Chapter 147.2

Chapter 147.2. Festival, Elves, And Awareness

-Miu’s Dad POV-

But there is one issue.

“And I also made a stone statue of the honorable Takano Yoshiyuki, as a token of appreciation. How about that?”

Why is my statue also next to it?

“It looks just like Papa!”

“…Does it?”

Miu innocently remarks, and it seems to be true. Why is that?

“While it was the hermit who saved our lives. But Takano Yoshiyuki provided us with a secure livelihood. Let’s keep the statues as memorials.”

“Wait a minute! Why is my statue a memorial?”

I approach Kusano-san with a strained expression, but he pats my shoulder lightly.

“I understand. I understand. However, we also wanted to show our gratitude.”

“Um, this is going too far!”

I only joined the Gardo Farm project. I haven’t done anything to deserve a statue. It’s too exaggerated.

“We’ve already made them, so please just accept it.”

“I can’t just accept it! We can’t remove it because it’s already here,”

“Everyone is grateful. Isn’t that fine?”

Kusano-san laughs. The people around me also seem humble and somehow show me respect. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Papa, you’re cool!”

“A stone statue is a bit embarrassing, I know.”

My wife and daughter applaud as well. It seems I have no allies, so I sigh and hang my head.

As dusk arrives and the lights and sacred flowers illuminate the night, I absentmindedly gaze as everyone enjoys the banquet.

They won’t remove the statue, and they’ll place it in the square as planned. I can’t help but let out a dry laugh.

“Sigh… What a situation.”

I manage to take a breath in a corner, avoiding the people who keep offering me drinks one after another.

They held a bingo game in the square, and the executive man got the prizes.

Unlike the parties I usually attend, with elaborate dishes such as fried chicken, onigiri, pasta, and dessert cookies, this modest feast doesn’t feel much like a festival.

It’s not very festive, but I find it more enjoyable as I drink the beer poured into my glass.

As I relax, someone calls out to me.

“Hey, you helped my old man and old lady, right, gau?”

“Hmm? Ah, you mean the employment? That’s just a thank you for growing sacred flowers.”

I see a spirited girl with greenish-yellow hair. She has a wild child-like aura. I smile, thinking she’s probably around the same age as Miu.

“No, that’s not it. You helped my old man and old lady. When the village get attacked, they told me to run away. I was worried that I might not be able to see my old man and old lady again.”

“That… wasn’t me. It was probably the hermit of the forest, I guess?”

“Gau? Thanks for your kindness. Everyone is saying that!”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Alright! I’ll do this, woof!”

It seems she has no intention of listening to me at all. The girl forcefully pushes a cookie she had in her hand toward me.

“Here, it’s a thank you! All my friends came back too! It’s called ‘sugar’!”

“Sugar?”

That’s a cookie. Why is she calling it sugar?

“Sugar! Gao had it for the first time since coming here! It’s really sweet! Sweeter than the wild grapes I always bring! Try it!”

“Oh… I see. Thank you, young lady. But this is called a cookie.”

I realize it now. The Druids have been living in Tokyo for a long time. This girl didn’t know about the existence of sugar.

“Sugar?”

“Cookie.”

The girl tilts her head in confusion, making a puzzled expression. I gently stroke her head and explain kindly.

“Hmm? I don’t quite get it, Gaou!”

“Well, from now on, you can eat many sweet things made with sugar.”

“Really? Lots of sweet things?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Lots of sweet things!”

Upon hearing my words, the girl gets excited, breathing heavily and jumping up and down.

“Thank you for the cookie. Come on, let’s eat the food before it’s gone!”

“That’s a lot of work, Gao! Well then, goodbye, kind person! I’m glad I came here! I don’t have to worry about being attacked by monsters. Thank you for the soft bed and delicious food, Gao! I like living here!”

With a smile, the girl waves her hand vigorously, runs off to the square, and quickly disappears as she joins the children waiting there.

“Life, huh…”

Hearing the sincere gratitude from that girl warms my heart.

The sight of people living in peace is dazzling.

“Huh? Why is my hand trembling?”

But I notice that the cup in my hand is shaking.

I know the reason. The words just now have triggered a sense of unease in my mind.

“To protect their lives, huh…”

I gaze at the people enjoying the banquet and realize that a heavy responsibility rests on my shoulders.

We started this land from scratch. The success or failure of tourism or flower sales relies heavily on Takano County’s power.

If I fail, their smiles will disappear.

Until now, I feel like I’ve only understood the people employed by Takano County as numbers.

But seeing the people I employ living happily like this, I am reminded of my responsibility.

“I have to work even harder than before…”

In this fantastical world where flower petals dance in the air, Yoshitake makes a new determination and smiles faintly.