TYND 98
by Cherry“Really, really thank you. Your Grace the Archduke, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Goodness, how fortunate that the Archduke and his wife happened to be on our island. Seara has helped us.”
Looking at the restored street, the representative of the permanent night market trading company made the sign of the cross. Seeing his face filled with emotion, Theon said indifferently,
“We want to enjoy a quiet vacation, so don’t tell anyone about this.”
“Yes, of course. We’ll definitely keep it secret until you leave. Oh, and this is a gift of gratitude. Of course, such a modest gift can’t fully repay your kindness, but we’d be grateful if you’d accept it.”
What the representative gave was a magic stone connecting magical device from the Haul Empire of the southern continent.
The ruler of Arashis is undoubtedly the Sivia Empire of the western continent, but before Sivia grew to this extent, the Haul Empire of the southern continent had ruled the four continents of Arashis.
If Sivia was a knight empire, then Haul was a magic empire.
Since it was definitely better quality than Sivia’s made connecting magical devices, it was by no means a modest gift in return.
The magical device fit into Rothy’s bag, but since it was quite heavy, Theon took Rothy’s bag.
After that, they followed Rothy’s lead and did the outdoor activities Rothy had planned. Since Rothy was so delighted, Theon couldn’t raise any objections.
While walking through the night market street busy with reopening preparations, the two drew all the merchants’ attention. A beautiful boy with fluffy white hair and a giant handsome man diagonally carrying a small, cute navy bag that was clearly the boy’s.
And the knights, mages, and attendants following them…
No matter how much the trading company representative tried to control it, it seemed like rumors that the Palsen Archduke and his wife were staying on the moving island would spread throughout Arashis by tomorrow.
“Those people over there, aren’t they Archduke Palsen and the Grand Duchess… right?”
“Come on, no way.”
“A dark mage clearly turned the whole area into swampland, but it was restored instantly. If it was the Grand Mage’s magic, it would be possible.”
“It was probably just an incompetent dark mage or the curse didn’t work properly.”
“Their appearance is exactly like those two…”
“Enough, just hurry up and prepare to open.”
“Got it. Anyway, it’s really fortunate. If we couldn’t do business for several days during peak season, we’d have to swim out and catch fish to grill and eat.”
“Exactly. Our whole family almost starved.”
Fortunately, perhaps because they were busy with work, people only glanced but no one approached.
Unlike the merchants and commoners, some nobles who were there as tourists did request greetings, but Ultje handled them.
“Rothy, button up your collar more.”
“Okay.”
“You should pull down your sleeves too.”
“Got it.”
“Put on your wool hat too.”
“Yes.”
Even though it was daytime with the sun up, the sea breeze was cold, so Theon had Rothy put on and wear various things. Rothy also put on and wore whatever Theon gave him. Rothy, who had become round and puffy, held Theon’s hand.
“I read in a magazine that you need to secure seats quickly to see the outdoor stage from the front row.”
“There are still five hours before the performance starts.”
“First we secure seats, then leave our stuff there and go to the night market to eat skewers and buy dolls. Then when the performance starts, we come back and enjoy the stage and fireworks.”
“A thorough plan.”
Rothy’s small hand was warm. Theon fiddled with his hand and ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say they should go inside because it was cold, so he went along with Rothy’s plan.
Perhaps many people had read the same magazine as Rothy, because the front rows of the audience were already considerably filled. The group placed their belongings around the eighth row and toured the night market.
The night market on the moving island was only called a night market. It opened from daytime. This was due to high demand from daytime tourists.
Today, since it had been canceled and just reopened, not many places were open. The few shops that were open were bustling with customers.
Chiiii–
Chi-chi, tired of seeing so many people, came over to Theon and hid inside his clothes.
Rothy also hugged Theon’s arm with an expression mixing anticipation and fear.
“Theon… there are really so many people.”
“Indeed.”
“When there are this many people, a small teenager like me can easily get lost. You need to hold my hand tightly. Got it?”
“Carrying you would be safer than holding hands.”
Rothy thought for a moment, then let go of his hand and stepped back. Then he raised both arms toward Theon.
Theon smiled faintly and picked Rothy up.
Warm. It would be fortunate if the reason his body was warm was because he was armed with all sorts of warm things…
Walking a bit further, they came to a shop that had just opened. The merchant waved a doll.
“Hit the target with throwing stars and we’ll give you a doll as a gift.”
A short while later, Rothy, carried in Theon’s arms, was holding a wolf doll and a ferret doll.
Walking a bit further, they came to another shop that had just opened.
