We Live in Dragon’s Peak – Chapter 92

We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.

And then, departure.

“Sorry to keep you.”

Mistral noticed us immediately and came over without hesitation.

“Good morning!”
“Good morning. I am Kiiri, a childhood friend of Ruiseine and a miko.”

Since Kiiri and Elnea were meeting for the first time, they exchanged introductions with Mistral.
Mistral must have come via the Moss Garden, so I thought maybe she would bring Priscilla and Nimia too, but it seemed she was alone.
She probably hasn’t gone to the Mimicho village yet. It’s early morning, after all.

“I can’t believe there’s actually a skilled adventurer here!”
“Yes. I wonder what led you to meet?”

Kiiri and Elnea were looking at Mistral intently, surprised.

“Is Mistral’s weapon the formidable-looking one-handed club you have at your waist?”
“That’s right. It’s unusual because it’s not a bladed weapon.”
“Unusual, or rather, I’ve never seen someone whose weapon is a blunt one before!”

Elnea was looking at Mistral’s jet-black one-handed club with great interest.
Since a miko’s weapon is decided to be a naginata, she might be interested in different types of weapons.

“Then, what is that white sword you are holding?”

As Kiiri pointed out, Mistral was holding a sword carefully with both hands.

“Ah, this…”

Saying so, Mistral turned to me.

“Yes, I brought it for you.”

And Mistral handed the white sword to me.

“Thank you. And good morning.”
“Fufu, good morning.”
“Eh, you two know each other!?”
“Wow. Elnea. Where did you meet such a beautiful woman? Aren’t you devoted to Ruiseine alone!”

Kiiri and Elnea were surprised by the short exchange between me and Mistral.

“W-Well. We were together when I ran an errand, so of course we’ve met.”

I wasn’t lying. Though it wasn’t the whole truth.

“Hmm. But why did Mistral bring Elnea’s weapon?”
“I entrusted it to Mistral until today. I felt uneasy leaving such an important sword at home, so I had her hold onto it until today.”

I ended up telling a lie.
No, it wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the truth either.
How sinful of me to keep secrets from a miko.

“Hmm, a secret, you say?”
“Probably even Listea doesn’t know. Elnea, you have a lot of secrets.”

Not only were they not convinced by my explanation, but Kiiri and Elnea looked at me as if they could see right through me.
But even so, they didn’t press the issue.

“Well, that’s fine. I’ll ask you in detail when you return next year. I’ll be looking forward to it until then.”

Saying that, Elnea backed down.

“Elnea-kun. Are you trying to do something big? I am by Listea’s side, so I believe I understand men who are trying to achieve something.”

Is it something big?
I’m just going to Mistral’s village from now on, though.
But perhaps it’s a big deal for a human to enter Dragon Peak.

“You sometimes give off an air of aiming for something far away. Your secret must be related to that.”

Kiiri is quite perceptive. She’s indeed Ruiseine’s childhood friend and one of the women supporting Listea.

“When you eventually reach your goal. Please tell Listea and us then.”

I nodded strongly to Kiiri, who was smiling kindly.

“Yes, I’ll definitely tell you someday.”
“Well then, be sure to return from Dragon Peak in good health!”

I also nodded at Elnea’s words.

“Of course. Don’t be surprised when you see me grown and strong in a year.”
“…I don’t want to see a muscular Elnea-kun.”

Everyone laughed at Kiiri’s remark.

“Come on, Elnea. We should be going soon. We’ll be entering Dragon Peak at an awkward time.”

Mistral’s reminder brought me back to focus.
That’s right. The reason I left early in the morning was to arrive at my first destination at the perfect time.
So, this wasn’t the time to be having a fun chat.

“Ruiseine, it’s about time for you too. You and I both have things we need to do, don’t we?”
“Oh my, indeed. I need to learn various things from Mist.”

Ruiseine had said she would study a bit about the Dragon Race before entering Mistral’s village.
Since she will be living among the Dragon Race from now on, she will first learn about their customs and etiquette from Mistral.
And Mistral will also learn about humans from Ruiseine.
She was particularly interested in religious matters.
She seemed very moved by the ritual she saw on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s sad to part, but it’s time.”
“We’ll meet again in a year.”

Although me, Ruiseine, and Mistral are scheduled to meet again in a few days, that’s a secret.

“Alright, let’s go.”

I tucked the white sword I received into my waist and got fired up.

“Elnea-kun is going first. Please be careful.”
“May the Goddess bless you!”
“Elnea, be careful. Absolutely do not let your guard down.”
“Elnea-kun, please don’t do anything reckless.”

