Ch.235235. A Wish in the Snowy Winter (9)

The thick web of goodwill possessed by the Girl of Justice transforms into a mighty hammer when layered with sincere requests.

Thus, there was practically no one at the Academy who could refuse her requests.

The pleas of a beautiful girl who routinely cheered others on, helped them, and comforted them acted like a buff in many ways, becoming a hammer against the nobles.

And so, the hidden hands (暗手) that tried to interfere with the parade were thwarted, and the parade’s eve began to fill with excitement.

Coincidentally, an incredible surge of energy was about to pour out at this location.

This creation, a concentration of magical and technological power, repeatedly drew screams from people.

Drrrrrr—

“Oh, it’s going up. It’s going uuuup…!”

The gradually increasing altitude. We surrendered ourselves to this thing that was slowly rising toward the sky.

However, only Renias, who had become a silver rabbit, was making a fuss. Despite claiming to be scared and nervously swallowing, she had still insisted on riding, and this was the result.

“We’re not going to fall, are we? I’m not going to fall with a thud and get a bump, am I? Senior, say something!”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“Hiiieek…! But it’s so high, I’m scaaaared!!”

Though all safety measures were in place, Renias still wore a frightened expression.

Just like when we climbed the rock wall as semester-end evaluation partners, this silver rabbit truly feared heights.

Her trembling hand desperately clutched her former partner’s clothes.

“Ah, this won’t do! Senior. Hold my hand. Quick. Quiiick!”

If left alone, she might tear the clothes with her intensity.

There wasn’t much time before the drop, but would it help to hold those fluttering hands for a moment? Junon smirked and took Renias’s hand.

“Don’t let go, okaaay? If, if I fall or something, you have to catch me! Got it?”

“Yes, yes.”

“R-really, don’t let go, Senior, hiiie… I’m so scar—”

Before Renias could finish her sentence.

“Kyaaaaaaah!!!!!”

An enormous scream began to echo.

The silver rabbit’s clear voice resonated so loudly. Even the winter wind seemed like it would be warmed by her energy.

Hmm… To explain what we’re riding, it’s simple.

While the passengers remain still, this ride moves on its own, shifting the view back and forth, rapidly ascending and then dropping, making passengers feel weightless.

In other words, a roller coaster.

A Kempriton continent version that uses magic stones as fuel.

‘Magic really can do anything.’

To share my riding impression, it was very fun, faithfully recreating a thrilling amusement ride.

It’s no wonder people gather in droves when they hear it’s only open during the parade period.

Though this one doesn’t seem to feel that way.

“H-hueeee… Seniooor… Don’t leh go of meee…”

“It’s all over. You didn’t fall, and I didn’t let go. You’re perfectly fine and alive.”

“Reallyyy? Huaaa…”

The silver rabbit was knocked out in one blow by the formidable roller coaster, her legs giving way. Her eyes were still spinning, showing she was quite disoriented.

Well, it must have happened in an instant. Looking forward, she would have felt herself rising into the sky, but closing her eyes would have made her body’s uncontrolled movements even more frightening.

It wasn’t just because I was right next to her—it was clear that Renias’s voice was the loudest among all the passengers.

After the screaming session ended, the riders exited the ride with satisfaction.

‘One more ride and she’d probably faint.’

He chuckled and helped Renias to a bench.

For a while, Renias wobbled around, trying to regain her senses, and once she felt better, she immediately expressed her regret.

“If only I wasn’t afraid of heights, I’d ride with you all day, Senior.”

That was a lament about her acrophobia.

“I’m sorry, Senior. I’ll talk to Senia about spending the festival with you.”

“Why?”

“Huh? Well, if you’re with me, you can’t enjoy yourself… It’s not fun.”

“I never said it wasn’t fun. I’m not particularly interested in just riding attractions all day either.”

“Tch. Are you saying that just to be considerate? I can tell that much by now.”

“Well. Seeing you all wobbly like this seems more fun to me.”

“Senior! Really.”

Renias playfully hit Junon’s shoulder, accusing him of teasing her.

“Let’s ride something else. Something not high would be fun.”

“Are there such things?”

“I’m sure there are. And… shouldn’t we fill our stomachs too? We need to play more for that.”

“Thank you, Senior. Hehe.”

By now, Renias had comfortably gotten up, dusting off her bottom, and walked holding Junon’s hand.

“I don’t think we need to watch over them anymore, Lumia.”

“I know. They used to be so awkward even holding hands. Hmm? Why are you suddenly taking my hand?”

“We should have fun too. Don’t you think?”

“Honestly, I was wondering when you’d ask. Let’s go quickly.”

Lumia and Cain, who had been watching, couldn’t stop smiling, and feeling that the two would be fine on their own now, they changed their route to enjoy the parade themselves.

