I pulled the handcart deep inside, walking for quite a while.
Our assigned spot was tucked away in a far corner.
'This location is awful.'
Even I, knowing little about business, could tell it was a poor spot.
My steps grew heavy as I pulled the cart, disappointnt weighing on .
"Gyeoul, you're here?"
Yoo Sang-ah waved as she approached.
I didn't want to show my disappointnt to her kind face, but my ears and tail wouldn't obey my will.
"Yes. I brought lots to sell."
"Wow, so many fortifiers! How many in total?"
"Almost a thousand."
Forcing a smile for Sang-ah, I tried to ignore my drooping ears and tail.
Sang-ah returned an awkward smile.
"I'm sorry. The spot's not great, is it? We missed the bidding window..."
"It's fine. The location doesn't matter much."
In truth, it did matter.
Pri spots weren't expensive for nothing.
But I couldn't complain to Sang-ah, who must have stressed over the spot.
"I'm grateful you say that. Oh, and this is Choi Juyae from the Sacred Guild."
I exchanged nods with Juyae at Sang-ah's introduction.
But sothing seed off about Juyae's condition.
She was dripping with sweat despite the mild weather.
"...Hello?"
"...Hello, sister(unni)."
Sister?
It was a word I'd never heard before.
Startled, I stepped back. Sang-ah chuckled.
"Admitting defeat before we even start?"
"This is problematic even if I win..."
Juyae slumped into a nearby chair, swaying.
They seed to be competing in sothing I didn't understand.
"What's going on...?"
"We just made a little bet. The loser has to call the winning team 'sister'."
So that was it.
But there was no need to call 'sister' too.
I scratched my cheek, hearing the most awkward title of my life.
"I'd prefer to just be called by na..."
"Did you hear that, Sang-ah?"
Juyae stood up, eyes sparkling.
Sang-ah chuckled and shook her head firmly.
"I'd like to taste victory too... How about you call sister for just one day?"
"One day..."
Juyae nodded and slumped back into the chair.
As we chatted, Levinas ca rsisterng from sowhere, waving frantically.
"King! Kiiing!"
"Hm?"
"King! There's a much better spot over there! Can't we move there?!"
Levinas pointed sowhere towards the arena entrance.
"Hmm... Our spot's already set, so we can't change it."
"I-I see..."
Levinas knows this spot isn't good either.
I gently patted Levinas's dejected back.
"Don't worry too much. If we decorate it nicely, lots of custors will co."
"Mm... Levinas made a pretty sign..."
Levinas listlessly pulled out a paper bundle from her bag.
It was a long sheet of drawing paper taped together with crooked writing:
[Tasty Cat Fish Bread]
[Tasty Horned Rabbit Carrot]
It was big enough to see from afar.
When did she make this?
The spelling was wrong, but I decided not to point it out for now, for Levinas's sake.
Festival preparations should be done with a cheerful heart.
"There are stars and hearts too?"
"Mm..."
Levinas really worked hard on this.
I hope many people who appreciate Levinas's effort will visit.
With that earnest wish, I stuck various origami shapes to the building.
The shapes were a bit crooked, but they were heartfelt.
As I was putting up the origami, I heard familiar footsteps approaching.
It was Chae Juyeon, the Sacred Guild Master.
---
---
At the Yeomyeong Guild's promotional booth.
Chae Juyeon stopped in front of it.
"Oh my, it's Gyeoul?"
"Ah, hello..."
Gyeoul's outstretched arm trembled.
Being short, she couldn't reach the high spots.
Is she trying to stick that musical note-shaped paper up there?
Juyeon lifted Gyeoul's struggling body.
"Is Gyeoul the PR representative?"
"Yes. That's how it turned out."
I see.
As Juyeon nodded, Levinas approached.
"Master."
"Yes?"
"Can't you give us a better spot...?"
Levinas clasped her hands as if praying.
Juyeon unconsciously averted her gaze.
"Well, you see..."
"Levinas will massage your shoulders...?"
"I'm so sorry, but there are no spots left..."
"Aww..."
Levinas slumped her shoulders dejectedly.
