Chapter 48
Chapter 48
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Rakiss's Feast Day (1)
Making the gift had taken longer than expected.
Perhaps because of that.
Rakiss decided to stay one more night.
In the end, it turned out to be fortunate.
Thanks to Rakiss lingering here, no snow fell on this region.
More precisely,
it wouldn't fall from now on.
Up until dawn, the weather had been poor.
The snow was coming down so heavily that you couldn't see far ahead,
and the wind was blowing fiercely, making me worry about how to get down the mountain with the child.
"...This is going to be tough to descend."
"?!"
The words slipped out unthinkingly.
The child, who had been peering out the window with me, immediately made a tearful face.
Her eyes grew wide and misty, her lips beginning to quiver.
It was already too late to swallow my musing.
"Ah..."
"......"
Only then did I realize how great her expectations had been.
It was just a casual remark born of worry about the weather,
but to her, it must have sounded like a declaration denying all possibilities.
"Hmm, what to do..."
"......"
"If I could turn back time to before the snow started..."
"Wait, Row. Let me help."
Rakiss approached and lightly gestured with his hand.
The view, obscured moments ago by thick white snowflakes, cleared up,
and dazzling sunlight began peeking through the dense gray clouds.
As if someone had deliberately pushed the weather aside.
Life instantly returned to the child's eyes.
Gazing at the suddenly clear sky, she broke into a radiant smile.
I lightly tapped my old friend's shoulder.
"You okay?"
"It's my feast day, after all. This much is fine."
"I see. Thanks."
Rakiss nodded silently.
His gaze upon the child was endlessly kind.
"......!"
"Hm...?"
The child, hesitating and gauging our reactions, cautiously grasped Rakiss's robe hem.
Then, pressing her lips tightly together,
she looked up at him and slowly bowed at the waist.
It was a clear gesture of thanks.
A pleased smile spread across my old friend's lips.
Rakiss gently stroked the child's head.
"You're welcome."
"......"
Good.
Now the child no longer felt awkward around Rakiss.
We had a very simple breakfast and packed the prepared dishes.
I'd made two dishes.
The steak the child had loved.
And mashed potato salad, perfect to go with the steak.
The child seemed to have packed all her things with Rakiss's help.
Her bag from the village recently.
Her hand-drawn pictures were rolled up and sticking out.
Those drawings were probably her feast day gift.
"All packed?"
"!"
"Let's go."
"......!"
The child's eyes sparkled.
After a final check of her bag, she tentatively reached out her arms.
I scooped her into my arms.
The weather was perfectly clear and bright.
"Nice weather."
"Indeed."
"Thanks, Rakiss."
Rakiss replied with a smile.
On the way down to the village, Rakiss was with us today.
I'd thought he'd head straight back to the divine realm, so this was a bit unexpected.
"This is something. Sticking around this long."
"I wanted to see a bit more. How you've been living."
Rakiss walked on, still wearing that kindly smile.
Perhaps because I'd often mentioned Hubert and Lauren lately.
He seemed intent on accompanying us all the way to the village.
He must have been curious about what I'd been up to after setting foot in the world for the first time in thousands of years.
I chuckled and spoke up.
"Yeah. Perfect timing, actually. There's something I wanted to show you."
"What might that be?"
"I was curious what reaction my old friend would have to the statue of himself in the village square."
"...You have a subtly mischievous side, don't you."
I burst out laughing at my old friend's gentle scolding.
Birds perched in the trees chirped softly,
and the noisy sounds of the festival gradually drew closer by contrast.
Adjusting the child in my arms, I murmured softly.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"The party, or my reaction."
"The latter right now."
"...Row."
"Haha."
Was my laughter too loud?
The child shifted a little in my arms.
Peeking out her face, she stared at me intently and blushed faintly.
"Yeah?"
"......"
"I'm looking forward to it, right?"
"!"
The child beamed and nodded repeatedly.
The village entrance.
It was incomparably livelier than before.
Even more vibrant decorations.
Paper flowers fluttering, lively music playing, the very air buzzing with excitement.
"Lots of people."
"......!"
"Indeed."
We strolled leisurely, looking around as we headed to the square.
The closer we got to the square, the more the sweet scent of fruit mingled with the aroma of baked bread.
Finally, we arrived at the square.
There were far more stalls and booths than before.
Food vendors,
souvenir sellers,
and the game booths run by general store merchants were all buzzing with even more energy.
Merchants bustling through the crowds, children's laughter filling the air.
Everyone was welcoming the feast day as if they'd been waiting for it.
I watched the scene blankly for a moment, then cautiously spoke to the child.
"Doesn't look like we can drop by there today. Too many people."
"......"
"Huh? You okay?"
"!"
The child nodded with a smile.
Pointing toward the bookstore.
Fortunately, her interest today seemed fixed on the party.
"Alright. Let's hurry."
"!"
I quickened my pace.
Before long, my steps halted at one spot.
My gaze, fixed ahead, slyly shifted sideways.
