The Witch and the Doll Swear

——When you suddenly realize that the powerful and incredible person in your eyes actually has a weak side, what will you do?

The girl who lined up in front of her neatly from the end of the line asked the above question.

"……ha?"

To this, the sharp receptionist's gaze, somewhere between "Have you got water in your head?"

This is what she learned from her father when she was a nobleman, and it is very effective against those who pester people.

"I, I'm seriously asking Ms. Elif for advice!"

But it seems that it has little effect on girls who can't read words and expressions.

Tingna felt that her IQ was underestimated, and she also deeply realized that Ai Lifu, who had just processed a bunch of applications and delivery tasks entrusted by adventurers, didn't want to take care of her feelings.

However, among the people the girl knew, the one with the strongest ability to deal with interpersonal relationships was Ai Lifu. From that day on, the problem that had troubled her for a long time, she would definitely be able to solve it smoothly!

It was because of this kind of trust that Ting Na queued up in front of Ai Lifu's counter without even getting today's information.

Moreover, she also knew that this was a relatively personal topic, and it was not easy to take up Ai Lifu's work time, so she kept asking the later adventurers to jump in front of her until the line reached the end.

Ai Lifu rubbed her temples with a headache, lamenting her luck weakly.

Why is it that he has such a guy on the table?

"Okay, okay, my dear Miss Tina, in short, you are confused because you found out that Miss Liliana is different from what you have been aware of all this time."

"……Um."

Well, at least the little girl didn't ask stupid "how did you know" questions.

No matter how bad EQ is, at least IQ can be saved.

Elif paused, picked up the water glass to moisten her parched throat from receiving adventurers before, and organized her next words.

"That...Miss Ai Lifu, am I...so obvious?"

Ting Na was a little shy, looking at the woman in front of her in confusion.

"..."

Ai Lifu didn't choke to death on a sip of water.

——Do you have no idea how obvious you are?

Ever since the day when the four adventurers who were judged to be dead came back, you were all distraught, talking to yourself while walking on the road, blushing, covering your face, Occasionally touching my lips and giggling!

obvious? Even your parents came to me in a panic and asked me if their daughter met a man whose soul was taken away!

This roar and a lot of complaints, the former noble girl finally held back very well.

If it wasn't for the deep knowledge that there are no male creatures in Tingna's social circle, even Elif would think that in this increasingly hot summer, the girl's belated spring has arrived.

But Elif knew.

So she knew very well that there was only one person who haunted this girl who was said to have never even been in love so far.

"...Cough, cough...In short, Miss Tingna, what you are confused about now is that you are confused because you know the unknown side of your close people, right?"

How much of my double quotient can I keep if I continue to communicate with this girl?

Ai Lifu twitched the corners of her mouth, threw this terrifying thought out of her mind, and prepared to solve this problem quickly.

"Intimacy... um, um..."

Hearing this word, the girl's expression was a little dazed. In order to solve the problem quickly, Ai Lifu decided to pretend that she didn't see it.

"So, what kind of side is that? Will it make you subvert all your perceptions of Liliana Einsteins? For example, she looks very cute, but she is actually an old woman who doesn't know how old. What does magic pretend to look like? For example, that doll of hers can actually talk, is it made of the souls of living people, and there are countless innocent corpses piled up in the basement of that castle?"

"...Ai Lifu, you also like to watch "The Horror Story of a Copper Coin"."

Unexpectedly, she would have such common people's hobbies, Ting Na stared blankly at the former noble lady in front of her.

"That's not the point. Anyway, is it something of this level? You discovered another side of Miss Liliana."

"No...Although it surprised me, but...it's not this level of change..."

Or rather, just a tiny bit.

Tina always thought that nothing could trouble Liliana, no matter what, the powerful lady witch could easily solve it with her powerful magic and wrists.

When she went to rescue the magic apprentice trapped in the ruins of the water source, Liliana's behavior was also in line with Tina's cognition. Just one person used the great magic that changed the sky, and manipulated the thunder and lightning to make Sly Mu wiped out all of them, and then used the legendary space magic (or props?) to bring everyone to the gate of the castle on the outskirts of Salt Sand City.

Afterwards, when the apprentices came to thank her again, Tingna knew that ten minutes later, the boy who had lost a leg would be completely unable to stand up. Slime's water knife is a highly active water The aggregate of elements, when the erosion of elements reaches a certain level, is a complete death sentence.

The potion Liliana gave slowed down the process.

"At that time, Miss Liliana must have seen it, but she didn't want to cause us more panic, so she didn't say it. To be honest, elemental erosion is a very terrifying injury. Now... Although Mo De lost a little Amputated leg, but... at least he survived."

After listening to Lydiala's words, Tingna already had a kind of blind trust in Liliana.

This is no exaggeration.

So, on that day, after seeing Liliana finish all this, and seeing her almost perfectly complete the commission that was paid for with a year of her own life, I was so sleepy that I didn’t even have time to pick up my cherished book when it fell to the ground. Only when she fell into a deep sleep would Tina feel surprised.

——It turns out Miss Liliana is also tired.

—Miss Alice too.

Will be tired and sleepy, although it is an immortal witch and doll, although it is so powerful that Ting Na can't imagine it, but.

They are just like ordinary girls, they get tired and sleepy, and they can't get out of bed in the morning.

……right.

Like, [ordinary girls].

"...Although I don't know what kind of side it is, at least...it doesn't have a particularly big influence on Liliana Einstein, right?"

Elif knocked on the counter,

Tina nodded uncertainly.

"Then what troubles you now is that after seeing that side, you feel at a loss and don't know how to continue getting along with her?"

"……Um."

nod.

"That's easy."

Out of the corner of his vision, he saw an adventurer who took off the commission from the commission wall and seemed to be coming from here.

Elif immediately sped up her speech.

"If you want to maintain the relationship you've always had, just get along with the old way. If it won't subvert your understanding of Liliana, it's okay to pretend that you don't know, and it won't have any impact."

"And if you are not satisfied with the relationship you have always had, and want to make changes to make each other more intimate - then that is your own business. I don't know Miss Liliana, nor have I gotten along with her before. There is nothing you can do about it.”

After listening to Elif's words, Ting Na was stunned for a while.

"More intimate...is it..."

——Well, it seems that there is no need to guess which side this stupid girl will choose.

Elif sighed.

Looking at the confused expression of the girl in front of her, she also looked at the adventurer who was walking over. He was a regular customer, not good at fighting, but he had an extraordinary talent in finding things—the eyes of Elif Passing behind him, passing through the wide open glass door of the Adventurer's Association and the black stone double stele engraved with countless names in front of the door, I saw workers on the opposite side of the street who were hanging wood carvings of seagulls one after another on the street lamp——

"How about inviting her to the festival?"

Ai Lifu irresponsibly gave the final suggestion, then waved her hand, showing a smile to welcome guests.

Once in the working state, Alifu will not pay attention to the things around her. The girl who was silently driven away by this method knew that she could no longer get any advice from here, so she had no choice but to turn around and leave the association.

"...a festival...?"

Standing at the gate of the association, the girl muttered to herself.

Looking around, the streets are a little different from those in the past. On both sides of the street where people come and go, there are workers busy. They are dragging a big trailer full of cardboard boxes and carrying scaffolding. Those magical street lamps that only shine at night after they passed by At the top of the strange hexagons, a little seagull stands on all of them.

The crystal-clear seagulls glisten in the sun, and the paint has painted pieces of feathers on it, red, blue, golden-of course, the most is white. These shining but not dazzling substances are not glass or crystal, they come from alchemists, carved shapes by skilled craftsmen, and finally the best painters in the city use paints and brushes to bring them to life, in order to make these seagulls Having more functions than decoration, magicians also enchanted them so that they can produce beautiful illusions at night.

Such a seagull sculpture, which a child about six or seven years old can put on his head, will cover the entire city before dusk with the efforts of the workers.

When night falls and the Seagull Festival officially opens, what kind of dreamy and beautiful picture will they weave in this one-night-only festival? To be honest, Tina couldn't wait to see it.

Although for foreign tourists, merchants and crew members passing by, this festival held before half of Kanna Moon is not very grand, nor is it very interesting.

However, for Tingna, who was born and grew up here, and never stepped out of this city until she became an adult, this festival with a strange name is a word that is synonymous with expectation in 90% of people's lives so far. .

At this time, the college's courses have come to an end, the exam has ended, and there are still several days before the results are known.

In order to relieve stress, or to enjoy the carnival, the students will make appointments in twos and threes to play at night until the dawn of the next day in various parts of the city, and the teachers and parents will let them play around only once. In the eyes of the students, this is the happiest day of the year, even happier than the New Year.

And after the Seagull Festival, the summer vacation is only a few days away. Is there anything students look forward to more than this summer vacation?

"...After a while...it will be summer vacation."

Before she knew it, the girl had already walked past the two black stone obelisks. The worker's cart drifted away, and staring up at the seagull sculpture about to fly, Tina suddenly realized.

It has been a year since I left the academy.

Spending the last summer vacation in a daze, it took half a year to obtain a pharmacist license, and finally stopped at the lowest C level.

If you entered the Alchemist Association like this, you would be nothing more than a low-end deployment worker, so after the new year, you joined the Adventurer's Association, and it has been... more than four months?

"Miss Liliana, Miss Alice..."

It's been quite a while since Hatsumezuki met the witch and the doll.

——If you are not satisfied with the relationship you have always had, and want to make changes and make each other closer.

—That is your business.

Tina turned her head.

When taking steps.

"Speaking of which, Miss Liliana and Alice haven't been out at all recently. They are busy studying the history and myths and legends of Salt Sand City, dealing with the aftermath of the previous incident, adding magic to these pigeons, etc. ..."

Talk to yourself.

Who were these words addressed to?

"It would be a wonderful experience to enjoy the festival with these beautiful decorations that I made myself."

Tina, who came to a conclusion, didn't know herself.

But anyway—

Thinking about it afterwards, could this be the reason why I was so strange this day?

"Ah woo woo woo—"

dusk.

The twilight of Saigon has yet to fall.

The Seagull Festival kicks off with fireworks on the sea when the sun has completely set and the bright moon rises from the other side of the horizon. Every year in the past, the people of Salt Sand City would say that the dusk of this day seems to be particularly slow in a year, just like Diana, the moon god who has always been gentle, wanted to make everyone anxious.

In the past, Tina was one of the people who complained like this.

But today, since she got home in the afternoon, she has been devoutly praying to the Moon Goddess who has never met before, and has never even seen a statue, hoping that she will appear a little later, a little later.

——That, Miss Liliana, Miss Alice.

She was also in that castle at noon today, enjoying Alice's craftsmanship.

On the sterling silver dining table was the expensive Tianshuang steak, served with thick Alice's special sauce, the taste was very good, because it was really indescribable, so Tingna only knew how to describe it as delicious after eating for so long.

Hearing the girl's words, the silent witch raised her head.

