Chapter 16 – Family Circle

Luna Maria and I had brought back the sacred orchid grass from the dragon cave and was greeted and blessed by all the gods.

“Well done.”

“Finally done.”

“Good job.”

“I did my best.”

When praised by each god, they gave us permission to leave. Luna Maria and I rejoiced and jumped on the spot but Miria stabbed out a nail.

“Yes, that’s it. I’ve given you permission to leave but I haven’t allowed any impure heterosexual exchange,” Miria broke between the two.

Of course, I didn’t do that but it’s embarrassing to say that face-to-face. I kept a little distance from Luna Maria.

It was Reus, the all-purpose god who proceeded with the story, perhaps because he was amazed at such an exchange. Reus, in the shape of a steller sea eagle opened his mouth. “Anyway, Will’s departure has been decided. He will leave ten days later.”

“Why not right away?” Luna Maria asked.

“There is no deep meaning. Will will reach adulthood ten days later. I thought it was just right.”

Besides. Reus overlooked the gods. “They need to be prepared. Let’s spoil them for another ten days.”

When Ronin heard those words he drank a lot and said “I’m sorry.”

Miria raised her hands with a smile like a flower.

While rubbing his long beard Vandal muttered “Do you want to make a mathematical formula that uses time efficiently?” Seeing the motivated figures I sighed. I thought this would be so cute that I couldn’t afford to sleep for the last ten days. However, I didn’t feel unpleasant.

I had a desire to see the outside world that didn’t fit the tight feeling within my chest. After all I felt lonely in saying goodbye to my family.

It wasn’t an eternal farewell but I was certain that I wouldn’t see them for quite some time. To dispel this loneliness, on these last ten days I will return to my childhood. I decided to give my best to my fathers and mother.

In this way, Luna Maria and I spent the last ten days in the dwelling of the gods and did something different on every single day.

Ronin, the sword god, practiced the sword as usual. “A man speaks on his back.”

Without saying anything extra. He spoke with the sword and practiced from morning till night. Seeing this scene Luna Maria spoke, “I understand the secret of Will’s strength. If you practice like this, you will become stronger.”

As she said this I scratched my cheeks with my fingers because she said something quite irrelevant. Actually, the training I was doing now was very lukewarm. The usual training was not like this. Ronin cut a lot out on his final conversation with me.

Even if I explained this to Luna Maria, she wouldn’t believe it but usually I dropped ten large trees from the top of the basin at the same time as I practiced cutting them. Compared to that, this was a walk in the park training but I thought that I wanted to talk with my sword for the last time with ease. I gained what I wanted out of the training session so I had a conversation with Ronin from morning till night.

I spent this time with the sword god but my mother Miria spoiled me. She made my favourite menu from morning to night, we took a bath together and she made me new clothes. When we took a bath togetger she washed my hair with a special shampoo.

“Your hair is shiny like a girls. You need to take good care of it during your trip.” she said as she stroked my hair. Miria always said this since she wanted to raise a girl so she could raise a beauty. She stabbed me with her nail telling me to not come back because it was too mushy.

“If you want a girl, you might want to take a bath with Luna Maria. Her hair is worth grooming.” Beautiful black hair comes to mind but Miria doesn’t seem to be sloppy.

“I suddenly came to kidnap my cute Will but it seems that the roots aren’t bad. *If I met him in a different way, I might have felt like a daughter.”* Her fighting spirit burns “I’m the only one who can take a bath with Will. I won’t lose to such a little girl,” she said stating that Will couldn’t do it yet.

“I can’t really enter here when I grow up.” When I said this, Miria hugged me.

“No,” she said.

I was reluctant after that, every corner of my body was washed and she put me to bed. Well, it was within the range that I could put up with thinking that it was only another ten days of this.

On days when I didn’t practice the sword with Ronin I stayed in Vandal’s study and read books with him. There was almost no conversation. Vandal was very focused when reading his books. I didn’t say anything for about three days, even afraid to go to the bathroom.

As a disciple, I had something similar and I was able to kill as much time as I could just by reading a book. I read novels that were popular in the city. Vandal was reading an undeciphered book of ancient magical civilisation. However, although time passed slowly, Vandal murmured.

“-By the way, there was a book you wanted to read.”

Speaking of which, he presented the book to me from the back of the bookshelf.

“Read it in the middle of your trip. It’s a good way to kill time.”

“Is that okay? You said I couldn’t read this.”

This book was written by a crazy wizard named Lynn Bazam. Called an evil book, it was said to lead those who read onto an evil pathway and was treated a s a forbidden scripture. It’s a book that I was sometimes warned to be careful on not read as I was too immature.

“Soon you will be an adult. You will be able to distinguish between good and evil and I want you to become an adult who swallows all of it together.”

“Good and evil combined together.”

“Then, you will be able to save many people not just good and evil. To do that, you learn a lot.”

“Okay. I will not waste the knowledge that father Vandal has given me.”

“You can waste it. Just make a choice. I ant you to have the ability to select what you really need from the infinite amount of information.” Vandal looked far away for a moment and then returned the book he was reading. I didn’t say anything more and reread my novel.

While I was spending time with the three gods like this, Luna Maria was attentive and left me alone. When she trained as a shrine maiden she went to the depths of the forest alone. When Luna Maria found a waterfall she cleansed her body there. Practicing being hit by the waterfall. Naked, she meets while praying to god.

“-I met the long sought hero. He is a wonderful person but when I saw him, I became confused.” When she saw how he lived in harmony with his family, she felt envious. Luna Maria lost her parents and family at an early age and had been practicing in the temple ever since. It had been years since she felt the warmth of family. Therefore it seemed unavoidable to envy the friendly Will but Luna Maria, who is serious about her roots was warned of that.

“Don’t be envious, when you’re envious that feeling turns into jealousy,” she told herself but no matter how much water she took her anxieties would not go away. When Luna Maria was in agony a small bulbul arrived and spoke to her.

“Mither Goddess shrine maiden. Don’t worry.”

“…Is that voice Reus sama?”

“That’s right. I’m talking in the form of a bulbul. You seem to be refraining yourself from seeing Will and the others.”

“… You can’t hide this from god? That’s right.”

“It looks like you’re envious of such a warm family.”

“Yes.”

“Envy is not a bad feeling. It must be turning into jealousy.”

“But I’m not confident. I feel like I’ll get caught up in ugly emotions someday.”

“Then jump into that happiness for yourself.”

“Jump in?”

“Yes. Just go inside to Will and the gods. They will be happy to welcome you.”

“Miria may bully you because of her own jealousy” Reus joked.

“But I and the others…”

She could hear Will’s voice from a distance. Apparently he had come worried about Lunar Maria who had rarely been seen.

“Will is a child as you can see. At the same time he cherishes the gods as parents, he also considers the mountain animals to be an important companion. Everything he loves is his family. It doesn’t bother him if a blind shrine maiden joins in. No, he’ll treat you better than anyone else.” the bulbul left after its prophecy but Luna Maria argued.

“Is that so? Then why isn’t Will coming closer?” When he heard sound, Will stopped at a distance several tens of meters away. If it was either family or friends, he wanted to get closer to them. However, it was Luna Maria was misunderstanding his intentions.

“Will is stuck because you’re naked. A girl with a beautiful naked body, a boy can’t easily see someone’s daughter’s nakedness,” Reus said before taking off. His words reminded her that she was naked. There were only women within the temple and she was able expose skin without any worries.

However, she remembered that she should not expose her skin in front of the opposite sex.