“Selling 3D screen magic fairy tale books made by southern mages.”
A short while later, Rothy was holding a wolf doll, a ferret doll, and a 3D magic fairy tale book.
Walking a bit further.
“Try the moving island specialty Sainberry juice before you go.”
A short while later, Rothy, who had been sipping juice in Theon’s arms, pointed somewhere with his finger.
“They seem to be selling something interesting over there too.”
“Right.”
They bought firecrackers to play with, ate grilled vegetable skewers, and picked up a few more dolls while touring the night market, and before they knew it, the sun had set.
Heading to the performance venue, excited Rothy swung his legs.
Chungnip laughed as if finding it cute.
“Lord Rothy, are you that excited about the performance?”
“Yes. It’s my first time seeing a minstrel performance. I’ve always wanted to see one.”
“Minstrels and theater troupes came to the battlefield for morale performances several times. Haven’t you seen any?”
“I never got to see them… It’s unfortunate.”
Chungnip’s expression darkened. So did the others.
The group sat down in their reserved seats with a somewhat solemn atmosphere. Many people were already seated.
Cough.
“……!”
“……!”
Rothy, who had let out a cough, quickly covered his mouth with both hands. He rolled his eyes around to gauge the reactions, but all the group members had already heard that cough.
Theon immediately picked up Rothy and stood up.
“You have a fever and now you’re coughing too. This can’t continue.”
“It might have been a sneeze.”
“That was definitely a cough.”
Theon strode forward with a very firm attitude. Rothy turned his head to look back wistfully at the outdoor stage venue growing distant. The subordinates made pitiful “oh no” sounds in sympathy. But Theon was very resolute.
Rothy let out a small sigh.
“Actually, I knew this would happen… I’ve had a fever and felt chilly since earlier. My heart was racing the whole time wondering when you’d take me inside. I was completely like Chi-chi with a guilty conscience.”
“I see.”
“I was thinking, what if I became an animal that’s resistant to cold?”
“What?”
Poof!
The already light weight completely disappeared.
Kying.
In Theon’s arms was a white, soft ferret.
– If I transform into a ferret, I’ll be less cold.
“……”
Theon found this kid so lovable and pitiful.
He wanted to see the performance so badly that he’d resort to this.
Watery, glistening eyes looked up at Theon.
Sigh. Eventually, Theon turned his steps back around.
If he had already caught a cold, turning into a ferret now wouldn’t help, but he supposed they could watch one or two acts before returning to their lodging.
Kiing.
The excited Rothy ferret rubbed his fur against the back of Theon’s hand before going into the bag.
Chiii!
Kiing.
Chiii! Chiii!
Seeing Rothy ferret, Chi-chi was so excited he didn’t know what to do with himself.
The two ferrets played wildly in the bag, twisting their bodies around each other. Then when they sat back down, they poked their heads out of the bag.
Chi-chi had definitely been wearing clothes, but now he was undressed.
Theon petted the head of one of the two ferrets looking at him.
“Rothy. You should wear Chi-chi’s clothes.”
– How did you know it was me? My Master also recognized me right away when I transformed into a ferret. We look exactly the same, so how do you know?
“You’re a bit more lovable.”
Theon picked up the tiny ferret’s clothes with his thick fingers and dressed Rothy.
After getting fully dressed, Rothy went back into the bag to play with Chi-chi.
“Aura Master.”
Chungnip whispered to Theon.
“Do you think Lord Rothy might have participated in the war in animal form?”
The subordinates still didn’t know that Rothy had participated as Yolone Sirin. Only Theon knew that fact, and the subordinates were still theorizing about what form Rothy might have taken in the war.
Theon just shook his head and didn’t reveal the answer.
When the performance finally began, Theon held the bag up to his chest so Rothy could see well.
The minstrels played instruments along with various beautiful and mystical magical stage effects.
Rothy’s round eyes sparkled brightly. His tiny mouth was slightly open as he became absorbed in the stage.
Since Rothy was so cute, Theon couldn’t focus on the stage.
Rothy watched the stage, and Theon watched Rothy.
Then Rothy tilted his head and looked toward the audience rather than the stage.
Kiing?
Since he was stretching his flexible body to scan the back area, Theon asked,
“What’s wrong?”
– I sense demonic energy from over there.
“What?”
When Theon looked in the direction Rothy was pointing, he saw a suspicious old man in a deeply hooded robe among the people standing and watching at the side of the audience. He was continuously muttering something with his lips, and the expressions of the people around him were vacant, as if their emotions had been drained.