After having a long, quiet chat with Sieg, I left the lodging where Lilia and the others were staying and began walking toward the Central Tower.
The festival had fully entered its night session. The streets, illuminated by magic tools that glowed like lanterns, felt even more vibrant and bustling than they had during the day. Watching the crowds drinking and shopping at the stalls made me crave a snack myself. I figured I would grab a skewer—something light that wouldn't spoil my dinner.
In my opinion, the best part of any festival was eating while you explored. The stall rows were noisy, but if you stepped just a bit away, you could enjoy the unique, quiet atmosphere of the festival while eating something fresh. It was a wonderful experience.
Eating a skewer while walking was one way to do it, but stopping somewhere slightly removed from the main thoroughfare to eat something like yakisoba was also fantastic.
Hmm... What should I get? Wyvern meat skewers sounded good, but grilled squid was a strong contender as well. Takoyaki was a real classic... Or maybe I should go for something sweet, like a candy apple?
I scanned the stalls as I walked, shifting my gaze from left to right as I pondered my options, when a loud, familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind me.
"Ah! I found you! Kaito-kun-san!"
"Raz?"
"Yes! Good evening, Kaito-kun-san!"
It was Raz. She flew toward me with a beaming smile, her tiny wings buzzing with energy. Once she reached me, she began circling me happily, her expression full of joy. She was incredibly cute.
"Good evening, Raz. It's quite a coincidence to run into you at this hour."
"It is! Raz is so, so happy to see Kaito-kun-san!"
Raz expressed her emotions by moving her small body with everything she had. She was truly adorable—a genuine, soothing presence.
"Did you come to check out the stalls too?"
"Yes! During the day, Raz was helping Chrome-sama carry vegetables! Now that I'm finished, I came to see the festival with Acht-kun and Eva-san! But then, Raz felt a spark from Kaito-kun-san's magic power! So I came to find you! Hehe!"
What a precious creature. Even in her explanations, she used her whole body to gesture, making her extremely endearing. I wondered if all fairies were this cute; if they were, I really wanted to visit the home of the Fairy Race someday.
"Kaito-kun-san, Kaito-kun-san. Do you have time right now? If you do, let's look around the festival with Raz and the others!"
"Sure. I can't stay out too late, but if you and the others don't mind, I'd love to."
"Really!? Yay! I get to be with Kaito-kun-san!"
Since I had just been thinking about looking at the stalls anyway, I accepted her suggestion. We began moving together toward where Acht and the others were waiting. Raz looked truly delighted, flying beside me with a constant, lovable smile.
"Oh, that reminds me, Raz."
"What is it?"
"Actually, I spoke with Noin earlier today... and she told me about your abilities. You're quite amazing, aren't you?"
I decided to mention what I'd heard from Noin. Since she was the one who told me, I assumed it wasn't a secret, but it felt right to be upfront about it with Raz herself.
"Mumu... Is that so? So Kaito-kun-san has discovered Raz's ability."
"Y-Yes..."
Raz muttered those words with a strangely solemn expression. It wasn't the reaction I expected. Had I stepped on a sensitive topic? She had mentioned before that she disliked fighting... If I'd upset her, I needed to apologize.
"If it's been discovered, then it can't be helped! Yes! As Kaito-kun-san now knows, Raz can use the 'Ability to Make Flowers Bloom'!"
"...Huh?"
"Raz is a Flower Fairy, after all! I can make flowers bloom all over the place! Vegetables are a little different, but with Raz's ability, they grow big and delicious! Hehe, that's Raz's secret ability... so keep it a secret, okay?"
"Oh... I see..."
Things had taken a truly unexpected turn. Her ability to make flowers bloom? Not the Sure-hit Arrow?
"Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no... I see. You really are amazing, Raz."
"Eh? R-Really? Raz is amazing?"
"Yes, you're very amazing."
"Ehehe! Really? Raz is so happy to be praised by Kaito-kun-san!"
As I watched Raz tilt her head in genuine wonder, I became certain of one thing. To her, things like the Sure-hit Arrow or long-range combat prowess were trivial. Because she was so kind, she had no intention of fighting unless absolutely necessary. To her, the first thing that came to mind when someone mentioned an "ability" was the power to make flowers bloom.
Dear Mother, Father—in the end, Raz was simply Raz. She was small, cute, and though she was actually powerful, she was incredibly gentle. Above all, she really was the type of person who was healing just to talk to.