We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Run, Mimicho Race.
Right now, an incredible number of spirits are gathering at the Wyvern Hunting Ground.
After all, in addition to the spirits who originally lived in this land, spirits representing the Dragon Forest, the entire Armēdo Kingdom, the land of Yorttenitos Kingdom where Paradise exists, and even spirits from Dragon Peak, and those who temporarily moved to the Forbidden Territory, have all gathered here.
Surely, Istericia and the Mimicho Race people must be able to see spirits with a density they’ve never witnessed before.
And that’s precisely why…
“I am going to die.”
“No, no, isn’t that an exaggeration!?”
Istericia had been in despair about my request for some time.
It’s understandable.
Asking her to play with the spirits means having her entertain all the spirits gathered at the Wyvern Hunting Ground.
The spirits gathered at the Wyvern Hunting Ground already know about Istericia’s reputation.
Therefore, the spirits won’t go easy on Istericia.
“Actually, I was thinking of asking Priscilla-chan and Alicia-chan. But it seems those two have to deal with Momo-chan first.”
Who can entertain spirits more than Istericia? It’s probably just Priscilla-chan, Alicia-chan, and then Yunyun, Rinrin, and Ranran, along with Grandma Yuuri.
“Your existence is being left out.”
“Grandpa, I’m very busy with various things myself, you know?”
If I were to go all out entertaining the spirits right now, I’d be exhausted before the Yōma even appear.
Oh, speaking of exhaustion, there’s Astel, also known as the Cat Duke.
He couldn’t possibly have recovered from his weakness in just one day, and he’s still sleeping. And Toris, who is protecting the weakened Astel, is also not participating in the monster subjugation.
“Either way. Istericia is the only one who can handle this important task. So, please.”
However, it’s true that Istericia alone would be overwhelmed.
So, I’ve prepared some helpers for Istericia.
“Here’s Yunyun, this is Rinrin, and this is Ranran!”
“Your treatment is crude. However, it is good. Serving spirits leads to our atonement.”
“Though Elnea’s request irritates me a bit. But, fine. Just this once, I’ll cooperate.”
“I am infinitely grateful for Elnea’s kindness. I will assist you with all my might.”
Yunyun and Rinrin have manifested with their physical bodies.
Currently, Grandma Yuuri is lending them her strength.
I thought the elderly individuals were back in their rooms secured within the fortress. But Grandma Yuuri and Jab, who had returned at some point, are now having tea at Sleigsta (Old Man)’s feet.
Of course, it’s Priscilla-chan’s mother who is taking care of them.
Therefore, Priscilla-chan and Alicia-chan, who are engaged in climbing Sleigsta (Old Man) along with Momo-chan, are currently “still” behaving themselves.
“Istericia, let us forget past grievances and cooperate together.”
“Hmph, I’m only making an exception this time, you know!”
“Fufufu. Rin Older Sister may speak this way because she cannot express her emotions honestly. But in reality, she’s full of enthusiasm!”
“Hey, Lan! Don’t say unnecessary things!”
Istericia gazed enviously at the three sisters of the Mimicho race, who were so close.
“Now, Istericia, you are no longer alone. So, please do your best together with your companions and friends!”
“Companions…”
Yes. Istericia will make many companions and friends from now on. And someday, she will surely become a wonderful Miko of the Mimicho Race.
“Will I be able to make a hundred friends?”
Not a hundred, but it seems like she might make tens of thousands of spirit friends within a few days!
No, she might make companions and friends very soon, possibly even within days.
“Istericia-sama…”
“Chieftain.”
When called, Istericia turned around. And there, many people of the Mimicho Race were kneeling.
“Please, allow us to help as well.”
“I don’t know if I can be of use… Nevertheless, I want to be of assistance to you, Istericia-sama.”
“Chieftain, please forgive us sinners. And we humbly ask to be allowed to stay by your side from now on.”
Among the kneeling Mimicho Race, there were women in apprentice Miko’s Attire and men in apprentice Clergy’s Attire, people not seen in human kingdoms.
That’s only natural.
All those who sincerely faced Istericia were Mimicho Race people living in the Forbidden Territory.
Istericia looked at those who had gathered, and with tears in her eyes, she offered a gentle smile.
“I… am happy.”
How wonderful.
That Istericia, who was so contrary, would openly express her emotions like this.
The Mimicho Race people who were kneeling brightened their expressions at their chieftain’s tears and smile.
“Please, lend us your assistance. We alone cannot entertain all the spirits gathered here.”
Quickly, Istericia gained important companions. Her friends will surely increase dramatically from now on.
Prompted by Yunyun, Rinrin, and Ranran, the Mimicho Race people stood up.
