Ch.114114. Festival (1)

Time passed slowly yet endlessly.

As the festival day approached, Sione had her fair share of conversations with others.

Until today, she had spent time separately with Ainel and Siabel, and Aria Allenar had personally come to offer her congratulations. At first, she smiled consistently, simply enjoying all the attention. But as they say, humans are creatures of adaptation. She had already grown accustomed to this attention and now whined that she was tired of receiving such formal congratulations.

With Sione uncharacteristically busy, I wondered if something might happen to me as well. Fortunately, perhaps because Sione had been shining too brightly lately, or because I was hidden in her radiance, the annoying situation of someone showing interest in me did not occur.

The difference from before was that Sione tried to snuggle more deeply against me, and last night before falling asleep, a new quest appeared to me. While I had already accepted the former, the quest I received yesterday required some serious thought.

With that in mind, I gazed at the corridor where servants were passing by, busier than usual.

“They look busy.”

Today, the day before the festival. Even though it was early morning, since the festival’s significance was to commemorate the first Count’s victory, it seemed they were preparing for a grand celebration not only in the city outside but also within the Count’s mansion.

The servants were moving quickly to prepare for the festival.

Despite the joyous occasion, fatigue was evident on their faces. If I hadn’t been sold as Sione’s personal attendant but as a common servant doing such menial tasks, I would have been swamped with work like them. My duties consisted only of casually grabbing cookies and tea from the kitchen and chatting and playing with Sione.

I was feeling conflicted about my life, going to get cookies and tea as soon as I woke up. But seeing those who were struggling now, I thought my current lifestyle was quite good in comparison.

While leisurely strolling through the corridor, unlike the busy servants, I overheard two servants chatting while diligently working.

“It’s really like a ghost story. Who would have thought that Lady Sione would break down walls so soon.”

“…Wasn’t that just a rumor?”

“Jeina told me she saw it while passing by the training grounds. Even the knights there bowed their heads. Would proud knights bow to the second daughter if it were just a rumor?”

“Hmm…”

As expected, their conversation was about the recent incident my master had created.

Well. That incompetent and ill-mannered noble had been exceptionally quiet for nearly a year. Then suddenly, with news of her surpassing the user’s wall, she flaunted her presence. There couldn’t be a more stimulating and interesting story than that.

The achievements Sione had made at the royal palace, centered around this incident, were also spreading from the Count’s mansion. For them, Sione’s story was like something that would happen to a protagonist in a novel—more stimulating and interesting than anything else.

‘The speed at which the story is spreading is considerable.’

Wherever I went in the Count’s mansion these days, I could hear Sione’s name.

Since there were quite a few people commuting in and out of this place, the news was probably gradually spreading outside as well. No matter how bad Sione’s reputation was—known to all the territory’s residents—she was still a daughter with Sianella blood. It’s only natural that people need stories to enjoy with alcohol on a festive day. It was obvious that this would spread more fiercely and quickly, coinciding with the anniversary commemorating the achievements of the County of Sianella.

And thanks to Sione, I had just received a quest.

‘After turning that bipedal bear into a human, now I have to worry about her reputation too.’

That was literally it.

Now that she had grown enough to stand proudly on two feet, I needed to revive the reputation she had destroyed over the years. Since she now had an oxygen respirator, I was to ride this momentum and make her an even more dignified noble.

Of course, the reward was an improvement in Mana and—

‘I have to clear this somehow.’

A complete opening of a certain level of my blocked abilities.

And not just a tiny bit, but a significant opening, as the description stated.

This quest was worth doing no matter how difficult or troublesome it might be.

Since there wasn’t really a time limit,

I could calmly guide her through conversations.

For now, I decided to focus on today’s tasks and tomorrow’s date with Sione.

I entered Sione’s room.

“Excuse me.”

“Ah… Ray, you’re here…”

I heard Sione’s sleepy voice.

Even though her appearance had changed dramatically after losing weight, she seemed unable to erase her hibernating habits from when she was a bear. She rarely woke up before I came to shake her awake, but for some reason, today Sione was already awake before I had to rouse her.

“Yawn…”

Sione raised her upper body and rubbed her eyes. The sleepiness on her face began to fade.

Shake shake!

Then, after shaking her head vigorously and stretching her back like a cat, I set up the teacups and snacks I had brought while watching her.

“You must be thirsty after just waking up. Why don’t you come and have some tea?”

“Mmm… I will…”

Sione gently moved her feet and trotted over to me.

After giving me a soft hug, she stood on her tiptoes, kissed me briefly, and then sat down at the table.

