Chocolate and The Magical Blue Bird - Chapter 5

[yumemory]

When I was about to eat the chocolate, Bradley appeared behind Riquet, took the truffle off my hand and ate it.

Bradley: Mm, not bad.

Bradley: But it’s too sweet. This isn’t a festival for kids, cut the sugar down a tad.

Akira: Bradley, you know about the festival?

Bradley: Kinda.

Riquet: I see. Then I will adjust the sweetness….

Riquet: Wait, I will, but that is not the issue here!

Riquet: Bradley, that truffle was for Master Sage to eat!

Bradley: Hmph, ain’t that big of a deal. Don’t cha have more with you?

Riquet: You could have just let me know if you were hungry! You have your own share. 

[running steps]

Snow and White: Bradley, dear!

Bradley: Those damn geezers are already here, huh….

Bradley sighed in annoyance, and put his hand on Riquet’s head.

Riquet: Wah! Please do not touch my head as you like…!

Bradley: So what you two were saying, is that I guard these kids on the day of the festival, right?

Bradley: ’Aight, you leave me no choice. I’ll do it. So make sure to take a few hundreds off my sentence, ya hear me?

Akira: Bradley, will you be helping us in the festival?

Bradley: They say it’ll be horrendous if no one from the North comes helpin’.

White: Not only that. There was also that case from the other day.

Akira: ’The other day’? Did something happen?

After hearing my question, Snow and White let out a displeased sigh.

White: We had been keeping this silent from you, but when the Northern wizards went out for a mission the other day, we were terribly feared by the humans there….

Snow: Moreover, there were some bad boys who gleefully threw threats and scared them, doing harm to our image.

White: Isn’t that right, Bradley?

Bradley: ‘T wasn’t only me! It’s not like Owen and Mithra did any better.

Akira: (So that’s what happened…. The Northern wizards are especially feared by humans, after all.)

Cain: So that was why you were oddly in high spirits after the mission....

Arthur: Master Sage, I have come back.

That moment, Cain and Arthur, who had been out since morning, came to the lounge.

Cain was out to buy supplies for the festival, and Arthur was on his royal duty as usual.

Akira: Cain, Arthur, welcome back. Were you together on the way back?

Cain: Yeah. I was riding on my broom, then I saw Arthur from afar.³

Cain: Hm? Riquet, are those the samples for the chocolates? Let me have some.

Riquet: Ah, Cain, no more than two per person!

Riquet: Prince Arthur, do have some! I’ll give these to Oz later as well.

Arthur: Thank you, Riquet.

Arthur: Master Sage, I heard about the festival from Cain. If it is alright, I would like to offer my assistance

Arthur: I also want to raise the spirits of those who are perturbed by < the Great Calamity. >

Akira: Having you help us is reassuring! Snow, White, can Arthur help us?

White: I do not mind. When it comes to festivals, the more the merrier.

Snow: However, would it be alright for you to appear before your people?

Akira: (That’s true, it’ll be a big deal if they find out that the prince helped out with the festival….)

Arthur: There is nothing to be worried about. When I went to the city to seal away the serpent, nobody noticed me.

Arthur: In the case that they do, I shall go by the name Arty, a swordsman in training under Cain.

Cain: Ahaha! Then you may call me ‘Master.’

Arthur: Truly, it sounds more realistic that way! I shall be in your care, ‘Master.’

Cain: As do I. Ah, but won’t Oz be jealous?

Akira: (They’re so carefree….)

That was how Bradley and Arthur came to help us with the festival’s preparation.

Akira: (Oh, right, I should tell everyone about the request Chloe received, and our role distributions.)

Akira: Um, everyone! I have something to discuss….

[timeskip]

Cain: I see. I hope Chloe’s first job as a tailor goes well.

Arthur: Chloe is working hard to help someone in need. We shall work to the best of our abilities so he can focus.

Bradley: That human sure got good eyes to be asking the tailor from the West. They owe us one.

Everyone offered their cooperation with a smile, without a single complaint.

Akira: (It warms my heart to see everyone supporting each other….)

Akira: (Alright. I’ll work hard to support them as well.)

We all nod to each other, and let ourselves drown in enthusiasm.

 

[Location: Chloe’s room]

Chloe: Um, I guess this is it for everyone’s outfit designs?

Chloe: (Turns out Arthur and Bradley will be joining. It’s fun to have more clothes to design.)

Chloe: (All that’s left is Mister Luke’s outfit….)

Chloe: An outfit to wear when confessing one’s love…. One that’s like the parade outfits….

Chloe: Sigh. Mm, I can’t think of anything good right now.

Chloe: (Mister Luke seems to really like the outfits I made for the parade.)

Chloe: He said he wanted to order my clothes when I open my own shop…. Eheheh….

Chloe: ….

Chloe: But will I be able to do that…? Am I really allowed to do such a thing…?

Rustica: Chloe, are you there?

Chloe: Whoa, Rustica! W-what is it?

Rustica: I came to invite you to an afternoon tea. Shylock gave me a delicious tea, so I wanted to drink it with you.

Chloe: Really? I’m happy to hear that! Then, I’ll take a quick break.

Chloe: Heath also made me a cup of coffee a while ago.

Chloe: I still have the cookies he gave me with it, so I’ll share them with you.

Rustica: Thank you, Chloe. I see that the preparation for the festival is going smoothly.

Chloe: Yup! Everyone took charge of other things. They said I must’ve had my hands full with the outfits I’m making.

Chloe: They have been really kind, so I have to make gorgeous outfits for them in return!

Rustica: Your outfits will always be gorgeous, Chloe.

Chloe: And... Rustica? I, uh….

---

TL Note:

³ Here, Cain said: 箒に乗って飛んでたら、遠くにアーサーの姿が見えたから。I do not know exactly why Cain said he saw Arthur from afar despite his affliction. One can assume they exchanged a high five early in the morning or something like that. ↑

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