"Haa... Haa..."
By the ti I'd endured the splitting headache, the sun had already begun to set. As I ca to my senses, it was the hour when the midday blue mingled with the twilight.
I faced the end of the hunting festival without having done any proper patrolling.
I prayed no serious incidents had occurred. All I could do now was return to base and observe the award ceremony. As I retraced my steps, I fell into thought.
"What on earth was that...?"
The rainbow-colored bubble was a characteristic of His Holiness the Pope's divinity. I, of all people, wouldn't have mistakenly perceived it.
If his divinity had flowed into while sealing the baptismal na, it would make sense. But if so, why had I seen cracks in that divinity?
My thoughts deepened, but I ultimately returned to base without reaching a conclusion.
"You're late," Elphisia said.
"Elphisia..."
As always, Elphisia addressed with a face devoid of emotion. Yet, the woman facing was different from usual. Though Elphisia likely hadn't changed at all since the start of the hunting festival, she now appeared strikingly beautiful to .
Perhaps that's why I dared to attempt sothing that would have been impossible this morning.
"Just a mont... Excuse for a second."
"... Pardon?"
Without further explanation, I pulled Elphisia into an embrace. Imdiately, her warmth filled my arms. Not only that, but her unique rose scent blood intangibly, wafting from her auburn hair.
'This feels oddly familiar.'
It felt natural to embrace Elphisia. Though surely just an illusion, a strange sense of déjà vu lingered like an afterimage.
At that mont, I sensed Elphisia's strength completely leaving her. Belated worry surged through - had I broken her sohow?
"Elphisia...!"
I called her na. But Elphisia didn't respond with her usual prim reproach. She only let out a faint moan.
"Ah... Ungh..."
Red. Everything was red.
From her auburn hair swaying in the breeze to her ruby eyes trembling like seismic waves. And the sight of her porcelain-white face engulfed in crimson flas. Every visible part was tinged red, creating a peculiar impression. As if unfamiliarity and familiarity coexisted...
"Elphisia... I..."
Just as I was about to say sothing.
The hunting festival's events had finally concluded, and it was ti to present awards to those who had perford exceptionally well. So I had no choice but to close my mouth and move, along with my wife who maintained her silence to the end.
As we arrived at the award ceremony venue, Tina ca running, holding Echo's hand.
"Dad, Mom! What are you doing?"
"Tina found you both. She really wanted to watch the award ceremony on soone's shoulders..."
From what I heard, Tina had played briefly at the hunting grounds before returning to chat with the Duke. Echo, too, seed to have spent ti comfortably by his side.
I offered to Echo:
"Do you want a shoulder ride too, Echo?"
"No, it's okay. I wouldn't be able to see well even on shoulders."
"You're always so..."
I lifted the hesitant Echo semi-forcefully. Then I steadily placed her on my shoulders and let her survey the surroundings. Realizing the situation, Echo let out a shrill cry.
"Eek!?"
"How is it? Better?"
"That's... well..."
"But it's fun, right?"
"That's..."
Echo quietly affird.
"... Yes."
Well, it's not like kids would have much interest in an award ceremony anyway. As long as they're enjoying themselves, that's what matters.
anwhile, with Echo occupying my shoulders, Tina's gaze naturally turned to Elphisia.
"Mom, I want a shoulder ride too."
"... Haah."
Her face color now fully settled, Elphisia stared blankly at Tina before sighing.
As expected, Elphisia's training was no re show. She lifted the eleven-year-old girl, who had grown considerably, as easily as she would a three or four-year-old. Thus, with both parents giving shoulder rides, Tina's competitive spirit ignited.
"Ah, Echo is taller than now."
The response ca from Elphisia, who caught the stray.
"... Sorry for being short."
"Eek, that's not what I ant! Mom!"
Tina vehently denied.
In truth, Elphisia was quite tall. Even without heels, she could et the eyes of most n. It was just that I happened to be exactly one forehead taller than her.
'Is only the award ceremony and evening party left now?'
Three people would receive honors at the award ceremony. The Emperor called out the nas starting from the lowest rank.
"Third place. Rayners Arteria."
"Ooh...!"