Yesterday, she finished the sculpture enchanting orders in the city, and today, as usual, she is studying the magic that Tina doesn't understand at all. Recently, she seems to be so busy that she even has books on the table during lunch time. Tingna feels dizzy when she reads it. Word. On the snow-white skin of the girl sitting on the wooden chair, there is no cloth covering her beautiful body. Bathed in the midday sun from the patio, it looks as gorgeous as an oil painting.

—Miss Tina, what's the matter?

Today's Alice still has the appearance of the Eastern country, her black hair is trimmed into a lovely Ji hairstyle, and her big black eyes are like black agate inlaid on her fair and delicate face. The twelve-piece kimono seems to be the latest work of Master Ingmar, spread out on the table like hydrangeas blooming with silk and brocade.

Ahhh, it's so cute. Their tacit movements of raising their heads like small animals made my brain melt at that time.

——Tonight, do you want to go to the Seagull Festival together?

...Seagull Festival?

——A summer festival in Salt Sand City, very interesting.

Shaking his head slightly.

——Come together, it’s really interesting, there are many things to eat, and the city hall will also organize many activities that everyone can participate in. I have participated in it every year since I was a child! I'm really happy, and I want to let Miss Liliana and Miss Alice experience this happy mood, and I want to go to the festival with you.

...

...

Thinking of that time, the silence across the dining table, Tina rolling around on her bed.

"Whoa whoa whoa—"

What the hell did I say ah ah ah ah ah! ! ! !

What I thought on the way before meeting Liliana and Alice—so many excuses, it’s fine to say just one of them! Why, why!

He just spoke out the truth without concealing it! ! ! ! !

Although I immediately reacted, "That's right, Miss Liliana has been busy with research recently and didn't go out..." "It will be interesting to participate in festivals that I have not participated in before under the seagull statue I made." Such explanations with.

But anyone can see it, even oneself is deeply aware of it.

How pale and feeble that is.

If there is magic to reverse time, the first thing Tina will do is to strangle that foolish self who has been turned into a brain.

Why are you blushing like that!

When I said more and more quietly, and finally bowed my head with a flushed face and stopped making a sound.

...Then let's go together.

——I'm looking forward to Miss Tingna's sharing. For an immortal life, happiness is very important. Moreover, Lily really needs to relax after working on those sculptures for so many days without sleep.

The witch and the puppet nodded.

Afterwards, Tina logically invited Liliana and Alice to gather at her home before the opening ceremony, and returned home after finishing the rest of today's work, preparing for the evening festival...

- What a ghost!

"What's wrong with me..."

Staring blankly at the familiar ceiling, he stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to take off the cheap chandelier that had been with him for more than ten years and smash his head to make his head clear.

The girl covered her face with her other hand in distress.

If the magic of time regression can’t go back so far in the past, then Tina at least hopes to be able to say "In that case, come to my house to meet up, it’s a bit far from here to the most lively place of the festival, and my father Mom also really wants to see Miss Liliana." He strangled himself to death.

Indeed, these are very reasonable reasons, and Miss Liliana also agreed, but why?

——In general dating, do you invite people to your home first?

wrong!

The more she thought, the more Tina felt that her mind was being muddied by the gradually dimming sunset outside the window.

"Tingna, have you changed your clothes yet? Although Miss Liliana hasn't come yet, there is not much time before the festival starts? You need to eat something, can Miss Liliana eat spicy food—"

"Mom—Miss Liliana is not a picky eater, and there are still about ten minutes before the agreed time, so don't worry me more if I'm still changing clothes?"

"Tingna, do you think it's appropriate for me to wear this suit? I don't have any good wine at home, will Miss Magician think it's impolite?"

"I've never seen Miss Liliana drinking, and people don't care what you're wearing, Dad, and more importantly, I can't see what outfit you're wearing!"

Tingna regretted her thoughtless actions even more.

After knowing that a lady magician was coming as a guest, my father and mother fell into inexplicable excitement. Of course, this was also my own fault. Besides, can we still only talk about Miss Liliana?

In a state of showing off, I used all kinds of exaggerated words and expressions when describing Miss Liliana's magic experiment. As a result, now my parents are fascinated by this lovely and powerful lady magician.

On this continent, who didn't have the dream of being a magician when they were young?

In the end, the bitter fruit planted in the past must be swallowed by oneself in the end.

Getting up from the bed, Tingna glanced at the chunky little clock on the desk, and slapped her face fiercely.

- Anyway! This isn't a date at all!

But even if it's not a date, clothing still needs attention.

Although you can continue to wear the suit you wear every day, Miss Liliana and Alice are tired of watching it every day. If possible, I still want to wear more beautiful clothes.

Even the public face has the right to pursue beauty!

"Well... the color of this one is a bit old... this one is not suitable for festivals, it gets dirty easily, this one..."

But once such a decision is made, one of the few things that girls struggle with the most becomes very disturbing.

After comparing and comparing, Ting Na found desperately that the pajamas she was wearing now seemed to be the most pleasing to the eye.

It can't go on like this.

Tina thought for a while, took off her pajamas, and stuffed herself under the covers.

Now, she can choose the right clothes without preconceptions.

"..."

However a few minutes later.

The girl desperately found that this did not make the problem easier.

That's right, without preconceived influence, she won't look at every outfit and think it's not as good as that cute pajamas with cat's paw pattern.

but!

In my closet, I still don't have a piece of clothing that I can walk beside that witch with my head held high and my chest held high!

Liliana's beauty turned almost all clothes into foils and burdens. The old Eastern saying "a man needs clothes" is completely inapplicable to that petite body!

Even if this is excluded.

Tina remembered the dizzying prices of the items in Liliana's closet.

In any case, it is not comparable to these cheap outfits that don't add up to a gold coin.

"What to do? What to do? What to do……"

The girl in plain underwear walked back and forth in front of the closet, her chaotic mood burning like a flame.

"...Miss Tina?"

Until the sound of indifference that extinguished the flame passed by.

The girl felt that her body temperature had been snuffed out, when she turned her head to look in the direction of the sound.

She really felt that her heartbeat stopped.

"...Catch up, eh."

Outside the small balcony of the room, the sea of ​​clouds ignited by the burning clouds seems to have lost the distance between the sky and the earth, turning into a painting without depth.

The old railing becomes the center up and down, and the left and right focus, Liliana Einstein is there, with a small doll sitting on her shoulders, falling from the railing lightly.

The magical wings behind the girl melted into a halo and merged with the last glow of the setting sun, leaving a hazy iridescence in the still bright summer evening.

The world freezes at this moment.

The scenery in my eyes was flying and collapsing in the wind blowing from the balcony, the bed was messed up, the desk was almost the same age as myself, between the balcony and Tingna, the curtains that were blown by the wind also fell into vermilion fine sand, faded color.

Except for the two in front of you.

In this white world, there was only myself—— Liliana and Alice in front of my eyes, looking at each other in the center of this empty world.

"...Miss Liliana...? Alice...?"

"Just in time, really, the hair is all messed up... Good evening, Miss Tina, it seems that Alice and Lily came at the wrong time?"

The little puppet knocked on the witch's head as if complaining, and combed Miss Witch's long hair that was blown by the wind.

Liliana looked at the blond girl and opened her mouth.

She was about to explain why she visited in such an impolite way by flying in from the balcony, but before she could open her mouth, she realized with her black jewel-like eyes that the owner of the room seemed to be looking straight at her, and she was dumbfounded.

Our liaison officer was indeed stunned.

She rubbed her eyes, then rubbed her eyes again, yes, they were the usual Liliana and Alice, beautiful figures who were somewhat resistant, but why?

The girl's gaze was immediately attracted by the girl's legs under the skirt. Seeing the girl's slender feet stepping naked on a pair of brown wooden shoes, the white and delicate skin and the cute toes like cherry petals made Ting Na couldn't help thinking of the highest-grade ice cream served in expensive wooden bowls that she had only seen in magazines.

The graceful curve follows the slender legs that are exposed to the still slightly warm sunlight until the middle of the thigh, and is hidden in the hem embellished with gold silk. The light black belt was tied around Liliana's waist, and the small square wrapped elegantly rested on the girl's lower abdomen. The wide cuffs exposed the wrists, and the neckline exposed the small collarbone.

Tina looked at Alice who was sitting on Liliana's shoulders—the little doll was wearing a black kimono that was only different in size from Liliana, dyed with black patterns of lilies. The careless little master combs the long and smooth hair.

... Gollum.

Sensing the girl's gaze, she turned her face away and smiled gracefully. The smile bloomed on Liliana's face with a subtle and different temperament from usual, quietly stealing the girl's heartbeat.

Ting Na felt that her mouth was dry, and at this moment, she belatedly put her hands on her chest, trying to cover up her unsuitable attire for receiving guests.

But she immediately realized that—although the appearance of only wearing underwear is a bit rude in terms of etiquette, but the three people in this room are all women, what a shame to say...

Thinking of Liliana who lived in the castle with the most natural and clean body every day, Tina suddenly calmed down.

"Miss Liliana, Miss Alice, the time... should be just right."

She turned her head. The clock on the desk was pointing to the last tick before the appointed time.

"...it took a lot of time to put on makeup and choose clothes..."

"Because Lily hasn't put on makeup for a long time, those expensive cosmetics are broken, and she is making lotion and perfume. Alice told Lily several times that it doesn't matter. There is still time, and finally Lily is still in a hurry. He flew over and came in directly from the balcony... I haven't seen such a flustered Lily for many years, but..."

Liliana, who followed Tingna's gaze to see the clock, nodded slightly, and hugged Alice into her arms. The little doll tacitly followed the rest of the sentence, and smiled softly in the witch's arms.

"Miss Tingna hasn't picked out her clothes yet?"

The conversation changed abruptly, and Alice's beautiful pupils, which were exactly the same as Miss Witch's, looked at the closet next to the girl.

"Well, when I think of standing next to Miss Liliana and Miss Alice, these clothes seem to be very cheap no matter what..."

And indeed, cheap.

At least, compared to the kimono on Liliana, no matter what I wear, it feels like a foil.

He tried his best to move his eyes away from Liliana's face, but when he thought of this, his eyes couldn't help staring at the girl again.

"……cheap?"

Liliana looked at Tina's wardrobe, and then looked down at the kimono she was wearing.

"...This kimono was given to us by a wardrobe tailor when we were traveling in the Eastern Kingdom..."

"As far as the fabric is concerned, it's only the price of a few gold coins? Alice thinks it's very cheap."

"..."

Ting Na silently looked at the two people who had no concept of money.

How much she wanted to tell the two that their thinking was wrong, and the word cheap was not applicable to anything that needed gold coins—all the expenses of a person's food, clothing, housing and transportation for a month in most areas.

But thinking of seeing Liliana accidentally throwing a whole piece of gold brick into the furnace for a magic experiment and turning it into a pile of black waste, Tina couldn't say anything.

She gave up on herself and took out the suit she had excluded at the beginning.

