第８９６堀：雲海を抜けて『現実を冒険』する (Part1)
Chapter 896: Passing Through the Sea of Clouds to "Adventure in Reality"
Side: Mauve
"Phew... man, I ate too much. And drank too much."
"You brought it on yourself."
"Even though Yuki told us we could eat and drink whatever we wanted, you really overdid it."
"Hey, come on. You don't get a golden opportunity like that very often, you know?"
That’s right—last night’s dinner was a truly free-spirited affair where we didn't have to worry about the state of our own wallets. Well, I suppose I’m usually free enough as it is, but there’s just something about drinking in the mountains that adds a special flavor to the liquor. Plus, Yuki had actually included the specific brand I’d mentioned wanting to try in the selection of drinks he provided. Seeing that, there was no way I could have resisted.
So, naturally, I’m feeling a bit rough today from the overindulgence. I didn't lose my mind to the point of being unable to move, but my pace is definitely a bit sluggish. And it seems I’m not the only one...
"Ugh..."
"Sister, that is unseemly. You really must learn to exercise some restraint."
"But Shael, you were eating plenty of cake too..."
"If you are referring to me, I was, of course, exercising perfect restraint."
"That was restraint!? You put away at least two whole cakes!"
"I could have easily managed double that."
"...I think I’ve been misjudging you, Shael."
Princess Lowell seems on the verge of collapsing from too much meat. Well, that’s understandable. When faced with such a spread, it’s impossible to stay composed. It’s just that Raiya and Curse are the odd ones out for being able to hold back. But more than that, Princess Shael’s behavior is clearly bizarre. I accidentally caught a glimpse of her, and I had to fight the urge to cover my mouth.
As we were having that exchange, Riel-chan laughed and chimed in.
"Ahaha, yeah, you really have to adjust yourself so you don't overeat."
Riel-chan didn't overeat this time; she enjoyed her favorites in moderation and greeted the day in high spirits. ...Tch, she’s just stating the obvious, but it’s a little frustrating.
"Riel has experienced the consequences of overeating many times, after all."
"...It was always a pain to carry her back to bed."
"Ahahahaha!!"
I see. So it’s the fruit of past experience, then.
"Well, if you’re eating at Yuki’s place every day, that’s bound to happen."
"Exactly! Just like Mauve-san said! The food that Yuki-san, Kirue, and Sasari prepare is just so delicious, so it can't be helped!"
Riel-chan declared that with a cheerful smile. Ahaha, she’s certainly blunt. When Yuki gets told that with such a bright smile, he’s bound to want to feed her more. But Tori, who usually looks after Riel, just looked exhausted.
"Honestly, don't brag about it. When we get back, I’m telling Yuki-san to put you on a diet."
"Eh—!?"
"It’s about time I showed the children some old photos and told them, 'Look, Mother Riel used to be thin and cool back in the day,' don't you think?"
"...Understood."
Even Riel is weak when the children are brought into the conversation. I mean, Riel-chan is a mother to Riyuru now, too. Man, time flies.
Hm? Am I sounding like an old man? Well, never mind that...
"Still, we’ve been in this fog for quite a while now. We’ve walked a fair distance, too."
That’s right. We’ve been trudging through the mist ever since we woke up this morning.
"It’s strange. I thought it was just the usual morning mist, but it’s nearly noon and it’s still like this."
"Indeed. Under normal circumstances, it should have cleared up by now."
"It’s a mysterious place, though. There’s light, but it’s so white you can’t see anything. Well, at least the visibility is good enough to see Shael and the others' faces."
"Well, we have deep fog in the Royal Capital too, but it never lingers until the middle of the day like this."
As Raiya and Princess Shael noted, it was nearly noon. Yet, the fog showed no signs of lifting. The one who cleared up that mystery for us was...
"Hey, Comet. Why is the fog still out at this hour?"
"Ah, can't you tell from the drone?"
"...If I could, I would have told you."
It was Comet, who had been following us with a drone.
『Honestly, you guys. Did you forget what it looked like when you first saw Dragon Mountain?』
" " "When we saw the mountain?" " "
『Sigh, don't you remember the clouds hanging over the peak?』
" " "Ahhh—!!" " "
The mystery was solved in an instant. That’s right—the summit of Dragon Mountain was always shrouded in clouds. In other words...
"So, we’re inside a cloud right now?"
『That’s exactly it. Well, you’re having a rare experience. You’re at the same altitude as the clouds. It’s not something that happens every day.』
"It really makes you realize how high this mountain is. Is this a first for you guys?"
"Yes. I’ve climbed mountains for work many times, but this is the first time I’ve been on one this high."
Usually, you don't climb mountains this high because resupplying is difficult, and the risks for a job are just too high. Plus, in the case of this Dragon Mountain, there’s the rumor that dragons are flying around up here. No normal person would ever come near a place like this. This trip is a special exception.
As I was thinking about that, Princess Lowell started saying something strange.
"Still, inside a cloud, huh? As Comet says, it’s a valuable experience, but it’s a bit disappointing that it’s no different from being wrapped in fog."
"Sister, what kind of image did you have of clouds?"
"Well, you know, the story about walking on clouds and being recognized by a Dragonkin to receive a weapon, right?"
Ah, I remember that story. It’s one of those bedtime stories you tell children.
"Oh, I’ve heard that. It’s a fairy tale, right?"
It seems Riel-chan knows it too, nodding happily...
"So that wasn't a lie, then."
" " "Huh?" " " "
"Eh? I mean, if you pass through this, you’re above the clouds, right? And according to Queen Miyabi, there are Dragonkin here, so it’s just like the story."
She just dropped a bombshell. Indeed, Riel-chan was right. It seemed to match the story perfectly.
『Oh, a new discovery! I’ll try gathering some information on that story. We might find something out. Oh, you guys can just keep heading forward.』
Comet seemed intrigued and started looking into the story.
"Riel, you’re quite observant. You’re usually pretty spaced out, but you’re sharp at times like this."
"...Surprising. But it makes sense. You’re always quick to make arrests during police investigations, too."
"Ehehe. Wait, that wasn't a compliment, was it!?"
Riel-chan is truly sharp when it counts. Is it because of all the dangerous situations she’s survived in the past? As I was pondering that, a sudden gust of wind blew through...
*WHOOSH!!*
"Oh!"
I instinctively closed my eyes against the unexpected gale, and when I opened them again, the surrounding fog had been completely blown away, revealing a lush, green summit.
"My, it’s rare to find greenery on the peak of such a high mountain."