Chapter 71

Today is Chotonaigai.

On the day of the God Crossing, the Elgrandark family also treats their servants to a feast. Every year, the dishes prepared by the chef are lined up in the hall, and servants who have finished their duties are allowed to join the party. Since the head of the family is called to the palace for the New Year, it truly becomes a free-for-all among the servants.

The servants are not to extinguish the lights until morning, and if they clean up properly, Dismaia, Elise, and the butler Parepantur will not say anything.

For those servants who have families waiting for them, the dishes are wrapped and prepared to take home. Of course, some lower-ranking servants take these and head out to the street stalls.

The servants bustle about, preparing for the party, and are excited about the evening to come. This excitement spreads to the children, and even Dian, who has nothing particular to do, is restless.

The door is knocked on, and when Ilvaleno opens it, the butler says that a gift from Tylnoa has arrived and places a large box. Dian and Ilvaleno open the box together, and inside are stones shaped like slightly larger than a fist, resembling candy. A note is included, instructing them to hold the stone in their hand and infuse it with magic. Dian takes one and gently infuses it with magic.

"Wow! It glowed!"

Dian exclaims in awe as the stone glows faintly in Cain's palm. Cain, wary of something strange happening since it was a gift from Tylnoa, but it seems to only glow. Cain takes one out and places it in Dian's palm, and Dian, frowning in concentration, gathers magic in her palm. The candy-like stone then glows a pale pink.

"It's like a star."

"It's a stone for lighting during the God Crossing. It really does look like a star."

Ilvaleno, holding one in his hand, also made it glow a faint green, though not as strongly as Cain and Dian. Thanks to Tylnoa's help in infusing magic stones, the three of them have become skilled at concentrating their magic.

They hang the stones from Cain's canopy bed and close the curtains, creating a makeshift planetarium. Dian, saying it's a new secret base, is excited but eventually falls asleep.

"Dian has fallen asleep."

"She's been practicing staying up late, staying up until late every night, but she couldn't stay up past midnight... "

"Maybe if she sleeps until evening, she'll be able to stay up tonight."

"Probably. Let's let her sleep for a while."

Dian, with her head on Cain's lap and holding a glowing magic stone, is snoring softly. Cain gently combs her hair with one hand while gently patting her back with the other.

Ilvaleno leaves the bed and returns with a blanket. Since Dian is sleeping in the middle of the bed, he can't cover her with the duvet, so he gently covers her with the blanket, and Dian turns over with a contented "Mmm."

"What will you do, Ilvaleno? Will you spend the night in the hall with everyone, go back to the orphanage, or come with us to the palace?"

"I'm a commoner, and Selenosta is returning to the orphanage. If more people come, there will be less food for everyone. I think I'll stay in my room after dinner."

"Oh, Selenosta is coming back."

"Yes. He heard that there will be stalls and wants to sell the crafts he made during his training. He wants to test his skills."

"Wow. I would have liked to see that. I doubt I can sneak out to the orphanage, though."

Cain and Ilvaleno talk in hushed voices so as not to wake Dian.

Cain is relieved that Ilvaleno will stay at the estate. The square where the bell is rung is full of commoner children, and there's a high possibility that the game's protagonist is among them. Although there shouldn't be any flashback scenes in the game about meeting during the God Crossing as a child, it's better to be cautious.

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The night square in front of the castle.

Magic stones are attached to street lamps and trees, and bonfires are lit along the walls, making it as bright as daytime. Although there are no stalls in the square, people who have enjoyed the festival in the city are wandering around, chatting happily.

Dian, looking around, is in line to ring the bell, with Cain and Ilvaleno.

Ilvaleno was supposed to stay at the estate, but Dian said, "I want Il to come too!" so he came as a servant with the two of them.

Even if Ilvaleno meets the protagonist here, it won't be his only gentle memory. Cain had the confidence that it wouldn't be. The game's Ilvaleno, who had a single gentle memory while working in the underworld, took the drastic action of killing everyone. The Ilvaleno standing next to him now is no longer the game's Ilvaleno. It's okay. Cain reassures himself. Above all, he must fulfill Dian's wish, so he smiles wryly at himself.