"Well, as expected, I'd better wear that suit. Although it's not such an expensive dress, at least it's not rude no matter what occasion it's worn on..."

"Hmm...Miss Tina in a suit is usually enough for Alice to see? Today is a rare festival, isn't it? How about Miss Tina wearing something more gorgeous?"

The appointed time has passed, outside the bedroom, in the kitchen of this small two-bedroom apartment, the mother is waving the pot and spoon, the sound of food being stir-fried in the hot oil covers Alice's low-pitched voice. volume. After finishing speaking, the little puppet looked at Tingna with great interest, then looked at the wardrobe, and floated out of Liliana's arms.

It seems that they have made up their minds to choose a gorgeous dress for their liaison officer.

"Ah, Miss Tingna hasn't put on makeup yet, although I said that I will eat something later... Lily, let's put on makeup for Miss Tingna during this time."

"Eh? No, I don't like makeup very much..."

"It's okay, it's okay, Lily's makeup skills are learned from fairies, she's very beautiful."

"But, what a shame..."

Not to mention the clothes, if even the make-up is done by them who are supposed to be guests, Tina feels that she is really ashamed as the initiator of the date.

"... you don't want to, do you?"

However, in such a mood, after Liliana raised her head slightly, stared at herself with those eyes that did not fluctuate in emotion, and was asked by that voice without ups and downs.

"...No, then, please trouble Miss Liliana..."

Immediately disappeared without a trace.

Because there was no dressing table in Tingna's small room, the girl sat on her own bed and closed her eyes nervously.

"...why do you close your eyes?"

"Well, before you know it...you have to open it?"

The girl who was being made up by someone else for the first time rubbed the bed sheet a little uneasy.

"...No, it doesn't matter if you close it."

Liliana, who was doing makeup for others for the first time, thought about it, and it seemed that the goblin who taught her makeup hadn't mentioned such details.

Alice, who was using magic to float the clothes in the closet in front of her one by one for comparison, covered her mouth with the sleeve of her kimono, trying not to laugh.

——Oh my, Lily is really cute.

——Miss Tina too, what a very interesting reaction.

Feeling happy from the bottom of her heart, Alice secretly looked at the girl sitting upright while choosing clothes.

"Well……"

But Tina, who is dull, does not have the ability to see clearly with her eyes closed. Unaware that there was a pair of smirking eyes looking at her, the girl did not dare to move, and when the wet and hot handkerchief wiped her face, she cried out in embarrassment.

"...is it too hot?"

With a hot water ball floating beside her, Liliana quickly took back the soaked handkerchief.

"Ah, no, no, it's just that it's wet and hot and it's suddenly posted, and I'm a little scared..."

"..."

Liliana, who didn't know how to respond, was silent for two seconds, and continued to wipe the girl's face with a towel.

Then use another dry towel to wipe any moisture from your skin.

Whether it is heavy makeup or simple and natural makeup, the first step in makeup is facial cleansing.

And next...

Looking at Tina with her eyes closed, Liliana thought for a while.

After all, it's going to an outside festival instead of a ball somewhere, so a little light makeup is fine.

She thought about it, and it would be troublesome to take off heavy makeup, and it was really not suitable for the occasion.

and……

The girl in front of her didn't have any blemishes that needed heavy makeup to cover up. Although her skin was a bit rough, her eyebrows were a little sparse, and her lips didn't have any luster...

Looking out the window at the sun that had begun to burn its last glory, the witch put away the medium-sized cosmetic box she had taken out, and took out a few small bottles from the space storage ring.

The fragrance of lavender floated across her nose, and Tina couldn't help taking a deep breath. It was a natural fragrance that made people smile, as if a field of lavender had been brought into the room.

"It smells so good...is this, perfume?"

"...This is, fairy face cream."

"...Eh? Face cream, face cream..."

A premonition that I don't know how to describe came out because of this term.

The cream is the cream... right? It's like the kind that prevents your face from turning red in winter, and you put it on with your hands... right?

Yes, there will be a powder foundation for the foundation, but the cream is applied directly by hand!

Miss Liliana's hand...on her face...

"...Ah woo..."

The distressed voice mixed with anticipation made the girl even more afraid to move,

In the shame that I don't know why, I am really strange today! ——This matter, the girl deeply confirmed.

However, the girl just didn't know when and where she became strange!

There is little time to find answers, when Tina is still in the vortex of self-doubt.

A pair of small hands gently cupped her face.

“!!!!!!”

The little hands that were also warmed by warm water, because they closed their eyes, could feel the slippery touch even more. After the cream warmed by the palm was spread evenly with gentle movements, the soft skin was tightly attached to the cheeks, carefully avoiding the lips and eyelids, and applying the fragrant cream to every part of the face.

This time, Ting Na couldn't cry out. After the expected touch was experienced by her body, her neck was numb like an electric shock, and she couldn't even make a sound.

— Miss Liliana's hand.

Now the girl's mind is full of churning, only one thing.

— touching me.

Only the palm of the witch, the heat and numbness brought by kissing my skin.

"Well……"

A slight moan leaked from the girl's lips.

"... Are you comfortable? Miss Tina."

Liliana, who was doing makeup for others for the first time, asked calmly, and her hands stopped. If the blonde girl answered "no", then she would use a more gentle way.

And if Tina didn't feel bad, then, go ahead.

"Uh-huh……"

Ting Na hummed indistinctly twice, but hesitated to speak.

She wants Miss Liliana to stop, and wants to tell her that it's too comfortable to use such a method, which is obviously just applying face cream, and it will make herself feel strange.

But Tingna's intuition told the innocent girl that if she opened her mouth now, she might make a very embarrassing sound

So embarrassing! The most important thing is that the longing for Liliana's touch made her unable to shake her head no matter what. Just like a bee captured by the nectar of a carnivorous flower, knowing that such enjoyment should not be done, it is still intoxicated by the sweetness.

"..."

Liliana turned to look at Alice.

But Alice was still worrying about which clothes would best match their kimonos, so she didn't notice the strange look on Tina's face here.

Is it too powerful?

Fairy cosmetics are mainly various ointments and creams that also have medicinal effects. These children who are the most pampered by nature are beautiful enough, so their makeup skills always revolve around showing and sublimating their own beauty, but... ...If Liliana remembers correctly, in order to increase the fragrance and comfort when applying these ointments, they basically added several slightly irritating magical plants that can make people's heads flutter.

Ting Na's appearance is a little strange now, she is holding on to the bed sheet tightly as if she is enduring something, her breathing rate becomes rapid, and the charming blush on her face makes her look a little... coquettish.

Perhaps in the eyes of the fairies, the amount of humans and animals that are harmless is still too exciting for the girl in front of her.

Having said that, getting here can't be done halfway, she doesn't like that.

So after a moment of contemplation, Liliana washed her hands again, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and took out some ointment from the light pink crystal box.

"...please be patient, it will be over soon."

"Hmm, ummm..."

During this period of time, did I ascend to heaven, or fell into the abyss of the lower realm?

Ting Na, who was clutching the bed sheet tightly, could no longer tell the difference.

She dared not open her eyes to face the witch at all, and clearly felt Liliana's gentle touch in the darkness in front of her eyes.

Every touch brings a rush of electric, trembling sensations.

The accumulation of such feelings made her mind go blank, and Tingna could no longer feel what Liliana was doing for herself, was she applying moisturizing cream? Or eyebrow drawing? Or are you wearing lipstick? have no idea.

Only the lingering touch continued to flash across, and even the eyes that were closed tightly lit up with a dazzling white light, allowing the consciousness to break free from the body and fly to the sky.

"...It's over, Miss Tina."

But this time has also come to an end.

No matter how hard it is to be unable to look directly at Liliana, it would be strange to close the eyes after the make-up is over, and.

"Tingna, the food is about to be served, Miss Liliana hasn't come yet?"

Outside the bedroom, my mother was urging again.

"Ah, it's already here, come right away!"

"……What?"

Thanks to her mother, Tina opened her eyes naturally and responded naturally.

Seeing Liliana and Alice who finally picked out a set of clothes, she didn't have the violent reaction she expected, Tingna even surprised herself.

She was even more surprised when she saw the clothes Alice had chosen.

"Isn't this... the uniform of the academy..."

"Alice thinks this set looks good, doesn't it?"

"No, it's really pretty, right..."

The uniform of Salt Sand City College is a brightly colored sailor suit, which is blue and white with the theme of the sea and beach that Salt Sand City is proud of. It is embellished with a golden navy badge. The short sleeves and pleated skirt below the knee match very well Popular with girls - and guys too.

However, this is the clothes from a year ago, although my body shape has not changed much this year.

"Miss Alice, I'm not a student anymore?"

More importantly, if I still wear this now, I feel a little embarrassed.

"But it's a pretty set, isn't it?"

"...Well, it feels very spiritual."

"Even Miss Liliana..."

"Tina, what does it mean that you've arrived—"

"Ah—I see, I'll just wear this suit and come out right away!!!"

The mother's questioning came one after another outside the door, and the setting sun outside the window had almost disappeared.

Under the fourfold persecution of time, Liliana, Alice and her own mother.

Tingna had no choice but to put aside the idea of ​​"It's super shameful to wear the uniform of the student days after already working", quickly put on the uniform that she missed, took Liliana's hand, and walked out of the room.

At the same time, I silently shed sad tears from the bottom of my heart for the fact that the clothes that fit me a year later are looser than those I had a year ago.

………………………………………………………………………………………

When Ting Na took Liliana to the dining room integrated with the kitchen, the cooked delicacies had already been served on simple dinner plates, and the middle-aged couple sitting at the dining table were stunned.

The father who was playing with the pipe but was worried that Miss Liliana didn't like the smell of smoke, so he never lit the tobacco, dropped the precious ivory pipe left by his grandfather on his lap, and that suit was only worn at New Year's services in the past The trousers were suddenly covered with filaments of tobacco.

There was a light in the mother's eyes. Because she was going to cook, she didn't dress up as formally as her husband, but she also put on makeup. Now she looked like she was many years younger.

"Miss Liliana, let me introduce to you, my father and mother, Byron and Shiyeka, father, mother, this is Miss Liliana, and now my...boss is also a person who takes good care of me. A powerful magician, because he lived outside the city, so he flew over with magic, and came directly to the balcony of my room."

Ting Na, who was not surprised by this result, calmly introduced her family to the witch holding the doll, and also explained to her family the reason why the two walked out of their bedroom together.

"...Good afternoon, Mr. Byron, Mrs. Shiyeka."

Liliana bowed slightly towards them.

However, the two middle-aged men with blond hair and blue eyes didn't seem to hear it. They stared at Liliana's face, as if their souls had been taken away by those black eyes.

There was no response to the greeting, and Liliana was not angry. She just tilted her head and looked at the girl beside her, seeming a little confused.

"I'm sorry, Miss Liliana, my father and mother are probably dumbfounded by Miss Liliana... Well, don't worry, let's sit down first."