“I’ve never felt inconvenienced by being blind but I have to be careful from now on,” Luna Maria wiped her body with a towel and put on her clothes, heading for Will. After this, there was a cake that Goddess Miria baked with a grand feat that Will invited everyone to eat together. Ronin drank while Miria but the cake. Vandal read books while eating. Will happily looked at them with a smile.

Luna Maria remembered the feeling of fun for the first time in a while.

*I honestly have no idea what she is trying to say here… any insight is welcome.

Chapter 15 – Miria’s Tactics

We returned safely from the dragon’s cave. We tried to return to the god’s dwelling but was stopped on the way. I came across an acquaintance in the woods of Table Mountain.

His name is Max and he was a good stag. Although he was the leader of the deer, he had a troubled look on his face.

I called out as he was an important friend of mine. “What’s wrong Max? Making such a sad face.”

“oh, Will? Actually…” Max spoke with a dark look.

“My daughter has become sick. She seemed to have fallen ill even though she just got married this spring.”

“That’s hard. I will talk to mother Miria later to make a potion.”

“Thank you for that but things have changed abruptly. I can’t say anything else so I’m going to look for it now.”

By the way, what’s the name of the herb?”

“It’s sacred orchid grass.”

The moment I heard the name I looked up to heaven. I was amazed at how mother Miria was working. When Luna Maria saw the situation she spoke.

“Will, can you talk to animals?”

“Oh yeah, Luna Maria doesn’t understand animal language.”

“Yes.”

I explained what happened to Luna Maria and she nodded. She was just as surprised as I was.

“Well, this is tough, Miria is a good tactician.”

“That’s right. I’m sure she knew this and sent us to the dragon cave. Maybe it was mother Miria who taught Max the name of the herb.”

“When it comes to that, it’s doubtful that only sacred orchid grass can fix the deer’s daughter.”

“Mother Miria is a potion making genius. Maybe other herbs can cure her.”

“Will is wondering whether to hand over the sacred orchid grass here?”

“Maybe.”

“If so, let’s hand over the herbs as they are. I’m sure they are testing the kindness of Will’s heart. They’ll forgive us if we go home empty handed.”

“I don’t think that’s possible. Mother Miria is strict about this and using such a trick would make us fail the test.”

“… sure. Then, will you return without giving it?”

“….”

I looked at the stag Max. His eyes were full of sorrow. It was hard to ignore a friend who looked like this. I took out the sacred orchid grass that I had placed in my backpack. I squeezed it but was at a loss until the very end. Whether or not to pass this test. When I got lost for a few seconds, I found that the sacred orchid grass…

At that time, at the dwelling of the gods. The healing goddess Miria was happily cleaning Will’s room. Seeing a figure, Ronin the sword god asked.

“Aren’t you being a bit overprotective cleaning my son’s room?”

“What are you talking about? Will is only a 14 year old child.”

“14 years and 12 months old, he’ll be an adult in 10 days.”

“If so, I have to spoil him for another 10 days.” Miria hung her duster and Ronin sighed.

“My son hides under his bed what he doesn’t want his parents to see.”

“Don’t let my Will be like you. Will isn’t a pervert.”

“Well, there are no bookstores on this mountain,” with a bitter smile Ronin turned the topic around. “By the way, I can finally say that it’s almost noon.”

“Can you say that?”

“Will will overcome the trials but he is not in a hurry. If he overcomes the trials, he will go down the mountain.”

“Oh, that’s okay, Will will fail the test.”

“Don’t lick the kid. He can easily get rid of a dragon.”

“Well, if it’s a low ranking dragon but if you can beat the low dragon, you can’t beat the time. That is for any hero.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s the same meaning. On the way back from the cave, I placed a deer that needed sacred orchid grass and because Will is so gentle I’m sure that he will give the sacred orchid grass that he collected to the deer.”

“… what a cunning thing to do.”

“I can do whatever I want because he is my cute Will.”

“Well, I know how you feel… but what if Will returns to get the sacred orchid grass? Maybe it’s also on the 10th floor.”

“Yes but it takes hours to get back to the dragon cave from the forest where he will have met the deer and even hours to reach the 10th floor, it’s impossible.”

“Do you believe this is so?” It was Vandal, the god of magic who argued. He approached with a laugh.

“What’s with that laugh?”

“No, I’m surprised that you are underestimating Will’s ability. Will should be able to use the magic of “flying” and return to the dragon’s cave in just 10 minutes.”

“… maybe but it’s impossible to reach the 10th floor because the 10th floor is the dragon’s nest and there are a number of lesser dragons there.”

“It seems that there are a wide variety of red, blue and green dragons living there but Will may cut through them and collect the sacred orchid grass.”

“He can’t.”

“If so, do you want to bet?”

“Okay. What are we betting on?”

“okay. The last person Will hugs when he leaves.”

“That’s okay – I want to, but let’s not bet.”

“Are you feeling afraid?”

“That’s right. I mean, the result is already known,” Miria projected the image in the mirror within Will’s room. The figure of Will running with a smile was reflected there. He had the sacred orchid grass within his hands.

The location changed to the 10th floor of the Dragon cave. There were a number of dragons within the picture, all of them had their body and wings injured. In other words, Will had cut through the 10th floor alone and collected the sacred orchid grass.

Ronin the sword god saw this and murmured. “He’s a kid with no bottom, How strong will he become?”

“Men, if you don’t meet for three days let’s take a look. If Will departs I can’t imagine what kind of hero he will be when he comes back.”

Vandal, the god of magic, stared at Miria, the goddes of healing but she moodily hummed “…hmm.”

But Will seemed to admit that he had overcome the challenges.

“I admit I’m going on a trip but it’s just a little bit. I’ll be back on this mountain in half a year and I’ll never let it go.”

Apparently Miria admitted her defeat and allowed him to leave. Will’s departure was decided by the approval of the strongest opposition to their departure but after that, he argued over how to spend his last time as an adult.

Chapter 14 – Blue Dragon

I got up the next morning. Luna Maria was already making breakfast which she had said she would do last night. I started into the meal, she made a fine stir-fried chicken egg and bacon. The bread was hard-baked bread for long trips. It was gorgeous and delicious with the rest of last night’s soup but when I finished eating Luna Maria started changing her clothes without worrying about my wandering eyes.

I turned my back on her in a hurry. “Don’t strip so suddenly.”

“Okay. I will ask permission to take them off next time.”

“Rather, care about a man’s eyes.”

“There is nothing wrong with my skin, let alone this one dedicated to Will. There is no reason to be embarrassed to see it,” she replied with a neat face.

“I have one!” When I said that, I promised to refrain from doing so in the future.

“I understand.”

But how much did she understand?

Since she had been blind since she was a child, she seemed to be indifferent to the eyes of others. Also, it seemed that the place where she lived was with a group of shrine maidens running it.

In a sense, it may be as open as mother Miria.

I thought this, but I didn’t say it aloud. I packed up my luggage and headed for the dragon’s cave.

The dragon’s cave was just around the corner. The dragon’s cave is on the northern slope of Table Mountain but it wasn’t too difficult to get close to the cave.

“The problem is getting inside, right?”

“Are you in the middle?”

“Yup.”

“The cave is on the slope but it seems easy to get in via a rope.”

“No, it’s easy to get in but what kind of guy is inside?”

“Isn’t there a dragon?”

“Basically, that’s right but the dragons here will soon charge their place of residence.”

“Could I ask the reason?”

“Maybe it’s hard to live because there are few large foods,” I stated my expectations, the shrine maiden nodded.

“Then it’s dangerous not to know what kind of dragon lives there.”

