The Nerd Next Door Turned Out To Be The Magic Tower Master [Novel] Chapter 20

Cecilia stared blankly at the vivid scene unfolding before her eyes.

The Relief Festival hadn’t officially started yet, so not all the merchants could have arrived.

But makeshift shops of every kind already lined the streets, and between the trees planted at irregular intervals, unlit lanterns and flags dangled lazily.

What really created the festive atmosphere, though, was the people filling the space.

Children with sun-darkened faces flashing white-toothed grins, couples walking side by side with fingers intertwined, elderly folk sitting on faded, worn wooden benches and savoring the happy noise.

When she thought about it, this was the most peaceful scene she’d witnessed in a very long time.

Perhaps the first since the amusement park she’d visited holding her parents’ hands as a child.

Maybe that was why. While she stood rooted in place like a bystander, unable to blend in, Rien approached from behind.

“Is there something you’d like to do?”

His question was gentle and devoted, as always.

Only then, no longer a stranger, did Cecilia nod vigorously.

“Of course.”

She’d had something in mind ever since she decided to go to the festival with him.

In two days she’d be leaving for the Holy Temple and wouldn’t be able to hang around him for a while. Better to make her moves now, before she was completely forgotten.

‘To do that, I need to find it first!’

A few days ago, she’d been lucky enough to learn of something perfectly suited to her goal.

The thing the maids had been gushing about with flushed faces!

Verified by grandmothers’ grandmothers — an item that guarantees a hundred-percent success rate when you confess with it!

And on top of that, an item said to reunite lovers in the next life if given as a gift!

Its astonishing identity was a white flower.

She wasn’t entirely sure of the details, but apparently it was a variety resembling the legendary plant called the ‘flower of God.’ So valuable that it was offered as the grand prize in a major competition held during the festival.

[A competition with the flower of God as the prize? They’ll probably have a signboard with a white flower painted on it at the venue. I’ve heard it draws a lot of participants because the prize is so rare.]

[Hmm, I see.]

[…But how do you know about that, Lady Cecilia? Actually, why are you even asking?]

Shaking off the memory of Melanie’s sharp interrogation, Cecilia strode forward with gusto.

“Shall we look around a bit first?”

First, she needed to find the signboard with the white flower.

Then she’d pretend to stumble upon it by chance, enter the competition, and whether she won the prize herself or bought it from the winner, she’d give it to him!

‘Rien’s never been to the Relief Festival, so he definitely won’t know what the flower means.’

She didn’t particularly believe in superstitions, but it was perfect for flirting.

Satisfied with her plan, she searched eagerly — but instead of a white flower, triangular white flags kept catching her eye here and there.

“There sure are a lot of white flags around.”

“Ah, those would be shops that provide free food and goods to the hungry during the festival.”

“What? The festival is prime season for making a profit, and they’re giving things away for free?”

“It is called the Relief Festival, after all. They’re likely following the Holy Temple’s call to give.”

“Oh……”

Such piety that the aspiring saintess — whose head had been full of nothing but her own selfish designs — couldn’t help feeling humbled.

Sheepishly, Cecilia turned her steps toward a section without flags, but Rien suddenly pointed in a different direction.

“There are a lot of restaurants from here on, so it might be better to go the other way.”

“Oh, really?”

Wait.

Cecilia had been following him without thinking, but her brow furrowed.

Knowing what the white flags meant was one thing, but he knew where the restaurants were too?

‘I’m pretty sure he said during the interview that it was his first time visiting Weberdin at all.’

Which would mean the Relief Festival was also a first for him.

“Um, Rien. Have you ever been to Weberdin around this time of year? You seem familiar with the festival.”

“Ah, no. Since you invited me to come along, I looked into it a little beforehand.”

“Hm, I see.”

‘Well, of course. Rien just came down from the capital — and being the Magic Tower Master, there’s no way he’d have attended a festival hosted by the Holy Temple.’

Knowing which shops were on which streets meant he’d researched quite thoroughly.

For someone who’d gone pale insisting it was dangerous.

Maybe he’d actually been looking forward to today, deep down.

Cecilia gazed up at him — practically a human GPS — and quietly took hold of his sleeve.