Then, as if they had been waiting, the spirits who had been observing began to make a fuss.
“Don’t push yourselves too hard. The journey ahead is still long.”
“Istericia, don’t overdo it.”
Grandma Yuuri and Jab watched over them with gentle eyes.
“Well then, let us begin without delay.”
“Alright, we’ll be the ones chasing, and the spirits will be the ones running?”
“Those caught by us will have to defeat a nearby monster as punishment? After that, you can run again.”
“I will catch many.”
“Istericia is coming!”
“Run from the Sages!”
The gathered spirits suddenly scattered and fled.
Some fled while deliberately manifesting, others hid stealthily behind bushes or in the shadows of buildings.
And then, the four Sages and the people of the Forbidden Territory began to chase them with all their might.
“See, with that kind of hiding, you’ll be found by me immediately?”
“If you don’t run seriously, I’ll catch you right away!”
“Wait for me!”
“I can’t use Spatial Jump!”
Yunyun and Rinrin, utilizing their special existence, chased the spirits relentlessly, flying at will.
Ranran, too, using consecutive spatial jumps, caught spirits in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, Istericia, whose Spirit Arts were prohibited as an apprentice Miko, ran desperately.
The spirits, while making a lively commotion, fled to avoid being caught by the four Sages who were the chasers.
There’s no need to worry that Istericia alone won’t be able to catch spirits.
As if teasing Istericia, who was desperately running around the fortress, the spirits would approach and then flee, repeating the cycle as if to play with her. Perhaps there were more spirits gathering around than those chasing her, Yunyun, Rinrin, and Ranran, who were chasing with all their might. And then, a careless spirit was caught by Istericia.
The captured spirits, as Rinrin had suggested, obediently defeated nearby monsters and then fled again.
Human Adventurers and Beast Race Warriors were bewildered by the spirits who suddenly appeared, defeated monsters, and then disappeared, but they accepted that this was how things were supposed to be.
The four Sages pursued and caught spirits.
Conversely, the Mimicho Race people from the Forbidden Territory, who offered their cooperation, were greatly struggling.
“Damn it, they’re too fast…”
“H-hey! Stop playing pranks!”
The Mimicho Race people from the Forbidden Territory, who had a shallow relationship with spirits, were doing their best while being played with as the spirits pleased.
Then, the Mimicho Race people from the Great Forest, who were watching this, showed their determination.
“Follow Lord Ran!”
“Let’s help the Three Sages!”
The Mimicho Race people from the Great Forest joined the tag game, assisting Yunyun, Rinrin, and Ranran.
Furthermore!
“Still too weak.”
“Spirits from the Dragon Forest won’t be satisfied with that.”
“Let’s show the people from other forests the skill we honed on the path to the Spirit Village!”
“Good grief. Shall we show these Mimicho Race people, who are bad at dealing with spirits, what the real thing is?”
The Mimicho Race people from the Dragon Forest also began to participate one after another.
“Mmm. Everyone looks like they’re having fun. But Priscilla will play with the spirits later with Momo-chan, you know.”
Priscilla-chan, who was enjoying climbing Sleigsta (Old Man) with her older sister Alicia-chan and Momo-chan wearing a bear’s fur, looked down at the commotion below with a hint of envy.
But she’s more interested in playing with Momo-chan now and resumed climbing Sleigsta (Old Man).
Well, she can play with the spirits to her heart’s content later. Priscilla-chan understands well that climbing Sleigsta (Old Man) can only be done now, while Sleigsta (Old Man) is in a good mood.
“Here, Priscilla, Momo-chan. Hurry up, or your sister will win!”
“Mumu, I won’t lose!”
“Gugigi, difficult…”
Alicia-chan, who had finished climbing to Sleigsta (Old Man)’s back, cheered on Priscilla-chan and Momo-chan.
Priscilla-chan is second. She’s currently struggling to climb near the base of Sleigsta (Old Man)’s front leg.
Momo-chan, in third place, is having a hard time. She’s still in the black fur zone around the front leg’s ankle.
Well, it would be difficult to climb wearing that bear fur…
“Um, my clothes are stiff and hard to climb in?”
“Pugya, I’m going to be crushed!”
It seems Priscilla-chan was also finding it difficult to climb. And what was obstructing Priscilla-chan was Oz, who had squeezed into her pocket.
Oz poked his head out of Priscilla-chan’s clothes, wondering what was happening.
And then, his face turned pale in an instant.
“Ah, ah, ah, ah…!”
The ground was already far below. Moreover, the place where they were now, or rather, what they were climbing, was the body of Sleigsta (Old Man), an Ancient Dragon Species and the guardian of the Dragon Forest.
