Chapter 14: "Participate in a talent contest."

 In the blue sky, I float and move leisurely.

Ah, it's like I am a cloud.

A cloud, huh?

At first, I was flying using Silver Magic's "Flight," but "Flight" magic requires concentration. If concentration is broken, the magic disappears, and I fall. I nearly died. MP is also rapidly consumed, and it's tiring. Long-distance travel was tough.

On the contrary, "Levitation" was easy. If I want to go somewhere, I just think about it, and I naturally move in that direction. No MP consumption. It's leisurely, and the wind feels pleasant.

So, even though the speed is slow, I was floating and progressing in a completely relaxed, lying-down posture in the sky.

Ahh, I'm sleepy. I'm thinking of just sleeping, but I'm resisting since I don't know what might happen.

It's good weather. When I close my eyes, the warmth of the sunlight is just right.

Ah, Ashis-sama. I'm floating.

I'm doing my job properly.

The last journey we went on together was fun.

I'm on a journey again.

Sometime, let's travel together again.

— Sometime again.

From somewhere, from afar, I heard Ashis-sama's voice. It was a gentle voice. Maybe it's just my imagination.

"...This world is really nice, Ashis-sama. There were unpleasant people, but it's a beautiful, good world."

Oh no, I'm getting really sleepy.

I shook my head and decided to look down towards the ground.

Oh.

There's a fortress city!

I descended enough to see it properly.

People are gathered in the square.

I wonder what's happening?

I "Translucent" to get closer and—

It's a festival!

Many food stalls and a stage.

Yahoo!

I landed on the ground and dispelled "Translucent" in the shade of a tree.

A delicious aroma wafts from the stalls.

Let's start exploring the stalls right away.

Deer meat skewers look delicious!

Mushroom soup has a rich fragrance!

It seems there is an abundance of blessings; the mountain's bounty is plentiful.

Should I buy something? I have some money.

But, I only have a little.

Oh.

There's grilled corn!

I used to like it a lot...

"Hey, you."

Hmm.

But, I should endure...

"Hey, you."

Ah, it looks so good.

People eating happily.

"Hey, you!"

"Hm?"

I turned around when my shoulder was grabbed, and there was a red-haired girl in a neatly tailored simple dress. She's cute but has a somewhat spirited look.

"Me?"

"Jeez, I've been calling you for a while now."

"I didn't know."

"I know! I mean, you're going to participate too, right? Since we seem to be rivals, I thought I'd introduce myself as a lady!"

"For what?"

"In the talent contest's underage category. You're entering, right?"

"No."

"Not participating?"

"Yeah."

"So you won't?"

"Yeah."

Sheesh.

After being dragged along, I was forcibly entered into the talent contest by the girl.

"Now we're rivals! I'm Angelica Fawn. You can call me Ange!"

Hey, Ange.

What now?

"Aren't we going to be rivals?! I'm doing this for you to properly greet me as a lady!"

"For what?"

"For the talent contest. What will you do?"

"What's the contest about?"

"Singing, dancing, and presenting your favorite skills. I have a bit of magic; I can use magic already. I'll show you during the contest. You'll be surprised!"

"Did you learn that at school?"

"Nuh-uh. I'm only 11. I'll be going to the Imperial Capital Academy next year. My grandpa taught me."

"Oh."

"I'm the best magician in this town, the water magic genius, and the granddaughter of the great priest of the spirits, Lars Fawn!'

"I see."

"...You don't know about my grandpa?"

"I just arrived in this town earlier."

"I see. Where did you come from?"

"The capital."

"Really! Kuu is from the capital! Nice to meet you! We should become friends! I'll be going to the capital next year, to the Imperial Central Academy!'

"Yeah. I'll guide you when you come."

"Thank you! I'm so happy!"

Such energy.

Yeah.

She's a very energetic girl.

She grabbed my hand, shook it vigorously, and it hurt.

In any case, schools start from the age of 12. Emily-chan is 8, so even if she goes, it's still a long way off. I wonder if Princess Sera attends.

By the way, this place is called Fortress City Ale. It's ruled by Duke Rosen, the second-largest city after the Imperial Capital Fanas.

Now then.

So, I ended up participating in the contest.