Seeing everyone off, I left the Great Shrine Plaza.

“I’m off!”

After reaching the main street, I looked back and shouted my farewell.
Everyone was smiling and seeing me off.

After parting ways with Mistral and the others, I headed north on the main street towards the Fountain Park.
I changed my course to the large street extending west from the Fountain Park and entered the western district, where many craftsmen live.

The main street leading west is lined with blacksmiths and weapon shops.
Adventurers and nobles with money often prefer to purchase items made by craftsmen in the western district.
The prices are eye-watering, but they are said to be commensurate with their performance and quality.

Even though it was early morning, chimneys were puffing smoke all over the western district, and the hard sound of metal being struck echoed.
However, the shops didn’t open as early as those in the eastern district.
All the shops facing the street were tightly closed, and there were far fewer people passing by compared to the central main street.

And I was the only one heading west dressed in travel attire.

If you’re going to be out in travel attire early in the morning, in the capital city, it’s only sensible to head east.
There’s only Dragon Peak to the west, so no adventurers head that way.
Therefore, I was attracting the attention of the people passing by.

Don’t mind it, don’t mind it.

I’m used to being looked at strangely by others.
They must be thinking, “Why is that guy heading west in travel clothes? What an idiot. Is he lost?” Ignoring these gazes, I walked relentlessly westward.

The capital city is expansive.
I kept walking west, but Dragon Peak showed no signs of getting closer. On the contrary, the townscape continued endlessly.

Near the central fountain square of the capital, there were many shops on the west side as well, but as I went further west, more workshops appeared instead of shops.

And then, I gradually began to see people at work.

Finally, by the time the West Fortress came into view, the western district had also become bustling with activity.

Oh. I walked all the way to the western edge, and it took more time than I expected.
The sun was quite high by the time I noticed.

Last year, when I was constantly visiting Jiludo, I used Dragon Energy to enhance my physical abilities and run, so it didn’t take that much time to reach the northern edge.

West Fortress.

The outer wall that continued from the north also extended to the west, and part of it was connected to the fortress where soldiers were stationed.

Beyond the West Fortress lies the outskirts of the royal capital.
The outskirts of the Armeard Kingdom.
In other words, a foreign country.

Further west than the West Fortress is the realm of non-humans.
A world beyond the rule of humans.

The road continues to Dragon Peak, but that is already a place ruled by dragons and dragonkin.

Very dangerous.
Even skilled adventurers do not enter Dragon Peak.
Dragonkin regularly descend from Dragon Peak to trade in the capital, but people from the capital do not enter Dragon Peak for business.

An unknown world.
Magic beasts roam, dragons make their nests everywhere.
Dragonkin watch intruders closely.

Mistral’s village is only a few days away.
But even those few days will likely be a very dangerous journey.

Standing before the West Fortress, I refocused myself.

I checked the white sword at my left hip, and touched the Spirit Tree Wooden Sword on my right hip. Then, feeling the weight of the travel gear on my back, I looked up at the West Fortress I had reached.

The fortress, with its sturdy construction, was the same height as the exterior walls extending north and south, and so high it made my neck ache to look up.
And from the top of the fortress and the distant outer walls, I felt the gazes of several soldiers.
Normally, no one would approach the fortress, so perhaps they were being vigilant.
But I couldn’t enter Dragon Peak without passing through here, so I had to go.

The gate in front of me was firmly closed, so I spoke to the soldier guarding the gate.

“Um, excuse me.”

When I spoke, a soldier with a spear patrolling approached.

“Kid, what is it? Are you lost? This is the West Fortress.”

The soldier approached with a hearty laugh.
He seemed like a good person.
I was momentarily nervous, wondering what if he was a scary person.

“No, that’s not it. I’m in the right place. I want to pass through here and go to Dragon Peak, so could you let me through the fortress?”

At my words, the soldier’s laughter stopped abruptly.
Mumumu. A bad feeling.

“To Dragon Peak? You, kid?”

“Oh no, you must be joking,” the soldier laughed.
But when I insisted on wanting to pass, he became serious.

“Is there a reason?”
“Yes, there’s somewhere I have to go.”

The soldier nodded at my serious expression and said,
“I see. In that case, may I see your pass?”
“Huh!?”

A pass?
What is that?

I froze at the soldier’s words.
I don’t know about a pass?
I don’t have one?
Do I need that pass to pass through the fortress?

My thoughts stopped at the soldier’s unexpected words.

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