bastard, but he’s definitely on his last legs. So, there’s no need to rely on beings with supernatural powers; you can finish him off.”
“Yes, you can. Elnea.”
“Me!?”
Did I really have such power? If I use Dragon Arts, and the Spirit Tree Spirit Sword, perhaps…
But I haven’t told everyone about the Spirit Sword yet, have I? So why is Zan nodding so confidently?
“Fufufu, you don’t seem to understand your own position, do you?”
“Mistral?”
I look at Mistral, wondering what she means. Then, Mistral suddenly stops and bends down. She places her hand on her shadow and speaks to someone other than me.
“Lily, it’s okay. Come out.”
“Huh!?”
Wh-wh-what’s going on!?
Ignoring my confusion, Mistral’s shadow expands. Then, Lily, an Ancient Dragon Species with jet-black scales, joyfully leaps out from the black shadow.
“Coming, coming! I was called!”
Why is Lily in Mistral’s shadow?
Lily was told by the Giant Demon Lord not to assist me, right? So why is she here?
“Lily, you brought it, didn’t you? Then, hand it over.”
“Yes! I’ve retrieved it!”
Prompted by Mistral, Lily fumbles with her front paws. Giant, sharp claws are extended in front of Mistral.
“Ah!”
It was then that I saw it.
What Lily dexterously held with her claws and handed over to Mistral.
Familiar colors.
A shape I should have been familiar with.
But the design was slightly different.
In my memory, it was a completely white sword, from the hilt to the tip. Only a blue jewel, imbued with the Giant Demon Lord’s magic, was embedded in the crossguard. But this was slightly different from my memory.
There was another unknown jewel on the crossguard. There were unfamiliar decorations on the tips of the crossguard and the hilt, with intricate carvings.
“Hey, Mistral. Is that…”
My voice is trembling with surprise, I realize. Seeing my reaction, not only Mistral but everyone else smiled gently.
“We kept you waiting. The White Sword is finally complete.”
From Lily, to Mistral. And from Mistral, into my hands.
I held my breath, gazing at the familiar sword, handed over with such affection, yet now imbued with new power.
