[Scene: Festival Grounds – Yuuta's POV]
I opened the paper—and I swear, my brain just froze.
They actually wrote this?
I glanced up at the crowd. There they were—Erza and Elena, both waving at me, completely oblivious to the mental crisis I was currently experiencing.
My heart raced. I panicked. My palms were sweaty, knees weak, arms heavy... Okay, maybe not that bad, but you get the idea.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to think.
Come on, Yuuta, you've been through worse. Remember that time you accidentally called Erza "cute" in front of a whole group of her demon generals? Yeah, this should be nothing compared to that.
Then, like a flash of divine inspiration (or maybe just pure desperation), an idea hit me.
Without wasting another second, I strode straight toward the stands where Erza and Elena were.
Elena tilted her head as I approached, her bright eyes full of curiosity.
"Papa? Why are you here?"
I crouched down and tried to sound confident. "Papa needs your help to win a game."
"Yaaay!" she cheered, throwing both hands up like she'd just been selected for a magical girl transformation sequence.
I scooped her up onto my shoulders like a proud dad at a theme park. She let out a squeal of joy, gripping my hair like she was riding a battle horse into glory.
Erza crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing like a suspicious cat.
"What are you doing here, mortal? You're supposed to be on the field, not playing family time."
I ignored her, took a deep breath, leaned down, and before she could react, scooped her up into a full bridal carry.
"What—!?" Her face instantly turned crimson. "W-What do you think you're doing, you fool?! Put me down! This is embarrassing!"
I just grinned like an idiot and started walking back toward the judge's stand. Erza's hands instinctively clutched my shirt, her face now redder than a fire truck.
The crowd fell into stunned silence for a moment, then erupted into chaotic cheers, whistles, and camera flashes. I even heard some girl scream, "This is just like a romance anime!"
And, of course, Kaito, that attention-loving Art Club guy, popped up with his phone, already livestreaming.
"Oh my god, guys! Yuuta is carrying his wife and daughter across the field like some kind of heroic anime dad! Is this the legendary family man power we've been hearing about?!"
I finally reached the judge's table. Elena was still giggling on my shoulders, while Erza looked like she was about to explode from a mix of embarrassment and sheer rage.
The judge raised an eyebrow, clearly struggling to keep a straight face.
I handed it over with one hand, still balancing my giggling daughter and glaring wife.
Elena pumped her fists.
"Papa, I'm so tall now! I'm taller than Mama!"
I chuckled, despite the fact that I might not survive Erza's inevitable wrath.
The judge unfolded the paper, glanced at it, then looked up at me with an impressed smile. He leaned into the mic.
"Well played, Yuuta. Didn't know you had this kind of guts." He cleared his throat.
"Everyone, for those curious... the slip he picked said, 'Valuable treasure.'"
I managed a sheepish grin.
"That's right. My most valuable treasure... is my wife and my child."
People clapped, whistled, and some even wiped tears from their eyes like they'd just watched the finale of a heartwarming drama. I spotted a few girls clutching their chests like they'd just seen their favorite ship go canon.
Erza, now glowing redder than a warning light, squirmed out of my grasp. She took a deep, trembling breath, clenched her fists, and then—
"Ow! What was that for?!"
"You absolute idiot! What kind of stunt was that?! Are you trying to humiliate me in front of the whole school?!"
Everyone burst into even louder laughter, some students nearly falling off their seats.
Elena, still on my shoulders, clapped her hands and cheered.
"Yay! Mama is so strong! Papa, you lost!"
I sighed, rubbing my sore arm, but deep down, I couldn't stop smiling.
Tch. This mortal only knows how to show off in front of others... How embarrassing.
I crossed my arms, glancing at Yuuta as he chatted animatedly with his friends, completely oblivious to the heat creeping up my cheeks. Honestly, how can he act so shamelessly in public?
But then, something sharp pricked my senses—a flicker of magic, faint but unmistakable, coming from the college road. My eyes narrowed.
I whipped my head in the direction of the energy. It shimmered faintly above the pavement, a soft, ethereal glow. Without another thought, I rushed toward it, pushing past a cluster of students.
The glow coalesced into a figure—Sister Mary, dressed in her usual saintly robes. She stood at the center of the light, her head bowed, hands clasped in silent prayer.
I skidded to a halt, confusion and suspicion swirling in my mind.
Did she use magic... to draw attention of me?
Before I could demand an explanation, she lifted her head and met my eyes. Slowly, she reached up and pulled away her blindfold, revealing eyes that shimmered like the purest emeralds. Her pointed ears twitched slightly as they caught the whisper of the wind.
I stiffened, my mind racing. She's from the Verdant Tribe, the elusive guardians of the Gredo Dragon region.
She dropped to one knee, bowing deeply.
"Oh, Your Highness... forgive me for not recognizing you at once."
I crossed my arms tighter, my eyes narrowing.
"What are you doing here? Why are you disguised as a human, living among them? This is no place for an Elf, especially one of your standing."
She hesitated, her gaze flicking up to meet mine before quickly lowering again.
"My highness... I am Mary Magdalen of the Verdant Tribe. I was sent here on a mission."
"A mission? By whom?"
Her shoulders tensed.
"I cannot reveal his name... I swore an oath. But please, believe me, my intentions are pure."
I stepped closer, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
She bit her lip, her eyes shimmering with a mix of fear and loyalty.
"Yes, Your Highness."
I felt a chill creep into my veins, but before I could press her further—
A gunshot cracked through the air, slicing through the tense silence like a blade. My heart clenched.
Screams erupted from all sides. Panic rippled through the crowd, students scattering like startled birds.
My head snapped toward the sound, and my breath caught in my throat.
He stood frozen, blood spreading across his chest, staining his shirt a deep, horrifying crimson. His eyes were wide, pupils red with shock. In his arms... was Sam, his body limp, blood dripping from his side.
Yuuta's hand trembled as he tried to keep his friend from collapsing, his fingers slick with fresh blood.
No... What just happened...?