Chapter 212: Autumn Harvest Festival (9)
0c3LThe Lady of Autumn Contest was practically a parade around the city for a whole week. A large number of girls took part in it – they wore beautiful dresses and appealed to the public, receiving claps and ribbons.eq71w
vsZNThe citizens were able to give ribbons to the one they liked – throughout the festival, the stalls gave out several ribbons of all sorts of colors, and at the end, these ribbons were translated into different points.swI
TEhBut of course, not all the ribbons had the same number of points. For example, the gold, silver, and bronze ribbons that could only be acquired by coming top three at the various contests were worth many more points.elD
KDcuijW“Oi Kane. You got a silver ribbon, right? Who are you going to give that to?”kRI6feG
823“Kuhum…! Well of course…”um62SiW
fg4yuSHThe third-year student of the Knight Department, Kane, replied while scratching his reddened cheeks.105CyL
THGyxq“M, Marie…”aOi
BtrAw“Oh…”1Z0mSn
ALaZ6His peers, however, couldn’t cheer for him.traOv5
ojb96d3Giving ribbons in the Autumn Harvest Festival meant much more than it might seem at face value. It was based on a legend that giving a golden ribbon at the festival would connect the two together.PTS9
GGFYw3These legends were very commonplace, but aside from the legend, it definitely meant a lot to give a ribbon that one earned through sheer effort.HTVe0Y
UWmaThat was why giving a ribbon was taken the same way as a confession, and surprisingly enough, it had a high chance of success due to the festival mood everyone was in.458j
upB“Marie, huh…?”GScZ
gT7mN“Won’t that be difficult?”gTbWFS
V9bBut that only applied when the girl didn’t have a partner.PVZ
4iLz0Marie Dunareff.HOg
ILlePShe was the top celebrity of the 3rd year students of Merkarva Academy, and everyone knew who she liked.bzA6b
X97s“I don’t think you stand a chance…”ARQAz68
xwDisJ“I have vowed to myself already! Korin Lork! I can make Marie happier than that damn player of a guy!”LWbLW
c1EnKane had no plans of turning away from his feelings, which he had been steadily building since his 1st year at the Academy. He calmly waited for Marie, who should be on the way to the Banquet Hall.7YD
U6f“Ehew… Sure. I guess it’ll help you settle your mind after getting rejected.”oa7Ip1
ZvMbIgnoring his friend’s concerns, Kane was looking forward and found Marie leaving from one of the dressing rooms.uP56sk
zHVfxTT“M, Marie!”JrnTWTw
KilnC8K“Huh? Kane?”4Z7ct
Wb7Marie truly was stunningly beautiful.I9k
zX2ilZKShe was wearing a vibrant blue dress that suited her blue hair. Her priceless silky dress was adorned generously with jewelry and on her shoulders were blue potato flowers folded with silk.StMDB0Z
gA56Although she usually went around carrying a basket of potatoes, she was undoubtedly the young lady of the dukedom to the south – a princess that everyone adored and admired.B9X
H1hx7e9“Y, you look pretty today.”6uqmyc
JUC2g“Thanks. You’re wearing a tuxedo, Kane? It suits you!”h6uh
d8NMarie replied the same way as usual, and seeing that, Kane bit his lips. He knew how she was viewing him as just a peer and an academy-mate.oopV8l8
O1MBut that was going to change today. Kane was going to confess his feelings today – after receiving this ribbon, Marie was sure to have a different perception of him.4fxCX7a
5D1J0hJ“M, Marie! Here!”kKA9f
SexCJO0Kane handed over the silver ribbon that he hard-stakingly earned from a contest. It was widely agreed upon that this ribbon reflected the giver’s emotion of love.oDr
sAYvwqHow would she react after receiving it, he wondered to himself.JvkuV
zrHoDo“Wow! Thank you! Are you giving it to me?”4gttz
aqSd“Huh? Y, yeah…”7Lr7Of
zVsOd“I knew it – you are a great ‘friend’. Thanks!”GMik
p5tPyThat was the end.MFa
pqeLThinking that he might catch a glimpse into her feelings by seeing her face, Kane lifted his head up.bifS41T
