Chapter 437: The Departure |
「Vivian——」
Looking at the fairly well-made dumplings on the table, Janna’s eyelashes trembled slightly. At the same time, she took out a cylindrical container from the 【Thorn Bracelet】.
「Eh? Why does this container look so familiar?」
Seeing the cylindrical lunchbox that Janna brought out, Vivian couldn’t help but ask in puzzlement.
「Because this is the same lunchbox you brought over last year.」
As she spoke, Janna opened the lid of the lunchbox and took out the dumplings she had prepared in advance.
「Ah, you mean this is——」
「Yes, I made them especially for you.」
Last year, on New Year’s Day, Vivian had asked the Door Spirit to deliver a batch of dumplings she had made to Janna, along with a small bottle of vinegar.
Even the vinegar Vivian had thoughtfully included for Janna turned out to be sweet apple vinegar instead of rice vinegar.
Yet, even so, when Janna—who had spent that New Year alone—saw the dumplings in the lunchbox, a wave of indescribable warmth had surged through her heart.
The mixture of homesickness, loneliness, nostalgia, and emotion from that moment remained engraved in Janna’s memory to this day.
And one of Janna’s New Year wishes last year had been to make dumplings herself and let Vivian try them.
So, a few days ago, Janna had used her free time before meditation to prepare for this.
With the help of magic, she successfully made corn-and-pork dumplings based on her past-life memories. She even managed to get rice vinegar from the cafeteria stall that sold pickled cucumbers.
「Vivian, this time the vinegar I prepared for you is the rice vinegar you mentioned before, and the meat filling is also made from celery and pork—just like you said. But let me tell you, celery tastes like rusty iron, especially after chopping it up. That smell is really something...」
Listening to Vivian’s muttering, a genuine smile appeared on Janna’s face.
「Then you should try the ones I made. My filling’s made from corn and pork—you might like it more—」
「Corn and pork?」
Hearing that Janna’s dumplings contained corn, one of her favorite ingredients, Vivian’s eyes lit up slightly.
「Then let’s eat! I didn’t eat much earlier anyway.」
Saying that, Vivian pulled Janna to sit at the small dining table and passed her a small bowl filled with rice vinegar.
As for herself, Vivian prepared a plate of salad dressing.
「Compared to that tooth-achingly sour rice vinegar, I think dumplings dipped in salad dressing suit my taste better.」
After saying that, Vivian used a fork to pick up a dumpling from the lunchbox, placed it on her plate, dipped half of it into the salad dressing, and popped it into her mouth.
Watching her eat like that, Janna merely raised an eyebrow slightly. She picked up a pair of chopsticks from the lunchbox, grabbed one of the celery-and-pork dumplings Vivian had made, dipped it into rice vinegar, and took a bite.
「So good!」
After tasting Janna’s corn-and-pork dumplings, Vivian exclaimed sincerely in praise.
Likewise, after tasting one of Vivian’s celery-and-pork dumplings, Janna also smiled with satisfaction.
「Vivian, the taste of your dumplings this time is exactly the same as the ones I had back home.」
「Really?」
Hearing Janna’s high praise, Vivian’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
「Then I’ll make them for you every New Year from now on!」
After saying that, Vivian speared another large dumpling from the lunchbox and popped it into her mouth.
「I just realized—corn-flavored dumplings taste amazing even without salad dressing!」
「Haha, then eat as much as you want. I made a lot this time.」
Ever since Vivian switched to the 【Warlock Pathway】, her appetite had increased significantly. So, to make sure Vivian could eat her fill, Janna had made three large plates of dumplings.
「I’m definitely finishing all of them today—won’t leave you a single one.」
Watching Vivian eat dumpling after dumpling with a “feast-like” enthusiasm, the smile on Janna’s face never faded.
Even the faint homesickness that had welled up in her heart gradually faded away under Vivian’s warm words of praise.
「Thank you, Vivian.」
Hearing Janna’s sudden words of gratitude, Vivian froze for a moment, then shrugged indifferently.
「What’s there to thank me for? You’re my best friend, after all.」
「Yeah… my best friend.」
A friend who could make her feel the warmth of home, even in another world.
「Happy New Year, Vivian.」
And… Happy New Year, Jiang Bai.
After New Year’s Eve, Janna’s days once again returned to their quiet rhythm between the dormitory and the library.
During this time, the Nightingale Opera Troupe was busy preparing to relocate, so Janna didn’t need to report to the troupe for the time being.
Thus, she spent those post-holiday days in a rare moment of calm.
But soon after that brief peace, the day of the Dordogne–White Tower Trial finally arrived.
With a loud “whoo—” accompanied by the hiss of steam, a massive silver-white Magical Steam Airship descended onto the docking platform of the Turin Airship Station.
「Got all your luggage? You didn’t forget anything, did you?」
Hearing Anthony-Blackcrow’s reminder, Janna checked her belongings once more before shaking her head.
「Headmaster Anthony, may I have a little time? I’d like to say goodbye to my friend.」
「Of course. There’s still half an hour before departure. Just keep an eye on the time yourself.」
「Understood.」
After replying, Janna quickly left the airship entrance, passed through the security gate, and walked outside.
「Janna, over here——」
「Lichie!」
Seeing Liji Silks waving at her in the cold wind, Janna jogged over and gave her a gentle hug.
「I’m so sorry, Janna. I was caught up with graduation matters lately, so I couldn’t attend your farewell party.」
「It’s alright, don’t worry about it. Oh, by the way—did the troupe leader tell you that the Nightingale Opera Troupe is moving to Dordogne? Do you want to come along?」
Hearing that, Liji Silks nodded lightly, then smiled bitterly and shook her head.
「Janna, I’m not as talented as you. If I went to Dordogne, I’d probably be devoured alive by the local actors. Besides, I can’t quite bring myself to leave Turin.」
As she spoke, Liji Silks took a finely crafted new scarf out of her handbag.
「Look at you, a big star, still wearing that old scarf around your neck—it’s hardly fitting. Hurry up and switch to this new one I made for you...」