Chapter 289

"Time really does fly when you're having fun."

Lilly murmured, shaking the drink in her hand.

"The festival's almost over already."

The sun had already set.

But Crossroad's central square was still brightly lit, filled with people joyfully singing and dancing.

As Lilly watched those savoring the festival's final moments, Godhand, who was holding the handles of her wheelchair from behind, chimed in.

"You're right, Miss Lilly. It went by in a flash."

Lilly chuckled softly as she looked up at Godhand.

"Did you enjoy the festival, Godhand?"

"Absolutely. This was the most fun I've ever had at a festival in my entire life."

Godhand grinned widely, though his hair was pulled and tugged at various places, and some strands even appeared scorched. It was a consequence of getting scolded by Lilly on the first night of the festival. Still, he seemed quite cheerful, which made him look somewhat foolish.

'Well, he's been focusing on me since then...'

She felt there was no more need to scold him.

Quietly, Lilly deactivated a Level 1 skill, [Fire Cannon], she had stored in her magic power.

Even so, walking around with this activated seemed a bit excessive...

As he carefully observed Lilly, Godhand hesitated before asking,

"Did you really enjoy yourself, Miss Lilly?"

"Hm?"

"Um... it's my first time going on a date, so..."

Godhand scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"I was worried you might not find the time spent with me enjoyable."

"..."

"I'm not exactly... the most fun guy to be around..."

Staring intently at the flustered Godhand, Lilly burst into soft laughter.

"Just being with you is good enough for me."

Lilly didn't ask for anything extraordinary from her lover.

Sharing the same space, seeing the same scenery, experiencing the same things, and creating the same memories.

That was more than enough to make her happy, especially over these fleeting two days.

"..."

Mesmerized by Lilly, Godhand slowly moved to the front of her wheelchair.

"Mi, Miss Lilly!"

"Hm?"

Stuttering and hesitating, he slowly knelt on one knee.

"I know it's a bit late to say this now! But still, even if it's late!"

Frantically, Godhand took something out of his pocket.

It was a short piece of metal rod—a bland, clunky lump of iron.

But at Godhand's fingertips, that metal rod blossomed into a rose in an instant. It was a feat only possible because he was a metal mage.

As Lilly watched this miraculous scene in awe,

"Please... will you officially date me?"

With his eyes tightly closed, Godhand held out the metal rose.

"I will make you happy for as long as we're together. I can't say it'll be forever, but—"

His speech cut off as he bit his lip.

He spoke too hastily and ended up biting his lip. Despite the embarrassment and pain, Godhand somehow finished his confession.

"I will... make you happy."

"..."

Staring at the awkward Godhand, Lilly let out a brief laugh.

"Let me see your lip."

"Huh?"

"Your lip. It looks like it's bleeding. Show me."

Godhand hesitantly leaned his face forward. Lilly, who had been holding his chin to examine his wounded lips, lightly kissed him.

"...?!"

Godhand's face instantly flushed red. With a similarly reddened face, Lilly grinned.

"I'd love to date you. But there's one thing you must promise."

"W-what promise?"

"Never lie to me. No matter the situation, always tell me the truth. ...Can you promise that?"

Without hesitation, Godhand nodded.

"Of course, my lady."

The two awkwardly chuckled, their eyes meeting for a long moment. 

Just when the mood was becoming perfect,

Bang! Thud!

A sudden crashing noise came from the side.

Startled, Godhand and Lilly turned their heads to find Bodybag and Burnout toppled over near a trashcan at the corner of the square.

It looked like they had been spying and had accidentally fallen over...

"Gah! S-sorry! I wasn't trying to eavesdrop!"

Bodybag hastily scrambled to her feet and flailed her arms, her face a picture of embarrassment.

"I was just worried, okay? Worried if Godhand, who's been forever single, could actually handle a relationship...! So, I was just following to see...!"

Nod-nod-nod!

Burnout fervently nodded in agreement next to her.

The great mood they had been in was instantly shattered. Just as Godhand was about to reprimand his younger siblings,

"Come here, Bodybag. Burnout."

Lilly gestured, her hand covering her smiling mouth.

"Let's hang out together."

Surprised, Bodybag and Burnout's eyes widened.

"Huh? But..."

"Godhand is your brother, right? Now that he and I are dating, we should be seeing a lot more of each other."

Lilly beckoned the two elves.

"Let's get along. Now, let's enjoy the rest of the festival together."

After some cautious glances, Bodybag and Burnout cautiously joined Lilly and Godhand's side.

Godhand looked apologetically at Lilly, but she didn't mind.

Having instant younger sisters felt rather nice, actually.

Not bad at all.

Boom! Fizzle!

Just then, several fireworks soared into the sky above Crossroad's central square, scattering into embers. Bodybag pointed upward and exclaimed,

"Fireworks!"

"Really? It's a fireworks display!"

And so it began. Fireworks of various colors adorned the sky of Crossroad, launched from all around the city.

Lilly, who had been quietly watching, murmured,

"The end of the Fall Festival really should be fireworks."

They were fireworks befitting a small, rural town—small and modest. 

Yet they were beautiful.

The crowd gathered in the square cheered and looked up at the fireworks display. Bodybag and Burnout jumped and ran under the colorful bursts.

As she watched the scene, Lilly quietly reached out, took Godhand's hand, and held it tightly.

