We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The Temple of the Dragon King.
As if remembering, a cold wind blew through.
Perhaps my body was getting cold as the commotion subsided, and I shivered.
“Come to think of it, it’s still winter!”
“That’s right? And it’s only been a few days since the new year? Did you perhaps forget what season it is, Elnea-kun?”
“Hahaha. I guess I was heated up from dismantling plant cocoons and defeating bandits.”
And from being close to Sefina.
But as I remembered it was mid-winter, a sudden chill ran through me.
Just looking at the trembling surface of the water by the spring’s shore made my heart feel frozen.
I’m sorry, Water Spirit King, but I’d like to move away from the spring, take shelter in the shade of the trees, and escape the biting wind.
“Please, don’t hesitate.”
The Water Spirit King’s benevolent smile alone was enough to bring peace to my heart.
The spring must be sacred because it is so strongly influenced by the pure heart of the Spirit King.
Sefina and I huddled together, seeking refuge in a spot shielded from the wind.
As we moved away from the spring, the Spirit King dissolved into bubbles and disappeared.
“Let’s wait here for Nimia or someone to come get us.”
“Fufufu. For my part, I wouldn’t mind being here alone with Elnea-kun for a few days?”
“If a few days pass, Mistral and the others will come!”
Well, I wouldn’t mind that either, you know?
The fervor of exertion quickly subsided, and I truly felt the mid-winter cold.
However, perhaps because Sefina was beside me, or perhaps because I was holding Ares-chan, I didn’t feel the bone-chilling cold.
Sefina and I waited for rescue, relaxing leisurely.
“Um, I’m here to pick you up?”
“Uwaan, they’re here!”
“Yaho~i!”
It was quite some time after the sun had begun to sink in the west.
Nimia and Yugra flew to the spring.
Of course, Priscilla-chan and Alicia-chan were riding on Nimia’s back. This time, Madrine was also riding with them.
And on Yugra’s back were Friel, Fiorina, and Rim.
The fact that Yugra brought Fiorina and Rim means they returned to the rendezvous point once after being rescued, and then came here.
I wonder if the three attendants are now guarding the remaining group at the rendezvous point?
“Muki! You left me out again!”
As soon as I dismounted from Nimia, Madrine clung to me, faster than Fiorina or Rim. While calming her down, I reported our situation to everyone.
“Whoa, the Spirit King is here?”
At Priscilla-chan’s exclamation, the Water Spirit King, who had disappeared, reappeared.
A woman with a gentle aura, standing on the bubbling surface of the spring. Priscilla-chan lunged at her mercilessly.
However, it was Alicia-chan who stopped Priscilla-chan’s rampage.
“Oh, Priscilla. You can’t be rude to the Spirit King, you know?”
“Um, I understand!”
I’ve never seen Priscilla-chan be so obedient!
Putting that aside.
Alicia-chan, holding Priscilla-chan, straightened herself and bowed.
“I am Alicia, born in the Dragon Forest, and I live in a forest where the sea breeze blows. This is my younger sister, Priscilla. It is an honor to meet you, Water Spirit King.”
“Um, hello! Priscilla lives in a forbidden territory!”
“No, no, Priscilla-chan is clearly a Mimicho of the Dragon Forest!?”
Setting aside my retort.
It’s unusual for the usually lively Alicia-chan to greet so politely. The Spirit King must be a special existence to the Mimicho.
The Spirit King smiled kindly at the greetings of the two cute Mimicho.
“The honor is mine, to meet the Sage. And it seems my children have been under your care for quite some time.”
“You know, it was fun. We promised to play again.”
“Fufufu. Then please visit this land again?”
“I will!”
Priscilla-chan remained cheerful as ever, but the Spirit King, far from being offended, simply smiled wider at their adorable behavior.
“That’s too bad. Despite such a wonderful Spirit King, there are no Mimicho living in this forest?”
Alicia-chan shrugged with a hint of disappointment.
“Exactly. I wanted to ask you, Alicia-chan. Spirit Kings aren’t born easily, are they? Then, why is there a Water Spirit King in this newly formed paradise?”
Alicia-chan tilted her head slightly, looking a little puzzled at my question.
“Perhaps it’s because of Elnea-kun’s influence?”
“Huh!?”
Surprised by the unexpected answer, I tilted my head this time.
“Why is it because of me?”
I don’t understand at all.
