We live in the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Lunch was leisurely.
Madrine stood stiffly, like Mary-sama when she was scolded.
“Who on earth called out to me?” I thought, turning around.
And there, standing in the garden of the mansion filled with flowers, was Grandma.
She looked about sixty?
She held a cane, but her perfectly straight posture and elegant bearing made her not look like a very old woman at all.
Grandma gazed at the rigid Madrine with a smile full of maternal affection.
She smiled at me as well when I turned around.
“Uh, Madrine-sama?”
Apparently, this Grandma was someone close enough to Madrine to call her by her name, not “Head Miko-sama.”
Even her sister Mary-sama and Mother called her “Head Miko-sama” in public. Yet, Grandma called Madrine by her name, even with the townsfolk watching. Not only that, but she didn’t use any honorifics.
That meant she must be someone of very high status!
I wonder who on earth could be of higher status than the Head Miko of the Great Shrine within the Yorttenitos Kingdom?
The clothing Grandma wore resembled Miko’s Attire.
Madrine finally moved to answer my question.
And she moved swiftly from stillness to action!
Madrine spun around and bowed deeply towards Grandma.
“It has been a long time, Master.”
“Yes, it has been a long time, Madrine.”
Ah, I see!
It all made sense.
It seemed the Grandma standing in the flower-filled garden was Madrine’s Master. That must be why Madrine was so tense and stiff.
“Come in, please. It would be a disturbance to the neighbors and residents if you stayed out here, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes!”
Prompted by her Master, Madrine entered the grounds of the flower-filled mansion. Then, she stopped abruptly.
“E-Elnea-kun.”
“Yes, may I come in?”
Madrine and Grandma were so strongly connected as Master and disciple that Madrine had forgotten my existence for a moment.
Still, Madrine remembered me and stopped. She then reached out her hand to me.
I took Madrine’s hand again and entered the grounds with her.
“Sorry for the late introduction. Elnea-kun, this is my Master, Linze-sama. She is the former Head Miko and is currently retired.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Elnea Eris, one of the Eight Dragon Kings. I apologize for the late greeting.”
I also greeted her politely.
Linze-sama beckoned me, saying, “Welcome,” and turned to walk, guiding us into the mansion.
Her gait didn’t seem like that of an elderly woman.
Linze-sama walked towards the entrance with a firm stride.
We followed her guidance without hesitation. Then, Madrine whispered to me.
“Elnea-kun. Could it be that you knew Linze-sama and escaped here?”
“No, I didn’t know her? It’s a coincidence.”
“Is that so? This is Linze-sama’s home. It’s very mysterious that this is the final destination of your outing today.”
“Perhaps it’s the Goddess’s guidance?”
When I said that jokingly, Linze-sama, who had arrived at the entrance, chuckled.
“Well, well, the Dragon King is a devout person.”
“Not at all!”
I’m… not so devout.
I sometimes neglect my daily prayers and occasionally lack restraint.
But Ruiseine and Madrine, who always forgive me so gently, are truly pure and beautiful Miko.
“Now, please come in.”
“Thank you for having me.”
We entered Linze-sama’s home.
The interior was also full of flowers and plants.
A refreshing air, as if we were in a forest, filled the mansion.
“Elnea-sama, have you eaten lunch yet?”
“No, I haven’t actually. I nibbled on something, but I ran around a lot, so my stomach is rumbling.”
“Oh, really. Then, would you like to join us?”
“I’d love to!”
Beyond the entrance adorned with red and yellow flowers, we proceeded down the hallway to the living room.
The living room, facing the courtyard, was also decorated with houseplants and colorful flowers. And through the open window, a beautiful garden glowing in verdant green was visible.
“Elnea-sama, please relax. I will prepare lunch.”
Saying that, Linze-sama started to head towards the kitchen in the back. Madrine followed her.
“Master, I will help.”
“Oh, how unusual. Then, I will gladly accept. Let’s have Madrine make lunch.”
“Muki-! I’m only here to help!”
Unfortunately, Madrine, who only intended to help, ended up making lunch alone.
“Do your best,” I encouraged her, and Madrine reluctantly headed into the kitchen.
Then, Linze-sama smiled.
“I’ve entrusted it to her, but I wonder how it will turn out. She was never good at housework.”
“I think she’ll be fine? When she lived with us, she always learned cooking and such from Mistral.”
“My, her? Elnea-sama, please tell me about Madrine.”
“Yes, with pleasure.”
It seemed that Linze-sama cared deeply for Madrine as her beloved disciple.
Linze-sama was well aware of Madrine’s dedication to her sacred duties at the Great Shrine of Yorttenitos Kingdom. However, she probably didn’t know much about the life and adventures Madrine had in distant lands with us.
That’s why she probably wanted to hear various things whenever she had the chance.
I spoke about what a wonderful woman Madrine was and how well she performed her duties as Head Miko even in distant lands.
Linze-sama listened with a gentle smile.
“I was worried if she was causing any trouble for you, Elnea-sama.”
“Trouble? On the contrary, we ended up dragging Madrine around, so I feel sorry. I even wondered if the people of this land would resent us for monopolizing the Head Miko?”
“Fufufu, please rest assured. The people and clergy are all accustomed to Madrine leaving the Capital City for adventures; it’s something that has happened before.”
“With Yufi and Nina too!”
“That’s right, with those twins.”
We, along with Linze-sama, laughed, recounting how those three were always mischievous.
“Madrine is the only daughter of the noble Variety Family. I also trained her strictly since she was young. Sometimes she would be selfish or throw tantrums. She was a handful, always causing trouble for the people around her when she went off adventuring with the twins.”
