We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Next year’s goals?
“Um. It’s a legend not well known to people living east of Dragon Peak. If it’s Elnea-kun, who is rumored to fly around everywhere, you know about it, right? Well, like the Northern Witch or the Western Saint.”
Alicia, who says that, seems to be the Southern Sage, and Momo-chan, the Eastern Magician, is manifesting a Great Eagle that Priscilla-chan is hugging tightly.
When I confirm, Alicia nods with satisfaction and continues the story.
“The one with the shortest history among them is the Southern Sage. But, think about it. Even if we set aside the Eastern Magician, the Southern Sage still has a history of nearly two hundred and thirty years.”
Speaking of which, I don’t know the exact year the legends of the witches began to spread among people. From the legend of the twin founding kings, Armēdo and Yorttenitos, I can tell that Momo-chan has been active for at least over three hundred years. And from the stories of old man Sleigsta and the Giant Demon Lord, it can be inferred that the Northern Witch existed from much, much longer ago. However, this is the first I’ve heard that the origin of the Southern Sage is around two hundred and thirty years ago.
“Um, does Alicia look over two hundred years old?”
“Uuuuh…”
As a human, I have no idea about the appearance and actual age of the Mimicho Race during their growth phase!
“Um, Older Sister is still one hundred… um?”
Priscilla-chan, hugging the Great Eagle, moves all her fingers, and finally tilts her head. She’s still not good with big numbers!
Alicia and I, as well as Yunyun and Rinrin, who are watching, laugh at Priscilla-chan’s adorable gestures. If it’s my imagination, the Great Eagle looks like it’s smiling too.
“Speaking of which, I don’t know Carly-san’s real age either. But, considering Alicia-chan isn’t even two hundred years old yet, there’s no way she could have been called the Southern Sage before she was born, right?”
“Um, exactly!”
Priscilla-chan and Alicia-chan have the same catchphrase. I think. Priscilla-chan must have picked it up while imitating her beloved older sister.
“So, that means there’s someone else who is the real Southern Sage.”
“Fufufufu. That’s half right and half wrong.”
“Eeeeh!?”
W-what could that mean?
“Perhaps the Southern Sage position has changed hands, and Alicia-chan inherited it in modern times?”
“That’s incorrect.”
“Mumuu.”
I thought perhaps the previous Southern Sage had passed on their role to Alicia-chan due to some event, old age, or succession. But it seems to have been completely incorrect, not even half right.
Mumumu, I ponder. Priscilla-chan copies me, frowning cutely between her brows. Then, the Great Eagle speaks.
“There isn’t just one Southern Sage. That Bewildering Technique was a combination of at least three systems.”
“Bewildering Technique?”
Hmm, what could that be? As I tilt my head, Alicia-chan smiles.
“That’s right. It visited a long time ago, you know? We were all so excited then. Eastern Magician is amazing, right!”
Hmm, I’m sure the conversation has jumped. But I listen without interrupting.
“Um, to go back to the beginning, the reason Alicia knew about the Eastern Magician is because this child—can I call her that? This Great Eagle once flew to the forest where Alicia and the others live.”
“Ah, I see!”
Momo-chan herself hides and stays secluded in the Heavenly Mountain Range. However, she has used the magic of the Great Eagle to search for the Northern Witch and has even visited the Temple City. And so, she must have turned her wings towards the forest where the Southern Sage lives.
“It was a very complex technique, and we couldn’t break through?”
“Um, if it were easily broken through, Alicia’s reputation would be ruined!”
The Bewildering Technique, a combination of multiple systems, that even Momo-chan’s magic couldn’t penetrate. Its power is perhaps greater than Priscilla-chan’s and Ares-chan’s Bewildering Technique? How dreadful.
Nevertheless, I noticed an interesting fact.
“If it’s a combined technique, does that mean other races besides the Mimicho Race live in that forest and jointly protect it?”
“Oh, you’re getting closer to the answer. By the way, there’s only Alicia of the Mimicho Race there.”
“Hm?”
I was one step away from the answer, but I felt like I had fallen into an unexpected pitfall and was back at the starting point.
“Um. Alicia-chan usually lives in that forest, right? But, you’re the only Mimicho there? Yet, according to Momo-chan’s story, there are multiple Southern Sages?”
