Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Twilight Flower?
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- Twilight Flower?
In a world bathed in twilight glow, there was a flower field that bloomed only briefly in hues of dusk.
- It's a wondrous flower that unfurls its buds only when twilight falls—a place my master loved.
One of the dazzling memories that sustained me from the depths of my heart.
Three hundred years ago, on the day we visited that place, Fride had gazed wistfully into the distance, puffing away at her cigarette nonstop.
Fride would curse her master as a pathetic witch far worse than herself, a total mess of a smoker—yet strangely, she loved talking about her.
- Of course, I, the Fire Dragon's Shrine Maiden Fride, love it too. So remember it well.
- I don't have the brain space for such trivial info. I'd rather fill it with one more math formula.
- Where do you think you're going? Knowing someone's favorite foods or scenery is pretty important, hehe.
- Hehe, hehe, hehe, hehe.
Back then, Fride had blown a puff of cigarette smoke right into my face as I tried to flee, making me cough and my eyes water, then burst into laughter.
- You...!
I barely escaped that fog, but I couldn't get revenge.
Because Fride's face, as seen through my teary eyes, somehow looked like she was crying while laughing.
- These little memories... they keep you from feeling like a total loner after that person is gone.
Fride, staring at the distant horizon where twilight fell, flashed a gentle smile at me frozen in place.
- Lin, when you're left alone someday, these memories from here will help you remember us.
- ...?
- These flowers will whisper it to you: our stories, this day we spent together here—they're no mere legends.
People forget, fade, and die, but nature doesn't forget.
It doesn't die.
It rebirths anew, waiting for you, sharing today's scenery....
"Mmm...."
The cold evening river breeze seeped deep into my body, pushing away the dream's warmth and scene.
But stronger than that sensation, pulling my consciousness from the dream's depths, was a sound.
I'd apparently fallen asleep leaning against the gunwale....
"Rain, Rain, Rain."
Pipi, who had been warily scanning our surroundings from atop my conical hat, landed on my shoulder and nuzzled my head affectionately.
"First Form, Heaven! Fire!"
"Tan! Fire!"
"Second Form, Hiya!"
"Hii-ya!"
Straightening my hat as I stood, I spotted Celine on the deck, demonstrating martial forms with crisp precision.
And Aki mimicking her posture with astonishing accuracy.
It must have been a novel experience watching the Six Great Sects' training, as the Sea Gale ship's crew and many passengers cheered enthusiastically.
"You're doing great, Aki!"
"Wahahahaha!"
"Even that punch extension is so darn cute!"
Some tried copying the moves themselves, only to chuckle wryly when they couldn't match Aki.
- Incredible talent. Seriously, it's immense. Not just born with Heavenly Martial Physique.
I sat on the gunwale too, watching unconsciously with a fond smile.
Recalling how Celine praised Aki endlessly every day.
- Her physical sense is unreal. Stuff that'd take a genius a year, she masters in a month.
Aki had started following Celine obediently... and watching them stirred nostalgic warmth in my soul.
- Lin, this formula's used like this.
- Solve it this way, you dimwit.
Sometimes Celine's face overlapped with the academy head auntie or Lin's.
Other times Aki's merged with young Lin or Tureina.
Beautiful memories buried in a past I could never return to.
Memories that hurt when merely recalled now felt warm in reminiscence....
"We'll arrive in the Seges region tomorrow morning."
The Sea Gale's captain approached.
To shake off my thoughts, I quietly placed my worn conical hat back on.
"But this ship's passengers and all the other vessels heading there—quite a few. Something going on?"
"You really don't know? There's the famous year-end festival in Seges."
"Year-end festival?"
Year-end festival—indeed, 318 years after the Antarctic War's end, only two days left this year.
End of the year, yet still summer; the sky was unusually clear blue, and the river breeze crossing it felt refreshingly cool.
Less the year-end and more because we'd nearly passed the Crimson Mountains....
"What kind of festival? Sounds like a hassle. Don't remember it from before."
The Seges region held great meaning for me and Pipi.
The twilight flower field we'd seen before crossing the continent stretched from the riverbank to the mountain foothills.
I'd wanted to visit quietly and leave, but with all these crowds... That thought vanished at the captain's next words.
"It's a historic festival even the hero party's legends enjoyed. You should check it out."
- Hero party?
"The hero Rista's comrades, that is. Sadly, Lin had passed, so he couldn't join the start...."
* * *
The captain knew no more details.
