Chapter 897 – Their Table

000

The festival atmosphere of Asteris was becoming more enthusiastic as the third day of the Five Elements Festival passed.

That’s right, for the first time in a dozen years, beautiful flowers have bloomed on the sacred tree.

Moreover, the old people say that they have never seen flowers bloom so splendidly before.

A scenery so beautiful that it fascinates even young people who thought that the past was just a glorified memory of the elderly.

Such as the sudden evacuation advisory or the royal palace being attacked and Prince Miyeom being seriously injured.

It was a show of ‘hope’ to the people that instantly turned the stagnant atmosphere of the city upside down.

The festival period for the Five Elements Festival was officially three days, and on the night of the third day, the festival gradually began to be cleaned up.

It was common for inventory or food that had not been disposed of in advance to be sold at a slightly cheaper price during the festival.

If, on the third night, you walk around the street stalls and gather people at a bar and sit around them, you’ll be a little concerned about the serious looks from people who ask how long you’ll be in a festive mood.

But this time is different.

As if the entire city was saying, “Our festival is not over yet,” People were enjoying the festival by staying on the streets until late at night with no intention of going home.

Kuon successfully completed the ritual to purify the sacred tree and was finally able to escape from the ritual location.

As Cleon went out to meet Cuon and brought him back, he felt something like that while observing the atmosphere of the street.

＂Wow…!＂

Tourists who are surprised to see colorful streetlights, jewel-like flowers covering the sky, and city people laughing and chatting happily.

When passing by a lively market, Kuon would raise his voice as if he was surprised.

He must have been like that, because for her, it was her first time seeing the spectacle of her festival.

“How is it. Isn’t it amazing?”

“Huh…! It’s on a different level from the festivals I saw in small towns…!”

Cuon was riding on Cleon’s back, and her eyes were sparkling with excitement.

As the flowers of the sacred tree bloomed, the connection between them and the sacred tree was severed.

The moment the connection was lost, Tokoyo and Kuon had no choice but to collapse helplessly on the spot.

My legs and arms could no longer move properly.

She danced non-stop for three days to perform the ritual. Even with rest, there was a limit to physical recovery.

Of course, Cleon was planning on going out to meet Kuon even if he didn’t, but as she looked at the two people lying face down at the ceremony site, she thought she was glad that she had come to meet them.

Tokoyo was taken to her room by her shrine maidens, and Ku Onon was originally suggested to stay overnight at the temple to recover her strength, but she shook her head when she saw Cleon who came to meet her.

Well, I haven’t been home for three days, so it’s understandable that I want to go home.

How should I move her? Cleon was thinking, and it was the first time in a long time that she carried Kuon on her back.

When she was in a three-person party with Alvain, it was common for her to carry her like this and run away from her group of monsters, but as her kudo gradually grew, there was no longer any need for her to fall down. 〉

Above all-

Cough wow… The weight of her body and the feeling of the two soft, gigantic bodies pressing between his back was something that bothered Cleon.

If the volume is this large, of course the mass is also huge, so Lila or Sasha would have been able to lift it more easily than if they were carrying a backpack full of adventure gear.

In Kuon’s case, she felt a little heavier than her backpack.

When they come out to a crowded place, Cuon at first looks around her as if the street scene is just as fascinating as before, but then her face turns red, and she puts her face on Cleon’s shoulder. Buried

There were quite a few people around taking a quick look at Cleon and Cuon.

Of course, there may be something noticeable about a grown adult being carried on someone else’s back…

This is because when she changes from her shaman attire to her usual priestly attire of the Saint’s Protection Order and puts her on someone’s back, her thighs are completely exposed when viewed from the side.

Really, what is the reason why Kuon, including the priests of the church and the shrine maiden uniform here, becomes shameless when she wears it?

It is said that most priests recommend abstinence.

Well, when such a small complaint came out of her mouth, Cleon felt sorry for Kuon and quietly swallowed her own words with her saliva.

Originally, it would have been possible to hug her and fly back to her mansion, but that would have taken less effort.

However, Cleon wanted to show it to her as well.

This hopeful landscape she created with Tokoyo.

If she flew home, she wouldn’t have been able to come out until tomorrow.

The only opportunity was today, this time.

“… But, I’m really glad. All I could do was pray to the sacred tree along with Tokoyo. As for the expansion of the barrier, I only lent my magic and strength, but in the end, it was no different from Tokoyo-sama’s work…”

Kuon also shows humility by saying he didn’t do anything.

Of course, she says modesty is a virtue, but with a solid track record, she thought it was okay to be a little prouder of yourself.

Even if it’s not to the extent of Lila.

＂Quon.＂

＂Huh?＂

Kuon responded to her voice calling him.

“Of course Tokoyo worked hard too… But the one who worked the hardest this time was none other than you. I think the MVP of this Five Elements Festival is Kuon.”

＂Huh!? Me, me? I was only in the temple for three days…”

That’s amazing.

It was possible to form a physical barrier in the barrier that protects Asteris, and the will of the divine tree eventually descended and informed the Cleons of the erosion of adamantite.

The fact that she was able to purify her spiritual veins and make flowers bloom on her sacred tree was thanks to Kuon, who continued her training while sparing her sleeping time in order to become a one-person shaman for a short period of one month. Br〉

As Kuon said, of course Tokoyo’s performance could not have been less, but that did not mean that her performance should be ignored.

“The basis of Lila’s plan was trust in Kuon. Of course, so do I. The person who allows everyone here to have hope for Asteris’ ‘tomorrow’ is none other than Kuon. It’s thanks to you.”

