CH 29

29 - Birthday Festival

“Eh, Eve has the Devil Wings? Wow, I’m so jealous….! Hey, can I see it for a minute——”

“No, I’ve got it in storage at home.”

“Then, can I go to your house——”

“Absolutely not.”

“……I, I see. That’s too bad…..”

It was break time after class.

As usual, Eve and I were having a great time talking about magic tools.

The place we were talking in was not the break room used by the instructors, but an unused classroom.

In this room, there were no other instructors around, so we could talk as much as we wanted without worrying about our surroundings. I didn’t get any permission from Aldi, the headmaster, to use this room, but I’m sure it’s fine.

“Speaking of which—— It’s almost time for the ‘Birthday Festival’, have you applied for the ancient relic exhibition? I apply every year, but I’ve never been there….”

Thinking of the upcoming ‘Birthday Festival’, I muttered in a resentful voice and slumped my shoulders.

‘Birthday Festival.’

I don’t know much about it, but….. It seems to be a festival to honour the heroes who were born a few years ago in Magikosmia.

On the day of the festival, the whole city is in a festive mood and many stalls are set up, so many people look forward to it.

If that was all, it wouldn’t be different from any other festival. However, the biggest feature of the ‘Birthday Festival’ is that almost all the residents of Magikosmia dress up in red hair.

Apparently, the hero who saved Magikosmia was a red-haired person. That’s why they dress up on this festival day.

Also, if you wear a red-haired wig, you get a 20% discount at the food stalls. That’s why everyone dresses up.

The other day I was walking down the street when an old man told me, “Oh, you’re so fast, bro!” and then he slapped me on the back….. I guess everyone is looking forward to it.

Well……To be honest, I’m not interested in the festival at all. I’m looking forward to the “Ancient Relics Exhibition” that takes place at a certain location during the festival.

However, the “Ancient Relics Exhibition” only allows people who have applied and won tickets to enter……I’ve been applying every year, and yet I’ve missed out every time. Why is it such a fucking joke.

Moreover, the tickets have a built-in resale ban and will automatically be incinerated if you are not the person in question when you enter.

The mechanism which would allow two people to enter for a pair of tickets, for some reason, isn’t installed. ….The price for that is quite high. I can’t afford it.

“…….Here”

While I was thinking about seriously hexing the organiser, Eva raised the corners of her mouth just a little bit and took out a piece of paper from a cute handbag that was placed nearby. ….That’s, no way—-—-

“Y, you’re lying….!?”

I stared at the rectangular piece of paper that Eve was proudly showing me, astonished by the sheer size of it. Because that paper is——

The paper she showed me was a pair of tickets to the “Ancient Relics Exhibition” which I had applied for and been rejected every year, and for which I had longed.

¶

“Th, th, th, th, th, th….Where did you get this……!?”

Stammering and hyperventilating, I looked at the pair of tickets Eve was holding.

“I know the organiser of the event. ….He gave it to me.”

“G, getting a ticket fraudulently…….You’re a witchcraft fanatic! I don’t want to go to the Ancient Relics Exhibition with all that filth!”

“…..Says and does the opposite.”

Eve pointed at me as I got down on my knees on the ground and said so. Apparently, my body was being honest. I was down on my knees in a flowing motion.

“I, if you know the organisers, can’t you perhaps get in one or two people?”

I was desperately begging,

“That’s no good. I was forced to prepare this ticket as well.”

Her reply was merciless.

“Do something about that!”, I put all my pride aside to ask for help, but Eve wouldn’t take me up on it. It’s okay, it’s just one person!

“I can’t ask the organiser for a favour, but——I can give you this ticket instead.”

“Eh…….? A, are you sure?”

Eve’s unbelievable comment made my eyes light up and my mouth water.

“G, god…..!”

Eve is now an absolute goddess. At this very moment, the god I believed in, even though I had no religion, has become Eve. It was the descent of the goddess Eve.

When I said, “I will call you with -sama from now on”, Eve refused in disgust, saying, “Absolutely not.”

“But are you sure? Because this is a pair of tickets….And weren’t you planning to go with someone?”

“I was going to go, but——I don’t think I can make it this year, that’s why….”

Eve’s face is slightly downcast and her expression is shadowed. …There seems to be a complicated situation. Was it even slapstick?

""

“Th, then, feel free to let me——”

“I’ll give it to you, but in exchange…A transaction.”

