We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Communication is important.
I suppressed the urge to rush to the scene immediately and confirmed the situation in more detail.
First, the clergy.
Apparently, the priests and miko sent from the Great Shrine in the capital were in the process of fetching holy water from the Spring of Paradise.
However, the incident occurred when they entered the forest surrounding the spring.
They seem to have trespassed into the territory of a local dragon that inhabited the forest and were attacked.
Among humans, there would be no one so disrespectful as to lay a hand on clergy.
However, when dealing with other races or dragon tribes who do not offer their hearts to the Temple Religion, the fact that they are miko or priests means nothing.
“So, what happened to those who were attacked?”
Madrine also looked anxious.
After all, being dispatched from the Great Shrine meant that Madrine had appointed them.
The people gathered around Madrine also looked grim about the safety of their colleagues.
“We somehow managed to escape… but in our desperate flight from the local dragon, several people got separated, and their safety is unknown.”
Furthermore, a battle miko, who served as a bodyguard, provided information about the local dragon.
“There were three local dragons that attacked. One of them was smaller than the other two.”
“Perhaps we were attacked because we entered their territory as a family?”
“Yes. If only we had been more cautious…”
“No, no. Miko, I don’t think that would have been possible. Even dragon warriors find it difficult to sense the presence of dragons.”
I comforted the battle miko, who was blaming herself.
Nevertheless, there was no time to spare.
If they had incurred the wrath of the local dragon, those who were left behind would have been in a dangerous situation by now.
However, we have other things to confirm.
Next, I asked the soldiers of the national army about the bandits.
“We are the guards of the fort ahead. However, recently there have been frequent clashes between dragons and humans in this area, so we have been strengthening our patrols.”
So, they were the soldiers from the fort that was the front line when the undead army attacked.
The soldier continued.
“We were aware that dragons had begun to inhabit this area, but we could not regulate them as humans. Therefore, we had warned the clergy and adventurers to be extremely careful when entering the spring and the surrounding forest… Nevertheless, we received information that skirmishes with dragons were not decreasing at all. Upon investigation, we discovered that the instigators were indeed these scoundrels.”
It seemed there was a reason why the dragons that settled in Paradise were attacking humans. And it appeared the humans were the cause.
“So, while investigating, we discovered the existence of a bandit group. However, as they plot against dragons, they are quite formidable…”
“Hmm. So there are humans who dare to challenge dragons. While their evil deeds are not to be praised.”
Sefina reacted to the soldier’s words.
Even among dragon people, few willingly seek out fights with dragons. Yet, for a human bandit group to deliberately target dragons, they must be either extremely skilled or a group of reckless fools.
“As Sefina-san said. We cannot overlook the situation where clergy and good-hearted adventurers are suffering due to the actions of that bandit group.”
“Yes, you are right. After all, we are family members of Elnea-kun, who has built friendly relations with dragons and other races. We cannot overlook unnecessary conflict between humans and dragons.”
“Muki! I can’t forgive them! As members of the Ys Family, the bandits must be punished!”
Sefina and Madrine were fired up.
Their enthusiasm brightened the faces of the national army soldiers and the clergy.
But there was still not enough information.
Finally, I turned to Friel and his three attendants.
Uh, before we arrived, weren’t you separated from Yugra-sama in the forest?
“Hey, Friel. What about Yugra-sama?”
The incident of the clergy being attacked by dragons. The story of the bandits escaping into the forest. And one more thing. Friel and the others were caught up in some commotion and managed to escape, using Yugra-sama as bait, right?
When asked, Friel explained the detailed situation at the time.
“We were on our usual patrol above Paradise.”
“You were monitoring to ensure that dragons weren’t rampaging or humans weren’t causing trouble, right?”
Unfortunately, dragons had been rampaging and humans had been stirring up trouble, evading the surveillance.
But I couldn’t blame Friel and the others for that.
After all, the King had said so. Here, bizarre phenomena happen daily.
Indeed, the commotion that led to Friel and the others’ escape seemed to stem from such unusual phenomena.
“Today too, Yugra-kyu was flying low over the forest, carrying us.”
According to Friel’s explanation, wild dragons, upon seeing Yugra-kyu’s presence, which stood out even in the sky, would not dare to cause trouble.
So, Friel explained that they usually flew while monitoring the skies above Paradise.
Yugra-kyu must have been intentionally flying at a low altitude to make his presence felt more strongly.
However, it is not always peaceful. After all, Paradise is inhabited by spirits that even Yugra-kyu struggles with.
“While flying, we are always subjected to strange phenomena…”
I told him that it was the work of spirits.
Friel and the others seemed to have vaguely realized it, but since there was no one who could communicate with spirits or any Mimicho-race skilled in Spirit Arts, they couldn’t do anything about it.
“So, it was the work of the spirits after all. Then, this problem is likely the same. Shortly after Yugra-kyu changed course towards the spring, he suddenly began to descend. We thought he was going to land at the spring to rest.”
A wind blew mysteriously across the grassland from the forest.
It was as if the wind was chasing Friel and the others, who had managed to escape.
Priscilla-chan and Alicia-chan stared in the direction the wind had gone.
I also unconsciously followed the flow of the wind.
And it seemed that Friel and the others at the time were also aware of the wind.
“Yugra-kyu let out an unusual growl, saying his wings couldn’t quite catch the wind.”
