We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The trial that awaits us
“Fuaaaaah. I’m tired.”
I sprawled out on the soft, fluffy grass. Yufilia and Nina also collapsed onto the lawn just like me.
“Hey, Elnea. And Yufi and Nina. Don’t show such slovenly behavior in front of the Dragon God and Micheila-sama.”
“Yes!”
“Mist is strict.”
“Mist is merciless.”
Fufufu. We were just pretending to be lazy, you know?
After all, when we returned to the mansion in the Forbidden Territory and saw the fresh green grass, I felt an overwhelming urge to be my usual self!
However, I do understand the current situation, okay?
Carried by the Dragon God, we left the eastern foothills of Dragon Peak.
If we had stayed there any longer, things would have surely become dire.
In front of everyone, we finally declared ourselves “Messengers of the Dragon God.”
While some among the Dragon Race and Dragon People already knew that we were Messengers of the Dragon God, many others were actually still unaware.
This is because if our ultimate attainment reached the Dragon Race was to spread without limit, it would have led to more curiosity than ever before, or become a cause for unnecessary jealousy and envy. Besides, there were hardly any opportunities to convey this to the Human Race and other races, and in the first place, it was unlikely that anyone other than the Dragon Race and Dragon People would have understood what kind of beings Messengers of the Dragon God were.
Therefore, we had missed the chance to tell everyone.
In the end, I think it served as the best proof.
We spread not only among the Dragon People and Dragon Race, but also involving other races, a congratulatory message and a dedication Kagura dance to the Dragon God.
Then, uniting the thoughts of everyone, we had the Divine Dragon descend and, working together, we defeated Diamond Mist.
The astute ones among you must have noticed our guidance and declaration.
That we had become beings who had stepped outside the “boundaries of the Human Race.”
Something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.
Since we no longer have lifespans, how long can we happily spend time with our friends and companions?
We, our family, do not age. Others grow old and pass away from old age.
Surely, even if things are good now, in the future, there will inevitably be those who resent and envy us.
To dispel such problems, we should have shown the difference between us and others eventually.
That’s why I made the declaration during this commotion.
By showing everyone a miraculous phenomenon that even the guardian dragon Sleigsta, an overwhelming presence in the Dragon Forest, could not achieve, I made it known that we had become beings who transcended the Human Race.
Since we performed a miracle that no one else could achieve and surpassed humanity, we no longer have lifespans. Surely, everyone will understand when they see us not aging from now on.
But you see?
If those who couldn’t understand at the time, or those who understood but became too overjoyed and came rushing at us as usual…
Even though we declared our presence with dignity and defeated Diamond Mist, our very existence would be trivialized.
As beings who have transcended the Human Race, we had to leave a mystical aftertaste at that moment.
Sleigsta understood that.
He bowed his head to us and showed respect.
The dragons followed suit.
Therefore, all the other races understood, and we were able to leave that place while maintaining the mystery of being beings who had transcended the Human Race.
And then…
And then!
Carried on the Dragon God’s hand, we ascended into the sky.
However, it might be uncomfortable to be on its hand the entire time, so out of consideration from the Dragon God, when we were allowed to ride on its back!
We found Micheila there!
However, her Four Guardians were not present, as they are tasked with protecting Micheila.
Well, when we returned to the mansion in the Forbidden Territory, the Nazaria family was waiting for us there!
And so, after declaring to all those gathered at the foothills of Dragon Peak that we are the Messengers of the Dragon God, and revealing that we have become beings who have transcended the “boundaries of the Human Race,” we left, intentionally leaving behind a sense of mystery, and returned to our mansion in the Forbidden Territory!
“So, Micheila-chan was watching us the whole time, wasn’t she? From on the Dragon God’s back?”
“Fufufu. Just as expected of the Messengers of the Dragon God. It was the most wonderful thing.”
Micheila-chan laughed innocently at my slovenly appearance.
Beside her was the Dragon God, who had taken on a human form.
Its true form is so colossal that it obscures the sky, but it can also take on a human appearance like this.
The strangely bent horns growing from above its ears, and the purple hair that creates a flowing stream on the ground are common features between the Dragon God’s dragon form and its human form.
Incidentally, at the mansion in the Forbidden Territory, there are only us, our family, Micheila-chan, and the four Guardians.
The Mimicho race living here, and the Mimicho and spirits of the Dragon King’s Forest are all out assisting with defeating Diamond Mist.
Therefore, the Nazaria family, who should have been our guests, had prepared tea and snacks in the courtyard for Micheila-chan and the others to be cared for.
As for us, after returning to the mansion and enjoying a brief respite to calm our nerves, we turned our attention back to the Dragon God.
“Dragon God, thank you so much for everything regarding this matter!”
We all offered our sincere thanks.
The Dragon God then smiled gently and praised us.