"Rakiss."
"...What."
"Look up."
At my urging, my old friend reluctantly lifted his bowed head.
A majestic posture,
an unnecessarily shiny ceremonial robe,
a comically stern face.
It resembled my old friend not in the slightest.
To the point that the subject's own face twisted.
I stole a glance at Rakiss's expression and let out a laugh.
Rakiss stared at the statue with furrowed brows, then pressed his forehead and looked at me.
"Row... Aren't you enjoying this a bit too much."
"...It's just... kind of... funny."
I covered my mouth, shoulders shaking.
As expected, being with my old friend was fun.
In all sorts of ways.
Perhaps because I couldn't easily hold back my laughter.
Rakiss's voice came, sounding a tad displeased.
"Your own statue isn't half bad either."
"Is it? It's been so long since I last saw it, I don't remember."
"You spout nonsense so smoothly."
I shrugged with a light chuckle.
His tone grumbled, but my old friend's expression was bright.
Because his beloved creations were celebrating the feast day each in their own way.
That alone
was more than enough to please him.
Rakiss gazed silently at the square for a while.
Children's laughter,
long lines of people,
music announcing the festival, and fragrant scents.
Everything proclaimed that the feast day was this land's joy.
"Still, it's not bad."
A very small, slow murmur.
That single phrase held all his true feelings.
I smiled leisurely and agreed with my old friend.
"Yeah. It's a good day."
"......!"
The child nodded too.
Her smile seemed to describe the day best.
In that smile were
excitement, joy, and just a hint of anticipation.
I slowly stroked the child's head.
At that moment—
Someone tapped my shoulder.
"Hm?"
"......?"
I turned my head.
There stood Mr. Hubert, waving lightly.
"!"
Seeing him, the child grinned brightly and waved both hands.
"Hello, Mr. Hubert."
"Ho ho, may the divine blessing be with you."
"Divine blessing?"
"It's the greeting for Lord Rakiss's feast day."
"I see."
The child's eyes widened.
Her gaze shifted from Mr. Hubert to Rakiss.
As her eyes moved, so did Mr. Hubert's naturally.
Then Mr. Hubert removed his hat and bowed politely.
"......?"
"May the divine blessing be with you today as well, priest."
Come to think of it,
Rakiss's manifested form was that of an ascetic monk.
Neat robes,
tanned skin and deep wrinkles.
The eyes of a faithful believer filled with firm conviction.
To anyone, he was a noble monk who had forsaken worldly ways.
The only one here who knew the true nature hidden beneath those robes was me.
And,
as always, my old friend did not reveal himself.
Rakiss bowed politely in return.
"Yes. May the divine blessing be with you too, brother."
"Ho ho, thank you."
Mr. Hubert bowed once more politely.
His gaze shifted from Rakiss to me.
A faint question flickered in Mr. Hubert's eyes.
"By the way, you. What connection do you have to be so close with the priest?"
"Uh...?"
"It was so unexpected, I almost thought it wasn't you for a moment."
I glanced at Rakiss.
His eyes on me held the usual mischief.
I swallowed a sigh and shrugged lightly.
"We've just known each other for a long time. That so surprising?"
"Surprising? Of course. You, so ignorant of feast days, knowing the priest. How could I not doubt my eyes?"
"Ah..."
"Haha, Row probably doesn't even know I'm a priest."
Rakiss, who had been listening to our exchange, added with a laugh.
"We became friends during my pilgrimage. He just thinks of me as a traveler."
"Ho ho, is that so."
"Yes. Even now, we happened to meet while passing by this village a few days ago."
Good.
Mr. Hubert nodded with a smile, no suspicion.
Rakiss bowed properly to Mr. Hubert.
"I've heard a lot about you. That you've been taking good care of Row. Thank you so much."
"Ho ho, no need. If anything, I've received much help from him. Thanks to this one, my old age hasn't been boring."
The warmth in his words.
It was more than a mere greeting—true sincerity.
Understanding that, my old friend smiled kindly.
"Ah, my introduction is late. My name is Raoul. Row's friend."
"Ho ho, I see. Pleased to meet you."
Mr. Hubert, who had been appraising Rakiss briefly, nodded with a softer expression.
For some reason, I felt a bit odd.
A strange itchiness, like my body was twisting uncomfortably.
Shaking off the inexplicable sensation, I said to Mr. Hubert.
"Let's head to the bookstore. Lauren's waiting."
"Ho ho, today's party isn't at the bookstore. It's at my house."
"Mr. Hubert's house?"
"Yes. Over there. Lauren's probably waiting there too."
Mr. Hubert's gaze turned to Rakiss.
"If it's alright, would the priest grace us with a visit?"
"...Huh? Why?"
"It'd be nice to have a simple blessing."
Turning my puzzled gaze aside,
my old friend nodded with a nonchalant smile.
"That much, gladly."
"Thank you, priest. This way."
And so, the feast day with Rakiss grew a little longer.