AWUpDXQWhat he saw was the same smile as always. It was beautiful and bright, but that was it.NJM
o1nwXIt seemed that she wasn’t aware of the confession he had just made.cy033O
QsOQE“I, I…!”dqf
sInDQIt was when Kane was about to reveal his feelings in words.TlJSY
vsfRBMl– Senior Marie~0IYe1
8i5TA voice echoed from behind. Korin was waving at Marie from a distance.go5
dqb“Ah, Korin! Thanks, Kane! I’ll give you some boiled potatoes later on!”w2ry2Qp
Y7rWEoJAs if she didn’t even hear him mumble, Marie ran across the corridor until she was right in front of Korin.LbmjyeE
pYkNdz“Look! It’s a beautiful dress right?”LEf
9SgaJz0Kane dumbfoundedly watched from a distance as she spun on the spot, showing off her dress to Korin with a smile.mstd38
h6My“I told you it wouldn’t work.”p6Zk
sJpwqSb“…Hkk.”gbE
FrnEHis friend came up and tried to console him, but Kane couldn’t escape from the bitterness of his emotions.lkPZ
1Ep31***VA2y3Ip
4XqThe final selection of the Lady of Autumn Contest was here.unr
e8JOn the last day of the festival, the Main Auditorium that could fit everyone on the campus was decorated like the banquet hall of the royal family, and everyone present was looking forward to this year’s Lady of Autumn.rxTSY0F
mfDwkeU– Seventh Candidate, Miss Alicia Arden! She also happens to be the second top student of the Knight Department in her grade! Everyone, please welcome her to the stage with a round of applause!y7of
mW60hKAlicia walked onto the stage under the applause of the audience. As expected of a lady of the Arden Household, in charge of the border to the east, her dress had a different style to what was shown until now.kyu
r3oIt was like a fusion dress that had elements of the East.8nz3a
eyzHgg– Wow…z9x38
Sroi– I didn’t know Alicia was this pretty.VzQ
1J89uE– Marie was even more amazing. I’ve never seen just a fabulous and wonderful dress.FG6
odADA– The Saintess was something else as well. I thought she was a goddess.XQ3fkm1
g1G– I really liked Hua Ran. I thought she was scary, but she looked really pretty dressed up.suVWmB
nNBLooking at the young girls of the Academy standing on the stage, the only old person in the group, Erin Danua, felt slightly awkward.Uqx8B
dXcUGirls in the prime of their youth were decorating themselves. She had to join them soon, but how different was she compared to them?LTsdcX7
VJO6Y2“Haa…”A6CW
wAnU6xR“What is with the constant sighs?”JYCWSy5
9ZBZSbAn old friend and disciple, Josephine Clara, asked.UsWmmDF
Uyq“I’m just thinking… how I don’t really fit in here,” Erin revealed her honest feelings.Wc7
2JX7“You have to remember that I had also participated and won the contest once.”d0NXxP
Ch9r“Wasn’t that… 70 years ago?”B8U
sqjrm62That was back when Josephine was still considered “young”. After seeing through what she meant, Josephine said with a smile.Y3c
9dp8XWt“Do you know?”Uc13sAx
Aq2HAc“Know what?”RO0Us
XkpO“Someone 1,000 years old is less repulsive than someone 100 years old.”0lBSB6
JWF77“Hmm?”CyZxMtD
PFqn“Someone that is 100 years old sounds like a grandma and makes people feel repulsed but a 1,000-year-old lady is just someone from a long-living race. In terms of attractiveness as a lady, the latter is surprisingly more appealing.”eYnR4
Crnvqr“W, what do you mean…?”dKUSnK
i4gQ“It’s a fact. A wide-spread concern for witches and their longevity.”TL2Cbg
uXP4Erin looked puzzled like she didn’t understand what she was trying to say, but Josephine continued while fixing her hair.mGRR
UCAf3H“You are beautiful. You look stunning. There is no male in existence that can turn you down.”GIlM
uExuAB“Ugh. You are embarrassing me now…”Y8h1qjX
4Um“So don’t back down and be more confident. Go show him how much of a waste it would be to not choose you.”ZExUcs
OkwY3TSlap!8pBO59w
V9B0KvJosephine tapped on her bare back which was revealed due to the design of the dress.D4nOXg
p271s100 years.uxC
