After the children made their purchases, the number of customers gradually increased. Though it was still before noon, a small line had formed, and things were starting to get moderately busy.
「It’s about time we rotate for breaks.」
When I muttered that, it felt like everyone froze for a moment before moving again.
Only Renge remained still, trembling slightly before suddenly raising her head.
「Fufufu… The first break of the day belongs to messu!」
「Hm? You’re the first one taking a break?」
「Nope! It’s the right to take a break ‘with’ you, masterssu! The festival lasts three days, right? But we might be too busy to take proper breaks, so I made sure to win the first onessu!」
Renge beamed from ear to ear, while four pairs of eyes glared at her with clear resentment.
Only Mizera quietly continued her work, but the others had completely stopped moving.
「Ugh… If only I’d held back a little longer instead of hugging his arm all the time…」
「Don’t say that, Sorte. Renge’s been saving it for this moment. Besides, it was decided by a vote…」
「But still… We’re fourth and fifth, you know? What if we don’t even get a break? What if the third day gets so busy it’s canceled?」
「…It should be fine. Probably.」
A vote?
Ah, they must have decided that while I was away at the Grand Cathedral in the capital.
「Come on, master! Let’s go enjoy the festival togetherssu!」
「Ah, yeah. But I’m kind of worried about the stall…」
「It’s finessu! With four people, they’ll managessu! Now hurry up! Time is limitedssu!」
「Alright, alright, stop pushing me! I’ll go!」
As the others gave me a half-hearted send-off, Renge kept pushing from behind, forcing me out of the stall.
「So, where are we starting?」
「First, we get foodssu! I’m starvingssu!」
「Yeah… but everywhere’s packed.」
「I know, right? I wanna go around and see everything with you, but this is toughssu.」
Looking around, I could see that every stall had long lines since it was around lunchtime.
『Come get your Caterpillaryaki! The end of the line is around the corner!』
…Just how popular ‘are’ those Caterpillaryaki?
Well, I guess it makes sense. It’s a specialty of this town, after all…..
「Master?」
「Ah, sorry. So, have you decided where to go?」
「Let’s go there for nowssu! The line’s moving fast, and it looks fillingssu!」
Renge pointed toward a stall that simply grilled meat and served it on skewers.
There were about ten people in line, but since the cooks were constantly grilling, the turnover seemed quick enough.
「Alright, let’s line up then.」
「Yesssu!」
As I thought about how grilled beef skewers weren’t much different from what you’d usually buy at any food stall, Renge suddenly clung to my arm.
「Ehehe, it feels like it’s been a while, you knowssu.」
「Feels like what has?」
「Your arm, master. I let Aina and Sorte have it last time, but now it’s just me and masterssu! It makes me so happy!」
Last time, huh. Ah, that must be when I went to the Adventurer’s Guild with Mizera.
She mentioned earlier that she ‘won’ this time, so apparently, there’s some kind of system or agreement going on behind my back. Whatever it is, I probably don’t want to know.
「Now that I think about it… this is the first time it’s just the two of us going out like this, rightssu?」
「Huh? Haven’t we gone out for dinner shopping and stuff before?」
「That doesn’t countssu! I mean, like this, like we’re a couplessu!」
「Ah, so this is… our first date.」
「Yesssu! Isn’t it nice that our first date is during a festival?」
Renge squeezed my arm tighter, pressing her whole body against me.
「Mmm! A private date with master all to myselfssu! What luxuryssu!」
「Well, I’m happy I get to have you all to myself too… but your excitement level’s pretty high, huh.」
You ‘do’ realize we’re outside, right?
The couples in front and behind us have completely stopped talking, you know.
「Of course I’m excited! Normally I can’t be this casual with you, master. You always play with the sensitive spots and make me feel all meltyssu…」
「…Renge. You’re talking about your tail, right?」
「Of coursessu! Aah, did you imagine something weird just now? You’re such a pervssu!」
No, the ones imagining things were definitely the couples silently standing around us.
They were awkwardly laughing now, probably trying to cover the weird tension that had filled the air.
The guy behind me probably wanted to use the festival mood to get close to his date later tonight…
I could only hope this didn’t ruin his chances.
「Mmm! Salt really is the bestssu!」
「You think so? This sauce one’s pretty good too.」
We bought two skewers each, pork and beef, one with sauce and one with salt, and found a quiet spot away from the crowd to eat.
Each skewer had a good amount of meat, so two were more than enough to fill us up.
「Is that so? Then, aaahn!」
「Alright. Careful, the sauce might drip.」
「Mgh mgh… nhafh hafh nee!」
「Swallow before you talk.」
「Mgh mgh… nn. Not bad! But the salted one’s good toossu!」
I took a bite from the beef skewer Renge offered, pulling the meat off the stick. It really was delicious.
Salt brought out the flavor of the meat beautifully, but the sauce, clearly crafted with care by the vendor, was impressive too.
Since there were no mass-produced seasonings here, each stall competed with its own unique sauce, which made tasting them all the more enjoyable.
「Soo, where should we go nextssu?」
As Renge looked up at the sky, pondering, I took the empty skewers from her hand and tossed them into a nearby bin.