As a merchant, he'd come to buy vast quantities of "Liser," the world's finest wine from Seges's mountain vineyards, to take to <Aurelinople>.
The Seges docks finally appeared, bustling from morning with merchant ships, sailboats, and ferries.
"Quite the crowd. Planning to stop?"
Valensidis approached, as always keeping watch for pursuers with Pipi.
"Yeah."
As I gave a curt reply and prepared to disembark, a new connection began.
At first, I didn't notice them.
Amid hammer blows and nail-pounding, I only saw carpenters erecting huge temporary fences and stands over the twilight flower field.
'That must be where the festival's at....'
Street stalls lined the waterfront, swarmed by crowds.
Sausage and booze vendors hawked loudly as acrobats performed ball tricks.
Seeing that, Aki tugged frantically at Seresia's sleeve.
"Aki, no mo-re snacks."
"No. Bad for you."
"Sna-cks!"
"I said no."
"Just buy her some? She's begging."
"Hey, no. Bad habit."
Then, a bard's tune of "Summer 300 Years Ago" pierced my ears.
Three hundred years ago, they departed.
To summer's land, where the abyss sleeps.
They left as four, but returned as....
Hearing that melody while gazing at the twilight flowers swaying in the wind brought a vast solitude crashing in again.
"Flower field, flower field, flower field."
Pipi must have felt it too, circling the field with sadly fluttering wings.
Following Pipi down to the dock—that's when it happened.
"Hmm, not him. That look's way too plain."
A young witch in blue robes sharply scanned disembarking passengers.
Her gaze skimmed us, then locked on Aki.
"Whoa! Found it! Perfect! Like an angel sent by the gods?"
She clapped, and the young man and woman behind her cheered and applauded wildly.
"Wow, super cute!"
"Yeah, that kid!"
"We'll smash those LeCol jerks!"
Wary, I stepped in front of Aki; she waved as if harmless.
"You her guardian?"
"And if I am?"
"I'm Florena, blue witch of Marind Village, as you see. Sorry, but can we talk? Important stuff."
"Talk?"
"You won't lose out. Food, lodging, even 30-year vintage wine free. Village is packed with tourists—most are camping, right?"
Seges, where the Crimson Mountains' last ridge fades, was famed for its low, gentle hill-like crests.
Bathed in sunlight, no wonder top imperial wine villages dotted those slopes.
The biggest: northern Marind and southern LeCol, stars of the "Grape Boy & Girl" festival.
"Originally, each village picks their youngest kid as rep—they compete drinking grape juice."
But crafty LeCol started hiring pretty dancer boys and girls last year—that was the issue.
"The winner's portrait becomes the wine label for a year, tradition. But those cheats use beauty...."
"Selling tons of wine?"
Dancers drink and eat plenty from exertion, win the contest, rake in cash with their looks.
Winning village's wine supposedly bore the hero party's blessing—drinking brought fortune, some tall tale.
"Yeah! Those scum turned it from contest to war! And that's our counter this year."
I listened to the absurd tale in the witch's hut.
Perched high overlooking vineyards, befitting a wine village guardian—grapes and bottles everywhere inside.
"Look how cute? And eats like a champ? She'll crush the festival, and on labels? Sales'll skyrocket."
Hm. A short groan escaped.
Aki devoured grapes nonstop; empty bunches piled like a mountain before her.
"Aki, just one."
"O-one mo-re."
"Hmm, then what's that pile? Pipi eat it?"
Aki eyed the bunches and me, then whistled innocently, shoving them off the table to the floor.
"Noo-body saaw."
Silence fell abruptly.
I doubted my eyes.
Florena and Celine snorted laughs; giggles from outside too. Pipi barked.
"Pfft, pfft, drool-pfft, slick, slick, slick."
I couldn't laugh.
Had to grab Aki and spank that butt raw.
"You little punk! Joking with me?! Kid already learning bad habits! Who? Who taught you?"
"Mo-ommy di-id! Mo-ommy!"
Celine raised hands, shaking head furiously at my glare.
"Why me? I taught martial arts, not that! If just imitating me, well, ahem...."
"You're the cause!"
"Cause, cause, cause."
Florena intervened like a mediator.
"Whoa, calm down. Gave 'em to eat anyway. Uh, no big deal value-wise, but ate over twenty bunches. Rep duties for that? Just drink some juice?"
No reaction from me; Florena dropped pride, knelt, forehead to floor.
"Please! Seen tons, none as cute! Lose without her! Starts today!"
Watching, I sighed resignedly.
