Morning had passed and it was now lunchtime.

Eleanor had already left to spend time with King Orpheus, once again, leaving me all alone.

Instead of returning to the lab right away, I figured that I might as well patrol the area and maybe take a look around at the festival.

With that in mind, I stumbled upon an unusually noisy tent. Normally, I would have just passed by without much interest.

However, not only was there a crowd blocking the path, but I could also hear familiar music playing.

"..."

Upon closer inspection, it wasn't just people gathered there; wandering spirits who had previously haunted the academy were also gathered around because of the music.

A hastily scribbled sign that read [Professor Deus' Laboratory] was hanging above the tent.

"..."

As I circled to the back of the tent, I saw Owen passionately playing a small piano he had brought from somewhere.

When I went to the front, beyond the child who was playing with his eyes closed and immersed in his performance, there was a miniature duel arena that was typically used to play with mini cars or spinning tops.

And there

"Go!"

"Don't give up! Be strong!"

They were using hands adorned in something flashy to fight each other.

On each side stood a person who was channeling their mana into Professor Fel's prosthetic arms as if they were threads and controlling it.

"Come on! Move! Don't just stand there like a spinning top; it's a matter of life and death!"

Findenai excitedly encouraged them from the center of the arena as they gambled.

"How about this? If you look at this imitation arm..."

Even Professor Fel Petra was there, setting up a stall in the corner and recommending prosthetic arms to students.

The thought of them using my name on this dreadful hybrid collaboration already made me dizzy.

Just then, Erica Bright and Academy Nurse Caren broke through the crowd.

Erica, who spotted me, approached to ask.

"Uh, we received a report that there are duels between hands that can spurt blood everywhere taking place here, and that you can even bet on them..."

"Wow, I was wondering what kind of nonsense is going on here, but the person who reported this explained it quite well."

Caren clicked her tongue and exclaimed in amazement.

"Let me take care of this."

"Okay... do your best."

"Good luck."

The two of them seemed to trust me and left. After taking a deep breath, I approached Owen.

"Huh?"

I grabbed the hands of the boy playing the piano, stopped him, and then forcefully pressed down on the piano keys.

Clang!

Due to the loud sound, everyone's gaze turned towards us.

Unknowingly, I furrowed my brow and uttered a single sentence with an expression that indicated I was furious.

"Everything is now closed."

* * *

"Wasn't it fun?"

"..."

"Just be honest with me, our ideas were pretty good, dont you think so?"

Findenai, who was patrolling the streets with me, babbled regretfully.

"You are right. Honestly, the idea itself was not bad."

I had to at least admit that.

I never thought they would be able to create an event that fulfilled Findenai's desire for a fighting arena, Professor Fel's enthusiasm to showcase her prosthetic arms, and Owen's yearning to perform all at once.

However, it went a bit too far.

"One of the issues here was that Professor Fel's prosthetic arms were too perfect. With blood flying everywhere as the hands moved around, it was too grotesque for an academy festival."

"But that's what made it fun."

"Additionally, the biggest issue was the opening of a gambling den. I will say it again: this is an academy. This is a festival for students."

"Well... sorry about that. I got carried away with the excitement."

Findenai honestly admitted her mistake. Truthfully, I wished she had at least taken off her maid uniform because there were outsiders visiting the academy festival.

And surprisingly, perhaps because it was a festival, the outsiders who came here didn't find her strange at all.

Instead, they simply passed it off as part of the event.

"Anyway, try to stay out of trouble during the festival. Do not stir up any unnecessary disturbance."

"Well, I didn't plan on causing a disturbance on purpose."

Findenai scratched the back of her head and looked around. Students were laughing and chattering, eating food, playing pranks, and raising their voices.

The word peaceful could be applied to many situations, but at this moment, there was no shortage of reasons to describe this time as peaceful.

"Are you bored?"

Therefore, I naturally thought that if it were the usual Findenai, she would have felt disappointed on seeing such a scene because she was someone who lived for battles and survival.

However, to my surprise, Findenai opened her mouth while wearing a contemplative expression.

"No, it's nice to see."

"..."

It was such an unexpected answer.

I closed my mouth, realizing that I would frequently encounter unexpected situations today. Findenai continued speaking.

"I mean, I only fought because I was born in situations where I had to, Master Bastard."

"..."

"I'm also fighting because I don't want other people like me to be born, and I hate the Republic that fastened us with damn leashes."

"I see."

"We've been deprived of our freedom from birth, and I've been fighting to regain it."

The Republic was a place its citizens were deprived of things we took for granted, like freedom.

