(Yuuta POV)
After successfully collecting our first batch of candy, we continued down the decorated street, stopping occasionally whenever Elena spotted something interesting. Our little witch was having the time of her life, proudly showing off her pumpkin bucket to anyone who complimented her costume.
Our next destination was a bakery.
Not just any bakery, though. This particular shop was somewhere I'd been meaning to visit for quite some time, and tonight seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Velvet Crumb Bakery.
The familiar sign hung above the entrance, surrounded by glowing pumpkins and little paper bats. Through the large glass windows, I could see several children gathered around the counter, eagerly receiving Halloween treats while their parents chatted nearby. The warm lights inside made the bakery look especially inviting against the spooky decorations outside.
I smiled as I recognized the woman standing behind the counter.
Miss Clara. It's been a while.
Before I could say anything, Elena spotted the colorful Halloween decorations and immediately hurried toward the entrance.
"Papa! Look! More candy!"
"Hahaha! All right, sweetheart. But don't run too far ahead!"
Unfortunately, my warning came a little too late. Elena had already pushed open the door and rushed inside, raising her little hands like claws.
"WAAAAAH!"
Miss Clara, who had been arranging a tray of pumpkin-shaped cookies, turned toward the sudden noise. She was wearing a cheerful Halloween outfit, complete with a little witch hat and a pumpkin-patterned apron.
The moment she saw Elena, her face brightened.
"Oh my goodness! What an adorable little witch! Have you come here to cast a curse on me?"
Elena puffed out her cheeks and waved her little hands.
"Elena not adorable! Elena scary witch! Waaaah!"
"Oh dear! How frightening!" Miss Clara played along, placing a hand against her chest. "What must I do to save myself?"
Elena thought for a moment before pointing toward the sweets displayed behind the counter.
"Candy! Candy save you from Elena!"
Miss Clara burst into laughter.
"Oh my! What a clever little witch you are!"
She leaned forward to get a better look at Elena, studying her face with growing curiosity.
"By the way, sweetheart, whose little girl are you? I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."
Elena tilted her head.
"Hm?"
"Those beautiful eyes and that white hair..." Miss Clara murmured. "You look so familiar, but I can't quite remember where I've seen you."
Well, this was my chance.
I adjusted my Dracula cape and prepared to make a grand entrance. After all, what better way to surprise an old acquaintance than by appearing as a handsome vampire accompanied by the world's most adorable little witch?
I even cleared my throat, ready to introduce myself.
But before I could take a single step—
"Miss Clara!"
A white-haired figure suddenly hurried past me, nearly knocking me off balance.
"Whoa! Hey!"
I stumbled sideways and grabbed the doorframe to steady myself. By the time I looked up, Erza had already entered the bakery, completely ignoring her unfortunate husband.
Miss Clara turned toward the familiar voice, and her eyes immediately widened.
"Erza?!"
"Miss Clara! How have you been?"
"Oh my goodness! Erza, dear!"
Without another word, Miss Clara hurried around the counter and pulled Erza into a warm hug. To my absolute astonishment, my wife didn't resist. She actually returned the embrace, a small smile appearing on her face.
"It's been ages since I last saw you!" Miss Clara exclaimed. "How have you been, dear?"
"I've been well. And you? Is everything going smoothly with the bakery?"
"Oh, you know how it is. Always busy, especially during celebrations like this. But I can't complain!"
I stood near the entrance, staring at the two women.
Wait a minute.
Since when did these two know each other?
And more importantly, why was my usually cold and terrifying wife suddenly behaving like an ordinary young woman catching up with an old friend?
I blinked a few times, wondering whether I'd accidentally entered the wrong bakery.
Miss Clara stepped back and examined Erza's costume with a delighted smile.
"And look at you! My goodness, Erza, you look absolutely beautiful! That witch costume suits you perfectly."
"Do you think so?" Erza asked, glancing down at her dress.
"Of course! You look wonderful, dear."
