We split up into two dragon carts and set off from the city of Delant.

　The strong claws of the two-legged dragons stomped on the snowy city streets, and the vehicles pulled by them proceeded down the road with the wind in their faces.

　The first vehicle leading the way was occupied by five of Arun's adventurers and Frederica-san, while the second vehicle was occupied by the six of us, Rapt and Recto Alice.

　According to Frederica-san, we'll arrive at the Caligurian sacred mountain in about three days.

　Rattle.

　The vibrations of the car can be felt through the seats.

　Outside the window, I could see a coniferous forest with snow still on the ground, and the majestic snow-capped mountain ranges in the distance.

(.........are those mountains?)

　Caligure Spiritual Peak is.

　Vaguely, I thought about that.　

　And.

'They were kind of a unique bunch, Arun's 'Golden Mark'.

　Solstice spoke up and said something like that.

　He looked back.

　Rapt and Rectalis giggled.

''Oh well. But let's just say that as a close friend of mine who dove into the ruins together, I'm sure you're good at it.
Yeah?

　Solstice has a half-hearted look on her face.

　The girl's sister looks at the silver-haired beauty.

'What was your impression of the actual hand-to-hand meeting?
"Hmm.

　Our gazes met.

　Mr. Kilt stared at his right hand.

　He squeezes it tightly.

I was strong. I had the feeling that if I wasn't careful, I'd get beaten up all at once. I hadn't felt that kind of pressure since Elle and the General.
Is that so?
Hmm. I haven't seen the bottom yet. But I'm sure you're a very capable person.

(Really?)

　Mr. Garun Billy Lang.

　He calls himself a 'warrior', and he's a man that even Mr. Kilt would approve of.

　Soltis propped his elbows on the window sill.

Hmm?　Then who's the other one?

　I asked.

　There was a small hint of disgust, or rejection, in his voice.

'It's because we didn't match up,'

　Mr. Kilt chuckled.

But the way he carried himself, no doubt, he was no ordinary man.

　I continued.

(I see.)

　Gelfenberg Lidworth-san must be worthy of the title of 'Golden Seal' after all.

　Rapt also nodded.

''He was awesome at the ruins, too.
Really?
Oh, to determine the structure of the ruins and to predict the route from there. They helped me with the scouting and such. The three women in my group were pretty good at it too.

　Heh~.

　Recto Alice gave a wry smile at her mature beauty.

But Frederica was in trouble, though.

(Huh?)

'You saw what he did when we met again, right?　It was always like that every time we took a break, even in the ruins.
..........

　Oh, really?

　Everyone else has a subtle look on their faces.

The General has been warned about it. He wouldn't listen to them.
..........
That's Recto Alice. She was hitting on me.

　Laughing, Rapt points to the purple-haired beauty.

(Huh?)

　I can't help but roll my eyes and stare at him.

'A child of someone who hasn't lived for thirty years is like a baby. There's nothing we can do about it.

　Recto Alice replied gracefully.

　Rapt laughed with a kerfuffle.

''But to seduce the 'Divine Consort', you're a big guy, right?
Yeah, that's true.

　I can only smile vaguely and nod.

　Solstice snorts, "Hmph.

As far as I'm concerned, a guy hitting on another girl when he's got three harems going on, that's not good enough.

　.............

　Ummmmmm?
　All three of my party mates are women, but is that the kind of relationship you have?

　And.

But I hear those three were slaves in the first place.

　Rapt said.

(Huh?)

　We are speechless for a moment.

I've heard that the handsome man saved them and raised them as adventurers. I'm sure there are a few others who have made it on their own.
..........
..........
..........
..........

　Oh, yeah....

(Sorry, Mr. Gelfonberg.)

　I looked at him with a bit of colored glasses on.

　Solstice, too, looks a bit bummed.

　And Mr. Colontude gives the girl a light pat on the head to comfort her.

　Poe only listens to the conversation in silence.

　Mr. Kilt, who was also once a slave, exhales heavily and

You'll be with me from now on, even if you don't want to be. Oh, come on. Let's get to know each other better.
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Well....
Hmmm.
... (laughs)

　We each nodded our heads.

　With us on board, the two dragon carriages headed for the Caligurian sacred mountain to meet the Goddess.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Three days later, the dragon car stopped at the top of a hill.

　We got off and looked down from the top of the hill at the vast forest that lay before us.

(Wide....)

　It's like the Great Aldrian Forest.

　A sea of greenery that stretched far into the distance.

　Beyond that, there was a broad mountain with a gentle slope at the base. The summit is hidden by clouds, so it's impossible to determine the exact height of the peak.

　Even so, it seemed to be over 2,000 or even 3,000 meters high.

''-that's the Caligure Peak.

　Frederica-san told me in a hard voice.

(That........)

The holy mountain where the temple of the goddess Moa is located, also known as the Mountain of All Dragons.

　If you look closely, you can see the 'black shadows' flying in the sky near the mountainside.

　They're not birds, since they can be seen from this distance.

(It's a flying dragon.)

　I'm sure there are many dragons lurking in the forest on the ground as well.

　................

　For a while, no one said anything.

　They just stared at the majestic Caligure Spiritual Peak in front of them.

　Eventually, Frederica-san let out a breath.

'It's getting dark today. We will camp here for the night tonight, and tomorrow morning we will begin our ascent to that mountain.

　He declared that to us.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　crispy

　The flames of the campfire popped and climbed up into the night sky.

　Surrounding it, we had a moment of peace that we probably wouldn't be able to enjoy for some time.

'It's all right, Fiddy,'
..........
I'll keep you safe and sound tomorrow. Please, please don't let that beautiful heart tremble.

　Mr. Gelfonberg smiles, his white teeth flashing.