“C-Cecilia?”

“I might get lost, you know.”

‘Ah!’ Rien made a sound of understanding and nodded shyly.

Having thus completed her morning quota of moves, Cecilia finally spotted a sign with a white flower painted on it.

“Here, here it is!”

“…A serenade contest?”

Rien stood stock-still and read the banner hanging above the stage.

‘Yes, I’ll definitely win and… wait. What? What kind of competition?’

They’d only said it was a competition prize — nobody mentioned it was a serenade contest……

Cecilia read the promotional text with a sinking heart.

<Confess to your beloved with a one-of-a-kind sweet song! The winner receives the flower of God and the right to an encore!>

‘…Isn’t that last part just a punishment?’

Of all things, a serenade contest! She wanted to tear her hair out in dismay.

Just then, the next participant climbed onstage and began reciting a serenade to fervent cheers.

‘Let me at least listen to one. Who knows, it might not be that bad.’

“Ohhh, my lovely fiancée. When I swim in the lake-like pools of your eyes, I feel a suffocating sense of fulfillment!”

…Let’s stop listening.

She might actually dry-heave right here in the middle of the street.

But apparently she was the only one with goosebumps, because the woman the serenade was meant for, and even the people who appeared to be judges, were all tearing up.

‘They’re not tearing up because it’s horrifying that someone actually said those words out loud? They’re genuinely moved?’

When the participant’s serenade ended, thunderous applause erupted.

At this point, she was beginning to doubt her own taste.

‘Am I the weird one? Was that actually a really touching confession?’

“My cute little lark……”

Blech.

She’d barely strung three words together and her entire body broke out in goosebumps.

Hopeless, as expected.

This was all because her romance cells had given up and self-destructed while she rotted away buried in papers and experiments, having judged the situation hopeless.

In the end, having lost her romance cells, the prize, and her confidence, Cecilia turned away in defeat.

And a beat too late, she noticed Rien looking extremely, very, exceedingly flustered.

‘…He didn’t hear me talking to myself, did he.’

“I-I, e-excuse me, I’ll step away for a moment.”

With a hasty bow, Rien fled without looking back.

‘Yeah. Let me just die.’

Her face twisted with mortification.

Cecilia trudged far enough away that the serenades were no longer audible and dropped onto a worn bench.

‘Guess there’s nothing left but to be reborn.’

She was in the middle of running through plans so grim and ghastly she wouldn’t dare speak them aloud—

When Rien came back with an armful of something.

A paper bag stuffed with colorful candies, a fruit drink, savory skewers, and round little buns.

“I’m sorry. Were you hungry? We could have gone to a restaurant first……”

“N-no, it’s not that. I just thought eating something tasty might cheer you up.”

Rien knelt at her feet and said it haltingly.

Her gloom evaporated in an instant.

“You bought all this for me?”

“Yes!”

She was already grateful he hadn’t just run away for good, and now he’d gone and done something this sweet.

If anyone’s heart took a beating from this unexpected lovely gesture, it was Cecilia’s.

“Thank you.”

When her hand rose toward his head, unable to resist, Rien obediently ducked down just like a puppy.

She wanted so badly to ruffle his hair with wild enthusiasm, but!

‘Damn robe.’

The sight of that dreary scrap of cloth covering his head deflated the warm, bubbly feeling as if it had never been there.

“I’ll enjoy it. Come on, Rien, eat with me.”

With a conflicted greeting, Cecilia pulled him down to sit beside her.

Then they shared the food he’d bought.

She moistened her lips first with the sweet juice. After the well-seasoned, savory chicken and a cherry-flavored candy, she finally felt like she might survive.

‘Alright. Let’s try again!’

Her plan was ruined, but the day was long. She could recover from this.

With that resolve, she sprang to her feet.

Rien rose awkwardly after her — and began picking up the wooden skewer sticks and candy wrappers she’d discarded.

Then he slipped them not into a trash bin… but furtively into his bag.

“Rien? Why on earth are you putting trash in there……”

“I-it’s because the trash bin is far away.”

What.

‘Then what’s the thing right next to us — not a trash bin but a sculpture?’

As her silent protest continued, Rien haltingly confessed the truth.