The men of Barca have retrieved the ingredients for the Berser Bull and when they return to the village, the women arrive with platters and bottles of wine.

　In the center of the village, the tables are crammed with food on stumps.
　The speciality of Barca Village is bacon.
　Bacon and eggs, bacon soup, thick slices of bacon steak, and side dishes such as mushrooms.
　There are also side dishes such as mushrooms.

　The meat is the main ingredient of the dish, but it is surprisingly light, which is probably due to the high quality of the bacon in this village. The fat is sweet and tasty.

I'm afraid I'm going to get fat.

　And there are no signs of obesity, says Luna Maria, but it seems that only meat is hard for women. You look like you're half full when you're half me.

　As a priestess of the Earth Mother Goddess, she also wants to eat vegetables, but she is troubled by the fact that it is not customary to eat vegetables in this village. So she declares that she is going to pick wildflowers by herself and gets up from her seat.

　At the sight of her, the shield in her left hand said, "Charnes!　We'll go together and do naughty things in the dark! And intrigue me, but I'm not stupid enough to fall for such a move.

　And since I was the guest of honor at this party, I couldn't leave easily.

　Master Baba and the village elders offered me a drink, but I couldn't get it up.

　I sipped my wine cup as I stared at the back of Lunamaria.
　Seeing this, Zinga says.

Well, Will can drink more than you think. It's not always what it seems.

"My father and mother are heavy drinkers,

　Vandal drinking sake, reminds me of Miria's wine.

I'm joking, but I actually add water before the sake is poured. I dilute it three times before drinking it.

That's smart. People in our village are drunkards. If we listen to them, we'll surely get drunker.

"Actually, I'm at my limit,

　Zinga laughed when I told him honestly and told the elders.

"He just came of age not long ago. Stand back.

　The elders agreed.
　Thanking Zinga's consideration, they exchanged pleasantries for a while before he patted them on the back.

"Well, now you owe the hero a debt of gratitude. So next time, will you do me a favor?

Whatever.

　Zinga grinned back.

"Good word. Then you're going to go over to the little girl and seduce her. Festival nights are the nights when women are more vulnerable and easier to seduce.

"It's the same way of thinking as ...... holy shields.

　It's lightly disconcerting, but once a man's worthiness to leave a woman alone is called into question, he has no choice but to comply.

I could use some wildflowers too.

　The bacon was great, but as expected, I wanted something green. With that excuse to myself, I headed into the darkness where Lunamaria had disappeared.

　I walked through the noisy circle of villagers.
　The light from the campfire dimmed and behind it I saw Lunamaria.
　She was standing there with an indescribable expression on her face.
　Seeing Luna Maria, Aegis the Holy Shield says vulgarly.

"You have a mysterious look on your face. I wonder if you've caught a glimpse of a mating scene between a young man and woman, as is often the case at festivals.

"......

　I gave him a reproachful look and Aegis faked that he was just kidding.

　I ignore Aegis and quietly cuddle up next to Luna Maria. She notices me right away.

"Dear ...... Will,

　Muttering to himself, Luna Maria. His words and expression were filled with melancholy.

　What's wrong with you?　I guess it would be more attractive to women if I could casually ask, "What do you want to do with me?

After mumbling something like "uh, ......" or "uh, ......" or some other inexplicable phrase, I would just ask her straight away, "...... what's going on?
...... Luna Maria, what's going on?
　If Dad Ronin were here, he would say, "Kaa!　It's too direct! But fortunately, there was no one here but me and Lunamaria.

"............
"............

　For a moment of silence, a "giggle" escapes from the corner of Lunamaria's mouth.
　What's so funny?　I'll ask.
　Lunamaría answered in a pretty voice: "Because Master Will's atmosphere is so serious.

"Because Master Will is in a very serious mood.

　I heard that he looked as if he was going to face the demon king to save the world.

　I didn't know if she had such a mysterious expression on her face.

　If I had a mirror, I'd like to see it, but I don't have one, so I give up and ask Lunamaria.

"I seemed to have a strange expression on my face, and so did Lunamaria. Is something wrong?

