It's not just the residents of this town participating in the festival. Many people have come from the capital, Dandarma, and other places just for sightseeing. Stalls lined up closely on the main street, competing for customers here and there. Star decorations of various sizes and colors were scattered everywhere, entertaining the viewers.
Especially the town's famous landmark, the Clock Tower, was decorated gorgeously. It seems a special melody for the festival day will be played along with the bell chime at fixed times.
By the way, the Magic Combat Tag Match starts in the afternoon. Alice and Milia had already headed to the Coliseum in the morning to receive explanations. As for me, since I'm free until the Magic Combat starts, I decided to enjoy the festival atmosphere while wandering around.
Looking around for anything interesting, I walk aimlessly. Just looking is fun, but without the lively Alice and the cute, sharp-tongued Milia who throws in retorts at perfect timing, it was a little lonely after all. I think I'll look for highlights now and enjoy going around with the three of us later.
I observed the people passing by vaguely. Including those who seemed to be tourists, most were brown-haired or red-haired. Occasionally I saw blonde, silver, or blue-haired people, but the number wasn't that large.
Come to think of it, Alice, Argus, and Karla-senpai are all red or brown-haired. It seems there are many people with such hair colors in this country. Except for me, there wasn't a single black-haired person. No wonder it's considered rare.
When I got a little tired of walking while being jostled by the crowd, I entered a small street.
Oh. A child is crying.
In front of me, a young boy was crying loudly. There were no figures of a mother or father, and the people around seemed to be pretending not to see.
Listening to the child's crying voice, my chest stirred. Why? I must have seen children crying many times. Strangely, I was more concerned than usual. Somehow, I felt like I couldn't leave him alone—like I wanted to take care of him.
Approaching the boy, I squatted down to match his eye level so as not to scare him, and spoke as gently as possible.
"What's wrong? Boy."
"Waah! My Falmo is...!"
Looking up, a Falmo—well, it's something like a balloon—was caught lightly on a tree branch. He must have let go, so he was crying. It's common at festivals, but poor thing.
Placing my hand on the boy's head, I patted him, there there. When the crying subsided a little, I said,
"Big Sister will get it for you."
"Sniff... really...?"
"Yeah. Wait a moment."
Standing up, I look at the Falmo. The string attached to the bottom is fluttering in the wind. Well, I accepted, but what should I do? The tree is reasonably high, and climbing up is tedious. Flying is also no good because it would stand out.
Then—right. I should just lower the Falmo with magic. Strong magic would burst it.
Wrap it. Gentle breeze.
《Falleaf》
A gentle wind wrapped the Falmo softly so as not to damage it, removed it from the tree branch, and lowered it slowly.
《Falleaf》 is a magic born in the process of training to weaken the magic output to the limit by me, who was bad at controlling Magic Power. Well, even though I say "born," the idea is common, so it's probably not original in the first place. I named it this because it's a wind that can only roll up leaves, but it seems even such magic was useful unexpectedly.
"Here."
When I handed the Falmo that came down to the ground, the boy's eyes sparkled, and he thanked me very happily.
"Wow, amazing! Thank you, Mage Big Sister!"
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
"You're welcome. Be careful not to let go next time~"
"Yeah! Bye bye!"
The boy held the Falmo tightly as if it were precious and ran off immediately. But running a little, he looked back and waved his hand repeatedly. I felt somewhat heartwarming and responded to the exchange. Eventually, the boy really left.
Ah. He was cute. Kids are nice.
Suddenly, a scene of a happy family floated in my mind.
There is a child, and a husband. The two are playing happily. The child looks exactly like "Ore" (me) when I was little. The husband resembles my deceased father. And I am the wife watching the two with warm eyes, and...?
Wait, what am I thinking!?
I hurriedly erased the delusion in my brain. Haa... haa... Why did I think such a thing? It's like I'm seeking a woman's happiness. I'm not Mom.
Recent me is somewhat strange. I feel like I'm being dyed into a woman little by little without realizing it.
No, maybe not. Am I rather becoming normal?
When I am in this form, I feel as if I were a girl from the beginning. Rather than being dyed, through life as a woman, I am gradually approaching "Me as a woman originally"—the figure I would have become if I were born as a woman and grew up naturally. I feel like that.
