Magic Swordsman and Black Organization [5] – part 2
Then, the shop that Sandy-san recommended in front of the hospital – Yukata Rental Main Store immediately caught my eye.
「Shall we go in?」
「Un, let’s go!」
「Yukata… it’s been a while」
Then we went into the shop without any expectations.
「Welcome. Are you here to rent a yukata?」
As soon as we entered the store, a gentle-mannered old woman wearing a yukata welcomed us.
「Yes, we would like to rent for three people…」
「Yes, please leave it to me!」
Then, she shouted loudly to the back of the store.
「Oooi, there is a male customer! Someone come over here!」
Immediately after that, a male clerk wearing a yukata appeared with loud footsteps.
「Yes coming, welcome! Let me see, customer-sama. The men’s yukata are over here, so please follow me.」
Then I followed the male clerk and moved to the back of the store.
「Please choose your favourite yukata from one of these.」
Yukata for men were lined up in a row in front of me.
As expected, there weren’t as many as for women, but there was enough to worry about choosing.
I looked through it and,
「Let’s see… Then, I’ll go with this.」
In order not to stand out too much, I chose a slightly simple yukata with a lot of black background.
「This one, yes? Then, please come this way. Let me help you put it on.」
「Yes, please.」
Then I was guided to the men’s changing room.
The man’s dressing was quick, as he put the black yukata on me and wrapped a white sash around it. It only took about a minute.
「Oh, it suits you very well!」
When I looked in the mirror, there was my figure dressed in a yukata, and I felt somewhat embarrassed.
「Thank you…」
Then I left the changing room and waited for Ria and Rose to finish.
10minutes later.
Finally, the women’s changing room door slowly opened,
「H-How, does it… look…?」
「Does it suit me?」
It’s completely different from their usual uniform look – they both appeared out in gorgeous yukatas.
「……」
Those appearances, took my breath away.
I was speechless at their overflowing beauty.
The light skin-colored yukata that Ria wore, had a scarlet dragonfly pattern, and the sash was the same wine red as the ribbon that connected her twin tails.
Whereas, Rose’s deep blue yukata had a white cherry blossom pattern, and the sash used a yellow onepoint.
Without any thought at flattery, they both looked really beautiful and well.
「U-Un. It suits both of you well.」
「R-Really? Thanks…」
Ria said in a small voice whilst blushing.
「Fufuu, I’m happy.」
Rose smiled happily.
「I-I think… that yukata suits Allen very well as well.」
「Un, it’s cool and tight.」
「Ahaha, thanks.」
Then, we shared our impressions of each other, paid the yukata rental fee, and finally went out to the Daido Commercial Festival.
■
In the heart of Drestia, there is a big road called『God Street』.
The Daido Commercial Festival is an annual festival held on this God Street.
It’s definitely the biggest festival in this country.
After that, we arrived at God Street,
「Looking at it from here, there really is a huge crowd…」
「It’s much busier than Orest…」
「As usual, it’s so congested…」
I was overwhelmed by the number of people at the festival.
Whether I look to the right or to the left – there’s a crowd everywhere.
Street stalls lined up on both sides of the street.
Vendor’s energetic touts for customers.
Delicious food smells that stir up your appetite.
A rich atmosphere that yelled『This exactly is a Festival!』.
「Let’s enjoy this festival to the fullest!」
「Un, let’s go quickly!」
「Aa, that’s right!」
We dived into the sea of people.
As we walked along the waves of people,
「Ah, look Allen! It’s choco banana!」
「Look, there is candy apple too!」
Almost simultaneously, Ria and Rose pointed to the ones they were interested in.
「Ah, let’s try them one by one.」
Then we went around the various stalls and ate a lot of things.
We started with choco banana, and then the candy apple.
Grilled squid, fried noodles, fried chicken, cotton candy, frankfurter – To be honest, I’m already full.
The reason why most of the stalls that we stopped by had a bias towards『cooked rice』is definitely because of Ria.
Anyway she sure has an appetite.
She eats so well, that I wanted to ask where all that food goes to in that body.
(…Surely I can’t say「you sure can eat」to a girl.)
Even I understand that much.