Looking at her teacup with sleepy eyes, Sione tilted her head with an innocent expression.

“The tea hasn’t been poured yet.”

“…Isn’t that a bit too natural?”

“Ehehe.”

Instead of answering, Sione just let out a foolish laugh.

I shook my head and poured fragrant tea into her empty cup.

She downed it in one shot. As if the small amount in the teacup wasn’t enough, Sione held out her cup to me.

“More.”

“…”

“…More please, oppa.”

“Alright, alright.”

After drinking tea several more times, Sione finally put down her cup.

She held a mysterious smile, then ran over to me who was sitting across from her. She immediately sat on my lap and leaned her back against my chest.

…Even though she has her own seat, does she really need to snuggle up to me?

Although she had been cuddling quite a lot during the week, she had never been this shameless from the morning.

“Hmm~”

Seeing Sione humming on my lap, unlike her usual self, I could tell she was in an unusually excited state.

If I said anything now, she would either laugh it off foolishly like before, or simply ignore me. And my legs weren’t so weak that they would crumble just because one Sione was sitting on them.

I went along with her and casually stroked her hair.

“Did you have a good dream?”

“Mmm, I did have a good dream… But since tomorrow is the festival day, I’ve been so excited since last night that I can’t help it.”

“Ah.”

“Aren’t you excited?”

“The festival? Of course I’m excited about the festival.”

In this world, the only festivals I had experienced were one elegant gathering of nobles at the royal palace, and Adelheid’s coming-of-age ceremony the next day.

The coming-of-age ceremony had turned into chaos when cultists invaded.

And even the gathering felt more like work, standing beside Sione, rather than enjoyment.

I was secretly looking forward to this festival, thinking I might be able to enjoy it myself.

But why?

Sione shook her head as if my answer was wrong.

“No, not the festival.”

Sione slowly turned her head and looked at me with trembling eyes.

“…I mean the date with Sione.”

She ended up referring to herself in the third person.

I chuckled at her behavior and just silently hugged her tightly.

The reddened ears slightly visible through her fine silver-white hair. Eventually, Sione couldn’t overcome her embarrassment. She soon escaped from my embrace and hid in her bed.

I just thought, there she goes again. I laughed indulgently at something so trivial and just tasted a cookie.

After some time had passed.

Knock knock.

“Sione, I’d like to have a chat with you.”

Siabel came to see us.

“Sister, what brings you here?”

“Nothing special. I was thinking it might be nice to create a memory together as sisters on this occasion.”

“A memory… Didn’t you plan to tour the festival with Lady Allenar?”

“I don’t intend to spend every day of the festival with Aria. If possible, I thought it wouldn’t be bad to set aside a day for just us to have fun together. What do you think?”

While Siabel gave Sione time to think, she waved at me who was in the room.

As I bowed my head in response to her greeting, Siabel’s eyes moved quickly.

Her focus went to my left hand.

She nodded as she saw the ring she had given me on my left index finger.

I had moved the ring Sione had put on my ring finger to my middle finger. She took in the new ring on my finger.

“Oho.”

Then she noticed that Sione had an identical ring on her right hand and her eyes sparkled with interest.

For a moment, Siabel touched her lips while looking at the ring on Sione’s hand in front of her.

Finally, Sione spoke to her.

“Then let’s do that. Which day would be good?”

At Sione’s words, Siabel skillfully set aside her curiosity and just smiled like a kind older sister.

“The festival will last for five days, right? I think the third or fourth day would be appropriate. Is that okay?”

“Hmm… I think it’s best to do as you say, sister.”

“Good, then I’ll keep those two days free. I know some pretty nice restaurants and streets. You can look forward to it.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

With those words, Siabel playfully stroked Sione’s hair.

Sione just closed her eyes tightly and accepted her stroking.

“Then I’ll come by again later.”

With those words, Siabel took a step back and looked directly at me.

“See you next time too, disciple. Oh, and be aware that we’ll start training right after the festival ends.”

“…Understood.”

With that, Siabel gracefully disappeared.

Silence began to fill the room again.

I enjoyed my share of tea and asked.

“Does Sione know any good restaurants like Siabel?”

Shake shake.

“…Streets?”

Shake shake.

“Then do you know any decent places to visit…?”

“I’ve been in my room for years, how would I know that…?”

“Ah.”

The image of the territory she knew was frozen in the past, before she confined herself to her room.

In that case, we’ll have to go out and experience everything firsthand.

I should watch for the right timing and tell her to prepare plenty of money in advance.