I'm waiting in the tent.

We drew lots to determine the order, and I'm number 16.

I'm the last.

Ange is number 15.

One before me.

The venue is lively.

You can see the stage from the tent.

The girl who's number 1 is stepping lively.

What should I do?

"Hey, what's the capital like? There are a lot of people there, right?"

"Sorry, I'm thinking. I need to decide what to do."

"Hurry up and decide!"

"It's impossible to decide all of a sudden."

"Geez."

I want to avoid standing out too much. But if I'm participating, I want to surprise them a bit. Fortunately, being the last gives me some time.

I opened the menu from the user interface and checked various items.

Is there anything interesting? Ah, this should work.

I found something good.

Emotes.

When executed, my body moves automatically, showcasing various movements. It became popular for learning dances or martial arts forms.

However, just regular dances or forms lack excitement.

This is it.

Decision made.

I asked one of the organizers if they had a sword, even a wooden one would do. The guy was nice. Although there were guards in the square, they couldn't lend a real sword to a child. So, he ran to the adventurer's guild and borrowed a wooden sword for me. Thanks.

"Hmm, so you're going to compete with my magic using a sword?"

"Yeah."

"Can you swing a sword?"

"I'm good with a light one."

"Since I'm after you, sorry if it doesn't get lively."

"Hehe. We'll see."

"You seem confident. I love that! I'm looking forward to it."

Now, it's Ange's turn.

"I'll show you that I'm not just a pretty girl!"

Ange confidently stepped onto the stage.

"Do your best!"

"Leave it to me!"

Exciting.

After all, it's my first time seeing magic in this world. Magicians seem to be rare.

"Now, next up is Entry Number 15! The granddaughter of that Fawn priest! Angelica Fawn, 11 years old! And today, she will showcase fire magic! I've never seen it before, so let's have high expectations! Please go ahead!"

The lively host introduced Ange.

"Everyone, watch! My magic!"

Ange took a wand from her belt, held it in both hands in front of her chest, and closed her eyes.

"—Oh magical power within me. Flow forth from within me, become the power of fiery flames. Syl Ilmesia Sol Freys. Appear! Shine! Fire Arrow!"

Ange thrust the wand forward.

Wow.

An arrow of fire generated from the wand's tip flew into the sky. The audience was excited.

"Thank you!"

Ange waved to the crowd, gracefully bowed, and returned to the tent.

I welcomed her with applause.

"How was it?"

"I saw magic for the first time."

"Hehe. Amazing, right?"

"Yeah. So, you chant a spell."

"Yes. Concentrate the mind, gather the magical power within the body, and then shape it into a form with a predetermined spell and release it outward."

"There's a proper reason for it."

Thinking about it, my magic doesn't have any reasoning.

Now then, it's my turn.

I'm called and step onto the stage.

The large audience is waiting.

"Now, the last to appear is a guest from the capital! The girl with sky-blue hair! Kuu-chan, 11 years old! Today, she will showcase a skill using a sword! Looking forward to it!"

Many eyes are on me, making me more nervous than I thought.

"Um, I'm Kuu. Nice to meet you."

If I were doing it myself, I might have become too stiff, but this time, since I'm just executing an emote, it's a piece of cake.

Execute.

With the edge down, I stood the wooden sword on the stage. I jumped. I landed on the handle faster than the sword could fall. Both arms raised to the sky, frozen.

Staying in that position, I jumped again, turned around, and this time, balanced on the handle in a handstand position. I extended the other arm to the side, slowly spreading both legs into a V-shape!

How about that!

A favorite street performance emote.

Hehe.

The venue is silent, but everyone seems surprised.

I understand.

"That Kuu-chan...?"

The host next to me speaks.

"What a performance!"

"Right! The girl with shorts was great!"

"Shorts girl!"

"Shorts girl!"

Stop it.

Next on stage, the adult division begins.

We disband after this.

"Hey, I'll treat you with the prize money. Let's go to a cafe."

Is it okay?

Yeah, let's go without hesitation.

My hand is taken, and I follow.

"Ah, it's Shorts Girl."

Hey, kid!

Don't point fingers!

"Hey, aren't you more famous now than when you won?"

Don't say that.

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