But then, how do we stop her rampage… I didn’t have the slightest idea.
「Oh, sugoi! Look, Allen! It’s a high-quality beef loin skewer!」
She still pointed to dozens of stalls with sparkling eyes.
There was a massive beef loin with thick fat on it as if it wasn’t enough already.
(Ooo…)
Taking that on in this super-full condition is a little hard…
Just watching it makes my chest hurt.
(I had this feeling since we went for Ramzac together but… Ria is more that slightly「gluttonous」…)
No matter how much she eats, I’m not going to say anything as long as she can maintain that healthy figure.
But, it’s unreasonable to ask us to eat the same amount… give us a break.
I exchanged glances with Rose, and nodded.
She seems to have reached her limit long ago, the same as me.
「Ri-Ria…? You’re still going to eat…?」
「We want to rest and digest properly.」
「Eh, no way?」
Unbelievably, Ria said with a straight face.
It was a true, honest surprised expression.
(Are you trying to say we still have a ways to go…!?)
I need to think a little about eating with Ria in the future…
Anyway, anymore than this is not good.
Somehow we need to divert her thoughts from food.
「Well, there are a lot of stalls other than food, so why don’t we take a look at them?」
「T-That sounds good, Allen! I agree!」
Rose immediately backed up my proposal.
And then Ria,
「I see. If that’s what you two want to do, let’s go!」
She immediately agreed with this idea without displaying any significant resistance.
Finally released from hell’s food tour, Rose and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Then we walked around the game stalls – such as lottery and goldfish bowling and ring toss.
Ria’s shot’s were 100% bullseye. Plush toys, figures, badges, etc. – she attained a great number of rewards.
On the other hand, Rose snatched all the super balls with amazing dexterity.
「Yay! Great harvest!」
「Fufu, it’s a complete victory!」
「A-Ahaha… The shopkeeper was in tears, though…」
Then, when we visited various stalls and enjoyed the Daido Commercial Festival,
(…Nn? What is that?)
Just in front of me, was a large building with heavy security.
(Is it about 7 stories above the ground…?)
Around the huge, intimidating building, there were a large number of swordsmen who were standing quietly.
You can tell that they are not Holy Knights even from the absence of uniform.
(…… What on earth is this?)
And when I vacantly looked at the building, and the swordsmen,
「That is the Daido Firm. Inside, the Five Wealthy Merchants are discussing about various things by now.」
Rose, sensed my doubts and smoothly gave an explanation.
Five Wealthy Merchants – The general term for five of the most prominent merchants. They are influential people of this country, the same as the directors of the Five Academy.
(I see…)
Then, those swordsmen are private soldiers who guards the Five Wealthy Merchants inside.
「Rose truly is well-informed.」
「Not exactly. In the past, I once came here together with my grandfather. Thus I know a little.」
「Rose’s grandfather…? Does that mean, Sakura Blossom One-Sword Style’s-」
Just as I was about to finish – there was an explosion in Daido Firm.
「「「Wha!?」」」
From the surrounding buildings, a group dressed in black rushed into Daido Firm one after another.
Those movements, their composure as though they knew there was going to be an explosion, and clothes which concealed the face – they are without a doubt, the culprits who caused this incident.
(…So their target is the Five Wealthy Merchants)
And by the time I was done putting my thoughts together,
「Da-Daido Firm is on fire!?」
「Shit, c-call the Holy Kniiiights!」
「Hurry it up! The Five Wealthy Merchants are still inside!」
The surroundings fell into a complete state of panic.
The movement of the private soldier who was in charge of the security – was disjointed.
Those who seeked help from the Holy Knight.
Those who rushed into the Daido Firm right away.
Those who fell into a panic, and froze where they stood.
(……The fire caused by the explosion is not so violent.)
And by looking at it, the building seemed to be covered with concrete – in other words, the fire spread was slow.
The fire will be extinguished by the Holy Knights who will arrive soon.
Then there’s only one thing I should do here.
「I’m going in. Ria and Rose, wait here!」
As a swordsman, I have to help those in trouble.
「I-I’m also coming!」
「Naturally, me too…!」
Thus, the three of us rushed into the burning Daido Firm.