The brisk rhythm of taiko drums resonated through the village.
The sand packed inside the drums gave them a distinct, gritty timbre. Twenty lizardmen carried them at the head of the procession, signaling the start of the parade.
The Lizardman Taiko Team began their march from the west side of the village, cutting through the residential area and heading straight for the front of my mansion. Following close behind them was Tia’s Golem Team.
The golems were human-sized, standing about two meters tall. Despite their craggy stone bodies, the white clothes Zabuton’s group had wrapped around their waists gave them a strangely human appearance. They were further equipped with weapons and armor forged by Gatto, making them look truly formidable.
There were two hundred of them in total. Tia had clearly increased their numbers since our last rehearsal. While their perfectly synchronized march was a beautiful sight, it also looked like an invading army on the move, which was more than a little intimidating.
Behind the golems came the three Death Knights, dancing with their swords and shields. However, their movements lacked their usual jovial flair. They seemed to be channeling the spirit of the battlefield, radiating a bloodthirsty aura as if they were starving for combat.
Following the knights were twenty members of the Minotaur race and twenty from the Centaur race. Every single one of them wore a mask to hide their face, and each carried a sword in both hands. The sight of forty dual-wielding warriors was impressive, to say the least.
No one followed them. This wasn't a mistake in the lineup, but a planned gap in the procession.
The group—the Lizardman Taiko Team, the Golem Team, the Death Knights, the Minotaurs, and the Centaurs—eventually arrived in front of the mansion. Waiting there to meet them was a contingent made up of the Beastman Race, High Elves, and Mountain Elves. They carried a mismatched assortment of weapons, looking like a ragtag militia.
Nart stood at their head. With a sharp snap of her flag, the group let out a thunderous war cry and charged.
The lizardmen and golems split to the left and right, allowing the chargers to pass through their ranks. They were met head-on by the three Death Knights. Of course, it wasn't a real fight. The members of the charging group played their roles, acting as if they had been cut down by the knights’ blades before retreating to the rear.
I had my doubts about the High Elves’ and Mountain Elves’ performances. It wasn't that they were bad actors; it was that they were far too convincing. I really wished they would stop screaming things like "My arm!" or "My entrails are falling out!" Children were in the audience, after all.
The beastmen, on the other hand, kept their acting within reasonable bounds. That was much appreciated.
Under the overwhelming power of the three Death Knights, Nart’s group was scattered. Just as the knights leveled their blades at Nart for the finishing blow, the heavy, booming sound of a large taiko drum echoed through the air.
As everyone froze in their tracks, the Demon King made a solemn entrance, timing his steps to the heavy beat of the drum. Following behind him were the Four Heavenly Kings: Randan, Gratz, Hou, and Beezel. Each of them carried a small barrel sized appropriately for their stature.
The barrels were filled with water. At a signal from the Demon King, the four ministers scooped up the water with their hands and sprinkled it over the Death Knights. The knights retreated in a panicked flurry, with the Minotaurs and Centaurs following suit.
The lizardmen and golems remained on the field, falling in behind the Demon King. Then, with Nart at his side, the Demon King began to march proudly. Their route took them past the front of the mansion and toward the residential area—but before they could enter, a new group blocked their path.
It was the Angels: Malbit, Ruincia, Tia, Granmaria, and Kierbit. Behind them stood the three Death Knights, the Centaurs, and the Minotaurs who had retreated moments ago.
Malbit’s group advanced slowly, their movements a deliberate provocation toward the Demon King’s party. Suddenly, the lizardmen and golems behind the Demon King began to move erratically. It was a betrayal. The Demon King and his Four Heavenly Kings were now completely surrounded.
The Demon King acted out a scene of great panic, as if facing a total catastrophe. He, Nart, and the Four Heavenly Kings retreated back toward the east side of the village, heading toward my mansion. Along the way, each of the Four Heavenly Kings took turns staying behind to stall the "enemy" in a series of dramatic highlights.
Their acting was quite intense.
By the time they reached the front of the mansion, only the Demon King and Nart remained. Just as it seemed they were truly cornered, a massive bell tolled.
