Ice Snow Festival

“Master, don’t pull me like that… slow down…”

Ken was dragged out of the inn by Allen, stumbling along.

Outside the inn, all kinds of passersby looked at the scene — a petite young lady pulling along someone who looked like a servant, while the so-called servant wore a completely confused expression.

Ken was utterly puzzled.

They were just playing cards, was it really that serious?

But Allen cared a lot.

She was a hero, an embodiment of justice.

She could not watch someone walk down the road of no return.

If he got addicted, wouldn’t that be leading a disciple astray?

After all, he respectfully called her “Master.”

Allen tidied her hair and turned around, speaking earnestly.

“I’ve lived longer than you, so just listen to me!!”

“Don’t go play with those big guys!”

“They’ll deceive you!”

“If you play with them too much, you’ll get addicted!”

“Over time you might even start losing your hair!”

Allen rambled on without restraint.

“And the scariest thing is!”

“If you hang out with them too much, you’ll develop a preference for men!”

“Huh?!?!”

Ken stared at her in disbelief.

This was the first time he’d heard something so terrifying.

Listen to Master.

Never learn from them.

Ken resolved silently.

“Okay, Master!”

“I understand!”

Ken shouted loudly.

“This year’s Ice Snow Festival sure has a lot of weird people…”

“Earlier I saw a half-beast stuffing herself like crazy over there…”

A well-dressed noblewoman whispered to her companion as she passed by.

Her voice was quiet, but Ken, possessing Berserk Energy, heard every word clearly.

“Uh…”

Ken froze awkwardly.

Allen, having no special abilities, naturally didn’t hear anything.

She was rather pleased that her lecture had worked.

Meanwhile, Ken’s face turned red as an apple.

He scratched his head awkwardly.

Run.

That was Ken’s first thought.

“Master, let’s go!”

“Don’t stay here anymore.”

“Look, that thing over there looks really tasty!”

“Let’s go check it out!”

“My treat!”

Ken grabbed Allen and dashed toward the street filled with food stalls.

“W-wait…!”

“Slow down!”

“Don’t pull me so fast!”

Now the situation was reversed — Ken was dragging Allen across the street.

“So many weird people,” a passerby sighed.

“Customer~”

“These candied hawthorns are two silver coins each.”

“Two sticks make four silver coins.”

A street vendor pushing a small cart called out.

“Okay, here you go…”

Ken stiffly handed over the money.

“Alright, please wait~”

The vendor smiled.

Ken curiously watched the vendor make the candied hawthorns step by step.

His movements were extremely skillful.

Most importantly, the vendor seemed to know a bit of fire magic.

He melted the sugar entirely with magic.

For Ken, this was his first time seeing such a thing.

He stared without blinking.

Allen, also seeing this for the first time, leaned over the stall just like a curious child, staring intently as well.

Occasionally, the vendor would snap his fingers and conjure a small flame in front of them.

Both of them politely exclaimed in amazement.

It was like a tiny magic show, truly fascinating.

“Customers, it’s ready~”

“Ah!”

“Thank you!”

Ken took the two candied hawthorns and handed one to Allen.

One for each of them.

“Where did you get the money?!”

Allen suddenly remembered.

This guy was broke.

Even his clothes were bought with her money.

So where did this money suddenly come from?!

There must be some shady deal behind this.

He was hiding something from her.

“Ah~ n-no…”

“I picked it up from the ground~”

Ken laughed foolishly.

Allen didn’t believe him in the slightest.

In truth, while Allen was bathing and changing clothes, Ken had already finished early and gone downstairs.

He watched the big men play cards out of boredom.

The longer he watched, the more he understood their tricks.

Perhaps due to natural talent, he grasped everything quickly.

He borrowed one silver coin from a bald man nearby and bet all his chips every time.

Before long, he had won over fifty silver coins.

Feeling tired, he simply sat back and watched.

By the time Allen came downstairs, she had no idea this had happened.

“Forget it.”

“Even if I ask, you won’t tell me…”

Allen muttered resentfully, sitting on a nearby bench.

“Hehe~”

Ken laughed foolishly.

“Even though it’s snowing, it’s not that heavy…”

Allen said softly.

“Yeah,”

Ken replied.

“Why did you follow me?”

Allen asked.

“You’re brave, and strong,”

Ken answered.

“You stepped forward for our village in a moment of crisis.”

“I’m very grateful.”

“Even though you don’t have the same power as me, you have far more refined combat skills.”

“So I felt you must be someone with a story.”

“Is that all?”

Allen asked.

“No.”

“I saw that you were badly injured.”

“I was afraid you’d collapse on the road.”

“That’s why I kept following you.”

“And during our fight, you were just as I guessed — very weak.”

“If I hadn’t followed you, you probably would’ve fainted in the forest.”

Ken spoke seriously.

There was one more reason he didn’t dare to say.

Because she was beautiful, he had inexplicably wanted to follow her.

“Thank you…”

After a moment of silence, Allen said softly.

She had been so willful, refusing someone’s help.

That really was wrong of her.

“You’re welcome,”

Ken replied.

Allen casually glanced aside, when suddenly a streak of red caught her eye.

A vivid red, like autumn maple leaves.

In Allen’s memory, only Luna had such distinctive hair.

The image overlapped with a familiar figure.

Allen froze for a moment, then relaxed.

She had traveled day and night, leaving the great forest in just five days.

With the heavy snow and the sleeping drug’s effects, it was even more impossible for that person to appear in this small city.

So this must just be her imagination.

Still, she should stay cautious.

The red-haired girl was a half-beast.

Like Luna, she had a pair of cute animal ears.

Her hair was intricately braided and wrapped once around her head.

The remaining hair flowed down her back, giving her a youthful innocence.

She wore a deep blue hunting outfit.

Her inner clothing mixed chiffon and cotton.

Lace trimmed her sleeves and collar.

A deep blue silk bow decorated her neckline.

Her long skirt lacked a hoop, yet carried a unique elegance.

A light blue outer dress matched her temperament perfectly.

But more than her appearance, what felt strange was the way she ate.

She devoured food like a whirlwind.

Although she tried to maintain manners, the piles of empty plates betrayed her appetite.

Are all half-beasts monsters?

Such a huge appetite.

Allen thought silently.

Ken followed Allen’s vacant gaze.

The sight was unforgettable.

“Master.”

“This must be the other weirdo people were talking about.”

“That half-beast girl who’s eating like crazy!”

Ken said excitedly.

“Yeah…”

Allen replied absent-mindedly.

A strange unease rose in Allen’s chest.

The girl’s face increasingly resembled Luna’s.

Painful memories stirred.

Her head throbbed slightly.

She shook it, forcing herself not to think.

“Master?!”

“Master?”

Ken called out.

“Ah…”

“I feel a bit dizzy.”

“How about we head back?”

Allen suggested.

“If you’re not feeling well, then let’s go back,”

Ken replied, somewhat disappointed.

They returned to the inn in silence.

Allen planned to leave tomorrow.

She would leave Ken a letter.

The snow deepened.

The night grew quiet.

In the haze of the blizzard, Ken finally fell asleep.