Even in Polka, the snow gradually increases.
"It's about time for the winter spirit festival"
At the dining room of the inn. After returning from the morning bath, Lantz says that,
wiping the snow off his shoulders. When Boyd heard that, he looked a little sad.
"I want to be near Sylvia during the spirit festival"
"For that reason, you´re training hard. The date is still in the early stages of
preparation for the festival, so we´re still in time"
Anzeros seems to continue training for Boyd even in such snow. She put on her
athletic clothes, hit Boyd on the shoulder, stood up now and went. Irina, who was
listening to it, looked strange.
"Spirit Festival…?"
…Ah, come to think of it.
"Isn't there such a festival at Trot or Elf territory? In summer and winter, Celesta has
a festival to thank the spirits"
Trot has a kingdom church whose main deity is the guardian deity of earth. And
although the elf territory is animist like Celesta, the ritual system has nothing to do
with Celesta because it is an isolated cultural area. It seems to be so. Those festivals
that we long-lived groups take for granted are irrelevant to them.
"That means that Trot doesn't have a spirit festival!?"
As Lantz just noticed, he raised a wild voice.
"Of course, there is a New Year festival, but there is no spirit festival in summer and
winter"
The rest is the autumn harvest festival and the spring festival. That's what polka
festivals are all about.
"What? No matter where you go for a reason, it's not lively…"
"Did you think there was?"
"I don't have much experience abroad. It's the first time this year that we have been
here for so long"
"Me too…"
It seems that Masturbation Brothers seriously believed that there was a spirit
festival.
"Then, I want to go back to Basson during the spirit festival"
"Even if you don't have a partner?"
There are various events at the spirit festival, but due to its nature, it is desirable to
welcome it with your lover. This is because it is supposed to be a time of 「Thank
you from the spirits」 from the middle of the night to the morning, after making a
fuss until the middle of the night and letting the spirits lie down. It is said that the
spirits give blessings to loved ones and their families during that time and after all,
it's a fun time.
"No, don't you know 10-man captain Smithson? In Basson, if you set up a park after
midnight, it's a really fun sight"
"It's a little hard for me to enjoy watching other people's actions"
"It's a great place to relax"
It's okay to have a man who plays the other role in an erotic picture scroll, but I don't
want to see other people's sex. If you think about it, it may be a strange value
standard.
"Well… Andy can't afford to look at the work of others, right?"
Dianne made a quick remark on the issue.
『Bang!』
Masturbation Brothers hit the desk at the same time. Scary.
"That's right, 10-man captain Smithson is in the popular period for some reason"
"Remember!"
"No, why do you suddenly become so hostile!?"
They're funny subordinates, but sometimes they're scary.
————————————–
"Hmm. Spirit festival…"
Even after the Masturbation Brothers retired to their rooms, Irina still thinks.
"What's wrong, Irina"
When Dianne called out, Irina replied, staring at the sky.
"No, when I think about it, I thought it would be okay to have such a festival"
"Are you importing Celesta's culture? Well, it wouldn't be difficult with your power."
"No, the spirit temple has the right to decide the ceremony about the spirits. It's a
separate organization from the clan council, so it's troublesome to despise it too
much"
"Ah… is there such a thing?"
I was a little convinced that she was thinking about it. As a similar example, Trot
Kingdom Church takes the position that it is formally cooperative with Trot´s royal
family and is not under control. In the past, Trot´s royal family was also the highest
priest, but as the head of an organization of a completely different character, we
must respect both the aristocrats who are politicians and the priests who are
thinkers equally. It seems that it was difficult and in the end it was split. Well, in
reality, the king seems to be bigger. Politics is a hassle. When it comes to how to clear
such a power balance, I was thinking about something clever at an early point, but it
seems that the story is not so.
"…Not in the name of dedicating to the spirits"
"?"
"I thought it would be okay to have a festival dedicated to the dragons of Misty Palace
and the holy beasts"
"Hou"
Dianne looked impressed.
"If there is a pretext for a festival, don't increase your adrisy for them. It is especially
effective to give a clear name to the cooperation with the holy beast"
"Umm. Then, I wonder what it was like to realize it early. It may be difficult to go to
Celesta's Spirit Festival from now on. For the time being, through talking to Diel and
the Holy Beast, I think that Christie and Gorkus would stand on my side. Well, the
purple clan´s old woman is going to say no…"
Irina twists her head with a difficult face. Well, it might be simulating various
theoretical armaments.
"Laila"
I call Laila with a not-so-loud voice. She has already retracted into my room and
decided to sleep twice, but Laila's ears should be able to hear it… Soon, the sound of
a door opening from upstairs can be heard.
"…My turn"
"Yes. To get to Breakcore, you or Maia have to take me there"
"I see… However, there is a festival dedicated to me, too"
It seems that she was listening to everything. Stunning hell ears.
"Irina"
"…I think I'll think about it a little more carefully"
Irina stands up with a challenging smile.
"Well, none other than the hero of the forest is the backing. It will be done somehow"
"Well, maybe I?"
I was just impressed when I heard it, but I don't think I can move things as much as a
backing… But Dianne hit my shoulders.
"Elves don't like being directed by dark elves. Aside from fighting, there could be
unnecessary fights if I get in the way of running the forest."
Laila also shook her head.
"Ho, I agree. From the original, this is not the mouth of worshiping the holy beasts
and blue lizards. It's just that even if you add it up, you'll just be taken in"
"..."
Aurora and Anzeros… ha, aren't here. In other words, only me, the hero of the forest
(provisional).
"I don't think it makes sense for a dark elf and a black dragon to say it and a human
says"
"Not really. Well, leave it to Irina"
Dianne seems confident that Irina can do it well. Well… aside from Irina's strange
lightness, I have no doubt about her skill as a negotiator.