The reaction of her parents was also within Tingna's expectations. How can I put it this way, my character of not being resistant to cute things is inherited from my mother, and my father...

Although he has retired, the female dolphins he saw the most throughout the year while wandering at sea for decades made him completely irresistible to lovely females. Well, it's not that Tina is boasting. When she was young, her mother was a famous beauty in the streets and alleys. It was because of this that her father fell in love with her at first sight.

It's a pity that his father is not a handsome man. As the crystallization of love between the two, Ting Na's appearance is a bit ordinary.

"Okay, okay, dad, mom, the food is going to be cold."

After sitting down with Liliana, Tina cleared her throat deliberately in order to wake up her parents who were addicted to Liliana's charm.

"Hey, eh, eh, look at me, really, because Miss Liliana is so cute, I'm dumbfounded, right, hubby?"

Because of her daughter's voice, Shiyeka came back to her senses, she was amazed, she rested her cheek with one hand, red hearts appeared in both eyes, and she looked at Liliana as if she was See what precious treasures.

"……husband?"

A moment later, because he didn't get the response he deserved, this man was middle-aged, and despite the hard work of life and the wear and tear of time, he could still see some beautiful women in the past, and turned his head slowly.

The man with the beard still had an expression of being unable to extricate himself for a long time.

"...There is really no way."

Sighing helplessly, Shiyeka gave Liliana a kind smile, please forgive me, and then stretched out her hand——

Tina crossed herself under the table for her father.

——Twist your cheeks at seven hundred and twenty degrees!

"——! Pain, pain, pain!!!"

Byron hissed—he took a breath of air, and cried out in pain.

"Really, dear, you can't stare at Miss Liliana with that kind of eyes."

"What kind of eyes do you mean by that look?"

Byron rubbed his cheeks that were picked up and pinched, and gave his wife a hard look.

But right away he realized that this was not a place for couples to quarrel.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Miss Liliana, I let you see a joke. I'm Byron, and this is my wife, Shiyeka. She has a troublesome personality. Please forgive me."

"My dear, I can't pretend I haven't heard this sentence before—"

A small cross popped out slightly on Shiyeka's forehead.

"Wait, wait a minute, Shiyeka!"

Seeing that the couple who had been with her for twenty years were flirting again, Ting Na sighed.

"Miss Liliana, don't worry about them, come, try my mother's cooking skills, the taste will be halved when it gets cold."

"……Um."

Nod, nod.

Seeing Shiyeka walking behind Byron with a "gentle" smile, Liliana, who made a judgment that it might not be over for a while, nodded, and looked at the food in front of her.

It’s not very rich, a grilled small fish that is charred on the outside and tender on the inside, a beef salad, and half a fat piece of fat bread. There are jams and butter on the table. According to the size of dinner, these can only be eaten by 40% full.

But Tina had told Liliana when she invited her early in the morning that the staple food for dinner would be at the festival, so, in the mood of tasting snacks, the witch picked up the knife and fork.

"How is it, is it delicious?"

After the petite girl cut a small piece from the grilled fish and put it into her mouth with a spoon, Hieka, who was struggling with her husband's ear and cheek meat, immediately looked to this side.

"……delicious."

Chewing the smooth and tender fish carefully, let the sauce on the crispy skin and the unlost umami taste mix on the tip of the tongue. After a while, the witch gave a satisfactory answer.

Then……

"Miss Liliana, you are so cute."

Tingna watched in astonishment as her mother left behind her father, who was spouting white spirits, and came behind Liliana and hugged the girl.

"Ah, mom, mom!"

"Oh, the skin is also very smooth, small and soft. Ting Na was such a cute girl before, but now she has grown up..."

Tina swears that she really saw red hearts bulging out of her mother's eyes.

"...It's grown really big."

Liliana turned her head to look at Tina.

"When I was short, you were the one who forced me to drink milk all day long!"

Liliana didn't seem to hate being hugged. Tina was relieved, and she pouted dissatisfiedly because her mother was the culprit that made her stand out from the girls in height.

The small dinner started in such a somewhat noisy atmosphere.

It didn't take long, the summer dusk is always very long, even if the clock has pointed to one o'clock at night, the fire clouds in the sky are still burning fiercely, turning the sea surface into a dazzling mirror.

There may be some time, longer or shorter, before the bell that announces the start of the service, depending on when the tender Diana moon rises.

In the not-so-spacious living room, Liliana and Tingna were chatting with their parents. It was a rare experience for a girl who had never brought a friend home, and Tina believed it was the same for Liliana.

As expected, her own mother, who was leading the topic, asked Miss Witch about magic, and her father, who had a pipe in his mouth but didn't light it, would also prick up his ears.

And when her father asked about the legends of magicians and ghosts and ghosts on the ocean, Liliana could easily answer her. The little face that never changed her expression made people believe that what she said was the truth.

In addition to these, Shiyeka, who knew that Tina always dined at Liliana's at noon, also chatted with Miss Witch about cooking skills, clothing, and the cute doll Liliana was holding. Alice, who was pretending to be an ordinary doll, was obedient Being hugged by Liliana and her mother, talking about the clothes on her body... This made Tingna quite nervous for a while.

Then, we also talked about cosmetics and skin care.

"Speaking of which, did Tina put on makeup? Her skin became so smooth, and her lips weren't so dry anymore."

"Eh?"

"...Well, Miss Tingna, I don't need such heavy makeup, so I only put on the simplest makeup, moisturized my lips, and drew thrush."

"Oh, no wonder I feel that my daughter has become a little different. It looks like very expensive cosmetics."

"...No, that's a simple plaster that I can make myself..."

Only then did Tina see her own face on the hand mirror her mother took out.

The self in the mirror, compared to before no makeup, has not changed in any way, but the breath is completely different. In the words of my mother, the skin is more radiant, the lips have become glossy, and I look more energetic and more Healthy, but Liliana's only memory of this is the touch of Liliana's hands, and Tinna can't say a word.

Just when Tingna was speechless in surprise, Liliana and her mother chatted about the preparation of cosmetics, and Miss Witch wrote down the specific method of making face cream on a piece of paper.

"Miss Liliana, you really know a lot."

Putting the blank paper away carefully, Shiyeka looked at the young girl with admiration, and sighed from the bottom of her heart, she is such an amazing child.

"...Because I have been to many places."

"Is it for the practice of mages? I heard that after being promoted from apprentices to full-fledged mages, mages of the traditional High Tower School need to travel on the mainland for several years before they are allowed to call themselves mages."

"...that's the magician from the Seven Towers, I'm considered an academic... But, I have indeed traveled a lot."

Then, without knowing it, the topic came to [travel].

Liliana talked about her experience of traveling around the mainland, about the Wharton Tower of the Northern Empire's capital of Pseudotina, the valley of the mysterious Dragon Kingdom, the jewel stream flowing in Falland, and the singing in the mountains and forests. An oasis that moves by itself in the midst of gold and desert.

The witch didn't talk about everything she encountered, but simply talked about what she had seen. Even so, Tina couldn't help but think that Miss Liliana would also say such things.

"It's really enviable, Miss Liliana. I have never left Yansha City in my life. Even if I go fishing with the fleet, I have never really set foot on other lands. Maybe our blood vessels are full of love. Even at the most arrogant age, I never thought about leaving this city and going to a world I don't know."

Filling the small wine glass with the self-brewed wine, Byron, who had been drinking since the beginning of the chat, was already a little drunk on his face.

Just like the scenery told by the witch, it arouses the gradually aging heart, and makes the blood flow accumulated in a peaceful life surge again.

He laughed at himself regretfully.

"...Loving home is a good thing. No matter how long you wander, you will eventually go home."

"Haha, although Miss Liliana is still young, she speaks with vicissitudes of life."

Liliana was also holding a small cup, but it was filled with her mother's favorite milk—Tina never found a chance to explain to her parents that this young girl was older than the three of them combined. .

"However, travel..."

Shiyeka poured herself another small cup and looked at her husband with her face propped up.

"Our family has never left this small city for generations. When I was young, I did want to leave this city because of the description of the vast continent in the book, because it is like the aurora in the north, swaying in the wind and snow. Pine forests, hot springs in the east, golden sand in the western desert, mermaids, angels, fairies, and unicorns. When I was young, I also had such fantasies."

Just like the knight dream of every teenager, every girl has such and such, dreamy expectations.

Hiyeka rested her chin, obviously drinking milk, but her words seemed a little drunk.

"Tingna doesn't even have this. When Tingna was twelve years old, I asked you what you want to do when you grow up. Tingna didn't have any dreams at all and said that she wanted to be with us all the time. Really, although I'm very happy, but Ting Na, no man likes such an unromantic girl?"

"Hmph, it's obviously my mother who said you wanted me to be with you all the time when I was young."

Facing her mother's habitual shirk of responsibility, Tingna, who was sipping milk, stared back in dissatisfaction.

——Don’t expose me to Miss Liliana. Seeing such complaints from her daughter's sight, Hiyeka chuckled and drank the milk in the glass.

Watching the interaction between his wife and daughter, Byron couldn't help laughing.

No man is really willing to live an ordinary life, and a passionate life will always be a heavy weight that cannot be ignored on the balance.

But when the other end of the scale is a peaceful life with a beloved family, it's not bad if the blood-fueled adventures are nothing more than passing memories and drunken words.

"Ah, speaking of elves, I feel a little sad. Salt Sand City is one of the cities closest to the elves' territory of Faruiland, but I've never seen a goblin...but the mermaid has. "

Byron, who was recalled by his wife's words, said this - it was probably more than thirty years ago, and he was just an ordinary sailor on a shrimp fishing boat.

In an ocean fishing, when their boat was pulling in the net, they found a young girl with a fish tail among a large number of freshwater shrimps in the net.

A golden mermaid.

"Eh? I've never heard you say that?"

"Dad, have you never said that before?"

"Because there's nothing to say about it, we only saw the mermaid once."

Byron stroked his beard.

Although this story has a fairy tale beginning, it does not progress like a fairy tale.

Their captain is an old fisherman who abides by the tradition. After discovering that the mermaid was caught by mistake, he immediately ordered everyone to release the mermaid and kept apologizing to the mermaid.

The golden mermaid didn't pursue it either, just picked a few of the biggest shrimps they caught, and then jumped back into the sea.

"After that, every time we fished in the ocean, we returned with a full load, and gradually changed from a shrimp fishing boat to a fishing workshop. To be honest, when I saw the mermaid, I was fascinated , I feel something burning in my chest, I have never experienced it before, go to a place I don’t know and see things I have never seen with my own eyes, ha, so it seems that I really don’t even have a little bit of adventure complex! "

"dad……"

"As a result, just after this kind of ambition was ignited, as soon as I returned to Salt Sand City, I met your mother."

Byron laughed a little embarrassedly.

"Being mesmerized at first glance, and then feeling like my fledgling ambition doesn't make sense at all..."

"Oh my dear..."

The black air behind my mother disappeared in an instant.

—Ah, it started again.

