落とし穴番外：今年も夏の花を (Part1)
**Pitfall Side Story: Summer Flowers, Again This Year**
**Side: Yuki**
"My, aren't you being unexpectedly romantic?"
"Oh, come now. Yuki has always been a romantic at heart. He’s hated the idea of political marriages from the very beginning, after all."
"Ahaha, that’s true, isn't it?"
"Hey, you two. Keep it down."
I complained slightly to my wives, who were teasing me while I prepared for what was to come. Honestly, born into an ordinary Japanese household, what kind of man would ever consider a political marriage to be a good thing? Besides, I never intended to get married in the first place. It was just a convenient excuse back then.
"But you do love us, don't you?"
"Indeed. Yuki loves us all very much."
"That’s right. My husband is completely head-over-heels for us."
"I won't deny that."
They are all truly beautiful, and their personalities are fine, too. I couldn't possibly dislike them. Some of them were quite a handful in the past, but there's no point in dwelling on things that have already passed. If they’ve become my wives, then it’s my job to protect and love them with everything I’ve got.
"Alright. I suppose we’re the winners after all. We managed to break down that stubborn man."
"Yes, yes. At first, no matter how much skin we showed or how aggressively we pursued him, he truly wouldn't budge."
"Indeed. I even begged him to hold me, but I was flatly rejected."
"Hey, wait a second. The situation was a bit different when it came to Rurua."
She had asked me to save her life in exchange for being taken. I don't have the kind of fetish that gets fired up by that sort of thing.
"It’s fine. Now, that’s just a fond memory. It’s all thanks to you. I often think I would have been in the grave by now if not for you."
"Indeed. I wouldn't be here today either, had I not caught wind of the rumors in Roschur about a Saintess controlling a dungeon."
"Yes. It’s a good memory now."
"Is that how it is?"
As I murmured that, I opened the treasure chest that Aslin and the others had found. Inside was...
"To think you’d keep fireworks as treasure just to show them to us on this beach. If that’s not romantic, what is?"
"Indeed, inviting us to this isolated island for fireworks at night... yes, it is quite romantic."
"Yes, I’m very much looking forward to it."
"Fireworks on the beach are a staple, but we’ve already done that. Fireworks on a deserted island? That’s got a special feel to it, doesn't it?"
I checked the fireworks inside the chest as I spoke. I’d set aside the prized four-shaku shells, but I had packed and buried the standard ones. Even though they were properly waterproofed, moisture is the natural enemy of fireworks. I had to be careful.
As I was checking them, another cruiser arrived at the pier a short while ago.
"Coming to a special place for special memories, isn't it? As expected of Yuki-sama."
It seemed Samantha and the others had arrived as well. Led by Samantha in her swimsuit, the rest of the group approached us.
"…Hmm. Looking forward to the fireworks. But I’ll help too. I’m a magic pyrotechnician. Right, Kaya?"
"…That’s right. I’m a pyrotechnician, so I’ll help. And I’ll show you the true power of a magic pyrotechnician."
"Wait? Why are both of you so fired up?"
"Ahaha, Kagura. Actually, Kaya and Cleena were used as the opening act by Yuki during our first summer festival. But even that was incredibly beautiful, wasn't it? Right, Eris?"
"Yes. It was... well, considering it was their first time, I think it was an amazing feat. And they seem to have leveled up year after year. Today is essentially the prelude to this year’s summer festival."
"Hmm. This year, magic fireworks will surpass scientific fireworks."
"That’s right. We can’t keep losing to science forever."
Cleena and Kaya seemed determined to beat the scientific fireworks. Well, there’s no better practice ground than this private island and beach. And they weren't the only ones eager to practice.
"Firia will help too! And I’m going to launch the four-shaku shell I made as a test!"
"That’s right. We have to create something special. We’ve received sponsorship money from various countries, after all. Especially in my case, the support from Enaria is quite..."
"That’s because you’ve made a name for yourself as a pyrotechnician at the fireworks festival. Oh, Zilba also wants to show the world the fireworks of the If Continent, so they’ve prepared support funds for Agil and Cleena."
"Wait a minute!? Isn't that a huge responsibility!?"
"The Weed Fireworks Festival is a place for international technical exhibitions as well as a symbol of world peace. Oh, by the way, King Blade of Roday has also sent support funds for Agil-sama and Cleena-san."
"…Mm. I’ve received such funds from Princess Inis as well. Ugh, that’s more pressure than I expected."
Oh my, it seems things are quite busy on that front as well. They have the pride of the If Continent to uphold, after all.
While I was thinking that, the New Continent group, including Kagura, huddled together and whispered.
"…It’s a bit late to ask, but shouldn't we be participating in the fireworks festival too?"
"…Ugh. It’s too late to suddenly say we want to join; we can't do anything. Micos-chan and the others don't really have the knowledge of what 'fireworks' are."
"We’ve only ever watched them, after all. But if it’s just magic fireworks, couldn't Kagura and Micos manage it? I’m more of a recovery specialist."
"What are you saying? Enora, you’ve mastered all-attribute magic through skill-granting since coming to Weed. There’s no reason you can't do it."
"That’s true, but... back at the academy, the most Micos-chan could do was a small Fire Bomb. That’s why she was the messenger."
"It’s a matter of practice. Just practice. I’m a priestess, so my studies were part of my training; it’s not like I’m naturally gifted at handling magic. Besides, if it’s not Kagura and Micos doing it, the 'Magic Academy' will lose face, won't it?"
" "Ugh." "
*Sigh.* It seems Kagura and the others are also worrying about having to do their best for their homeland. I want to tell them that since they’re my wives, they should just take it easy, but I suppose their positions won't allow for that.
"Come to think of it, are there people like that in the Rogari Continent for the fireworks festival? I know fireworks go up every year, but is that just them paying for it?"
"Ah, I haven't told you, have I? There are members who act as pyrotechnicians in each country. Since the first festival, while some mages dislike the term 'show,' the idea of them as artists was established, so they formed groups immediately. Since then, magic fireworks and scientific fireworks have been competing in every festival. That said, many people believe that the fireworks done together are the best. Though, unlike the If Continent, they don't have anyone as famous as Kaya or Narjia-san."
I see. Thanks for the explanation. That makes sense. It’s hard to name just one person when it comes to fireworks, after all.