Chapter 144, Wishes in Palette

Translator: Barnnn

 

The next morning dawned bright — the day of the festival.

When Ize awoke, cheerful voices drifted in from the street, the people calling to one another as they made their way toward the mountain.

The inn was some distance from the village center, but as it happened, that placed it right along the route to the mountain path.

Hal, leaning out the small window, beckoned to Fieda and Ize.

 

“Hey, look! Their clothes… they look like the wishes’ colors.”

 

The three of them squeezed together at the narrow window, peering outside. Hal was right; many passersby wore one of the four colors associated with festival wishes.

 

“In that case,” Ize said, “Hal should wear blue, Fieda green, and I’ll work in some red.”

“I think I have a short blue vest somewhere,” Hal replied.

“Green… do I even own anything like that?” Fieda muttered, already rummaging through his pack.

 

He wasn’t expecting to find any, however, as he usually wore colors that didn’t show dirt like browns and blacks.

 

“I’ve got a green hair ribbon,” Ize offered.

“No. Absolutely not.”

 

Fieda grimaced as the vivid satin ribbon peeked from Ize’s ring-shaped Magic Bag.

Ize hadn’t been serious about tying it in his hair, but it seemed he had misunderstood. Admittedly, it might look cute on him, but hardly everyone would agree. Best not to traumatize children and cause a commotion on a festival day.

 

“There are a lot of kids wearing aprons too,” Hal noted. “Probably so they don’t ruin their clothes with paint.”

“That makes sense,” Ize nodded. “Some will definitely get carried away and spill something.”

 

Hal shot her a sidelong glance, and Ize poked his cheek with a finger. “I’ll be fine,” she said, full of confidence.

 

“Well, we’re going up the mountain, so something comfortable is best,” Hal decided. “Ize, I’ll braid your hair. Call me when you’ve changed.”

“Got it. Thank you.”

 

Hal brushed his longer fringe back in mild irritation. In the end, both he and Ize had not cut their hair in Speraniessa, partly to show off their black hair in Sooryab. When the glossy strands fell across his forehead, it made his already slight frame seem even more delicate.

Once Hal was in his white shirt, blue vest, and a jacket for warmth, he looked exactly like a spoiled young master from a good family.

 

“What?” he asked, catching Ize staring.

“I was just thinking you’d make a convincing nobleman in Sooryab.”

“…That didn’t sound like a compliment.”

“It was,” she said with a faint smile.

 

When Ize finished changing, she sat so Hal could gather her hair, his hands a little rough but practiced.

Fieda entered then, wearing a jacket with green stripes.

 

“I didn’t know you owned that,” Hal said.

“It’s an old coat from Gruash,” Fieda explained. “I refused at first. Thought I’d have no use for it, you know? But he insisted I keep it, in case I need to look formal when I disguise myself as a bodyguard.”

“I see… so when we play the part of nobles, we can’t have our escort looking like an adventurer.”

“Exactly. I just didn’t expect to wear it before we even reached Sooryab.”

 

Fieda rolled his shoulders as though the fine fabric itched, but at least the jacket suited his broad frame perfectly.

 

“You know, if you trimmed your stubble, you’d have a very distinguished look,” Ize suggested. “Like a dandy gentleman.”

“‘Dandy’?” Fieda parroted.

“She means the rugged, sophisticated type,” Ize explained.

“Actually, I think you look fine as you are,” Hal argued. “Formal jacket with stubble is… a kind of deliberate mismatch that just works.”

“…I don’t get it.”

 

Fieda scratched at his goatee, unimpressed.

Ize glanced up at Hal, who was braiding with deft fingers. He must have felt her eyes on him, because his hand darted out and chopped lightly at the crown of her head.

 

“What was that for?” she protested.

“You looked like you were thinking something weird, so I drove away the evil thoughts.”

“It wasn’t weird,” she said, pouting. “I was just thinking you have amazingly smooth skin.”

“That’s only because I can’t grow a heavy beard,” he grumbled. “Though since coming here, it feels like it’s gotten… even sparser…”

 

Hal stroked his jaw as if the absence of hair were a personal failing.

 

“All right, if you’re done, then let’s go,” Fieda said. “I hear there are stalls even on the way to the mountain.”

“Ooh, then we definitely have to look! Just a minute more!” Hal said, tying the braid off neatly and securing it with a hairpin.

“Yes, let’s!” Ize added.

 

For today, Ize had chosen a skirt patterned with tiny red blossoms. Too early for spring, perhaps, but it was perfect for the festival.

 

“Looks good,” Hal said, inspecting her overall appearance.

“Thanks,” she replied with a shy smile.

 

They joined Fieda at the door, and the three of them left the inn together.

 

◆

 

The walk to the old mining site took about thirty minutes at a steady pace… but of course, they didn’t keep one. Shops lined both sides of the road at comfortable intervals, selling everything from trinkets to goods far too large for a traveler to carry. Ize quickly realized many stalls offered delivery or storage for purchases. One even displayed a hunk of ore so massive it could only serve as decoration in a noble’s estate.

Some stalls were run by merchants from other towns — a welcome addition, since their journey to Sooryab wouldn’t allow many detours.

 

“This basket’s woven from a Mystic Plant,” Ize read from a sign. “It’s supposed to repel insects… perfect for serving bread.”

“Interesting…” Hal said, reading from the item’s Appraisal window. “Looks like it actually works.”

“Hey,” Fieda called, “what about this? Looks like it’d keep bugs out if we fitted it over the windows in the Container House.”

 

He held up a fine mesh of woven cloth. Ize could already imagine summer evenings with the windows open, free from pests.

 

“That’s a great idea,” she said. “It’s awful when you can’t open the windows in the heat.”