Erza smiled faintly.
"I'm glad."
I nearly dropped my imaginary vampire fangs.
What?!
Was this really my wife? The same Erza who threatened to freeze me whenever I teased her? The same woman who could make an entire room fall silent with a single glare?
And here she was, smiling and chatting as though she'd known Miss Clara her entire life.
Before I could recover from my shock, Erza turned toward Elena, who was watching the reunion with curious eyes.
"Anyway, Miss Clara, there's someone I'd like you to meet."
She gently lifted Elena into her arms.
"This is my daughter, Elena."
Miss Clara gasped.
"Oh my goodness! Your daughter?!"
"Yes."
"Erza, she's absolutely precious!"
Miss Clara leaned closer, examining Elena's little horns, white hair, and adorable witch costume.
"She looks so much like you! The same beautiful white hair and those lovely features. Although..."
Her gaze lingered on Elena's red eyes.
"Hmm. For some reason, she reminds me of someone else too."
Erza glanced toward the entrance.
"That would probably be my mortal."
Miss Clara blinked.
"Your... mortal?"
Erza paused before clearing her throat.
"I mean, my husband."
She gestured toward me.
Miss Clara followed her hand and finally noticed the handsome vampire who had been standing near the doorway throughout their entire reunion.
In other words, me.
I raised my hand with an awkward smile.
"Hi, Miss Clara! It's been a while!"
She froze.
Her eyes moved from me to Elena, then toward Erza, before returning to me again. For several seconds, she remained completely silent, as though her mind were struggling to process the information.
Then she suddenly exclaimed,
"WAIT! HOW THE HELL DID YOU END UP MARRYING YUUTA?!"
Several customers turned toward us.
I placed a hand against my chest, thoroughly offended.
"Hey! That's incredibly rude! What's so unbelievable about someone marrying me?"
Miss Clara completely ignored my protest and turned toward Erza.
"Erza, dear, seriously! How did this happen?"
"Well... about that..."
Erza looked away, her cheeks turning faintly pink as she adjusted Elena in her arms.
I stared at the two of them before finally remembering the question that had been bothering me since we entered.
"Wait a second! Forget about my marriage for a moment. How do you two even know each other?"
Miss Clara looked at me in surprise.
"Oh, Yuuta, don't you remember? Erza visited my bakery in the main novel. We had a conversation back then."
I blinked.
"Ohhh! Right!"
I scratched my head, trying to recall the scene.
"Well, looks like I need to reread the novel again. Even I'm starting to forget what happened!"
Miss Clara laughed at my response, while Erza merely shook her head as though she'd expected nothing better from me.
"Anyway, Auntie Clara, how have you been?" I asked, finally approaching the counter. "Remember when I promised I'd bring my family to visit you someday?"
"Of course I remember, dear!"
"Well, here we are! My beautiful wife, Erza, and our adorable daughter, Elena!"
I proudly gestured toward them before remembering something else.
"Oh, and there's one more member of our family—my son. But since he hasn't been revealed in the main novel yet, I couldn't bring him along this time."
Miss Clara raised her eyebrows before smiling warmly.
"Oh my! Your family has certainly grown, hasn't it?"
"Hahaha! You could say that."
"Well, I'm happy you finally brought them to visit. It's wonderful seeing all of you together."
She looked at Elena, who was still sitting comfortably in Erza's arms, before clapping her hands as though she'd remembered something important.
"Oh! Speaking of which, I have something special for you!"
Elena immediately perked up.
"Special?"
"That's right, sweetheart. I've been baking something delicious for Halloween."
Miss Clara gestured toward a fresh tray resting behind the counter.
"Pumpkin bread! It's one of our seasonal specialties, and I just finished making a fresh batch. Would you like to try some?"
Elena's eyes sparkled.
"Pumpkin bread?!"
"That's right!"
She immediately turned toward me, practically bouncing in Erza's arms.