“Yeah, it’s also in the Touhou military law book that Vandal taught me. If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you’re in danger of a hundred battles but you don’t know the enemy.”

“I don’t think I have time to take a closer look.” I looked up at the sun. I had to get back by noon.

“Well, it can’t be helped if you’re worried. Let’s get inside quickly,” she said at the same time, stating her opinion to go inside.

I lower the rope and got off first but as a gentleman, I didn’t look up. After me, Luna Maria came down with “yeah, yeah,” but as soon as she got off, she went inside the cave.

The dragon cave was bigger than I had expected. I thought that even an old dragon could have used this as a residence if it was this size. We went into the cave cautiously but fortunately we didn’t come across any monsters along the way.

“It’s empty,” was Luna Maria’s words but I disagreed. It is also possible to speculate that the owner of this hole is dangerous because there are no monsters. Even more fortunately, when I came to the third level we hadn’t come across anything. There was no dragon, the master of the cave to be seen.

“Are you up for a meal?”

“Maybe.”

It’s lucky because our purpose is get some herbs,” when Luna Maria said this, we arrived at the third level. We found a white glowing flower on its edge.

“There it is! That’s the sacred orchid grass!”

We quickly approach it and pick it. The roots of Holy orchid grass were shallow and could be easily picked. This mission was complete. As I sighed with relief, I noticed that the flow of the wind had changed.

“…something is coming!”

At that moment, a dragon with blue skin came out with a roar.

“That’s a blue dragon!” Luna Maria shouted.

Blue dragon is another name for sky dragon and is a general term for dragons that run around in the sky. There are many different sizes but this individual was reasonably large. It was about the same size as the red dragon we defeated the other day. To say it was the same size meant it was just as powerful. When I stood in front of Luna Maria I cast a spell and created a barrier.

My judgement was rewarded correctly. As soon as I made the barrier, the dragon exhaled a powerful flame. The flowers around it quickly turned into ashes. If I hadn’t created a barrier, we would have been like that too.

“Thank you Will, you’ve save my life.”

“Keep your words until we have beaten him or run away.”

“That’s right. However, Will-sama, who defeated the red dragon the other day by a margin. I don’t think you will lose.”

“Even if you expect a matchless every time,” but there was no option but to fight.

I didn’t take my life but I wanted to give him a blow to escape from his nest. When I reached for the dagger on my waist, I pulled it out and approached the dragon. It was unlikely to challenge a giant like a dragon but I usually jumped into peoples blind spots who were many times stronger than dragons. There was nothing scarier than jumping into Ronin’s blind side. With that feeling in mind, I jumped onto the dragon’s bosom, cutting through the scales of the dragon with the silver dagger. The dagger passed through as if it had torn through paper.

As expected, it was made of Mithril. If you confidently slash at it, the dragon will fight back with anger. He swung his huge tail and tried to kill me. But when he fended off the blow, he put magical power into the holy sword and added another slash. The straight sword flash went straight through the tail, eating straight through its flesh. Then the tail was cut off from the dragon’s body. I succeeded in destroying that part.

The tail released from the dragon’s body swells. It was like a lizard’s tail. However, what was different from lizards was the pain when the tail was amputated. The blue dragon made a painful roar. When I took it with my whole body, I screamed with spirit of a fissure.

“Blue Dragon! Leave this cave! Disappear from this mountain! Then I won’t take your life!” I didn’t know if my words were understood but the dragon probably realised the stupidity of fighting me. It turned its back on me and took off toward the entrance. It disappeared to the other side of the sky.

“… Did we win?” I murmured as the dragon disappeared but it was Luna Maria’s next words that convinced me of victory.

She jumped on the spot and approached me. Embracing me powerfully she said “It’s Will-sama. You defeated the blue dragon right after the red dragon. You are a dragon slayer.”

“I just got rid of it.” she shook her head when he told her only the truth.

“It’s great to be humble. Now, brave man, let’s take this herb back to god’s home and bless our departure.”

Luna Maria seemed unbearable because she wanted to travel as soon as possible.

Sure, it would have passed the promised noon if we were too slow so we withdrew quickly but on the way back we were caught up in something more annoying than a dragon. It was a trap prepared by the goddess Miria.

Chapter 13 – 43 Wolves

Aiming for the dragon cave at a forced march. We set a fire before we could see the cave, set up camp and spent the night.

In the morning, we would jump into the dragon cave since the dragon cultivates its spirit at night.

“The dragon is nocturnal. If we jump in now, we would be at a disadvantage. I want to take a rest and challenge it in perfect physical condition.” When I said this, I filled the pot I was holding with water. I cut the salted bacon, put it in and removed the dashi stock. Placing the vegetables I brought from home into the pot. When it stewed, it smelled good.

“Will is good at cooking.” Luna Maria complimented me.

“I don’t think so.”

“You’re good. You’re good at cutting the bacon and vegetables. It sounds so rhythmic. This is proof that you’re used to it.”

“In the mountains, I cook on duty. In the past, my mother and father cooked in order but nowadays I’m also a part of the rotation. I’m better than Mother Miria. Only in kitchen knives.”

“Goddess Miria. I was surprised when she first asked us to kiss.”

“Maybe it was my mother’s joke.” I looked at Luna Maria’s lips, wondering what would have happened if she had answered immediately and I kissed her. Her lips painted in cherry blossoms, looked very soft. I felt my cheeks dye red. I was fortunate that she had no light. I tried to count prime numbers to keep calm.

“…By the way, does Luna Maria cook?”

“Yes, the shrine maiden has to do everything herself.”

“Wouldn’t you cut your finger with a kitchen knife?”

“I wouldn’t because I’m cautious because I can’t see.”

“That’s good. Then, if we are travelling, Luna Maria can make it too.”

“I don’t know if it will fit your taste. I forgot because Will-sama casually made it but I basically prepare meals.”

“Eh? That’s bad. Let’s put it on duty.”

“I’m Will’s servant. My job is to do things around me. From now on, use me like a maid.” She put bacon and vegetable soup on a wooden plate and gave it to me. It looked very dexterous and she didn’t look blind at all.

“-you really can’t see, right?” I asked her when I received the soup.

“Yes.” She took off her mask. Under the mask, she had a very neat appearance. Her eyes appeared to be normal but when she opened her eyelids, he noticed that her eyes were cloudy and out of focus.

“When I was young, I lost the light to serve the Earth mother goddess. I drank a medicine to make myself blind.”

“Why did you do that?”

“To serve the Earth mother goddess.”

“Have you been a shrine maiden since you were born?”

She shook her head. “No, I was born on a poor farm. I was the youngest daughter of five siblings but my parents died of an epidemic so I was taken over to the temple and became what I am now.”

“Then, isn’t this half compulsory?”

“That’s not the case. It’s my destiny. The day before I became a shrine maiden, I heard the voice of god.”

“Voice of god?”

“Yes. I was told that I would be a shrine maiden and ten years later I would meet a brave man who should give his life. All that oracle said has come true,” Luna Maria said with a smile.

There was no feeling of sadness. For her, fulfilling her mission as a shrine maiden may sound as synonymous as breathing. As I thought this, I didn’t say anything further.

She flattened the soup she gave me, then brushed her teeth with a wooden toothbrush and wrapped it in a blanket. The moment she slept, she said “The moment I heard God’s prophecy. The moment I felt God’s sigh. I was very happy – I am still. It is very comfortable to sleep in front of a bonfire with a brave man. I feel as if I am protected.” She sighed as she said so.

