Under the snowflakes pouring from the sky.
Crossroad was bustling with life for the first time in a while, making it hard to believe that just a few days ago, it had been the site of a fierce battle against monsters.
The citizens who had fled returned, and the city was filled with the steam from food preparations everywhere.
People from various countries made their traditional New Year’s dishes and shared them with each other. It seemed like a competition to show off their country's food culture, as they eagerly handed out food to guests.
Originally, Crossroad did not have a culture of New Year festivals.
However, due to the absence of the autumn festival in the second year, a simple event of sharing food and setting up street stalls on the first day of the New Year took its place...
This event was well-received, and it seemed like everyone needed a moment to catch their breath. So, starting this year, it was officially made into an event.
Strictly speaking, today is not a festival. It's just a day to share food, pray at the temple, and enjoy the peaceful day together.
‘What is a festival anyway... if everyone is happy, that's a festival.’
As the size of the World Guardian Front grew over the year, people from more diverse countries brought out various dishes to share.For some reason, this food-sharing event turned into a scene from a food fight manga, with countries competing to see whose food was the tastiest based on sales. Serenade, was this your doing?
However, this year, the presence of the Bringar Duchy was noticeably absent.
"..."
Suddenly, the scene from two years ago came to mind.
The image of Dusk Bringar pouring meat stew over roasted vegetables in a large pot.
The dragon lady smiled as she joked about controlling the fire herself to roast the vegetables, claiming that it was all about fire control. I kept looking around, raising my head.
"..."
The people I saw on the first New Year’s, the people I saw on the second New Year’s, were not here today.
Suddenly, the shadows of the missing people passed by in a vision on the New Year’s streets.
When I closed and opened my eyes, the shadows were gone, and only the laughter of people enjoying themselves with plates of food remained.
As I absentmindedly chased the traces of the disappeared with my eyes.
"But still, our Leaf dumplings are the best, aren't they? The taste that peels the roof of your mouth!"
Kuilan grinned as he took dumplings fresh out of the oven.
These were the unique dumplings of the Leaf tribe, said to bring good luck for the year if eaten hot and swallowed quickly.
Of course, like last year, I just took the plate and left it on the table to cool down because I detested burning the roof of my mouth.
The place where I was sitting was at the Leaf tribe’s stall.
It was as popular as last year, bustling with other customers. I was sitting in the prime spot right next to the oven where Kuilan was baking dumplings, watching the scene.
"This is the last peace before the storm, isn't it, Captain?"
Kuilan asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead after adjusting the oven's fire.
"Everyone's taking a breather before the final sprint, isn't that right?"
"..."
I chuckled softly.
"For someone who knows, your voice doesn’t seem scared, Kuilan?"
"The trials we've gone through have been so harsh that we're getting used to them... It's not good to be careless, but honestly, it feels like, whatever comes, let it. We'll break it all anyway."
Kuilan showed his determination by bumping his fists together.
I quietly smiled and grabbed my dumplings... then quietly put them down. Still hot. Ugh.
‘Kuilan is right.’
This is the final calm before the last five rounds.
After this peaceful period and the final preparations, from the forty-sixth stage to the fiftieth stage... it will be relentless.
The citizens who barely returned will have to flee again, and we will have to endure harsh battles at the end of this winter.
"But if we win this, it’s really all over, isn't it?"
Kuilan grinned as he placed another dumpling on my plate. Hey, I'm letting it cool, and you're giving me another hot one?
"Thinking that way makes it feel more manageable, doesn't it?"
"..."
"If this ordeal is the last hill we have to climb... it even makes me a bit happy. Because we just have to push a little more."
Is that how one can think about it?
If we endure just these two more months, it’s the end...
‘I am...’
As I tried to find the shadows of those who never returned, I closed and opened my eyes tightly.
‘Am I leading them all to the right end?’
As I led everyone, in the right direction...
Just then, a group from the temple and retired soldiers from the old barracks came into Kuilan's dumpling stall. I waved at Torkel, who was at the forefront.
"Torkel!"
"Ah, Your Highness! Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year to you too. Want a dumpling?"
I subtly handed Torkel one of the two steaming hot dumplings on my plate. Torkel took it without hesitation and popped it into his mouth.
"Wow, isn’t it hot?"
I asked, amazed at Torkel's unfazed expression, to which he calmly replied.
"Nope, perfectly fine."
"Did you burn the roof of your mouth...?"
Even the best tank on the front line can’t avoid burning their mouth...
As we exchanged various New Year's greetings, I noticed a few missing from the group of retired soldiers.
The Glory Knights were one thing, but Chain, who always hung out with the retired soldiers and was close to Torkel, was not there.
"Where's Chain?"
"He left in a hurry the other day."
Torkel smiled inside his helmet.
"He exchanged letters with his daughter... Luckily, her response was not bad. He returned home to visit on New Year’s Day."
"Huh."
Knowing Chain's situation, I felt a bit worried.
"He’s been away from home for quite a while. His wife was very angry too. Will it be okay?"
"It's New Year’s."
Torkel said softly as he handed out dumpling plates to other retired soldiers.
"There are few days when people’s hearts are more forgiving than today."
"..."
