We Live in Dragon’s Peak

Mistral seems to be acquainted with Gild-san.
I guess that’s to be expected, too.
Mistral is the Dragon Princess and Gild-san was originally a Dragon King after all.
Apparently, she had been going to Gild-san’s place in secret on a regular basis to listen in on my progress.
She probably also saw some of my matches every now and then.
I didn’t notice her presence at all and neither did Gild-san mention a word about coming into contact with her.

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“Sorry for worrying you.”
I apologize, but Mistral’s refusing to look at me doesn’t worry me at all.
A wry smile comes to my face at my strange stubbornness.

“Well then, display the power of thine who hast succeeded the Dragon King.”

Although I still haven’t come to terms at having succeeded a Dragon King, I am confident in my current level of strength.
I call the spirit girl of the spirit tree who is having fun dancing with Priscilla-chan and combine with her.

Old Sleigstar, Mistral, and Priscilla-chan all go wide eyed from of shock.
From inside of me pulsates the explosive wild power of the Dragon’s Gem and gentle force of the spirit.
When I wield both of these powers at the same time, I am enveloped within a thick layer of dragon spirit.
My eyes even turn golden.

“Nntto, amazing.”
Priscilla-chan spreads both of her arms in admiration.

“I can’t even recognize you.”
Mistral gazes at me with a radiant smile.
She then grabs the konbou[1] at her waist.

I hold my wooden spirit tree sword in my left hand.
My right hand remains lonely as usual.
It can’t be helped, but I pick up a suitable stick from the ancient forest.
Still, for the current me, this branch is a suitable weapon.
By tapping into the power of the spirit tree, I can send dragon spirit into the branch and strengthen it into becoming harder than iron.

“Today, I’m finally going to defeat Mistral.”
I am briming with confidence.

There is no starting signal.
The moment Mistral slides her foot, I swing with all my strength.

“Gueeeeeh.”

The battle ends in no time at all.

To my disappointment, it is my complete defeat.
Regardless of how many times we clash, I always end up crawling on the moss carpet.

“Uuugh, just why can’t I win.”

That said, I couldn’t get a second victory against the aged, former, Dragon King Gild-san either.
I guess it makes sense that I can’t beat Mistral who holds an even higher title.

Once again, my shoulders are sagging from my low level of ability.

Mistral also gives me a bitter smile.

“Thou art not lacking in ability.
The difference derives from experience and technique.”
Old Sleigstar comforts me.

“Nntto, combining with the spirit is incredible!”
Priscilla-chan comes up to me while I’m on the ground and pats my head.

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“Ernea’s spirit… made me get serious.
That is how strong you were.”

Upon hearing Mistral’s words, I finally regain my spirits.

“Yeah, I can feel that I’ve gotten stronger, but my technique still has a long way to go.
From now on, again, please allow me to be in your care.”
I correct my posture to sitting up on the moss carpet and bow to Mistral and Old Sleigstar.

“If you are fine with me, I’ll cooperate with you at any time.”
“The summit of the Dragon Sword Dance is still far away.
Devote thine’s self.”

At the words of Mistral and Old Sleigstar, I bow once again.

“Nntto, bring out spirit-san.”
Priscilla-chan, without care towards our atmosphere of renewing our determination, flails her hands against me.

Right, right, I want to play with the spirit-san.

The spirit girl, picking up on my intentions, slips out from inside my body.
Grains of light gather and a blond haired little girl reveals herself.

“Play.”
“Yes, let’s play.”

Priscilla-chan and the spirit girl hold hands as they take off running across the moss covered plaza.
I’m glad that she resembles Priscilla-chan.
Those of us watching are soothed by the sight of the two close friends.

Arara, speaking of which, where’s Nymia? I haven’t seen her at all.

I look around, but Nymia, who is normally clamoring around together with Priscilla-chan, is nowhere to be seen.

“Fumu, the dragon lass?”
“Ah, right, Nymia.”

Mistral makes a wry smile at my searching around.
She then points at some hair on Old Sleigstar’s forelimb.
Within his jet black fur is a white patch that looks pink.
I get closer and discover Nymia curled up into a ball.

“Nymia, what’s wrong?”
Is she not feeling well?

As I get a bit closer, she opens her eyes with a feeble, “Nya,” before closing them again.

“Fufufu, she pushed herself too hard and got sick.”
“She pushed herself too hard?”
“The young lass is the same as thou.
She too made a great endeavor.”

I did hear that Nymia was practicing to get stronger the entire time I was away.
However, she worked so hard, she used up all her strength.
Then, upon exhausting her dragon spirit, she grew listless.

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“She’ll be fine if we leave her be for a bit.
Don’t mind her.”

I stroke Nymia for a bit and then head off to catch Priscilla-chan.

Just what the heck is she doing playing with the spirit-san even though her best friend Nymia has worked herself to exhaustion? That is not what I am thinking.
I have a question I want to ask her.

When I try to catch Priscilla-chan, she escapes.

Mumumu,

“Nntto, tag.”
“No, no, this is different.”

