Chapter 129

After a bit of simple tidying up, everyone left the hot spring villa together, the scent of warm minerals and wood smoke still clinging faintly to their clothes.

By then, the time had already slipped to half past seven. The sun had completely vanished beyond the mountains, leaving the world bathed in shadow.

The night was hushed and cool.

The breeze carried a hint of the forest—fresh pine, distant blossoms, and the faint chill of the coming summer night.

Above, a perfect silver moon hung in the sky, bright and round, casting soft light that spilled across the path like flowing silk. The stars surrounding it twinkled faintly, their reflections glimmering on puddles left by the earlier drizzle.

Under that gentle moonlight, a long stone path meandered into the woods, flanked on both sides by mossy stones with hollow centers glowing faintly from within. Small fireflies drifted lazily around them, their tiny bodies pulsing with soft light, turning the path into a dreamscape of floating stars.

The rhythmic tapping of wooden sandals echoed along the stone. “Tap, tap,” like the heartbeat of the night itself. Each step carried the scent of adventure and peace.

…

When they arrived at the festival square, it was more vibrant than before. Bright lanterns illuminated every corner, their colors reflected in the shimmering river nearby. The crowd had grown thicker, laughter and chatter blending with the playful tunes of festival flutes.

“So lively!” someone exclaimed, eyes wide with wonder. The noise, the music, and the scent of food all crashed together into a whirlpool of energy that instantly drove away the calm of the hot spring villa.

It was still early—not even close to bedtime—and shopping was a natural instinct for every girl present. Even the perpetually lazy Gabriel had forgotten her apathy, strolling alongside Vigne and the others, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she pointed curiously at each stand.

Kouya followed behind, hands in his pockets. The others seemed at ease in the crowd, laughing and chatting. He was just about to relax when he felt a tug at his sleeve.

He looked down—and met a pair of bright, blue eyes gazing up at him. Kanna’s expression was calm but expectant.

“What do you want to eat?” he sighed.

So much for being the ‘master’ in this so-called master–pet dynamic. He was more like the one being trained.

“That one.” Kanna pointed toward a food stall glowing under paper lanterns.

“Fine. But brush your teeth after, alright?”

She nodded. “Mm.” Her tiny hand clung to his sleeve as she followed, her tail swaying slightly with each step.

The stand sold chocolate-covered bananas—a festival classic. Bananas dipped in melted chocolate and sprinkled with colorful candy bits, each one glistening temptingly. A snack made to win the hearts of children and girls alike.

The sweet scent of cocoa and fruit filled the air as Kouya paid for one. He had barely turned when another voice called out.

“Kou-nii! I want one too!” Little Hinata came running, her sandals clacking on the pavement. She latched onto his free arm, pressing her cheek against it like a spoiled kitten.

Behind her, the shrine maiden followed quietly, her serene smile tinged with amusement.

Kouya raised a brow. “Aren’t you afraid of getting fat?”

Hinata puffed her cheeks, shaking her head so hard her pigtails swayed. “Nope! I never get fat! I can eat as much as I want!”

Her confidence was unshakable.

Soon enough, both Kanna and Hinata were enjoying treats together. Then came soft-boiled onsen eggs and sizzling takoyaki from a nearby stall. The fragrance of sauce, bonito flakes, and steaming egg mixed together deliciously. The eggs—slow-cooked in natural hot springs—were half-solid, half-liquid, smooth and delicate like pudding.

Hinata was ecstatic, her eyes glowing brighter with each bite. “This is amazing! I want another!” she said, pointing toward a vendor selling creamy mashed potatoes.

The shrine maiden smiled faintly but shook her head. “That’s enough. You’ll upset your stomach if you keep going.”

Hinata deflated instantly, lips curling downward. “Okay, Onee-sama…” Her obedient voice was small, almost sulky.

But her eyes darted immediately toward Kanna, who was still quietly munching on her own potatoes. The sight of the blue-eyed dragon girl eating so contentedly made Hinata’s lower lip tremble. She looked up at her sister with a pitiful, watery gaze.

The shrine maiden sighed and reached out to pat her head. “Alright, alright. You can have half. But only half. The rest goes to Kanna.”