I thought my gender identity was just changing according to my appearance, but it seems different. It's as if besides myself as a man, another self—a female self—really exists, and when I am in this form, I am acting her with body and mind. Trying to become her completely. Sometimes I even feel that way.
Phew, I sighed. Let's go already. It's no use thinking here forever.
Walking for a while again, I saw a bazaar of grimoires being held. Curiosity arose, so I decided to take a peek.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be as good as I expected. Many of the books sold were books I remembered seeing in the school's Magic Library. While impressed that the collection there is amazing, I can hardly find anything new or interesting.
Still thinking there must be at least one thing, wandering around, I found a used book corner and headed there. Finally found a hit. Unknown books came out in droves, and my heart leaps.
Hm. "Legend of Celestial Magic", huh.
I found a book with such a title, old and tattered. Somehow curious about the content, I picked it up and flipped through it. There was a passage that caught my attention midway.
【A trusted incarnation of God appeared in this world. That person dropped stars from the heavens and instantly returned the kingdom that flourished with magic to nothingness. It was a punishment from God to humans who relied on magic and were too arrogant, and also salvation. We called that person's miraculous divine work Megil.】
This is, don't tell me... about him...
Feeling sick remembering it, I gently returned the book to its original place. When I tried to find another book to change my mood, I noticed a familiar figure in the back.
It was the Magic History teacher, Tor Guief.
"Guief-sensei. Good morning."
"Oh. Yu-kun. To meet in a place like this."
This middle-aged teacher wears a gentle atmosphere that seems amiable as usual.
"Thank you for that time when I was feeling unwell. It helped."
I expressed my gratitude again for giving me lecture notes when I left midway feeling sick on my girls' day.
"No need for thanks. It's a natural duty as an instructor."
He said it in a tone as if such a thing was extremely natural, and there was no sarcasm at all. This kind of place must be why he is called a gentleman and enjoys popularity as a popular instructor.
"More importantly, your growth since entering the academy is remarkable. Even in my Magic History, your reports are wonderful. I can't believe you're the child whose first exam was blank."
Fuh, Guief-sensei laughs teasingly. Ahaha... That couldn't be helped. Since I had no way of knowing.
Ah, right. I hadn't told him I'm participating in the Magic Combat, so maybe I should say it.
"Um. I decided to participate in the Magic Combat Individual Match."
"Hoh. My, my. That's rare for a first-year. Admirable."
"So, do you have any plans to watch, Sensei?"
Guief-sensei shook his head with a slightly troubled smile.
"I like Magic Combat too, but... unfortunately, research is busy. From the second day, I have to hole up in my room. So I can't go watch, but I'm rooting for you."
"Is that so. Understood. I'll do my best."
"Mhm. I expect a lot."
There, he looked over my whole body as if licking, then nodded deeply once and said.
"Hmm. By the way, how about it? Karla-kun seems already persistent, but let me invite you too. Do you have any intention of joining my laboratory someday? You should definitely be able to utilize your talent."
I didn't expect to be invited by Guief-sensei himself. Does that mean he values me that highly? Being invited directly by him, a first-class researcher, is certainly an honor.
But my answer was already decided. It's a conclusion after hearing various stories from Karla-senpai too. I will continue training at Inea-sensei's place. I will go along with Inea-sensei.
"I'm sorry. I appreciate the offer, but I already have enough."
"Enough, meaning?"
It was a natural question for him. I answer clearly.
"There is a teacher I am already receiving teachings from."
"Who is that?"
"A person named Inea-sensei of the Qi Sword Arts Department. Her specialty is Qi Sword Arts, but she is also knowledgeable about magic, and I am allowed to learn there."
This is a half-lie. Actually I'm learning Qi Sword Arts in a male form, but I don't need to say that much.
Hearing that, for some reason, his expression stiffened for just a moment.
What happened? I wondered, but he immediately returned to his original gentle expression.
"I see. If that's the case, it can't be helped. I will be waiting, so come anytime if you change your mind."
"Yes. I'm sorry even though you kindly invited me."
"It's fine. Then, excuse me."
Saying so, he returned the book he was browsing to the shelf and left quickly.
After looking at items at the bazaar for a while, I bought and ate lunch at a nearby stall.
By the time I finished eating, it was about a good time, so I decided to head to the Coliseum. Finally, I can see Alice and Milia's big stage.
My chest swelled with expectation.