Spring had finally arrived!
I stepped outside, my spirits a bit higher than usual. The air was still chilly, but there was no doubt about it—it was spring.
I offered a greeting to Zabuton as she stirred from her sleep. She seemed just as excited as I was; her steps were noticeably lighter than usual. I knew exactly why. At her request, I stood still while she measured me for a fitting. I just hoped I hadn't put on too much weight over the winter. Fortunately, I seemed to be in the clear.
Zabuton’s high spirits were fueled by the upcoming Spring Parade. I had personally hoped to end the event after last year, but that wasn't to be. Several people had started preparing for the next one the moment the last one ended, with Zabuton leading the charge. She was making costumes for nearly every villager—a monumental task. She had put in a final push during the autumn to finish them, and now she was working with Zabuton's Children on the final size adjustments.
I was also aware that the Mountain Elves were secretly building a yagura, and that the residents of Village One, Village Two, Village Three, and Village Four were regularly practicing their marching. I had decided to stop resisting. The Spring Parade was now a regular fixture of village life, and accepting it was better for my peace of mind. Besides, it provided a nice balance alongside the Summer Festival and the Autumn Martial Arts Tournament.
I decided to wrap up any work I could before the festivities kicked off. I told the Mountain Elves to wait a bit longer before assembling the yagura; once that was visible, all hope for a serious meeting would vanish. I asked the High Elves to practice their music elsewhere for the same reason. I also warned the High Ogre Maids not to overfeed the children with their trial dishes and asked the Dwarves if it was really necessary to start "tasting" the sake first thing in the morning. I had to keep everyone focused.
The fitting took place that night. The outfit was as extravagant as a nobleman’s, predominantly white with accents of red and gold. It featured a jet-black cloak with four poles protruding from the back. The poles had joints and could bend; once Zabuton adjusted them, I realized they were meant to represent her legs. Since I already had four limbs, I suppose that completed the set of eight. It was a costume modeled after Zabuton herself.
Zabuton’s Children danced happily at the sight, but Kuro and his kin set up a chorus of protest from behind them. It seemed they felt it was unfair for the outfit to be spider-themed. Zabuton gestured for them to stay calm. She removed the cloak and added fur components along with a helmet shaped like a horned wolf’s head. When I looked in a polished iron mirror, a white-clad werewolf stared back. It looked cool, though I wondered if my face was in the way. Given how vigorously Kuro and the others were wagging their tails, however, it seemed there was no issue. I promised to pet them later.
Zabuton then showed me that the outfit had various interchangeable parts. Next was a pair of five-meter-wide white cloths that spread out like wings. It reminded me of a certain singer from the year-end music specials back home, famous for elaborate stage costumes. I felt just like them. The outfit underwent seven different transformations in total. Now that I’d embraced the parade, Zabuton was no longer holding back.
A few days passed, and the parade was scheduled for the day after tomorrow. Participants from the other villages were already gathering, and the atmosphere felt like an eve festival. The Lamia Race from the Southern Dungeon and the Giant Race from the Northern Dungeon had arrived some time ago. Given the distance, they must have started traveling as soon as the winter snows began to melt. I appreciated the sentiment, but I didn't want them to overexert themselves. I planned to schedule next year's parade a bit later.
We had rushed it this year because Malbit and her group wanted to attend. While I didn't mind them staying as long as they liked, Kierbit mentioned that if Malbit didn't return home soon, things would get "scary" in several ways. Rigne also decided to stay until after the parade. Ria and the others remained stoic at the news; they knew their training would be harsh regardless of how they reacted.
Yoko, the representative of Village Five, eventually stepped in to help. Since Rigne and Yoko had hit it off, Rigne agreed to go to Village Five toward the end of winter to train the Elves there. I heard rumors that Ria’s group sent a massive amount of sake to Yoko’s room as a thank-you for the diversion. Even so, the High Elves weren't entirely free; training continued here, and some were sent to Village Five as assistant instructors.
I asked Rigne if she was comfortable training the Elves of the Elf Empire given their history. She told me she didn't hold a grudge against the descendants of those who betrayed her. Meanwhile, Galf and Daga also joined her training sessions. They found her methods very logical and effective since she tailored the drills to their specific racial physiology rather than forcing them to follow the High Elf regimen. I still didn't want to join in myself—just watching was enough to tell me how grueling it was.
Next year, the parade will wait until after the spring planting. This time was an exception. With Dos and the Demon King arriving, the eve festival only grew more boisterous. It’s just a parade, but seeing everyone this excited makes me wonder if the village needs more entertainment. I’ll have to think on that.
Alfred: Born Spring of Year 7 (8 years old) Tiselle: Born Autumn of Year 7 (Turning 8 in autumn) Lilius: Born Summer of Year 9 (6 years old) Rigul: Born Summer of Year 9 Ratte: Born Summer of Year 9 Torain: Born Summer of Year 9 Hiichiro: Born Autumn of Year 10 Fracia (Fraciabel): Born Winter of Year 11 Sette: Born Spring of Year 12 Lananon: Born Summer of Year 12 Urza: Approx. 5 years old in Autumn of Year 9 (Currently approx. 11) Nart: Approx. 4 years old in Autumn of Year 9 (Currently approx. 10) Gral: Looks approx. 5 years old in Autumn of Year 10 (Dragon, so actually much older) Three Beastman Boys: Approx. 3–4 years old in Autumn of Year 6 (Currently 12–13) Lupumirina: Born Autumn of Year 14 Aurora: Born Autumn of Year 14 Two High Elf Children: Born Autumn of Year 14 Three Mountain Elf Children: Born Autumn of Year 14 Two Beastman Race Children: Born Autumn of Year 14