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Now that we had finalized the setup of the winter solstice festival, I offered to help out but was turned down on the pretext that I, as the ruler of the
<Forest of the Creation Witch>
, should sit this one out.The most I did was practice the ceremonial dance during my free time when we didn't have any other work or used
<Creation Magic>
to create communication magic tools that would relay the image of the festival to each village.The days trickled down like a water stream and soon, the day of the winter solstice festival was upon us.
The rows of pumpkin dishes — made from the pumpkins we had distributed a few days earlier — gave a unique presence as the winter solstice festival buzzed with liveliness from the morning.
This was also the moment when many couples decided to tie the knot of marriage in various villages during the festivities, holding group weddings.
Even in the main venue of the festival, where the representatives and those with certain status had gathered, several weddings took place.
"Congratulations. May you live a happy life for years to come."
"Congratulations-nanodesu!"
"Thank you, Majou-sama, Teto-sama."
Teto and I gave our congratulatory words one by one to the many demonic race couples as they lined up on the stone platform prepared for the festival, all of this being broadcast to each village through the help of communication magic tools.
Among the group weddings at this festival, there was also the Dragon-Demon Yahada standing with a strained face next to a woman of the same race, attracting the gazes of those around him.
There had been an unfortunate incident this year when the Elder of the Demon-Dragon race had fallen into eternal slumber, so in an attempt to dispel the lingering cloud of sadness, the topic of Yahada's marriage, as the next Chief of their race, came out.
We passed our heartfelt congratulations to all the newly married couples present at the main venue and all the other couples in the villages through the communication magic tools. After that, we all relished the festival dishes with everyone.
Aside from pumpkin, there were also dishes made from the giant bird monster meat that Dragon Grandpa had specially hunted down from afar earlier that day.
With slight pauses in between, many dance routines and choir singing were performed on the platform which were all broadcasted to all the other villages. While it might not be a normal sight, the festival where the people relished delicious dishes and boosted their own spirits to face the winter ahead was still the same everywhere.
After the main venue's group weddings were over, the stone platform was transformed into an arena for the afternoon.
<This is Eina of the maid corp, the hostess of the arena, speaking. Am I clear to Baretta-sama at the main venue?>
<This is Baretta from the main venue. You're loud and clear. Please proceed with the explanation.>
Baretta and Eina, the hostess of the tournament from the maid corp, started explaining about the afternoon event through the amplification and communication magic tools above the platform.
<How do you do, everyone? Now, we are going to hold a contest to decide who is the strongest individual worthy of protecting the
<Forest of the Creation Witch>
and Majou-sama! With each of them being formidable fighters from their respective races who had come out on top of the preliminary rounds, who would be the one to take the seat of the Four Heavenly Kings!? Stay tuned to find out!>"Huh, what in the world are the four heavenly kings? I don’t think I created such a system......"
<Master, it's the name given by the residents. Excluding you, who is obviously at the top, they have come to the tournament to decide on the fourth strongest individual after the three unmovable powerhouses— Teto-sama, Elder Dragon, and I, the head maid.>
"The strongest four......"
I unconsciously repeated Baretta's words.
Depending on how one perceived it, I may as well be the demon king who ruled over the demonic races. So those around me and protecting me, like Teto and others, were indeed qualified to be called something like the four heavenly kings.
In contrast to the other three, who were holders of power that was beyond any mortal, this tournament was to decide the 4th heavenly king from among the residents. But how should I say this? The only thing that came to mind after hearing about it was the phrase— 'Kukuku, look, that guy is the only puny mortal among the four heavenly kings'.
"It sounds fun so Teto also wanted to participate, but what a pity~!"
"W, Well, let's focus on the arena. We wouldn't want any injuries on the day of the festival."
<The match format is the 1vs1 tournament style, decided by none other than the contestants who had passed the preliminary rounds! All the contestants have been equipped with magic tools that transfer any damage received to the user's mana, so the winner would be decided if the opponent faints, surrenders, falls out of the arena, or under the judge's discretion! Well then, let us begin with the first round— Start!>
" "——Haaaaaaa!" "
A werewolf and a centaur, both male, appeared on the stage for the first round raising their war cries as they followed up with their respective moves.
The broadcasted image by the communication magic tools always captured the fights from the perfect angle, which hyped up the spectators. But when their words, along with their war cries, reached my ears, it left me stunned.
<This is my power, my power to show that Majou-sama can leave this place to us without any worries!>
<The one to show it will be meeee! I won't tolerate being a burden to Majou-sama!>
Uttering these words, the two followed with hand-chop strikes and swung their spears at each other. I looked at them and then glanced at Teto and Baretta sitting next to me.
However, neither of them explained anything to me and just giggled. Meanwhile, the fight on the stage continued with contestants replacing one after another.
The Dragon-Demon, Minotaur, and Oni races displayed their overwhelming physical strength, the Angel and Devil races fought by escaping into the air and firing the magic from their vantage point, and the Arachne and Druids fought by ingeniously using their threads or plants. As each showed their own way of fighting, there was one thing common for all of them— their war cry and the speech between the fighting were all about me.
<I will show we are not just little hatchlings that Majou-sama needs to bother herself to take care of!> <I will never let a shade of sadness appear on Majou-sama's face! I will kill this pathetic self of mine if it threatens to hinder her!> <We will never accept being the shackles that tie down Majou with obligation because of our weak selves!> <That person has already shown us the way, now we will pave the path ourselves! We aren't going to become a burden to her! What that person seeks is freedom! We will protect that freedom! We aren't going to let ourselves be spoiled by her kindness!>
Words like these came from their mouths as their battles ensued. Amid the fierce battles and the words being exchanged, I was in shock. Suddenly, a shadow stretched behind me. When I turned around, Dragon Grandpa was looking down at me.