　I guess it was a surprise, she asked, "Me too? I was surprised.

'Yeah, he looked serious and listened.

It's nothing.

　And that was that. I look in the direction she was facing, but there's nothing there. But I knew she had a very good ear.



　To see and hear the same sights as she does.
　I strengthen my hearing with magic.
　Then from behind the bushes I hear a child's laughter.


"Mom, festivals are fun. I wish every day was a festival.


　It was probably the child's mother who responded to such an innocent line with the word "yes".

　A child's smile is the most precious thing to a parent. You can hear the affection in her voice.


Well. When Mr. Will comes back, we can have a celebration.

Hey, I'll ask my brother Will to come by the village again later. I'm going to learn swordsmanship when I come back. I want to be the hunter who can kill Berserker Bull.

"Hmmm, I'll have to get stronger for that. Mile has a weak body and needs to work out.

"How do I get stronger?

." "Yes. . or drink ginger juice every day, which Miles hates.

"Yeah, that's too soon.

That doesn't make you strong.

Boo.


　It was a conversation between mothers and children everywhere.

　I said similar lines to Mom Milia when I was a child. It was on the day of my birthday party, and she baked a birthday cake for me with an untrained hand. It was so good that I said "I wish every day was my birthday".

　My mother took my words seriously and said, "Every day is my birthday! And I really remember that he baked me a birthday cake every day. After the first week, I got tired of it and said that we would only have one birthday a year. --But I remember how happy I was to see you, and I remember feeling a warm feeling in my chest.

　Listening to the conversation between mother and child from behind the trees, I was filled with nostalgic feelings. I'm sure Luna Maria feels the same way. I'm sure Luna Maria feels the same way.

(...... I remember that Lunamaria lost her parents when she was a child)


　I had heard that story when I first met Luna Maria. She told me that her parents had died of an epidemic when she was very young. It was before she could remember and she barely remembered her mother. So, what she feels now may not be nostalgia but curiosity. She may have been paying attention to the casual conversation between mother and child.

　When I point this out, Luna Maria looks surprised.

I didn't think so ......," she exclaims, but she seems to have quickly found her way back to her feelings.

I guess so. Yes," he continues, "I guess so.

I grew up without knowing my mother. My parents died when I was young and I was taken in by the temple. I wanted to be pampered and they were gone, so it's a little strange to see a normal mother and child.

"...... I see.

Don't look so serious. --Will, you have a hard life.

"Yes, it's true. . well, that's what life is like when you're a baby and they put you in a boat and float you down the river.

Yes,

"But luckily the gods found me. They gave me more love and affection than my own family. I feel lucky.

Yes. But then, my parents were not to be outdone. I was raised by the High Priestess of Earth Mother and she was a strict but loving person. I'm happy enough.

Yeah. It takes a lot of love to raise a girl as sweet as Luna Maria.

Yes. Every morning we would get up before the sun rose, bathe in freezing cold water, go to the villages at the foot of the mountain to beg for alms, practice sword and sacred magic at noon, then prepare dinner, study by moonlight, and only once a year would the very kind high priest praise us, saying, 'You have done well, Luna Maria.

　Smiling Luna Maria .

"............

　Lunamaria's harsh environment was appalling, but what was even more surprising was that Lunamaria really recognized the high priest as a kind man.

When I was injured in practice and broke a bone, the high priest exempted me from being hit by a waterfall the next day.

　And
The high priest would only give us one more charcoal briquette in the middle of winter.
　And
　He presented a lot of stories that were not very kind.
　The only thing is that to Luna Maria, the high priest is a strict but kind person.

　She is the opposite of the doting mother, but if everyone in the world is like her, that's not good enough.

　I felt this way, but I did not say it.
　It was obvious that today's Luna Maria was interested in the "gentle mother".
　Lunamaría listens in silence to the conversation between mother and child in Barca Village.

　Now, I didn't have the right words to say to her here and now, and I listened to the conversation as she did, and stayed there until the mother and child walked away.

　I missed my mother and child as well as her close family members. --The same way, I listened to the conversation between mother and child, until they walked away.