"Brother, I need to go to the bathroom."

Dian tugs at Cain's hand and looks up at him. She's wearing a knitted cap with rabbit ears, which makes her look very cute.

There's still some time before the New Year, but the line has grown quite long.

"Master Cain. I'll stay in line, so please go. It's better to finish before the line starts moving."

Ilvaleno steps forward, creating a gap in the line. Cain nods, tells the people in front and behind him, and leaves the line with Dian. They go to the door leading to the palace and speak to the guard, showing his noble attire under the cloak. The guard nods and opens the door, letting Cain and Dian in and showing them the nearest restroom.

"Brother, you must stay right there! Don't move! I'll hate you if you return before me!"

"Don't worry. I'll be right here, so go quickly."

Cain smiles reassuringly and sends Dian off. The distant noise of the crowd can be heard in the quiet corridor. It's good that they can ring the New Year's bell this year. Imagining Dian's reaction when the bell rings, Cain's face naturally relaxes.

"Do you know the meaning of the God Crossing?"

Suddenly, a voice comes from nearby, startling Cain. There was no sound of a door opening or footsteps. He thought only Dian and himself were here.

Cain turns his gaze to his side and sees a tall woman standing there.

She is wearing a simple black dress and a black cape with a hood, with black hair and eyes.

The black woman was initially looking straight ahead but turns her gaze to Cain when she notices his.

"The God Crossing is when the old god returns to the divine realm, and the new god comes from the divine realm to the earth. Right?"

"Yes, that's what I've been taught."

The black woman smiles.

"No one has ever seen a god. Do you believe that a god comes from another world and then returns?"

"Um...?"

Religion is not very prevalent in this country.

Cain thinks of the God Crossing festival as something like how a Japanese Buddhist would celebrate Christmas or Halloween.

However, because Cain's previous life was in Japan, he thinks that in a world with magic, gods might exist.

"Do you believe that there are worlds different from this one?"

Cain wants to praise himself for not changing his expression. Thank you, Mr. Silas! He bows three times in his heart.

He tilts his head slightly, as if not understanding the intent of the question.

"If there are different worlds... and if... let's say, souls... can travel between them... do you believe that?"

Is she talking about his past life's memories? Or is it a continuation of the talk about gods?

"For example..."

Just as the black woman opens her mouth to say more, the door bangs open.

"Brother! Please give me a handkerchief!"

Distracted by the sound of the door, Cain turns to see Dian standing there with wet hands.

Cain takes a handkerchief from his pocket and rushes to Dian. As he approaches, he glances to the side, but the woman is gone.

"Here, show me your hands. Good job. You didn't wipe your hands on your clothes or cloak. You're a model lady."

Cain, forgetting that he forgot the handkerchief, praises Dian for not getting her clothes wet. He dries Dian's hands with the handkerchief and puts on the gloves hanging from her neck.

"Brother, that handkerchief."

Dian's gaze is on the handkerchief Cain took from his pocket to dry her hands. The handkerchief has the embroidery of the holy sword Ariadne.

"N-no, it's different. I bought this one. I gave Ilvaleno the money before he put it on the market! I bought it! I wanted to buy Dian's first item for sale! I paid for it! I got the money from helping Mr. Tylnoa! It's my own money!"

Cain, flustered, is looked at with gentle eyes by Dian.

She pats Cain's shoulder with her gloved hand.

"It's okay. I've known you love me for a long time."

"Dian..."

Dian takes Cain's hand and leads the way.

"Let's go quickly. Il is waiting. Brother."

Seeing the small back of his sister walking straight ahead, Cain feels a bit like crying.

Cain's knitted cap has drooping ears. Ilvaleno's knitted cap has cat ears. Dian's gloves are connected by strings to prevent them from being lost when taken off, and they loop around the back of her neck.

The gloves, knitted caps, and scarves of the three are all made by Cain.