As soon as the Second Prince's na was called, low cheers erupted from the surroundings. The once unattractive Second Prince, whose entire body had been buried in fat, had changed beyond recognition and claid third place in the hunting festival. This extraordinary transformation was truly a remarkable achievent.
"Well, I'll be... It's like the Chandler viscounty found an uncut diamond."
"Indeed. I know weight loss is important, but to change this much..."
"As if that weren't enough, my daughter complained. Asked why we hadn't proposed marriage earlier. The irony is rich, considering how vehently she refused before."
"That's what I'm saying. The audacity... She even threw a fit, asking why we didn't force it through despite her objections."
The conversation flowed, revealing the fathers' tribulations.
Rayners had undeniably changed. With his appearance complex gone, he seed to have gained confidence. It felt as if the person himself had been possessed by soone else.
Even the Viscount Chandler's daughter, gazing at him, no longer showed disgust in her eyes, though they remained downcast.
The next na the Emperor called was quite unexpected.
"Second place. Glen."
"What?"
I reflexively echoed in disbelief. I had been certain Glen would take first place, so second place was unexpected. Many others seed to share my thoughts.
"I saw it myself. That boy took down a bear five tis his size. And this is second place...?"
"As expected of Duke Luminel's forr disciple... But if this is second place, does that an sothing even more ferocious than that giant bear was roaming the hunting grounds?"
"Whatever it was, we're lucky we didn't encounter it. What on earth did the Duke release for a re festival...!"
A chill ran down everyone's spine. It was fortunate enough that there were no serious casualties here.
The participants' curiosity and anticipation converged on the Emperor's lips. As if responding to their hearts, the Emperor's declaration swiftly followed.
"First place. Rupehit Arteria."
...
......
This ti, no one dared to speak hastily. It seed everyone was first verifying whether what they heard was true. And I was no exception.
After the prolonged silence, soone finally broke the ice for discussion.
"... So, the First Prince?"
"Seems that way."
"... Why?"
One could bring along an escort for protection. Driving ga using these attendants was also allowed. But the hunting itself had to be carried out solely by one's own abilities.
That's why it made even less sense.
"Has anyone here encountered the First Prince?"
"I haven't seen him."
" neither."
"Not even a glimpse."
The participants gradually noticed sothing odd. No matter how vast the hunting grounds, the space was still limited. It should have been normal to encounter at least one participant, yet no one had directly seen the First Prince.
"Hey, can't you all be quiet!"
First Prince Rupehit shouted from the podium. Since he was still a prince after all, silence imdiately dominated the award ceremony.
"If, if you have eyes, you can see... my hunt...!!!"
The First Prince stamred. Even after finishing his sentence, he continued to ramble incoherently as if his soul had left his body. The Emperor furrowed his brow, apparently finding this strange as well.
Even so, the Emperor wouldn't have designated the First Prince as first place without verification, so there must have been sufficient grounds.
Indeed, several n from the other side were dragging the First Prince's hunt.
It was a wheeled, mobile iron cage, covered with a white cloth that hid its contents.
The bearers stopped and removed the white cloth. Imdiately, unrestrained exclamations leaked out from here and there.
"My word...! Isn't that a tiger?"
"Indeed, while smaller than a bear, it's far more ferocious."
"It's only slightly smaller than a bear, but nearly at the sa level."
Amidst the exclamations flying back and forth as if a gathering of connoisseurs, Echo, perched on my shoulders, asked .
"Director, is it true? Is what the First Prince caught bigger than Glen's bear?"
"..."
I couldn't affirm or deny Echo's question. Because the situation was too confusing, even for .
Honestly, I thought I had gone mad. So I turned to Elphisia, seeking final confirmation.
"... Harte."
However, Elphisia shared my state of mind. I could tell imdiately just by her eyes. That clearly, we were the only ones who hadn't gone insane.
"Everyone...!"
Unable to believe the truth I was witnessing, I shouted recklessly.
"What... What are you all looking at...!!!"
Inside the confidently revealed iron cage.
There was neither a ferocious tiger nor even a tiny cat. Only a chilling void transparently filled that space.
People cheered for a space filled with undeniable emptiness.
"Oh my... We've been found out."
As that sinister voice rang out an alarm.
Splat!
A fountain of blood spurted from the podium, and the Emperor's head flew into the sky.
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