We Live in Dragon’s Peak

The winged dominated buffer zone extends to the southeastern foothills of the Tenjo Mountains, which stretch from north to south.

Even though the mountainous areas stretching all the way are not as steep as the Celestial Mountains, most of them are unspoiled, and the winged tribes live by building villages and towns in valleys, hillsides, and sometimes peaks.

For the winged Winged, the streets connecting villages and towns do not make much sense. However, the carriageways used to buy and sell slaves, and the places where they can rest their wings, will be necessary. That's why, even on mountain roads with little traffic, the width of the road where the wagon could pass was secured, and villages and villages were dotted around.

Still, there are many unexplored areas because the Winged do not have enough power to develop their culture.

Even if you sell your slaves to demons and gods and get the assurance and money of your race, you can't invest in prosperity. The valuable assets acquired are consumed for the next protection.

Speaking of which, it reminds me of the mansion I rented from Ceol.

It was a splendid mansion for entertaining guests, and it was tastefully furnished. However, compared to the demonic culture we have seen so far, it was too poor and inferior to anything else.

The flourishing culture of the Winged may be the same as, or lower than, that of our homeland, the Man.

Even the city of Seol, which I heard had a relatively large population, seemed to be home to thousands of people. Moreover, more than half of them were slaves and servants other than the Winged.

The Winged don't seem to have much of a population.

Or is the winged capital more splendid?

It seems that the capital with the Council Hall is located in the center of the buffer zone.

What a winged place to be evenly distanced from the demons of the north and the gods of the south.

Unfortunately, we were not given the opportunity to go to the capital. [M]

The day after I was ordered by Ethnid. We left the city of Seor with the Emperor Mansion led by Ethnide and the Thrashers' Winged tribe.

The paths prepared for the passage of slave carriages lead ironically to a smooth journey.

The territory of Thrasthar seems to be near the foot of the Heavenly Mountains, southwest of the city of Seol.

I'm busy getting away from the Heavenly Mountains.

That's right. Speaking of busy, I'm sure Seol, the chairman, is also busy. I wonder if it was surprising that Theol left the city with Thrasher.

Ceol is the one who is trespassing against the Divine Clan, but I thought Ceol would wait for the news in his city after he decided to unseal the gates of Hades.

But, yes, Seol went all the way to the northern village. Theol's neutral behavior has something in common with ours, but he may be surprisingly well taken care of by baking his own candidate for the council, Thrastal.

The medium-sized city, which was the territory of Thrastal, was located on the mountainside in the deep mountains, not to mention the example of the bases built by the winged tribes.

There is a gentle valley down the side of the mountain, and up a lightly sloping mountain path to the summit, there is a mansion in Thrastal.

Even from the hillside, Thrastal's splendid mansion was clearly visible.

However, we did not stop at Thrastal's mansion, but instead passed through the city and entered the deep woods.

"This forest will be my private property." Originally, it is a place where people other than those concerned, including the sky, are never allowed to step in. "

Thrastal told us before he went into the woods.

First of all, there must be a "gate of hell" somewhere in this forest. That's why I think Thrastal has banned people from coming and going.

The Winged should be able to fly over the forest, but Thrastal forbids even that. I wonder if you have a mansion at the top of the hill to monitor for trespassers?

That's all the Thrasher family cares about in the "Gate of Hell." Even so, Seol leaked the secret to Ethnide.

I understand Seol's anxious thoughts about the future of the Winged.

But maybe there was a better way? Is it my own idea to think that?

The gate of hell is said to be the place where tens of thousands of demonic armies never returned.

However, looking at Thrastal's stampede since we talked about unsealing the gates of Hell, I'm sure there are other big secrets.

After all, even if all those who entered the gates of Hell were wiped out, Thrasher wouldn't be in trouble, would he?

And yet, just by unsealing it, you'll definitely be hiding something else.

Will it support my assumption? [M] Thrastal selects and brings ten shrine maidens from the temple as he passes through the city of territory.

A shrine maiden is a shrine maiden who holds the priesthood in the temple religion. But why was the Shrine Maiden called?

Moreover, the witch who had been chosen by Thrastal to bring her here had a harsh expression on her face.

