We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The radiance of the stars.
As expected, you revealed yourself!
I turned around in the direction the voice was heard, and my surroundings had changed in an instant.
The wives who should have been by my side. All of them vanished. Not only that. Even the Nazaria family who came out to greet me, and Micheila and the Dragon God, who should have come to the mansion in the forbidden territory together, disappeared in an instant.
However, only the scenery of the forbidden territory remained unchanged.
The mansion stretched endlessly, seemingly surrounding two lakes. Lush green grass and clear lakes reflecting the summer blue sky. And Dragon Peak visible in the far east, and the Sacred Mountain visible in the west.
The scenery was as it always was.
Yet, the people who were by my side just a moment ago had suddenly disappeared.
I couldn’t sense even a trace of them.
“Hmm? Is this the space created by Warren, the one Elnea-kun was trapped in before?”
“Muki! How dare you speak so disrespectfully to the Head Miko!”
However, I was not alone.
Although the wives vanished in an instant, only Sefina and Madrine remained by my side.
That is, I believe, what it means.
The reason we were isolated.
The meaning of Warren’s appearance.
I realized it without being told.
But it’s the act of a villain to voice it myself!
So, I silently gazed back at Warren.
Then, Warren, who was directing a sharp gaze at the three of us, opened his mouth.
“Elnea Eris. Do you realize you’ve done something you shouldn’t have?”
“Something I shouldn’t have? Hmm? I can’t think of anything.”
I tilted my head with feigned innocence. Perhaps my gesture irritated Warren, as he mercilessly projected an irritated aura towards us.
But I brushed it off as if it were nothing.
After all, I genuinely had no recollection of doing anything “I shouldn’t have”!
Sefina and Madrine also seemed unfazed by Warren’s words, standing by my side with unwavering resolve.
However, this seemed to displease Warren even further.
“You can’t think of anything? Then let me tell you.”
While glaring at us, Warren still chose to converse with us.
I believe he felt it necessary to confirm our intentions clearly through words.
Otherwise, his position wouldn’t hold.
Therefore, we listened to Warren’s words without interjecting any unnecessary remarks.
“You said before, ‘In the name of the Ys family, messengers of the Dragon God, let the Dragon God descend.'”
The wording was different, but it was exactly that.
As the “Ys family,” we all united our will as messengers of the Dragon God and made him descend at the eastern foothills of Dragon Peak.
“Did you say that knowing what it meant, as words imbued with intent?”
I continued to be stared at intently by Warren.
I was not allowed to look away. Subjected to eyes filled with such coercive power, I could not defy Warren’s question.
I had to answer.
Truthfully.
So, I said:
“Yes. I declared it, knowing and understanding it. It was the will of the entire ‘Ys family,’ including Sefina and Madrine, that we prayed to the Dragon God!”
“You!!”
At my words, Warren’s anger escalated into killing intent.
The wave of killing intent, carried by Warren’s shout, assaulted us like a tsunami. It was enough to make my consciousness waver.
Still, I did not avert my gaze from Warren, returning his stare.
“Elnea Eris. I hear you also implored the Dreaming Shrine Maiden? To defeat Kongo no Kirisame, you asked that all people offer their prayers to make the Dragon God descend.”
“That’s right. Although Micheila and the Sword Saint acknowledged us and we overcame the issue of lifespan, we are, in terms of status, ‘messengers of the Dragon God.’ Furthermore, I believed that the prayers of those connected to dragons should be offered to the Dragon God. You should have heard about that beforehand, shouldn’t you?”
The Dreaming Shrine Maiden, Micheila, and the Dragon God, the Sword Saint. And, Warren.
How many such beings exist in this world, who are held in such high regard, even by Sleigsta the Elder and the Giant Demon Lord?
And those like the Dreaming Shrine Maiden and Warren are connected on a far higher plane than we are aware of. That’s why I thought Warren would surely know that I had asked the Dragon God in the Dreaming Shrine Maiden’s dream.
But Warren was still outmaneuvered.
By us.
I, who spoke “powerful words” in unison to offer everyone’s prayers and make the Dragon God descend.
In response, the Dragon God descended.
However, in reality, a discrepancy arose between us and the Dragon God’s side at that point.
I had indeed requested the Dragon God’s descent beforehand to borrow his power to defeat Kongo no Kirisame.
But there was something I hadn’t told the Dreaming Shrine Maiden.
That is, the ones offering the prayers are the “Ys family,” including Sefina and Madrine!
The Dragon God descended to the eastern foothills of Dragon Peak, responding to my prior request, prayers, and dedication. However, he surely could not have expected me to then declare, “We are the ‘Ys family’, messengers of the Dragon God,” including Sefina and Madrine!