I deny it with a bitter laugh, but Priscilla-chan is already brimming with determination to stay away from me.
The spirit girl too is having fun as she starts to run from place to place.
Oh, come on.
Just as soon as I got back, Priscilla-chan begins to lead me around.
It can’t be helped, so I start to chase her.

 

Oh, come on.
Just as soon as I got back, Priscilla-chan begins to lead me around.
It can’t be helped, so I start to chase her.

Fufufu, if it’s going to be like this, then I’ll drag someone else into it.

I pretend to chase Priscilla-chan around, but then in the next moment, I space jump into Mistral’s blind spot.

I shall pass the role of oni[1] to Mistral.
If I’m not the oni, then Priscilla-chan might let me approach her.

That’s what I think, but my movements are read through.

“I won’t be caught that easily.”
Mistral escapes far away in a flash.

“Guah.”
And I thought that was a good surprise attack.

With Priscilla-chan and Mistral completely ready to escape from me, catching either of them now is going to be hard.
I somehow manage to pass the role of oni onto the spirit girl, but having exhausted myself, my ability to evade is down and I get made the oni again.
Eventually, just before noon, Priscilla-chan is satisfied with playing tag.

Gununu, even though I meant to be home early today because it’s New Year’s Eve, time again has passed like always.

While I’m panting, “Haa haa,” I catch Priscilla-chan.

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“Nntto, was fun.”
Priscilla-chan looks at me with a satisfied smile.

“Priscilla was lonely when you were away.”
“Where you? Sorry for making you wait.”

I should have thought about the people waiting for me at the moss covered plaza.
I could have returned to report my success and then spent half the day at Gild-san’s place and the second half at Old Sleigstar’s.
I realize that now that it’s too late.

“Play again starting tomorrow?”

Mistral and I can only make wry smiles at Priscilla-chan’s request.

“You won’t be coming here starting tomorrow due to New Year’s events.
Ernea and I will be busy with the beginning of the new year too.”
“Muuu.”

Seeing Priscilla-chan puff out her cheeks in protest, I caress her head.

“No worries.
Once the new year settles down, we can play again for as much as you want.”
“Nntto, promise?”
“Yeah, I promise.”

I cross my pinkie finger with Priscilla-chan’s as a promise.

“By the way, Priscilla-chan, there is something I want to ask you.”
“?”
“What names did Priscilla-chan give to her wind spirit-san and earth spirit-san?”

That’s right, I promised to give the spirit girl of the spirit tree a name.
Knowing the names of Priscilla-chan’s spirit-san could serve as a reference.

“Nntto, names?”

Priscilla-chan tilts her head.
Somehow or another, Priscilla-chan doesn’t seem to have given names to her spirit-san either.

“Is not naming spirits normal?”
I ask Mistral.

“I haven’t heard of anything about that.”
Mistral doesn’t seem to know either.

“Fumu, names for spirits?”
Old Sleigstar is who responds.

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“Names are rarely given to spirits.”
“How come?”

Old Sleigstar answers my question.
“Spirit users contract with new spirits as their spiritual power rises and utilize them.”

Spirit users utilize insect shaped spirits upon starting out.
Then, as they gain in strength, they will utilize stronger beast shaped spirits.
In other words, they’re switching spirits?

“While spirits can change their appearances to match the abilities of their spirit user, contracting with a new stronger spirit is faster.
However, should the spirit being utilized at the time be named, what does thou believe would happen?”

I realize it upon being asked such.
Right, if the spirit user gives a name, then the spirit user will become connected to the spirit.
Spirit users wouldn’t be able to separate from weak spirits if they do that.

“Getting close to a spirit at the end of its evolution would not be foolish decision.
However, thine’s personal growth would cease once the spirit reaches its limit.”

It might be coldhearted, but do spirit users have to contract with a powerful spirits for their own sakes? In other words, there are times when spirit users can’t separate from spirits because they gave them names.

“Mumuu,” I groan out.

Then, will Priscilla-chan also have to one day part with her wind spirt-san and earth spirit-san? Will they have to separate even though they’re such good friends?

“The spirits of that lass art already of a superior rank.
To rise any higher would be to seek the Spirit King.
Without reaching the limits of strength, such a change will not happen.”

Really? But if it’s like that, why haven’t her spirits been given names?

“Nntto, onii-chan is giving this girl a name? Then, Priscilla will give her spirits names.”
“Eetto, is that okay?”

Troubled, I turn to Mistral and Old Sleigstar.
Won’t Priscilla-chan giving names to her spirit-san lead to trouble in the future?

“There is no need for concern.
To begin with, up until now, this lass merely did not possess the concept of giving names.
As this one mentioned, her spirits are superior spirits.
For her to change spirits in the future is almost nonexistent.”

Receiving Old Sleigstar’s approval, I think up names along with Priscilla-chan for all the spirit-san.

“Ho hou, you will be giving us names?”
The wind spirit-san and earth spirit-san both appear very interested.

“Name, name.”
The spirit girl of the spirit tree also comes to me in high spirits.

Now then, what name should I give her?

While thinking that I only meant to consult with Priscilla-chan for a reference, I twist my thoughts around coming up with a name.