Linze-sama gazed at the courtyard, reminiscing about the past.
“Nevertheless, she never faltered even through the harshest training and became a splendid Miko. Everyone knows how much effort she has put in.”
“That’s why the public loves her so much.”
A short walk through the city and crowds would gather instantly.
Everyone’s love and respect for Madrine were proof of her continuous, diligent efforts since childhood, and she was recognized by all. Of course, her Master, Linze-sama, also trusted Madrine.
And I intend to take such a Madrine as my wife.
Perhaps Linze-sama also wanted to steer the conversation towards that in the end, as after moistening her throat with tea, she looked at me with sincere eyes.
“Madrine has been devoted to her studies and training since childhood, and became Head Miko at a young age. In other words, her life so far has been about fulfilling everyone’s wishes. As a Miko, that is splendid. However, she is now at an age where she must look towards her own future.”
I nodded.
“I have heard the rumors for some time. Madrine also often spoke of you, Elnea-sama.”
However, as Madrine’s Master, she probably wanted to hear various things directly from me.
I straightened my posture. And just as I was about to speak…
“Muki-! I won’t allow you to have such a conversation without me!”
Madrine interrupted, bringing the lunch.
“Then, after lunch!”
“Fufufu, let’s save the enjoyment for later.”
With the help of Linze-sama and myself, we carried Madrine’s home-cooked meal to the dining table in the living room.
As dishes with less meat and plenty of vegetables were served, my stomach rumbled uncontrollably.
“Well then, let’s eat.”
After offering a pre-meal prayer, we all, including Nimia, enjoyed Madrine’s home cooking.
Perhaps influenced by learning to cook from Mistral, a Dragon Race member, the food was less seasoned than what humans eat in the flatlands. However, it could also be described as gently seasoned.
It was likely a dish that was gentle on the body, prepared with the elderly Linze-sama in mind.
Above all, every dish was exquisite and delicious.
Linze-sama ate the food with emotion.
And after the meal.
We helped with the cleanup and relaxed with some tea.
Then, Madrine and I faced Linze-sama.
“Well then, I will listen to your stories.”
Linze-sama also seemed slightly braced.
Perhaps she sensed something from the choice of the quiet after-meal time and Madrine’s serious aura.
I, too, straightened my posture to respond to Linze-sama’s emotions.
Now, where should I begin? As I was thinking, Madrine spoke first. And not to Linze-sama, but to me.
“Elnea-kun.”
“What is it?”
Madrine, sitting beside me, looked straight at me and said.
“I want to tell Linze-sama everything. Including, well, the part about not speaking of it to others.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
The matter of not speaking of it to others. That means our immortality.
My wives and I do not age and do not die of old age. Madrine seems to want to tell Linze-sama everything, including that secret, without holding anything back.
So, I considered how I should proceed.
This is a secret that even our own parents and siblings, or those closest to us, do not know.
Those who know this secret are only those who have already transcended the lifespan of their race or those who possess their path in life without wavering.
After all, it is a very difficult topic to handle.
If the secret were to be carelessly leaked, there would inevitably be those who ask, “Why only us?” or “Then I want it too.”
Therefore, we must protect the secret as much as possible and not tamper with the fates of others.
Still, Madrine decided she wanted to tell Linze-sama.
“Elnea-kun. Linze-sama is a wonderful person. She will absolutely not speak of it to others, and she can be trusted.”
While Madrine was preparing lunch, I also had a conversation with Linze-sama.
Even before she was the former Head Miko, I knew well that she was a wonderful grandmother.
Nevertheless, it is still a difficult topic.
After all, Linze-sama is quite elderly. If she were to hear about immortality now, wouldn’t it negatively affect the rest of her life?
Would it not become a cause for disrupting the life she lives quietly after retiring as Miko?
I trust Madrine, and I am confident that my impressions are not mistaken.
However, the topic of immortality is difficult to decide on my own.
I pondered deeply.
Then, Nimia, who had been quiet until now, purred, “Nyan.”
“It’s alright, nyan. Grandma Linze is a strong person, nyan.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright.”
Even Ares-chan manifested and nodded at me.
Nimia can read people’s hearts.
She read Linze-sama’s heart and judged that it would be alright even if we brought up the topic of immortality, concluding that her heart was strong enough.
And Ares-chan, the Spirit of the Spirit Tree, is connected to the world. If Ares-chan vouches for her, it means Linze-sama is a truly wonderful woman.
“I also trust my Master’s Grandpa implicitly and tell him everything without hiding anything. Is Linze-sama to Madrine what my Grandpa is to me?”
“Yes. She is someone who has spent more time with me than my father or mother, and knows everything about me. Therefore, I want to talk about everything, including that topic, and receive advice, such as about trials.”
“Ah, I see.”
I had only been considering my relationship with Madrine and the future. It seems Madrine had also turned her attention to other issues.
Yes, such as the trials involved in taking a second Miko as a wife, among multiple women.
Indeed, Linze-sama might be the most suitable person.
There are not many who can give trials to Madrine, the current Head Miko. Among them, Linze-sama, as the former Head Miko and her Master, could impose trials on Madrine without mercy.
And to give trials, she must know us correctly.
This means we should probably talk about our immortality.
“Understood. I, too, will believe in Madrine and Linze-sama. Of course, I believe in the correctness of Nimia’s and Ares-chan’s judgment as well.”
“Nyan.”
“Believe it, believe it.”
Ares-chan drives away the gossiping spirits.
Nimia cast a small barrier.
Now, there is no need to worry about the conversation leaking.
“Then, Linze-sama. Please listen to our story without being surprised.”
And so, Madrine began to speak about us without holding anything back.