It seemed even more so, especially because Findenai could be seen as part of a slave class in the Griffin Kingdom.

"Every day, I shouted For freedom! Let's reclaim our freedom! Let's break free from the oppression of the Republic! Like a broken record."

"..."

"However, one day, when most of the Scrapyard Nomads fell into a trap set by the extermination units and died, do you know what I was thinking?"

Findenai glanced at me.

It was a conversation topic that didn't seem to fit the street's scenery, but I calmly listened to her.

"What was it?"

"Damn it, is freedom truly necessary when so many young children are spilling blood to this extent?"

"..."

"Should we have just bowed our heads to survive?"

It seemed like there was more to her words than meets the eye.

When she mentioned that most of the members of Scrapyard Nomads died, it likely involved non-combatants such as children.

"With such concerns, I took the remaining members to cross the mountain range."

Findenai slipped her hand into her pocket and glanced around again.

Then, she shrugged her shoulders as if she realized something.

"Yeah, it turns out it is this good."

"..."

"That is why everyone is struggling so much and screaming for freedom, because it feels so great."

"Findenai."

Seeing her reaction, I found myself calling her name before I even realized it.

"Huh?"

For some reason, it felt like she might just disappear somewhere if I didn't do so.

Perhaps that was why I, somewhat uncharacteristically, gestured towards the beverage stall next to us.

"How about we have something to drink?"

"Are you thirsty? I'll buy."

Out of the blue, Findenai somehow took some coins from her pocket and bought a drink for me. It was juice with ice floating in it, and it tasted just decent enough to drink.

So, we simply stood there for a moment, sipping on our drinks. Surprisingly, Findenai drank hers quickly, even chewing on the ice.

Watching her like that, I uttered the words I had organized in my mind for a moment.

"Our contract is valid for a period of five years."

Crunch!

Findenai chewed on the ice before responding.

"Yeah, I know. It feels like at least two years have passed, but it's only been half a year, which is surprising."

Seeing Findenai let out forced laughter, I continued speaking.

"After five years, once everything I need to resolve is taken care of, you will be free from our contract."

"That's right."

Findenai's gaze momentarily drifted far away as if imagining that day arriving. There was a hint of regret in her eyes.

"By then, once I achieve my goal and if the continent is still intact"

"..."

"At that time, I will be the one to lend you a hand."

Five years was the time remaining until the fate of the continent was decided.

If I managed to stop the impending doom properly, then, afterwards, it wouldn't be bad to assist Findenai in fighting against the Republic.

"Ha! Your dream is on the scale of saving the continent?"

"Have you not noticed it yet? After all, we have been going around together all this time."

I responded slyly at Findenais playful retort, which was not typical of me. The other side laughed in return.

"Yeah, I felt it. I got myself a very impressive Master Bastard."

Findenai, who had been laughing heartily, slowly stopped laughing and let out a slightly regretful sigh.

Then, after looking around, Findenai changed the conversation.

"Master Bastard, what would I have become if I had been born in the Griffin Kingdom?"

"...The Griffin Kingdom is not a Utopia."

Although it annoyed me that she deliberately avoided my offer to help, I decided to respond to Findenai's words first.

"Students often talk about things like this, right? What if this happened, what if that happened."

"..."

"If I were born in Norseweden, would I be much different from now?"

It almost felt like Findenai was forcing the question on me.

"Probably, but that nasty temper of yours would still be there."

"Tch."

"You might not be as strong as you are now, but you might have recognized your talent and applied to join the garrison."

"Ah, that does seem like something I would do."

Findenai nodded in agreement. Yet, I exercised a bit more imagination.

"While working in the garrison like that, you would have probably caught Darius' eye and become friendly with the members of the household."

"From what I see, if it were Master Bastard from his playboy era, you would have made a move on me right away, wouldn't you?"

"..."

As I stared blankly at Findenai for a moment, she met my gaze.

Alright, I would let her win this time.

"Yes, maybe it could have happened... No, that is definitely how it would have happened."

Because you are more charming than you think.

"So, will I end up being a northern wench who, despite cursing at you and complaining, eventually succumbs to your sweet words and techniques, Master Bastard?

"....Though I am not sure if you would have liked the person I was back then.

Were just talking about hypotheticals. Why are you taking this so seriously? I'll just think of him as you, the Master Bastard I've known so far.

Findenai smirked and closed her eyes for a moment. She took a deep breath and raised the corners of her mouth.

"It's a completely useless fantasy. How can I ever become a northern countryside maiden? It really doesn't suit me."

"..."

"But..."

It probably would have been enjoyable.

I felt like such a remark would follow that word.