Is it because I’m used to adventures that I couldn’t sleep in front of a person I met for the first time? On the other hand, I was confused by the situation that there was a woman next to me. I didn’t feel anything when Miria and others came into my bed naked but I couldn’t sleep when I thought of Luna Maria next to me. When I looked away from Luna Maria’s sleeping form, I counted the number of wolves.

Sleepiness came to me with the 43rd wolf but after that, I counted nearly 100 more to sleep. Because the 44th wolf was a male and female wold named Schwartz and Weiss. They were very close to each other in the form of a married couple. Once again conscious of Luna Maria, I managed to shake the thought of her away and forced myself to sleep.

Chapter 12 – Sacred Orchid

As soon as we finished the second trial, we eagerly asked for the third trial. However, what the Goddess of Healing had prepared for the trial was ridiculous.

When we asked what the ordeal would be she said.

“You two, I want you to kiss in front of me.”

“……”

“…..”

Luna Maria and I were silent but I reminded myself of the situation.

“…Right now, I feel like I heard that she said we should kiss.”

“You aren’t mistaken, she said kiss.”

“It seems that Luna Maria and I have refused to have that kind of relationship.”

“Of course, even now you refuse. Ah, little girl, even if I was Will and kissed, I won’t forgive my wife if I pretended to kiss.” Miria pointed her finger.

Luna Maria had an indescribable face.

“Well, it’s true that these two both met to go on a journey. Since it is Will’s first girlfriend, let’s forgive him for one kiss. It’s true that I’m disgusted but if you’re in the dark anyway, I want his first kiss to be in front of me. No, I want to save it as a picture with the magic “copy”.” Miria made the shape of a copier with her hands which was full of kissing scenes.

It seemed that if Will took a romantic shot they would accept him in fulfilling the trial but of course he refused.

“No matter how much mother has the right to try this, Luna Maria refuses.”

“Oh, I don’t want to go to the outside world.”

“I want to go but the trial is useless.”

Luna Maria is also disgusted right? Will thought.

“I don’t mind… it would be easy if I could do the test…” she asked and checked.

Seeing that figure, Miria grinned.

Will couldn’t. He thought that he would be able to kiss her like this but he would propose.

“Mother Miria wants to see the bond between me and Luna Maria, right? You want to find out if we can continue travelling together right?”

“Well, physically yes.”

“If that’s the case, prepare a proper trial. I’ll be able to measure whether you two can cooperate in the future.”

“Muu, just in theory.” It seemed that Miria also had a listening ear.

I wondered if it would be a good idea to leave with just a kiss. It seemed that I was definitely against it but it was out of the question that Luna Maria was unenthusiastic about it.

When our reluctance seemed obvious, it was Miria who looking like an evil spirit decided to make another test.

She crossed her arms and closed her eyes for a while, beginning to think. After thinking for a while, Miria said. “Okay, then we’re gonna get herbs together.”

“Medicinal herbs?”

“That’s right. Actually, my makeup isn’t sticking well these days. My skin is becoming rough because I stayed up all night. So I want you to get good herbs used on the skin.”

“Then it would be cheap but isn’t this too easy?”

“That’s not the case. It’s the dragon’s cave that you will venture into.”

“Dragon’s cave!” I shout but it seemed that the word made me realise Luna Maria was also ominous.

“Is the dragon’s cabe the cave where the dragon lives?”

“That’s right. It’s north of Table Mountain but it’s dangerous so forest animals do not go near it.”

“You’re picking up herbs in that place, right?”

“And for my mother’s beauty.” I sigh but I wasn’t going to decline.

If you can adventure in that cave together, you will be recognised to work in the outside world.

“Okay. I’m going to go pick up the herbs but are there any precautions?”

“Sacred orchid grass is a precious flower that doesn’t bloom much at this time. Don’t let the dragon’s breath burn it.”

“Do you understand?”

“There are up to 10 levels within the dragon’s cave but on only the 3rd and 10th level will you find it in bloom.”

“I see, what else do we need to be aware of?”

“The deadline is until noon tomorrow.”

I looked up at the sky. It was already evening.

“Okay, then we will get going now.”

I turned my back on Miria but Miria asked if I had a handkerchiefs or left something behind. It sounded like I was a child again but as usual, I told her I had everything and to not worry. Luna Maria and I then headed north together.

We walked at a considerable speed. As soon as we left the dwelling of the gods, we headed straight for the dragon’s cave. When we were gone, the sword god Ronin spoke to the healing goddess Miria.

“So Miria, you are willing to let Will leave.”

“What is that? What do you mean?”

“No, because the trials you prepared will be an easy win.”

“I thought Will would refuse the kiss. That thief cat seemed enthusiastic about it.”

“No, it’s the dragon’s cave that would be an easy win for Wil.”

“Yeah. Will would be easy to get through it safe and fast.”

“If so, it’s almost like having done the trials.”

“My trial is to bring the Holy Orchid grass to me.”

“If you get it, they’ll be back soon.”

“I wonder, ufufufu.” Miria smiled suspiciously. It seemed that Will was doing something wrong. This goddess has always been good at intrigue. and she was the one who opposed the trip in the first place.

Miria has been fond of Will since he was a child and most of all, she wanted to have Will at hand.

There were some things that couldn’t be helped because of female parents but Will seemed to be cute and unavoidable. In that respect, Ronin and Vandal had a common understanding that the boy would one day go on a journey.

However, Ronin was supporting Miria. The goddess didn’t fit very well but this time around, he was looking forward to her wisdom. The boy will leave someday but he thought that it was still too early for Will and the later the time, the better.

For the next few years he wanted to swing his sword together and look at the stars while soaking in a rock bath. That was Ronin’s true feelings, sung by a sword god.

Sorry it took so long for me to post something up. I will try to become a regular poster again!
– Kiko

Chapter 11 – Ronin’s Trial

We had overcome the trial from the magical god Vandal.

Luna Maria and Will rejoiced, high-fiving each other.

Luna Maria praised Will’s wit to the fullest extent.

“No way, I had never dreamed of carrying water as ice. Maybe Will is a hero of wisdom.”

“A hero of wisdom?”

“Yes, there are many kinds of heroes, and they have two names depending on their characteristics. If you are good at swords, you are a sword hero, if you are good at protecting people, you are a shield hero.”

“Hmm, is that so. However I will say it again, I’m not a hero. I don’t have the sign of a hero.”

When I answered Maria it was Ronin who spoke.

“Yes, my Will has no sign. In the past, we counted the number of moles on his body, but there was no sign.”

“… when did you do that?”

Without making eye contact with his mother Milia, he answered that he was an infant.

“It wasn’t counting, it was just counted unilaterally.”

“Ah, is that so.”

“There is no sign on Will, but Will is the strongest man even without a sign. A brave man can be defeated by Will with only one hand. I trained him that much.” Ronin intervened, sticking his tongue out with a playful expression.

After that, Ronin announced a second trial.

“The second trial is from me, the sword god Ronin.”

Luna Maria and I swallowed nervously.

Even the first trial was pretty hard.

It could be expected that the challenge presented by the martial arts club Ronin will be several steps higher than Vandal.

Ronin made this big announcement to us as he watched us swallow nervously.

The test that Ronin spoke aloud was a test that was very Ronin-like.

“Okay, we’ll have you fight monsters with your sword.”

“Monsters with a sword …. it’s a simple test.”

“I don’t like this Ronin is too messy.”

“I can hear you,” Ronin said stopping.

“I will have you fight a training golem that Vandal creates. You can only use a sword. Attack magic and strengthening magic are prohibited,” he continued.

It was Milia who spoke from the side.

“But isn’t that easy? Will can kill a level 5 golem with bare hands.”

