We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
We are still looking for more people.
The dragon that forcefully charged into the fortress wall did not emerge from the rising dust storm.
“Did it faint because it was too strong?”
“Leave it be. It’s just too embarrassed by its foolishness to come out.”
“I see!”
We share a bitter smile at Asher’s words.
So, we shouldn’t stare at it while it’s like this.
“Well then, let’s start with those over there.”
I’ll put aside the dragon that charged at me for now.
Although, I already know its true identity without thinking about it.
More importantly, what I’m concerned about are the multiple dragon species looking down on us from high above the fortress.
Not only I, but many others were looking up at the sky in surprise.
Both humans and other races. Even some of the dragon species.
A vividly shining red wyvern with a distinctive two-tailed feature.
A colorful pterodactyl covered in bird-like feathers.
A black pterodactyl shrouded in darkness that makes its outline indistinct.
A wyvern whose body is half transparent, as if the background is visible through it.
And then, a long-bodied blue dragon, its body as long as a snake.
Five dragon species loitered in the sky, higher than the clouds, ignoring the commotion on the ground.
“Asher-san, those dragon species…?”
“Yes. They are the ancient dragon species that protect the ancient capital. You should thank Nimia.”
“So they came because of Nimia’s call!”
So, Asher-san’s couple’s quarrel wasn’t the only reason Nimia’s arrival was delayed!
“Shut up!”
Asher glares at me.
Putting that aside for the moment.
As we watched in awe, the ancient dragon species loitering in the sky slowly descended towards us.
“Hey! You males, stay away from me!”
However, with Asher-san’s intimidation, all dragons except the long-bodied dragon hastily returned to the sky.
Apparently, the others were males.
As expected of Asher-san. She dislikes males, even among her own kind.
“And they’re even afraid of you within your group!”
“You’re saying it out loud!”
“Damn it!”
I get glared at again.
Still, they don’t seem to intend to attack us by destroying the tower, as they only glare at me for now.
Could this be a safe zone?
“When they come out of there, be prepared.”
“Eeek!”
I should try not to anger Asher-san any further. Otherwise, it’s genuinely scary.
So, I re-examine the long-bodied dragon that has lowered its altitude.
The long-bodied dragon approaches directly, unaffected by the great labyrinth spell surrounding the fortress.
No, rather than “directly,” it descended in a spiral, leaving circular trails with its long body.
I’ve heard of it in fairy tales. I’ve seen virtual depictions of it at a print shop on a street corner.
But the real long-bodied dragon was overwhelmingly powerful, far exceeding our imagination.
It had a graceful face and gentle eyes.
Like other ancient dragon species, a grotesquely twisted horn grew from its forehead. It was a single horn with a twisted tip extending sharply in front of its face. However, it didn’t look scary, perhaps because artificial decorations were wrapped around it.
And, as its name suggests, its neck is very long.
From the end of its elongated neck extended forelegs with sharp claws. Far beyond its body, which was longer than Sleigsta (Old Man)’s entire length, were hind legs similar to the forelegs, followed by a long tail.
“It has wings too!”
Slender, long wings sprouted from its back, near its forelegs.
However, the long-bodied dragon hardly flapped its wings. Instead, it descended slowly and gracefully, wriggling its body like a snake.
Moreover, it didn’t land by destroying the fortress like Sleigsta (Old Man) or Asher.
It smoothly curled its flexible body and landed in the courtyard, coiling up like a snake.
“Ah,” we all exclaimed.
We were so captivated by the beautiful long-bodied dragon’s appearance that we missed something.
On the back of the landing long-bodied dragon, slightly behind the slender, long wings, a saddle was attached, and a large number of people were riding on it.
“It’s all women… It seems they are Miko. And, in the front row, there is one man. He appears to be a Shinkan (Priest).”
At Madrine’s words, we confirm the people who arrived riding the long-bodied dragon.
Approximately twenty women, and indeed, one man mixed in with them.
And all of them were clad in clerical attire.
“But the patterns on their clothing seem a bit different?”
The clergy members at the fortress, who are working hard to help the injured, are looking at the people riding on the long-bodied dragon just like us.
They are clergy members who have gathered from various places in the flatlands east of Dragon Peak. However, no matter from which region they come, they all wear the same clerical attire, with no individual characteristics or regional differences.
But the attire of the people riding the long-bodied dragon was slightly different from that “uniform attire.”
“Uh, it’s rather close to Jab’s Miko’s Attire, isn’t it?”
Yes. The attire of the visiting Miko was closer to the old design worn by Jab than to modern Miko’s Attire.
Madrine nods at my opinion.
“The Shinkan’s attire also looks ancient.”
Apparently, clerical attire is universally common worldwide, but over a long history, the designs have subtly changed with the passage of time.
“So, there’s no regional variation, but there are changes over time. Considering that, those people are…?”
No, I should refrain from making assumptions.
Before such deductions, the first priority is to welcome our visitors.
I gather everyone from the top floor of the tower and activate Spatial Jump.
The destination is a little distance in front of the long-bodied dragon.
Moving too close suddenly might startle them.
However, the long-bodied dragon and the clergy on its back were surprised and exclaimed when we appeared through Spatial Jump.
