“Could you possibly give us a ride over the mountain range, if it’s alright?”

Thanks to Olivier’s help, the fog had cleared, but crossing the mountain range was still necessary. If we walked diligently, it wouldn’t take more than a few days, but I still wondered if we could cut the time down even a little by asking Olivier to give us a lift.

“If this is a joke, it’s not funny at all. Do you think I would dare carry a mere mortal on my back?”

“But I’ve ridden you just fine before. Since you’ve carried me once, can’t you take my other friends too?”

“That’s because you are a Hero…! Hmph. Just be thankful I didn’t eat you!”

With a haughty demeanor returned, Olivier looked down at us. However, it seemed her posture was uncomfortable, as she flinched and quickly averted her gaze when she noticed Selian subtly reaching for his sword.

If you’re going to be arrogant, be arrogant all the way. That awkward behavior just looked pitiable and cute.

“Well, fine. If that’s how it is, I guess we can’t expect too much. We won’t impose on you because of our greed.”

I quickly intervened between them before things could escalate into a real quarrel. Selian seemed to have only drawn his sword to intimidate, and he lowered it again, realizing he really didn’t intend to swing it around.

“Thank you for at least being willing to look down on us like this. Because of you, I’m still alive.”

I raised my hand for a handshake to express my gratitude, but upon seeing my hand, she flinched again. Perhaps she thought I was going to tickle her again.

However, when I stood still with my hand extended, she realized I wasn’t joking and reached out to shake my hand.

“I’m sorry for waking you up. As a great dragon, it’s uncertain whether such things would happen, but if you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to seek me out. Just as Olivier helped me, I will do my utmost to assist you as well.”

We slowly shook hands. During that moment, I noticed her tail swaying behind her, and I briefly felt an overwhelming desire to pet it, but thankfully, I managed to suppress it by conjuring up a memory of my cat-like boss.

“Hmm?”

However, just as I was about to retract my hand after the handshake, for some reason, Olivier held onto it tightly, not letting go.

“…Name.”

She muttered in a barely audible voice, as if she was talking to herself, but I could still hear her since she was right in front of me.

Curious, I tilted my head, and she bowed her head and spoke.

“I couldn’t hear your name.”

“…Is that so?”

Hadn’t I asked her name earlier while introducing myself? Thinking back, I recalled I had only learned her name without properly introducing my own.

Well, I guess that could happen.

“I’m Elysia Frentz. As you know, being a Hero, I travel around the continent, but after defeating the Demon King, I’ll probably return to my hometown, Gehen.”

It might be a little premature to be so eager, given that in my four past lives, I hadn’t encountered even a trace of the Demon King. But anyway, a determination is still a determination.

Once I finish off the Demon King, the Emperor will actively support the restoration of the House Frentz as promised. Since it’s help from no one other than the Emperor, it shouldn’t take a long time to rebuild the family.

Of course, it’s not about seeking power. Honestly, with just the title of being a Hero who defeated the Demon King, I could enjoy a life superior to most anywhere I go.

However, the reason I’m so eager to restore my family name and territory is my personal way of honoring my parents and sister.

Even if I restore the family and revive the territory, it doesn’t bring back the family members already lost to the hands of the demonic race, but this sense of responsibility… no, to be honest, it’s just self-comfort.

I feel like I wouldn’t even be able to stand before my family’s tombstones if I didn’t do this.

“Elysia… Elysia Frentz… Gehen…”

Being a dragon, one would think her memory would be good, but Olivier muttered my name several times, as if she was determined not to forget.

“I remember. If later you say you forgot, I will show you firsthand how terrifying the wrath of a dragon can be.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not that shameless. Feel free to come to me anytime.”

Well, considering how often dragons would need my help, who knows if I’d ever see Olivier’s face again before I die.

No, wait a moment. That means I might never get to pet that luscious tail again.

Realizing that this was not something to think lightly about, I stopped. Of course, I have my boss, but Olivier’s tail has a different charm that I can’t feel from her.