——If possible, I really hope that Dad can give me such a smooth way of dealing with things.

Seeing that her parents are about to start their loving life again, Ting Na thought so from the bottom of her heart.

Although it is very happy to grow up in a harmonious family with parents, if possible, I hope you can pay attention to the fact that you have never had a first love so far, and now you are starting to doubt your orientation towards your daughter?

"...Where is Miss Tina now? For travel."

At this time, Liliana put down the mug in her hand and looked at herself quietly.

"Eh, me?"

"In my case, although I haven't tried it...but I probably don't really want to travel."

Looking at the sky outside the window, Tina put down her mug and answered without thinking.

"Travel costs a lot of money, and it's troublesome and tiring. I was born and raised in this city, and have always lived here. Most importantly..."

Ting Na looked tired of being together, two people who had been tired of being together for more than 30 years, but they still didn't seem to get tired of each other. The mother was asking whether she was beautiful or the mermaid, and the father drank the wine vaguely. The two hands holding the wine glass pushed back and forth, and the ring with fine diamonds on the finger was shining.

Someone's happiness is the tide of the stormy sea, the emerald starry sky of Florence, the imperial capital of the seven hills, and the whistling wind hunting on the ancient ruins.

But my happiness is to be with my parents, every day without any waves.

"...Although it's embarrassing to say that... But I'm still just a child who loves home... Speaking of which, where is Miss Liliana's home, and why are you traveling?"

"..."

The witch looked at Shiyeka who kept pouring wine into Byron's mouth in a daze, and replied with a calm silence.

"Miss Liliana?"

"……Time is up."

"Eh?"

Again, Miss Witch looked out the window.

Just when Ting Na slowed down a bit and followed the witch's gaze to look outside.

--when--!

--when! ————!

In the church in Yansha City, the big bell at the top of the bell tower was ringing.

The street lamps on the street lighted up together at this moment. Under the glow of magic, the seagulls stretched their crystal wings, ready to fly. The sound and singing, the hustle and bustle of cheers poured into the wind from the street, and was carried to every corner of the city by the long wind under the moonlight. The exciting signal was conveyed to everyone's ears.

"It's started... Dad, Mom, then Miss Liliana and I will go to the festival, okay?"

Tingna stood up from the chair, with the academy uniform on her body and the bell ringing like never before, filled her chest with long-lost excitement.

"Let's go, Miss Liliana!"

At this moment, she seemed to have returned to the energetic years when she was still in the academy.

The witch who was pulled up by the girl nodded and bid farewell to Byron and Hieka.

"Go, go, young people just want to have fun and enjoy their youth, ah, pay attention to safety."

"Miss Liliana, I will leave my clumsy daughter to you, so please come to our house as a guest from now on."

"...if there is a chance, I will."

The dark pupils were as calm as ever, and also as unpredictable as ever. She looked out the window.

Holding Alice who has been playing the role of a doll, what is Liliana looking at in her eyes?

"Alright, Miss Liliana, let's go."

Unanswered questions, what is Liliana's hometown and the reason for the trip?

The feeling of "wanting to know" filled the girl's chest.

- don't worry.

Ting Na pulled Liliana and pushed open the door.

Liliana and Alice have always answered their own questions so far. She believes that she will get the answer, even if it is not now or tonight, it will be in the near future.

There was no reason, Tina believed so firmly.

However, immediately, she buried such confidence deep in her mind, and used all her heart to meet the grand hustle and bustle.

——The Seagull Festival has begun.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Holding Liliana's hand, Tingna led her to run on the street.

After the sirens and bells rang, the pedestrians on the streets at night were clearly divided into two groups.

Walking casually on the street, sometimes looking up at the seagulls on the street lamps, pointing at the people running in front of me and asking what happened, they are tourists from other places.

And hurriedly running on the road, the young adults and children with very clear goals are the local residents of Yansha City.

Obviously, Tina belongs to the latter, while Liliana and Alice belong to the former. Miss Witch was no different from those who participated in the Seagull Festival for the first time, and was a little confused by the gradually gathering crowd.

"...Where are you going?"

"Everyone looks in a hurry, are you rushing to attend the opening ceremony?"

Liliana ran a little faster and came to Tina's side. Alice, who sat back on Liliana's shoulders, also asked curiously.

"Well, we're going to the beach. The Seagull Festival doesn't have a complicated opening ceremony, but this event is indeed equivalent to the opening ceremony."

Tina felt a little smug.

"Miss Liliana, Miss Alice, do you know the origin of the Seagull Festival?"

"...Because the sea area where Salt Sand City is located is inhabited by a large number of monsters called black-spotted seagulls." "Alice knows that these monsters have the habit of fishing in groups. The residents of Yansha City, who sell salt for a living, domesticated seagulls based on this habit, and relied on them to find fish schools, launched large-scale fishing, and gradually became rich. It has become the current city, and now, although the largest source of trade in Yansha City is sea salt, in fact, what makes people rich is the fishing business without price prohibitions.”

The little girl's smugness disappeared without a trace.

"...You are really knowledgeable, Miss Liliana, Miss Alice."

With some admiration and some resentment, Ting Na turned her head to look at the two people who turned heads almost 100% because of their beauty and unique oriental style.

She shouldn't expect that two people who don't seem to have much sense of humor and worldly wisdom will cooperate with her.

"...Because I have been studying the history of Salt Sand City recently."

Liliana still accepted Tingna's slightly sad compliment with an expressionless face - that calm face seemed to say that it was a matter of course.

"Speaking of which, Alice has seen it in the records about the Seagull Festival. At the beginning of the Seagull Festival, the activities carried out to pay tribute to the seagulls that brought prosperity to the city seem to be..."

But Alice...

Looking at the slightly raised corners of her lips, Ting Na made a correction in her heart.

Ms. Liliana is the one who has no sense of humor or sophistication. Alice, a little puppet, knows everything, and is also a bit malicious. I don't know if it's because of today's clothes, or because she has such a tendency...

In short, since the answers have been revealed, there is no need to hide them.

"It's a fishing competition. In order to pay tribute to those seagulls, we in Yansha City still reserve a few venues at the seaside when the Seagull Festival opens, put fish in it, and set up a high platform, and people jump off from the high platform. Trying to catch the fish inside, activities like that."

On the familiar street, the girl ran along the river of crowds. Thanks to the daily long-distance running for the past two months, Tingna's physical strength is much better than before.

At least, he became able to maintain a certain level of speed while explaining to Liliana what he planned to do next, the long-standing activities in Salt Sand City.

"Miss Liliana, come along too. It's very interesting. In a sea area that is big enough for people to dive into, all kinds of fish and shrimps are put into it. Some fish are stupid. Just startle them. They crash into your arms in a panic, and some fish are very flexible. If they are accidentally discovered, they will disappear in a blink of an eye. There are also big shells and lobsters, and all the harvest caught there can be taken away. , or let a special chef cook a sumptuous meal for you. The food you catch with your own hands is much more delicious than ordinary ones. After the end, there will be scoring and competitions based on the caught prey. The champion will have a generous reward. Prizes. Ah, just, no magic."

"...Is magic forbidden?"

"Because that would be too unfair. As long as you know the magic of the mage's hand, you can win the competition very easily. The championship trophy and the golden lobster, which is rare every year, are at your fingertips. In the competition, you can use The magicians are only the magicians who are the security guards, and they are responsible for preventing accidents from happening."

"……Yeah……"

Tina tried her best to invite Liliana, but Miss Witch seemed to lack interest in this competition.

She likes quietness and doesn't like competition and competition. She seems to have no interest in this kind of competition without fairness.

Soon, the beach is close at hand.

Diana's silver light swayed, and the night sky had already fallen, but this piece of silvery beach was as bright as day.

The huge ball of light floating in mid-air illuminated the white sandy beach, and also illuminated the cheers of the people. Beside a big tent, a wooden high platform completely surrounded the corner of the sea and the shallows. The wooden platform was almost ten meters high. The frame wound has a platform for people to stand on, and a spiral upward ladder. The sea area they cut is one of the competition venues for fishing competitions!

"Huh... This year is also the same, there are many, many people. In recent years, in big hotels, squares, and magic screens set up by the Magician Association, there will be thousands... No, maybe tens of thousands of people I'm watching!"

Under the high platform, there are countless people around. There are five such arenas by the sea in Yansha City. This is the closest one to Tingna's home. Because they took a shortcut, they came earlier, but Even so, the beach was covered in black spectators.

A long-lost enthusiasm made Ting Na tremble all over.

Although this is an event that is more interesting for spectators than contestants, if you want to leave memories, you still have to participate.

but……

"Miss Liliana..."

After turning her head back, Liliana, who was looking at the turbulent crowd without any surprise, was expressionless.

This time, I'm not alone, and I can't sign up for fun just for my own happiness.

"Miss Liliana, do you really hate the environment with too many people?"

Nod, nod.

"...That's right...and the makeup that Ms. Liliana put on for me will also fall off. Well, then there is no other way. Although I can't participate, there should be places near the beach where there are few people watching the match. We Just go buy some delicious food and watch everyone compete, it’s also very interesting.”

Tina was a little disappointed.

Still, she compared the joy she felt getting into the competition to the guilt she would feel for throwing such a young (at least outwardly) girl in such a large crowd.

...There is no need to hesitate at all.

I am not an expert at fishing. In an environment of more than a hundred people, the actions of the fish will be even more invisible. Maybe I can only be with those children and the old people who like to be lively, Digging for shells and catching crabs in the beach area, the sense of accomplishment should not exist.

If I accidentally saw Liliana and Alice alone in the crowd during the game...

"Hmm...although it's a pity..."

Just thinking about that moment, Tina felt that her stomach started to hurt.

Not to mention, if Miss Liliana got into the water, the makeup that Miss Liliana put on herself would also be wiped off. These worries were mixed together.

"...Where do I go to sign up?"

I almost couldn't hear Miss Witch's words clearly.

"Eh?"

Tina rubbed her ears.

"That...Miss Liliana? The registration is...?"

"...That's right, sign up."

Stretching out her finger to the place where people had been brought to the top of the high platform one by one by magicians, Liliana looked into Tina's eyes.

"...I want to compete."

Life is like a box of skittles, you never know what kind of taste will fall into your mouth next.

Tingna couldn't remember which novel she read this sentence from. After hearing Miss Witch's words clearly, she felt that a large handful of honey-colored candies were stuffed into her mouth before she even realized it, and the sweetness that permeated her whole body made her feel elated.

"Want to join together? Miss Liliana!"

Nod, nod.

"However, makeup will fall off, so you can't use magic. Besides, Miss Alice..."

"It's just some face cream, don't worry, Alice will fly in the sky to watch you, so don't worry,"

The little puppet immediately dispelled the girl's worries. She smiled lightly and turned her head, leaving a small kiss on Miss Witch's cheek. Then, with a huff, she floated up from Liliana's shoulders.

"Lily, let's work hard to win the championship. The fish and shrimps you catch can be taken to the restaurant for the chef to cook for free. Miss Tingna's main meal refers to this, right?"