A Spirit King was born due to the influence of someone like me, who isn’t a Mimicho and has no Spirit Power?
No, no, I’ve never heard of such a fantastical story!
“Um, based on what I heard before, it’s because Elnea-kun naturally interfered with the place purified by Sleigsta’s yang dragon energy, through Ares-chan and the Spirit Tree.”
“Ehh, because of something like that!? Or rather, what happened to Listea’s influence? I think Listea’s purifying flames also played a part in transforming this place into paradise?”
“That’s the flame of sorcery, right? Then it might have served to cast out impurity. But it’s undeniable that Elnea-kun’s influence activated the spirits!”
Well, from my past experiences, I knew that the spirits who received my power became more energetic.
But I never imagined it would extend to the birth of a Spirit King!
However, if this is the case, couldn’t the Water Spirit King have mentioned it herself?
It doesn’t seem like a story that would be thrown to a sage.
As I said that, Alicia-chan walked over to me and patted my shoulder sympathetically.
“When we return to the forbidden territory, I’ll report it to my mother. Let her discipline you severely!”
“Ehh, what do you mean!? Did I do something wrong?”
“No, you did something good. But to make it even better, you need guidance from my mother.”
“The Spirit King told me to ask the sage?”
“That’s why I’m telling you to ask my mother. Huh? Elnea-kun, you don’t know? My mother is also a sage.”
“Everyone around me is a sage!”
When I return to the forbidden territory, Priscilla-chan’s mother will be waiting for me.
And I’ll be made to study with Priscilla-chan.
I wonder what kind of studies await me…
“I’m starting to get scared of going back to the forbidden territory.”
“Um, me too!”
“Your home is the Dragon Forest!”
“Mmm, Older Brother is mean.”
Priscilla-chan protested from Alicia-chan’s arms, puffing out her cheeks.
Fiorina and Rim were mimicking her beside them.
Just watching them made my heart melt with their cuteness.
The Water Spirit King also had a constant smile on her face at the adorable gestures of the little ones.
However, Priscilla-chan wasn’t the only one protesting to me.
“Hey, Elnea-kun! Pay attention to me too!”
“Madrine-sama, please calm down. More importantly, are the shrine maidens alright?”
If Madrine, Fiorina, and Rim accompanied them, it means the shrine maidens who were left behind also safely escaped the forest. What about Revalia, who was their guardian?
“The shrine maidens are resting. Lady Revalia entrusted her duties to Yugra-sama…”
Madrine’s expression clouded.
“Ah, I see. Revalia is enjoying her freedom after a long time?”
“Yes. And then she flew off somewhere.”
“So, it was Nimia and Yugra-sama who came, not Revalia?”
“Nyan.”
A change of nannies.
Revalia, who is actually quite fond of children, must have wanted to fly freely alone for once.
Yugra-sama, who usually leaves things to Revalia, seems to have honestly taken over the role this time.
Yugra-sama had been quietly watching us from afar.
“Oh, right, Nimia. Among the bandits we tied up over there, there was a Dragon Race member mixed in. Be careful when you take them back?”
“Leave it to me, nyan.”
Madrine widened her eyes in surprise at the presence of a Dragon Race member among the bandits.
“I can’t believe there’s a Dragon Race member in a place like this…”
“That was dangerous. If we had encountered the shrine maidens without knowing…”
“While humans might be one thing, titles like shrine maiden or priest hold no meaning for members of other races.”
It was only now that we realized the profound danger of this incident.
Madrine dispatched shrine maidens to the spring to obtain holy water.
Of course, their Battle Priestess and Priest Warrior escorts accompanied them, but their primary purpose was to protect them from monsters.
Humans wouldn’t attack those who hold religious positions.
However, the current situation was different.
The paradise was inhabited by beings like dragons and spirits, who were not influenced by human religions.
Furthermore, non-human races were rampaging as bandits.
The paradise had now become a dangerous place lurking with unknown threats.
This time, we successfully resolved three problems.
However, we were reminded anew that the fundamental issues remained unresolved.
“This is troublesome. The existence of this paradise is already known throughout the Yorttenitos Kingdom. As development progresses in the eastern lands, the number of visitors for tourism may increase. However, if this place remains dangerous…”
Madrine glanced at the Water Spirit King.
I understand what she wants to say. She wants a powerful being, the Spirit King, to take the lead in maintaining public order.
