Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Gifts for the Four (1)
It was full-blown winter.
The once colorful village had long been blanketed in snow, turning pure white.
Just as I was getting used to that monotonous scenery,
colors of various kinds began to reappear throughout the village.
Gaudy lights,
colorful cloths and decorations hanging from every house,
even a statue of Rakiss erected in the village square.
I looked up at the statue of my old friend as seen by modern humans.
The ornately decorated figure
shone with an oddly excessive sparkle,
clearly trying hard to look dignified.
'...It doesn't look like him at all.'
Not just the fact that it only had two arms,
but more than that, none of them resembled him in the slightest.
Rakiss was unpretentious.
He didn't wear flashy ceremonial robes,
nor did he make such stern expressions.
I suddenly wondered.
What reaction would my friend have if he saw that statue now?
It would surely be an amusing one.
Rakiss disliked formalities as much as I did.
'That's another story to tell him.'
I hoped his revisit would be before the festival.
So I could see my old friend's reaction with my own eyes.
A light laugh leaked out.
At that moment, the child in my arms tugged at my robe.
"Hm?"
"..."
"You want to eat that?"
"...!"
Where the child was pointing,
there was a freshly baked sweet potato with white steam rising curlingly.
I bought a bag of sweet potatoes.
I carefully peeled one and placed it in the child's hand.
As always, the child
carefully broke off a piece with her small hand and fed it to me first.
The sweet flavor tickled my tongue.
"Delicious."
"...!"
"No, I'm good, so eat a lot."
"..."
Only then did the child put some sweet potato in her own mouth.
She blew on it, flapping her hands as if it was hot, and her eyes sparkled.
The warm sweetness must have filled her mouth.
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.
"It's not even festival day yet, but all sorts of foods are already out."
"...?"
"It's amazing."
"...!"
The child looked around with sparkling eyes.
Even while munching on the sweet potato, her head kept turning this way and that.
Colorful decorations,
people laughing and chatting,
occasional sounds of instruments.
The festival was a few days away,
but the village was already overflowing with excitement.
Was she influenced by the atmosphere?
Looking at the child whose shoulders were twitching, I slowly opened my mouth.
"Want to do something?"
"..."
The child's eyes wavered for a moment.
Hesitation and fear.
And a very cautious hope.
After hesitating for a long time, the child nodded slightly.
"Got it. Let's do it together."
"...!"
No sooner had I spoken,
than the child's gaze busily darted around.
Then she pointed to one spot.
It was a game booth at the edge of the market.
Not many were open yet,
but children were fully enjoying that small space.
"Want to go there?"
"...!"
"Yeah. Let's go."
I headed to the frontmost booth.
As I approached holding the child,
the merchant greeted us with a big smile.
Fortunately, he was kind and smiling toward the child.
"Oh my, you've come out together again today."
"Yeah."
"You know the rules... right?"
"No idea. How do you play?"
"Haha! It's simple. See the score chart? You pop balloons with these darts, and depending on how many you hit, you pick one of the prizes listed here."
The child's eyes sparkled.
On the table,
from bear dolls to colorful hairpins,
baskets full of candy—various items were placed.
"Anything you like?"
"..."
After hesitating slightly,
the child pointed to a small transparent orb at the edge of the table.
A glass marble where white powder like snowflakes slowly settled inside.
A simple toy, but
the winter scene engraved inside was delicate and beautiful.
"...That one?"
"..."
The child nodded slowly.
"I'll give it a try."
"Yes─! There are 10 darts, so throw carefully! Got it, little miss?"
"...!"
The child looked at the merchant with wide eyes.
Then she shyly smiled and nodded.
"Here you go!"
"Good. Throw it."
"!"
I handed the dart from the merchant to the child.
First one.
Toward the red balloon,
the child threw the dart with all her might.
Pop─!
The dart flew at a suitable speed,
and the balloon burst with a cheerful sound.
"Ooh..."
"Wow, impressive, little miss! You're strong!"
"...!"
The child looked up at me.
Anticipation and excitement shone in her eyes.
"Yeah. Good job."
"!"
The child's mouth corners slowly rose.
Her small shoulders twitched slightly, and she quickly picked up the second dart.
Second,
third,
fourth.
Without a moment's pause, darts flew toward the balloons.
One missed,
one hit,
and another slipped from her hand, dropping to the floor with a thud.
"..."
"Haha! We'll pretend that didn't happen, try again!"
The merchant picked up the fallen dart and handed it to the child.
