episode_0230

As the winter winds blew in.

And thick snow began to pile up softly.

The blessing ceremony arrived.

Had the efforts of the three to make the festival grand finally paid off?

Breezedon, always quiet and desolate, was now filled with many people.

“Hey, Ruyef! We’re here!”

“Ah, you’ve arrived. Thank you so much for accepting the invitation.”

“Haha. It just so happens to be the Sabbath today. And since you invited us so enthusiastically, of course we had to come, even if it meant putting some work aside!”

“Please enjoy yourselves to the fullest.”

“Ruyef! Hello-”

“Ah, Leonne. Welcome. What about the shop?”

“Mom said she’d watch it. So I’m going to enjoy myself all day today! Hee-hee!”

Not only people from Taildon, but also idle mercenaries and merchants with free time climbed up to Breezedon to see the ‘mysterious mountain village.’

Usually, such grand festivals were hosted by nobles.

But this festival, from its organizers to its attendees, was entirely composed of free citizens, so its vibrancy was astonishingly fervent.

Ruyef bustled around, incredibly busy.

Originally, he had planned to lead attendees around Breezedon’s various attractions during the day, explaining how the village would change in the future.

However, he was now stuck, unable to move, as he met and greeted the countless attendees coming up the mountain path.

“Alright, the food is here!”

Still, people weren’t bored.

That was because dishes made with the excellent skill of the hired cooks, the Elon couple, were being served one after another.

“Wow-! What is all this!”

“It feels like we’ve been invited to a noble’s banquet.”

Everyone sat down at the tables and began to enjoy the banquet dishes.

Rye bread, from which a savory aroma rose when slowly opened by hand at its cracked seam.

Thick stew, the color of autumn grains, with floating cooked cabbage, potatoes, and pork. When scooped full with a spoon and taken into the mouth, the fragrant warmth heartily filled the hungry body, which had climbed the mountain path since morning.

Turning to where a faint smoky scent drifted, lamb hanging over a bonfire dripped glistening oil, whetting people’s appetites.

Breezedon’s winter herring from the stream were also indispensable. Though not as plump as the fish drifting downstream in Taildon, taking a bite of a well-grilled dorsal fin released soft, salty juices that burst onto the tongue, a delicacy only found here.

And, of course, the indispensable refreshing beer. The sun hadn’t even set yet, but people were already drunk, their noses flushed with the sunset’s hue, chattering on and on.

For this day, Ruyef had created a special table.

Like the dining table said to be in the Deseo Royal Palace Arena, it was a long table that could seat at least 50 people at once, 20 on each side.

Realistically, he couldn’t make enough chairs for everyone. Instead, he temporarily embedded oak barrels into the ground for seating, which seemed to be an interesting novelty for the people.

While waiting for the food, they tapped on the empty oak barrels with their palms.

They spontaneously began to hum music among themselves.

♬~♩♪-♬~

Soon, lively music, as if a true festival had begun, resounded widely throughout the mountain valley.

Watching the people, Ruyef smiled faintly.

His blue eyes narrowed, as if reminiscing about old times.

Every day. They had spent such joyful and peaceful days.

Days when the people of Breezedon gathered in one place, ate dinner together, exchanged silly jokes, and laughed together.

Such carefree days.

Perhaps Ruyef had wished to see that scene once more.

The afternoon banquet lasted a long time.

By the time people with full bellies lay sprawled on the tables, declaring they couldn’t eat another bite.

The full-scale Breezedon tour finally began.

Ruyef opened up the inside of the village.

He proudly introduced the newly built empty houses, the inn prepared for peddlers, the terraced fields, and the neatly maintained roads.

He also showed the cliff scenery, announcing that a new bridge would be built there, and that this place would eventually become a trade route connecting to the east of Dragonez.

Though a small, insignificant village compared to the massive city of Taildon.

The winter scenery of Breezedon, as seen by the heavily intoxicated people, evoked a feeling of being in a cozy, yellowish mountain villa beneath the majestic, cool, blue-white mountains.

People stared in admiration.

Even if they didn’t settle here, they gazed at the scenery with eyes full of anticipation, hoping to stay and relax here if they ever had the leisure.

Finally, when the sun set and the blue night arrived.

Ruyef pulled up the hood of his cloak and held a lantern.

“I will guide you to where the blessing ceremony will be held. Please follow me.”

A procession of about 50 people followed behind him.

Originally, Breezedon’s mountain paths were steep and rugged, but thanks to the trio’s consistent work, even a child could now easily climb them.

After crossing natural tree root stairs and walking a short distance on the dirt path.

Before they knew it, people were standing on a high ridge.

Whoosh-.

The cold wind cooled people’s sweat.

“Ohh-!”

“Dad, look over there!”

“They say a Divine Dragon lives in Dragonez! Is that what they’re talking about?”

A faint mist of snow draped under the moonlight.

In the tranquil darkness. People cried out in disbelief as they watched the scene of the Imugi-like fog gracefully swimming.

The ‘Divine Dragon’ that only existed in legends.

The people of Breezedon didn’t say it out loud, but they knew it wasn’t a real god.

The Divine Dragon was the Dragonez mountain range itself.

A giant dragon sprawled across the center of the continent.

Long, sprawling slopes like wings. And rugged mountain peaks like its spine.