However, it’s unlikely for spirits to interfere with the laws of the real world, let alone a forest without Mimicho.
Spirits will just live freely as spirits, whether dragons rampage or villains run amok.
Madrine’s face fell at my explanation.
But as I explained it, I came up with a brilliant idea myself.
“I have a good idea!”
I smiled wonderfully. Yet, everyone else looked at me with suspicious eyes.
Even you, Priscilla-chan!
I don’t understand.
“Um, is big brother plotting something?”
“No, no, it’s not a plot!”
Ahem. I cleared my throat.
Taking a deep breath, I presented my idea.
“How about building a temple here? Not a temple for pilgrimage, but one for shrine maidens and priests to undergo rigorous training.”
I explained.
If there’s concern about tourists coming in the future, it’s better to make it a place that deters them from coming in the first place.
If the general perception becomes that Paradise is a place for clergy to undergo strict training, then people looking to cause trouble through tourism shouldn’t appear.
“Elnea-kun’s plan seems revolutionary. However, the issues with dragons and spirits remain unresolved?”
“Fufufufu. Madrine-sama, thank you for the excellent point. However, I have a solution for that as well.”
You see, there are believers of the Priscilla Organization in the forbidden territory.
Of course, I have no intention of forcibly relocating them, but there should be some Mimicho who show interest.
“Alicia-chan, you said earlier that it’s a waste for there to be a Spirit King but no Mimicho living here.”
“But the people of the forbidden territory did bad things, didn’t they?”
“Alicia-chan, that’s not quite accurate. The tribes of Istericia were using spirits through coercion. However, I prohibited that. I wanted them to become friends with the spirits. And for Mimicho who aspire to become clergy, this paradise, where they can undergo rigorous training while caring for spirits, would be an ideal environment.”
The paradise, already a remote area, is inhabited by dragons and spirits.
If a temple is established in such a dangerous and special place, not only from the Yorttenitos Kingdom but also from the Armēdo Kingdom, virtuous individuals seeking training will come.
By mingling with them and accumulating training, the Mimicho will surely become wonderful clergy.
“So, Mimicho who have received baptism cannot use spirit arts, but they can care for spirits?”
“Madrine-sama, that’s right! Well, that’s if the Mimicho agree, and more importantly, if the Spirit King approves!”
We looked at the Water Spirit King standing on the surface of the spring, as if asking.
The Spirit King offered an unchanging, benevolent smile.
“If that is your plan, I will cooperate.”
“Thank you!”
As expected, she is a kind Spirit King.
“Then, regarding the remaining issues. How will you address the matter of the dragons and the treatment of other races?”
“Um, that is…”
As I was about to answer Madrine’s question, Friel stepped forward from the side.
“If it’s the problem of the dragons, please let me be involved!”
Friel showed his eagerness.
“In the first place, the relationship between dragons and humans is a problem I am currently grappling with. This includes not only the dragons belonging to the Dragon Knight Order but also wild dragons.”
“Hahaha. Actually, I was thinking of asking Friel for help too.”
“Completely delegating!?” Alicia-chan laughed amusingly.
However, Friel happily clenched his fist.
“Earl Yugra said that asking others to do what you cannot do is not entirely bad. Elnea-kun is active in Dragon Peak and various regions. Asking you to also shoulder the burden of this land would be too much. Therefore, I think it’s alright to ask me!”
“You’re still unreliable, though.”
Yugra-sama muttered that from behind, Friel-kun!
However, I think Friel’s spirit is wonderful.
“I will also cooperate as much as I can. After all, there’s a possibility that Mimicho from the forbidden territory will move here.”
Our plan is still just a pipe dream.
To establish a temple, we will need the support of the Yorttenitos Kingdom and the Temple Religion.
If the Mimicho from the forbidden territory don’t agree to my proposal, it will fall apart. And if the spirits disapprove, everything will turn to naught.
Moreover, even if a temple is established and the Mimicho move in, if Friel cannot control the dragons, the people training there will be harmed.
“However, we shouldn’t be pessimistic. Conversely, if everything goes well, we will definitely be able to stop any other race from daring to lay hands on the paradise protected by dragons and spirits.”
At first, it might seem impossible or reckless.
Still, we will move forward.
And it is only by moving forward that results can be achieved.
On the shores of the spring, we ardently discussed our future plans.
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