Letting out a small sigh, I finally made it back to the stall tent and decided to sit down to rest.
I guess I’m a little tired…
「Hmm… aah…」
I stretched my arms wide, puffed out my chest, and placed a hand on my stiff shoulder, rolling it to loosen the tension. Then, a gentle hand rested on my shoulder. When I turned around, Sorte was there.
「Are you alright, my lord? Those girls… I’ll have to give them a proper scolding later…」
「Now, now. Girls in love are always cute. They all left with their eyes sparkling, you know.」
They must have been on their way to meet their boyfriends.
Still, those guys must be pretty lucky to be thought of that way.
「Girls in love, huh… Hey, am I cute too?」
「…That kind of thing about you, really…」
I pulled her closer and patted her head.
I actually wanted to pat her tail, but if any fur got mixed into the food, it would be a disaster, so I restrained myself.
「Waf… Don’t just do that out of nowhere…」
「You say that, but your tail looks pretty happy.」
Her tail wagged so hard that bits of sand scattered off the ground.
As usual, she didn’t seem able to stop it on her own, reaching back desperately, but to me, it only looked like she was trying to hold her backside.
When I let go, Sorte turned away, looking a little sulky, but her tail kept wagging in satisfaction.
「Welcome back, my liege. I apologize. Those girls can be…」
「Don’t worry about it. I got to see Sorte being jealous, so I’d say that was a pretty good deal. Anyway, looks like the crowd’s getting thicker…」
「Yeah. It’s almost time for the opening ceremony. Normally, we’d have to squeeze into that crowd to hear lord-sama’s greeting, but looks like we’ve got a good view from here.」
「Yeah. Then let’s just watch from our seats.」
Even from where we sat, the stage was clearly visible.
I had already given Origol a microphone, so her voice should carry just fine.
It was a hastily-made custom device I put together last night. I just hope it works properly.
As I was thinking that, the time finally came, and Origol appeared on stage.
『Mmm, ah-ah. Can everyone hear me?』
When she called out, everyone shouted back in response, and Origol nodded in satisfaction.
『Alright then, my dear citizens. I’ll keep this greeting short. I can’t stand long speeches anyway. But first, thanks to all of you, we’ve been able to hold the festival again this year. Thank you. Now, let’s make some noise! Eat! Drink! Have fun! Just remember, no lawlessness, alright? Anyone who spoils the festival’s joy will be punished severely! Keep that in mind and enjoy yourselves!』
‘Clap clap clap!’ The sound of applause filled the air, and the men roared out in excitement.
Everyone must have been waiting eagerly for this moment.
『Now then, let’s begin the Einzheil Memorial Festival! The festival lasts for three days, so don’t go wearing yourselves out on the first one!』
『『『『『Ooooooohhh!!!』』』』』
And with that, the festival had officially begun.
Still, that was a pretty good speech. I’ve come to see Origol in a new light.
「Alright everyone, let’s get to work.」
「Hmm」「Yes!」「Yeah!」「Okay」「Got itssu!」「Right!」
…Or so we fired ourselves up to do, but…
「Huh… it’s surprisingly quiet.」
「Well, right after the opening, the food stalls that fill your stomach are always the most popular. Look.」
Aina pointed toward the orphanage’s okonomiyaki stall.
There was a massive line forming, and the children were working frantically, each of them doing their best even as they looked about ready to faint.
「That smell… it’s irresistible.」
「Yeah. But I’m glad it’s so popular.」
It looked like they were having a good kind of problem over there.
As for us… well, things were moving at a steady, relaxed pace.
Cotton candy doesn’t fill you up, after all, and since it’s a sweet dessert, people are probably saving it for later.
『Come on, come on! How about some Einzheil’s famous Caterpillaryaki?! There’s already a line of twenty people, and it’s only gonna get longer, so better hurry while you can!』
…Ugh.
Caterpillaryaki is popular as ever.
It’s definitely one of Einzheil’s specialties, so visitors from outside must be coming here just for that.
「Ano. What are you selling here?」
「Hmm? Ah, welcome. This is a cotton candy stall.」
「Cotton candy… I’ve never heard of it. I assume it’s some sort of candy that looks like cotton, but… I’m curious to see what it’s like.」
The one who appeared before me was a small beastkin girl with notably long ears.
How should I put it… she had that youthful sparkle in her eyes, but she was also watching the cotton candy machine intently, hand on her chin, studying it with an intrigued hum.
「Cheeeessss! You’re not going to have the caterpillaryakiiiiiiiii!?」
「Yes, Master(teacher). But Chess finds this one more interesting.」
「Fuuuuuum! This is… ohhh… a magic device I’ve never seen before deeesuu!」
The older man leaned over, peering into the cotton candy machine.
