We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Expensive fresh flowers
Now, it wasn’t long before we learned how the adventurers evaluated us.
“Let’s see. Then, I have a proposal from our side as well. We’ll specially tell you clues about where to get the materials. However, there’s a condition. We want you to hire us as guards.”
It seems we looked unreliable. That’s why the adventurers came up with an interesting idea.
“Hey, it’s not like we’re wearing this get-up with nouveau riche equipment, alright? Beyond this village, there are several dangerous locations. For amateur adventurers or those without ability, it’s dangerous. So, if you deem it too dangerous and give up, or if we think you’re in danger, we’ll escort you back to this village.”
The burly man seems to have mistaken us for nobles or something, based on our appearance and the story that we’re friends with Knight Anya of the royal capital.
So, in exchange for specially telling us clues about where to get the materials, he proposed that we accompany them as guards.
Hmm, hmm. In other words, it’s a way to earn some pocket money, right?
“Yes, I have a question. If we don’t fall into any danger, we don’t have to pay for your escort services, right?”
“Oh, you’re sharp, aren’t you, for a kid. That’s right. If you successfully find the location of the materials and return to this village safely, it means our escort services weren’t necessary. In that case, you won’t have to pay us.”
However, the adventurers are convinced that we will surely fail.
That’s precisely why they thought of earning some pocket money by acting as our guards.
And also. these adventurers are truly good people, aren’t they?
They’re telling us clues about where to get the materials and offering to escort us, thinking about our safety.
If they were unscrupulous adventurers, they would likely take advantage of us and demand an exorbitant amount of money, or pretend to guide us while setting traps.
“Yes. Well then, I guess we’ll take you up on that offer. …Also, what exactly are these materials you speak of!?”
Come to think of it, we didn’t even know what materials the children wanted!
The adventurers and villagers laugh heartily, finding it amusing.
“You guys are hilarious. To eagerly offer your cooperation without even knowing what the children want.”
Laughing, the burly man unloads his luggage. Then, he reveals the “materials” that were stored in a fine wooden box.
“Here it is.”
“…Hmm? Flowers?”
The item that the adventurer, clad in splendid equipment from head to toe, went to the ends of the earth to obtain. It was a lovely flower with a rich fragrance.
The wooden box carefully held several colorful flowers.
“We want to make a flower wreath for Anya-neechan with these flowers!”
“Hey, did you know? They say these flowers never wilt.”
“They also say the wonderful scent lasts for many years!”
The children, who peeked into the wooden box with us, spoke one after another.
At that, Sefina’s expression became a little stern.
“I’ve heard of it. There’s a mysterious flower that doesn’t wilt even when picked, and its scent persists. It’s a high-class flower that’s popular among nobles. However, I’ve heard rumors that it only grows in very dangerous locations and is rarely obtainable.”
“Ah, so that’s why it’s so expensive and rare.”
It makes sense that they’d want to monopolize the location where these flowers grow.
It’s unclear how the merchant found out about the cluster of these mysterious flowers, but they must be making considerable profit by monopolizing it.
“I’ve seen it in the royal palace.”
“I’ve seen it in the royal castle.”
“It’s also sometimes dedicated to the Great Shrine.”
Yufilia, Nina, and Madrine’s mentions of the “royal palace,” “royal castle,” and “Great Shrine” seem to have made the adventurer even more convinced that we were nobles.
“Among the customers of our employer, the merchant, there are apparently even royalty. Perhaps you might have even done business with your family.”
He said something like that, and then carefully placed the wooden box back into his luggage.
“There are a few times a year when these flowers bloom. And now is around the first time of the new year.”
The burly man is unusually talkative.
He’s already obtained a box full of the desired flowers, and he might be able to earn some pocket money from here on out.
However.
Fufufu.
Even though Sefina mentioned dangerous locations, we will surely complete the mission safely!
After all, I am the Dragon King, and Mistral, the Dragon Princess, is here. And then there’s Ruiseine, the Battle Priestess, Laira, who can command even Dragon Species, Sefina, who is skilled in combat, and Nimia, an Ancient Dragon Species. Furthermore, there’s Priscilla-chan, the next tribal chief of the Mimicho Race, Alicia-chan, the sage of the South, and the Rampaging Twin Princesses and their partner, the Head Miko!
…Huh?
Was it just my imagination that I felt uneasy about the latter half of the group?
No, it’s just my imagination!
We could even go flower picking at the Demon Lord’s Castle!
Well, if we actually went, we’d probably be toyed with by a certain Demon Lord and his golden-haired, side-swept subordinate.
In any case, we can also go on adventures!
So, we immediately decided to have the adventurer tell us the clues.
“Let’s see. As the first clue, the flowers are located deeper in than this village.”
Hmm, hmm. We don’t know which direction is “deeper in”!
After all, we came from the sky.
Speaking of which, did no one happen to see Nimia flying?
We landed a little distance away so as not to attract the attention of the villagers and walked here.
“What are the other clues?”
Well, seeing as our arrival didn’t cause any surprise about “someone coming from the depths of the forest,” it’s likely that the direction we came from is the usual route, and the opposite direction is “deeper in.”
“Hahaha. As expected of people who travel this far. You’re not discouraged even when you hear that your destination is still far away. But, it gets really dangerous from here on out, you know?”
The burly man smiles slyly.
He seems to be testing me with a threat, but it won’t work.
After all, Dragon Peak is far more dangerous and fearsome than here.
The adventurer, in a showy tone, told us the next clue.
“Listen carefully. The place where the flowers are located requires you to pass near the wyverns’ nest. …Ah, I won’t answer questions about where the wyvern nests are, so you’ll have to find that out yourselves. But be careful! They are wyverns. They’ll notice you and attack long before you notice their presence!”
