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Not even a student of the Magic Department, yet I’ve become all too familiar with entering the Magic Building.

After passing through a single entrance, I was greeted by the stark contrast of temperature inside compared to the bustling festival outside.

The first thing that caught my eye was the staff member at the central information desk in the lobby, Miss Sharon.

Goodness, to be working during the festival without rest! Even though I’m just a student, it pains me to see this.

In fact, the few outsiders who might visit the Magic Building during the festival are busy having fun, so the actual number of visitors is almost non-existent. Most visitors are like me, only dropping by occasionally to take care of something, faces I always see.

There’s nothing worse than having to go to work on a day when everyone else is playing, pulling overtime and working extra hours.

To be honest, my struggles don’t matter that much. Well, they do matter, but relatively less.

So what’s important, you ask?

It’s the fact that while I’m working, I have to watch others enjoying themselves.

You might call it a twisted personality, but it’s just the natural human emotion of jealousy!

Oh dear, I seem to have become overly absorbed in watching Ms. Sharon, who is diligently keeping her post during the festival.

I’m just a student, and yet here I am considering work—how unimaginable!

“Long time no see, Ms. Sharon.”

“…Ah! Hero!”

Indeed, it seemed Sharon was a bit too free, as she was sitting at her desk, engrossed in a book. She was so deeply absorbed that she only noticed my arrival after I called her name while approaching.

“It must be tough to come into work during the festival.”

“Eh, it’s not like many people come in anyway. I’m just sitting here keeping my seat warm. Look, I can read freely, it’s not too exhausting.”

“Ha ha…”

Her mouth said everything was fine, yet why did the vitality vanish from Sharon’s eyes?

“Here, here. Eat this and regain some energy. I thought it looked tasty on my way, so I bought it.”

I handed her a bag I had been holding.

Nothing fancy, just one of the foods being sold by the festival stalls.

Honestly, since I planned to take Frecia back out to the festival, I had no intention of buying something suitable for takeout.

But, having caught a glimpse of a delightful sight, with a girl sporting yellow hair and violet locks happily munching on food, my mouth watered, and before I knew it, I held a takeout bag in my hands.

Well, being something I hadn’t seen before, I was curious about its taste, but in any case, I could always buy it with Frecia outside.

I could certainly spare this little kindness for a worker who couldn’t enjoy the festival properly.

“Oh! You did this for me…?”

Truth is, it was just a coincidence that I ended up with it, and it’s not like I intended to offer it, but I didn’t say it out loud.

No need to ruin the moment by confessing that I had bought it on a total whim.

“By the way, you really seem to love books. The fact that you took a while to respond when I called shows just how focused you were.”

“Ah…. Normally I wouldn’t be like this, but today there’s just so few people… and it was a particularly important part of the book I was on…”

“No, no. It’s not that there’s a problem. Actually, I also like reading, so I understand.”

Of course, I only read novels.

“Ah. Then would you recommend a book? I’m curious about what kind of books a hero reads.”

I wanted to mention something with an impressive title, but all I read were fun novels.

“Hmm… Out of all the books I’ve read, ‘When the Lilies Bloom’ was really good. The psychological character descriptions are well done, and the foreshadowing and devices are effectively used.”

Truthfully, most of the books I read were recommendations from Selian.

I actually found it enjoyable to read, and it should be safe to recommend it to others since it passed Selian’s approval.

“Hmmm… That title sounds intriguing. I’ll remember it and borrow it from the library. Thank you.”

“Well then, I’ll head up now. Keep up the good work. Ah?”

As I turned to head off to wake Frecia, another victim of holiday duty caught my eye.

“Erin! Stella!”

The investigator duo.

We had only exchanged glances once, but perhaps because they had treated me nicely, I remembered their names.

However, it seemed Erin and Stella had already finished their business in the Magic Building; they rushed out without even acknowledging me.

“Hmm… Unlike Ms. Sharon, those two seem very busy.”

“…I shouldn’t complain. Well then, if you’re busy, you should head up. I’ll gladly eat this mysterious food I’ve never seen before.”

Sharon waved the bag containing the food I had given her.

I gave her one last greeting and headed towards the seventh floor where Frecia was.

Knock, knock.

“I’m coming in.”

Of course, it was a given there would be no response from inside, so I announced my entrance as if it were merely a notification.

Huh?

If Frecia, being a night owl, was supposed to be snoozing on the sofa in the inner room, she wasn’t sleeping at all; rather, she was completely dressed up and ready to go, waiting in the first room.

