The Power of the Saint is All Around (LN) - Volume 8 - Chapter 5.2

Things Associated with Summer 2

IT ALL STARTED with that conversation about seasonal associations.

I mentioned my recent discussion with Aira while I was chatting with Johan, and the next thing I knew, we were holding a summer festival at the institute.

It was probably more accurate to say that it was a one-night-only beer garden rather than an actual festival. We wouldn’t have fireworks or a bon dance; it sounded like it would just be a night of drinking and food.

At the very least, it had been decided that we were going to have a big event at the institute. The participants would be the researchers and other staff. Some of the chefs working in our kitchen would be able to join as well, so they were going to go all out with the food they intended to serve.

According to one person, there was a rumor that there had been a cutthroat competition between the chefs for the right to join. One researcher had spurred them on to come up with new dishes for the festival.

Just which institute was that researcher from, anyway? They weren’t one of ours. They must have heard about the new foods being served, or somehow it had gotten out that our institute was doing something fun.

As the day of the festival approached, people from other organizations at the palace started to ask if they could join as well. The majority were rejected thanks to Johan’s impregnable defenses, but I invited some of them myself.

The first on that list was as follows:

“Good evening, Sei. Thank you for the invitation.”

“Good evening, Sir Hawke. Thank you so much for coming.”

The time was already quite late, but it was still light outside because the days had grown long. However, it was considerably dimmer than it had been in the afternoon. Against the shadows, Albert’s smile was so radiant that he practically had a halo. Always dishing out those absolute hunk vibes.

“I’ve been looking forward to today ever since I heard we would be trying new foods.”

“Me too. It should be food that goes well with the alcohol, so I hope you’ll enjoy yourself.”

Johan noticed his friend’s arrival and walked over. “Oh, Al, you’re here already?” 

“That I am.”

It was just about time for the festival to begin, but we still had a few things left to do. I was reluctant to do so, but I left Albert with Johan and went back to my ­preparations. As I was handing out cups of alcohol to everyone, Johan announced that the festival could now start.

“Cheers!” the gathered cried.

I clinked glasses with the researchers nearby and drank my cup. Mine was filled with mead, so a sublimely gentle sweetness filled my mouth. It was a taste that went down easily, so as we were outdoors, I had to be careful not to drink too much.

“Sei.”

“Oh, Sir Hawke.”

Albert spoke to me just as I finished eating. Had he been looking for me? I felt a bit tipsy, so I couldn’t help wishing it were true.

Albert sat next to me, and we started talking about all kinds of things. In particular, we talked about what else I associated with summer.

“So in your country, you have festivals like this one?” he asked.

“Not quite. This is about as lively as a festival, but it’s more like a beer garden.”

“A beer garden?”

“Yeah. That’s a tavern where you drink alcohol and eat outdoors.”

“I see.”

“Although I suppose beer gardens are associated with summer too.” I smiled as I absentmindedly gazed about at all the happy people. 

I’d once gone to a beer garden a long time ago, and the atmosphere had felt just like this.

“Sei,” Albert ventured.

I looked up at him. “Yes?”

He wore a somewhat shy expression and seemed hesitant to say something. He sank into silence before finally asking, “Does this remind you of old times?”

I wondered if he had meant to ask me something else. How would I have answered if, instead, he had asked me if I wanted to return to my old world?

“Yeah.” I smiled, looking up at him as I spoke the ­answer in my heart.

A quiet air settled between us, but upon seeing my smile, Albert’s lips curled up as well.