Stretching out its small hand, the little doll smiled slyly at Tingna.

"Ah... Sure enough, Ms. Alice knows... Really, let me keep it a little more mysterious..."

Alice, who flew into the sky, wore a black kimono and long black hair on the doll, making her blend with Yetian. In this way, there is no need to worry about being discovered and stolen by someone.

"I'm sorry, Miss Tina, but what Alice likes to do the most is uncovering secrets, hehe... Then, come on."

...Although Tingna felt that if someone really fell in love with this cute doll that was worth a lot of money just because of the clothes on her body, she would pray for that person,

Just like when she was worried that Liliana would be kidnapped, she was worried about those kidnappers who didn't have eyes.

"..."

The hand was pulled, and Ting Na, who lowered her head, looked at the pair of night sky-like pupils.

"...Hurry up and sign up."

Liliana said softly.

In those deep pupils, Ting Na could not see expectation, excitement, not even a little curiosity.

This beautiful Miss Witch has already attracted the attention of countless people. Even now, people who walk by, regardless of age or gender, can't help casting their gazes here. So far, no one has come to strike up a conversation, probably because it is too much. It's a young figure.

Even so, she was always out of tune with the atmosphere of the festival.

Such calm and indifference, as if the frenzy of the festival was just a bit of noise.

But Tina does know that Liliana Einstein is a gentle witch.

"...Miss Ting Na?" The witch's soft voice brought Ting Na back to her senses.

"Well, I will go, but... before that, we have another thing to prepare."

"……Prepare?"

The witch tilted her head.

This action made her look even younger and cute.

—Would you join me in a fishing competition just to take care of my mood?

Looking into her eyes, Tina couldn't help but think so.

"Well, get ready, when it comes to fishing, you have to go into the water, that is, to swim, and when it comes to swimming—"

Desperately resisting the urge to hold her in her arms and pat her head, the blond girl took a deep breath and took Liliana with her, pointing to the big tent next to the arena.

"—Of course it's a swimsuit."

"..."

For the first time in my life.

Tina witnessed Liliana's calm face.

solidified.

………………………………………………………………………………………

—When, when, when.

The bell rang three times in succession.

This is the first round of competition tonight. In the Seagull Festival, there are several rounds of fishing competitions, which will last until midnight, the end of the festival.

Although it is a highly competitive fishing competition, it is different from other competitions in that there will be no lively atmosphere of commentary here, and no referee giving orders. The only sign of the start and end of the schedule is the ancient bronze bell the bell.

The ancestors of Salt Sands used this bronze bell hung from the mast of a fishing boat to command domesticated seagulls.

Three knocks means to get them together and someone to feed them.

Knocking twice means sending them flying to where the bell rings.

And when the bell rings only once, you will see hundreds of seagulls flying out of the cages on the boat, soaring in the blue calm sea in search of fish.

Even today, small fishing boats still use this method to find schools of fish hidden below the surface.

In the Seagull Festival, which pays homage to this act, the bell is also the countdown to the start and end of the race.

"Miss Liliana, are you really okay..."

In the corner of the high platform, Ting Na, who was stretching her body, glanced at Liliana worriedly, and immediately looked away.

The girl is wearing a one-piece swimsuit that has only become popular in the last ten years. The navy blue fabric has a touch similar to gel, and it is intimately adsorbed on the skin, covering a large area of ​​skin other than the limbs and head.

Miss Witch on the side is also wearing a one-piece swimsuit. Except for the pure white color and smaller size, only the diamond-shaped openings of different sizes on the side, lower abdomen and back show the beauty of this swimsuit. design concept.

——Who the hell designed this kind of clothes!

Even Tingna, who was almost used to Liliana's naked body, didn't know where to put her eyes. The pure white translucent swimsuit was wrapped around the young and beautiful witch, and because of the huge [Light Art] lighting in the sky, it shone with a magnificent luster, as if through the hazy swimsuit, one could see the faintly visible skin.

And the skin exposed from those diamond-shaped openings is the beauty that is clearly visible in the haze, wrapping the petite body into a lovely flower bud, even Tingna can feel it directly, watching Liliana's many fiery look.

Wearing that swimsuit on the body is more coquettish and attractive than wearing nothing at all. What kind of concept is it based on?

Why did Liliana insist on choosing this swimsuit? There are obviously more cute styles.

Tina's curiosity was stirring.

However, Miss Witch responded silently to Tina's questions.

"……It doesn't matter."

And when she said these words, even though there was no fluctuation in her tone, the slight disgust revealed in those eyes as deep as the night sky still exposed her true thoughts.

What exactly are you disgusted with? Miss Liliana?

Ting Na couldn't help holding Liliana's little hand.

"...?"

The witch looked at the girl and tilted her head.

"Although I don't know why Miss Liliana feels uncomfortable, but if you hold hands, will you be more comfortable?"

The witch-san watched without knowing it, and the girl had a very happy face for some reason.

She was silent for a while, then nodded uncertainly.

Such a reaction made Tina very happy.

"Let's dance together later, Miss Liliana, with the magic of magicians, even if they accidentally bump into each other, there will be no danger."

Nod, nod.

When Liliana nodded calmly.

The bronze bell rang twice.

At the top of the high platform, the seagulls gathered by the bell chirped excitedly, combed their feathers dotted with black spots, and flew up from the wooden frame with flapping wings.

They are also contestants, and they are also the most valuable guests of this Seagull Festival, this Yansha City.

The atmosphere changed.

Except for those old people and children who didn't climb up the high platform at the beginning, but just picked up shells and crabs on the beach and beside it, even Ting Na became nervous.

After all, it was still a competition, and the prize for the champion was quite generous, and the golden lobster was even more mouth-watering and delicious.

However, Tingna knew that she was not an excellent hunter, and if she wanted to leave something worth remembering in her heart, she might not be able to expect it from the game.

Salivation is one thing, self-knowledge is another, and the two are not in conflict.

So... what to do?

--when!

A bell rang.

The magicians waved their staffs and drew a huge magic circle above the sea.

The seabirds circling in the sky gathered their hovering wings neatly at this moment, like gray-white raindrops falling from the sky. After passing through the magic circle, these gray raindrops were all coated with a beautiful blue, reflecting the snow-white spray It's so dreamy.

In order to prevent the magic of accidents caused by collisions, at this moment, there is beauty that overrides functionality.

They rushed deep into the sea, and the prey locked by the keen bird's eyes had little room to react in this sudden hunting. All of a sudden, bigger splashes of water splashed, and they were seabirds who had succeeded in one blow. They spread their wings, broke through the water surface, swallowed the plump fresh fish in one gulp with the help of their lift-off force, and croaked contentedly.

For them, the annual Seagull Festival is also a rare time to enjoy the fat and fresh fish.

Until this time, the contestants raised their heads from the water splash that had just fallen.

The larger water splashes made the auditorium cheer loudly, and the magic screens lit up all around. The witch, who had a panoramic view of all this, was a little surprised by the enthusiastic cries of the people, and then.

"...Miss Tina?"

She looked at the blond girl who said she wanted to dance together, but seemed to be several beats behind.

--Great! !

--come on! Come on! Don't lose to those birds!

--let's go! ! !

Now, she just stared blankly at the two holding hands, overwhelmed by such cheers, and did not recover.

"...Hey, Miss Liliana, tonight is the annual festival."

No, it's not that I haven't recovered.

Instead, the cheers ignited the hesitant [what].

"So, even if it's a little rude... can you forgive me?"

Tina whispered to Liliana.

"...?"

Liliana turned around in confusion, and looked up at the blond girl.

People are infected by fanatical emotions.

After being involved in such a frenzy, what will happen is unpredictable, so if it is something harmless, it is not a problem to laugh it off...

Liliana thought for a while and answered.

"...The atmosphere during the festival is quite frenzied, and people who are infected by the atmosphere are prone to impulsiveness. If there are no bad consequences, a little out of line thing can indeed be forgiven..."

The words are not finished yet.

The hand held by Liliana and Tina was released, and then, a pair of shoulders that seemed to be stronger than usual hugged the petite girl.

That is to say, the princess hug.

The sudden attack made the Witch instinctively dodge, but the distance between the two made Ting Na stop her effortlessly, and hugged that soft body into her arms.

"I'm going to dance! Miss Liliana!"

Trotted quickly, and jumped off the wooden platform before the witch who wanted to say something said nothing!

Fall, fall!

The sound of the elongated wind echoed in the ears, the blue magic circle under the feet passed through in an instant, the body was added with a shield to offset the impact and protection, followed by the sea at night! At the end of the fall of the body, under the light of the moonlight and magic, there are blue and dreamy water waves!

The distance of ten meters did not make the girl feel scared, and she was protected by magic, and she didn't need to worry about the impact when she entered the water. During the short fall, the girl kept looking at the face of the girl in her arms.

Ahh, it's so hot, today I am really very strange, the throbbing in my chest can't be stopped at all.

Ahhh, you must have heard it, Miss Liliana, you must have heard it, my heartbeat, it was as violent as if it was about to explode! Leave me speechless!

- Crash!

The snow-white spray, the cold sea water, from the world between the sky and the earth, the two fell together, the realm of water.

The surface of the sea is above, and the light of magic reflects the water that is several meters deep into clear and bright.

The silver sand is below, and the soft and fine silver-white sand is gently laid down along the gradually deep seabed.

The world in between, the world in my eyes, only myself, only the girl in my arms.

The coolness of the water dilutes the temperature of the skin, and the body drifts in this world without gravity, curled and floating freely due to the inertia of the fall.

The platinum-blonde hair floated like seaweed, because of the completely different coolness belonging to the sea, even the lovely toes stretched out comfortably, Miss Liliana must also feel very comfortable, from the heat of summer. Leaping into the cool shallow sea, even the shells and conch on the seabed are within reach.

However, those pupils as deep as black pearls did not flicker from beginning to end.

Ting Na stared at her deeply, deeply, and suddenly felt that when her father saw the beautiful mermaid, perhaps, he also felt the same way.

Originally, I wanted to try to see if I could see more of the panicked expression of this ordinary lady witch, but it seemed that I couldn't do it.

The girl, who was satisfied with the temperature in her arms, felt a little regretful about it. At this moment, her body began to ring the alarm bell that the air was exhausted.

I still can only hold my breath for less than a minute.

——Come to the surface, you have to say you're sorry.

The dazed mind suddenly came to her senses, looking apologetically at the girl in her arms, Tingna stretched out her curled up body, and exerted a little force on the seabed beach not far away.

"!!!" At that moment, it started from the toes touching the sand.

The whole leg seemed to have passed through an electric current and became stiff.

It was really just a moment, the muscles seemed to lose their elasticity, the nerves seemed to be twisted into a ball, accompanied by severe pain, the unimaginable severe pain came directly from the legs, making the girl feel like she was in the sea water right here and now. I couldn't take care of it, and cried out in pain.