“Well then, I shall be on my way now…”

“Hey, wait a moment!”

I quickly grabbed Olivier, who was about to jump off the cliff below. Even when we part, I couldn’t let her go like that.

“What’s going on?”

My friends, who had been getting ready to leave, turned their heads at my sudden shout.

Feeling the eyes of the surroundings focused on me, I knew that if I didn’t do it now, who knew when I’d get another chance? I had to be bold here.

“Uh… Before we part, could I pet your tail just once? Truly the last time….”

As I made this request, Olivier’s tail was swaying temptingly in front of me. However, no response came from her.

Well, considering she’s ticklish, it made sense. I thought I would have to give up on this, but just then…

Whoosh, Olivier’s golden tail slid in front of my eyes. I was taken aback, having almost given up, and when I looked at her, there she was, blushing with her head turned away.

“If it’s… the last time…”

*

A few days after parting from Olivier, we were walking diligently to cross the mountain range as quickly as possible.

“Nya!”

Unlike the rest of us, who had sturdy legs, Frecia, who was physically weak among the party, had transformed into her cat form and was nestled in my arms.

As I gently petted Frecia, who had transformed into a cat, from her head to tail, she let out a satisfied meow.

Sometimes, she would lightly nibble on my arm, but it was just the bites of a cat’s teeth—more of a sting than a true pain.

After petting her once more, she wagged her tail and rubbed her head against my chest.

“…I should’ve learned transformation magic somehow.”

Selian, who was walking beside us, casually glanced at Frecia and commented. After walking for days through the harsh mountain landscape, it wasn’t surprising he felt envious of Frecia lounging comfortably in my arms.

However, transformation magic isn’t the easiest kind of magic, and even Selian, no matter how skilled, wouldn’t be able to learn it easily. In fact, despite having mastered magic over multiple lives, Selian had never been able to use transformation magic.

Rather, it was extraordinary that Frecia, at such a young age, could use transformation magic so freely. Not only did her appearance change, but she completely transformed into a cat. Naturally, this made it much more difficult.

Frecia certainly wasn’t named the continent’s most talented mage for nothing.

“Come on! We’re almost there!”

Anne, who had run ahead, was waving her arms widely in our direction.

Thankfully, thanks to Olivier completely blowing away the fog around the mountain, slipping and falling as we did when we first entered the mountain range was no longer an issue.

When I caught up to Anne, who had descended from the mountain first, I turned back to see the mountain range we had crossed. Just looking at it filled me with a sense of awe.

“Ugh… I think it would be alright to just go around when we head back.”

It seemed my friends nodded in agreement, sharing the sentiment.

Which was understandable, considering it wasn’t just the fog or the dragons; crossing the mountain range had truly been exhausting.

Among the memorable hardships, there was the time we had to walk on paths where the snow hadn’t melted due to the high altitude.

With every step uphill, the temperature dropped rapidly. Each breath clouded in white steam. It was so cold that Frecia, in her cat form, burrowed into my clothes.

Of course, since everyone could use Aura and Mana, we could fend off the cold to some extent, but there was still a limit.

Even when resting in a shack installed in advance at the point, we huddled together to maintain warmth.

I wondered if we could use magic to warm ourselves, but due to the uncertain outcomes, everyone agreed we should conserve our mana.

Even though I had gotten used to being in a woman’s body by now, being surrounded like that made it impossible for me to sleep at all, despite having walked all day.

As I spent the night wide awake, it turned into an even more challenging hike for me than for the others.

“Still, wouldn’t it be worth it to try climbing up again at least once?”

Someone among my friends quietly spoke up. I had intended to argue that it was ridiculous, but strangely, everyone aside from me nodded in agreement with that sentiment.

Feeling somewhat left out made me feel a bit miserable, but as I petted Frecia nestled in my arms, a sense of tranquility washed over me.

Yeah, that might be possible.

What mattered was that we had crossed the mountain range.

Exactly seven days after entering the mountain range, we finally arrived at the domain of Glen, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.