3: The Snow Festival
"The Snow Festival?"
Reinhild paused her work and looked at the boy in front of her with some confusion.
"Yes, yes! I noticed the atmosphere in the courtyard is really heavy.
And isn't it Otto's birthday today? Plus, we successfully finished the negotiation yesterday... Anyway, with so many things worth celebrating, I wanted to hold a festival that would make everyone smile.
Is that a bad idea?"
Subaru, watching Reinhild's pensive expression, asked somewhat uncertainly.
"No, Subaru, it's a wonderful idea!"
Reinhild suddenly stood up and looked seriously at Subaru.
"Actually, Lady Felt also said recently, 'People should lift their heads and look forward.'
I personally don't want everyone to stay stuck in a gloomy mood.
And besides, everyone really does need a break. Subaru, what do you need me to do?"
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With a flash of swordlight, the top layer of the frozen lake instantly turned into countless giant ice blocks, each about 1.5 meters per side.
A thin mist of white breath came from Reinhild's lips as she looked at Subaru with a questioning gaze.
"No problem."
Subaru tested the hardness of one of the ice blocks with a small knife and nodded in satisfaction.
Yes, he had dragged Reinhild along to help prepare materials for the event.
Although Roswaal had already thawed the southern part of the estate, leaving the courtyard filled with lots of snow, Subaru still wanted to prepare large ice blocks to create more refined snow art.
That led to the current situation.
"The next step is to prepare a sample. A sample will show people what's possible. Since it's Otto's birthday, let's make a sculpture of Otto."
Subaru smiled confidently and began carving.
But just like with many things that look easy on TV, when he actually tried it himself, he realized how hard it was.
After 20 minutes, his hands were aching, and the sculpture looked nothing like a person.
"Subaru, let me try."
Reinhild took the ice knife from Subaru, and about ten minutes later, a sculpture of Otto made entirely of ice appeared in front of them.
"What's wrong?"
"I just feel that... seeing your work, probably no one else will have the courage to carve anything."
Subaru wasn't exaggerating.
Reinhild's ice sculpture was so detailed, it captured even the wrinkles in the clothes and the patterns on the buttons.
But the most impressive part was the aura—it had Otto's unique aura.
It felt... alive.
"Sorry."
Reinhild looked slightly downcast, pulling Subaru's attention away from the artwork.
"No, no, I didn't mean you did a bad job! I just didn't express myself clearly.
What I meant was—it's so good that it makes it look easy.
But in reality, it's really hard.
That gap between expectation and reality gives people a strong sense of defeat.
Since this is something new, let's stick with making snowmen instead."
"???"
"I mean simple snowmen. Something anyone can make. Look."
Seeing Reinhild's confusion, Subaru picked up a handful of snow, shaped it into a ball, then crouched down and rolled it on the ground. Soon, he had a snowball about 30 cm in diameter.
"A snowman?"
"This is the first step. Reinhild, you try it too. Just make it slightly smaller than mine."
As he blew warm air onto his hands, Subaru gave instructions.
Reinhild nodded and quickly created a perfect snowball next to Subaru's.
Subaru carefully lifted Reinhild's snowball and placed it on top of his own.
"That completes the basic body. Now, let's find two stones and a twig."
He had Reinhild help prepare stones of similar size, placed them on the head as eyes, and inserted the twig Reinhild had carved as the nose.
"Ta-da! This is Otto No. 1. It doesn't really look like him, but it's a simple snowman that anyone can make."
"Hmm... it's definitely a good creation."
Subaru didn't know why Reinhild smiled like that, but it almost made his heart stop.
He instinctively leaned to the side.
"Ah!"
"Otto!!!"
Otto No. 1's head was knocked off by Subaru.
Reinhild reflexively tried to catch it, but snow is soft—it just shattered into five pieces upon contact with her hand.
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"Anyway, to celebrate Lord Otto's birthday, we'll be holding a Snow Festival!
Let me explain the rules! This mansion's courtyard is the venue!
The purpose of this festival is to use the snow and ice blocks here to unleash everyone's unique creativity and artistic skill in a friendly competition!
For example, my Otto No. 2! J
udges will be me, Otto, Reinhild, and Lady Crusch!
And Reinhild has prepared luxurious prizes! Everyone, aim for the championship!"
Subaru shouted energetically to the people gathered, pointing at Reinhild.
"Whooooaaa~~!"
With Reinhild's nod of approval, the participants got fired up.
After all, if Reinhild was in charge, the prizes would be something to look forward to.
Soon, the mansion's servants, members of the royal delegation who remained (some sages and knights had already left), and refugees began to act.
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"Didn't expect the first surprise to come from you."
"Ahahaha, I worked hard just for the luxury prize!"
Felt proudly pointed at the holy gold coin sculpture she made, her eyes sparkling.
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"Mr. Braine, this is seriously impressive." Subaru looked at the ice sword in his hand that had split a wooden table in two.
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"Pfft hahaha, this is supposed to be Otto? Otto, what do you think?"
Subaru laughed as he looked at the ice statue carved by Leander that had an eight-pack, a muscular war god's body (or Kurgan the war god), but with Otto's face on it.
Otto looked furious.
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"Didn't expect someone to make a sculpture almost on par with Reinhild's."
"Of course, nya~! My respect for Lady Crusch won't lose to anyone... nya~"
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"It's not bad, I guess. But how do I put this... it kind of gives people the creeps."
Subaru's lips twitched as he stared at a statue that combined his, Reinhild's, and Roswaal's facial features.
"Creativity should be fine... Maybe it's Subaru's part that's too disturbing."
"No way! It must just be that the era hasn't caught up to me yet!"
Ram and Rem began to reflect and debate.
"Maybe we're the only ones who think it looks weird since we were used as references?"
"No, I think it's just that those two sisters have an... unusual perspective. Probably a demon aesthetic."
The fair and just Lady Crusch confirmed that the problem was not Subaru.