I wobbled over to the ticket and almost grabbed it——But then Eve quickly moved the tickets away from me. But such things——

“——No problem. Ask whatever you want.”

I’d do anything but a crime if I could get this ticket. If someone asked me to lick his feet, I’d do it in no time at all. I don’t want to be a slave for the rest of my life, but I can consider it for a year or so. That’s how rare this ticket is.

“I want you to go shopping with me.”

“Ah, I under…..Eh? Shopping??”

I couldn’t help but ask back at the unexpected nature of the deal.

“Yes, I want to buy some clothes.”

“Clothes??”

I reproachfully looked at Eve.

….True, if you ask me——Her clothes were well coordinated and had a good fashion taste.

The accessories are also cute and go well with Eve’s appearance…..Those are my thoughts. I am not interested in clothes, so I don’t know, but those are my honest thoughts.

“I’m also a girl, so I like fashion.”

“N, no, I don’t think it’s surprising——”

Eve said, getting a little annoyed. I hurriedly apologised. I knew it would be bad if she continued.

“And this is….For ‘Ray’ to see, so…”

“Ray?”

Who could it be? Could it be an acquaintance or a lover? The way she said it, it sounds like her boyfriend. Maybe.

“Yes. The person I love.”

“Hee…..Is that so.”

For some reason, Eve muttered that, a shadow casting over her face. After all, she was his girlfriend. I don’t care what it is. As long as I can get a ticket.

“More importantly, do you want me to just go shopping with you? Then we can go now——”

I was just about to say let’s go when,

“Yes. You pay for everything I buy.”

“…Seriously?”

Eve nodded her head silently. If I can get a pair of tickets, which are sold for a very high price among mage enthusiasts, there is no reason why I can’t pay for her things. In fact, it’s even cheaper.

“I….I understand. That’s good…..!”

“…..face”

Eve quickly pulls out a hand mirror and holds it out in front of me.

I looked at my face and saw that it was distorted and scrunched up. I’m sorry, my true feelings were showing on my face.

“Also…..I’m going to try on some different outfits while we’re shopping and I want you to tell me what you think.”

“Me? Why?”

“You’re a lot like Ray……Personality-wise.”

“….Well, I don’t mind if you don’t.”

I wish she could just ask him instead of me. But if Eve says so, I shall obey. I’m an obedient servant now. I don’t want to say no and then not get my ticket.

“Then, maybe after the magic tournament.”

I replied, “Okay!”, trembling at the fact that I’ll be able to go to the Ancient Relics Exhibition this year. Moreover, it’s a pair ticket. Eve isn’t going, so I’ll have the 2 seats to myself. This is too good to be true….!

¶

…..I was thinking, but——

“I have no money.”

On the way home from the Magic Academy, I muttered to myself as I looked at my wallet, which was as light as a feather.

“I’m sure 30,000 rien isn’t really enough…..”

The only thing I had in my wallet was 30,000 rien. It’s an amount that could easily be blown away by buying a single expensive dress. This is bad.

“What should I do?”

As expected, it would be too shallow to think I could buy clothes with this money. So, I need to find a way to make money.

“Do I take requests from the guild….? No, there’s a limit as to what you can take at D-rank, so it won’t bring much money. Then should I find a rare monster and sell it? No, I don’t have that much time before the magic tournament, so…..I don’t have the time to do that.”

I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but I couldn’t come up with any good ideas.

“….Should I borrow from Char?”

No, that’s a bad idea. I’m sure she can afford to lend me money, but I’ve accumulated quite a bit of debt as it is. She bought me things last time, and this is worse than that. For some reason, Char is always eager to lend me money, but it’s not like she’s going to spoil me everytime.

“Damn it! Why haven’t I saved up for a time like this….!?”

No, I know the reason. It’s because I’m spending all my money on magic tools. I can’t help but buy them.

“Hmmm…I really don’t know what I’m going to do.”

I was thinking this as I was walking towards the mansion——I passed by Char’s business, “Charlette”. At this time of night, the store is closed, and there should be no customers.

“——Maou-sama! You’re almost there! Please do your best!”

“——Yuri! I told you not to be so loud! Be a little quieter!”

“I understaaaaand!!!!!”

“No, as I said——”

Two girls are making noise in the aisle behind the store.

If they were just making noise near the store, there wouldn’t be much of a problem. But for some reason, these girls were trying to break in through the slightly higher window of the shop, on their shoulders. They were completely suspicious.

I looked at the girls and thought,

“What are they doing?”