Hinata’s tears vanished instantly. She bounced up, hugging her sister’s arm tightly. “You’re the best, Onee-sama! I love you!”

The shrine maiden chuckled softly, her composure slipping for a moment. Her eyes drifted toward the couples passing nearby, each carrying softly glowing flower lanterns.

She hesitated, then looked at Kouya. “Kouya… shall we release a wish lantern too?”

He blinked, then nodded. “Sure.”

It wasn’t like he had anything better to do, and the calm ritual sounded… peaceful.

They bought a lantern and headed for the riverbank with Kanna and Hinata trailing close behind. The crowd thinned as they approached the water. The night air was cool and smelled faintly of blossoms. The river shimmered under the moon, carrying dozens of glowing lanterns downstream like drifting stars.

Wind chimes jingled from a nearby stall, their soft tones mingling with the gentle murmur of the river.

“Only this design is left,” Kouya said, holding up a simple paper lantern painted with red flowers.

“That’s alright,” the shrine maiden replied with a tender smile. “We’ll have plenty of chances again later.” Her voice carried a warmth that made time seem to slow.

Click!

The sound of a photo being taken broke the quiet moment.

They turned around to find Hinata standing there, holding her phone triumphantly. “You two looked so perfect just now! I had to take a picture—it’s for memories!” She winked playfully.

She nudged Kanna. “Right, Kanna-chan?”

Kanna blinked innocently, chewing her last bite of potato. “Majimabakunai~ (So amazing~).”

The shrine maiden’s cheeks flushed pink. “Alright, that’s enough teasing. Let’s release the lanterns.”

“Yes, Onee-sama!” Hinata saluted dramatically, making Kanna giggle softly.

The group crouched by the river. They wrote wishes on slips of paper, each stroke of ink glowing faintly under the moonlight. Then they placed them inside the lanterns, lit the candles, and set them gently on the water.

Ripples spread outward, carrying the glowing lights down the slow-moving stream. Their reflections shimmered like gold.

For a long moment, none of them spoke.

…

Meanwhile—

Deep within the forest, where moonlight struggled to pierce the thick canopy, two small figures wandered along a narrow path. Each carried a bundle nearly as big as herself, and the faint sound of their conversation mingled with the whispering wind.

“Ai, Ai, this carrot’s really tasty!” chirped one voice, bright and childlike.

“But I like cabbage more,” the other answered softly.

A short silence followed. Then the first girl’s tone dropped. “Ai… I don’t wanna be here. Humans are scary…”

The second girl tightened her grip on her hand. “Don’t worry. Grandpa Kappa will protect us.”

“Really?”

“Of course! He was Father’s old friend.” Her voice quivered slightly, like she was trying to convince herself.

They continued forward until the trees opened into a small lake. The surface shimmered under the moon, smooth as glass. The girls cupped their hands to their mouths and called softly.

Moments later, ripples spread across the surface. From the water rose an old, bald kappa, his shell cracked with age, his eyes half-lidded with fatigue.

“Who are you, little ones? Why do you call for me?” His voice was hoarse and distant.

The braver of the two stepped forward. “Grandpa Kappa… we’re mountain spirits. We came because we need your help…”

Her words stumbled, disjointed, but the old kappa pieced them together. After a pause, he frowned.

“Don’t remember you. Go back where you came from.”

Two children of old friends. A powerful human enemy. None of it mattered—he had nothing left to give.

The old kappa looked up at the moonlight reflected in the lake. His wrinkled face twisted into a faint, bitter smile. Once, he’d been called Shigure.

He remembered the night a month ago—the human whose power had crushed him. He’d thought death was certain. Yet somehow, when dawn came, he still breathed. His power, however, was gone. Centuries of accumulated youkai strength—gone, like mist. His underlings had fled. His pride had shattered.

Revenge? Laughable. That man could kill him with a single thought.

Now he remained here, in this forgotten forest, surviving off scraps of belief from travelers who left offerings at the lakeside. It was all he had left of divinity.

The two little girls hugged each other tightly. “W-what do we do now?” one whispered.

Shigure rubbed his temples, too tired to answer. “You should go,” he muttered.

But before he could turn away, a faint glow caught his eye.

A lantern drifted across the water, its light soft and golden. It bobbed gently toward them, carrying with it the warmth of human wishes.

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