Morning arrived. The parade commenced the moment the sun broke over the horizon. The starting line was situated roughly four hundred meters in front of the Village Head's Mansion. From there, the procession set out toward the manor.
At the very beginning, I was alone on horseback. My outfit wasn't exactly flashy, though I suppose "modest" might not have been the right word for it either. It was pure white and made from a clearly high-quality fabric. There was no one else in my immediate vicinity, though I could see people waiting a little further ahead. For a brief moment, it was just me and the horse. It had been quite a while since I'd last gone riding, but I felt like I managed to look the part well enough. The horse seemed to be in high spirits as well. I couldn't help but chuckle. If only the parade could have ended right then and there.
But of course, things weren't that simple.
The first to join me was Aegis, the phoenix chick. He flew slowly just ahead of us, acting as a scout for my horse. Next were Kuro and Yuki, along with Makura. Usually, Zabuton would have been the one waiting, but she had decided to devote herself entirely to her role as my dresser for the day. Makura acted as her substitute. Kuro and Yuki walked on my right, while Makura flanked my left. From this point on, spectators began to line the path, seeing us off with rounds of applause. It was a bit embarrassing, but I made sure to wave back.
As we neared the mansion, Urza was waiting for us, all dressed up for the occasion. She joined our group, but first, she had the duty of presenting me with a sword and shield. It would have been difficult to receive them while mounted, but apparently, I wasn't allowed to get off the horse yet. I wondered how we’d manage, but then Ramrias, one of the High Ogre maids waiting behind Urza, stepped forward with a step ladder. Urza climbed up and handed the gear to me.
Both the sword and shield were pieces Gatto had crafted specifically for today’s parade. The craftsmanship was incredibly intense; I could really feel how much obsession he’d poured into them. I strapped the shield to my left arm and held the sword in my right hand. Having the blade unsheathed was a little nerve-wracking. As for the scabbard... ah, it looked like Ramrias would be carrying that for me. Urza and Ramrias followed closely behind as I continued toward the mansion, brandishing the sword. Along the way, I caught sight of Gatto weeping openly at the sight of me holding his work. He really didn't need to cry that hard.
We finally arrived in front of the mansion. Aegis, our guide, flew up to perch on the roof. Waiting to greet us were Kuro’s children, all lined up in a beautiful, disciplined formation. They all looked quite dignified. Mixed in with them were the Fenrirs, who were about two sizes larger than the others. The Fenrir pups had certainly grown.
Next were Zabuton's children. When Makura signaled by raising a single leg, they all struck a pose in perfect unison. I couldn't help but smile; they looked incredibly cool. Arako the Arachne was also there, dressed elegantly and standing in line. Her pose was a bit more reserved compared to the others.
At this point, I sheathed the sword in the scabbard Ramrias held and finally dismounted. "Thank you. Good work," I said to the group. I temporarily parted ways with Kuro, Yuki, Makura, Urza, and Ramrias to move to the next stage.
Waiting for me further ahead were Dos, Progenitor-san, and the Demon King. I handed the shield to Dos and the sheathed sword to the Demon King. Then, I bowed before Progenitor-san as he placed a crown upon my head. I didn't know the specifics, but apparently, this part was modeled after an ancient ritual. I’d left the planning to the Civil Official Girls, and this was the result. I had no complaints, so we proceeded as scheduled.
After thanking the three of them, I climbed onto the yagura float constructed in front of the mansion. This year’s float was lower than last year’s, but it had larger wheels and a much wider platform. Zabuton was waiting on top with my costumes.
It was time for a quick change. For the first transition, I donned a kingly ensemble complete with a brilliant red cloak. I didn't recall seeing this one before. Had she really just come up with the idea and finished it yesterday? She was truly losing all sense of restraint when it came to her craft, though I certainly wouldn't complain about something she’d made specifically for me.
I stood at the very front of the yagura. From my vantage point, I could see several other floats and the massive crowd of villagers. They weren't just a disorganized mob; I could see they had gathered by race and by village. Every single gaze was fixed on me. I felt the pressure of the nerves, but I knew this was a crucial moment. The Civil Official Girls had emphasized that point repeatedly. I couldn't afford to flinch.
Slowly, I raised one hand. A roar of cheers erupted, so loud the air itself seemed to vibrate. Now, the parade began in earnest. A musical band made up of High Elves, Mountain Elves, beastmen, and Civil Official Girls began playing a lively tune. Aegis took flight from the roof once more, acting as the parade's vanguard. He passed my float and headed toward the prearranged route.
The next to move was the contingent led by the Demon King. Their centerpiece wasn't a wheeled float but a mikoshi palanquin. The bearers were volunteers primarily from the Devil and Dream Demon races of Village Four. I’d thought no one was riding on top, but as they passed my position, the Demon King boarded the palanquin while brandishing the Demon King's Army flag.
"The Demon King’s Army has been granted the glorious vanguard position! If we falter, those behind us will be delayed! Make haste! Forward!"
Beezel, Randan, and Gratz accompanied the mikoshi on foot. I wondered where Hou was, only to spot her on the palanquin as well. She was keeping a lower profile than the Demon King while quietly directing the bearers to maintain the correct speed.
The second group was the lamia contingent, led by their chief, Junea. She carried a flag representing her tribe and led about twenty lamias with visible excitement. Every lamia except Junea carried a long spear, and their movements were perfectly synchronized—it was a magnificent sight.