Seeing that pitiful sight, Juyeon pressed her lips together.
'If I'd known the kids were coming, I'd have given them a better spot... No, even so, spots must be allocated fairly...'
...But is it necessary to insist on fairness even for children?
When the kids are feeling down because of her principles?
Juyeon tried to ignore her wavering conviction as she looked over the Yeomyeong Guild's booth.
The paper sign stood out the most.
[Tasty Cat Fish Bread]
[Tasty Horned Rabbit Carrot]
The handwriting was ssy, with spelling errors.
Even so, Juyeon liked Gyeoul's booth.
She couldn't dislike a booth made with such effort by a lovable child.
"It's so pretty. You'll steal all the custors even from this corner, won't you?"
"R-Really?"
"Yes. The cut-out origami is really pretty. This is the best I've seen today."
"...!"
Levinas's ears perked up.
Her wide eyes turned to Gyeoul.
To check if it was true.
"I think what Levinas made is the prettiest too."
"!"
If the king said so, it must be true.
Levinas threw both hands up as if cheering.
Juyeon, having set Gyeoul down, grabbed Levinas's arms and swung them side to side.
"It's so pretty, it has to be in the furthest corner."
It wasn't a lie.
Surely the children's shop would attract crowds of custors.
"That's right!"
Levinas jumped up, agreeing.
There was no more disappointnt.
---
---
Though the main competition was still days away, the arena bustled with people.
It was thanks to the preliminary matches being held.
After finishing our booth, we decided to watch the preliminaries.
Fortunately, entry was free for guild affiliates.
"Wow..."
It was a duel between a spearman and a swordsman.
The spearman easily deflected an incoming wooden sword.
Then he thrust his blunt wooden spear into the swordsman's chest.
Though the wooden spear didn't pierce through, the impact was evident.
The swordsman on the arena floor coughed up blood but didn't fall.
"Whoa!"
"Amazing!"
"How can they fight like that without mana?"
Clap clap clap-!
Cheers and applause erupted.
As I was about to join in clapping, Levinas beside started trembling violently.
"Levinas, are you very scared?"
"S-Scared..."
Levinas had seen many monsters die.
Was seeing people bleed different?
We probably needed to leave.
I grabbed Saebyeok's tail as she watched the match with keen interest.
"Saebyeok, let's go out."
"Already? I want to watch more."
"Well, Levinas seems really scared."
Saebyeok, who had been expressing regret, turned to look at Levinas.
Seeing Levinas shaking uncontrollably, she stood up without hesitation.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
Saebyeok took the lead, with Levinas and I following.
n in suits stood at the arena exit.
Soone approached the suited n.
They seed to be trying to leave but were quickly stopped.
"No entry or exit during matches."
"Why not?"
"It's a safety issue. You can move once a match ends, so please stay in your seat unless it's urgent."
The suited n controlled the crowd.
They firmly asked people not to move until the match ended.
'So we can't move during matches.'
This was a world with mana.
If soone got excited and went berserk mid-match, spectators could get hurt.
So control was necessary to protect the audience.
'We'll have to wait.'
Each match took about fifteen minutes.
Just as I resigned myself to waiting a bit, Saebyeok approached the suited n.
"We can't leave now?"
"Correct. No entry or exit during matches."
"...But she's really scared."
Saebyeok pointed in our direction.
Following her gesture, the suited n turned to look at Levinas and .
"Hmm..."
The suited n wavered.
It was thanks to Levinas trembling beside .
The shaking was so intense that even my body shook with her.
"Levinas, are you okay?"
"Scared...!"
"Let's hang on a bit, okay?"
Thud-!
Thud-!
At the sounds echoing from the arena, Levinas crouched down.
She covered her ears with both hands and shook violently.
"Uuu..."
She was on the verge of tears.
That pitiful sight made even feel gloomy.
But there was nothing I could do.
All I could do was hug Levinas tightly.
"L-Let's go out."
The n in black suits made way.
They looked at Levinas and with concerned eyes.
I didn't know why they were looking at too.
---
6/6 Enjoy the chappy!
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