A ten-meter-tall tower was currently under construction in the residential area of the village, situated near the reservoir. It was a slender structure that bore a resemblance to a radio tower, though its purpose was strictly for a performance during the upcoming parade. The High Elves were throwing all their effort into completing it.
Ten meters, huh? In terms of a standard building, that was roughly the height of a three-story rooftop. Considering it was a wooden structure built almost entirely by manual labor, it was quite an imposing height. Then again, my mansion was actually taller, so perhaps it wasn't as difficult a feat as I imagined. Still, I couldn't help but wonder if it wouldn't have been better to keep it lower—three meters or so would have been plenty.
In the original plans, the tower was supposed to be thirty meters high. I had managed to talk them down to ten, so pushing for anything lower would likely be a losing battle. I knew my resistance was futile, but I had to say it anyway: Am I really expected to stand on the very tip of this thing?
The Angels told me they would provide aerial cover so I wouldn't have to worry about falling, but the problem was that I didn't want to fall in the first place. It wasn't that I didn't trust the Angel Race, but I really wished they would prioritize safety a bit more. I asked if there was a safety belt or a safety rope available. They asked what I intended to do with a rope, and I told them clearly: we were going to tether me to the tower so I wouldn't plummet. I was counting on them to make it happen.
Michael-san arrived in the village shortly after. The Short-distance Teleportation Gate had significantly reduced the travel time between Shashato City and Village Five. While the gate wasn't open to the general public yet, it had made his visits much easier. After giving me a brief greeting, he headed straight for the hot spring area. He looked exhausted, so I hoped he would be able to relax and recover.
Gratz was another person whose visits had become much more frequent. Previously, he couldn't come unless he relied on Beezel’s magic, but with the installation of the Short-distance Teleportation Gate, he could now travel to the village on his own. Beezel was likely delighted by this development, as it meant one less chore on his plate.
Ronana was also overjoyed to see Gratz more often. It was a heartwarming sight, but I really wished they would stop their public displays of affection in front of the mansion entrance every single day. Red Armor and White Armor, who were standing guard, looked genuinely troubled by it.
I wasn't telling them not to be affectionate. It was a matter of moderation. Their constant flirting was bound to stimulate certain expectations in others. When I asked them if they understood who I was talking about, they seemed confused. I had to spell it out for them: Lu, Tia, Ria, Ann, Hakuren, Sena... I was glad they finally took the hint.
With the teleportation gate network fully operational, Asa returned from the Royal Capital. He seemed happy to be reunited with Urza and the others.
"I heard you were supposed to return to the village as soon as spring arrived?" I asked.
"I plan to head back to the Academy once the Spring Parade is over," Urza replied.
Asa seemed happy, but his smile looked a bit strained. I also noticed he had brought a massive stack of documents that looked like souvenirs, but apparently, they weren't. He asked to borrow a spare room, and I saw no reason to refuse. He promptly ushered Urza, Alfred, and Tiselle into the room, along with that mountain of paperwork. Paper was a luxury item, yet it seemed to exist in endless supply in certain circles.
"Compared to the amount we handle on a daily basis, that’s actually not very much," the Civil Official Girls remarked.
I nodded at their assessment and instructed Ann to bring some tea to the children at an appropriate time. I also wondered if Earth and Mettora were doing alright back in the Royal Capital. I figured no news was good news, but just as the thought crossed my mind, Asa approached me again.
"I apologize, I completely forgot. These are letters from Earth and Mettora."
I took them, hoping they were both doing well.
Preparations for the parade continued to move forward. In the midst of the bustle, Malbit found herself in a position where she was forced to reveal her wings, as the Angel Race would be participating in the event. She couldn't keep them hidden any longer.
Malbit's wings were... thick. The sheer volume of feathers gave them a fifty percent increase in perceived luxury. They looked incredibly soft and warm, as if they were permanently covered in winter feathers. I supposed there were probably species of birds with wings like that.
However, according to the sensibilities of the Angel Race, those wings were apparently a sign of neglect. Tia, Ruincia, and Kierbit were all relentlessly scolding Malbit about them. Personally, I didn't think they looked bad at all, though I made a mental note never to say that out loud.
True to form, Malbit simply let their rebukes go in one ear and out the other. She seemed to have reached a state of total defiance, going so far as to ostentatiously snack on sweets right in front of them. It seemed like nothing could touch her—until the Phoenix chick, Aegis, stepped in.
Aegis began to defend Malbit, chirping angrily at Tia, Ruincia, and Kierbit as if asking why they would disparage such magnificent wings. To Aegis, Malbit's fluffy wings seemed to be an object of pure admiration. The chick kept casting glances of deep respect toward her.
Aegis was acting out of pure goodwill, but the effect on Malbit was instantaneous. She put down her sweets, turned bright red, and tried to hide her face behind her hands. It seemed she could handle being criticized, but being praised was more than she could take.
"I understand," Malbit muttered. "I’ll start my diet today. I’ll do my best."
I turned to Aegis. I didn't want to meddle in its personal preferences, but I suggested that if it wanted wings to admire, the Eagle’s wings were much sleeker and cooler. The moment the words left my mouth, the Eagle flew in from out of nowhere and gave me a light tackle. It might have been acting out of embarrassment, but it actually hurt quite a bit.
Interestingly, Reginleiv didn't seem to have much of a reaction to Malbit's wings at all. When I asked if she didn't find them odd, she simply mentioned that several of her older sisters had wings just like that. I decided to leave it at that.
Later, I checked to see if the safety rope had been installed on the tower. It was there, but it was tied to the base of the tower. That would be completely useless if I fell; the point was to stop me before I hit the ground. I realized I would also have to be very careful about the length of the rope.
I made a firm mental note to conduct the final safety confirmations with my own eyes.