“Yes, so Will shouldn’t fight this time.”

“Eh? Should I not fight?”

“Yeah. This is a test to see how you two are prepared and compatible. Will guides the lady and destroys the golem.”

“But Luna Maria seems to have never held a sword before.”

Luna Maria takes out the short sword from her cloak.

“The Earth Mother God warns against holding a knife, but blind priestesses are allowed to carry weapons for traveling. I have trained since childhood.”

“If that’s the case, it’ll be manageable,” says Ronin.

“Yes. This trial is convincing. Will is strong but I am a servant who claims to protect Will. If this servant is too weak, I will promise not talk back about this. Please let me do this trial.”

“Good reply, princess. So should I use a level 2 golem?”

“No problem. Will you have beaten this one, right?”

“Yes. I’m sure I was already at level 2 when I was 5 years old.”

“If that’s so, it’s affordable.”

Luna Maria then pulls her sword out of the sheath and cuts the sky. Seems to be accustomed to using her shoulders.

I want to give her some advice but I don’t have any words.

I have never given advice to anyone before.

Also, since level 2 golems were treated as small fish from the time I was little, I didn’t know the point in struggling with this.

(Well, this is also a service issue. Maybe Luna Maria will defeat it in no time.)

With that in mind, I decided to watch the game in a relaxed manner but it something unforeseen developed when the match started.

Luna Maria was pushed back.

At first, I thought her blindness was a handicap but it seemed different.

Instead of being blind, she is as audible as a human being. Hearing the sound of the golems, avoiding the enemy’s attacks accurately and punching inside the enemy’s gap.

She started attacking elegantly as if she were dancing Butoh*.

However, although she was attacking very sporadically, the golem was the dominant one.

Although she was a master class in terms of ability, Luna Maria’s attack could not pass through it at all.

Although she accurately hit the sword into the joints of the golem, the golem did not seem to be hurt.

“Maybe this isn’t Level 2?”

He looked at Vandal, and slowly shook his head.

“It’s a level 2 mad golem.–However, this is a Will specification.”

“Will specification?”

“You destroyed the golem from an early age, so I made the golem stronger so that I could train you. For me, it is a level 2 golem. I took it to the Wizard Society and it was deemed to be at least a level 10 Golem. “

What is that! ? This guy.

“………”

I am terrified and do not speak but I could not say much loudly because I was the one who gave birth to this specification.

“And that girl’s short sword has sacred magic attached to it. It worked well against undead and evil beings but it doesn’t seem to be particularly effective against magical creatures.”

“That’s right. Then …”

He started cast magic, but was stopped by Ronin.

“Oops, don’t cast magic. You only have to use your mouth. Let’s make that girl win with just instructions.”

“Only instructions …”

Luna Maria is clearly inferior and is being cornered by the wall.

It was clear that the weakness was also due to lack of offensive power so it seemed that there was no way to go except increasing her offensive power.

The best way to do this is to increase the attack power of your sword with the added magic but this time, in this test, magic is prohibited.

I had to think of something else, but I couldn’t come up with one.

But if I didn’t think of one, Luna Maria would lose.

We will be defeated.

Then I couldn’t go to the outside world.

When I thought this, I observed Luna Maria and Golem.

I remembered the characteristics of golems that Vandal had taught me.

“A golem is a magical creature made from kneading mud. Golems made of iron are difficult to destroy but if you come across such troubles, you can hit the Golem’s weak point. The weak point of a Golem is written somewhere on its body. If you erase that one character, the command will switch to self-destruction and it will die immediately. That’s the type of creature a Golem is.  “

I remembered learning such a thing.

After that, whether it was an iron Golem or a mithril Golem, it could be destroyed. I could manage by hitting the weak points so I had forgoten this but this knowledge was not wasted.

When the Golem is stripped naked with the magic of “analysis” I could find the place where the letters were written.

On Mad Golems the magic letters were on the back.

“Luna Maria! Erase the letters and initials on his back. Then he will fall!”

Luna Maria, who heard his words, nodded lightly. She fended off the enemy’s blow and flew into the air.

As light as a street performer, she jumped onto the back of the Mad Golem and rubbed her finger to find the part where the letters were written.

Even being blind, Luna Maria finished looking for the character’s position with a sense of touch that was more sensitive than that of an average person and as I had told her, she scraped off the character.

The command system of the Golem whose initials had been cut by the short sword was destroyed. The body too.

The Golem’s body, which was hard like steel, became brittle as if it had become an earthenware object and it could no longer support its own weight.

When the Golem collapsed as it was, it returned to its original block of soil.

In other words, Luna Maria had won.

She bounced lightly on the spot, listened for my position and jumped onto my chest.

“As expected of Will! he’s like a genius soldier!”

She is a little older than me and was a little taller, so when she hugged me, her chest just filled my face.

Moreover, because of her age, it was too rich to breathe.

Mother Milia often did the same thing but when Luna Maria did the same, her face turned bright red.

The feeling of being happy and the feeling of being ashamed were born at the same time.

Ronin explained that it was puberty but anyway, we overcame Ronin’s test.

Ronin did well! He Struck us on the back.

However, he also said that he was going to be the uncle.

“I forgive the two trips but I don’t want to be a grandpa yet. I’m contraceptive.”

He laughed lively.

Luna Maria had a bright red face but I was also the same.

Vandal sighed, “Oh no, no man without delicacy,” but he thought he was also guilty because he was laughing too.

*Butoh is a type of Japanese dance

Sorry I took so long to send out a chapter! Lot’s of things have happened lately but I hope you enjoyed it!

Chapter 10 – Will’s Secret Strategy

Meanwhile, on the summit at the time.

Vandal sat silent, deep in thought while wearing his magician’s hat.

The hourglass silently fell but Ronin looked upon it sarcastically.

“Nevertheless, Vandal the magician is merciless. Even though it is a test, it’s such a demanding one.”

“Yeah, I don’t have the heart.” For once Miria agreed. “I feel sorry for Will on such an impossible condition. When he comes back, I’ll have to wrap him in my breasts and make him a good boy.”

“… Isn’t that going to make my Will have a mother *complex?”

“That’s right.” Miria responded immediately without sounding haughty.

Vandal gave out a nasal laugh.

“What’s wrong?”

“Yah, you don’t seem to believe in Will.”

“That’s not true.”

“Then why you worry so? Will will overcome this challenge brilliantly.”

“Will alone. He’ll come back in less than an hour if he has the physical and balance abilities but if the girl names Luna maria is with him, it’s a different story.”

“Even if they piggyback, it will shake.”

“Do you think Will can’t come back?”

“Unfortunately.” Vandal laughed loudly at them.

“Fofofofo, After all they don’t have eyes to see.”

“You old man, preparing such a difficult trial.”

“It’s a difficult trial to do but I thought that Will could solve it, so I prepared it. In fact, it will be solved.” Vandal said with his cane pointed far away.

Looking past the tip of the cane, they saw Will and Luna maria sprinting.

“Oh, that’s cute Will!”

hmm, they are running at that speed? Aside form Will, is princess Luna maria spilling water?”

However, there was no sign of water spillage from this distance.

“Isn’t it all spilled?” Miria doubts this possibility, but it never happens.

They came in their shoulders moving each reath, they put a cup in front of the desk prepared by Vandal.

There was a lot of water poured in there – it wasn’t there!?

What was in the cup was an object that was not water.

“This is ice?” Miria shouts when she realises this. Will nods.

“There was a risk of spilling the liquid, so I magically made it ice.”

“sure, you can’t spill ice, is the water there?”

