Published: September 10, 2025
Happy New Year! I look forward to your continued support this year.
This story’s main characters are Nadi, who runs a “jack-of-all-trades” shop in Seryu City, and the shop manager, an Elf.
“Mom, tell me a story about fairies.”
“Again? Nadi, you really love that story, don’t you?”
“Yeah!”
Mom began to tell the story.
“When fairies make wishes on the trees and plants, glowing mushrooms sprout around the tree stump with a gentle pop pop pop, and a door of light appears, beckoning to a little girl.”
“Aty, about tomorrow’s New Year’s party—”
“Geez! Dad, don’t interrupt my story!”
“Sorry, Nadi. I’ll be quick, so wait patiently, okay?”
Just when the story was getting good, Dad interrupted, and it stopped.
Adults are always like that.
They only think about themselves and put children last.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Nadi. Where were we?”
“At the part where the door appeared!”
“That’s right. The little girl, led by a fairy’s hand, stepped through the door of light and found herself in Fairy Hill, a wondrous paradise where glittering stars danced and magical creatures lived.”
“Is it a beautiful place?”
“Yes. It’s very beautiful, magical, and a utopia free from aging, sickness, and hunger.”
“Amazing! Nadi wants to live there!”
“Hehe, humans can’t live there.”
“Why not?”
“Humans are too tainted by the impurities of the mortal world.”
“Impurities? Does being red mean no good?”
“That might be too hard to understand. The door only opens to those who are pure and innocent—people with a clean heart.”
“What about me?”
“Well, if you behave well, maybe the door will open for you.”
“Got it! Nadi will be good!”
“Hehe, then it’s time to sleep. Tomorrow starts early with New Year’s greetings, so do your best waking up.”
“Okay!”
Though my heart was pounding and I couldn’t sleep, listening to Mom’s lullaby, I soon found myself waking up to morning.
It was truly magical.
â—‡
“Happy New Year!”
“Oh, happy New Year. So Nadi can already say New Year’s greetings, huh? How old are you now?”
“Five!”
When I greeted Grandpa, he praised me as such a good girl.
“Alright then, here’s your New Year’s gift.”
“Thank you!”
Inside the New Year’s gift was a Large Copper Coin.
Hehe, I’m rich now.
I’ll spend it on some sweet candy at the festival stalls.
“—Huh?”
“What is it, Nadi?”
“Huh, who is that?”
In front of the big tree in the garden stood a boy I had never seen before.
His hair was the color of early summer leaves.
“A guest.”
“A guest?”
Even though it was me being referred to, the boy didn’t even look my way.
Feeling frustrated, I walked up to him quickly.
“I’m Nadi.”
“I see.”
—Hmph.
He didn’t answer even though I told him my name. That’s unfair.
“And you are?”
“Yuya.”
The boy still didn’t look at me, which made me angry.
“Geez! Didn’t anyone teach you to look at the person you’re talking to?”
“Affirmative.”
“Affirmative? What does that mean?”
The boy didn’t answer.
He seemed so annoying.
“Tell me!”
I grabbed his arm and tugged.
His hat slipped, revealing a slightly pointed ear peeking through his pale green hair.
—Scary.
He’s not from the human tribe.
“Yikes!”
Scared, I pushed the boy away and ran off.
Looking back now, that was the worst first meeting ever.
That’s how I met the manager, Yuya of the Forest of Boruenan.
â—‡
“That’s him.”
When I turned eight, I met the boy again after three years.
He hadn’t changed at all since I last saw him.
Still, he was staring intently up at the big tree in the garden.
“Have you met Lord Yusaratoya before?”
“Yeah, before.”
I answered half-heartedly to Dad’s question, but the name “Yusaratoya” caught my attention.
Dad stopped me as I tried to walk toward the boy.
I was surprised and turned around.
“Lord Yusaratoya is a great man. You shouldn’t bother him out of mere childish curiosity.”
“But he’s just a kid too, right?”
He looked older than my older sister but didn’t seem like an adult.