He looked to be about the same age as Yasis… or maybe a bit younger.
He wore a monocle, had a curled-up Kaiser mustache, and his hair was slicked back, showing his forehead.
Normally, one would think of him as a gentleman, but the area around his mouth was smeared with some kind of sauce.
The girl called Chess had to reach up and wipe his mouth for him… which made him seem more like an overgrown child than anything else.
「Hohohooo… I see, I see. So this is an application of a rotating sphere and fire magic stones deeesu. The melted sugar is spun out through countless tiny holes by centrifugal force, turning it into fine strands like cotton, yes deeesu?」
「It seems so. Still… to craft a rotating sphere with no distortion whatsoever…」
「That’s the mark of experience, deeesu! Hmmm… truly marvelous craftsmanshippppp!」
The two of them were making such a commotion in front of the stall that people nearby began to glance over, murmuring among themselves.
Whether that was a good thing or not, at least we were getting attention.
「Would you like to try some too, Master?」
「But of course deeesu!」
「Then, two please.」
「Ah, yes. That will be 1200 Nohl.」
While Mizera accepted the coins and handed back the change, I began the preparations.
Taking out a stick, I poured sugar into the machine and started spinning the cotton candy. The two of them watched the entire process intently.
「Ohh… the heat control, the rotation speed… even the fine adjustments are perfect. The magic power conversion is… quite efficient as well.」
「Cheeesssss! Watch carefully and learn! The alchemist who made this magic tool is several levels above you deeesuu yo!」
「Yes, Master! I understand! The more I look, the more I’m impressed by the delicate attention to detail…」
Being stared at so intensely while making cotton candy was… extremely awkward.
Worse still, their attention wasn’t even on the cotton candy itself, but on the machine that was spinning it.
「Alright, it’s done. Here you go, customers.」
「Thank you very much!」
「Thank you very muuuuch deeesuu!」
The two accepted their cotton candy, but instead of eating it right away, they first brought it close to their faces for inspection.
「Wow… such incredibly fine strands deeesuu neee…」
「Amazing, Master. It’s so fluffy!」
「Ooooh, Cheeesssss! Do not eat before your Master, deeesuu!」
Wait, seriously, old man!?
Chess picked off a small piece with her fingers to taste it properly, but the old man just shoved his entire face into the cotton candy, wriggling around like a kid.
It wasn’t hot, so he shouldn’t get hurt, but… was he really okay?
「Puhah! This is… sweeeet deeesuu.」
「Super sweet… and so fluffy. It melts the instant it touches your tongue!」
「That fineness must be what gives it such a texture and sensation deeesuu neee. Perfect for when the brain needs a boost. Delicious deeesuu!」
Thanks to the overly dramatic old man who kept saying “desu desu”, it seemed we might actually draw a crowd.
The people watching from a distance had shifted their gazes, from looks of curiosity to the kind that said they’d line up as soon as those two left.
「Master, you’ve got some on your mustache.」
「Oh, my apologies deeesu.」
「Still, this delicate yet eccentric and bold alchemical craftsmanship… as I thought…」
「Indeed deeesu… without a doubt, it’s the work of the one who made the “Vibrator” and the “Mic”. Isn’t that right, young man?」
Suddenly, the air around the old man changed.
His expression sharpened as he stared straight at me.
He was still smiling, but the atmosphere was completely different, no longer that of a cheerful eccentric, but serious and intimidating, like Yasis, Darwin, or Origol when they were focused on their work.
Sensing the strange tension, Shiro stepped in front of me, while Sorte and Aina moved to my sides, shielding me.
「Fufufufu……」
The man gave a fearless grin across the table, and as he approached, Shiro and the others heightened their guard.
Then, in an instant, something glinted, his figure vanished!
Before I could react, darkness flickered for a split second, and the next thing I knew, he appeared right before me and threw his arms around me.
「At laaast, we’ve met, my rival of this lifetiiiiime deeesu!」
「Hmm.」
「Wha…」「Whaaat!?」
「Hold on a secccccc!」
There were too many things wrong with this!
How did he vanish? How did he reappear!?
Was that spatial magic!?
Wait, was he an enemy!?
No, Shiro wasn’t drawing her knife, so maybe not.
Aina and Sorte were still on guard, weapons ready, but even I had no idea what was going on!
「Hmmm, let me give you a kiss deeesu! I’ll leave my mark on youuu!」
「Stop it! I don’t need a kiss from some old man!」
「Hmm. Not allowed. I’ll cut you.」
「Oh, little girl, so scary deeesu… but thank you for not cutting me earlier deeesu!」
「Shiro, you could see him!?」
「Hmm. I looked into his eyes and saw goodwill, so I didn’t cut. But lord likes girls. So, kisses are not allowed.」
「Wow… to see through my “Light-Dark Camouflage” is impressive deeesu… but understood! I’ll restrain myself deeesu!」
「Good. Then please, get off me already…」
I had no desire to be clung to by an old man forever!
