Founding Festival (3)
“Long time no see!”
“Yeah.”
It had been almost two weeks since the semester ended, so it really had been a while. Not that I was thrilled about it. This was supposed to be a rare day off to relax, after all. Being around Evan meant there was no telling what kind of trouble we'd stumble into. That was the protagonist's fate—and his curse.
“When did you get back?”
“I arrived today. Oh, hello, Senior Rana!”
Evan belatedly noticed Rana and greeted her too.
“Hey, Junior Evan. What brings you here? Out for some fun?”
“Yeah. I got here about two hours ago, and when I heard the amusement park was open, I came running.”
As if to prove he'd arrived first, Evan was dressed in a wizard outfit just like us.
“You beat us here. But who's that behind you?”
There was a kid glued right to Evan's back. She looked about elementary school age. The girl peeked out just enough to glance our way.
“Oh, her? She's my little sister. Ria, say hi. These are my seniors.”
The girl introduced as Ria stepped forward cautiously, bowed, and greeted us.
“Hello...”
She gave a quick greeting before ducking back behind her brother. I could've sworn she glared at me during it, but it must've been my imagination.
“So cute...!”
Rana's eyes sparkled at the reaction, and she rushed over in one bound. She scooped Ria up and started petting her wildly.
“Junior Evan, why didn't you say something sooner? You should've told me you had such an adorable little sister!”
“Haha, there just wasn't a chance to mention it.”
“Your name's Ria? I'm Rana Heytald. Nice to meet you!”
Rana stuck close to Ria, showing no signs of letting go. For her to react like this on a first meeting meant she was totally smitten.
“Eek, let me go...”
Evan's sister Ria, on the other hand, squirmed desperately to escape, but it was no use. She was still shy around strangers.
Zing.
I felt that gaze again.
Hm. That felt like another glare...'
The first one could be a fluke, but twice in a row? No mistake. I had no idea why, but it seemed like the kid had taken a dislike to me.
“Let's move somewhere else first.”
The spot wasn't great for chatting.
“Here are your beers.”
We'd arrived at a street pub and ordered drinks right away. The server soon set down trays overflowing with mugs on our table. Of course, it wasn't real booze—just a perfect imitation. The taste was close to ginger ale.
“It really feels like drinking beer!”
Rana marveled, her mouth covered in foam. The carbonation and foam texture matched beer perfectly, so the sensation wasn't far off.
“What, have you had real beer before?”
“Grandpa let me try a few times...”
“Why do you look so guilty? It's fine to have a taste.”
The legal drinking age was twenty, but the empire wasn't too strict about it. Kids our age could have a drink or two. Plus, four hundred years ago, adulthood started at fifteen.
“Hehe, right? Hey, Kyle, have you tried it before?”
“Yeah.”
I hadn't since possessing this body, but the original Kyle must have. Come to think of it, back when I first transmigrated, I craved booze and smokes... Lately, I didn't even think about it. Must be the new body.
Anyway.
“So, why'd you come to the capital with your sister?”
“Ria wanted to see it, and since we could use the warp gate, I figured it was fine to bring her.”
“You're a good brother, Junior Evan. Looking after your sister and all.”
“Haha, chances like this don't come often. Our village doesn't have much in the way of fun.”
Evan's hometown was the boonies of the boonies.
“More importantly, were you two on a date?”
“Yeah, we were.”
“Uh... Did I interrupt?”
“If you knew that, why'd you say hi?”
I shot back curtly, and Ria glared at me. It was pretty cute.
“Sorry, hyungnim. I should've been more perceptive...”
“I'm kidding. Can't I even joke around?”
The protagonist got all down over that? I really needed to toughen up that soft head of his.
“Glad to hear it. Still, maybe we should split up for fun?”
That was when Evan spoke. Ria, who was glued to his side, tugged lightly at his sleeve.
“Oppa. I wanna hang out with that big sis.”
“Huh? Well...”
“You wanna hang with me?! Ria, you're so cute...!”
Evan looked troubled, while Rana was ready to pounce with a hug. Then they both looked at me.
“Why're you looking at me?”
“We need your permission, hyungnim?”
“Kyle! I wanna play with Ria!”
“Hmm...”
I pretended to think it over, turning away. My eyes met Ria's. For a second, it felt like a staring contest, then she huffed and looked away.
Cute kid.
Maybe it was her age, but her actions and speech were endearingly childish.
“If that's what you want, Rana, go ahead.”
“Thanks!”