"We don’t know when the world will end, so the sooner they reconcile... the more time they have to love each other."
His voice was still blunt and awkward, but Torkel had become as eloquent as any skilled speaker.
Yes. Whether today is the last January 1st in this world or not, we don’t know yet.
I hoped Chain would return home safely, reconcile with his wife, apologize to his daughter, and kiss his grandchild's cheek.
...And, of course.
I also knew that people's hearts don’t always work out so conveniently.
"..."
Listening to the conversation, Kuilan glanced briefly towards the north of the city - towards the Ariane Kingdom camp.
With a shout, he resumed baking dumplings.
After sneaking a glance at the parallel line of unfulfilled connections between Kuilan and Yun, I ate my now suitably cooled dumplings and turned my gaze to the other side of the city.
Wishing that on New Year's, everyone would touch each other's hearts with generosity.
***
"Hmm..."
Evangeline walked down the street with a serious face.
Snow was falling from the sky, but the weather was mild. The street lined with hot pots was slightly warm just from the presence of people and food.
Walking alongside other heroes from the Sky Knights and shoveling various foods into her mouth, Evangeline kept groaning.
"Umm."
The other heroes walking beside her looked puzzled.
"You seem more worried than usual today, President."
"Indeed. Normally, you’d have eaten five more plates by now..."
"To think you'd be this down in the face of free food."
"What's wrong, President?"
"Well, it's not a big deal."
It’s not a big deal at all.
‘It just bothers me!’
Lucas and Hecate’s date!
But I couldn’t tail them like before. This time, it seemed like they were going to have a serious conversation.
‘But I’m curious! What’s going to happen?! How does Lucas really feel?!’
As she grew increasingly frustrated, Evangeline felt her temper flare.
Why am I the only one worrying about this when he doesn’t even care if I get confessed to?
"No, the more I think about it, the more it pisses me off!"
Why does it feel like I'm the only one losing out?!
‘I’m going to stop caring too! You two live happily ever after on your own!’
Fuming, Evangeline started a rage-fueled eating spree. The heroes from the Sky Knights applauded as she devoured the New Year’s food stalls one by one.
"That's right! This is our President!"
"Please break your record, President!"
"Heh, let’s destroy this event that dares to offer free food!"
"Crossroad...! You underestimated the greatness of your future lord...!"
As she received the cheers and wicked laughter of the members, Evangeline energetically filled her round belly.
"Ah."
"Ah..."
Before she knew it, she was at the familiar cafeteria street, and in front of her was the New Terra restaurant where the Sky Knights often had gatherings.
And standing awkwardly at the entrance, greeting customers, was the now-familiar waiter.
"Um, hello, Miss Evangeline."
"Ah, um, ahem!"
Feeling awkward, Evangeline turned her gaze and greeted him back.
"Hello. Waiter."
...Something felt off.
The waiter looked at her with a determined gaze.
The heroes who had been following Evangeline and wrecking the food stalls fell silent. Suddenly, the area around the restaurant entrance was wrapped in a silence that did not match the New Year’s atmosphere.
"It’s the first time seeing you since that battle. You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"No. Thanks to you saving me, I’m safe."
Another brief silence.
Evangeline, not knowing how to handle this atmosphere, turned around and signaled for help from the members with her eyes, but they were all snickering evilly while eating popcorn. These brats!
"Once again, thank you so much. You’re my lifesaver."
"No, it’s nothing... it was my duty as the heir to the border count title..."
Evangeline stammered in front of the waiter, who was bowing deeply and muttering.
It was then.
"And... after participating in that battle and facing the monster up close, I realized."
"Huh?"
"I realized just how incredible you are, Miss. And... how unfit I am for this world."
The waiter murmured bitterly.
"This is not a place for someone with childish courage like me. The warriors on this frontline are fighting a much, much more grueling and harsh battle than I had ever imagined."
"..."
"I wanted to show you. That my feelings for you were real, by facing the monster head-on. But now I know how utterly childish that idea was."
The waiter bowed deeply.
"I overstepped, driven by my own emotions, causing trouble for you and many others. I'm truly... sorry."
"No, it’s not that..."
"I'm leaving this city."
The waiter smiled sadly.
"Because I'm a coward. Since that day, I've had nightmares about the monster every night."
"..."
"I will pray for your, and Crossroad’s, fortune from afar."
Admitting his shame and weakness, the waiter looked much more at ease and bowed once more.
"Please consider that confession from that day as if it never happened. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused."
"..."
"So... would you like to have a meal?"
Of course, she didn’t eat there.
Evangeline and the Sky Knights walked past the cafeteria to the next street.
"...Wait a moment."
Feeling dazed, Evangeline walked on with a completely unrelaxed face, murmuring.
"Did I just... get dumped?"
I didn’t even do anything, but he just confessed and took it back on his own.
"Wait, hold on, waiter, stay there, this doesn’t make-"
0 confessions, 1 rejection.
Evangeline, who had just achieved a legendary score, clutched her head and roared.
Uwaaaaaah...!
"...?"
Meanwhile, in the opposite alley.
Sitting with Hecate at another cafeteria, Lucas glanced in the direction of the wail.
"What’s that, a pterodactyl?"
--TL Notes--
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