Godhand's long ears flushed red. Finding this adorably noticeable, Lilly covered her mouth and chuckled.

'Elves have their charms.'

She had discovered an unexpected advantage.

"Let's watch them together next year, too—the fireworks."

In response to Lilly's soft whisper, Godhand smiled and replied,

"Yes, next year, too. Definitely."

***

Fizzle! Boom!

The fireworks continued to ascend.

Startled, I looked up from where I was sitting on the mat in a corner of the square, drinking and chatting with my party members. What the heck?

Evangeline, who had been cheerfully chewing on some grilled squid, looked up at the sky with a radiant face.

"Ah, it's time for the fireworks!"

"Fireworks time?"

"It's the grand finale of the Fall Festival. Ending it with fireworks is a tradition, you know."

I wasn't aware of such a tradition. Quite the flashy way to wrap things up.

"True, the scale is much smaller than the grand fireworks of the Imperial Capital, so I can see why you might be surprised."

"I mean, that wasn't exactly my point..."

The truth is, I've always been more of an indoor gamer, unfamiliar with these extroverted festivities.

Either way, everyone who had been loudly chatting on the mat looked up at the sky in unison.

And they all quietly watched the magical fireworks bloom in various colors.

Kellibey was there, and so was his assistant, Hannibal.

Kuilan and the Penal Squad. Verdandi and the Holy Grail Seekers. Aegis Special Forces and Shadow Squad. And Lilly.

Including Saintess Margarita and all other heroes, as well as many soldiers.

And my main party members beside me. Everyone was gazing at the fireworks festival.

"..."

Instead of watching the fireworks, I observed the faces of those looking up at them.

Once the festival ends, we would have to return to our daily grind of battling monsters.

However, the memories of such peaceful moments like these would act as a sturdy anchor, preventing our weary hearts from drifting away.

People gain the strength to live another year, and another, through such moments.

"It was fun, the Fall Festival."

"Hehe. Wasn't it?"

"I'm looking forward to next year!"

As I mumbled, Evangeline and Damien responded with broad smiles.

"Next year, huh."

Junior gave a bitter smile and took a puff of her cigar,

"..."

Lucas stayed silent, only watching the dispersing fireworks.

It was then.

"Your Highness."

A clear voice rang out from the edge of the square. I looked and saw Serenade standing there.

Under the colorful lighting of bursting fireworks and with her glossy hair fluttering in the autumn wind, Serenade somehow looked like a mermaid. Scales or no scales.

I felt as if a refreshing scent, like sea foam, emanated from her.

I quickly stood up and faced Serenade.

"Serenade, you've worked really hard throughout this festival."

I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.

"While you were busy working, I just enjoyed myself. I'm sorry."

"Hehe, don't mention it. I'm glad that you had a good time, Your Highness."

Serenade's silvery eyes rounded as she offered a sweet smile. Suddenly she exclaimed, "Ah!" and extended one hand toward me.

"Your Highness, since I've worked hard throughout this festival... Will you give me a reward?"

"Of course. What would you like?"

As I asked with a sly grin, I remembered something Serenade had once asked me for.

You know, that... s-s-seed...

'Ahem!'

As long as it's not that kind of thing, I can happily oblige.

I waited for Serenade's response with slight tension.

Then, giggling, Serenade took a step closer and opened her palm.

"Would you dance a song with me?"

"Huh? You mean, dance?"

"Yes. The day of the Dance Festival isn't over yet, is it?"

Her face was flushed as she boldly made the request. Was she a bit nervous?

Pausing for a moment, I broke into a carefree smile and slowly stood in front of Serenade, taking both of her hands.

"My pleasure, partner."

Boom... Fizz...!

Under the bright light of the bursting fireworks,

At a moment when everyone's attention was fixed on the sky, we hid outside their line of sight. Not in the center of the plaza, but in a quiet corner.

We began to waltz slowly.

There was no music, no chandelier, no stage, but the atmosphere had its own charm.

Having spent a long time in the Imperial Capital, we danced together seamlessly.

Serenade, her face aglow with happiness in my arms, whispered softly.

"Your Highness."

"Hm?"

"Do you remember when I said, a few days ago, that I had something important to tell you?"

I remembered.

On her first day arriving here in Crossroad, Serenade had said with a determined expression:

- I have something important that I must tell Your Highness directly.

The message that she said she had to personally convey to me, making the long journey from the Imperial Capital to this place, Crossroad.

Her real reason for visiting this remote southern region.

But whether it was because we hadn't had a chance to be alone, she hadn't told me until now.

I swallowed hard. What could she possibly want to say to me?

'Could it be a co, co, confession?'

Ah, I'm not emotionally prepared for this yet...! Even I think it's pathetic, but I really can't handle this kind of thing...!

Serenade glanced around nervously, confirming that nobody was nearby.

As we continued to waltz, after making sure multiple times that no listening ears were around, Serenade whispered softly into my ear.

"...There is a conspiracy unfolding."

My mind went blank.

I couldn't understand what she was saying all of a sudden. I blinked in confusion and asked nervously,

"What?"

"There is a conspiracy unfolding in the Imperial Capital, Your Highness."

Serenade repeated, her face deadly serious, whispering once more into my ear.

"Second Prince Fernandez is planning to rebel...!"