At my approval, the girl sighed in relief. I didn't know why she disliked me, but we'd figure it out slowly.
“Argh! I overspent...!”
Evan tore at his hair. His hands were full of shopping bags, and his body was loaded with toys and magic tools.
“I-I didn't plan to buy this much...! Hyungnim, what do I do?!”
“What do you mean? Just take it. You already used them, so no refunds.”
The wizard street was packed with magic-related shops. Evan, obsessed with magic, couldn't tear his eyes away. This was the result.
“That's not what I meant! If this is just the start, the other places...”
“Are you a kid or what...”
I sighed inwardly.
“No, hyungnim! How do you pass this up...!”
He headed for another shop. I dragged him back.
“You would've been in big trouble if you'd come last year. They were selling weird golems.”
“Golems? What kind—”
“Cut it out.”
I interrupted before his curiosity veered into strange territory. Ria, who'd been watching her brother, spoke up.
“Oppa, I'm telling Mom. You wasted money on useless stuff.”
“No, Ria, don't...!”
We arrived at the next spot: a train station where a train was stopped.
“Whoa... Ria, look. It's a train.”
“I know, oppa.”
The siblings couldn't take their eyes off it. Trains were rare outside big cities due to maintenance and safety issues—they only ran between major hubs.
“Didn't expect a train. That's why it took so long?”
“Maybe. Let's board anyway.”
An announcement said the train would depart soon. We could sightsee inside.
The interior was impressive. Like in the novel, it had divided rooms for four people each. Perfect for our group of four.
We sat, and the train lurched into motion right away.
“Ooh...”
“Wow...”
The siblings reacted the same. Their eyes were glued to the whipping-by scenery outside. No response to calls, and Evan was drooling.
“Hehe, they act just alike. Siblings, huh?”
“Families take after each other.”
“But you and Veil don't. You guys don't get along.”
“Can't help it. Brothers, sisters—kids rarely get along.”
These two were the exception. For good reason, of course.
“Still, having a sibling seems nice. I'd be happy every day.”
“......”
Rana seemed to have some fantasy about it. Experience would shatter that.
Then an old lady came down the aisle pushing a cart.
“Candy for sale?”
“One of each kind, please.”
I handed over gold, and she filled a basket with treats before moving on with a kind smile.
I looked at the basket and called to Ria.
“Kiddo.”
It worked like a charm. She whipped around at the word.
“I'm not a kiddo...”
“What else do you call a kiddo?”
“I have a name: Ria.”
“So you want me to use that?”
“......”
“Whatever. Here, take this.”
I shoved the basket at her. She stared like what now?
“Eat it.”
“......”
“That's why I gave it.”
Ria pouted briefly.
“Thank you.”
She bowed politely, then started unwrapping candies.
“Ria, can sis have one too?”
“Me too, just one!”
The three munched away. Noticing I wasn't eating, Ria offered me one.
“Thanks.”
I popped it in and chewed. Ten minutes later, we reached the next station.
We got off at a station with an open view. Signs helpfully pointed the way.
We passed through woods, over a bridge, and reached the main attraction: a castle. Well, a school themed as one.
It nailed the vibe—grand and gothic.
The inside drew gasps.
“Ooh...”
“Only geniuses in the imperial family? How'd they think of this?”
“Oppa, the paintings are moving.”
It captured the original perfectly: moving stairs, portraits, floating ghosts—all magic, of course.
We checked the guidebook from the entrance.
“So much to see. Dungeons and hidden rooms would take all day. Experiences too.”
“Gotta come tomorrow?”
“We can skip some. Hit the highlights.”
True to the theme, most novel elements were here. Crowds thronged the castle.
“Evan, keep an eye on your sister.”
“Yes, sir!”
Just in case. Easy place to lose a kid.
Rana stuck to me; Evan to his sister. I led, knowing the fun spots from the novel.
We flew broomsticks around the castle, bought quality herbs, played giant chess against other guests.
There was a mana-user experience: giant snake hunt.
“This is fun! Way better than last year!”
“Ugh, no more spending...”
Rana loved it all, urging more exploration. Evan bought souvenirs after.
“Hmm, next up...”
I scanned the guidebook. Then, a sinking feeling.
“Rana. Evan.”
“Yeah? What, Kyle?”
“What's up?”
I scanned around. No kid in sight.
“Where's Ria?”
“Huh?”
“Oh...”
“Shit...”
Me, Rana, Evan—we'd gotten too caught up in the fun and lost Ria.