Sleigsta (Old Man), who had been observing their actions, and Oz’s gazes met.
“Ugyaaaaaa—!”
Then, Oz fled at full speed.
With tears streaming down his face, he frantically descended Sleigsta (Old Man)’s body as if falling. It seems he was genuinely terrified by Sleigsta (Old Man)’s form.
“Or rather. Wouldn’t it have been better to hide in Priscilla-chan’s pocket?”
“Yes. And besides, it’s too late to notice the old man’s existence now.”
“Speaking of which, Oz had been hiding in Priscilla-chan’s pocket ever since he saw Charlotte.”
Mistral and I shared a wry smile. Meanwhile, Oz was still running down Sleigsta (Old Man)’s body at full speed.
But then!
“Prey found!”
Mikan, a Great Eagle, who was watching her close friends Momo-chan and the others from the top of a nearby pavilion, her eyes gleamed.
Then, with the quick glide characteristic of raptors, she approached Oz and snatched him away.
“Mikan, Oz isn’t tasty, so don’t eat him, okay?”
“Understood!”
“Piyayaaa! Won’t you help me!”
No, no, he was able to get away from the terrifying presence of Sleigsta (Old Man), so one could say Mikan did save him, right?
“Gugugu. Hilarious.”
Momo-chan smiled as she watched Mikan and Oz. Everyone else also smiled as they watched Mikan and Oz disappear into the shadows of a building built a little further away.
“When we plan Oz’s rescue operation, let’s definitely ask Charlotte to do it.”
“Leave it to me at that time,” Charlotte said from the top floor of the tower, narrowing her eyes.
Well, everyone has started moving in their own way, but when I followed Mikan’s flight and looked into the distance, I spotted something that caught my attention.
“Hey, the twins seem to be doing something interesting.”
“Alright, shall we go and see?”
Dragon creatures, both Earth Dragons and Wyverns, had gathered in a courtyard a few sections ahead and were making a commotion.
“Twins…?”
Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Yufilia and Nina since the order to start the operation was given. I wonder what those Fut Princesses are doing there with the Dragon Race?
Besides them, everyone in my family had started moving.
Mistral is staying by my side to assist me. However, Lyra and Revalia are no longer present on the scene. Lyra should be riding Revalia and going to check on Ruiseine.
“I will handle rear support. We will need someone to prepare meals, won’t we?”
“Sefina, please do that. I’ll head over once I’m free.”
Sefina is managing the behind-the-scenes operations. Even with a gathering of fighters, a battlefield cannot be maintained. Only with a solid rear support unit that handles meals and supply management can those fighting on the front line fight with peace of mind.
From the morning, there were people stirring large pots and busily preparing mountains of ingredients. Most of them are female Dragon Race people who came down from Dragon Peak. There are also female Beast Race and Human Race people, but the female Dragon Race people are overwhelmingly numerous.
“That rear support unit will become combat power in emergencies!”
After all, even though they are women, they are Dragon Race.
If they were to snack or be picky about food, they would likely be mercilessly thrashed by the rear support unit… Sefina and Mistral are in charge of that rear support unit.
For some reason, the rear support unit feels more terrifying…
“We cannot lose to the others either. Especially to Ruiseine.”
Then, a new force appeared in the courtyard where the gathered individuals had left. It was the clergy, led by Madrine.
“This tower is tall and conspicuous, and Sleigsta is also here. Therefore, we will establish the main relief team here. Everyone, please begin your preparations!”
Madrine, holding a large staff, issued instructions. Priests and Miko, with their quick movements, set up tents, and prepared bandages, medicine, and clean water for relief.
“Sections one through five, please patrol the fortress. There should already be injured individuals, so act swiftly!”
While securing supplies and preparing meals is important, the assistance of the clergy is also crucial. They have also prepared a large quantity of the “Nosebleed All-Purpose Medicine” meticulously crafted by Sleigsta (Old Man). However, since they cannot generate the potent medicine here, their stock is limited. In such a situation, the healing magic that only Miko can use is indispensable. Centered around the Miko, accompanied by escorting Priest Warriors and Battle Priestesses, they dispersed into various teams within the fortress.
“Hmm, everyone understands their roles and is cooperating well. You should be proud of the people gathered in this land.”
“Yes, Grandpa. I will also do my best not to betray everyone’s expectations!”
The operation has just begun. It will likely become gradually harsher from now on. Nevertheless, we will do our utmost to welcome the girls and defeat the Demon King! As the sun rises into the sky, the morale of those gathered at the Wyvern Hunting Ground also rose.