Everyone stopped moving instantly and looked toward the mansion.
I was waiting on the third floor. I began my descent down the staircase that had been specially constructed on the mansion's facade for this parade. Since everyone was perfectly still and silent, I was the sole focus of attention. It was incredibly nerve-wracking. To make matters worse, I had been given the absurd instruction to avoid looking down at my feet while descending.
The entire parade was held in suspense until I reached the bottom. I walked down slowly, focusing entirely on not tripping. When my feet finally touched the ground, the great bell tolled once more.
Zabuton was the one ringing the bell.
Alfred and Tiselle, who had been hiding beneath the stairs, emerged. First, Alfred handed me a wooden board inscribed with text. I accepted the board and presented it to the Demon King. He raised it high toward the heavens with both hands.
At that signal, the scattered group of Beastmen, High Elves, and Mountain Elves returned to stand behind the Demon King. The treacherous lizardmen also rejoined his side, while Tia’s golems ceased their movements entirely.
Next, Tiselle handed me a sapling. I accepted it and presented it to Malbit. She raised the sapling toward the sky, and the Angels took their positions behind me.
The only ones remaining were the Death Knights, Minotaurs, and Centaurs. When I stepped between the Demon King’s group and the knights, both sides retreated ten paces. This signified that the conflict had been resolved.
The great bell tolled a final time. This marked the end of the narrative performance.
When I raised a hand, a massive cheer erupted from the crowd. Since the spectators had followed the story from its start on the west side, most of the villagers had been able to witness the entire tale. I had left the fields near the parade route unplowed in anticipation of them being trampled, and I planned to get to work on them as soon as the festivities concluded.
The staged story was over, but the parade itself was far from finished. In fact, the main event was only beginning. The next phase involved both sides reconciling and marching together.
Large, wheeled yagura were being moved in from the residential area. Kuro and the other wolves, who hadn't had a role in the play, gathered and waited for the signal to start their part of the march.
I told them not to rush. I needed a moment to catch my breath—or more accurately, a moment to change my clothes.
My "costume" consisted of a single, simple sheet of cloth wrapped around my body and secured with a cord at the waist. I’d realized it while coming down the stairs, but if a strong breeze blew, my underwear would be on full display. It was a precarious outfit, and a freezing one at that.
I desperately wanted to change. This wasn't just me being picky; the change was actually part of the schedule. Zabuton already had the next outfit ready for me. I knew what I was in for—I had eleven more costume changes scheduled for today’s parade. I would just have to do my best.
A short distance away, the Civil Official Girls were waiting for their turn to board the floats.
"That was Part One of the Myth of the God of Magic, wasn't it? Are we not doing Part Two?"
"Part Two is about the God of Magic disappearing, so we figured it didn't really fit a festival atmosphere. Besides, the fighting just starts all over again once he’s gone."
"I suppose so. But Part Two is much more popular, right?"
"Because it’s nothing but battle highlights. It’s flashy, but if we tried that here in the Village of the Great Tree... the arguments over casting would never end."
"Ah... true. Leaving it out was probably for the best."
"Well, if we ever do it, I'd want to spend a lot more time on the preparations. I’d especially want to see Urza-sama play the Hero Queen."
"Haha, definitely. But if we do that... I wonder how many times the Demon King will have to be defeated?"
"Are we just assuming the Demon King will play himself again?"
"It would be disrespectful to cast someone else when the real one is right here, wouldn't it?"
"But he only has scenes where he loses... Wouldn't that be more disrespectful in its own way?"
"It’s a bit late for that, considering we had the Four Heavenly Kings play themselves today."
"Hahaha, true. Well, it’s all in good fun. It's just acting."
"Exactly, just acting."
"By the way, look at the God of Magic’s seat at the top of the stairs. It looks like a cat has been sitting there the whole time..."
"It certainly has."
"Maybe it’s the seat, but it looks about twenty percent more dignified than usual."
"I see it too."
"Should we do something?"
"No, let it be. Look, here comes the float we’re supposed to ride."
"Oh, you're right. We’d better hurry!"