「Well, it ‘is’ our break, so we probably can’t go too far.」
「That’s truessu… mmm, maybe we just walk around for a bit then.」
「You sure about that?」
「Anything’s fun as long as I’m with you, masterssu!」
You’re saying nice things again, huh.
Of course, I also enjoyed just spending time with Renge like this.
「Master, look over there! Something’s going onssu!」
「Oh, you’re right… wait, is that guy juggling knives? Just watching makes me nervous.」
Some kind of street performance?
The performer was balancing on a ball while juggling four knives, and it was nerve-racking just to watch.
「But the blades are dulled, and even if he drops one, it doesn’t look like it’d hurt muchssu.」
「You can tell that just by looking, huh.」
As expected, she noticed things I couldn’t.
I still couldn’t tell whether those blades were blunt or not.
「Huh? Renge-san?」
A voice called from behind, and when we turned around, one of the girls whose tail I had brushed earlier was standing there, also holding a man’s arm.
「Oh, you two on a date toossu?」
「That’s right! Wait, ‘too’? So, you’re on a date as well, Renge-san!」
「Uhehe, that’s rightssu! Today I’ve got master all to myselfssu!」
「Wow, so you won the great struggle, huh? Ah, right, let me introduce you! This is the person I told you about earlier, the one who cleaned my tail!」
When the girl introduced me, I bowed slightly to the man beside her. He returned the gesture a moment later.
He was a beastkin with triangular ears, white with blue tips.
I had the faint feeling I’d seen him at the Adventurers’ Guild before, though I couldn’t be sure. Judging by his build, he was likely an adventurer or perhaps a soldier.
「…Um」
「Hmm… quite the large tail you have there.」
「Ah…」
The man had started to say something in a low voice, but my eyes were drawn to his tail before he could continue.
It was easily one of the most impressive tails I’d ever seen.
Was the fur coarse? If it was soft, it would surely be wonderfully fluffy to the touch.
Then again, if it was firm, that had its own appeal, strong, proud, and dignified.
It looked well-kept, though not quite at its best.
「Ufufu. See? I told you, right?」
「Ah… seems that way. My apologies.」
「Hm? What’s wrong?」
「I told him that a man helped make my tail all nice and shiny, and he got upset… But I said, he’s not like that! He just really loves tails! But he wouldn’t believe me.」
Ah… I see now.
Yeah, that makes sense.
As a fellow man, I get it, it doesn’t feel great when another guy touches something precious to your girl.
…Guess I’d better make sure to ask about relationships and permission next time.
「Ah… sorry about that.」
「No, I should apologize for doubting you. But actually…」
「Hm?」
The man brought his hand to his mouth, clearly wanting to speak so the girl couldn’t hear. I leaned closer to listen.
「…I plan to greet her parents soon. Would you… be willing to take care of ‘my’ tail, too?」
「Ooooh…! Leave it to me! I’ll contact the Guild Master about a time that works for both of us, alright?」
「Understood. I’ll count on you then.」
「What’s this? A secret conversation?」
「N-no, nothing at all.」
「Yup, nothing at all!」
「…Master’s way too excited. Doesn’t sound like nothing to me. Probably about tails, huh?」
「Ah, I see…」
How did she figure that out? Forgive me, my fellow man, but at least she doesn’t know the reason why!
And still, woohoo! A fluffy tail!
As expected, beastkin really care about keeping their tails beautiful.
And since this is for a marriage greeting, I’ll make sure to do it perfectly!
After the couple bowed and walked away arm in arm, I waved them off with a quick see-you-later. Beside me, Renge started grinning mischievously.
「So? What was that really about?」
「Hm? The guy said he’s going to greet her parents soon, so he wanted me to make his tail look nice.」
「Ohh, not exactly wrong then. So that means they’re getting marriedssu?」
「Most likely.」
「Haa… marriagessu…」
「What’s wrong?」
「Nothing, really. Just thinking master’s way too capable for his own good.」
…Sorry!
I can’t choose just one person… I really can’t!
「Well, everyone loves master the way you are, so it’s finessu.」
「…Thank you!」
The fact that all I could do was thank her made me feel kind of awful.
But what else can I do? There’s no other way.
Because I love them all.
「Actually, it might be more accurate to say that one person alone couldn’t handle all of master’s desiressu.」
「…I really am sorry!」
「Ahaha. It’s fine! As long as you take me out on a date like this once in a while, I’m happyssu!」
Haah… really, she’s too good for me.
But if that’s how she feels, then I’ll make sure she enjoys this day to the fullest!
「Alright then, Renge! We still have time, so let’s look around some more!」
「Yesssu! Wait…」
I took her hand and intertwined our fingers.
It was the kind of hand-holding couples did, the lovers’ hold.
「Wow, this is nice! It really feels extra romantic!」
Yeah, I know what she means.
It does make you worry a little about sweaty palms, but the feeling of closeness more than makes up for it.
Renge squeezed my hand tightly, savoring the warmth between us.
「Alright, master! The festival’s still going strongssu!」
「Yeah! Let’s go!」
We wandered around the stalls, drifting this way and that, enjoying every bit of the festival.
At the end, we bought some souvenirs and made our way back to the stall, still holding hands the whole time.
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