Miria looked at the frightening Vandal but the expression of the old man was the same as usual. His tone as well.

He had a soft tone, “of course, yes,” he declared.

“It is there?” Ronin was surprised. Vandal explains.

“It’s supposed to be. I said you can bring water in a cup and carry it. I didn’t say that the water shouldn’t be ice. Liquid when going out, when returned to me it is liquid but if it doesn’t lose a drop, there is no problem.”

Will put the cup on the ground and created a small flame around it. It began to thaw.

The ice turned into water in just a few minutes. When given to Vandal, Vandal spoke.

“It’s a nice white hot spring. I know this temperature. As expected of my child Will.”

With a smile, Vandal patted Will on the head saying “It’s a pass.”

Will happily accepted the hand of the old man.

In his own way, Will surpassed the test of the magic god. Miria and ronin seemed worried but Vandal wasn’t worried at all.

He believed that Will would definitely solve it with his wisdom. In a sense, this was a service issue.

Needless to say, it was hard for Vandal to leave Will but he also wanted Will to study as much as he could. He wanted him to jump out and learn in this wide world.

Although he can learn a lot of things under his own control, it would be very valuable to actually go out and learn by himself.

Vandal knew that much as someone who lived on a mountain surrounded by books.

He wanted Will, his best son and strongest disciple, to be bigger than himself.

That was Vandal’s true feelings.

 

Happy mother’s day for tomorrow everyone!

*Mazacon = mother complex, refers to the condition in where a child is obsessed with their mother and she is still in control when they grow up.

Chapter 9 – Vandal’s Trial

“A blind shrine maiden serving the earth mother god, why are you hitting on my Will?” Ronin said.

“That is not the case. She dedicates herself to her god.”

“But, maybe she just wants to kiss.”

The word “Kiss” turns her face bright red but she spoke openly. “I am dedicated to my god and the hero. If Will wants, I will give him a kiss or a nightly fairy tale.”

“Oh! I think I can have grandchildren early.” Ronin grinned stroking his stubble.

Somehow, looking at Vandal he had a similar look.

“When it comes to Will’s age, it’s natural to be interested in reproduction. I was thinking of summoning even a succubus to teach the mystery of the female body but if there is someone dedicated to him, I won’t need to. ”

“……”

At this last request all eyes were on Miria but she seemed to be my only ally. She hugged me to her plump chest.

“If you teach my Will such shameful things, you guys will find your nails stripped.” She threatened Ronin and Vandal.

Although the final war of the gods seemed likely to break out, the universal god Reus embarked on mediation.

“Make an allowance for this, Ronin, Vandal. Also you, blind shrine maiden. Do not taunt the gods too much.”

“I had no intention of doing so but I apologise for the inconvenience.” Luna maria bowed deeply. She was an obedient woman.

Reus asked Luna maria to raise her head.

“So, what do you think lord Reus? I think Will should travel and see more of the world. ”

“I’ve talked with Will many times about this. I will follow Will’s choice.”

“Then–”

After being given permission to depart. The other three gods interrupted Luna maria’s next words.

“Wait a second shrine maiden. Even if Reus gives you permission doesn’t mean we three will be the same.”

“Sword god…”

“The healing goddess and magic god is here too. Will is our cute son. There has been word that our cute child will travel but we hate these words.”

“But, Will wants to see the outside world.”

“My heart tells me to not show him. It is a malicious world.”

“Beautiful seeds of goodwill sprouts among them.”

“You may see good but it may be a hidden evil. There is a lot of temptation in the lower world.”

“I will prevent this.”

“I see, can you protect yourself? If you can solve the trials the three of us give you, we will allow Will to depart.”

“A set of trials? ”

“Aah, each of us poses a challenge and you two need to solve them.”

“Me and Will…”

Luna maria mumbled to herself “our first collaboration,” but nodded loudly when the surrounding people ignored it.

“Okay, I’ll play your game.”

“Is this okay? If I lose, I will never let Will approach me again.”

“That I was just a shrine maiden that could see the vision.”

“Vision?”

“I had a vision of travelling the world with Will. I saw it with an oracle yesterday. We will surely overcome this trial and travel together.”

“I see, you have a lot of confidence.”

Ronin stared at Luna maria as if he valued her confidence, then set his eyes upon the magical god Vandal.

“Oi, old man, your first. Do the clever harassment that you’ve been given after living such a long life.”

You little shit, respect your elders. …hmm, well, I can’t let cute Will into the outside world, I’ll do my best.”

As usual, Vandal prepared the first trial.

When Vandal prepared two cups, he summoned water from his fingertips and poured them into the cups.

“What is this?”

When Luna Maria asked, Vandal naturally answered, “it’s water.”

“It’s just…water.”

“Looks like it.” I answered. However, I didn’t think that Vandal just prepared water, we may have to do something with that water.

As I thought so, Vandal gave us a difficult task.

“Don’t spill a drop of this water and go down to the Cedar tree at the foot of this mountain then come back. let’s see, you have one hour.”

“Isn’t that time too short?”

“It would normally take you 30 minutes.”

“Yes but Luna Maria is here today…” I lightly looked at the blind shrine maiden, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed.

“Will, you have always developed your concentration like this. It’s okay. I’m doing similar training. I’m sure you’ll be back at the same time.”

I couldn’t say anything more than that, I was determined to burn through this persona. It was part of our agreement to be tested.

Because it is difficult to achieve, I couldn’t ask for something easier. When I thought this, I silently grabbed the cup and began toward the foot of the mountain. After a short delay, Luna maria followed suit but again her movements were a little tedious.

I walked leisurely without spilling a drop of water. Since I was walking with a better posture than usual I seemed to look good when I was on edge. The animals on the mountain praised me, “you can do it Will.”

Each time I said thank you with a smile but when my face was laughing my heart was not. Because at this speed we wouldn’t make it.

It looked like we were walking quite fast but that was what ordinary people would see. Luna maria and the others were teasing lightly saying they had set a speed record when they walked with the cup but to me, this was unsatisfactory.

Usually I would move at about three times this speed or almost to the point of running. It would take me a round trip to the Cedar tree in less than an hour.

Of course, even at that speed, no drops of water would be spilled.

I still haven’t spilled a drop but at this speed I wouldn’t make a round trip in an hour. Thinking this, I stopped and put the cup on the stump and urged Luna Maria to do so.

Suddenly instructed to put the glass down, Luna Maria was even more surprised but she followed my instructions.

“I am a shrine maiden who has dedicated this body and soul to Will. I will obey any orders.” Her smiling face was lovely but when I told her that we wouldn’t make it in time, her face became cloudy.

“Wha- what should we do?” she panicked slightly.

“We have no choice but to triple this speed.”

“But it seems impossible to spill water even now.”

“We can’t overcome Vandal’s trial without force.”

“Okay, but is it unwise to try this without any countermeasures?”

“yes, I understand this. I have a plan.”

I smiled a little and had Luna maria lend me her ear. “Hmm, hmm” she listened. When I had my face near her ear, she smelled very nice.

When Luna maria heard his secret, she quietly muttered. “Is Will a genius?”

 

 

Thanks for reading the chapter! Leave some comments below so I know your thoughts! I love how it’s going to far!

Chapter 8 – First Human Friend

Two people introduced themselves in front of the ice statue of the dragon. I introduced my self as Will, the son of the gods. I also introduced my partner Shultz.

Shultz was at first alert to the strange woman but when she knelt down on her knees, he silently let her stroke his throat.

Luna Maria stroked Shultz’s weakest part exactly, as if her eyes could see.