VWgRZThey had been together for 100 years.bRJNNvQ
ZsLlLVErin had picked up a persecuted and poor young witch, fed her, gave her knowledge, and honed her skills.Wx5vuD9
iXnJQuDespite living a life longer than other humans, even Josephine couldn’t dare compare herself with the lady in front of her.Y9mro
t46PE41That was why she wished sincerely from the bottom of her heart.g2TYx
BTDRD– Here comes the lucky last! The only staff member in this contest is our new chairman! Chairman Erin Danua!ikkA
O1sibbN“You have every right to win. My beloved master. My mother.”pjoZb
o3tsnlLike a mother sending off their daughter in love, Josephine gently pushed Erin towards the stage.XDr2
Amd– WAAAHHHHH…!lMIWHS5
J6feEAErin slowly walked out from the back. The cheers and claps slowly started to dwindle, until it eventually became dead silent.BJrH
goC0DA“…”hsRd
8l5“…”ogH
47HUMThe new chairman, who came to the position after last year’s Tower of Magic incident, was already a celebrity. Leaving aside the question of how strong she was, it was because of her otherworldly beauty.uDnn
tHlShQqAlthough she herself was uninterested in decorating herself, Erin had an appearance that suited her status as a goddess.INexfVP
mnVdrHer fine silver hair fell gently like silk, and her blue eyes were clear and bright like sapphire. Her mature appeal that peers could not dare imitate had stolen some of the hearts of the young teenage boys.eGlI5q6
gpo8That was back when she wasn’t even dressing up and now, she was wearing a pure white dress.dbUF
iK0lmHer hair, which was usually braided up into a ball, was undone and flowing gently in a long wave, and clear crystal heels were covering her bare white feet.0v6v
9QRWsV– Wow…ekhv
NBbzyz– She’s so pretty.UyIFrG
7VVThe audience blankly gazed at the stage.OMdL7cf
3o3zDxDErin’s awkwardness as if she wasn’t used to a stage like this was the cherry on the top.A1RLoOJ
pBvS6Every girl participating in this year’s Lady of Autumn Contest was beautiful but… Erin Danua stood out the most with the mature appeal of an adult.AjDB0u
pv8mJADespite feeling burdened by those astonished gazes from the crowd, Erin kept glancing at the audience seats until she finally found the person she had been looking for.1G8V
sKEs– Master! You are so pretty!XPUS5
3rgq8SSeeing her disciple cheer out loud, Erin floated a beautiful smile that further shocked the audience.zu7u
jtm3d– Chairman. You look… absolutely stunning today.8TsAf
LKVVThe host finally broke out of his stupor and proceeded with the event. He asked several questions until it reached a question that meant a lot to Erin.ZSn
3xUWNIX– Is there anyone specific that you would like to show this to?sP7BD
c269It was the same question that the host asked everyone but it sounded differently to Erin.Vkdpe7d
TRw“Ah…”5sld
o4itzhHer lips quivered. Her heart started to race and her trembling lips refused to part.nTt8T7
wgP“My disciple,” she wanted to say.wQHmXQw
5UlpDMy dearest beloved disciple.ofIQm
nWSThe boy who willingly signed a contract with the Grim Reaper, for her sake, and ended an endless cycle that had continued for more than 300 years in a city of death.HBVih
dCkSczrA hero who returned from the future and was pushing himself on the path of suffering.qIO
TUdj“Yes. There is someone I would like to show this to.”LhQ
Xs8– Ohhhh…!ZZbLZ0
G9G4Ns– Chairman! Look this way, please!5KA
dZk8WThe audience clamored but Erin couldn’t perceive them anymore.L0u3
Orh6Her eyes were fixated on nothing but her disciple, who was waving and cheering at her.jnccF
9sBIw***3UYVqlX
RmPEvery participant in the Lady of Autumn Contest was confident in themselves, and their outer appearances were indeed incredible.nMiys7
yoBqjEThe most eye-catching of them all was the top student of the 3rd year Magic Department, Marie, and the second top from the 2nd year Knight Department, Alicia.BoOTg
