“Hey there, handsome gentleman! Here’s a perfect chance to score points with your lovely sweetheart!”

They stopped in front of the event booth, which they would normally have passed by, because of the merchant’s solicitation as he suddenly appeared and blocked their path.

“Hit the bird with this bow and win amazing prizes! Only one chance!”

When the merchant waved what looked like a decent wooden bow and pointed somewhere, both their gazes naturally followed. They could see magical fake birds frantically flying up and down on a large wooden board set up far away. It seemed to be a low-grade magical device specially made for today.

“Beautiful lady, don’t you want to see your lover’s magnificent archery skills?”

When the merchant winked at Bellota while showing off, her face subtly reddened in embarrassment. Bellota tried to explain that they weren’t that kind of relationship, but Seiden was faster. He pulled money from his pocket and thrust it out while simultaneously snatching the wooden bow from the merchant’s hand.

“Oho! You’ve got quite a passionate lover, haven’t you, my lady?”

When the excited merchant fawned over Bellota, her face reddened even more.

“This way, please. Now, stand on this line and shoot. Though it might look easy, it’s quite difficult! But don’t worry too much — you can have as many chances as you want if you just pay more!”

Following the merchant’s guidance, Seiden and Bellota stood at the stopping line and watched the fluttering fake bird. As he said, the bird was quite far away, and arrows that had failed to hit their target were scattered everywhere around it.

“No one has succeeded yet. But honestly, we’re giving free prizes to anyone who tries more than three times, so if you want a prize, try persuading your lover. Our prizes are the talk of the town right now.”

The merchant stuck close to Bellota and secretly encouraged her, but Bellota knew that wouldn’t be necessary. The man before them might not know, but the man standing there, drawing back the string of the roughly carved wooden bow was……

“Oh!”

Seiden Blackwood, after all.

“Kueeek!”

When Seiden released the bowstring, the deliberately blunted arrow shot out with surprising force and pierced the heart of the fake bird that was designed to be impossible to hit, embedding itself into the wooden board.

“Gasp.”

At this terrifying sight, the merchant who had been chattering endlessly beside Bellota was struck speechless, his jaw dropping stupidly.

“W-wait……”

Seiden, who had succeeded in the hunt with a single arrow, smoothly turned to look at Bellota. When their eyes met, heat suddenly rushed to Bellota’s throat as she realized she had been staring at Seiden in a daze.

“My goodness, he hit the bird.”

“So it was possible to hit it after all. I thought they were scammers since no one had hit it for days.”

“No, this must be a scam, but how strange.”

From the murmuring of the spectators who had gathered around, Bellota realized that Seiden was the only one who had hit the fake bird.

Seiden, who had earned the right to claim a prize for the first time, walked over to the dejected merchant and held out the bow.

“The prize.”

When Seiden made his brief, firm demand, tears welled up in the merchant’s eyes. The expensive fake bird he had purchased was now completely ruined. However, the quick-witted merchant realized that trying any more tricks on the man before him would be suicidal. He reluctantly brought out the prepared prize box.

“Sniff. You can choose from these……”

The merchant opened the box with a face that looked ready to burst into tears at any moment.

“These are talismans.”

Unlike his grand promotional claims earlier, when Seiden’s eyes hardened suspiciously at the unimpressive prizes, the man hurriedly explained.

“T-these may not look like much, but they’re real blessed talismans! Though weak, they’re genuine. They can easily resolve minor folk curses!”

The two looked at the talismans laid out in the box. Soon, both Bellota and Seiden’s faces hardened simultaneously as they noticed something strange about the talismans.

“This is……”

As Bellota trailed off in surprise, the merchant nodded as if he had guessed correctly.

“Yes, you recognize them, don’t you? These are Seiden Blackwood talismans and Geril Lylester talismans!”

At this solemn introduction, Seiden’s eyebrows furrowed in displeasure. Bellota, though flustered, stared intently at the talisman with a drawing so similar it was impossible not to recognize. A cute miniature of Seiden’s face was drawn on the round talisman. The jet-black hair, indifferent red eyes, and seemingly bothered expressionless face.

