Chapter 212: Autumn Harvest Festival (9)
fRM3The 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.mF8Cyi
xAqLThe 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.Gey
vAAr1TJBut 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.ozr
yPqZ“Oi Kane. You got a silver ribbon, right? Who are you going to give that to?”YmyG9s
4Zak“Kuhum…! Well of course…”2c6
XN3gThe third-year student of the Knight Department, Kane, replied while scratching his reddened cheeks.AicSq
q5uN“M, Marie…”Rct4H
XmiUWXp“Oh…”LFONv
m3WsVslHis peers, however, couldn’t cheer for him.ah2mXcH
pjcKxfyGiving 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.47MSc
bkZtqCThese legends were very commonplace, but aside from the legend, it definitely meant a lot to give a ribbon that one earned through sheer effort.0qnd
XnJgtoThat 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.gNl
FUO“Marie, huh…?”XOOjm
kS6“Won’t that be difficult?”Y8J9
7FdRBBut that only applied when the girl didn’t have a partner.wf8x
d3YMarie Dunareff.o0Js
dQC6uShe was the top celebrity of the 3rd year students of Merkarva Academy, and everyone knew who she liked.ke5
AyAge“I don’t think you stand a chance…”YPZXzG
vyAESi“I have vowed to myself already! Korin Lork! I can make Marie happier than that damn player of a guy!”yNEo
5mQHoKane 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.0NVCDN
A2v5gK“Ehew… Sure. I guess it’ll help you settle your mind after getting rejected.”VlB3g2
fUXIgnoring his friend’s concerns, Kane was looking forward and found Marie leaving from one of the dressing rooms.MJhgZ2
na87“M, Marie!”GXgAfVg
uVr3bV“Huh? Kane?”iNzwwHB
jCpfW9NMarie truly was stunningly beautiful.dZb8r
XRde13OShe 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.0F8mH
5mVK1HAlthough 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.9DXX1
oYRdfUb“Y, you look pretty today.”TH8Vc
ZGOc“Thanks. You’re wearing a tuxedo, Kane? It suits you!”dXTQYY
xzSNMarie 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.W6L4
frENnBut 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.hsOw
dVL“M, Marie! Here!”CrZ8
fZYpeKqKane 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.NMG
EEcHow would she react after receiving it, he wondered to himself.pQZ
Tp9v“Wow! Thank you! Are you giving it to me?”bbR2
63E“Huh? Y, yeah…”GBtb
lCKxQbI“I knew it – you are a great ‘friend’. Thanks!”PbwsH
E5GAhThat was the end.8pSx0
hbpvQgThinking that he might catch a glimpse into her feelings by seeing her face, Kane lifted his head up.OHW7e
1OkB0QEWhat he saw was the same smile as always. It was beautiful and bright, but that was it.dDP8w9
jyntIt seemed that she wasn’t aware of the confession he had just made.HkXnG
LCz“I, I…!”qxkoC86
51IULIt was when Kane was about to reveal his feelings in words.g6T
fGuw– Senior Marie~glN
P4XUbHA voice echoed from behind. Korin was waving at Marie from a distance.TJlug
1Ny1u2x“Ah, Korin! Thanks, Kane! I’ll give you some boiled potatoes later on!”Y0KYs
F2wG1PAs if she didn’t even hear him mumble, Marie ran across the corridor until she was right in front of Korin.XT7APs
l2xJlg“Look! It’s a beautiful dress right?”PKe0yDL
vhgYtLKane dumbfoundedly watched from a distance as she spun on the spot, showing off her dress to Korin with a smile.acwRV
R9Lb“I told you it wouldn’t work.”xdwPp
rULl4E“…Hkk.”EZOw0Aa
9kn3KHis friend came up and tried to console him, but Kane couldn’t escape from the bitterness of his emotions.zH9Pql
DeFRA2Q***6emiilN
VABThe final selection of the Lady of Autumn Contest was here.hs2BR
sxZaOn 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.t61R7
JCN– 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!ZbZ
G7h3kgAlicia 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.RfzO
jn1BvsqIt was like a fusion dress that had elements of the East.BPHDOv
zN2– Wow…hhi
MjJ– I didn’t know Alicia was this pretty.3basX
PhApS– Marie was even more amazing. I’ve never seen just a fabulous and wonderful dress.2Kd
qQuxcW– The Saintess was something else as well. I thought she was a goddess.nQPTk3
EVa– I really liked Hua Ran. I thought she was scary, but she looked really pretty dressed up.HRGaDP9
8UokLooking at the young girls of the Academy standing on the stage, the only old person in the group, Erin Danua, felt slightly awkward.5x0
2jnbBFfGirls in the prime of their youth were decorating themselves. She had to join them soon, but how different was she compared to them?lFTZwG
V1KQB3B“Haa…”ryDw
wvofRrr“What is with the constant sighs?”DfYiGo
WfKabjAn old friend and disciple, Josephine Clara, asked.aWav
Wz9P“I’m just thinking… how I don’t really fit in here,” Erin revealed her honest feelings.p40V4Hl
GBuBYJ“You have to remember that I had also participated and won the contest once.”it4TJ
C4fOWh“Wasn’t that… 70 years ago?”79Ky
