Chapter 5: The Crossing Festival
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I bought a house on the outskirts of Villeborn.
I had plenty of money. With few belongings, it took just an hour to complete the paperwork and receive the keys. The move was done quickly.
I slept well in this house. Too well.
Whether it was good or bad, I felt like I had finally accepted it.
I wanted to escape that “correct” environment, where chosen people continuously exerted their efforts, confidently raising each other up.
I despised myself, but I genuinely believed this was better.
Laura’s situation had calmed down a lot.
Her training in magic was going well, and she was now allowed to go out with a companion. It was decided that after being discharged, she would live in the dormitory for the staff of “Night Dragonfly,” and she was preparing for that.
It was a relief. I felt I had done well in crafting the magic.
Still, something kept bothering me.
—Take care of Laura, okay?
Why did Rita Heinkes say that? Was it really just a bad joke?
I turned over in bed and shook my head a little.
Now that the situation had settled, there was no point in thinking about it. It was in the past, and dwelling on it would make this vacation meaningless.
That’s why I chose to live alone.
I should be living alone.
But there was someone deeply bowing to me right beside me.
A girl with perked-up beast ears.
“Whoa!”
“Good morning, Master!”
“Uh, why are you here?”
It was Laura.
Looking out the window, it was already late morning. It was a time she was allowed to go out.
Scanning the room, I noticed a bundle wrapped in sheets on the sofa.
Only a familiar face was visible—it was Heidemarie, drooling and sleeping soundly.
Right, since I heard the call of the labyrinth, I thought I needed someone to keep an eye on things, at least for the first day after the move. Heidemarie volunteered and said she’d check on things until bedtime today.
For some reason, I didn’t feel watched. Instead, I felt a strange sense of familiarity.
In any case, I didn’t understand the situation.
Heidemarie had said she’d keep watch from outside, and I didn’t know why Laura was here.
Looking closely, the bedroom was quite messy. The desk and chair were in different positions from last night.
“Heidemarie! Wake up! What’s going on here?”
“Hmm? Huh? Oh no! I fell asleep! Hey, half-beast girl, untie me! You did whatever you wanted because I couldn’t make any noise!”
“Hmph!”
“If you keep that attitude, I’ll—mmph.”
Heidemarie struggled and fell off the sofa, cursing Laura despite being unable to move.
Were they fighting? Laura used to call Heidemarie “wise one” and respect her. When did they become equals?
Maybe they had become friends. That would be good.
“Um, Laura?”
I spoke to Laura, who stood dutifully by the bed.
“Yes, Master?”
“Ah, well, don’t call me master… Use my name.”
“Na-name?”
“Yes, please call me by my name.”
“Oh, okay.”
Her face turned red, and she placed her hands on her cheeks.
I felt like there was a huge misunderstanding, but she seemed healthy, so it was fine.
“Alright, Vim-sama!”
“Yes…”
“Breakfast is ready! Please come downstairs!”
Following her downstairs, I saw a splendid breakfast laid out.
Laura moved quickly around the table, setting down water and plates with a light pitter-patter of her feet.
This alone showed how much her magic training had improved.
The walking enhancement I developed involved moving the feet in sync with the upper body. Walking while carrying something required an extra layer of precise adjustments.
As I watched Laura, we found ourselves seated at the table with Heidemarie. We decided to enjoy the meal together.
Despite their earlier spat, there was still a strange tension between Heidemarie and Laura.
“Vim, do you realize that half-beast girl is only thirteen?”
Heidemarie said, grabbing a piece of white bread.
“I know, but what’s wrong with that?”
“She’s pretending to be a helpless little puppy and barging into your house!”
“I’m not a dog!”
Laura retorted.
“Don’t think you can argue in such an indecent outfit! Have some shame!”
Heidemarie pointed out, making Laura cover her chest with her arms.
She was wearing a slightly flashy, frilly maid outfit.
“Vim-sama, it’s embarrassing when you stare at me like that.”
I had been staring.
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“Oh, no, it’s not that.”
“But if you wish, Vim-sama…”
“No, no. Why are you wearing that outfit?”
“Camilla insisted I wear it.”
So it was Camilla’s doing.
I recently learned that she had a mischievous side.
“Vim, she’s thirteen! If we rounded her up, She’s practically our age! She’s a young girl in her prime!”
“No, you don’t have to round up. …… “
“Well, she still needs a guardian… In some rural areas, thirteen might be an age to start living independently, but still…”
“She’s shorter than me, so I’ve been letting it slide.”
