Chapter 147 : Happy Birthday to the Goddess!!!
Chapter 147: Happy Birthday to the Goddess!!!
To celebrate the Magic Goddess’s Birth Festival, sharp-eyed merchants all launched various discount events to attract crowds.
Most factories also stopped work for a day at this time.
Not only within the Seris Alliance—nearly every country did the same, though each race in the Alliance had its own unique customs and ways of celebrating, making this time of year exceptionally lively.
Walking down the streets, one could see all kinds of ethnic performances or parades.
Even the armed special police on guard beside the armored riot-proof vehicles were often offered small gifts.
Although no one dared to accept them, a small hill of presents still visibly piled up on the ground nearby.
After the ambush incident back then, Mitia specifically allowed the state government to expand its armed force permissions; the Special Police Units now had equipment levels and priorities nearly equal to the military.
Whether high-powered weapons, heavy firepower, or Mechanical Bodies, all were allocated to them.
A typical special police patrol squad consisted of a six-wheeled armored riot-proof vehicle and a five-man combat group.
The Mechanical Soldier carried a PKD machine gun—not the lightweight, general-purpose PKM, but an enhanced version with enlarged caliber and heavy barrel, sharing the same caliber as the DShK.
The reason for custom-ordering the PKD series was because the PK model machine guns had an excellent initial firing response: one round inside remained in a pre-ignition state.
In an emergency, there was no need to chamber—raising the gun alone produced an explosive burst of fire.
Aside from the 200-round drum mounted below, there was also a backpack with a 1500-round flexible ammo belt, which could feed directly after the drum was emptied.
Because the festival was approaching, special police across various regions switched to the new assault rifle ahead of the military.
Its pure-black handguard and receiver, paired with the diamond-shaped bayonet mounted under the gas tube, shimmered with a cold, dazzling gleam.
The six-wheeled riot-proof vehicle was built like a pickup, and even carried a 20-mm autocannon and a shield-generation device in the back.
Though it seemed like only a five-man team, the burst firepower they could output in a short time could take down a Captain-class Mechanical Body as easily as playing a game.
Their presence alone was enough to keep everyone around calm and peaceful.
Little children passing by were not afraid of these special-police uncles at all; seeing the mountain of gifts, they charged over cheering to watch.
The special police instinctively lowered the muzzles of their raised guns.
Hearing the little ones calling “uncle, uncle,” they were utterly charmed, smiling as they allowed them to take one small gift box.
Many shops even invited young girls to dress as the Magic Goddess and hand out store-branded snacks and greeting cards to children on the streets to improve their shop’s image.
Among them were especially many Dwarven girls; their height advantage helped them get close to the children—and also conveniently, cough, help with their advertising.
A festive, bustling street—
From afar, a father and daughter walked over.
The girl looked about eight or nine, dressed exquisitely and beautifully; her lips were bright red as if painted with lip balm, with faint blush on her cheeks.
One small hand was held by her tall father as he wandered with her down the street.
Music and cheers filled the surroundings; everywhere overflowed with laughter.
Yet the girl’s large eyes held no spark of emotion—as though she had little interest in anything around her.
Until she saw a group of Magic Goddess performers distributing gifts to passing children.
Her eyes suddenly brightened.
She looked up at her tall father and said, “Daddy… can I go make a wish with the goddess sisters?”
Her tone was full of caution, carrying a hint of pleading.
Hearing this, the man squatted down and kissed the little hand held in his palm.
The girl shrank instinctively, but did not resist.
The man smiled kindly.
“Go, sweetheart.
I’ll go buy you some new dresses.”
‘…Mm…’
Nai wore the long gown styled after the legendary Magic Goddess, with heavy makeup on her face.
She smiled cheerfully as she kept handing out gifts to the children who gathered around her.
Although she was no longer a princess now, and no longer had servants by her side, she lived far happier than before.
No one lectured her anymore about noble etiquette or family interests.
Her father and mother could now accompany her every day, and her family could do whatever they wished together.
At school, she had also made many friends her age.
Today was her first time going out with her friends to play the role of the Magic Goddess.
She didn’t care about earning money—she simply loved rubbing the fluffy little heads of young cubs.
Especially the beastfolk cubs—they were like oversized plush dolls, adorable beyond compare.
That warm, living softness was something no realistic toy could ever match.
But when she looked up and clearly saw the little girl standing before her, Nai’s brows tightened ever so slightly.
Only girls understood that makeup on someone so young was not a good sign.
Simply put, no race wished for their young cubs to appear mature.
Children should look like children; besides, their bodies were still developing and their skin was extremely delicate.
Normally, even a dusty little face carried a kind of vibrant liveliness, but none of that could be found in the girl before her.
Nai steadied her emotions, gently patted the girl’s head, and said softly, “Little one, do you want a gift too? Big sister will get you one.”
Feeling the touch on her head, the girl narrowed her eyes slightly and rubbed against Nai’s hand.
‘Goddess sister… may I make a wish to you?’
“Ah? Of course! Maybe your wish will even come true tonight.”
‘Tonight…’
The girl repeated softly, then raised her head to look at the gentle-voiced goddess before her.
Her eyes reddened uncontrollably.
She closed her eyes, pressed her palms together, and prayed with devotion: ‘Great Goddess~ my wish is…’
The man, having finished shopping, walked out of the store.
He glanced toward the girl and hurried over.
The girl opened her eyes slightly to peek at Nai, who was attentively watching her.
At the same time, she saw the approaching man out of the corner of her eye.
Her small body trembled.
She stammered, ‘My wish is…’
Her cheeks flushed red from holding back her words.
Nai, feeling distressed, stroked her head gently to comfort her.
“Take your time, don’t hu—”
‘My wish is… I wish my stepfather won’t touch me again tonight…’
“—rry…”
The surrounding Dwarven girls turned their heads toward the child in disbelief.
‘Connie! Are you done? We need to go.’
The man’s voice called from not far away.
The girl’s body trembled as she whispered, ‘I know, Daddy.
Goddess sister, I’ll go first.’
As she hesitated to lift her foot, microcurrents of air stirred around her, lifting her soft hair into the breeze.
The man, holding shopping bags, saw the dozens of Magic Goddess performers approaching him with gift boxes.
He smiled simply.
“No need for so many.
Just give one to my daughter…”
Nai pulled out a wooden mallet from her Space Ring—the one her father made for her when she was young—and shouted: ‘cnmd! Sisters, get him! Hit!!!’
Nai slammed the mallet straight onto the man’s head.
Caught off guard, the dull thud rang out, and he screamed and collapsed to the ground.
The other Dwarven girls threw aside their gift boxes, pulled out their previously decorative—but actually functional—magic wands, and charged at the man with furious determination, raining blows upon him.
The passersby were stunned.
They never imagined they would one day witness the Magic Goddess beating someone in the street.
Not just one goddess—
A whole group of them!
One particularly short Dwarven girl managed only two hits before being squeezed out by her companions.
She tried to push back in but couldn’t, growing increasingly anxious.
Sharp-eyed, she spotted the man’s lower body—and her eyes lit up.
She tossed her wand aside, bent down, and pulled off the heavy boots she wore—reinforced with inserts and metal guards.
Barefoot, with her small, tender white feet, she raised the boot high, pounced, and shouted with laughter:
“Happy Birth Festival!!!”
Her boot came crashing down on the man’s vital region.
The man, already covering his head, arched his back and screamed in agonized despair:
“Ah!!! Mother!!!”