"Rafa! Tatiana!"

As we walked through a narrow alley, a familiar voice called out. Turning, I spotted Jenny waving at us from beyond the throng of people.

Yesterday, we had returned after delivering the phoenix feather.

Today, we were out shopping for spare clothes and some basic supplies, wandering through the bustling streets.

For some reason, the streets were much more crowded than usual.

Jenny pushed her way through the crowd toward us, and Tatiana sighed softly.

“Whenever I see Jenny, I’m always happy because she’s so kind and helpful. But today… seeing her drains my energy,” she said, sounding utterly deflated.

Her gloomy expression was so comical that I couldn’t help but laugh.

Tatiana gently hit my arm. “Don’t laugh! Even if the amount is small, losing money still stings.”

The price we got for the phoenix feather had been slightly lower than we anticipated.

Apparently, the mission itself had been priced on the higher end, so the adjusted payment was considered reasonable.

Two of the feathers had slight damage, which also factored into the reduced price.

The difference wasn’t significant, but Tatiana had been deeply disappointed.

Her initial disbelief had given way to tears by the end of the discussion yesterday.

It hadn’t been a huge loss, so I couldn’t understand why she was so upset.

Seeing Jenny must have reminded her of the whole ordeal, and her shoulders slumped further.

My laughter persisted, which only made Tatiana nudge me again.

“Seriously… stop laughing.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“This was your money, Rafa.”

“No, we’re a team. Half of it is yours.”

“That’s not right. The phoenix isn’t mine,” she said, lowering her voice so only I could hear.

I matched her tone, whispering back. “It’s not mine either. It just follows us around.”

“You’re like its mother.”

Despite the fact that we had agreed to split all earnings equally from the beginning, Tatiana seemed reluctant to claim her share.

Her generosity was endearing.

But it also made me worry—was she too kind-hearted to navigate this harsh world?

Having skill and being able to survive in society were two very different things.

If she wasn’t careful, she might end up being taken advantage of.

Yes, for her sake, I must win her heart. It’s my duty.

Our bond had deepened, and with money coming in, perhaps it was time to move forward in our relationship.

Before someone else tried to steal her away.

Life is a series of battles, and love is no different.

Steeling my resolve, I watched as Jenny finally reached us, out of breath.

“There’s a festival coming up soon! I need to confirm if you’ll be participating,” she said, still panting. “I meant to tell you yesterday, but I got so excited about the phoenix feather that I completely forgot!”

Jenny chuckled, seemingly unbothered by her oversight.

“Yesterday, the entire guild was in an uproar! Phoenix feathers aren’t something you come across every day.”

Apparently, the guild had already notified their headquarters in the capital early this morning about the acquisition.

“Until now, demand for phoenix feathers has always outstripped supply, so transactions have been rare. But with this, things might change. If you can get more feathers, it would be amazing!”

Jenny’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Well, of course, I could get more.

The phoenix was still around. Just a while ago, it had been circling above the city. Last night, it even entered our inn through the window to sleep on my bed alongside Rella.

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Brazenly, it had claimed a corner of my bed.

That creature was becoming less wild by the day.

If not for Tatiana’s joy at having the phoenix close by, I might have kicked it out.

For some reason, Tatiana seemed intent on forming a bond with the phoenix—not out of greed, but for reasons I couldn’t quite understand.

Meanwhile, Jenny seemed to have forgotten the original purpose of her visit. She kept talking about the phoenix feathers, envisioning the guild becoming a premier supplier of the rare commodity.

“Jenny has been very helpful,” I thought, “but shouting about feathers while looking at my face feels a bit odd.”

“What’s the festival about?” I asked, redirecting the conversation.

Jenny snapped back to the present. “Oh! Right, the festival!”

We stepped aside to make room for passersby, as the alley was even more congested than usual.

“The Winter Hunting Festival is held at the start of the season. It wasn’t a tradition when Helga was around, but after she disappeared, the increase in magical beasts made it necessary.”

With Helga gone, the balance of magical creatures had tipped drastically.

The monstrous beasts she had single-handedly kept in check now required entire armies and guilds to handle.

Even lesser beasts and ordinary animals multiplied unchecked, leading to the creation of the Winter Hunting Festival.

During the festival, everyone—from lords to adventurers and even idle farmers during the off-season—gathered for a large-scale hunt in the nearby forests.

Jenny explained that the festival accounted for the sudden influx of people in the city today. Many had come in preparation.

Even our inn had filled up with new arrivals.

“The festival is more of a celebration than a real danger,” Jenny continued. “There’s a big market near the forest, and merchants flock to sell their wares. It’s a lot of fun. You two should come and enjoy it!”

She glanced between me and Tatiana.