Despite her harsh words, Heidemarie munched on the salad Laura had made.
“I don’t like rude people!”
“You little…!”
It seemed they weren’t serious, just playful bickering. From a distance, it might even be heartwarming.
Laura seemed lively, which was good.
I had been worried she might still be haunted by the recent events, but she seemed resilient.
Now, what should I do today?
It was a rare vacation. I thought about doing some magic training and studying, but realized that wasn’t what a vacation was for.
“Um!”
Laura interrupted my thoughts.
“I heard there’s a festival tonight!”
Her eyes sparkled with a mix of anxiety and excitement.
“What are you two going to wear?”
“Wear?”
Heidemarie and I said in unison.
Laura looked confused by our reaction.
“The festival starts today! The market too! We have to dress up!”
I had heard about the pre-festival market. It was known for rare finds and attracted many women and collectors.
It is said that on the eve of the festival, the market price of the festival is not yet fixed, and some girls and collectors rush to the market because they can find some bargains on rare occasions.
“Wait, we only need to dress up for the awards ceremony, right?”
I checked with Heidemarie.
“No, we also have to attend the unveiling of ‘Night Dragonfly’ on the third day.”
“Oh, right. And there are no specific dress codes for the awards. For the unveiling, we just wear our labyrinth exploration gear.”
“That’s right.”
“So, no need to get new clothes.”
“Exactly. I’m not preparing anything. I’ll enjoy some time in my room.”
I planned to do the same.
We were told to rest. Laura’s rehabilitation was going well, and I could finally sleep properly away from the mansion. It was a good time to relax and sort out my thoughts.
“It’ll be quiet for a while.”
“Yeah.”
I agreed with Heidemarie.
With everyone going to the festival, the residential areas and outskirts would be quieter. The city center would be bustling, with the sound of drums and fireworks reaching this room.
Imagining it made me feel oddly sentimental.
“……Unbelievable.”
As I was thinking this, I noticed Laura looking at us like she had seen something otherworldly.
“It’s the Festival of Passage! A big celebration! We don’t even know when the next one will be!”
Oh, really?
Heidemarie and I exchanged glances and moved closer.
“Hey, Vim, it looks like she’s really eager to go.”
“You mean with us?”
“Yes, with you, to be exact. But still, she’s quite presumptuous, this half-beast.”
“…Well, she must be lonely. She doesn’t have any family, so we shouldn’t be too harsh.”
“Grr… What should we do, then?”
“Yeah, what should we do?”
We, who were fully prepared to stay in, could only fret.
“…The Festival is a cherished memory for me. My parents took me there.”
Laura said softly.
“It was right after our whole family moved to Villeborn. I was so little, I don’t remember much, but the whole town was so lively, everyone dressed up, and we ate so much delicious food.”
Seeing her tear up, I immediately gave in.
“…Alright, let’s go. Today, we’ll go shopping for festival clothes.”
I’m powerless against a child’s tears.
“Wait a minute, Vim, I can’t handle that. I know nothing about clothes. I’ve always adhered to the three kinds of attire my mother taught me.”
Heidemarie whispered to me.
“Me neither. And now that I think about it, you’ve never changed your style; it’s always the same.”
“Exactly! I can’t go shopping for clothes alone; it’s embarrassing.”
It was clear that neither of us was up for this.
Should we just leave it all to Laura? No, that’s probably not a good idea. Her memories might be different now, and forcing her to guide us wouldn’t be fair.
Besides, it seemed unreasonable for just the three of us to go to the festival.
“If we’re going, we need more people, Vim. I can’t do this alone.”
“But who? I don’t have anyone to call.”
“Same here. Oh, but…”
I didn’t have any friends, and neither did Heidemarie.
If we were to call someone, it would have to be someone from the Night dragonfiles.
…Camilla? No, she’d stand out too much. She wouldn’t mind, but we want to avoid the crowds.
And since she usually wears armor, she might not get along well with a young girl like Laura. Plus, the fact that she once wore a maid outfit is worrisome.
“I guess we should call the cowgirl.”
Heidemarie suggested, reminding me of Grete.
She seemed like a reliable choice. She probably knew a lot about trends and festivals.
“Will she come? Isn’t she busy?”
“The Perching Branch isn’t setting up a stall this time, so she should be free. She’ll come, don’t worry.”
“Oh.”
I was surprised to find out they were better friends than I thought.
I silently apologized for assuming Heidemarie had no friends.
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