pGdoyThere was also the unconventional Hua Ran and the pride of the Kingdom, Estelle.AXq
g5qG3JTDespite the strong candidates on the list, the ribbon holders with the votes still had bitter looks on their faces.UpE5s
sTe8“Hah~. So what if we give ribbons? They all like someone already anyway.”Y6vb
GmFhRhS“One guy at that…”1Mw
eJF7The Lady of Autumn Contest was a beauty contest but at the same time, it was an opportunity for boys with ribbons to publicly reveal their interest. It didn’t always lead to something, but the boys couldn’t help but hold such expectations regardless.XivoFy
V8hFQswBut all the top candidates had a love interest already.ZdHNi
RpgH859And it was one single person at that.NSusKNY
J5wE– Korin Lorkkkk…!Q1y4D0x
xuyDVX– I’m so jealous…!y0kCz8
9lpE6It was time for the vote.qHh0A2B
vMivNumerous candidates stood on the stage including Marie, Alicia, Hua Ran, Estelle, and Erin. Several girls lining up after making themselves as beautiful as possible was truly a sight to behold.LrvF9pb
rQNFM– Now, here comes the question! Who will get the most ribbons to become this year’s Lady of Autumn!!? The first giver will be the one who acquired the most golden ribbons in this Harvest Festival! With the shocking number of five!ErUvqa
Kdl– The unprecedented character who won golden ribbons in the Auction Contest! Magic Exhibition! Food Sales! Hunting! And the Crossdressing Contest, as well as a silver ribbon in Trials of Linton! KORIN LORK!RgU78
USISEThere were a lot of interesting sights and talks at this festival and one of them was the Struggle of Korin Lork.uXVZez
skLRRiGetting a prize in six different contests was nothing easy. Considering how five of them had been golden ribbons, including the Crossdressing Contest that he had to attend, even other men had to give him his due credit.0Cx
Go33ba– Wow… So you need to do that much to have a harem, huh?Ixa
P5job– That enviable bastard… Crazy in a lot of ways…AvotMc2
8wQlZ– But still, this is too much, no…?jkajUDX
ToNG6Ignoring the crowd, Korin walked onto the stage and took out the golden ribbons he earned.59f
Epa54“Senior Marie. Thank you for everything you do.GbQ
hqiw“Alicia. Great work in the Tournament.fwUKuYH
mmN79do“Hua, Ran. I’m counting on your help.6eFegLf
m8b9MjB“Estelle-noona. Congratulations on winning the Tournament.Etb1dr
EtvkM7m“Master… You look absolutely gorgeous.”Ujnq
dcJBGEach and every one of them turned bright after receiving a golden ribbon from him. Although they weren’t the only ones being chosen, they all knew how hard he had to work for the past week and seemed content enough.Ec9AG
5za– Next up—SvVBt
gCQqn4jThe night went on.W4hZbHJ
01RThe final night of the festival was nearing the end.0x12
Pyq53a***NUhShko
wz3trJbNight time when the festive mood of the city was starting to fade, the clock tower, located at the central plaza of Merkarva City, was quietly fulfilling its duty regardless of the noise it had been surrounded with recently.L286
1sPDglOn top of that clock tower where one could gaze down at the entire city was a boy carrying a spear.tVokR
MAMh“What a view.”r8AuC
v8IztJQDespite the nauseating height of the clock tower, the boy stayed there on the last night of the Harvest Festival, waiting for both the midnight and the guest to arrive.PtcWwS
KXD—z4kKocy
jxBH1Before long, footsteps started to echo as a goddess reflecting the ambient moonlight appeared next to him.qQhyg
JaRsccs“I loved your dress.”q34J
1Fp“Fufu, that is great to hear. You can ask me later if you wish to see it again.”248t
XZW1uV2Erin, who was back in her normal outfit, slowly took her seat next to her disciple.9C7Mt
S2bcFJb“How do you like my city?”0VmoWdb
kZp“It’s great. It’s a really good city.”xnzAGrO
xdNKorin had spent the last 5 years in this place.R1YL
EptWaking up as a foreigner, he initially let himself be swept away by the flow of time, but after coming back in time, he began doing whatever he could for a better future.oNabjU