"Papa! Papa! Elena want pumpkin bread!"
I chuckled at her excitement before looking toward Miss Clara.
"Well, how could I possibly refuse when my little princess is asking so nicely?"
"Yay! Pumpkin bread!"
Elena raised her little hands triumphantly, nearly knocking her witch hat off again.
I smiled and gently straightened it before turning back toward the counter.
"All right, Auntie Clara. Let's give your Halloween special a try!"
Miss Clara smiled and disappeared behind the counter, returning a moment later with a small tray of freshly baked pumpkin bread. The golden-brown slices were still warm, and a pleasant aroma of cinnamon and pumpkin filled the air as she placed them in front of us.
"Here you go, dear. Fresh from the oven! Be careful, though. They're still a little hot."
"Pumpkin bread!" Elena exclaimed, stretching her little hands toward the tray.
"Easy, sweetheart. Let Papa check it first."
I picked up a slice and broke off a small piece, blowing on it before handing it to Elena. She accepted it with both hands and took a cautious bite, chewing thoughtfully while Miss Clara watched her with an expectant smile.
"Well? What do you think, little witch?"
Elena's eyes widened.
"Yummy!"
Miss Clara laughed happily, clearly delighted by the reaction. Elena immediately took another bite, while I tried a piece myself. The bread was soft, lightly sweet, and carried just enough spice to make it perfect for the chilly evening.
"Wow, Auntie Clara. This is really good!"
"Oh, you're too kind, Yuuta."
Erza also accepted a slice, examining it briefly before taking a small bite. She chewed in silence for a moment, then looked toward Miss Clara.
"The flavor is quite pleasant. The sweetness isn't overwhelming."
Miss Clara placed a hand against her chest.
"Oh my! Coming from you, Erza, that's quite a compliment!"
Erza merely nodded, although I noticed her taking another bite almost immediately. I smiled to myself, deciding not to mention it. After all, I'd already learned what happened when I teased my wife too much.
Once we'd finished our treats and thanked Miss Clara, we stepped outside again. Elena waved enthusiastically from the doorway, promising to return someday for more pumpkin bread, while Miss Clara wished us a wonderful evening.
The streets had become even livelier during our visit. More families were walking around in costumes, and groups of children were moving from house to house with colorful buckets swinging from their hands.
That was when I noticed something.
"Ah, Elena! Look over there."
"Hm? What, Papa?"
I pointed toward a house across the street. Its entrance was decorated with glowing pumpkins, artificial spiderwebs, and a large skeleton sitting beside the front door. A group of children dressed as ghosts and superheroes had gathered on the doorstep.
They knocked, and when the door opened, they shouted together.
"TRICK OR TREAT!"
A woman dressed as a vampire laughed and handed each child a few pieces of candy.
Elena watched the entire exchange with wide eyes.
"Papa..."
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Children knock door... and get candy?"
"That's right! Remember what Papa told you? That's called trick-or-treating. You visit houses participating in Halloween, say the magic words, and they give you candy."
Elena looked down at her pumpkin bucket before turning toward me with an expression of absolute determination.
"Papa. Elena want do that."
I chuckled and took her little hand.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Erza followed beside us, looking somewhat skeptical as we approached the decorated house. The other children had already moved on, leaving the entrance empty.
"All right, Elena. Remember the magic words?"
Elena nodded firmly.
"Twik or tweat!"
"Perfect! Now go ahead and knock."
She walked up the small steps and carefully knocked on the door three times. I stood just behind her, while Erza remained beside me with her arms folded.
A few seconds later, the door opened.
"Oh! Another little visitor!"
The woman dressed as a vampire looked down at Elena and immediately smiled.
"My goodness! What a beautiful little witch!"
Elena puffed out her cheeks.
"Elena scary witch!"
"Oh, really? Then what brings such a frightening witch to my house?"
Elena raised her pumpkin bucket with both hands.
"TWIK OR TWEAT!"