“Besides, for the guild, it’s a great opportunity to showcase the presence of high-ranking adventurers. You don’t have to participate in the hunt itself. Just having your names on the list would mean a lot.”

Tatiana’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at me, clearly eager to join.

A festival, huh? It didn’t sound bad.

It might even be a chance to grow closer to her.

“As long as we’re not obligated to do much, I’m in,” I said.

Jenny sighed in relief. “Thank you. All you need to do is attend the opening ceremony when the lord gives his speech.”

Hearing that, a thought struck me.

If it was a festival, the lord’s family might be present—his wife, son, and daughter included.

I pictured the fire mage with her screeching voice and cringed slightly.

If she acted up again, I might lose my temper and hit her this time.

Glancing at my fist, I reminded myself to hold back.

If I struck her, it wouldn’t just be a scuffle—it would be fatal.

Killing the lord’s daughter… yeah, that’d be a problem.

Jenny left with a cheerful smile, returning to the guild.

With the festival in mind, I began noticing how the bustling city’s chatter revolved around it. The festival brought excitement, as it also allowed residents to gather firewood from the forest tax-free and hunt small animals for food.

The atmosphere was brimming with anticipation.

‘The lord seems like a decent man,’ I thought. Though his daughter didn’t seem like much of a lady.

Tatiana and I eventually reached our destination: a second-hand clothing store.

Tatiana needed more outfits, and I was running low on undergarments.

The shop catered to both men and women, with items for everyone displayed in a small but well-organized space.

The moment I entered, my eyes were drawn to a wall adorned with women’s undergarments.

The sight was… revealing.

The designs, which tied around the waist with ribbons, struck me as rather risqué.

For a moment, I imagined Tatiana wearing something similar, and my thoughts spiraled.

Stop it. Forget it. Focus.

Flustered, I backed out of the store as though fleeing a crime scene.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Tatiana frozen in place, staring at the same display, her face as red as mine must have been.

The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man, quickly intercepted me outside.

“Don’t worry, sir! If stepping inside feels awkward, just tell me what you need, and I’ll bring it to you!”

He grinned knowingly, clearly accustomed to embarrassed male customers.

In the end, I walked away with three pairs of pants, two shirts, and six undergarments.

Tatiana emerged with the shopkeeper’s wife, carrying not only her intended shirts and trousers but also three dresses she hadn’t planned to buy.

As we walked side by side, she muttered, “I thought I was confident in my abilities, but I need to work harder. That shopkeeper’s wife didn’t even use magic, and I ended up doing exactly what she wanted.”

“… Me too,” I admitted.

I wasn’t the type to go with the flow, yet here I was, holding more items than I’d intended.

Perhaps my mind had regressed, diluted by my current self’s simplicity—or maybe it was my mother’s strong genetic influence.

That thought made me sigh.

“Haah.”

“Haah.”

In perfect sync, Tatiana sighed as well.

With her slightly flushed cheeks and a wistful expression, she looked particularly beautiful today.

As I glanced at the bags she carried, the image of her wearing those undergarments crossed my mind again, and I shook my head vigorously.

Calm down, Rafa.

Once I became aware of the thought, it was impossible to ignore.

This might be it. I can’t hold back anymore. During this festival… I’ll confess.

***

Snow fell the day before the festival.

It wasn’t heavy, but enough to coat shaded areas with a light white layer. The ground hardened, bearing the imprints of hooves, wheels, and boots.

The festival was held outside the city walls.

Round tents with pointed roofs dotted the area, alongside large wagons and guards stationed throughout.

Nobles had traveled from other regions to join, not just the local townsfolk and villagers.

A bustling marketplace had also sprung up nearby, selling everything from produce and livestock to handcrafted wooden goods.

The clothing vendor from earlier was there, calling out to potential customers with a stack of garments piled on a tarp.

As I resolved to avoid that particular stall, I noticed some people nervously glancing at the sky.

“What’s that up there?”

“It’s huge…”

“Could it be a magical beast?”

“It’s been circling for a while now.”

Looking up, I saw a massive bird gliding above.

Oh, no. That’s the phoenix.

Rella’s mother, to be precise.

Rella herself had darted off as soon as we arrived, likely chasing some small prey.

The mother phoenix was probably keeping an eye on her.

I silently prayed that neither Rella nor her mother would cause trouble.

“It’ll be fine,” Tatiana said softly, tapping my arm as if to reassure me.

Her bright smile lifted my spirits.

Alright, this is it. I’ll confess now.

Just as I gathered my courage, a luxurious carriage approached.

The lord’s family had arrived.

Through the carriage window, I caught a glimpse of a familiar face.

It was Rira, the lord’s daughter.

Our eyes met briefly, and she smiled, narrowing her eyes in a way that sent a chill down my spine.