Chapter 5: Moonlight Festival

After the king’s greeting, the commendations begin. Isz, Mary, and Helena are promoted to the rank of knight and receive many congratulations.

Irineia was also meant to be promoted, but she refused to attend the celebration without giving any reason, so the alchemist Jako took her knight’s brooch with him.

The group reminisces about the past and comments on how they always dreamed of attending a feast like this, filled with food, music, and being recognized as heroes, rather than just more orphans born from the tragedies of the world.

Isz: “This party is so lively it’s already making me hungry.”

Alphonse and Helena smile and say they’re hungry too.

Kana Boom shows up and tells them to hurry because there are so many people that there might not be any food left.

Mary grabs Helena’s hand, and the two run toward the banquet, smiling.

Alphonse: “Geez, Kana, why did you paint even the nails on your alchemist dress gloves?”

Kana: “They looked kind of dull. Besides, you never know when we might be attacked, right?”

Isz doesn’t quite understand, but agrees with Kana’s point that they should stay alert even in times of peace.

After the meal, lively music begins to play, and the king orders everyone to take their partners. The knights sitting at the same table start arguing over who should be their pair. Hyogo, who had been eyeing a flower seller from the central city, immediately goes to dance with her. Harpya is chatting with the princess of a neighboring country, named Ida; she invites him to dance in the center, and her father is pleased to see that his daughter has a potential suitor.

Butcher invites Anna to dance, she refuses at first, but with pressure from her subordinates, she accepts, slightly embarrassed. Mary wants to ask Helena to dance, but is interrupted by Helena herself, who invites Isz.

Helena: “Would you like to dance with me, scout knight?”

With a gentle smile on her face, she asks the question. Just as Isz is about to accept, he notices that Alphonse seems interested, so he says he doesn’t know how to dance.

Isz: “I would accept, but I don’t want to step on your foot. I’m sure alchemists are much better at dancing than I am, right Alphonse?”

Alphonse becomes flustered and agrees. Helena pulls him by the arm and says, “Then let’s go, Alphonse.”

Kana Bomm says: “Good thing they went to dance, that means more cake for me.”

Isz watches the whole scene and smiles softly, taking in the sight of his friends. At the same moment, Anna and Butcher are dancing closely.

Butcher: “Do you miss the old days, back when we were just knight apprentices?”

Anna: “I do… but I also miss those who are gone. In the end, it’s just us now. You understand me, Henrik. I don’t want to lose anyone else to those damned enemies.”

Butcher: “And I don’t want to lose you again, Anna.”

Suddenly, Kana Boom bumps into the two of them.

Kana: “My bad, guys. This coat is so big I stepped on it without meaning to, Butcher.”

The two stop dancing and each walks off to a different corner.

Helena: “Master, you seemed pretty happy dancing with the Butcher, hahaha.”

Mary: “You two make a good couple, hahaha.”

Anna (nervous): “Stop talking nonsense. It’s already too late for you to be staying at parties.”

Isz was leaning against the wall, thinking, “It’s been so long since I felt this happy… I wish this day could last forever.”

The Butcher joins him by the wall.

Isz (teasing): “Everything alright, Master? You look a little upset.”

Butcher: “Stupid brat… you should watch where you’re going.”

Kana walks over and apologizes: “I didn’t know you were interested in her, I was just trying to get my cake.”

Butcher: “It’s fine… now she doesn’t want to dance anymore.”

The hall felt distant now, the music echoing softly as Isz and the Butcher remained leaning against the wall, watching their friends laugh and celebrate. For a moment, the world seemed smaller, and happiness felt closer.

Isz: “So… seems like it was an old story, right?”

Butcher: “Yeah. Anna used to be my girlfriend when we were younger. I was really happy back then… but my job was way too dangerous for a relationship. I always came back covered in blood, beaten up. You know how long knights are expected to live, in my time it was up to 25 for most units, and 21 for scouts. She said she could handle it, but I could see we had no way of making it work. So we broke up… she married someone else.”

Isz: “And what happened to her husband?”

Butcher: “She killed him.”

Isz looks at the Butcher in shock.

Isz: “This isn’t the time for jokes, Master.”

Butcher: “It’s not a joke. I don’t know what happened on that mission… but I believe her. She loved that man. She wouldn’t just kill him like that.”

Isz looks at Anna with sadness.

Butcher: “Can I give you some advice, Isz?”

Isz: “Of course.”

Butcher: “Value the people you love. This time won’t come back. Our life as scouts is very short. I’m practically a dinosaur in this unit, reaching 33 is a lot. I feel like I could die in any battle. I lost friends, family, and in the end, I lost the woman I love. There’s no going back. Think about this conversation.”

Isz grows thoughtful as he looks toward Alphonse and Helena.

Unknown Voice: “Do not lower your guard, receptacle. They wait for the right moment to ambush you, and they will use the ones you love.”

Startled, Isz thinks the Butcher was the one who spoke, but the Butcher quickly denies it.

Butcher: “Well, it’s getting late, Isz. You’ll go with the priests and sleep at the orphanage tonight. Tomorrow you’ll choose your weapon. Don’t worry. I already delivered a relic for the alchemists to forge a weapon for you.”

At that moment, the king asks for everyone’s attention and announces that Gray will become the High Priest of all the churches, including the Shields of Vein and the alchemists.

Butcher: “What a surprise… I thought Priest Norbit would get the position.”

After the announcements and celebrations, the knights return to the orphanage lodging.

Norbit: “Did you miss your old home?”

They all answered yes.

Norbit: “When you wake up tomorrow, I’ll make lots of sandwiches and peach pie. What do you think?”

Everyone cheers, and thus the night of festivities comes to an end.