　Frederica-san's face is limp as it is directed at her.

　Was it like this all the way through the three days we were traveling in the dragon car?　She was already tired, even though tomorrow was the day of the show.

　Rapt said in a dumbfounded manner.

'Just leave it at that, Guelph.
Hmm?
How can you afford it when you have a big day tomorrow?

　He laughed briskly.

'It's a man's natural fondness for talking to a beautiful woman.
..........
Besides, if a life-and-death battle awaits you tomorrow, don't you think it's natural to seek love like this?

　.............

(Yes...............)

　I feel like I'm being subtly convincing, and I'm not sure what to make of it.

　But Solstice next to me looked uncomfortable.

　Noticing this, Gelfonberg-san approached the girl gently.

'How old are you?'
...14.
Well. In another year, I'll be able to whisper love to you, too.

　crackling

　He sends a refreshing wink.

　Solstice turned blue with a 'Hii...', although he had goosebumps.

　He didn't seem to care about it, and he approached the further woman.

''How's your sister over there?''

(!)

　Lee, you're going to talk to Mr. Illtimina!

You're very beautiful. What do you think?　Wouldn't you like to have a one-night stand with me?

　His neat good looks are filled with a sweet smile, and his silver eyes shoot through Illtimina-san with a serious light.

(Ah, that.........!)

　I tried to talk to him, but

No, thank you.

　His usual clear voice refused.

'I already have a partner in mind, sir.

　Mr. Illtimina looks back at him and tells him so.

　Mr. Gelfonberg meets her gaze.

　Then he suddenly looks down and notices the ring fitted on Mr. Illtimina's left hand ring finger.

''I see, you already have a fiancée.

　I nodded.

　But the words.

"?　It's a good idea........?

　This time, Illtimina's beauty turned bright red.

　Oooh-ooh!

　Her gaze wandered around as if she was puzzled, and her gaze met mine, which was equally surprised.

''.........''
..........

　We both turned red and slumped over.　　

　Iltimina held the ring on her left hand carefully with her right hand.

　He laughed calmly.

'I'm not going to touch a woman with whom I have a crush, I hope you will be happy. Please, I hope you will be happy.
Yes, hi.

　Ms. Illtimina bows her head lightly, for some reason.

　Mr. Gelfonberg gently chuckles and moves his gaze to the side.

　Those silver eyes found Poe's.

''.........''
..........

　We look at each other, smiling, and his gaze is off.

(As expected, he seems to be out of the target age range...)

　It's sensible and a bit of a relief.

　And right next to the little girl is that high elf sister.

"How about you?

　And a fresh smile.

　Mr. Coloncude looked over at Mr. Gelfonberg sleepily.

''... what?''
Wouldn't you like to know what true love is?
...not interested.

　Her reply was bare, as if the love affair was not so distracting.

　.............

　Mr. Gelfonberg looked at such a High Elf-san with some interest, but.......

This is not a good time.

　He nodded.

　Then his gaze finally turned to the silver-haired beauty.

'How about you, Kilt Amandes?'
Yeah.

　Mr. Kilt looked at Mr. Gelfonberg with a bottle of liquor in one hand and a billion dollars in the other.

　He laughed.

'You're a strong, beautiful, proud, truly amazing woman.
"Hmm?
We're both Gold Mark adventurers. So, what do you say to a little nightcap?　How about we both have only one weapon, no clothes, and how about me and you bare our hearts to each other?

　The white teeth of his smile gleamed.

　Mr. Kilt cowered his shoulders.

　He let the contents of the liquor bottle drift lightly down his throat.

I don't want to.
Oh, why?
A strawman has decided not to trust the word of a harem man.

.................

　E, I wonder if Mr. El Dorado has influenced you?

　Mr. Gelfonberg looked back once at his three fellow women and

Okay.

　I laughed ruefully.

　Maybe it was because I pulled it off honestly, but Mr. Kilt laughed, too, and tipped his bottle of liquor.

　And.

But you know what?　When you say harem, isn't that the same for you, Marl, over there?

　He said curiously.

(Huh?)　Me?

　I get a scowl.

　Everyone's gaze also naturally gathers on me.

　Recto Alice mutters.

''Come to think of it, yes.

　Her eyes look at Illtimina, Kilt, and Solstice in turn.

　One man and three women.

　Wha, it's definitely the same as Gelfonberg-san's party composition........

''No, no, Marle's not just one of us, is he?

　Mr. Kilt, for some reason, stammered back.

'Wow, I can't believe I'm in this guy's harem!　Jeez, you have to be kidding me!

　Solstice also turns bright red and denies it.

　Geez.

　Ms. Illtimina held my little body against her own chest.

This is my Merle!　My!　It's Merle!

　He repeated the same words twice, as if he were angry.

　Munyun.

　A soft elasticity hits the back of my head.

　It smells good.　

　I'm kind of happy.

(No, no, I have to say it right too!)

Well you guys are not a harem, you're my precious family.

　I tell them clearly.

'The family ... of Merle.
Huh?
.....

　The three of them looked surprised.

　Then they look kind of very happy.

(???)

　...what?

　I'm a little confused by the three of them' strange reactions.

　But Mr. Gelfonberg nods broadly, as if he's convinced.

I see.

　I laughed.

'Family is important. You should take good care of them.
Yes, sir.

　I nodded loudly back.

　Raptor laughed.

"We're a really nice family.
Really.

　Recto Alice also put her hand over her mouth and smiled at her mature beauty.

　In the midst of all this, Frederica-san

A family I envy you.

　He let out a long, sad sigh.

　Crackle.

　The wood from the fire popped and many sparks of fire flew up into the night sky and then disappeared - and then it was gone.