Looking at her, I raised the question if she was really blind, Luna Maria denied it with a smile.

“My behaviour has changed since the start, doesn’t it look like I have light* in my eyes?”

“Certainly, I really don’t think you’re blind.”

“When you cant see as a kid, you begin to learn various skills.”

“Skills?”

Luna Maria nodded.

“Other than your eyesight, your other senses become sharpened. Hearing and smell are the obvious senses but also the sense of touch. -hmm. Will, if I look back, please raise your right or left hand.

Yes, I understood. I honestly raised my left hand as Luna Maria said when she looked away.

“Right now, you have raised your left hand. However, you’re hand is in a fist.”

“Hey, how did you know!”

“It’s easy. The movement of the air. If you raise your hands with them open, the air will pass between your fingers and give off a unique sound.

“Right or left handed, it’s amazing if you got that right but to also understand that as well, amazing.”

“I don’t know how amazing it is but since I’ve lived like this since I was a kid, I’m comfortable with how my life is.”

“It must be hard, excuse me if you see my words of sympathy as rude.”

“Yes, I closed my eyes in hope and I have no regrets in becoming a shrine maiden.”

“But, why is a shrine maiden in such a place?”

“I said this in the beginning, I’m looking for a brave hero to save this world. I think it’s you.”

“Me? But, the mark…”

“No need for markings. Even if you do, I can’t see it.”

Perhaps it was a blind person’s joke, I can’t laugh in this situation.

“I have received the oracle of God. There must be a hero on this land who brings peace to this world and you are the only one I can think of.”

“That’s true, I am the only human in this area.”

“If that’s the case, I’m sure.”

So, hero, please take this journey to save the world with this Luna Maria.”

“Even if you say this so suddenly.”

“That’s right. I’m sure it’s you who has been brought up by the gods.”

“that’s right.”

“If that is so, I would like to say hello to the gods. This Luna Maria needs the gods permission to guide Will as a graduate.”

“Please forgive me…”

“The faces of my dads floated before me, everyone had a face that opposed. I still lacked the training.”

They didn’t want to put the cute me outside. Wanting me to live a lifetime on this mountain. A future figure that could be persuaded came to mind.

I explained that my father Reus, the all purpose god, is the one who could send me out.

“…Is that so. That’s a shame.” Luna Maria said.

My shoulders drop. However the gloominess only lasted a few seconds, then immediately changed.

“On the contrary, if one person agrees, then rely on that person. It is also Will’s decision to finally descend the mountain. Will wants to see the outside world right?”

“…Yes. I want to see it.”

I’ve only told Shultz and so I wanted to show her my determination. I wanted to look outside the mountain. Of course, I loved this mountain. I loved my parents here.

Training and study were also fun. I also loved playing with my friends.

But, you study the world by learning outside.

When I heard the stories of the outside world from the animals, I really wanted to see the real world.

Vandal the god of magic said it was because I was a child of mankind. Human beings find it difficult when they are pushed by curiosity.

Recalling Vandal’s words that it was impossible for Gods to kill curiosity, I decided to obey Luna maria’s words.

The day will come when I would be pushed by my curiosity and inquisitive mind to leave.

Then there’s no wrong reason to go now.

It also seemed best to travel with her to the outside world.

When I told Luna Maria about this, she smiled like the petals of a flower in full bloom.

I saw a girl of the same age laughing for the first time. The smile was completely different from that of Milia.

After a while, when I was admiring her the smile, I pulled her hand and headed to the summit.

As its name suggests, Table Mountain was shaped like a trapezoid.

A vast forest spread over the trapezoidal plane, and at the center of it lay the palace of the Gods.

Even if it is called a palace, it is not like a royal family inhabited it but a small building was made with the help of the forest beasts.

However, each room had its own bedroom, training room, library, meditation room, etc.
The scale of the place was reasonable.

I took Luna Maria to the guest room and gathered my parents there.

Reus descended from the sky in the form of an eagle.

Ronin came straight from the training room. He was shirtless and wore a towel on his shoulder.

Miria came in second but when she saw Luna Maria’s appearance, she went somewhere else saying, “I’m putting on makeup.”

Vandal came in fourth, but he only began reading books in the guest room without looking at Luna Maria.

“… sorry for the strange parents.”

Instead I apologized but Luna Maria shook her head.

“It’s natural because they are gods. I was the one who suddenly disturbed their training.”

“This mountain has no doorbell. Don’t worry.”

When he jokingly calmed her down, Miria, who had come back after she finished putting on her makeup said something first.

“I can’t give my Will to a little girl like you. I don’t know what kind of skill you used to seduce him but please return from where you came from.”

Although she was suddenly rude, Luna Maria did not seem to be angry.

She loosened her mouth a little, and whispered to me.

“She really looks like a true mother. As though a true daughter in law problem is occurring.”

She said this jokingly, the joke was not out of the ordinary. I gave out a big sigh.

“Her name is Luna Maria. A blind shrine maiden who serves the earth god. —she is my first human friend.” I introduced her.

The gods, who heard these words, alternately looked at me and Luna Maria with their own eyes.

 

 

*I’m going to continue to say that she has no light in her eyes as I feel this is the author’s style. By saying someone has light in their eyes it means that they can see, with no light they can’t see.

 

Chapter 7 – Blind Shrine Maiden

At the foot of the mountain there was a beautiful woman on the road.

She may be a little older than me, looking neat and clam like a saint in a story.

“She’s more divine than the healing god Miria,” I suddenly laughed at Shultz’s words but his opinion was correct.

She notices that we are there and asks like a priestess.

“People who are there, do you live on this mountain?”

“That’s right,” I answered, she smiled.

“I’m sorry to have stepped on this sacred mountain where god and the genius inhabits. That I have also pulled in people like this too.”

“Don’t worry. Men look like villains no matter how you look at them.”

“These things are probably a group of heretics. They refuse to let me contact the hero.”

“Hero?”

“A boy living on this mountain and raised by the gods.”

“Would that be me?”

“Excuse me, do you have black hair?”

“Yes but…”

“If that’s so, it is probably you.”

I wondered why she couldn’t even tell that I had black hair but soon I knew why. The silver haired woman wearing a robe, was blind. Her blindness was what was doing it.  There was a mask around her eyes.

“I’ve just realised you must have noticed. I’m the blind shrine maiden Luna Maria dedicated to the mother earth goddess,” she explains.

“Mother earth goddess?” I have heard about her. It is the name of an ancient god who brings fertility to this land.

Known as a god with a very strict discipline, every shrine maiden who devotes themselves to the mother earth goddess takes away their light. They close their eyes when they are young.

It was the words of the priest who proclaimed that the mother earth theology was that you would grow up so that things could be seen without hesitation and they could become a pure priestess.

However, it was a myth or legend and I had never heard that there are shrine maidens who still imitate this in modern times.

When I tell Luna Maria about this she laughs. “It’s an old tradition but the tradition has still been passed on. There are many blind shrine maidens besides me.

“Why is this blind shrine maiden on this Table Mountain?”

“That is…”

I didn’t know if it was because there was something wrong I said or maybe that the enemy’s attacks were becoming more intense, I didn’t know.

I felt as though it was both but anyway, I felt like I should support Luna Maria.

Shultz and I stood between the enemy soldiers, showing our intention for combat.

“A grey wolf and a human kid. An unusual combination.”

“If you show your hand out I’ll just cut it.”

“Are you going to kill a child? I was told that only the shrine maiden should be dealt with.”

The men in armour started consulting but in the end it seemed that they decided to kill me by a majority vote. The client wanted the death of Luna Maria but they seemed to also be interested in the hero Luna Maria was trying to find.

