Receiving a gift from Rosemary-san, I once again move to a new parallel world to receive a present from the next person. And the next one is……
[What a splendid day it is. The stars twinkle, the celebration is radiant, and the feast honors the birth of my sworn friend. The many gathered stars offer their blessings as well. And of course, I too, as one of those shining stars, offer my blessing to my comrade.]
[Thank you very much, Al-san.]
Yes, it’s Al-san. There’s sothing charming about how she delivers her congratulations in that confident, high-spirited tone, so much so that even without Sympathy Magic, I can feel how excited she is.
This is just a guess, but since Al-san is a human, she probably knows what birthdays are…… or rather, I think she kind of admired the idea of celebrating a friend’s birthday.
When she invited to her ho, she was extrely excited. In monts like that, you can almost see a puppy wagging its tail furiously behind her.
[You were really close in the ga tournant, Al-san. You made it to the finals several tis……]
[Ah, of course, I’d be lying if I said I feel no regret. But more than winning or losing, I was delighted to compete with so many stars I don’t usually get the chance to engage with. Since there’s only so much room at the seat of glory, there will inevitably be winners and losers. And as long as everyone strives toward glory, it’s only natural that outco exists. What’s important is what brilliance you gain in that process.]
[Yeah, gas like that are fun with a big group.]
[Unn! It was so much fun playing together with everyone…… mmh!? I an, I also gained a lot from the experience.]
Al-san made it to the finals several tis during the tournant, though she didn’t end up winning. Still, she didn’t seem particularly bothered by that. Rather, she seed genuinely happy about being able to have fun with everyone.
It’s true that back at the previous ship party, she stood out a little until I introduced her to Iris-san. Al-san tends to stand out in social settings, partly because of how uniquely and elaborately she speaks, which makes it harder for others to interact with her casually.
I’m used to it by now, so I can easily follow her long-winded speeches, but I can see how soone not used to her might find it hard to understand what she’s saying.
[Now then, I would like to deepen my bond with my sworn friend even further, but this place was not prepared solely for the two of us. It wouldn’t be wise to waste ti idly. Therefore, let quickly hand over this treasured artifact to you.]
She called the present a "treasured artifact"…… Though with Al-san, there's really no fixed pattern to how she speaks. She just says whatever sounds cool to her at the mont, so the terminology often changes from one ti to the next.
[My sworn friend, do you rember? Back when fate first brought us together, I told you that for us Wingeds, giving sothing made from one’s own feathers carries special aning………]
[Yes, I rember. It’s kind of a symbol of affection, right?]
I recall when we first t during the tea party after Harmonic Symphony’s finale, Al-san gave an accessory made from black feathers.
[Yeah, exactly. However, as I was reading ancient texts passed down by the Wingeds, I discovered the existence of an even higher-tier accessory. This accessory was sothing only those of high status among the Wingeds were allowed to create. The thod of making it is extrely complex, and it's said to have vanished from their history. But as sothing to gift to another, it's considered the highest-tier item…… or so it’s said.]
[A secret, long-lost accessory that fell into obscurity because the process was too complicated to preserve?]
[Indeed. I thought there could be nothing more fitting to give to my sworn friend, so I experinted and finally managed to make one. This is that treasured artifact.]
[Thank you very much. It’s beautiful. And the shape is really intricate…… Are these two feathers entwined together? I’m amazed you managed to shape it so precisely.]
[That intricacy is exactly why this treasure was lost to ti. But rember when the King of Empty Illusions once bestowed us a mystical item for crafting accessories? That technique, one that alters the softness of materials, ca to mind. I applied it, and as a result, I was able to recreate this lost artifact.]
The accessory I received from Al-san was crafted with two feathers intricately woven together. Under normal conditions, trying to mold feathers into such a shape would cause them to snap, and even if you cut and glued them, you’d never get this structure.
Apparently, using the accessory-making kit we got from Alice, with its technique that softens even tal like clay, as a reference, she was able to complete the secret accessory.
[From what I read, this accessory is said to symbolize an eternal bond. In ancient tis, Winged chieftains would present it only to soone truly special. I believe it's a fitting symbol of the bond we share.]
[……An eternal bond? Given only to soone truly special…… Errr, Al-san…… does that an this is sothing you'd give to a fiancé?]
[Huehh? F- F- F- Fiancé!? Eh? Then that special ans…… t- that's not it, I- I- I- I didn't have such intentions, I- I just ant it’s a special item symbolizing my deep bond with my sworn friend, s- s- so it's not, you know, not like a proposal or anything…… R- Right! The bond between us is just that deep! So…… T- This won't do! I’ve taken too much ti! I- I’ll be going now…… Ah, my sworn friend, once again, happy birthday! Bye!!!]
When I asked, suspecting that it might be an accessory similar to an engagent ring, it beca clear that the idea hadn’t even occurred to Al-san. She grew visibly flustered, her face turning bright red, and she quickly fled in embarrassnt. She’d reacted the sa way before when Tre-san said sothing odd to her, so it seems topics like this really aren’t her strong suit.
Serious-senpai : [From a rose chihuahua to a jet-black poranian (bird)…… it’s been a string of dog-types huh.]
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