“……”

As Bellota finally lowered her head and burst into small laughter after seeing the drawing that remarkably resembled him, Seiden suppressed an exasperated sigh while watching her.

However, Bellota soon noticed something strange. While only one Seiden Blackwood talisman remained, there were dozens of Geril Lylester talismans left, featuring his smooth blonde hair, golden eyes, and affected smile.

“Are there only one Seiden Blackwood talisman left?”

When Bellota asked curiously, the merchant answered in a whisper, like he was sharing a secret while covering his mouth.

“As you know, Sir Seiden Blackwood is this hunting festival’s winner. Moreover, Duke Lylester was caught using tricks. I heard rumors that Sir Seiden Blackwood himself exposed those tricks.”

Bellota’s face grew awkward, standing right next to that very Sir Seiden Blackwood.

“So no one wants Duke Lylester’s talismans anymore. Damn, I made hundreds thinking he would win again this time!”

It was a long-standing tradition of the Rundhardt festival to sell various items featuring the winner after the hunting festival ended. Among these, talismans with blessing or monster-repelling abilities became even more meaningful when bearing the winner’s name, making them sell like hotcakes.

In previous festivals, Geril’s talismans had been extremely popular. But now, no one wanted Geril’s talismans. Bellota realized that Seiden had dealt Geril a proper blow.

“In contrast, the popularity of Seiden Blackwood talismans has become enormous. Well, strictly speaking, it’s Sir Seiden Blackwood’s popularity that’s soaring. They say he has looks blessed by the holy god and power blessed by the demon god.”

At the merchant’s words, Bellota glanced at Seiden Blackwood, the subject of this praise. He was looking down at the worthless Lylester talismans with an expression showing no interest in such praise. His face looked as if he wanted to tear them to shreds.

“Ah, but you know Duke Lylester has won several times before, right? There must have been some circumstances this time. Hahah, he’s not that kind of person, right? Ah, the Lylester talismans can even repel simple insect monsters?”

Belatedly realizing his position, the merchant deliberately held out the Lylester talismans while promoting them. However, Bellota’s hand passed over the Lylester talismans and picked up the single remaining Seiden Blackwood talisman.

“I like the Seiden Blackwood talisman.”

At her gentle murmur, Seiden’s eyes darkened as he had been glaring at Geril’s talismans with displeasure and annoyance.

“Haha, of course you do. Yes, that’s fine. The lady has claimed the last remaining Seiden Blackwood talisman. Congratulations. May Sir Seiden’s blessing be with you.”

The merchant, clapping in resignation, turned away while waving his hands as if telling them to leave. While the man fell into despair and contemplation about how to deal with the dead fake bird and hundreds of remaining Geril Lylester talismans, Bellota stared intently at the Seiden Blackwood talisman with the happiest expression yet.

“Is that what I look like?”

When Seiden asked quietly, unable to comprehend, Bellota looked up at him with another soft laugh.

“No? This drawing is much cuter.”

Her tone seemed to be teasing him. Though Seiden swallowed a sigh in disbelief, he eventually lifted the corners of his mouth at the sight of Bellota’s enjoyment. Whatever it was didn’t matter. If Bellota liked it.

“Since I won it for you, don’t lose it.”

Even at this shameless way of taking credit, the smile didn’t leave Bellota’s lips. Bellota carefully placed the talisman in her deepest pocket.

When Bellota was about to turn toward Seiden to tease him again, her gaze was caught by something floating above his head. Seiden, who quickly noticed this, turned around and looked up at the sky to see bright lanterns rising into the air.

Seiden already knew about the lantern event being held at the nearby lake. He looked at Bellota, who was gazing at the sky with eyes full of wonder and emotion. It was only natural that Seiden immediately led Bellota to the lakeside where the lantern event was being held.

“Since it’s a boat powered by magic, you don’t need to row, just adjust the direction. You see where the flower petals are floating? That’s the most beautiful spot to release lanterns. Have a wonderful time!”

After receiving these instructions, the two boarded a small boat carrying a brightly glowing large lantern. As the small boat moved on its own across the calm and vast lake, Bellota’s face tensed.

“I’ve never done this before. We won’t fall in, will we?”

At her cute worry, Seiden let out a laugh like the wind.