Sly witch brought us here before spilling—no backing out....
But anyway, didn't Karen-den say it?
- True Dragon's vessel needs memories.
Festival'd be novel for Aki. And I had reason to stay.
"Fine, juice drinking's okay. But...."
Tell me this festival's origins in detail.
"Waaaaah!"
Before I could finish, thunderous cheers as villagers poured in.
"Rep this cute? Brilliant, Witch! We'll win for sure! Sales boom!"
"Hahaha! Who am I? Florena, master man-charmer!"
"Omg, up close she's a doll. Age, sweetie?"
Aki, surrounded instantly, looked overwhelmed by the attention.
Face paling, clung to my leg, burying her face—like it'd make them vanish.
Celine sighed shortly. Blamed it on lacking ronin beastliness.
"So cute even hiding!"
"Witch, a spirit?"
"Nah, spirits ain't that cute. She is."
When would she become that absolute being like Alakishi, commanding beastkin warriors....
"Father, adjust grape girl outfit for Aki? Tradition's custom wear."
Custom clothes?
Aki shredded every outfit bought—rolling, jumping, all rags.
So in villages, we borrowed kids' hand-me-downs.
"No issue... but she'll rip it. 100%."
Village girls ignored warnings, giggling, measuring Aki eagerly.
"Ah, he-p, he-p."
Aki pleaded with eyes, but liar's punishment. No help.
Instead, eyed Florena.
"In exchange for entering Aki, tell me the festival's origins?"
Blue witches guard lore and folk songs.
As local witch, she'd know best—handed down 300 years.
Florena, mingling freely with villagers, smiled sadly.
"Not a great origin. Hero party heroes gathered here every year-end."
"That flower field?"
"Yeah. But they chatted with such sad faces, despite saving the world."
So villagers started the festival.
To give those heroes—who couldn't laugh freely over a lost comrade—a moment to forget sorrow and smile.
'Every year here?'
Those fools....
'Should I not have used Juyeo Soge Daeban back then....'
I mulled it silently, unsure of my expression.
"And tales say Fride's sun parrot Pipi loved this festival...."
Florena eyed Pipi suspiciously; Pipi wiggled butt innocently.
"A-but!"
Then Aki dashed, clinging to my leg—too cute, dazed me a sec.
Grape-vine green-trimmed purple silk dress, inner twilight flowers embroidered gorgeously—festival garb.
First time Aki wore a girly skirt.
Florena clenched fist, victory laugh.
"Uhuhehehe! Perfect! We'll crush 'em! Let's go!"
"Yes, Witch!"
"Go? Already?"
"Already? Prep before twilight or bust."
Descending Marind's hill to the field, three suns hung on western ridges.
Field packed already; stands nearly full. Folks munched sausages, fried locusts, settling in.
Southern LeCol villagers there; instant jeers, witches even tussled.
"Oh, if it isn't Florena of failing Marind-or-Whatever."
"Your cowardly reign ends today. We got our ultimate weapon."
"Hohohohoho! No match for our Ren Aron~?"
Witch waved; LeCol boy glided dance-like, bowed gracefully.
Olive skin, dark eyes, glossy lacquered hair, long lashes, plump lips—sensual.
Twelve, maybe thirteen.... Understood why Florena said no win without Aki.
Public: republic pretty boy vs. empire pretty girl.
"So where's your fancy ultimate?"
"Hmph, show now and you flee. Later."
Aki hid behind me.
Hat on her little head, Seresia shawl on shoulders—her breathing eased.
Holding her, I gazed at rustling twilight field in breeze. Even Pipi silent.
- These little memories keep you from feeling like a total loner after that person is gone.
Was that scenery with them ever this hollow...?
Past scenes wouldn't clarify; just felt... different.
Back then, something pierced the heart achingly....
"Hey, come on!"
Florena's shout snapped reverie; entered fenced area.
"Now, raising curtain on Grape Boy & Girl to start festival."
Neighboring blue witch emceed.
Center flower field: flower-decked table, two glasses, wine bottle.
Anticipatory cheers; South LeCol's Ren Aron entered—silence.
"Whoa."
"Human like us?"
"South wins again."
Ren Aron danced airy as wind, saluted crowd.
Explosive reaction.
Especially women.
Witch pointed opposite—our side—momentary silence.
"Eh...?"
Petals gently crushed under dainty steps, elegant poise.
Purple garb harmonized with pale red hair flickering flame-like in twilight.
Marind's ultimate weapon, Aki, had arrived.