＂…＂

At Cleon’s words, Cuon seemed to gain some strength in the arm wrapped around his shoulder.

“Tokoyo probably thinks so too. With her own power, she was able to change the history of Asteris, where the sacred tree had not bloomed for several years.”

＂Is that so…?＂

At Cuon’s words, Cleon nods his head.

“Therefore. Let’s come to Eastern Country again next year. With everyone… This time, without worrying about work or anything like that. Just as a tourist. This year, I could only walk the streets on the last day… But next year, I’ll enjoy all three days.”

＂… Yes!＂

A shopping street where two people are walking.

From afar, you can hear the joyful yet calm music that echoed through the streets throughout the festival.

The sound of wind instruments that create a unique melody, based on percussion instruments such as giant drums unique to Eastern countries.

It was mysterious music that seemed to help maintain peace of mind in this splendid extraordinary life.

＂Ah, this…＂

＂Huh?＂

Kuon heard the sound of the music and turned towards the direction of the sound as if he realized something.

Cleon was curious about Kuon’s reaction, so he stopped walking.

＂This is the music we heard in our village too. My mother called me. It’s an old traditional song that comes down to the village…”

Kuon quietly sang with his mouth as if imitating the sound of the music.

The voice was so small that only Cleon could hear it.

It was Cleon’s first time hearing Kuon sing a hymn or other song, but he felt as if her singing penetrated deeply into people’s hearts.

At her singing voice, Cleon gets a little excited without realizing it.

It was as if all the noisy voices of people on the street and music from afar had suddenly stopped, and only the sound of Kuon’s song was heard.

They were walking alone along the street where her humming-like singing voice continued.

001

Bang!

When Cleon returned to her mansion and carefully opened her front door, the sound of firecrackers suddenly erupted from the front door.

And, something like light, colorful paper pollen pouring down on Cleon and Cuon’s heads.

＂… Eh…?＂

When Kuon widened her eyes in a bit of confusion, the person waiting for her at the front door was none other than Lila.

“Lol. “You were surprised, right?”

＂Uh, yes.＂

Kuon responds by showing the cone-shaped object she is holding in her hand.

Apparently, both the sound and the pollen came out of that object with a loud noise.

“Ah… I was surprised.”

Cleon looked down at the magic he had unconsciously prepared in his hand, and shook his hand to disarm it.

“… For a moment. Did I just almost get hit by magic…?”

Lila muttered while looking at Cleon’s hand, but then Sasha and Amelia, who were showing their faces in the living room behind her, puked and came out to the front door.

“Really, Laila. So, I said let’s stop making jokes like that.”

“That’s right. Kuon must have been having a hard time consciously staying in the temple for three days.”

The children come together as one to reprimand Lila for her prank.

Lila looked back at the two people, and she was talking.

＂No, but… Since it’s Kuon, I think she thinks what she did wasn’t a big deal… She was just trying to celebrate with something like this.’

When she spoke with her shoulders slightly slackened, which was different from usual, Kuon burst into laughter without realizing it.

Well, it was roughly as Lila expected, but Cleon had already taken care of that part on the way.

“Ruler. Then come in. Kuon doesn’t have to do anything today! Beatrix prepared dinner, and we did the laundry and cleaning.

＂Lila does the laundry and cleaning…?!＂

When Kuon raised her voice in surprise, Sasha let out a sigh.

“Please listen, Kuon. Lila, there was no problem with the laundry, but after that, she said she dried her clothes quickly and used flame magic…”

＂What?!＂

“Oh, no! Since the sun was fading away, there was no point in drying it outside, so I just lit a fire to dry it a little faster! Because my clothes didn’t get burned!”

When Lila was embarrassed by Sasha’s snitch, Kuon sighed.

If your clothes didn’t get burned, you’re lucky.

“Okay then, let’s go to the table like this…”

“Oh! Mr. Kuon, you are back!”

When Lila leads the two people to the table, there is Beatrix wearing her apron and laying out a lot of food on the table…

＂…1 mm to the side… No, up…?＂

Next to her, Anatis could be seen arranging her dishes at the correct spacing.

“… Is Anatis still doing that?”

When Lila mutters incoherently, Anatis answers.

“It is only natural to adjust the spacing between utensils for a smooth meal.”

“But it’s almost obsessive-compulsive to not forgive even a 1 mm error.”

Even as Lila says that, she talks while looking at the food that Beatrix has laid out on her table.

“As expected, Bea. Your cooking skills are still the same…”

“Thank you, Lila. And as Lila said, it’s good for her energy-“

＂Keuhum! Well, now, anyway. Lila, are you hungry? Let’s eat first.”

… I think I just missed a word that bothered me in Beatrix’s words.

Cleon thought so, but he didn’t bother to risk her life for her sake.

And, when Cleon sat Cuon on a chair at the table, the others also took turns surrounding the table and sitting on chairs.

＂…＂

＂What’s wrong, Kuon?＂

Kuon looked at her table blankly without saying anything for a moment, then Lila called out to her as if she was a little worried.

＂Ugh, uhm. For some reason, I felt like everything was really over, and I was back home.”

“Well, to be precise, there is still one more thing left to do. That’s it. Kuon’s return is something to be happy about.”

Herty told me to wait since the work on adamantite would take some time.

Thanks to this, we were able to have time to enjoy dinner together.

Cleon also nodded his head, turned to Kuon and spoke.

＂… Thank you for your hard work, Kuon.＂

“… Huh! I’ve been there…!”

As Kuon smiled happily, she nodded her head loudly.

Sitting around the table with everyone and feeling like her family-

In reality, it had only been three days, but for some reason it felt like it had been a really long time.