We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
What is the gift?
I wonder what kind of weapons Mistral and Old Man Sleigsta prepared for us.
My heart swelled with anticipation, and I headed to the Moss Garden the next day.
“Fufufu. Elnea-kun, you seem to be in quite a good mood.”
Ruiseine is with me today.
Ruiseine actually had duties at the temple, but she came to the Dragon Forest with me, saying she was going to pick medicinal herbs.
In reality, Mistral picks them, and Ruiseine takes them home. The temple doesn’t seem to suspect what Ruiseine is doing in the forest, as she brings back the medicinal herbs properly.
“Yes. I’m finally going to receive the weapon for my right hand today.”
“Oh, really? That sounds exciting.”
Ruiseine, walking beside me, shares my joy.
What kind of weapon could it be? If it’s meant to balance the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword in my left hand, it must be quite amazing. I wander through the forest, excitedly telling Ruiseine my predictions about the weapon.
“But the gem to be fitted into the weapon wasn’t ready, was it? If it’s a weapon without the gem, isn’t it just a normal weapon?”
“Aaaah, Ruiseine. You shouldn’t say that.”
I collapse, brought down by Ruiseine’s accurate retort.
Indeed, without the gem that is the source of a weapon’s power, the weapon itself is merely a sharply honed blade, or something of that level. Even Listea’s Holy Sword, when fought with its gem sealed, cannot even break Slaton’s sword. That’s why it ends up being a kenjutsu match like during the Proclamation Ritual. It seems to have properties like not getting chipped or not receiving weapon destruction from the opponent, though.
“That’s terrible. Ruiseine, you’re showing me the harshness of reality.”
“That’s a misunderstanding. I never meant anything of the sort.”
As she said that, Ruiseine gently stroked my head.
Hmmph. It’s frustrating, but when she pets my head like this, I feel so content and forgive everything. Could this be my weakness? Do Ruiseine and Mistral know this and pet my head when something happens? Seeing me grumble and mutter, Ruiseine looked troubled.
“I’m sorry, Elnea-kun, did I make you angry?”
“Ah, no, that’s not it.”
I just thought about what might be my weakness. However, Ruiseine seemed to take it seriously.
“I’m sorry.”
Saying that, Ruiseine hugged me. Wrapped gently in Ruiseine’s embrace, I melt. The scent of her pure, yet sweet, feminine hair fills my nostrils.
“Um, please forgive me with this, okay?”
For the Miko Ruiseine, it must be hesitant to embrace someone she’s not yet married to.
“Can’t be helped.”
“Fufufu, thank you.”
I playfully wrapped my arms around Ruiseine. Ruiseine, like Mistral, is slender. Though it’s hard to tell with her flowing Miko’s Attire, when I hug her, I can feel how slim she is.
“Um, Priscilla wants one too.”
“Me too, me too.”
Saying that, Priscilla-chan and Ares-chan came and hugged me as well.
“Eh!?”
Apart from Ares-chan, why is Priscilla-chan in the Dragon Forest?
“Hee, so you’re having fun in places I don’t know about.”
“Eek!”
“Oh my, oh my.”
Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw Mistral standing there, directing a cold gaze at us.
“N-no, that’s not it. This is a misunderstanding.”
I hastily let go of Ruiseine. But for some reason, Ruiseine remained in my embrace.
“This is troublesome. Priscilla-chan and the others are hugging me, so I can’t let go.”
“Don’t lie. Even with Priscilla and Ares hugging you, you can release your arms, can’t you?”
“I didn’t notice.”
Mistral’s temple vein throbbed as Ruiseine, despite being called out, smiled triumphantly.
Scary.
“R-Ruiseine?”
Mistral gets scary when she’s angry. So, it’s better to let go. Otherwise, for some reason, I’ll be the one who gets hurt? Perhaps sensing my plea in my gaze, Ruiseine finally released me.
“Is it over already? You know, Priscilla isn’t satisfied yet.”
“Yes, yes.”
I pick up Priscilla-chan, who is being clingy. Then Ares-chan climbs onto my back, and Nimia flies to my head.
“Nyah, Elnea older brother’s head is fluffy, nyah.”
Mistral, who had been giving us a cold stare, burst out laughing at my comical figure covered in children. Ruiseine was also laughing beside me.
“Oh dear, you’ve dispelled my ill will.”
Mistral, laughing, came over to us.
“By the way, why are Mistral and the others in the Dragon Forest?”
They’re usually in the Moss Garden, and it’s not the usual time for picking up Priscilla-chan.
“We were taking a walk on our way to pick you up.”
“Is that so? You came to pick us up, thank you.”
Well, I guess they do go for a walk sometimes. I’m genuinely happy they came to pick us up.
It seems my crisis has passed, and after that, we all strolled through the forest for a while. Before I knew it, we were led to the Ancient Tree Forest.
“Hello.”
“It’s been a while.”
“We’re back.”
“I’m back.”
“Nyah.”
With greetings exchanged, we all entered the Moss Garden together. In the Moss Garden, Old Man Sleigsta was, as usual, lying sprawled in the center like a small mountain, and Jiludo-san had already arrived.
“Did you sleep properly last night?”
“Ugh.”
Jiludo-san saw right through me, and my face twitched. I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about today. It’s the weapon for my right hand that I’ve been waiting for. It’s only natural that my heart pounded and I couldn’t sleep.