vofQHThat was back when Josephine was still considered “young”. After seeing through what she meant, Josephine said with a smile.4AE
Rf9N224“Do you know?”CRqu0
ZsH“Know what?”SrJka
ukKuS9“Someone 1,000 years old is less repulsive than someone 100 years old.”KkfL
gQcujT“Hmm?”DvZUlz
Oz2PC“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.”Hpz
6KXCLz“W, what do you mean…?”eJ2yZ
uOxx“It’s a fact. A wide-spread concern for witches and their longevity.”9hP4
jxfAxc5Erin looked puzzled like she didn’t understand what she was trying to say, but Josephine continued while fixing her hair.pa5jE
kKT4Z“You are beautiful. You look stunning. There is no male in existence that can turn you down.”ce7g
9M4“Ugh. You are embarrassing me now…”sq7vBxG
F1qXV“So don’t back down and be more confident. Go show him how much of a waste it would be to not choose you.”NjWbZ
lvxSlap!iJc4E
2OaQNJosephine tapped on her bare back which was revealed due to the design of the dress.mis81
7FeFQk100 years.kdBe
3XoThey had been together for 100 years.3mmi
6wxPVErin had picked up a persecuted and poor young witch, fed her, gave her knowledge, and honed her skills.LVsiqYk
bfyoDespite living a life longer than other humans, even Josephine couldn’t dare compare herself with the lady in front of her.8DawqX
t4KThat was why she wished sincerely from the bottom of her heart.sjpzKyK
470J– Here comes the lucky last! The only staff member in this contest is our new chairman! Chairman Erin Danua!CMqaxD
1uoU“You have every right to win. My beloved master. My mother.”JD9tc
p3GLike a mother sending off their daughter in love, Josephine gently pushed Erin towards the stage.v94
oja8F– WAAAHHHHH…!l7Idr
qkoqErin slowly walked out from the back. The cheers and claps slowly started to dwindle, until it eventually became dead silent.1pEm3L
vJsWBtM“…”YTa23b
kAq7h0h“…”nskY4jW
8ZmiKFkThe 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.bli1kR3
QD3t3tcAlthough she herself was uninterested in decorating herself, Erin had an appearance that suited her status as a goddess.TMOVorF
IrNHer 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.qSd
YtV5omoThat was back when she wasn’t even dressing up and now, she was wearing a pure white dress.xGzmLB
ao3WHKTHer 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.otPHe
jOXprv– Wow…DaPktyR
ToaBLfy– She’s so pretty.nu93xqN
6XaJoThe audience blankly gazed at the stage.NZv
80tErin’s awkwardness as if she wasn’t used to a stage like this was the cherry on the top.S4Raqw
Nr5SuEvery 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.6ydO
sSMwwcKDespite 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.NFGyAqH
w7z0– Master! You are so pretty!xE3O
UmJsiH5Seeing her disciple cheer out loud, Erin floated a beautiful smile that further shocked the audience.hcimq
Diy– Chairman. You look… absolutely stunning today.QqweLBY
f2xThe 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.OPZNn
pNy– Is there anyone specific that you would like to show this to?o1v
nDeIt was the same question that the host asked everyone but it sounded differently to Erin.1sP
mj7MF“Ah…”fBxxAt2
nJDhjHer lips quivered. Her heart started to race and her trembling lips refused to part.FXEkulE
tTL“My disciple,” she wanted to say.kIzIh
cha61kbMy dearest beloved disciple.TeB
vTALglThe 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.xDidYg
qLpi8ZiA hero who returned from the future and was pushing himself on the path of suffering.xsItvU
AxhzTRS“Yes. There is someone I would like to show this to.”j6s
bmMoiwf– Ohhhh…!LReeYvC
OdTXn– Chairman! Look this way, please!UYZ7o
MMbDThe audience clamored but Erin couldn’t perceive them anymore.5Zy8i3T
8MwblptHer eyes were fixated on nothing but her disciple, who was waving and cheering at her.8x5
3Ux***N7MQ
SY6W9myEvery participant in the Lady of Autumn Contest was confident in themselves, and their outer appearances were indeed incredible.iVU
ArGThe 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.jh1
WYdxnbfThere was also the unconventional Hua Ran and the pride of the Kingdom, Estelle.GBWYH
wg4Despite the strong candidates on the list, the ribbon holders with the votes still had bitter looks on their faces.PrQcIRO
0UM“Hah~. So what if we give ribbons? They all like someone already anyway.”nkXNRn
wG73“One guy at that…”KVIDC8
BWuwThe 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.LGBxF5O
9U9JBut all the top candidates had a love interest already.IpyGW
lWik1IAnd it was one single person at that.5KYa1N
lEro– Korin Lorkkkk…!Ffzoaay
8WBjdc– I’m so jealous…!JKWVQ
W6ccS3It was time for the vote.kEoU
RiA1NNumerous 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.oKh
l3o– 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!q9DTLs
oCf– 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!kkNWQ
ZlAThere were a lot of interesting sights and talks at this festival and one of them was the Struggle of Korin Lork.cqYSGP