It seemed incidentally that they could kill the hero too. They were people who didn’t really care about human life.

“Shultz, what do you call these guys?” I sighed trying to search for a word.

“Villains.” Shultz cut it with one word.

“That’s right. They’re villains. You don’t have to hold back with these guys right?”

“Aaah, I’ll cut your throats!” Shultz immediately aims at their throats, I attack as well.

Of course I didn’t use my knife. I used physical arts. Looking at them now, they weren’t that strong. It was very dull. Every move is so slow. It seemed easy to deal with them without using a knife.

I used the old style martial arts I learned from Ronin. Enter the opponent’s pocket and push according to the opponent’s breath. It was only a child’s fist but at the moment when the opponent leans forward it can be severely damaged by throwing it into a critical place.

When the opponent’s throat, critical nerve points, eyes and temples were hit properly where no other master has been able to train to hit before. The villains were in agony and suffered on the spot.

Luna Maria, who was listening to this exclaimed. “The hero’s martial arts are godly.”

“It’s martial arts the gods taught me.”

“You are a legendary child, lord hero.”

“I don’t think that’s the case. I was brought up by my parents who are gods but there is no sign of a hero on me.”

“… is there no sign?”

Luna Maria’s expression gently becomes cloudy.

“What brings good and evil into harmony. The savior of this world. He is a true being brought up by the gods.”

“That is?”

“It is an old saying that is passed down in my religion.”

“The only thing I have in common is that I am raised by the gods.”

“Yes, but that is enough,” Luna Maria said, her right hand flashed with light. She placed it on the villain’s chest and the *villain is blown away with the wind up to 10 metres which folds the trees.*

“You have great power too.”

“This power is nothing more than a grace of god.”

“That’s some amazing graze the goddess has bestowed,” I said. I already had taken out 5 villains from the battle. I thought it would be easy to annihilate them but that was not the case.

This is because reinforcements had appeared from behind. Around 10 of them, heavily armed.

“…this is awkward. Some have magical weapons.” Looking at the shining short sword, it was as if all of them were skilled mercenaries.

“They’re probably mercenaries hired by some heretics. This might be tough.”

“It looks that way. I don’t think there’s nothing you can’t beat. I wonder. Luna Maria, can you get down behind me?”

“I’m happy too but I am a shrine maiden dedicated to god and the hero. Life is not regrettable.”

“Even if you’re ready to die, I’m not. That’s because, this area will be dyed red soon. Being behind me would prevent you from getting hurt by my magic of《Barrier》.

“Dyed red? Do you use fire magic?”

“That’s incorrect. I’m not the one who will be using the flames. It will be a lizard flying down from heaven.”

“Lizard?”

When Luna Maria bowed her head, the sky went dark. The surroundings, which were bright before were now wrapped in darkness.

It wasn’t a cloud.

It was a lizard with wings that covered the sky. In other words, it was a dragon.

A dragon with bright red skin flapped its wings while spewing flames from its mouth. The wind wrapped around as if a storm was approaching.

Luna Maria seemed to have sensed the existence of fear on the wind and roar of the dragon.

“It’s a dragon!”

“Yes, it’s not from Table Mountain but there are a few around the mountain. it looks like the mercenaries have brought it in.”

The mercenary clothes are not so worn out when you look at them. They probably went the shortest distance from the town. They may have gone through the valley without knowing that there was a dragon’s nest. You have to pay for the shortcut.

When the red dragon stopped hovering it plunged down and grabbed one of the mercenaries. It flew up high and let the mercenary go from a high altitude.

It was the mercenary who shouted out loud but the dragon swallowed the mercenary whole as he fell. Eating up his screams.

Angry fellow mercenaries tried to counterattack with a crossbow or bow but was unable to penetrate the scales of the giant dragon.

On the contrary, breathing flames from above the men caught on fire becoming a fire man.

If you look at it like this, the mercenaries and villains would soon be annihilated but I couldn’t just be a bystander.

There were two reasons, one was that if the dragon defeated them it would next turn itself on us. I had only just met the priestess named Luna Maria but she had a strange and familiar feeling.

There is also the desire to protect. For me, she is no different from my mountain companions.

Another reason was even though they were villains, it was disappointing to see them killed.

They were saying they were trying to kill Luna Maria but they haven’t killed her yet. Maybe someone else commanded them to do it and they also had fathers and mothers.

I don’t know if it is this world but it seems that both sides will be sad if they die.

Father Reus, father Ronin, Mother Miria and father Vandal and their smiles came to mind. Remembering their expressions, the option of killing them was not in my sights. So I pull out my dagger on my waist.

It’s a dagger made of pure silver so it’ll pass through the scales of a dragon but it doesn’t seem it would reach the internal organs no matter how deeply it could be inserted. That’s how big this red dragon was.

Having such thick skin was outrageous.

“If you do it normally, it will hurt you but I have a special move.” A special technique I learned from Ronin, a sword god. As well as a magic I learned from the magical god Vandal.

Ronin’s sword technique was a comprehensive sword technique that turned a paper knife into a deadly weapon and Vandal had an extremely effective technique to turn even twigs into a weapon.

In other words, if you add magic to the metal called mithril, the power will become immeasurable. I stare at the dragon that had over run the villains.

The eyes of a merciless dragon intersect with my line of sight but I didn’t feel fear. No, on the other hand, it seems that the dragon seemed to have an unusual sign.

It’s dangerous to keep this boy alive!

When the dragon thought this, he threw a half eaten villain, raising his wings he began to head towards me.

“… this saves me time.”

I appreciated that the target moved here. It’s easier to set up big moves if you’re away from the villains. I thought this as I casted a spell.

“Ice of regret, freeze the wind of the void! Dominate the silence and freeze everything!”

When I finished casting, the silver dagger was wrapped in ice. Surrounded by the magical power of cold air.

All I had to do was turn it into a sword and unleash it. I gave the dragon a strike with my dagger that I had practiced many times. Although it was practiced hundreds of times, it flew straight in an actual battle.

Reon praises the fine line and Ronin praises his talented blow of a magic sword that attacks the dragon.

Luna Maria, who had confirmed this from the rear, was startled. Of course, there was no light in her eyes, but her five senses were better than anyone else’s

The boy’s magical cold air was cold enough to pierce the dragon’s skin. The magical vibrations seemed to wrap Luna Maria’s entire body. The power of his cold magic sword had been tremendous.

Luna Maria was convinced, her original conviction was not wrong.

The red dragon had been dissected with the cold sword.

He tried to fight by breathing fire but the cold air released by the boy was frozen in ice and broke throw the dragon’s flesh.

The dragon’s skin had split in half while also becoming ice-cold like an ice sculpture.

With its red skin and with the dragon’s fresh blood scattered amongst the ice it looked very beautiful.

It’s almost like a work of art but what was scary was that the one who killed this giant dragon was a 14-year-old boy.

They haven’t heard of any such boy. The villainous people escaped while muttering among themselves.

After confirming that they had completely withdrawn, Luna Maria again stands in front of the boy and holds out her right hand.

She wanted to shake hands.

She also wanted to hear my name.

When she told me this I shyly smiled and said.

“-My name is Will. It’s just Will. I’m a commoner, but my parents are gods.”

A boy with a shy smile.

Unbeknown to the boy who defeated the dragon, Luna Maria was convinced that he was the hero who will save the world.

 

*I have no idea what it is saying here so I made it my own way from what the text was saying but if any one can help here is the sentence. 悪党は10スーメトル吹き飛び、木々を折る。