Third came Kuro and his children. With Kuro in the lead and Yuki slightly behind him, they were followed by columns led by Kuroichi, Kuroni, Kurosan, and Kuroyon. It was a beautiful formation. Don't worry, I'm watching you all.
The fourth group consisted of the Dragon Family. Dos, Hiichiro, Raimeiren, Draim, and Graffaloon marched in their dragon forms. The road looked a bit cramped for them, for which I felt rather bad. Hiichiro, keep your eyes front; make sure you follow Dos closely.
The fifth group was the Village One contingent. This was also a mikoshi rather than a wheeled float. The bearers were the residents of Village One, though since their numbers were few, the Lizardmen had joined in as support. Atop the palanquin were Jack, the representative of Village One, and Igu of the Nyunyu-daphne. They both looked incredibly nervous as they offered me their greetings.
Sixth was the Giant Race. They were hauling a wheeled yagura about five meters tall. Our Mountain Elves had built it, prioritizing sturdiness and keeping it low so the Giants could actually ride it, yet no one was on top. Instead, for some reason, it was loaded with grain harvested from our village—the crop from last autumn.
"They are expressing their joy at having safely survived the winter thanks to the food provided by the Village of the Great Tree," explained one of the High Ogre maids as she brought me a drink. I understood the sentiment, but... did they really go through the trouble of hauling out the surplus grain? That seemed like an unnecessary amount of labor. I decided I’d have to carve a suitable commemorative statue for them to use next time instead.
The seventh group was the Angel Race. Their float was being pulled by Tia’s Golems. Malbit was on top, looking absolutely delighted—until she got smacked by Ruincia, who was standing beside her. Granmaria, Kudel, Corone, Kierbit, Suarliu, and Suarkou were flying in formation in the sky above the float. They were equipped with matching weapons: spears tipped with Kuro's horns. I wondered if they were planning to do something explosive later. I just hoped they’d keep safety in mind. As the six of them broke formation, a group of Harpies joined them to create six new aerial units. It was quite an impressive air wing.
Eighth were the dwarves. Every one of them was dressed as a warrior, equipped with an axe and a shield. The look suited them perfectly. However, I couldn't help but wonder why they were all hauling barrels the size of their own bodies on their backs. Surely those weren't sake barrels... and they were empty, right? The dwarf contingent didn't follow directly behind the angels; their route was slightly different.
Following the dwarves was the ninth group: the children. Urza, Alfred, Tiselle, Lilius, Rigul, Ratte, Torain, Nart, and Gral all rode on a float pulled by the Minotaurs of Village Two. The Centaurs of Village Three surrounded them, acting as a guard with matching weapons. Everyone looked wonderful in their festival finery. I noticed Urza had already changed her clothes. I suppose she needed separate outfits for the march and the float. She certainly had it tough, though she seemed to be enjoying herself, so I suppose it wasn't a problem. Several High Ogre maids and the Fairy Queen were also on the float with them, so I knew they were in good hands.
The tenth group consisted of the High Elves, Mountain Elves, Lizardmen, Beastmen, and the Civil Official Girls. Essentially, the core residents of the Village of the Great Tree. Since so many people were occupied with the band or managing the parade logistics, I suppose they’d all been grouped together on a single float. On top were Progenitor-san, Fouche, Yoko, Hitoe, Saint Seles, Rigne, and two of the Previous Generation Four Heavenly Kings. It felt a bit thin on actual Great Tree Village representatives, didn't it? Well, Yoko, Hitoe, and Saint Seles lived here now, at least.
Finally, the eleventh group was made up of Zabuton's children. Arako the Arachne led the way, with Makura bringing up the rear. In between, children of all shapes and sizes marched in formation. They looked magnificent. Oh, it looked like one of the smaller ones tripped. Was it okay? Yes, it seemed fine. That was a relief.
Then, my own yagura began to move. I wasn't at the very end; instead, I slotted in between the seventh group of Angels and the eighth group of Dwarves. Everyone had their routes perfectly calculated to ensure a smooth transition without falling behind, so there were no issues.
Leading my float were the three Death Knights and the father of the Lion Family. Behind them was a Mercury Race unit led by Bell and Gou from Village Four, followed by the Devils and Dream Demons. Then came a unit of Centaurs from Village Three, and finally the Minotaurs from Village Two.
Joining me on my float were Lu, Tia, Ria, Ann, Hakuren, Frau, Sena, and Rusty. Every one of them was dressed in white-themed clothing and held vibrant flowers. They looked stunning. Hmm? It seemed the Sake Slime and the cat had climbed aboard as well. Hahaha. I didn't mind.
I’d heard that participants and spectators would be swapping roles at various points during the day. Part of me thought it might be easier if everyone just joined the march together, but apparently, the atmosphere wouldn't be as exciting without a crowd to cheer us on. That made sense, I suppose. I also had to remember that there were those who couldn't participate even if they wanted to—those looking after the infants, those preparing the feast, and those standing guard over the village. Their hard work was the reason this was possible. I waved my thanks to the maids holding Lupumirina and Aurora as we passed.
The parade had only just begun. I’d been told I could simply stay seated on the yagura, but I still had several costume changes to perform. I couldn't afford to get complacent. After all, Zabuton was here specifically to assist me. Let's give it our best. Ah, it looked like it was already time for the next change. Understood.