"Dragon Grandpa, this is......"
<It just means everyone holds Majou-dono dear. The diligent Majou-dono who faces the residents earnestly, praying for their happy lives—>
But Dragon Grandpa cut his words there.
<The people here similarly wish for Majou-dono's happiness. Majou-dono was the one who accepted the immigrants and the refugees, never skimping on showering us with her care. So we have inevitably become concerned about the melancholic expression that occasionally appeared on Majou-dono's face as if eyeing something far away from her grasp.>
Hearing his words, I stroked my face. Did I have such an expression? Though I wasn't aware of it, maybe it was something I did unconsciously.
I took a moment to reflect on myself and found my true feelings.
"Perhaps, because I wanted to travel again. Traveling to unexplored, strange places, and seeing things I have never seen before. I want to put the knowledge I've gained in this land into practice."
In the beginning, Teto and I wandered here and there in search of a place we could call our home. And now, we had the
<Forest of the Creation Witch>
that would forever be a place we would want to come back to, along with the people we must protect.I managed to find a home and did what I had always wanted to do— read tons of books to my heart's content and amass a wealth of knowledge.
To put that knowledge into practice, I wanted to walk down the road myself to look and see with my own eyes, to experience with my own hands, and to test out my abilities.
"What indulgent flights of fancy, no? When I was traveling, my heart was always seeking a place to return to. Now that my wish has been granted for over a decade now, my selfish heart once again dreams of another journey."
It has already been over a decade since I had finished cultivating this land and as it gained its new name—
<Forest of the Creation Witch>
. Nevertheless, this was a place filled with never-ending charm that never made me feel I was missing anything.However, there were still a multitude of enchanting places far into the distance, each with its own charm. I smile in mockery of myself, at my accursed thoughts that dreamt of other places and sought journeys as I imagined what they looked like.
<That much flight of fancy is just right for young ones.>
"What are you saying, Dragon Grandpa? I'm already an 80-year-old grandma."
<Fuhahaha, but you are still a youngster— no, no more than a child for me who has lived for tens of millennia. It's still too early for you to be bound to one thing.>
Dragon Grandpa burst out in laughter as he chatted with me staring at the ongoing tournament. His smile seemed infectious and I found myself chuckling as well.
<As your sworn friend, I will protect this land. I would like to see who would dare to covet the land of an Ancient Dragon, though there shouldn't be anyone like that anymore.>
No matter how attractive or divine a treasure was, there shouldn't be anyone dreaming of snatching it from an Ancient Dragon, the world's strongest species— I chuckled at the thought.
<Elder Dragon will be here to deter anyone from trying to lay their hands on this place. I and the maid corps around me will also be here to manage the land. So, Master, you need not to pay it any heed.>
There might come a time when I would leave for another journey— it was for this reason that I went with the parliamentary system, gathering the representatives of each race and keeping myself out of the loop so that they could manage the land even in my absence.
Besides, I wasn't leaving for the journey because I had grown tired of this place. My dream was just to travel to unfamiliar lands and experience things unique only to those places for no more than a month or two. And the residents here supported my wishes by showing that they weren't some capsized boat on the sea who couldn't take care of themselves.
With the treatment and supplement of mana potions from the Lamias, who were in charge of tending to the injured contestants, the contestants fought with each other at their full power and the tournament proceeded.
And in the last act——
——Screeech!
<This is the potential of an A-rank Adventurer! I hope you aren't going to embarrass yourself by underestimating me!>
The final battle took place between a Griffon, the representative of the mythical beasts, and the Elf Refrya, as they fought each other valiantly.
<Are you seeing this, Chise? You occasionally showed the same expression I had when I wanted to leave my village! If you want to travel, just damned go for it! I will make sure to keep this place safe in your absence!>
'Also, go ahead and stir things up as you wish, like what you did at the orphanage during our travels', Refrya continued, saying some not-so-good slanders. Though it unconsciously brought a smile to my lips.
<Huh, wait— hold on! This is the moment you should forfeit for god's sake! — Kyaa!?>
<------Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrru!>
The battle between the A-rank Adventurer Refrya and the mythical beast Griffon continued. However, high-ranking mythical beasts weren't something that a person could fight solo.
With a charge attack from the Griffon, Refrya fell out of the arena, declaring the Griffon the overall victor amid its victorious roar.
The residents and mythical beasts gathered for the Winter Solstice Festival each applauded the Griffon's victory.
They would continue to protect this place even in my absence. I could see this promise from the Griffon.
In fact, it seemed as if they wanted me to travel instead, and eagerly anticipated me finding new people, mythical beasts, knowledge, and techniques to bring back and change this place for the better.
"Teto also wants to leave for another journey with Majou-sama!"
"Yes, of course. Go ahead and stir things up as you wish, like you did at the orphanage during our travels."
The
<Forest of the Creation Witch>
was no longer just another place, but my hometown. I guess I was like a bird who had enough rest on the branch of a tree, and now, she was feeling the pull of distant horizons.But before that, I awarded the victor of this tournament, the Griffon, by putting a belt inlaid with Adamantite medals that I had created earlier on its neck.
I had initially created them as a sort of reward that could be later exchanged for other items of convenience but that purpose was useless for the victorious Griffon, so instead I turned the Adamantite belt into a magic tool by embedding a mana stone into the hollowed part and enchanting it with a Natural Recovery Up spell.
By the time the tournament ended, the sun had begun to gradually set.
Today's ordeal once again convinced me to leave for the journey, but before that, I had to make sure this Winter Solstice Festival was able to achieve its purpose.
Editor's note - Imagine using those cringed lines as warcries during fights. Hilarious. But a pretty sweet chapter overall