“Just like Priscilla in front of a stuffed animal.”
Mistral sighed.
“Older Brother, are you getting a stuffed animal?”
“No, I’m getting a weapon.”
“Nyah doesn’t recommend it, nyah.”
“Eh, why?”
Nimia, unusually, showed a negative reaction. Seeing Nimia’s reaction, Mistral gave a wry smile, and Old Man Sleigsta and Jiludo-san laughed. What is it?
“Well then. Without further ado, I shall hand it over to you. Come here.”
Urged by Old Man Sleigsta, I excitedly approached.
What kind of weapon will it be? My heart danced, I was light-headed. Sensing my excitement, the Spirit Tree sword at my waist seemed to share my joy. Ares-chan also looked happy, caught up in the mood. Finally, I’m going to get a proper weapon.
“B-bless you!”
“Gyaaaaaah!”
I was blown all the way to the front of the Ancient Tree Forest by Old Man Sleigsta’s surprise attack, due to my snot and the blast.
“W-what are you doing?!”
I emerged from a puddle of snot. My whole body was covered in snot! I couldn’t evade it due to the surprise attack and my light-headed state.
“Guhahaha. It’s your fault for letting your guard down.”
Not only Old Man Sleigsta, but everyone else was laughing. Sniffle, that’s terrible. I truddenly trudged back to Old Man Sleigsta. Mistral, being considerate, dried my whole body with a dragon art.
“May I watch from the side too?”
“Me too, me too.”
Ruiseine, Ares-chan, and then Priscilla-chan and Nimia also came closer.
“Hmm, then this time I shall give it to you.”
Saying that, Old Man Sleigsta gave instructions to Mistral. Mistral moved towards the jet-black fur at Old Man Sleigsta’s feet. It’s the place where Nimia always lies down when she’s weak. Then, parting the jet-black fur, she drew out a sword. It was a pure white sword in a pure white sheath. Beautiful patterns were carved into the sheath, the guard, and the hilt, but with no color at all. It was truly pure white, giving the impression of being carved from a single piece of ivory. There were depressions here and there on the sheath and guard. Originally, gems were probably meant to be set there.
“Hmm, ivory. Close, yet far.”
Old Man Sleigsta, reading my mind, narrowed his eyes and smiled.
“Now, this is your sword.”
Mistral reverently presented the sword she had brought to me.
“Here.”
I received it firmly with both hands. It was heavy. I’ll need to strengthen my physical abilities with dragon energy to handle this weight.
“May I draw it?”
“You may. It is your sword. Inspect it thoroughly.”
That’s right. This is the sword I will be using for a long time to come. I have to examine it properly when I receive it, because I can’t say later, “I feel something off, please fix it.” I drew the sword from its sheath. The blade was also pure white. It wasn’t iron. Like the sheath and guard, it gave the impression of being made from ivory. And complex patterns were carved into the blade as well. Its length was not that of a long sword, but it was considerably longer than a medium sword. It was wide and thick. Until now, I had practiced with thin branches, medium swords, and slender long swords borrowed from Jiludo-san, but this sword had a shape unlike any of them.
“This is the sword I will hold in my right hand?”
I gaze intently from the tip of the blade to the end of the hilt. Ruiseine and everyone else were also looking at the sword with interest.
“Indeed. It is what suits you. Cherish it.”
“It’s pure white and beautiful. And I feel a very strong power from it, like dragon power.”
“Hoho, as expected of the Dragon Eye.”
“Even sensing such things, how frightening.”
Old Man Sleigsta, Jiludo-san, and Mistral were surprised by Ruiseine.
“A sword imbued with dragon power?”
“That’s right, Elnea.”
Mistral looked at me with a more serious expression than usual.
“This is a Dragon Slayer sword made from the Elder’s fangs. The Elder had it specially made for you by breaking his own fangs.”
“Eh?”
“Remember that this is a supreme sword carved by the greatest artisan of the Dragon Race using the Elder’s fangs.”
I was dumbfounded, learning the true identity of the pure white sword. Before summer. Just when I found the young Spirit Tree. Old Man Sleigsta had lost one of his fangs. I had assumed Mistral had broken it because Old Man Sleigsta was mischievous. And that fang is still broken. He prepared it for me, even losing a precious fang. Tears welled up in my eyes, my heart filled with emotion. How fortunate I am. I never expected to be cherished so dearly.
“It is most gratifying that you are pleased.”
Old Man Sleigsta smiled kindly.
“I will definitely cherish it! And I will master it!”
I vowed. I will become a splendid wielder of the Dragon Sword Dance to repay Old Man Sleigsta’s teachings. I will inherit Jiludo-san’s aspirations and become a Dragon King recognized by the Dragon Race. And I will become a man that Mistral and Ruiseine can be proud of.
“You’ll cherish me too, okay?”
Ares-chan hugged me. Of course, I will cherish the Spirit Tree, Ares-chan, Priscilla-chan, Nimia, and everyone.
“Nyah.”
Nimia purred happily. Ah. Perhaps Nimia said she didn’t recommend it because she sensed danger, knowing that the sword I was receiving was a Dragon Slayer sword? But it’s okay. No matter what happens, I would never point a weapon at Nimia.
“Um, Priscilla wants something too.”
We all laughed at Priscilla-chan’s request.
