Chapter 24: The purpose of festivals is simply to pass the time

Dark magic is the magic of demons, and demons were the culprits behind the catastrophe fifty years ago that reduced humanity’s population by two-thirds.

Because of that, someone who possessed such power would naturally be seen as an outcast. Not everyone was as tolerant as the academy. So Simon, after being identified as a user of dark magic, had almost no friends besides Alice and the others.

The only fortunate thing was… he had already grown used to the cold stares.

Insults written all over the classroom blackboard. Nails placed on his usual seat. The dirtiest chores assigned to him by teachers. His textbooks thrown into water when he wasn’t around…

It had happened so many times that by now, he should’ve been used to it.

‘…Right?’

After receiving Lila’s “special attention,” those incidents decreased. But strangely, the world felt even darker.

So he would rather not have this inexplicable dark magic at all.

After the shopkeeper returned, the café reopened immediately. Once work was done, Siegfried and Vigus also arrived, and the group casually found a room to rest.

“Vacation’s coming soon,” Siegfried remarked.

“Yeah,” Simon nodded, taking a sip of coffee.

In two days, it would be the Flower Festival. According to legend, it was the day the Goddess of Abundance was born. To please her, countless flowers bloomed on that day, and in her joy, she blessed the world with prosperity.

Whether the legend was true or not, no one knew.

But for Lila, a festival simply meant a day off. Nothing more.

She had no intention of revering some uncertain deity, after all, even if gods did exist, she wouldn’t necessarily treat them kindly. Just look at that blue-haired goddess she kept cursing.

These past few days had been relatively free of classes. Life returned to its usual rhythm: Simon worked half the day, and Lila, playing the role of a noble lady, spent the other half “training” him.

She hadn’t gained much lifespan recently. She would have to try harder during training.

“Hey! You stupid bird, don’t touch my cookies!”

A crow was pecking at freshly baked cookies cooling by the window. Lila waved her hand to shoo it away.

It didn’t work.

The crow stubbornly continued, only hopping slightly away when her hand got too close, but never flying off.

Lila narrowed her eyes and noticed the bird was injured—blood seeped from beneath its wing.

No wonder it couldn’t fly.

Carefully, she picked up the tray.

With a steady motion, she carried both the cookies and the crow into the room, set the tray down, and quickly shut the window.

‘What a dumb bird.’

The crow kept pecking. Lila seized the chance and grabbed its wing.

It struggled wildly at first, but under her grip, it quickly calmed down.

“Don’t move,” she muttered, even though she knew it wouldn’t understand.

After a while, the crow stopped resisting, perhaps out of exhaustion, or perhaps sensing she meant no harm.

Lila lifted its wing and saw several claw marks, likely from a cat. The wounds had already turned purple.

This stupid bird… if it hadn’t run into me, you’d be someone’s meal by now.

She gently spread its wing and placed her hand over the injury. A soft glow flickered.

The wounds healed instantly.

Thanks to the blue-haired goddess’s enhancement, even injuries like this could be cured with just a touch of her holy light.

But she didn’t stop there.

She filled the sink with water and, despite the crow’s renewed struggle, thoroughly washed the dirty creature.

After drying it properly, she let it go.

The crow tilted its head, its bead-like eyes staring at her.

“I’m the one who saved you, you know.”

She shook her head right after saying it.

As if a bird would understand.

Since it was healed, it was time to let it go.

She opened the window.

In the next instant, a black streak shot out like lightning. The crow soared into the blue sky, flying farther and farther away.

Figures. Shouldn’t expect gratitude from a bird.

With a quiet sigh, Lila looked at the cookies.

They were too dirty now to serve.

‘Guess I’ll just make another batch.’

****

“The cookies are ready! Thanks for your hard work this morning. Simon, Alice, have some. Siegfried, Vigus, don’t be shy.”

As the shopkeeper, Lila placed the cookies on the table with a smile.

“That’s too much trouble, really,” Alice said quickly.

“It’s only natural. And besides, having a beautiful lady like Miss Alice here will surely attract more customers.”

Alice blushed.

“It’s not that exaggerated…”

“You must be tired too, shopkeeper. Sit down and rest,” Simon added.

Lila thought for a moment, then took a seat.

“Do you have any plans for the Flower Festival?” Alice asked cautiously.

“Probably the usual. Why?” Lila replied after a brief pause.

“Alice is participating in a magic performance competition,” Simon explained.

“So… if you’re free, I’d love it if you came to watch. No ticket needed,” Alice added, a bit nervously.

In this world, not everyone studied magic for destruction. Some pursued beauty, turning magic into art.

Thus, the Magic Performance Competition was born.

Contestants didn’t compete with power, but with creativity and elegance: flaming flowers, intertwining cyclones, blooming plant formations…

And those were just the basics. The real performances were far more intricate.

“If I’m free, I’ll go,” Lila replied simply.

In truth, she had little in the way of entertainment.

As the infamous “villainess,” few dared approach her. As the shopkeeper, she avoided close relationships to protect her identity.

Normally, she would spend her free time training with her sword.

But this time… she had just awakened her own sword intent.

Maybe she could allow herself a break.

So she agreed.

“This is delicious!”

Simon bit into a cookie, sweetness bursting across his tongue with every chew.

Watching their smiles, Lila’s lips curled upward, just slightly, almost imperceptibly.

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