“W-what did you say!?”
No, it’s not that we were surprised by the existence of wyverns.
Speaking of wyverns, Yufilia noticed their presence on the summit of Mount Holm.
“Anya-neechan went to pick these flowers by herself when she was little, and she went missing.”
“But she was saved by a kind wyvern, and they’ve been living together ever since.”
“I want to live with a wyvern and become a Dragon Knight too!”
Then, the children told us about Anya.
The existence of the mysterious, never-wilting flowers was apparently known among the villagers as well.
Skilled villagers occasionally risked their lives to pick them for foreign currency.
Does that mean there are people among the villagers who know the location of the flower clusters?
Perhaps, instead of asking the adventurers for clues, it would be faster to ask the villagers!
At my interjection, not only the adventurers but also the villagers gave a wry smile.
“Damn. I should have given the children some sweets.”
“We’re always taken care of by the adventurers, you know. You guys seem to be Anya-sama’s friends, but emotionally, we want to side with the adventurers. We’re sorry for not saying anything.”
“No, no, it’s fine. We’re always undergoing trials from our masters where we have to break through hardships relying on clues without being given the answers. Besides, we find this way more fun!”
“Hahaha. Despite hearing all that, you call it fun, young man?”
“Yes, it’s really fun!”
Our smiles, free of any pretense, surprised the adventurers even more.
Of course, it’s understandable.
Normally, people would despair and flee just hearing that they have to pass near wyvern nests. Yet, our entire family laughs, finding it fun.
Someone muttered with a mixture of admiration and exasperation, “Are they insane, or brimming with confidence?”
“Alright, I’m impressed by that spirit. In that case, I’ll give you some special, top-secret information. After passing by the wyvern nests, the place you’ll reach is the flower cluster. However, it’s right in the middle of a monster nest. Be careful?”
“Hmm, hmm, right in the middle of a monster nest!”
I’m really looking forward to this!
Incidentally, speaking of monster nests, Nina had sensed them.
It seems we’ve learned the location of the mysterious, never-wilting flowers without much effort.
But I never expected that Yufilia’s and Nina’s words would actually be the clues…
“Elnea-kun, you should be grateful to me.”
“Elnea-kun, you should praise me.”
“Yufi, Nina, well done!”
I’d like to give them a big hug as a reward. However, since we’re in public, I’ll refrain.
“Since Elnea-kun is so motivated, preparations are necessary.”
“Yes, Elnea’s eyes are shining as much as Priscilla’s.”
“Huh? Really?”
“Um, Big Brother’s eyes are sparkling?”
“Um, let me see? They’re shining like stars!”
“Nyan.”
“No way!?”
“Elnea-kun, I’m definitely coming with you this time too, okay?”
“Oh, if Madrine-sama is going, then I’ll accompany you as well.”
“Oh, dependable. …Dependable?”
“Muki! Elnea-kun, why are you tilting your head while looking at me?”
“I’m just kidding.”
We only intended to come to Anya’s village to buy some local souvenirs.
Before we knew it, there was the scent of adventure again!
But, it can’t be helped.
After all, it’s for the children who want to give Anya a gift.
My family isn’t the kind of cold people who would turn a blind eye here.
Alright, let’s do our best. We declared with determination.
The adventurers and villagers are surprised by our demeanor, as we show no fear despite them not explicitly revealing the destination and trying to frighten us.
However, the children are overjoyed at the appearance of reliable allies, dancing with delight.
In that case, we can’t let down the children’s expectations!
Besides, we also want to help create Anya’s gift.
“Okay, then, let’s make the final preparations before we depart. Ares-chan?”
“You called?”
Ares-chan, who materialized with a pop, surprised the adventurers and villagers.
“Space transfer?”
“No, impossible…”
“But…?”
To dispel the adventurers’ anxious misunderstanding, I say, “This child is a spirit. That’s why she usually disappears, and she has manifested now.”
“S-Spirit user!? Then, are you from the Mimicho Race!?”
“No, I’m an ordinary human.”
I don’t say, “The Mimicho Race are that young girl over there and this girl here.”
“Now, Ares-chan, please bring out everyone’s weapons?”
“Leave it to me!”
While the surprised people watched, Ares-chan produced everyone’s weapons from a mysterious space.
That’s right. Since this morning, we’ve been moving around with a bit of a head start and a leisurely sightseeing mood, so except for me, who has the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword that Ares-chan was swinging at the summit, strapped to my waist, no one had their weapons with them.
After all, Mistral’s iron fist can crush any ordinary monster!
“Nyan.”
“Nimia, that was supposed to be a secret, okay!”
“Nyaa.”
“Elnea?”
“I-I’m not thinking anything. Really!”
“You’ll be punished later.”
“Nooo…”
Putting aside such exchanges.
Mistral received a jet-black Katatekon, and Ruiseine and Madrine-sama took their naginatas.
The burly man’s face contorted as he saw the jet-black Katatekon Mistral received.
Perhaps he’s thinking that a beautiful woman is wielding a terrifying blunt weapon.
Next, Laira receives a two-handed staff made of Spirit Tree wood.
Along with the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword I’m wearing on my right hip, the villagers whisper among themselves, “Somehow, their equipment looks rather meager.”
However, when I received a white sword from Ares-chan, the adventurers’ expressions changed drastically.
“W-What is that weapon…!”
“I can tell just by looking. It’s an incredibly sharp blade…”
To top it all off, there were the golden greatswords, Ryūhōken, that Yufilia and Nina carried on their backs.
“Wha!?”
“What kind of weapons are those!”
“Crap, these guys are definitely dangerous…”
The adventurers, who should have been clad in splendid equipment, turned pale at the sight of the weapons we received.