The child shyly bowed her head in thanks,
and gripped the dart tightly in her small hand once more.
Pop─!
It hit right in the center.
The balloon burst with a cheerful sound.
The child, eyes shining, turned to me.
"...!"
"You're doing great."
"!"
"Fun?"
The child beamed and nodded.
Before long,
six darts remained.
As the darts decreased, the child's eyes grew more serious.
Fifth, miss.
Sixth and seventh, hits.
Having gotten the feel, the eighth was also a hit.
"...!"
"Whoa, little miss, you're no ordinary player?!"
Pleased by the praise, perhaps.
Her giggling laughter rang pleasantly in my ears.
"Now two left."
"Wait, don't you want to try, sir?"
"...Me?"
The merchant grinned mischievously and nodded toward the darts.
I was about to refuse, saying no need,
but the child's eyes quickly sparkled with anticipation.
Before I knew it,
the dart the child offered was in my hand.
"Hmm..."
"...!"
"Hey, don't just watch from the side. These things are best done together!"
How did it come to this?
Somehow, the mood had shifted to me throwing the remaining ones.
Even if I wanted to refuse,
the child's gaze kept me from speaking.
'Troublesome...'
I glanced down at my hand.
Unconsciously, strength entered my grip.
I'd gotten somewhat used to controlling my strength in daily life.
Because standing out would be troublesome in many ways.
But,
with this unfamiliar activity, tension got the better of me more than expected.
"Um..."
"..."
"...I'll try my best."
"...!"
One more to go for the marble the child wanted.
Thinking that made my hand tense up again for some reason.
I took a light deep breath and relaxed.
'Very gently, carefully.'
I steadied my breath and raised the dart.
Not too hard,
but not missing.
I carefully aimed the dart.
Finally,
the dart left my hand.
Roll roll roll─.
Instead of a pop,
the sound of the dart rolling on the floor echoed.
It was a small sound,
but at that moment, it was crystal clear.
Silence fell for a moment.
The rolling dart came to a stop on the floor.
"Ah..."
"..."
"Uahaha─! Oh dear, sir, you should learn from the little miss!"
The giggling child's eyes sparkled.
Then she mimed throwing a dart with gestures.
She probably wanted to teach me her secret technique.
I gazed at her steadily,
then chuckled and stroked her head.
"Got it. One more try."
"...!"
The child nodded vigorously.
Her eyes seemed to say, 'You'll hit it next time for sure!'
I gripped the dart again.
'A bit more strength than before should do it.'
To get the feel, I flicked my wrist a few times.
Each time, the child intently mimed throwing with a focused face.
Honestly,
I had no idea what secret technique she was trying to teach me...
but the unnecessary tension definitely eased.
I threw the dart lightly.
The dart flew straight toward the target.
Pop─!
"!!!"
"Ooh─! That one hit properly!"
The child's eyes widened in an instant.
A mix of surprise and joy on her face.
She raised both arms high and shook them repeatedly.
A bright smile bloomed on her innocent face.
"You both have great skills? My booth's gonna go bust."
"..."
"Now, little miss! Pick what you want from here!"
The child quickly chose the glass marble.
As it went into her bosom,
she clutched it tight and stared at it for a long time.
Each time she gently shook it, white powder swirled,
and she couldn't take her eyes off the pretty vortex.
"...!"
"Yeah. Pretty."
The child smiled brightly and nodded.
I looked at the child once,
then around once.
There were other customers at the booth,
but fortunately, there seemed to be a moment for a short chat.
I spoke to the merchant who was refilling balloons.
"Um, I have a question."
"Hm? What is it?"
"What kind of gifts do people usually give for the festival?"
He was also a general store merchant in the village.
The merchant thought for a moment, crossed his arms, and answered.
"Let's see. Gifts... For kids, toys or picture books?"
"For adults?"
"Between adults, something useful or something handmade."
I mulled over the merchant's words slowly.
It was subtly similar to what Loren had said.
"...It's hard."
"Haha! Don't overthink it."
The merchant uncrossed his arms and laughed leisurely.
"If it makes the recipient smile, that's all it takes."
"I see..."
"No need for something grand; picking it while thinking of that person's face—that's the best gift."
He went on about how he wooed his wife that way,
unnecessary chit-chat dragging on.
But that one line was quite helpful.
"Thanks."
"No problem!"
We left the booth.
There was a lot to do today as well.
First...
I needed to prepare the festival foods in advance.
"Today we'll stop by there too."
"...?"
The child tilted her head.
There was the butcher shop Hubert had recommended.