I didn't clash with the ruler Thrastal head-on, but I could still read a lot of dissatisfaction and blame from the sorcerers' faces.

Also, it reminds me of when and Thrastal stopped by the temple to summon the Shrine Maiden.

We were surprised that a splendid temple had been built in the city of Thrastal.

After all, there were no stone temples in the northern village, even in the city of Theol.

The religion of the human race that believes in the goddess of creation is called the temple religion. I built a stone shrine for worship and various ceremonies.

However, I had the impression that the Winged only saw the human race as a slave trade product, and they were not so concerned with the temple religion.

Of course, only the clergy have a minimum of protection with a temple that looks just like it in order to look good. Even so, the winged clans, whose mainstay is wooden construction, do not bother to give the stone temple only for the human clan.

However, in the city of Thrastal, there was a splendid stone temple, which was well protected by the priests and shrine maidens, so that the slaves could worship freely.

After all, Thrastal is capable, and even if he was a slave, he would treat him with respect?

No, I don't think so.

Thrastal is also not leaked to the example of the winged race, and only sees the human race as a slave commodity. At first, it seemed like you were thinking of selling us as slaves after you found out about us.

How strange is it that there is only a splendid stone temple in the city of Thrastal that is no different from the common winged thought?

It may have been built by the ancestors of Thrastal, but it still raises questions about the environment in which the slave race can worship freely.

Thrastal brings many shrine maidens to the private woods, what do they want them to do?

There was definitely a "gate of hell" deep in the forest.

I wonder if I need a shrine maiden to unseal the Hell Gate?

I was right about what I thought.

There was a small lake deep in the forest.

I can't ask whether the water depth is deep or from the surface of the water with a color that reflects the blue sky.

Upon arriving at the lake, Thrastal summoned the shrine maidens.

I want you to read out the words written on the liturgy with magic power.

And Thrastal indicated the destination. There was only one quaint stone monument on the shore of the lake.

The stone monument has been mossed so that it has never been maintained, and if a few more generations pass by, it will break completely and become stone scraps.

Maybe there were still ruins around, but in the old days, they collapsed without a trace, and this monument was the last one left?

I looked around and found no traces of any ruins other than the liturgy. Of course, there was no "gate" structure that could be called the gate of hell.

I wonder what an old stone monument is?

You're curious about the ritual that the witches Luiseine and Madeline are carved into the tablet, and you approach the tablet with the witches brought from the city.

And Madeline takes a breath when she sees the melodies carved into the stone tablet.

Ernesto, gentlemen!

Madeline calls us, and we rush.

A large number of Emperor Venerable Mansion and Thrastal's winged tribes were waiting on the shore of the lake without blaming us for moving at will.

Maybe they know what's going to happen here now. You're letting us go, because you know it won't get in the way?

Of course, there's a reason why the Winged don't do anything extra because they know what we're capable of. But it's unnatural that the Divine Clan, especially Ethnide, didn't say anything.

Anyway, we gather around the tablet.

"Look here."

We skip the greetings shown to Madeline and engraved with difficult words, and turn to the last line.

"May his land have eternal peace, Usida Auriya Vartiyeh."

"... what is this!?"

Reading the last sentence of the tablet, we look back at Madeline with surprise.

"Yes. Perhaps... no, definitely. I don't know if it's the same family, but I think my ancestors left a name on this monument.”

Madeline's words surprised the witches brought from the city.

It's possible, though.

"I've guessed that you're a noble person, but you're wearing a suit of law..."

“Would you mind telling us your name?”

Madeline felt confident when the witches asked her to do so. And she called herself majestically.

Madeline Raphal-Valier.

Whoa, whoa, the shrine maidens are cheering.

After all, the sorceress who inherits Vartier's surname is special to the clergy.

The shrine maidens were so excited that they noticed the Thrasher who had been on the sidelines. I came here to see how things were going.

My lord, this man is very dear to us humans.

"So... please, please..." We don't care what happens. But please protect these people alone. "

The shrine maidens began to plead with Thrastal in desperation for some reason.

We do not understand the reason and tilt our necks. [M]

Why would the shrine maidens care about Madeline?