 

Knowing that this would also actually work, they bought enough for twice their number of windows before continuing on their way. Their slow progress meant it took over an hour to reach the last cluster of stalls, which sold locally made trinkets.

Ize’s gaze snagged on one in particular.

 

“Could we stop and look at that one?” she asked.

“Hmm? Sure,” Hal said.

 

The display was filled with hairpins and necklaces. Hal stood beside her, scanning the selection.

 

“These look good for daily wear,” he observed.

“They’re lovely,” Ize agreed. “The one Miss Elene gave me is so fine I feel guilty wearing it casually.”

“Didn’t one of her fans gift it to her based on her image?” Hal asked. “You’re not quite the same type.”

 

It was true; Elene had a mature, graceful beauty, whereas Ize still had years of change ahead of her. The ornate hairpin Elene had chosen for her was gorgeous, but hardly something she could clip in without a special occasion.

 

“Hal, do you know how to use this one?” Ize asked, pointing to a hair ornament.

 

If she bought it, she’d need him to arrange her hair for it, so his approval mattered.

 

“I think I’ll manage,” Hal said. “Actually, it suits your hair the way it is today. You could even use it like a kanzashi.”

 

It was what was known in Japan as a majesté, a hair ornament shaped like a cross between a traditional kanzashi rod and a barrette.

Hal picked it up and held it against Ize’s hair. The shop clerk immediately handed her a small mirror.

 

“You’ve got beautiful hair, li’l miss! I bet you’d look good in anything.”

 

The clerk, still smiling, laid out a few more pieces similar to the one Hal was holding.

 

“Oh, wait,” Hal said, pointing to one of the new ones. “Isn’t that the festival’s color?”

 

This particular majesté had tiny stones in four different colors, set in a neat, even pattern across the barrette-like piece.

 

“Sure is,” the clerk said. “It’s the most popular design during the festival. Surely no one would mind if you wear all four colors, even if you paint the mountain with just one, hmm?”

“Yeah, makes sense,” Hal said, turning to Ize. “Oh… sorry, you should pick whatever you like.”

“I was actually interested in that one too,” she replied.

 

She took the hair ornament from Hal and gently tilted it back and forth in her hands. The four little stones caught the light and gleamed softly.

 

“It’s so pretty.”

“Seems like a nice keepsake from the festival,” Hal remarked.

“I think so too,” Fieda agreed.

 

Encouraged by both of them, Ize stepped forward and held the ornament out toward the clerk.

 

“I’ll take this one.”

“Thanks, li’l miss. Though… shouldn’t your boyfriend be buying it for you?”

“Ah… well, you’re not wrong,” Hal admitted with a sheepish shrug. “But wait, I’m not her–”

“Why? I want to buy it myself,” Ize said.

“Listen, li’l miss. When it comes to things like this, you let the man pay,” the clerk insisted, giving a little wink.

“Maybe, but… if it’s something I want, I’d rather pay for it myself.”

 

Ize stood her ground. Hal understood her well enough not to argue, stepping back without pressing the matter. The clerk, seeing that a sale was a sale, cheerfully took the money.

As Ize chatted with the clerk a moment longer, something in a nearby stall caught Hal’s eye. He glanced at Ize to make sure she was distracted, then leaned toward Fieda and whispered to him.

 

“Hey, there’s something I want to get over at that shop.”

“So we’re going there next?” Fieda asked.

“Nah, I’ll go now. I’d rather keep it a secret.”

 

Fieda tilted his head, curious. Then, reading the intended message from Hal’s silently moving lips, he arched one brow with a knowing smirk.

 

“All right. Just make sure you pull it off.”

 

Hal’s eyes and mouth narrowed in a faint smile.

 

◆

 

At the foot of the mountain lay a wide square. By the time the entire mountainside was painted, food stalls and drink stands would line the space.

The festival’s highlight, people said, was eating and drinking here while gazing at the mountain blooming with painted flowers.

Ize’s heart skipped with excitement at the sight of the stalls being assembled.

 

“It’s like flower-viewing back in Japan,” she said.

“Yeah. You’d be more interested in the food than the flowers, though,” Hal teased.

“You’re one to talk,” she shot back.

“Excuse you! A supply manager needs an artistic sense, too. How else could I have meaningful conversations with artists?”

She eyed him skeptically. “You know… that actually might not be entirely untrue.”

“And why do you sound doubtful?” Hal protested.

 

They wandered among the half-built stalls, with Ize peering eagerly at the setups while Hal’s eyes drifted to the ingredients laid out behind them, imagining what dishes might be served.

Fieda followed at a slower pace.

 

“I HAVE heard about Japanese flower-viewing before… but is it just looking at flowers?”

“Technically, yeah,” Hal said. “Though to be more precise, it usually means sitting under cherry blossoms in April.”

“Only one kind of flower?”

“Now that you mention it… yeah,” Ize said. “It’s basically synonymous with cherry blossoms. Probably because they’re the most famous flowers of spring.”

“There’s probably some history behind that,” Hal added. “I remember walking along rivers lined with thousands of them. When the petals catch the wind, they fill the air and cover the water… it’s so beautiful it leaves you speechless.”

 

His voice grew softer, almost a whisper. Something in it made Ize’s chest ache.

That springtime scene… they would never see it again. The endless haze of pale pink against a clear blue sky, the green riverbanks carpeted with the yellow of blooming canola. Sometimes nostalgia welled up so sharply it was almost painful.

 

“…I wonder which Hero first came up with this festival,” Fieda murmured, glancing up at the mountain.

 

The idea of flower-viewing was foreign to someone from Lazulseed like him, but for the two from another world, the thought came instantly and in unison.

Hal and Ize both looked at the waiting mountain, as if they could almost see the wish of some long-ago Hero lingering there.