***

There’s no time that passes as quickly as time spent having fun. Thanks to that, the evening hours of the parade flew by incredibly fast.

After playing for so long, the moon was now fully risen, and it was time for children to head to dreamland.

“Yaaawn. Uh… I, I’m not sleepy!”

Her body was quite honest, contrary to her words. Seeing Renias yawning and rubbing her sleepy eyes, it was about time to head back.

Today should end here.

“Don’t be stubborn, let’s go back. The parade doesn’t end today, you know.”

“Hmph.”

Renias seemed to be complaining but readily agreed.

“Did you have fun spending time with me today?”

“Super fun! Hihi. I’ve never properly enjoyed the parade before, but today was really fun.”

“Really?”

Actually, so did I.

It was like a feeling of numbness.

And then her voice, which had told me not to think too much at the beach, reached my ears as a clear laugh, numbing them.

My eyes were already spoiled just by the presence of a beautiful girl, and my other senses were gradually numbed by Renias’s faint shampoo scent and body warmth.

You’d think my mind wouldn’t be numbed, but whenever I saw Renias smiling brightly, thoughts of the future would immediately vanish from my head.

That’s why it was fun. Because only enjoyable things were happening right before my eyes.

“…”

Now it was time to end today and promise to meet again tomorrow.

But… my lips wouldn’t part. For some reason.

As much as I enjoyed today, the thought of it ending stirred some strange emotion in my heart that I couldn’t quite identify.

Feeling I should say something, my lips finally parted just as Renias gently took my hand.

“Senior. Um… shall we walk a bit?”

Along with the suggestion to walk a bit.

My lips, which earlier seemed glued together, now parted easily to say that one word of agreement.

After that, for the first time today, we walked along the path from where we first met here, changing our route to follow the walking trail.

Worried she might be cold, I wrapped my arm around her. And even that didn’t seem enough, making me concerned.

But Renias didn’t readily bring up a conversation topic. And neither did I.

We just changed positions when we might bump into people. When we saw carts or staff, we stood side by side or stuck close together to make way.

One lap like that. Another lap, pretending not to notice we’d completed one. After that, claiming to be hungry again, we bought a snack and walked another lap.

We walked the trail so many times, chatting about trivial things, that I lost count.

Actually, how many times we went around wasn’t important. If we had continued talking like this without saying anything meaningful, we might have gone around many more times.

But we too had a time limit.

“Mmm…”

The weight of Renias’s eyelids had become too heavy; she had reached her limit of sleepiness.

“Let’s go back now. It’s really dawn already.”

“…”

Renias rubbed her eyes but didn’t answer. She was trying hard to shake off sleep.

Then,

-Thud.

“Senior…”

Finally, her eyelids closed. Her body lost its balance at the same moment.

I couldn’t leave her like this, so I sat her on a bench first, tightly tied my coat around her lower body to cover her, and then gave her a piggyback ride.

“Why are you so light.”

It might be rude to Renias, but perhaps I wished she were a bit heavier.

If she were heavier, I could take even one more step… What am I saying?

I should move quickly. The sooner I move, the less likely Renias is to catch a cold.

If I carry her toward the Academy, I’ll soon see the emblem of the Rantana Duchy.

…Yes. I’ll see it soon.

***

Renias had fallen asleep on my back, breathing softly.

Her voice reached my ears with gentle breaths, and her silver hair flowed down, tickling my skin.

My back felt ticklish too. My heart was pounding so hard. This was causing my steps to slow down.

For some reason, my stride gradually decreased, and the rhythm of my steps slowed.

Even though I knew that the longer I delayed, the more Renias would shiver from the cold, I didn’t understand why I was moving so sluggishly.

But even at that slow pace, I eventually arrived.

“You’ve arrived, brother.”

“…Yes.”

Renias’s twin, Ronelion, was already waiting with a carriage.

Now I would place her in the carriage and head to the dormitory where my bed awaited.

That was all I had to do.

“…”

I must be quite a sluggish person.

Having entered the carriage, all I needed to do was set Renias down from my back, cover her well with my coat, and leave.

Why was I taking so much time for such a simple task? Really… how slow.

After I set Renias down and made her comfortable, the carriage door closed. Confused by the closing door, I stood bewildered until Ronelion drove the point home by saying, “Brother, please sit down as we’re about to depart.”

“De… part? Wait!”

Neeeigh!

It was too late to ask to get off.

My words weren’t even heard, and I was stuck riding in the carriage heading to the Rantana Duchy.

“…”

As the carriage suddenly jolted, I couldn’t remain standing. I had to sit obediently with Renias on my lap until we arrived.

But why do I feel this way?

Somehow… I don’t feel disappointed at all?