Scarlet Rocket
While walking through the bustling streets of the New Year's festival, I spotted Scarlet enjoying a chicken on a stick at a food stall.
Huh? Khahaha! Captain! Come over here!
The food here is amazing! Want one, Captain?
Oh, and training's off today, right? Right?
Uh... yeah.
Haha! I knew it!
I asked even though I knew!
Just in case you tried to go back on your word!
Why are you so excited?
Huh? Isn't it natural to be excited?
We're at a festival!
A day when humans gather, laugh, chatter, and play!
There's tons of delicious food and fun games!
And most importantly...
Importantly...?
They're doing a play of Kelberon's Great Adventure in the plaza to celebrate the New Year's festival!
What do you think, Captain? Want to see it?
You must be dying to see it, right?
Khahaha! Don't worry!
I knew you would, so I got two tickets.
The generosity of a great Dragon, you see.
Let's go see it together, Captain!
So? When does it start?
Six in the evening!
It's still a while until it starts, so I was thinking of killing some time—
It's only 30 minutes to six.
...
Ahh! Already?
Let's go, Captain! We can't be late!
As we hurried to make it to the play on time, a scream echoed from a distant alleyway.
Over there!
Help meeee!
Hm...?
Captain, did you hear something just now?
Turning towards the source of the scream...
In the alleyway, something was tumbling down a steep slope at high speed.
Stoooop! Catch that!
What's that?
Don't worry! I'll catch it!
Scarlet swiftly lunged and snatched the falling object.
Hahaha! Got it!
Oh my! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
It's nothing! It's a piece of cake for me.
But, what is this? It's quite heavy?
Haha, that's the rocket for the rocket launch at this year's festival.
It's something I've painstakingly crafted over the past year for today.
It'll probably be the most spectacular and beautiful firework rocket you'll see launched today! Haha!
Oh! A spectacular and majestic rocket! Can't wait to see it go!
Phew... I was trying to take it to the launchpad early, but my hands slipped...
I almost ruined it before it could even launch.
Thanks to you, maid lass, it's undamaged...
Undamaged...
...Huh?
Hmm... I caught it as fast as I could, but...
Looking sheepish, Scarlet handed over the badly crushed rocket.
Your rocket! It's crushed!
M-m-my rocket!!!
My rocket... is crushed...
How bad is it?
Is there a way to fix it somehow?
...If I work on it, I think I can still launch it.
But I can't show it to people when it looks like this...
If such a shabby rocket is on the launchpad, people will laugh.
Argh... I didn't think of that.
I'm sorry. If only I had been a little faster!
No, no. I'm not blaming you. It was my fault for not being careful in the first place.
I can always the launch next year...
Hmm...
I'll help you out!
...How?
It's just a matter of making the outside look neat, isn't it?
We could just make a suitable cloth for it, right?
Making clothes is my specialty!
I'll make it look far more majestic, amazing, and incredible than before! Khahaha!
What about Kelberon's Great Adventure?
Oh...!
Hmm... I did want to see it!
It's a shame, but I have no other choice!
I can't ignore someone who needs my help!
Yes. An honorable Dragon should use their powerful strength to help the weak.
With great power comes great responsibility. That's my philosophy!
It's a virtue that the strong should uphold. Haha!
Human, I'll make it quickly, so just wait a little!
Here you go!
What Scarlet proudly presented was...
It's you?!
A large doll was draped over the crushed rocket.
A doll that, with its red horns, tail, and maid outfit, was unmistakably Scarlet.
Hahaha! What do you think? Isn't it perfect?
Of course, who or what else is more majestic, amazing, or incredible than the Dragon herself?
So I made it just like me! Are you satisfied, human?
Th-thank you!
With this, no one could be not interested!
Well, it's certainly eye-catching...
I'll repay your kindness with a magnificent firework display!
Please, watch the rocket launch today!
Oh! I'm looking forward to it!
Captain! Look!
That's the rocket I fixed!
The rocket resembling Scarlet soared high into the night sky.
As the flames from its large, red tail subsided, two horns detached and burst.
Soon after, the main body exploded spectacularly, sending magnificent fireworks in every direction.
What is this weird feeling...?!
Hahaha! It's beautiful! I'm so happy!
Captain! This is the splendor of the Dragon!
It's on a completely different level from those other boring rockets!
...Well, if she's happy, then it's okay.