— cramp!

The brain immediately recognizes the entity of this excruciating pain.

But snow-white bubbles had already floated out of the girl's mouth in large swaths, and the hand holding Liliana was also released, and turned to hug her left leg. Precautions against cramps while swimming flashed through my mind, but the salty seawater rushing into my mouth squeezed the air out, burning my lungs and nasal passages, and making calm a joke!

Just at this moment, this body seemed to lose even its buoyancy. Instead of floating towards the light-filled sea, the struggling girl fell towards the sand grains on the seabed.

— woo — woo —

Tingna desperately straightened her twitching left leg, and the soft silver sand caused smoke and dust due to her struggle, which obscured the light on the sea surface.

—breathe... no...

Sudden cramps in the body during diving are an invitation letter from the god of death. The severe pain, the severe struggle due to the loss of air, are all my signatures written on this invitation letter.

From drowning to unconsciousness, the shortest time is only a few seconds.

And once you lose consciousness, the death rate will soar. At the seaside, these are common sense.

——No, who will——

The mother Haiyang's sudden coldness at this moment completely shattered the girl's enthusiasm for the festival. She stretched out her hand helplessly to the surface of the sea, begging for someone to give her a hand.

—At least, God, at least, get yourself closer to the water.

The hand of the girl who was praying like this was pulled.

a small hand.

A little girl.

The long platinum hair was flying in the water, and she took her hand as if trying to pull herself up, but at this moment, her extraordinarily heavy body was like a stone on the seabed, instead pulling that small body over.

But perhaps, that is the purpose of this witch lady.

She took the girl's hand and pulled herself in front of the girl. The white swimsuit became more white because of the wetness, and the light from the sea enveloped the holy figure, like an angel.

When stared at by those black pupils, he calmed down unbelievably.

Even though the stiff left leg is still throbbing, and the lungs are still eager for air,

In the crisis of drowning, Ting Na was dumbfounded.

Just like at dusk, a witch in a kimono flew down from the balcony.

Liliana lightly landed on the girl's body, even though the blond girl was drowning right in front of her eyes, she didn't show any more expression.

She just came in front of Ting Na, bent down calmly, held the girl's face in her arms, and kissed her gently.

The salty and astringent sea water was dispelled. Liliana adjusted her posture and covered the girl's lips.

Then, the warm breath brought back the scattered glimmer in Tingna's pupils.

When the sweet air filled the mouth again, the girl's sluggish and heavy body regained its strength and lightness. She grabbed the witch's shoulders and desperately asked for the air that would allow her to survive from Liliana's body.

The witch still looked at the girl who was desperately trying to get air from her with her calm eyes. She arched her body and stomped hard on the sand with her small feet.

The buoyancy returned, and the snickering sea sent the two back to the world of air.

"Huh!"

The mixed thoughts of desire for survival and regret calmed down again, and when the air could be felt in the nasal cavity, the girl reluctantly let go of the witch's shoulders, and let the blind lips part.

"...Are you all right?"

"Hmm...cough, cough...although my left foot still hurts a bit, but it's fine..."

After straightening the leg vigorously, the cramp quickly eased.

Probably, this is my retribution for patronizing Miss Liliana, not warming up properly, and my retribution for doing such a rude thing.

After finally calming down, she played back everything that happened just now. What the hell did she do? She wailed in her heart, and the girl was too ashamed to meet Liliana's gaze.

"I'm sorry, I did that kind of thing without Miss Liliana's consent, and I asked Miss Liliana to save me..."

"...Don't worry, can you continue the game?"

"Although it's okay... But to be honest, I'm a little worried about the second cramp. Maybe I can only catch small fish in the shallow sea."

Once there is the first cramp, the second cramp is also very likely to occur. Based on the creed of safety first and in order not to trouble Liliana and the security personnel, Tingna decided to leave the waters that she could not step on without hesitation.

This also means giving up the competition for rankings - most of the fish with relatively high points in the competition are species active in deep water areas. In the diving area... well, the organizer of the competition put a lot of crabs, sea urchins, and These are small lives that children and old people can happily capture.

"...then let's go."

"It's fine for me alone, Miss Liliana will try to catch a fish first?"

"...It's not too late to send Miss Tingna to a safe place and come back."

Pulling the wet hair from her face, Liliana dragged the girl to swim towards the beach without any explanation.

It wasn't until Tina was sent to a place where she could step on the bottom of the sea that Miss Witch stared at her face. After confirming again and again that it was okay, she swam to Tina in Tina's words, "Don't worry, please cheer Miss Liliana." deepwater zone.

Deep water for that petite size.

"Actually, it doesn't matter if you go to a deeper place, don't worry about me..."

That area was actually not far from Tinna. The girl who picked up a shell from the seabed was sitting between the sea water and the sand grains, feeling a little disappointed because she was so ashamed to play the role of an adult in the festival.

Under this loss, there is a little joy in my heart.

If I think about it carefully, I kissed Liliana-san right? No, that can't be considered a kiss, it's just a unilateral air, it's a rescue measure, in order not to trouble those magicians who are in charge of safety rescue.

But formally speaking, there is nothing wrong with kissing, right?

And, it's not just an ordinary kiss, that's right, it's just to give yourself air and prevent you from drowning.

No, if you continue to think about it like this, your thinking will go berserk again.

Why, am I so excited?

Why is my heart beating so fast?

Even if she was confused about herself at this moment, the girl playing with the shells never left the girl swimming on the waves.

Miss Witch, with only her small head exposed above the sea, looked around in distress.

The first step in fishing is to find the fish, and it looks like Miss Witch hasn’t found it yet... Ah, I dived into the water, but I can’t catch fish if I’m so slow... Well, I came out, so Come out soon, it seems that nothing has been caught...

Another one leaned over and dived into the water. Did it catch something this time?

Ah, now that you look at it, you actually have the expression on your face when you fail magic experiments one after another, and you haven't caught anything yet?

Tingna didn't feel surprised by such a result.

Catching fish with bare hands is a matter of speed, eyesight, reaction speed and strength. In addition, it also depends on hunting experience.

Fish in the sea are more vigilant than their counterparts in fresh water. Even though there are many fishing experts participating in this competition every year, most of the fish will enter the stomachs of seagulls. They are natural hunters. Compared with them, there are many competitors who can't catch a fish.

And what about Liliana? Can Miss Witch catch a fish when magic is forbidden?

Tina was very interested in this, and she believed that Alice who was somewhere in the sky was also the same.

So, after picking up the shell, Tingna sat on the beach, watching Liliana's actions with great interest.

This time, Liliana dived into the water for a while before reappearing. It seemed that it was still in vain. She wiped off the water droplets on her face and swam slightly to the side. It seemed that she was planning to change the area. At this time, a participating young man had already arrived at the registration office, and the image of him holding a large hairtail fish more than one meter long was shown on the magic screen, which made the audience cheer.

This was the first person to catch the prey after the game started, but Tina just glanced over there and didn't pay attention.

Liliana, who was swimming in one direction, stopped suddenly. She turned around in confusion, looked around, and seemed to be lost in thought.

Then.

Liliana swam back.

"...Miss Tina."

"Huh? Miss Liliana, what's wrong?"

"...you're smiling very happily."

"Y-Because I am very happy to participate in the festival with Ms. Liliana."

"Yeah?"

Tilting her head slightly, Miss Witch looked at the girl who suddenly panicked, feeling a little puzzled.

However, she didn't care about such small things.

"...After catching the prey, where to submit it..."

the girl asked.

"Eh?"

Already caught?

However, there is nothing in Liliana's hands?

Tingna looked at Liliana who was looking up at her in confusion.

"……it's here."

Liliana turned around and pulled her long hair floating in the water in front of her.

then.

"...a star-spotted lobster."

Miss Witch pulled a lobster from the water that was bigger than her little head.

This gray lobster with red stars and spots opened its teeth and claws because it left the water, and waved a large pincer in front of Tina's nose aggressively, causing the girl to fall back in fright.

If you look closely, you can still see a strand of Liliana's silver-white hair being held in another large lobster-gray pincer.

"...Suddenly I felt that my hair was being pulled. I turned around and saw that it was this."

Probably, they took Liliana's hair floating in the water as seaweed or something else, clipped it, and then got caught by Liliana.

Liliana was also a little confused about the prey she had caught so effortlessly. She was a little at a loss as she held up this lively lobster.

"After the prey is caught, there is a registration office under each wooden platform. The prey caught will be stored there, and then it will be recorded as Miss Liliana's points."

This look is also very cute.

"……knew."

Nodding, holding the big lobster in her hand, Liliana looked around and walked towards the nearest registration office.

After a while, the audience outside the arena became excited.

"As expected, Miss Liliana..."

Less than 20 minutes after the start of the competition, two contestants came to register with their prey in succession, and each of them attracted more attention than the other. There should be no better trigger for the festival than this.

Just hearing this voice, Tina could probably imagine the scene where everyone's eyes were on Liliana.

Soon, Liliana came back.

"...It seems that it is not difficult."

Saying so, she swam back to the deeper waters.

After a while, Liliana swam back again.

"...Red Coral Hermit Crab."

Hanging at the end of the platinum hair this time is a large crab with large pincers protruding from the conch, constantly spitting foam.

"Okay, that's amazing, Miss Liliana..."

Nod, nod.

The witch walked towards the registration desk again.

Watching the witch who suddenly learned the technique of catching lobsters and crabs with her hair, Tingna was sweating coldly, not knowing what expression she should use to face it.

After Liliana walked past her again and swam towards the deep water area, Tingna lowered her head and looked at the white shell in her hand that probably did not accept registration.

"...Me too, let's work harder..."

Gently sighed.

It is a pity that in this world, there is no such beautiful law that hard work will result in results. Tingna, who worked hard to fight wits and courage with the fish in the sea, finally only caught an octopus lying lazily on the sea bed , a palm-sized hermit crab and a large yellow croaker.

Except for the top three, this competition only has participation prizes with no prize money. Using a cooking coupon as a prize for the participation prize, Tina turned her prey into takoyaki, crab soup and grilled fish in front of her.

"...The dinner is at the festival, so that's what it means..."

Seeing this, Liliana realized why the dinner at Tingna's house was only three or four full.

Liliana ranked third with the seven or eight shrimps and crabs "caught" with her long and beautiful hair. Now, the other dishes on the table are all different ways of eating lobsters and crabs .

Even Tingna knew for the first time that there are so many ways to eat crustaceans...

"Hoohoo, it's amazing, Lily, you can use your hair to catch big crabs and lobsters, and you don't need to buy those expensive and small shrimps and crabs when you go to the beach in the future. Lily can just go fishing .”

The happiest thing after coming to this restaurant is Alice. In the private room with only three people, little dolls in kimonos happily wandered among the tables full of seafood dishes.

Almost more than half of the star-spotted lobster's sashimi went into that small body, where did it go?

"Hehe, Miss Tina, are you thinking about being rude? If Alice hadn't found these stupid crustaceans for Lily, Miss Tina wouldn't have been able to eat such a delicious meal."