Madeline has been on various adventures with us. But the shrine maidens didn't know Madeline's adventure, and even met us a while ago.

However, I was worried about the shrine maidens' excessive plea.

Moreover, if Madeline-sama's body is to be sacrificed, it is we who will act together, not the Lord Thrasher.

Even so, the shrine maidens pleaded with Thrastal.

Oh, I see. The witches don't know us, so they're relying on the winged thrashers, not us?

If you think so, you won't be convinced. I thought, but my thoughts were sweet. [M]

“Ernesto, this greeting contains dangerous content.”

And then, a note came in from Rooiseine, and we asked her for details.

“This greeting is rather advanced in wording. Perhaps...... I think we'll need quite a few shrine maidens to activate the magic included in this festival."

"There are ten shrine maidens from the city...?"

I don't think it's enough at all.

Now then, even if you give a congratulatory speech with magic energy, the intended magic will not show any effect.

In that case, I brought the shrine maidens with Thrastal's plan, but in the end, it would be in vain.

As it stands, the gates of hell have something to do with the melodies carved into this old liturgy. However, if the magic is not activated even after the celebration, the future plan will be ruined.

From our point of view, it didn't matter if the seal on the Hell Gate didn't work out.

But you wouldn't be convinced by Thrastal or Ethnide.

In fact, Thrastal listened to Luiseine's interpretation and ordered the shrine maidens to keep pleading with him.

“I know that much. According to legend, dozens of sorcerers are required to read the liturgical blessing. However, there are no dozens of [regular] shrine maidens in this land."

It's like a region where only a minimum of the temple religion is protected. I guess the Shrine Maiden is less powerful than the rest of the region.

"But I knew that and brought these people here." These people also come here with an understanding of their role. "

"Well then...!"

"What are you trying to do!"

Louiseine and Madeline's expression suddenly grew steeper.

If you two are both high-ranking shrine maidens, then you know it.

When I asked what he was doing, Ruisseine turned her steep face to Thrastal and told me.

"Magic power is not a unique magic such as magic or divine magic." It is part of the power of the goddess, given by the goddess by the baptism of the person who has been trained as a shrine maiden. "

That's why "magic" is a miracle in which the goddess is embodied through the magic power inhabited by the shrine maiden.

"In other words, if you don't have enough magic power to activate the spell, it means you don't have enough faith in the goddess..." So, think about it. What if, despite her lack of faith in magic power, in other words, her faith in the goddess, she fulfilled her inappropriate wishes with a salutation? "

Without completing the greeting, the spell won't trigger?

"Normally, yes, but what if I use my magic power like this?"

The magic will not trigger after all, but will you be in a state of strong debilitation when you use up all your magic energy?

In the past, Rooiseine has used too much magic power to weaken herself.

But my answer was wrong.

"No, no. The goddess is a merciful person." Therefore, if you sincerely wish for it, the magic will be activated. "

However, Luiseine's expression clouds with a smile.

"In any case, excess is not gratuitous. If you activated a spell with an unwanted wish.... the shrine maiden is severely punished and loses her magic power. That alone is a good thing, and in the worst case, it can be the result of sacrificing your soul to the goddess."

Well, then!

The ten shrine maidens brought here must not only dedicate their lives to the precious magic power that they have endured after severe cultivation, but also carry out Thrastal's orders!?

That's no good!

It's ridiculous to sacrifice your life, not your precious strength, for an event that is of no value to many!

I raise my voice the other way.

And you notice.

I see. The shrine maidens mistakenly assumed that they, as well as Louiseine and Madeline, had been brought here as a sacrifice. That's why I was so desperate to protect Madeline, who would take over the blood of House Vartier.

We would never think of doing anything at the expense of Louiseine or Madeline. Not only that, but I don't want the shrine maidens who were brought here to lose anything!

When we tried to move to protect the witches.

Madeline was the first to move.

Madeline said with determination.

Towards us.

“Very well, with me and Ruysseyne on board, this level of celebration will be fine.”

Madame Madeline!?

"Ernea-kun, everyone, please trust me." I'll make sure that I and Luiseine save the shrine maidens. ”

Madeline was surprised not only by our declaration, but also by Thrastal's.