Yes, I don’t understand. If Alicia-chan is the only Mimicho in the forest, isn’t “Southern Sage” just a title referring to Alicia-chan? Yet, there’s a contradiction that there are multiple Southern Sages.
“Perhaps, just like Alicia-chan is freely going around now, other sages are scattered in various places normally?”
“That’s also half right and half wrong.”
“Unyah!”
Confusion, confetti, konran! I’m disheartened because only half of everything is correct. I slump down powerlessly. Then, Alicia-chan ruffles my head.
“Um, I’m sorry. I wasn’t teasing you, you know?”
“Yes, I understand.”
Alicia-chan is the proud older sister that Priscilla-chan loves. This series of exchanges isn’t a malicious evasion. It’s just that Alicia-chan finds it fun to watch me slowly approach the answer. That’s why I didn’t feel any ill will at all, and it was fun, like solving a riddle.
But, this is my limit. I can’t figure out the answer! When I surrender, Alicia-chan smiles and says, “I can’t help it,” giving me the final clue.
“Um. I believe ‘Sage’ is indeed a title for the Mimicho Race. But it’s not something only the Mimicho Race can exclusively hold, right?”
“Ah!”
So that’s it. I was too caught up in prejudice, and my thinking had become rigid. Most humans living ordinary lives are hardly aware of titles for the Mimicho Race. Therefore, the people humans usually refer to as “Sages” aren’t necessarily esteemed Mimicho, but rather individuals with noble character, excellent abilities, or intelligence.
“So, the Southern Sage is…”
“Um, from there, you’ll have to see for yourself.”
Alicia-chan places her index finger over my lips, which have reached the answer. So, it’s too precious to settle with just a conversation here!
“Um, rather than that!”
Alicia-chan suddenly turns to the Great Eagle and hugs it with Priscilla-chan.
“So cute! Hey, hey, let’s be friends. Um, Priscilla is already friends with you, so it’s okay for Alicia to be friends with you too, right? Yay, best friends! I’ll come visit you next time, okay? Um, but. Where do you live in the Heavenly Mountain Range? Alicia doesn’t know your address.”
Alicia-chan becomes best friends with Momo-chan with a flood of words. What a terrifying, no-questions-asked approach! The Great Eagle also widens its eyes more than when Priscilla-chan hugged it and blinks busily. Momo-chan must be overturning herself in front of a crystal right now!
“Um, maybe I’ll spend this New Year’s Eve with Momo-chan? Hey, hey, what kind of souvenirs do you want? Food? Drinks? Clothes? Jewels? That’s right, come to Alicia’s place next time. This time, I won’t chase you away with Bewildering Technique, I’ll welcome you!”
“Um, let’s play with Priscilla too? You know, when spring comes, I’m going to visit Mei. Older Brother is going to take me.”
“I’m being dragged into this too!?”
Alicia-chan fills up future plans without asking for consent, and her younger sister Priscilla-chan joins in. What terrifying sisters. And I think, if Priscilla-chan continues to grow smoothly like this, she’ll become like Alicia-chan. In appearance, physique, and personality! Someone! Is there a sage who can correct Priscilla-chan’s growth!
“It’s Yun Older Sister’s and Rin Older Sister’s job, nya.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“What is it?”
Yunyun and Rinrin, who were smiling at the lively sisters, look at Nimia with a puzzled expression.
“Um, that’s right! Alicia wants to visit the Great Forest of the East too. Alicia wants to meet Rinrin too? And, and!”
Alicia-chan, whose curiosity is several times greater than Priscilla-chan’s, looks at Yunyun and Rinrin with shining eyes. Yunyun and Rinrin step back with strained faces, as if they sense a bad premonition.
“Um, I’m glad I noticed the commotion of the spirits in the Heavenly Mountain Range! And from that, Alicia, who somehow connected it to Elnea-kun, who she’d heard about, is a genius!”
It seems that just as Momo-chan sent out the Great Eagle in search of the Southern Sage, Alicia-chan was also observing the Heavenly Mountain Range through the spirits. But connecting that to my existence and even coming to the Forbidden Territory is still too unnatural. First of all, with whose permission did Alicia-chan enter the Forbidden Territory?