What that means.
“You tricked us!”
Yes.
I declared, “We are the ‘Ys family’, messengers of the Dragon God,” including Sefina and Madrine, and the Dragon God descended.
This, in turn, is proof that the Dragon God acknowledged Sefina and Madrine as members of our “Ys family” and as “messengers of the Dragon God”!
“You had already secured the Dragon God’s descent through the Dreaming Shrine Maiden. And then you mixed in your own scheme!”
To Warren’s words, I calmly replied, “That’s right.”
And then I gave him a defiant smile.
“You don’t understand, Warren. You are indeed transcendents. But you are not Arestina, the Goddess of Creation!”
“What?”
Warren scowled, his brow deeply furrowed, staring at me.
I continued, shrugging off Warren’s killing intent-filled gaze.
“Since you mentioned it, I’ll say it too. You said before that you wouldn’t make Sefina and Madrine immortal beings like us easily. We had no choice but to nod at your words. After all, Baltnowar, who came before us, met precisely that fate.”
That’s why I thought desperately.
How could I welcome Sefina and Madrine as beings who had overcome lifespan like us?
Madrine had said that this was precisely the Goddess’s trial before marriage.
And I knew.
I had learned.
Even if it seemed like an impossible task, if it was a wall that must be overcome, it had to be overcome by any means necessary.
Therefore, I planned.
Against a transcendent!
“Had it been against a Goddess, I might have considered more legitimate means and methods. But while you are transcendents, you are not Arestina, whom we revere! Furthermore, if I may say so. While it is true that we are watched over by the Dragon Gods, we are not always cradled in their arms like infants, living in peace! We, too, live our lives to the fullest. Therefore, if there are things we can use, we will use them to achieve our goals!!”
Besides, I said to Warren with a defiant smile.
“If you are watching us, you should know. We are always being toyed with by our master and the Demon Lords. But you know, we don’t just get toyed with as they please and get into trouble every time? We learn various things from them. The most prominent example of this is the roundabout tactic used this time!”
I am always subjected to Sleigsta the Elder’s pranks.
I am always toyed with by the Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte, and if I let my guard down, Kusharilla can also manipulate me as she pleases.
However, I believe all of that is actually a trial for us.
In this world, there are countless beings who wouldn’t even consider us a threat. When we encounter such beings. Do we give up everything just because they are a superior opponent?
No, that’s not right!
What I learned from Ada, whom I met long ago, is to never give up, no matter what. That if you don’t lose, the next chance will surely come.
So, what is the method to not lose?
The answer lay hidden in our daily lives.
How to evade Sleigsta the Elder’s pranks. How to escape the manipulation of the Giant Demon Lord and Charlotte. What should be done to avoid being caught up in the schemes of beings like Kusharilla?
And beyond that. Conversely, how can we utilize such beings!
Deceiving others or using them as one pleases is usually frowned upon.
But when the time comes.
When a wall that must be overcome stands before us, I will overcome it by any means necessary!
That was the case this time.
We had to defeat Kongo no Kirisame by any means necessary, without letting Sleigsta the Elder use forbidden techniques.
We had to protect not only our hometown companions and close friends but also the Dragon Forest and Dragon Peak.
Therefore, against Kongo no Kirisame, whom we could not handle on our own, we prayed for the Dragon God’s descent.
But that wasn’t all!
There was still an impossible task imposed upon us.
How should we inform those around us about the issue of lifespan?
And one more thing.
How could we welcome Sefina and Madrine into our family!
The complete plan of this operation was the means I chose to solve all those problems.
“We don’t just live. We think desperately, strive, and continue to walk the path to the future! Therefore, any obstacles that stand in our way, we will remove using everything we have and by racking our brains! Whether it’s the issue of lifespan or Warren!!”
Saying so, I drew Kagura’s White Sword, which I had not yet returned.
Sefina clenched her fists and lowered her stance, while Madrine gripped her large staff with both hands and began to chant incantations in unison.
Our intentions were now clearly shown.
Warren, who received our words and intentions, cast a furious and murderous gaze at us and coldly declared,
“So. Then, I shall crush your will and your scheme.”
And immediately after Warren spoke.
“Gah!!”
Intense pain shot through my right thigh!
What was that!?
I didn’t even have time to think.
Before I knew it, Warren was standing behind me. And with the mid-sword in his hand, he had pierced my thigh!
“You!!”
“Elnea-kun!”
Sefina instinctively swung her fist. But by then, Warren had already returned to his original position from behind me.