Alice suddenly walked up to the girl, picked up a piece of takoyaki with a fork, and stretched it out to Tina's mouth.

Is this also the power brought by this kimono?

Ting Na, who was aware of her concern, had no choice but to open her mouth and bite the takoyaki.

The standard of this restaurant is very good. It can perfectly blend the original taste of the food with the taste of the condiments. Even the takoyaki served as a snack is very delicious, but... a bit hot.

"Wow--"

After enjoying the perfect taste, she quickly picked up the cup and used ice-cold water to expel the heat in her mouth. Tingna's appearance made Alice cover her mouth and smile softly.

After drinking the water in one gulp, Tingna noticed what the little doll said.

"Miss Alice helped?"

"Well, Alice in the sky can clearly see where the fish tracks, shells, sea cucumbers, shrimps and crabs are on the seabed. Thanks to Alice, Lily can get the third place."

——Is this considered cheating?

Drenched in cold sweat, looking at the smiling doll, Ting Na seemed to see a dark aura from the corner of her raised mouth.

But recently, Tina has gradually gotten used to Alice's ever-changing personality. The girl touched the doll's little head, looked at the witch who was silently fighting with a bunch of fat crabs, and considered the next itinerary.

"...By the way, Miss Liliana, why does Miss Liliana show such an expression in that tent selling swimsuits?"

As soon as I started thinking, a question popped up.

That was the second question Tina wanted to know the answer to this evening.

After signing up, I went to the tent selling swimsuits next to the fishing competition venue for the convenience of moving in the sea. When I saw a hanger full of bikinis of different styles, the petite girl was rare, and she looked like she was looking at something dirty. Dirty disgusting thing-like expression, even the tone has become disgusted.

...I hate this kind of clothing.

At that time, Miss Witch said so.

"..."

Liliana put down the fried golden and crispy crab in her hand, raised her head, her black eyes looked at Alice who was drinking the crab soup with a spoon.

"I don't think it's appropriate to talk about this matter during dinner, and besides, it makes sense for Lily to say it herself?"

"I would like to know."

Tina nodded vigorously.

Liliana has a certain degree of underwear aversion, and Tingna is more or less aware of it.

When she was in the castle, Tina had never seen her in underwear, and in the big wardrobe in the castle, the drawers with many partitions that Liliana used to store underwear, panties and socks were also empty.

From then on, Tina began to wonder if Liliana actually had some kind of hobby, but...

Now... it seems that the answer can be obtained!

"……All right."

Seeing Tina's determined gaze, Liliana was silent for a while.

"...This is what happened when I was still young..."

The narration began.

Liliana Einstein is a nobleman who has a maid in charge of food, clothing, housing and transportation. After becoming a witch, this has not changed at all.

After all, she was only 11 years old when she became a witch. Most noble ladies at this age don't know what self-reliance is.

After becoming a witch, Liliana was obsessed with the world of magic. She often stayed in the laboratory for several days. At that time, the probability of her magic experiments failing was much higher than now, and the expensive and cheap clothes hardly lasted more than a day. lifespan, and at the same time, as an alchemist, Liliana, who hated waste, simply stopped wearing clothes.

But as a nobleman, many banquets and entertainments cannot be excused by magic research.

In a rainy season, she had to leave the laboratory for such a reason and returned to her long-lost bedroom. After taking a bath, the girl who had just begun to be told to put on a corset opened the drawer under the closet, full of expectations. Get ready to pick out your first bra and panties.

But when she opened the expensive carved wood drawer, a strong stench almost made her fall over.

"...Occasionally I also hate, the witch's memory."

Liliana spoke faintly, and described to Tina the scene in the cabinet that she almost fell into.

"Well……"

And Ting Na, at this moment, finally understood how great it is to forget and blur memory.

She asked herself, if the pair is full of [self-regulation], [discomfort], [forgotten for mental health], and [disgusting] eggs, full of [girls have been forgotten] pictures Keep it in your mind for at least 60 years, what will you become?

...Probably become a staunch naturist.

"...I found out later that it was a maid who accidentally knocked over a bucket of cleaned sewage and spilled it into the drawer when cleaning the room. Because it was all expensive clothes, she concealed it for fear of being punished. I resigned before I left the lab... Since then, whenever I put on underwear or a bikini with a similar style, I will always think of that scene, and I can't forget it no matter what, so I gradually stopped wearing underwear , but if you just look at it, although it will be somewhat uncomfortable, it will not be disgusting."

After Liliana finished speaking calmly, she looked at Ting Na.

That's why she asked the salesperson to pick out a swimsuit for herself, and that was the only one that fit in the store at the time.

And Ting Na can completely understand Liliana's disgust.

At that time, except Tina herself and Liliana, all the female contestants present were wearing traditional swimsuits and bikinis.

The emergence of bikini swimwear as the mainstream of the mainland can be traced back to the prosperous Qiqiu Empire in the second era, and its prototype is undoubtedly the underwear of women in that period.

What Liliana hates is not just underwear, but a wider range - all clothes in the shape of underwear.

To put it simply, it is all clothes similar to bras and panties. This lady witch holds a disgust that she absolutely does not wear on her body.

"Also, what a nasty encounter..."

Not knowing how to continue this topic, Ting Na could only lower her head in embarrassment. However, the corner of the girl's mouth raised slightly.

This was the first time that Tina knew Miss Witch's past from Liliana.

Well, although this is really not a past worth remembering, it is better to forget it for the sake of mental health, but ah.

Tina was still a little happy.

Now, the girl sincerely thanked Elif who proposed to invite Liliana to the ceremony in her heart. If it wasn't for her, I would never have summoned up the courage to invite Liliana to the ceremony.

In that case, I will definitely not know more about Liliana, whom I usually don't see.

Like ordinary girls, she hesitates about the clothes and makeup when going out, but Liliana rushes to the appointed place by flying.

When putting on makeup for herself, Liliana warmed up the cream with the palm of her hand so that she would not be surprised by the cold touch.

Liliana in a kimono.

Liliana in a cute and seductive swimsuit.

Liliana who frankly expresses her emotions in the face of things she hates.

In the past, Liliana that I didn't know.

The festival really has a wonderful magical power. The mysterious and powerful veil shrouded in this witch girl seems to have been lifted this night, revealing the "honorary adventurer" "witch" "powerful magic" Teacher] Under all these halos, the girl named Liliana Einstein is a little bit real.

But there is much more shrouded in mist.

next.

Will I see more?

——It will definitely be.

"...Let's stop this topic here."

"Um, um, I'm sorry, I remind Miss Liliana of bad memories."

"Don't blame yourself, Ms. Tingna, anyway, every time I go to a women's clothing store, Lily will remember it to some extent, or rather, she is used to it, and as a result, her bad impression of underwear-style clothes is deeply ingrained."

"...Really, I'm sorry. After dinner, let's go to Sundae Square. Although we may not be able to catch up with the first fireworks, there will be the most shops gathered there. It is the largest night market during the Seagull Festival."

"...First fireworks?"

That is, the most grand fireworks on this night of the Seagull Festival, the first time after the fishing competition, the second time after the parade, and finally, when the whole festival came to an end in the middle of the night when the street lights were collectively extinguished, the second time Three fireworks will light up the night sky.

When I was a child, I first learned about the ancient legends drawn by magic fireworks in the night sky. That was the most magnificent scene Tina had ever seen.

"But you can't see it in this box."

In order to allow Alice to move freely, Tina purposely found a box with only one small window, and the direction of the window was wrong, so she couldn't see the gorgeous fireworks.

"...Do you want to go out and see?"

"It's okay, it's okay, there are two more times until the end of the festival."

The girl shook her head lightly.

"Now, the most important thing is to have a full stomach."

"..."

Liliana picked up the knife and fork and continued to fight the big lobster in front of her.

Not long after, when the girl was about to wipe out half of the prawn, there was a scream that shot straight into the sky in the night sky.

It was the sound of gunpowder being ignited in a narrow space and rushing up to the sky. Although it is not impossible to use magic to create gorgeous fireworks, it is better to say that it is more beautiful to get rid of the restrictions of gunpowder ingredients, and the magic power can bloom in the sky. However, in that case, the cost will become high and the production efficiency will become low.

Therefore, the scream of the gunpowder ignited and rushed to the sky became the prelude to the splendor of the fireworks.

And the explosion sounded immediately after that, it was the cheers of the sparks of magic power. Tinna and Liliana put down the knives and forks in their hands, and the little doll also turned its head to look at the only window of this box.

It's a pity that here you can only see the short-lived halos of fireworks one after another, illuminating the velvety night, but you can't see the gorgeous pictures drawn by the light and flames in the sky in a fleeting moment.

Accompanied by people's praises outside the window, what kind of scenery is it?

"It must be, a very beautiful picture."

"Alice is a little interested. Although I have watched the fireworks show many times, the cultural differences in different regions are so fascinating."

"...Yes, the fireworks here will be different from those I have seen before."

"Then, after watching the parade, let's watch the fireworks together, Miss Liliana, Miss Alice, I know there is a suitable place."

"..."

Nod, nod.

The din of the fireworks gradually subsided, Miss Witch nodded calmly, just like that, Tina felt elated.

"Then, I will definitely take Miss Liliana to have fun next time! Yes, Miss Liliana, I like books very much. In that case—"

The excited words of the girl, who was excited for a reason that the girl herself did not know, were interrupted on the way.

———Boom———! ! ! !

It was the sudden roar after the sound of fireworks gradually disappeared. It was as if inferior gunpowder was fiercely stuffed into a huge gunpowder keg, and was ignited by a violent flame while it was soaked, like a thunderbolt burning up a dark cloud.

The huge sound wave even shook the ground, the white porcelain tableware and the glass on the window rattled, and the slight ground motion made Tingna subconsciously grasp the edge of the table.

"What, what's wrong?! An earthquake?!"

The shock soon subsided.

"Miss Liliana, are you alright...?"

"……Um."

Miss Witch, who was sitting opposite, didn't change her expression because of this small earthquake, and even the soup in the bowl didn't splash out, her usual flat expression, as if she was saying that there is no need to worry about such a trivial matter.

--but.

why?

Ting Na suddenly felt a panic for no reason.

Those black eyes were so peaceful that they never left the thick, creamy seafood soup. The relaxed and peaceful air of just a moment ago was gone. Under the dim candlelight at this moment, the petite doll was sitting beside the witch. They stared at each other, without words, but seemed to be talking about something that Tina could not hear. discourse.

--Wait a moment!

He wanted to make a sound, but his throat seemed to be blocked.

He wanted to reach out to stop him, but his hands couldn't help pressing down on his chest.

"...Miss Tina."

The petite Miss Witch stood up from her chair.

"Yes, it is!"

"...I'm very sorry, but Alice and I."

Before the second dull roar that shook the earth sounded.

"I'm saying goodbye here."

Only such words echoed in the girl's mind.