As I voice my doubts, I’m met with a smile.
“Um. That child also came here with the witch, didn’t she?”
“That child…? Could it be Ada-san?”
“Fufufu. That child used such a casual alias here too, didn’t she? How cute. Ah. It was supposed to be a secret that it was an alias!”
“No, no, it’s too late now that you’ve said it. Besides, we knew that Ada-san was a fake name too.”
However, it seems Alicia-chan also knows about Ada-san.
“Um. I took care of Ada for a short period when she was young. Hmph, it was this Alicia-san who taught Ada the basics of Spirit Arts!”
“Eh! Ada-san could use Spirit Arts!? But Ada-san…”
“Ah, darn it. Please take that back? I only taught her basic knowledge. Like how to become friends with spirits.”
“Let’s leave it at that.”
Miko-sama are prohibited from using techniques other than Hōjutsu. But knowledge acquisition is not prohibited, and even if I can’t use Spirit Arts like myself, I can get the cooperation of spirits. Let’s leave it at that.
“Um, I owed the witch a favor at that time.”
“Witch!”
The Great Eagle’s eyes light up with a “Pikaaan!”. Momo-chan must surely be shining her eyes too.
“Um, you’re interested in the witch?”
Alicia-chan looks at the Great Eagle.
“Momo-chan wants to become friends with the witch.”
“Um, I see. Then, if you become friends with Alicia, you might be able to meet the witch?”
“Really?”
“True, true. Because the witch is the one who sent me here.”
“I see. Alicia-chan got permission from the witch, then.”
It all makes sense. The witch seems to have some exchange with the Southern Sage. And through that connection, Ada-san was looked after when she was young, and Alicia-chan was able to come to the Forbidden Territory like this.
“But, the witch is difficult, so it’s not easy to meet her if you try from this side.”
Alicia-chan gently strokes the Great Eagle’s head, apologizing. Her personality shows through here. She conveys the hope of meeting the witch if one becomes friends with her, but also truthfully conveys the negative element that it’s not guaranteed. Normally, people would want to hide information that makes them feel guilty or is inconvenient for them. Alicia-chan told Momo-chan without hiding anything. I think she’s very fair and honest.
Bright, energetic, and furthermore, curious and honest, and kind. I can maximally appreciate these aspects, whether it’s Alicia-chan or Priscilla-chan. However, they are too free-spirited and tend to involve those around them, which is their flaw. In fact, Alicia-chan plans the year-end and New Year’s holidays without Momo-chan’s consent. And Priscilla-chan fills in the plans from spring onwards! Momo-chan is overwhelmed by the momentum of the two sisters and just stares with wide eyes while stomping her feet cutely.
“Momo-chan, aren’t you lonely being by yourself in the Heavenly Mountain Range? Then, Alicia will visit you a lot!”
“Um, Priscilla will go too. Hey, Nimia?”
“Nyan.”
“Let’s go, let’s go.”
“Whoa. Ares-chan too!”
“…So, you’re saying I’ll be involved too?”
“No choice, you’re Priscilla’s guardian, right?”
“This is Elnea’s responsibility, right?”
“Ugh…”
Of course, I invited Momo-chan to the Forbidden Territory. But I never expected to meet Alicia-chan there, and for the Eastern Magician and the Southern Sage to have an exchange! Moreover, to form a connection with the witch through Alicia-chan…
“Trouble! If this continues, a peaceful New Year’s will be far away!”
I wanted to spend it leisurely and warmly in front of the fireplace with everyone…
“Um, I need to pack my luggage right away!”
Alicia-chan, who seems ready to depart right now.
However!
The visitor from the Dragon King’s Forest put a stop to that.
“Alicia, Priscilla!”
The sisters tremble and stiffen their bodies.
“Priscilla, you promised before that you would spend New Year’s at the village in the Dragon Forest, right? Alicia, you should also relax here once in a while.”
Even without looking back, I know. The appearance of Priscilla-chan and Alicia-chan’s mother makes even me tense! You can easily convey your support by clicking the heart. (Login required)
Support
Login if you have an account
Learn more about the Kakuyomu reading experience