“Hmm? But would Yugra-sama really lose altitude just because his wings couldn’t catch the wind?”
“That’s exactly it, Elnea-kun!”
Whether it’s a wybern or a winged dragon, unlike birds, their body weight is large relative to their wingspan. Therefore, dragons flying in the sky use dragon energy as lift, not just by catching the wind with their wings.
So, for someone like Yugra-sama, even if his wings couldn’t catch the wind for some reason, he should have been able to fly by substituting his dragon energy.
Yet, Yugra-sama was apparently growling while losing altitude.
“Still, it didn’t result in a crash. What awaited us on the ground was a phenomenon more peculiar than ever before!”
Friel continued his explanation.
Yugra-sama landed in a place within the forest where the trees were relatively far apart.
However, the anomaly did not end with Yugra-sama’s inability to fly.
“Suddenly, the branches and vines around us attacked us!”
It was as if the plants had a will of their own and were attacking Friel and the others.
Well, from our perspective, who can hear the voices of all things, trees and flowers also possess a will.
Regardless of that.
“No matter how much we tried to push them away, the branches and vines regenerated in an instant and tried to capture us.”
The branches and vines that sprouted from the surroundings coiled around Friel and the others’ bodies. They struggled desperately to shake them off.
However, Friel and the others were gradually cornered by the branches and vines that regenerated no matter how many times they were cut.
“At that point, Yugra-sama was completely unable to fly, right?”
“Yes. Moreover, his movements were sluggish. It was as if he were overcome by a strong sleepiness.”
“Was Yugra-sama under some kind of spell?”
The three attendants exclaimed, “It’s unlikely that the Count would fall behind in such a flat area!” However, prejudice is not allowed.
Unexpected ambushes can lurk anywhere.
“So, how did Friel and the others get out of there?”
“Yes. Yugra-kyu exerted his remaining strength and created a path with a roar of light, allowing us to escape. However, by then, Yugra-kyu was no longer able to move…”
Yugra-sama’s body is already large. If his movements were sluggish, he would only be an easy target. Yugra-sama, who had let Friel and the others escape, had already had his legs and tail entangled by the vines at that time.
“And after we escaped…”
Friel and his companions fled desperately through the forest. Even so, they were worried about Yugra-sama’s safety and kept looking back.
There, Friel and the others saw it.
Not just branches and vines, but even flowers and grass extending their leaves and twigs to envelop Yugra-sama.
“The Count has been trapped in the forest prison…”
The three attendants, recalling the situation at the time, slumped their shoulders in despair.
They must have been disheartened by the fact that they could only choose the option of using Yugra-sama as bait, despite being with him.
But let’s try to look at it from a different perspective.
They were caught up in a phenomenon that even that Yugra-sama could not resist. If so, it was inevitable that Friel and the three attendants were also helpless.
“So, Elnea-kun, is Yugra-kyu alright?”
After finishing his explanation, Friel looks at me with anxiety.
I pondered, “Hmm, hmm,” and came up with my own answer.
“I don’t think it’s a life-threatening situation, is it? Because if they had aimed for Yugra-sama’s or Friel’s lives from the beginning, they wouldn’t have used such a gentle method. And, although it’s a very strange phenomenon, could this be the work of the spirits?”
When I looked at Alicia-chan for confirmation, she nodded.
“Umm, if it’s the spirits’ prank, it won’t involve killing. It will be a very troublesome situation, though?”
Yes, I know.
I had a terrible time in the Dragon Forest myself.
Friel and the others also vaguely felt that their lives were not in danger.
After all, even though they had been caught up in bizarre phenomena multiple times before we arrived, they had never suffered severe injuries.
However, they seemed a little anxious this time.
“Before Elnea-kun and the others arrived, we tried to re-enter the forest several times. But we only got lost and couldn’t reach Yugra-kyu. So, we are truly grateful that Elnea-kun and the others came.”
The three attendants nodded in agreement.
It’s nice to be relied upon not only by Friel but also by the dragon people.
Not only that.
The clergy looked at me, who had brought Madrine along, with dazzling eyes, and the national army soldiers also trusted us, believing that they could entrust the task to us.
If I didn’t feel motivated by this, I wouldn’t be a man!
“Alright, I understand everyone’s situation!”
“Well then, Elnea-kun, it’s finally time to depart!”
Friel also seemed full of motivation.
The three attendants also actively offered to help resolve the three incidents.
“Then, wouldn’t it be more efficient for us to divide our roles according to our strengths?”
“Yes. As dragon people, perhaps it would be better for us to handle the dragon-related matters, although I am not knowledgeable.”
“Saving Yugra-kyu will likely be more reliably handled by the Mimicho-race, much to my regret.”
“Then, shall we, Elnea-kun, chase after the bandits?”
The people gathered on the grassland nodded in agreement with the proposal of the three attendants.
However, it was I who put a stop to it.
“No, we will aim for individual solutions for this incident without dispersing our forces!”
“Elnea-kun!?”
Seeing Friel’s surprise, I smiled.
To tackle the incidents by dispersing and going our separate ways?
No, that’s out of the question!
If I leave Alicia-chan and Priscilla-chan to their own devices here, it will definitely cause more trouble than before!
And I am satisfied that I was able to involve Friel and the others!
“Meow.”
Click the heart to easily express your support. (Login required)
Support
Log in if you have an account.
Learn more about the reading experience on Kakuyomu.
