Chapter 40 Founding Festival
Thanks to my efforts, Yuruyana didn't catch wind of the whole mess──but instead, Thomas apparently spilled a bunch of stories about my active days.
"Wow, you really got yourself into some trouble back then, huh."
That's what Yuruyana said, solemnly, the moment I got home.
"What did you feed him?"
"Just told him how cool my senior was, nothing more."
Probably a necessary sacrifice.
Let's just leave it at that.
* * *
On the first day of the Founding Festival, as planned, I opened the shop only in the morning to hand over the repaired machines.
After seeing off a customer, I stepped outside with him, ready to head out.
"You really saved me back there. As expected, Mr. Momota doesn't miss a beat when it comes to training his successor."
The burly middle-aged man carried a huge installed light that shimmered with all 7 colors, his face beaming with a wide grin.
"Thanks to you, I'm managing somehow."
I wonder how far my grandfather foresaw all this.
So far, nothing's come in that I can't fix or can't supply.
Because of that, people think I'm taking over perfectly.
"You, grandson──"
He started to say,
"No, actually, you're a full-fledged pro by now. It's probably time to stop calling you 'grandson'. What's your name again?"
"Tsukumo."
"Right, Tsukumo. Keep up the good work."
"Thank you, sir."
Watching him stride away, Yuruyana looked up at me.
"It feels good to be recognized, doesn't it?"
He smiled warmly, eyes narrowed like he was proud──almost like it was his own achievement.
"...Yeah."
This feeling is a whole different kind of accomplishment than earning merit in the military.
I don't expect to ever surpass my grandfather, but one day, I hope this place will stop being just 'Mr. Momota's shop' and become known as 'Tsukumo's shop.' That's my small goal.
For lunch, we went out to the main street and grabbed food from the festival stalls.
The street was lined with brightly decorated booths, and people of all ages were strolling, filling the road where the Arcane Cars were temporarily stopped.
"When it comes to festivals, you've gotta eat while you walk, right?!"
Yuruyana had put on makeup with extra care today, her bright smile matching the festival's decorations as she hurried over to the yakitori stand.
She came back carrying an extra skewer, tucked under her arm like a secret prize.
"Here, I can't finish it all. You take it."
"...Thanks."
Without paying any mind to the young vendor's confusing 'You're with a guy?' look, Yuruyana grabbed a chunk of meat from the skewer with a bold snap of her teeth.
Watching her cheeks puff up as she chewed made me think of a squirrel stuffing its cheeks.
Figuring, why not, I bit into the savory meat too, catching that smoky, salty flavor.
It was basically just salt and pepper, but eating it here, surrounded by laughter and lights?
Not bad at all.
"I wish the rest of [Fourth] could've come around with us."
"Work gets in the way, you know how it is."
I knew they were somewhere in the capital, but I hadn't asked where exactly or what they were doing.
"The west side's got worse security, so maybe they're surprisingly close by."
Last year, their initial post was in the west district, too.
But they scattered by evening, so maybe they've moved on since.
"Man, must be tough. When do soldiers get to rest?"
"After the Founding Festival wraps up, they take turns resting, I think."
Speaking of rhythms, the shop started closing one day a week thanks to Yuruyana insisting on a fixed day off.
Life got way easier──we could actually plan stuff now.
It turns out the people who told me I worked too hard were actually just looking out for me.
"Hey, when do the fireworks start?"
"Huh?"
Yuruyana finished his yakitori and started waving the empty skewer like a conductor's baton, asking casually.
I tilted my head──had there even been plans for fireworks?
"You were making fireworks for the Founding Festival, right?"
He said it like "What else would there be?"
His suspicious look made me remember how Thomas acted last night.
I pictured the scene outside the shop.
Probably, enemy shots fired without silenced bullets had caught Yuruyana's attention.
They'd spun a quick lie about borrowing an old warehouse to cover it up.
"...Ah, yeah, I think it's the third night!"
I need to get in touch with Luka and the others──fast.
Looks like there's no way I'm getting a break from this year's Founding Festival either.
Taking advantage of the moment, I called over the nearby squad member and asked them to relay a message to gather at [Fourth].
While Yuruyana was distracted by a discount sale at a clothing shop nearby, we huddled up for a secret strategy meeting.
"Remember that cannon-style arcane gun I jokingly designed? How about we fire a flash shot straight up into the air?"
"Sounds awesome! Let's pull it from the armory and make it part of the demonstration."
"But won't a flash shot just be blinding? A signal flare might be better."
"...Nah, let's create a special round just for this. If we're gonna do it, let's do it big."
"Here comes the captain and his meticulousness again."
"Senior Tsukumo, can you really make a cannon too?"
I sent Yuruyana home first, claiming I had to visit the cafeteria, then pleaded with Mako to take Yuruyana out first thing in the morning.
"Sure, hanging out with Yuru-Yuru sounds fun. I was kinda planning to invite him for a day anyway."
"Thanks!"
With that, I claimed a free window without Yuruyana around on the second day.
I forgot all about lunch as I focused on crafting the special fireworks round, finishing it up just in time before Luka arrived in the evening.
"You're loved so much, it's almost envy-inducing, Yuru-Yuru."
"Stop saying it like that."
With Thomas around, most accidents could be avoided, so I left the test run to [Fourth] without being present.
Later that night, I got the news that everything went smoothly.
Then on the third day, Yuruyana, eager to see the royal parade, asked me for a piggyback ride.
Funny how he'd hated the idea when I first suggested it.
"Wow, I can see everything!"
"That's the idea."
After watching the parade sail by unperturbed, Yuruyana pointed to his own face when he got back down.
"Hey, don't I look a bit like a princess?"
Princess Ellen, with her luscious golden hair and sky-blue eyes, was one of the finest beauties in the kingdom.
I could see the resemblance in some features, but his unwavering confidence in his own pretty face never ceased to amaze me.
"Sure, sure, you're cuter than Princess Ellen."
"That's not what I meant, but thanks!"
I praised him, only to get a punch to the side.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the moon began to rise in the sky.
"I think we'll be able to see it from here."
I chose a café with a terrace along the western boulevard and waited for the time Luka had told me.
I checked the time on my enchanted clock, which was equipped with defensive magic.
Suddenly, a loud boom echoed from the harbor, and Yuruyana instinctively turned.
"Whoa!"
A glowing sphere shot up straight into the sky, then burst open in a dazzling display.
I had designed it to be as close to the real thing as possible, but I'd been worried it might not look much like fireworks; to my surprise, it bloomed beautifully.
"Thank goodness, it worked!"
"Just like you said, Tsukumo──you really can make anything."
"Not everything's possible, you know."
False fireworks of varying colors painted the western sky in rapid succession.
Considering that giant cannon-like arcane gun would use a considerable amount of magical energy with just one shot, launching so many would definitely exceed what the [Fourth] could supply.
The question of who was behind this grand prank faded away as I watched Yuruyana, captivated by the golden spectacle.
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