Madrine interrupted her incantation and examined my thigh. Blood was gushing ceaselessly from the wound pierced by the mid-sword. Madrine immediately retrieved a secret medicine made by Sleigsta the Elder and applied it to the wound.
Only then could I breathe.
It seemed I had forgotten to breathe due to the sudden intense pain and Warren’s unpredictable movement.
“You’ve done it now!!”
While Madrine was tending to my wound, Sefina closed the distance to Warren.
However, Sefina could not catch Warren.
Immediately after Sefina leaped, leaving no trace behind.
“You are immature,”
Warren said, and he was standing before my eyes.
And before I could react, Warren grabbed me by the neck and threw me mercilessly!
I was thrown without a chance to resist and crashed violently into the mansion wall!
“Guh!!”
I was too late to react due to the intense pain from the initial blow. Yet, it wasn’t due to negligence. Even so, Warren moved faster than I could react.
Even Sefina, who is more sensitive to any presence or movement than anyone else, could not react to Warren’s actions.
“Even so!”
I can’t lose here!
I swung Kagura’s White Sword, cleared away the rubble, stood up, and once again showed my intent to confront Warren!
“Give up already.”
… How long have we been fighting?
The unchanging scenery.
The unchanging sky.
The sun that never moves.
No matter how long we fight, the end will not come.
Neither the scenery nor the battle.
I lay sprawled on the grass, battered and bruised.
I tried to stand up using Kagura’s White Sword as a crutch, but my strength failed me in my lower body, which was covered in wounds and discolored black and red. Nevertheless, I used sheer willpower to get up.
Sefina and Madrine rushed over to me.
But there was nothing they could do.
We had already used up all three portions of Sleigsta the Elder’s secret medicine long ago.
“Elnea Eris. Admit your mistake. Then, I will end this. Let me tell you, those isolated outside cannot interfere. The Dragon God and Micheila will not interfere in this matter.”
Warren stood unharmed in the distance.
We were completely outmatched.
No matter how many Dragon Arts we unleashed, no matter what roundabout tactics we employed, we couldn’t even inflict a scratch on Warren.
Moreover, Warren was still holding back.
I was the only one who was battered and bruised. Sefina and Madrine, who rushed over to support me, were completely unharmed.
Warren was targeting only me, attacking only me.
I understand.
Warren intends to break me, crush my spirit, and destroy our scheme.
If he had intended to kill me, he could have simply severed my head with his first blow instead of piercing my thigh. We still couldn’t read Warren’s movements at all.
I understand the principle. This world, where we are isolated from everyone else, is a space created by Warren. Therefore, it is filled with Warren’s logic. If Warren wills it, he can pierce my thigh with his sword from behind me, and create distances at will. That’s why our attacks don’t reach, and Warren’s hands always wound me.
We are completely helpless. In that situation, Warren continues to torment me.
Not killing me.
It is to crush my spirit.
This space will not be dispelled unless Warren is defeated. Yet, we are nowhere near matching Warren’s strength.
In such a situation, how can we be saved? What is the way to escape this space?
It is for me to say it.
“I surrender. I retract my previous statement. Sefina and Madrine are not members of the ‘Ys family’.”
“…Who would ever say such a thing!!”
With my mouth stained with blood and dirt, I shouted with all my might.
I will never fall for Warren’s intentions!
To welcome Sefina and Madrine as family. The groundwork I laid, and the results! I would never give that up!
“But unless you speak of surrender, the end will never come. As you understand, I will not kill you. I will simply torment you endlessly, waiting for the moment your spirit is crushed. Or perhaps? Will Sefina and Madrine break first?”
“What a cowardly man!”
“Muki! Such heartless cruelty is unforgivable!”
I understand this too.
I understand why Warren is targeting only me.
It is because he aims for Sefina or Madrine, who, seeing me being tormented before their eyes, will break from their powerlessness and utter words of surrender, even if I don’t break.
But Sefina will never break.
Madrine will also not give up.
After all, they are both members of the Ys family!
“It’s useless. I understand. Anyone who stands by Elnea-kun’s side would never utter words of surrender themselves. That is the family motto of the Ys family and a testament to our bond.”
“That’s right. If one is to be named among the Ys family, first and foremost is to believe in one’s family. Furthermore, if this is the Goddess’s trial, then as the Head Miko, I will surely overcome it!”
It’s not just me. Sefina and Madrine will never break.
Just as I believe in them, they believe in me.
this is the pride of our “Ys family”!
And this pride does not belong only to the three of us who are confined in this space!
“We understand our positions and situations well. But what do you think? Warren, you still don’t truly understand us, do you?”
Saying so, I managed to stand up with the help of Sefina and Madrine.
And, in my battered state, I still offered a defiant smile.
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