DWMGetting 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.EJn5
iXW3m– Wow… So you need to do that much to have a harem, huh?b1cDiCY
RBjdH– That enviable bastard… Crazy in a lot of ways…I0QNZ3
6niu– But still, this is too much, no…?4XM
ZiOUMzIgnoring the crowd, Korin walked onto the stage and took out the golden ribbons he earned.aXq4J
vu7jZl“Senior Marie. Thank you for everything you do.NF8D
dacI“Alicia. Great work in the Tournament.JOPLDH
5Tyexq“Hua, Ran. I’m counting on your help.nlArE
20b6Yrp“Estelle-noona. Congratulations on winning the Tournament.wRLDHr
Urf“Master… You look absolutely gorgeous.”vMI023
bEGbEach 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.MRT
VrQ– Next up—FTJOBzv
wqPThe night went on.x68
Mk75BThe final night of the festival was nearing the end.8rR
pBv***okb
QdOwsQ0Night 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.GDLm25
746miFLOn top of that clock tower where one could gaze down at the entire city was a boy carrying a spear.LSrXhJ
G9syVqw“What a view.”tKleeN
6XbDespite 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.UX4DvU
wYoE—8pF8ju
VKKTn3Before long, footsteps started to echo as a goddess reflecting the ambient moonlight appeared next to him.dlJq8c
fNNVW“I loved your dress.”CEJUcc
Uac“Fufu, that is great to hear. You can ask me later if you wish to see it again.”PfktEhm
eSfp1Erin, who was back in her normal outfit, slowly took her seat next to her disciple.VIg
z91GDWN“How do you like my city?”cdpPiss
lJFAY“It’s great. It’s a really good city.”oiY
1y9vdEdKorin had spent the last 5 years in this place.kF82ZU
fVViWaking 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.FcNN
HFj2For the past 5 years, he had experienced a lot of things and came to notice a lot about this city.La6cI
dKQyUHe also knew how beautiful the city looked… even in its downfall.WA64k9b
2RqMG“You should dress up like that more often. Wasting your beauty should be considered a sin.”fnL
RCujn“Who would I dress up for?”k2zt2
2MxEzP“You can do it for me.”oODe8
9Xc6jy“…Seriously. You and your smooth tongue.”Mwr9cYL
YN6zWIn an attempt to conceal her reddened ears, Erin leaned on his shoulder.3b8L
qoyuNpu“Are you cold?”WUz9eKh
VtzFfHe seemed to have understood it the wrong way though.AwtYjt
G3gn8To 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.yMX8ylQ
rnEEibO“Do you see that there? The fruit shop in the market streets? That’s where we had our first school.”i8bLnV
g50EV“You mean Merkarva Academy?”VNzTvVR
hPBbD“Fufu, it started as an orphanage. It was me, Josephine… and a few children who lost their families to demons.”yu1Q
DBXV100 years ago.e7n7J
T19That 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.nqHIT
ovsA 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.Vxh
vkM3Fg“That was the starting point. It was one of the most intense memories I had from my long life.”YeJw
zA1f3RxThe darkness started to thicken and noises from the people were starting to fade. Only the moonlight remained strong, as it ambiently shone on her.m3uq9
of4hSKorin was staring at Erin as she continued with her story.BpXjXR
xXpyjzHis beautiful master was always smiling. Even in her very last moment, she smiled and protected the children.cerw
rDyrToday was her final night.vJWn
z6nmsO7“Master.”DpAFN0T
WO9n3“What is it?”e0Ys
PnQTCKorin turned silent. As if looking for something to talk about; as if trying to hold onto this last conversation as dearly as possible.8jMM0
zNDAt last, he opened his mouth.PsjNtc
1ht8A8“I want happiness.”SSD
KBmTIt was a sudden change of topic but Erin quietly lent her ears.frwhEhg
8qnX“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…1XSyxG
dPT“Since we are at it, I want everyone to be happy.lOIlw
Vlpz6RD“Being alive – I wanted to help everyone maintain something so fundamental.”zmY
75GErin 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.D5F5F9
0tVRHowever, there was still one thing that she could feel.KtW6gJ2
1Y4gShe could feel the sincere goodness in his heart.6aUJS
jatcO“If it’s you, you can do it,” she said.vGSd
71y“I have to do it. And that ‘everyone’ has to include you.”HW2P
ADsM“…”ZmrsWi
qJSOnly a few minutes were left till midnight.ikuC
sQMQGsUneasy, Korin pulled her into his arms.RLPSrLA
s6VmQwt“You have to stay next to me until it’s all over.”PX4cd6B
gTUmErin 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.3Am
rsEUejUIt was sad that she couldn’t comfort him but at the same time, she did not want to lie.fVB
A7RUHCThe time drew near. The minute hand of the clock tower clicked before finally climbing to the top.WAixM5
RW4eMidnight.dVo8
enpRJ912 am.WExtihw
Q3q0VyyThe short period of time marking the end of the long festival and a fresh start of a new day.AYjc3
ft9AvThe world stopped.VyjpcwB
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