———————————-
In any case, it doesn't start without talking to the person in question. So, Irina, I and
Laila go through the Silver Clan manor and then the Red Clan manor to the Holy
Beast Labyrinth.
"Even if there is so much land, not even a thousand people live here… it's always a
waste of spring"
Overlooking the vast Red clan's territory, I smirk. In the ancient barrier, the land that
is many times larger than Trot is groaning due to the distortion of space. It is a
paradise with fertile soil and few monsters. It is said that only 10,000 live there. If we
could rent a corner of this land, everyone in Polka would have a much easier life. If
you can rent it not only as a place to live, but also as farmland, the food situation
during the winter will be… Irina laughs and reminds me of thinking that.
"It's a vast space, but it's not infinite. And it's actually a mysterious space that might
be destroyed by some mistake. I think it would be nice to open it up to other races,
but the 「Residents」 who can't do that. I want you to understand their feelings"
"…Hmm"
A little reflection. There's no end to it if you scrape your desires in the future, for
sure.
"Besides, it's Polka´s residents who you want to give this land to… even if we allow
them to live in this land in the spring, they won't move half of the city here"
"…That's right, elf discrimination…"
Is it fear rather than discrimination? Historically, Trot has been hostile to elves for
many years and has made many sacrifices against a small number of them. Even if
you can interact with friendly people to some extent, only those who can be called
bold can sleep with peace of mind.
"Maybe that's the case… Even if it's inconvenient or cramped, people love their
hometown. You've been traveling for a long time and you won't feel it, but I'm sure
they'll still choose the place they're used to living in. I feel that the city is loved by the
residents so much"
"..."
A feeling that I don't understand…? Polka is an irreplaceable city for me as well. I
want to say I know more than Irina says. However, when I look at another land and
think, 「Everyone should move here」 I think that feeling is completely gone.
"Maybe. My nonsense"
Reflection. Today is a day with a lot of reflection.
The camp in front of the Holy Beast Labyrinth is a little different from when I came
before. A fence with logs surrounded the new land and the expansion of the village
had begun.
"Irina, Smithson and Laila-dono. You´ve come a lot"
As usual, Diel spearheaded the construction. As soon as I got off, he ran up with a
few elves.
"That construction… will the village be expanded?"
"Yes. Recently, more and more young people are learning to explore the labyrinth.
We haven't had enough beds and we've even come to the point where we need to lie
outside the village while ensuring safety with illusions. I thought it would be a good
idea to use it as a driftstone"
Those who study abroad under the guidance of Gorkus, those who migrate to Polka
under the guidance of Irina and Christie. And those who want to train here and travel
the wide world. There are various things. Elves are said to be weak as a race, but I
wonder if they are still fine.
"Hmm. I hope it's a success"
Irina smiles and starts walking, inviting Diel with her fingers.
"Are you going to the holy beast?"
"Umm. It's good to follow. It's a good idea for the holy beast and this labyrinth
village"
Breakcore would have been looking at me on the hut ever since Laila landed.
"Andy!"
Breakcore, waving her hands, looks younger than Irina, wondering what happened.
She ran over the raised meadows just above the labyrinth and jumped at me. The
horn was about to stick and I caught the shrimp while warping. It's light and helpful.
"It's been a while… not so much, Breakcore"
"It's been a long time. I've been waiting for a long time"
"Well, I'm stuck, so don't press your face against my chest"
"Ah… I'm sorry"
Breakcore suddenly smashes the horn of the forehead with her hands without
hesitation, with a face that he just noticed. Well, that kind of thing is painful, so I'd
like you to forgive me.
"This doesn't hurt"
"It hurts to watch!"
"I don't care, anymore"
…The degree of sweetness is accelerating compared to when I came before. I mean,
maybe after I found her, she got smaller to be spoiled like this…? If you look closely,
the clothes are a little loose.
"Ah… that's right. Holy beast. I came to talk to you…"
Irina calls out to Breakcore, who is abruptly clinging to me. Breakcore becomes
sulky.
"Can't we do it later? I want to be more happy to see Andy again. Please wait for
about two hours."
"What are you doing for two hours?"
"Do you want to join?"
"…What should I do with this hack?"
Irina makes a strange laugh. Both of them look like little girls, but they are
surrealistic scenes of a hundred of years old vs. several thousand years old.
"Hey Irina. You didn't come to play with Breakcore like that"
"I, I know! I know!"
It seems that she didn't forget when I tried to remind her of her purpose.
"…That, Irina. You brought me, isn't it because you want me to arbitrate a strange
quarrel?"
Diel smiles and laughs.
"…I've been forgotten, too"
Laila sighed.
Inside Breakcore´s house, we all surrounded the table. I put the dissatisfied
Breakcore on my lap and managed to hear Irina's announcement.
"So, by setting up a new Holy Beast Festival, I would like to actively encourage all the
elves in the forest to appreciate and interact with Breakcore"
"I don't think it's bad. The flow of goods and people is likely to improve"
Diel nods. Breakcore was listening with a reluctant feeling, but when she finished
listening.
"There are conditions"
"What?"
"…I want the priest to set up Andy"
She said something outrageous.
"That's not it. Even if it's an elf festival. At least at the first guest…"
It doesn't matter if Irina is squeaking in her mouth.
"No♪"
She has negotiated directly with me. Turning over on my lap and looking upside
down… Isn't it regressing not only in appearance but also in spirit, Holy Beast? While
thinking.
"I will do it"
"S, Smithson-dono!?"
I accepted it because it was cute. No, it sounds interesting, doesn't it?