The woman laughed and reached into a large bowl beside the door.
"Well, I certainly wouldn't want to upset such a powerful witch!"
She dropped several wrapped candies into Elena's bucket, making a delightful rattling sound.
"Happy Halloween, sweetheart!"
"Thank you, auntie!"
Elena hurried back toward us, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Papa! Papa! It worked! Elena say magic words and candy come!"
"Hahaha! See? Papa told you!"
I gently patted her hat while she proudly showed Erza her latest treasure. My wife glanced at the growing collection of sweets before looking toward the house.
"So humans really do give away candy simply because someone knocks on their door."
"Only on Halloween, Erza. And only at houses participating in trick-or-treating."
"Hmph. A peculiar tradition."
"Well, our daughter certainly seems to enjoy it."
Erza looked down at Elena, who was already searching for the next decorated house. Her expression softened slightly, and she reached down to straighten the little witch hat that had slipped over Elena's forehead.
"Just don't run off without us, Elena."
"Okay, Mama!"
And so, our little witch continued her journey.
We visited several more houses, each decorated differently. One had a garden filled with glowing pumpkins, another had fake ghosts hanging from the trees, and a third had an enormous inflatable spider sitting on its roof.
Elena was fascinated by everything. Sometimes she tried to frighten the homeowners with her little growls, while other times she became so distracted by the decorations that I had to remind her why we'd knocked on the door in the first place.
By the time we reached the next street, her pumpkin bucket was already beginning to feel heavy.
"Papa! Elena getting lots of candy!"
"That's right, sweetheart. At this rate, we'll need another bucket!"
"Another bucket?!" Elena gasped, looking as though I'd just revealed the greatest possibility in the world.
"Hahaha! I'm kidding!"
Erza gave me a warning glance.
"Mortal. Don't encourage her."
"Right, right. One bucket is enough."
Unfortunately, our peaceful candy hunt was about to take an unexpected turn.
As we passed a small gathering of families near the corner, someone suddenly stepped out from behind a decorated archway.
"ROOOAAAR!"
Elena stopped walking.
Standing before us was a man wearing an enormous dragon costume. His outfit had dark green scales, a long tail, and a large dragon head with glowing red eyes. He spread his arms dramatically, pretending they were wings, while several nearby children laughed.
"BEWARE, LITTLE HUMANS! THE MIGHTY DRAGON HAS ARRIVED!"
I blinked.
Oh?
A dragon?
Well, this was certainly an interesting choice of costume.
The man looked down at Elena and leaned forward, letting out another exaggerated growl.
"ROOOAAAR! ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE GREAT DRAGON?"
Elena stared at him for a moment.
Then she tilted her head.
"Dragon?"
"That's right, little witch! A terrifying dragon!"
Elena looked at his fake wings, then at his tail, before turning toward Erza.
"Mama!"
"Hm?"
"Look! Dragon uncle!"
Erza glanced at the man, her expression completely indifferent.
"I can see that."
Elena looked back at the costumed man with growing excitement.
"Uncle! Elena mama is dragon too!"
My smile froze.
Oh, no.
The man laughed, apparently assuming Elena was simply playing along.
"Really? Your mama is a dragon too?"
"Yes!" Elena nodded proudly. "Mama is big, beautiful dragon! Mama has biiig wings!"
She spread her little arms as wide as possible to demonstrate.
"And Mama can fly! Whoooosh!"
I immediately crouched beside her, laughing a little louder than necessary.
"Hahaha! What an imagination my daughter has! She really loves dragons, you see!"
Elena turned toward me with a confused expression.
"Papa? But Mama really—"
"Anyway!" I interrupted, gently turning her attention back toward the costumed man. "What a wonderful dragon costume, sir! Very realistic!"
The man chuckled.
"Thanks! Your little girl's adorable."
"Yes! Very adorable! Hahaha!"
Beside me, Erza was watching the entire exchange with an expression of mild amusement.