“Grrr. As expected, I should have traveled on foot, even if it took longer. I’m sorry for surprising you.”
We apologize. Then, a gentle voice descends from above.
“Don’t mind it, young one.”
Looking up, the long-bodied dragon gazes at us with kind eyes.
“We apologize for the sudden visit.”
“No. We are grateful that you responded to Nimia’s call. Please, lend us your strength.”
“Fufu. I can’t refuse a request from the cute Nimia-chan.”
The blue-scaled long-bodied dragon. Its eyes are also a deep blue, and just looking at them is healing.
“Nyan. Rayarin’s eyes are healing magic eyes, nyan. Just looking at them can heal wounds, nyan.”
“What!”
I never expected there to be an ancient dragon species with a more wonderful special ability than Sleigsta (Old Man)’s snot.
I hug Nimia, who has run over with Priscilla-chan, and comfort her.
Nimia also licks my cheek happily in reunion.
“Uuuu… Lety, look. They get along so well, transcending the boundaries of their races. Uuuu, how wonderful.”
“Syu-sama. Here, please wipe your tears.”
“Ah, Syu-sama is crying again.”
“Lety-sama, you shouldn’t spoil her too much, should you?”
“You two are as close as ever.”
Then, from above Rayarin’s back, I could hear faint sobbing, comforting voices, and laughter.
“Uh. Everyone, welcome.”
I turn to the clergy who arrived riding Rayarin. And I couldn’t help but give a small bitter smile.
Because the Shinkan in the front row was weeping profusely while watching us!
The Shinkan was crying uncontrollably, with not only tears but also snot running down. One of the Miko was gently caring for him.
It seems Syu-sama is the Shinkan and Lety-sama is the Miko.
Syu-sama crying and Lety-sama comforting him. And many other Miko watching and laughing.
Rayarin moved its coiled body and extended its long tail. He moved the tip of his tail in front of the riders, and they all transferred onto his tail.
The blue, beautiful tail was slowly lowered in front of us.
The clergy dismounted one by one from the tail’s end, which was lowered to the ground, and lined up before us.
Then, in the manner of clergy, they bowed politely.
“We have come in response to Nimia-chan’s request. Though our strength may be small, we will do our utmost to assist you.”
“Thank you. I am Elnea Eris, one of the Eight Dragon Kings, who serves as the representative of those active in this region.”
We exchange greetings.
Then, Syu-sama started crying again.
“Uuuu… Lety, he’s amazing. Such a young and cute child is uniting not only humans but also demons and dragons. Uuuu.”
“Yes. Divine Race, Dragon Race, Beast Race, Mimicho Race, Giant Tribe, and also Magic Beasts and Spirits are gathered here. It’s truly wonderful, Syu-sama.”
It seems Syu-sama is prone to tears.
He cries on every occasion and is comforted by Lety.
Moreover, as it seems to be a daily occurrence, the other Miko watching nearby laugh without hesitation.
“Uh, so…?”
I’ll leave the job of comforting the crying Syu-sama to Lety.
I need to ask about the Miko.
Where did they come from?
“Hmph, you don’t need to guess. You should already know.”
“You mean!”
We all swallowed, not just me and Madrine.
“Nyan. Everyone, they are the Miko from the ancient capital, nyan.”
“As expected!”
“Nya. But since Syu-sama is a man, Syu-sama is different, nyan.”
I nod at Nimia’s words.
The ancient capital protected by Nimia, Asher, Rayarin, and other ancient dragon species is only for women, right?
Does that mean Syu-sama came from a different region?
As I voice my question, the Miko laugh again.
It seems the Miko are people who laugh frequently.
“Fufufu. Syu-sama is a man, so he usually lives by traveling around the outskirts of the capital.”
“What!”
“He can only meet Lety-sama once a year, right?”
“Amazing!”
I heard a very interesting story.
Syu-sama apparently lives while constantly moving within the multiple layers of barriers leading to the ancient capital.
He camps out every day.
When I remarked, “It’s like being a Shooting Star Miko,” they laughed and replied, “He doesn’t wander anywhere and returns to the ancient capital regularly, so he’s more like a comet.”
Oh, and by the way. These multiple layers of barriers surrounding the ancient capital are very wide, with significant distances between each one.
Well, since ancient dragon species guard each layer, it’s only natural that the gaps aren’t narrow.
And Syu-sama, who lives outside the ancient capital, is a special Shinkan, apparently possessing the qualification to enter the ancient capital, which is rare for a man.
However, he does not live in the ancient capital according to the rules.
If he lived in the ancient capital, he could see Lety every day and wouldn’t have to camp out.
Still, he must be special precisely because he leads a harsh life of self-discipline.
“Well then, leaving the rest of the greetings to Syu-sama and Lety-sama.”
“There are injured people.”
“Many Miko seem exhausted as well.”
“Let’s get to work immediately.”
The Miko began their work before I or Madrine could even make a request.
“Elnea-kun. It seems the relaxation of Sleigsta-san’s secret medicine is not necessary.”
“We have received reliable support. Thank you, Nimia.”
“Nyan!”
With the reinforcement of the Miko, the critical situation of rear support has improved.
We breathe a sigh of relief.
In front of us, Syu-sama was still crying.