Ahh, and just when things were turning into good publicity too. The people who had been watching from afar now looked at us with expressions that screamed, “What in the world…?”
Well, of course they would! From their perspective, there was an old man hugging another man inside the tent!
「Master! You can’t go inside the shop! You’re causing trouble! Come on, get out already!」
「Oh, Chess… don’t you understand the depth of my joy right now deeesu!?」
「I don’t! Just get out! I won’t clean your room for you anymore!」
「Oh… understood deeesu. I shall retreeeaaat…」
Finally, he let go….
And now he’s crawling out under the table on his way out…
Wait, there’s another trail of where someone crawled earlier…
Ah, right. He said something about “camouflage”. So he must have crawled in the same way when he came!
「I deeply apologize for my master’s behavior!!」
Chess-chan bowed her head sharply and properly.
Meanwhile, her master brushed the dust off his clothes, looking as cheerful as ever.
「Master Eliodart. Even though you hold a noble title, what in the world are you doing…? The Lord said it herself, didn’t she? Not to disrupt the festival.」
「That’s true deeesu… but my joy at meeting him simply overwhelmed meee…」
The old man called Eliodart looked dejected.
But what caught my attention wasn’t his attitude, it was that name.
Eliodart… Eliodart… I felt like I’d heard it somewhere before, but I just couldn’t remember.
Eliodart… Eliodart… ahh, it’s right there on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t bring it to mind!
I hate this feeling, like having a fishbone stuck in my throat. I just want to get it out…
『H-Hey… Eliodart, isn’t that…』
『Yeah. One of the top alchemists in the kingdom, right?』
Ahhh, that’s it! Hayato mentioned him!
The kingdom’s leading alchemist, a count, and the one who made that air purifier!
Nice save, random bystanders. Ah, now it all fits together perfectly. What a relief!
「So you’re that Eliodart.」
「Ohh! You know my name deeesu!?」
「Yeah. I’ve been using one of the cooling magic tools you made.」
I grasped Eliodart’s hand firmly for a handshake.
He responded with a broad smile, bouncing in place like a child as he shook my hand enthusiastically.
「You have that device deeesu!? It shouldn’t have been released to the public yet… Oh! Then it must be from Darwin in this city, deeesunee!」
「That’s right! I got it when I took over Darwin’s house! Thanks to that thing, I can work on my alchemy comfortably. I was really impressed by it!」
「That makes me so happy deeesu! And thanks to your vibrator, I no longer suffer from shoulder stiffness deeesu! The increase in vibration frequency from that intricate mechanism truly surprised meee!」
Oh, that’s good to hear!
If my invention helped such a genius, that makes me proud.
It seemed he felt the same way too.
Ignoring the fact that we were two grown men smiling and holding hands, I was honestly glad to have met him.
「Ano, Master……」
「Master, this isn’t good.」
「Hm? What’s wrong?」
「What deeesu?」
What’s going on now?
I finally got to meet a famous alchemist, and there’s so much I want to ask him.
「Uh… excuse me, but could you please wrap it up soon? You’re obstructing the flow of people…」
Ah…
At some point, a group of armored soldiers had gathered around us.
They were supposed to be stationed around the festival to handle any problems, and apparently, this was one of them…
「S-Sorry! Master! Let’s go!」
「Whaaat deeesuka!? Are you trying to tear apart the bond between me and my friend, deeesuka!? Cheeeeessss!」
「Yes yes yes! You’ve greeted him already, so that’s enough for today! You’ll get arrested at this rate!」
「Hibush! H-Hey, don’t drag me! My frieeend! I’ll come baaaaack!」
Chess-chan stepped into the tent, grabbed Eliodart by the legs, and began dragging him away.
Eliodart stretched out his hand toward me, wearing the saddest face imaginable as he was taken away.
I waved back weakly until he was out of sight, then bent at the waist in a deep ninety-degree bow toward the soldiers.
「I’m so sorry for the trouble!」
「Ah… no, it’s fine as long as it’s resolved. But please be careful next time…」
「Y-Yes! I’m very sorry!」
After that, I pulled myself together and reopened the stall.
But perhaps because of the earlier spectacle, people only watched from afar, too hesitant to come closer.
Fortunately, a group of children from the orphanage showed up, and once they did, others followed.
Thanks to them, the stall managed to draw a crowd again and ended up doing quite well in the end…..
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