Of course she was.
My dear wife could have helped explain things, but apparently watching her husband desperately prevent their daughter from revealing family secrets was far more entertaining.
Elena, meanwhile, wasn't finished.
"Uncle! Your wings little!"
The man blinked.
"My wings?"
"Yes! Mama wings much bigger!"
I covered my face with one hand.
Sweetheart, please.
The man burst into laughter.
"Well, I guess your mama must be a very powerful dragon!"
"Yes!" Elena declared proudly. "Mama strongest!"
Erza lifted her chin slightly.
"At least the child understands that much."
"Erza!" I whispered.
"What, mortal?"
"You're supposed to help me!"
"I haven't said anything."
Technically, she was right.
And somehow, that made it worse.
Fortunately, the man seemed delighted by Elena's enthusiasm. He reached into a pouch attached to his costume and pulled out a few candies.
"Well then, little witch, since your mama is such an amazing dragon, how about some candy?"
Elena immediately forgot about the conversation.
"CANDY!"
She held out her bucket, happily accepting the sweets before waving goodbye to the dragon uncle.
"Bye-bye! Elena mama stronger!"
The man laughed again as we continued down the street.
I waited until we were a safe distance away before releasing a long sigh.
"Good heavens. That was close."
Erza glanced at me.
"You're overreacting, mortal. No one believed her."
"That's not the point! What if she starts telling everyone about your wings?"
Erza looked toward Elena, who was busy counting the candies in her bucket.
"Then perhaps you should explain to our daughter that humans aren't accustomed to meeting real dragons."
I considered that for a moment.
Actually, that wasn't a bad idea.
"Elena, sweetheart?"
"Hm? Papa?"
"Remember something important, okay? When we're outside, we shouldn't tell strangers about Mama being a real dragon."
Elena blinked.
"Why?"
"Because it's our family's little secret."
She thought about that for a moment before nodding seriously.
"Secret! Elena keep secret!"
"Good girl!"
I smiled and patted her head, feeling considerably more relieved.
Then Elena leaned closer and whispered loudly enough for half the street to hear.
"Papa! Elena won't tell anyone Mama dragon!"
I sighed.
Well, at least she was trying.
A little farther down the road, we came across another attraction that immediately caught my attention.
A large building had been decorated to resemble an abandoned mansion. Artificial fog drifted across the entrance, while flickering lanterns illuminated fake tombstones and twisted branches. A wooden sign stood beside the gate.
HAUNTED HOUSE — ENTER IF YOU DARE!
I stopped walking.
"Ohhh! Now this looks interesting!"
Elena followed my gaze.
"Papa? What that?"
"A haunted house, sweetheart! People go inside to see spooky decorations and pretend monsters."
"Monsters?!"
"That's right! But don't worry. They're all people wearing costumes."
Elena looked toward the entrance, where a man dressed as a zombie was slowly wandering around with his arms stretched forward.
She immediately raised her little hands.
"Elena scare monsters!"
"Hahaha! That's my brave little witch!"
Erza examined the attraction with an unimpressed expression.
"Humans willingly enter a building filled with things designed to frighten them?"
"Pretty much."
"And they pay money for this?"
"Sometimes, yes."
She stared at me.
"Mortal, your species continues to surprise me."
I chuckled and looked toward the entrance again. A family had just emerged from the attraction, laughing nervously while one of the children excitedly described the monsters they'd encountered inside.
Well, how frightening could it possibly be?
I was a grown man, after all. Besides, I'd faced far worse things than a few people wearing cheap monster costumes.
I adjusted my vampire cape and smiled confidently.
"All right, ladies! Shall we enter?"
Elena immediately raised her hand.
"YES! Elena brave!"
Erza looked at me for a moment before shrugging.
"Very well. If you insist."
And with that, the three of us approached the haunted house.
I had absolutely no idea how badly I was about to regret that decision.
To be Contiuned....