Our manager has changed!

I knew Frecia was capable if she put her mind to it! I always believed she could wake up bright and early.

“Welcome back.”

“…Ah! Hello!”

Naturally, I expected to wake Frecia, thinking it would take her quite a while to prepare for going out.

In the surprise of her appearance, she greeted me when she saw I had come in.

In the meantime, Gomtaengi was graciously bringing Frecia her coat, while Tokki spotted me and cheerfully scurried over, climbing from my feet to my shoulders.

“Hey, hey. Hello, Gomtaengi and Tokki.”

As soon as I called their names, Gomtaengi nodded at me while helping Frecia with her coat, and Tokki seemed to be having a blast, playfully darting back and forth across my shoulders.

“Um…”

Frecia, now all dressed thanks to Gomtaengi’s help, called out to me.

“Yes? Do you have something to say?”

“Um… It’s just that…”

But Frecia was mumbling, her hands clasped in front of her chest, fidgeting her fingers nervously.

Despite this, she kept peeking up at me with her head down, as if she wanted to say something.

She seemed like she wanted to speak, yet found it difficult to voice her thoughts, so I quietly waited with a smile, giving her the space to find her words.

“…Is it okay?”

“Yes?”

It felt like she wanted to say something, but her head hung low and her voice was too small for my ears to catch.

“Is it okay…?”

“Yes? What is it?”

“It’s just… the clothes I’m wearing… do they suit me?”

Was that all she wanted to say?

Frecia, who usually didn’t care much about her attire, had put in a lot of effort to look adorable today.

The pristine white blouse, adorned with light frills, emphasized her cuteness, while the maroon skirt falling below her waist was tied with a ribbon, accentuating her waistline.

Moreover, the cape Gomtaengi had draped over her shoulders added an extra touch of charm without obscuring her outfit beneath.

And even more so, a choker matching the skirt’s color adorned Frecia’s delicate neck, subtly hinting at the hidden sexiness behind her cute appearance.

…A 16-year-old girl being referred to as sexy? I must be going insane!

Anyway, the point is, Frecia had gone to great lengths to doll herself up today.

“Does it… look strange?”

As I continued to stare silently, Frecia, usually indifferent about her appearance, seemed to lose confidence, her voice taking on a downcast tone.

“No, not at all! Far from being strange, it suits you so well that it took me by surprise!”

“Really? Hehe…”

“I don’t know who you’re going out with, but it’s indeed a stroke of luck to be seen with such a cute manager!”

And the lucky person would be none other than me.

“Hehe… I’m cute?”

“Definitely. Ugh… I want to show everyone this cute manager, but at the same time, I want to keep you a secret just for me.”

It’s not flattery just because Frecia is my superior; granted, I may be exaggerating a little, but those are my honest feelings.

Frecia certainly looked much cuter than usual.

Knock, knock.

However, while I was earnestly complimenting Frecia, someone tapped me gently on the shoulder.

In truth, it was no one but Tokki hanging from my shoulder.

Turning to look at Tokki, they tilted their head as if wanting to say something.

“Hmm? What is it?”

However, since Tokki couldn’t talk, I was at a loss to interpret Tokki’s intent.

As a result, Tokki’s long ears drooped as if disappointed.

But instead of sulking, Tokki clung to my shoulder with one hand while the other gave their head a light tap, directing my attention elsewhere.

“Oh!”

Now I realized what Tokki wanted to communicate.

On Tokki’s normally undecorated head, a red ribbon had been tied.

Additionally, a small, thin red scarf, like a ribbon, adorned their neck.

“Did I put this on for you? It looks adorable! So cute!”

Tokki, as if they had never looked gloomy at all, hopped down from my arms and spun around on the floor, expressing joy.

Their once drooped ears perked up again, reflecting their happy mood.

Curiously, I glanced at Gomtaengi as well, but he surprisingly lacked any adornments. Though his cute little tail was always a charm, that was just his usual appearance.

Perhaps with Gomtaengi’s personality, he focused all his energy on picking out Frecia’s attire instead of dressing himself.

I should prepare a little gift for Gomtaengi later.

“Well then, shall we go?”

Looking at Frecia’s face filled with anticipation, I extended my hand.

Frecia’s small hand climbed onto my open palm.

At the same time, Tokki climbed back up one shoulder, and Gomtaengi ascended the other.

It seemed, like Frecia, Tokki had decked themselves out for our excursion.

With the cute Frecia in one hand and Tokki and Gomtaengi perched on my shoulders…

Isn’t this just the best?

 

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