“The defeat of Diamond Mist is a feat that will be recorded in legend. I am also happy to have been able to assist in your endeavors.”
Fufufu, the Dragon God’s smile was filled with a motherly love, truly like the mother of the Dragon Race.
We too felt our hearts warm.
“You thought carefully. I will praise you too.”
“Thank you, Micheila-chan.”
“When I heard the message from the Dreaming Shrine Maiden, I was impressed. Elnea and the others are truly living up to our expectations.”
“We are happy to hear you say that!”
That’s right. In fact, in addition to praying to the Dragon God and performing the Kagura dance, I had made preparations!
After I failed once in defeating Diamond Mist, while I was in a coma from exhaustion, I was invited into the Dreaming Shrine Maiden’s dream.
At that time, through the Dreaming Shrine Maiden, I had made a request to the Dragon God!
“As a Messenger of the Dragon God, I will offer the highest prayer and dedication Kagura dance to the Dragon God. Therefore, please lend us your strength in our time of crisis.”
Micheila-chan and the Dragon God, as transcendent beings, oversee the world.
At times, they guide beings like us and get involved in the world.
However, they do not interfere excessively.
Micheila-chan and the others rarely intervene to provide salvation in wars or calamities. Instead, beings like us who interact with the world are chosen.
However, I thought about the Sword Saint.
Everyone knows about it.
Legends of the Sword Saint abound throughout the world, from the distant past to the present day.
Then why are there so many legends of the Sword Saint, one of the transcendent beings who supposedly do not interfere excessively?
And then, I realized.
They do not interfere excessively.
But that does not mean they are completely uninvolved!
When the world cries out in pain, in regions where there are no guides, transcendent beings may appear to protect the order and reason of the world.
The exploits and beautiful sword dances of those times have been passed down to later generations, which is why so many legends of the Sword Saint exist.
So, what about this current situation?
Diamond Mist is a legendary monster.
If left unchecked, the capital of the Armēdo Kingdom, a human nation, would be swallowed, leaving many to wander in destitution. Not only that, but the Dragon Forest itself risked being engulfed, leading to the loss of the Spirit Tree and the guardian dragon Sleigsta.
But there was no sign of Micheila-chan or the others.
Were we abandoned by the transcendent beings?
Even if there is significant damage, is it just a regional problem with little impact on the world as a whole?
If they don’t even intervene in a large-scale war between demons and divine races, is the destruction of a human capital just another part of history?
No, that’s not right!
Micheila-chan, the Dragon God, the Dreaming Shrine Maiden, and the Sword Saint were all watching over us, trusting in us!
I realized this in the Dreaming Shrine Maiden’s dream.
We were not left to our own devices.
We were not told to fend for ourselves and pushed away.
As those who guided us, they were watching over us warmly, with trust!
The moment I realized that.
I came up with an idea!
If they believe in us and are watching over us.
Surely, our wishes and thoughts will reach them.
However, facing an unprecedented threat like Diamond Mist, our efforts alone as Messengers of the Dragon God would not be enough, and our prayers would surely not be heard.
After all, it was everyone who lived in and around Dragon Peak who were in desperate need.
Therefore, with our efforts alone, the Dragon God and the others would likely not grant our request.
If everyone who wished for peace did not pray, wish, and hope, it would be dismissed as a mere regional problem and only be seen as a part of the history weaving the world.
That won’t do!
This is not just our problem, but everyone’s problem.
Therefore, everyone must unite.
To achieve that, we must bring our thoughts together and invoke a miracle.
And the answer I came up with was.
It was the congratulatory message offered by all those connected to Dragon Peak, and the dedication Kagura dance to have the Dragon God descend.
I believe the Dragon Gods have left the matters of the Dragon Peak region to us. That’s why they don’t usually interfere excessively or overprotect us.
We mistakenly believed that they “don’t want to be relied upon.”
But that’s not true. In reality, we are trusted and are being watched over.
Therefore, guided by us, when all beings became one in heart, prayed, wished, and hoped, the Dragon God heard our plea.
This was not excessive intervention; they lent us their power because we, as those who believed in them, sincerely requested it.
Everything was done through our desperate thinking, preparation, and guidance.
Micheila-chan and the Dragon God were thoroughly praising us for that.
It seems we have lived up to their expectations.
We have resolved the crisis at Dragon Peak.
Sleigsta is safe, and Micheila-chan and the others are satisfied with our actions.
Seeing the gentle smiles of Micheila-chan and the Dragon God, our spirits lifted.
Indeed, it is far happier to feel that we are trusted and watched over, rather than mistakenly believing we are being pushed away.
So, who is the culprit who made us misunderstand?
“You’ve really done it now, my Messengers of the Dragon God,” said Warren, a transcendent being who once guided Baltnowar, appearing at the Forbidden Territory mansion without being invited.