Humans, daring not to live upon this sacred and magnificent nature, moved to the tips of its tail, its hands, its head, forming cities in each place.

But Breezedon boldly built its foundation upon the carcass of this dragon.

As if… this place was the center of the world.

If so.

At the very top of all this world-.

Who would be the one to receive the blessing of what they called ‘the most sacred night’?

Ruyef pushed open the entrance hidden by bushes with his hand.

“Please come this way.”

And walking inside, Ruyef called out loudly for his friend.

“Ritsu-!”

Then, a man walked out from behind a not-so-distant tree.

“Yeah. It’s all done.”

Ritsu hung the last lantern on a tree branch, right where he had been standing.

Click.

Then, a new world unfolded before the people.

It was a flat expanse with hundreds of lanterns.

A shimmering array of lights danced and undulated.

Under the clear and pristine night sky.

Golden light, its extent unknown, rippled like waves.

The pungent scent of the winter forest brushed against their noses.

As the wind blew, everyone’s hair swept in its direction.

Red, yellow, black, and blue cloths hung from the tips of branches, fluttering like a rainbow.

Simultaneously, the small wooden pieces dangling from the ends of the lanterns gently clicked against each other. Shy sounds tickled their ears.

It was as if countless meteor showers falling from the night sky had been captured on this hill-.

A world of fantasy.

That place was very different from my memories.

It wasn’t a blessing ceremony where dozens of candlesticks cast a dim light.

Instead, hundreds of intensely, dazzlingly beautiful balls of light.

Had finally descended upon the ground.

Exactly as Ritsu’s fervent desire to prepare the most beautiful blessing ceremony in the world had intended.

It silenced everyone who entered this sacred land.

Ruyef looked around the wide field and asked Ritsu.

“So, shall we start right away?”

There was no reply.

“Whoa-!!”

“Ahahaha!”

Because there was no need for an answer.

The children, already full of excitement, were running around wildly, suddenly starting a game of tag.

The adults, too, chuckled and enjoyed the mystical scenery together.

Without being told, everyone knew what they should do at that moment.

Simply, enjoy this moment.

There was no special ritual to perform or solemn quiet to maintain.

“My goodness- it’s truly beautiful, dear.”

“Indeed. I could drink here for the rest of my life.”

“Even here, you’re saying such things?”

“Ehehehe-!”

Only the happy laughter of the people was truly needed at this blessing ceremony.

Rustle.

Into the blessing ceremony grounds where everyone had gathered.

Finally, a girl pushed through the bushes and entered.

At first, no one noticed her presence, but as she walked among the people, one by one they began to see and recognize her.

“The main character has arrived.”

“She’s Ruyef’s younger sister, right?”

A pure white dress, as if made from gathering an armful of softly piled snowflakes.

Beautiful golden hair covering it.

And blue eyes shining like the bright night sky.

A simple yet innocent-smiling little girl, like a maiden from the countryside.

It was Marie.

Had he heard the murmuring from behind?

Ritsu suddenly felt a presence and turned his head.

And let out a choked sound.

“Ah…”

Marie stood directly in front of him.

Wearing a dress he had never seen before.

With a slightly shy, flushed expression, she gazed up at Ritsu.

For a moment, he fumbled, not knowing what to say.

He finally managed to utter a single sentence.

“That’s a really beautiful dress, Marie.”

“Is it?”

“Yes.”

“Heh heh-.”

With a satisfied look, Marie smiled brightly.

And then, she unexpectedly extended a small, white hand towards Ritsu.

“…Huh?”

Even someone from Taildon who knew nothing of blessing ceremony customs.

Probably everyone would have understood the meaning of that gesture.

Because it was a girl’s most honest display-.

‘The only meaning’ there was.

“Dance with me, Ritsu Oppa.”

“…Me?”

Ruyef, who had been watching, tapped Ritsu’s shoulder.

“Who else would it be but you?”

“That’s right, Ritsu! It’s not a gentleman’s courtesy to keep a lady waiting-.”

People chuckled and urged Ritsu on.

It was a look everyone understood.

In Breezedon, there were only three people: Ruyef, Marie, and Ritsu.

If Marie were to choose someone to dance with.

Of course, it could only be Ritsu, who was not a relative.

It was a fact everyone knew but Ritsu.

Before his flustered face, Marie asked in a playful voice.

“Surely you weren’t hoping I’d dance with my brother?”

Hearing that, Ruyef waved his hands frantically and fled, as if the thought was unbearable.

Ritsu hastily stammered a defense.

“Ah, no. That’s not what I meant…”

His brown eyes steadily gazed down at the girl’s outstretched hand.

Marie’s hand.

That small hand, which he had held countless times.

Extremely calm, yet when held, a warm heat permeated it.

A hand that, simply by holding it, filled and embraced a person’s empty heart.

Ritsu had already received so much help from that hand.

Even when he was in so much pain that he wanted to tear out his own eyes and ears. Even when he barely endured the painful times and embarked on a distant journey.

This hand that silently helped him rise again.

How could he refuse it?

He firmly grasped it.

So much so that Marie, who had offered her hand, stumbled slightly in surprise.

Ritsu replied in a serious voice.

“I want to dance with you, Marie.”

With those words.

People cheered and celebrated together.

Under the sky that everyone blessed and acknowledged.

And so, the two of them, holding hands, began to walk towards the center of the field.