BCpdFor the past 5 years, he had experienced a lot of things and came to notice a lot about this city.7c1u5
i1cBHe also knew how beautiful the city looked… even in its downfall.SfGac0
EWWd“You should dress up like that more often. Wasting your beauty should be considered a sin.”ilw
t7hV“Who would I dress up for?”af8Z8aZ
6uGini“You can do it for me.”ozW
XiHg“…Seriously. You and your smooth tongue.”JF2FIjA
H6WIn an attempt to conceal her reddened ears, Erin leaned on his shoulder.26h
fW5“Are you cold?”YqOdYpA
xmeHe seemed to have understood it the wrong way though.TnYRz
kzt6NiTo be fair, although it was still autumn, it was approaching midnight and the breeze up above was certainly blisteringly cold. It wasn’t irrational for him to misunderstand it as such.Dq6z
bkjgFKR“Do you see that there? The fruit shop in the market streets? That’s where we had our first school.”1ML
HwN5bG“You mean Merkarva Academy?”EGONy
E2Us“Fufu, it started as an orphanage. It was me, Josephine… and a few children who lost their families to demons.”QcpHVk
6D0ne9100 years ago.hxQA
f9mukThat was when the wandering goddess settled here. She founded an orphanage with children including a young witch who would later be praised as a Great Witch.kZ0ZtC
DGCN7rA village was formed around the orphanage she created. The orphanage became a school and the village became a town… it grew all the way until it reached the current stage of Merkarva.NH2ztO
wKDG0“That was the starting point. It was one of the most intense memories I had from my long life.”hGsMG19
Tyx3XThe darkness started to thicken and noises from the people were starting to fade. Only the moonlight remained strong, as it ambiently shone on her.9dxXQ
OtTd8Korin was staring at Erin as she continued with her story.CKLvpb
wS3oHis beautiful master was always smiling. Even in her very last moment, she smiled and protected the children.mZhwdJv
lE61zToday was her final night.pQr
W5xR2FF“Master.”vunz
T3kFgL“What is it?”tYQJQUa
vEXjruKorin turned silent. As if looking for something to talk about; as if trying to hold onto this last conversation as dearly as possible.jQz
gzdAt last, he opened his mouth.W3Y
g1EnPtO“I want happiness.”yinj
ej9DsnIt was a sudden change of topic but Erin quietly lent her ears.xKE
xuYqlpa“Not just for myself but for many other people. Some might see everyone as worthless; others might see them as fake or call me out for being overindulged but…267t
XUu“Since we are at it, I want everyone to be happy.5CnQ
PARFK“Being alive – I wanted to help everyone maintain something so fundamental.”CXy0F
McbErin couldn’t understand everything he was saying. She could not possibly understand what he experienced outside this world; the three years he spent as an outsider and the two years he spent after coming back in time.7ZYhKq
My8qgsZHowever, there was still one thing that she could feel.m4JGzNo
MV3OShe could feel the sincere goodness in his heart.KaBFv9V
3Ql“If it’s you, you can do it,” she said.sjJW5jt
2e1“I have to do it. And that ‘everyone’ has to include you.”kb2mq
ajZn“…”i2MByD2
jfAwTOnly a few minutes were left till midnight.37Pu
wgrZGYuUneasy, Korin pulled her into his arms.VmmLLoU
rsM4“You have to stay next to me until it’s all over.”jQ7O
OeT6Erin didn’t have the heart to tell him not to worry about her – she knew if the time came, and if need be… She knew the lengths she would go to if it was about saving him.aJn
98LTsIt was sad that she couldn’t comfort him but at the same time, she did not want to lie.C72c
vxRThe time drew near. The minute hand of the clock tower clicked before finally climbing to the top.wz4hfti
m172rnhMidnight.6iIrSe
34su612 am.eCaM7
AYaWThe short period of time marking the end of the long festival and a fresh start of a new day.kAygI
SmC6YThe world stopped.fGt
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