Eve of the Festival ③
Finally, finally. It’s tomorrow. Tomorrow, the ‘Great O’Browns’ begins.
Somehow, I’ve started feeling strangely nervous.
Today is the eve of the festival.
A standing buffet party is being held in the grand hall of Hydrangea’s feudal lord’s castle.
The participants and invited guests include 27 Tier I Seekers and their Tsukaeshi,
along with prominent figures of the city, influential nobles, and so on.
I’ve been made to wear a suit I’m not used to, and I’m holding a glass of alcohol even though I can’t drink.
It was handed to me as a welcome drink, so I ended up taking it.
Right now, I’m standing by the wall.
All alone. So far, no one has approached me.
My name has completely taken on a life of its own, and who knows what would happen if I appeared with the Witches.
So, it was decided that I should avoid interacting as much as possible at the party.
Honestly, I’m relieved. Even watching from here, it’s quite a sight.
Ah, Ens-san and Emi-san. I thought Ax-san wouldn’t be here, but there he is.
He’s drinking and eating with Rell-san and Hoss-san, and talking with Mr. Agaro.
Nearby are Megadia-san and Arifa-san, and… who’s that?
That red-haired beauty who looks incredibly strong just at a glance.
And that black-haired woman is Kaede-san. Not in a dress, but a kimono.
And not the gallant hakama style, but a navy obi kimono style.
Over in the back is Alveld. He’s talking to some noble.
There’s a strange atmosphere just around him. A strong sense of awe, perhaps.
Not that it matters, since I won’t go near him.
And then there’s the Witch. Munieca-san. Chive-san. Shiro-san.
They were all clad in dazzling, sexy dresses they would normally never wear.
The Witch was in black, but it was a cocktail dress with a back that could kill a virgin… are my past life memories okay?
Munieca-san was in her Maid uniform. Unwavering. As expected.
Chive-san wore a yellow, off-the-shoulder dress. It was the first time I’d ever seen her in a dress.
It was surprising that she was even wearing makeup.
Shiro-san was in a white cape and a white one-piece dress.
She wore a white flower ornament in her hair. It somehow reminded me of Shiro-san’s pajamas from yesterday.
But this wasn’t thin or see-through.
Each held a glass, chatting amiably.
Good-looking men glittering like jewels were swarming them.
Or maybe ‘glinting’ is more accurate.
I’m reminded once again that this is a world I can’t possibly enter.
“Gahahahahahaha!”
“DAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Look! My invincible fortress!”
“Hey you, hey you, it’s a festival, yo!”
“Hoh. This fish. It is quite delicious.”
“A fish eating fish, I guess.”
“Buhoh, LOL.”
I’m reminded once again that this is absolutely a world I can’t possibly enter.
I’ll make absolutely sure they don’t find me.
~Now then~ let us speak~♪~
On the stage, a man dressed in a way that screamed ‘Minstrel’ was playing a lute.
Such a flashy, old-fashioned jester-like outfit you don’t see these days. So he must be a Minstrel. Though it’s the first time I’ve seen someone assert their Minstrel-ness so strongly.
~Of the many heroic tales~ They say heroes love beauty~♪~
What’s he singing about?
~But none wears beauty~ quite like him~♪~
Is it a heroic tale? What kind of hero?
~But he is not yet a hero~ But he is truly about to become one~♪~
A story about aiming to be a hero? A heroic saga, maybe. I don’t dislike those.
~He challenges~ hardships~ difficulties~ What none could achieve~ Unprecedented~♪~
Overcoming things like that sounds exciting.
~The Impregnable~♪~
Hm?
~Challenger~ Challenger~ He who shall conquer The Impregnable~♪~
Hmm?
~Night Challenge King Woff~♪ Night Conquest King Woff~♪ Night Hero King Woff~♪~
“Buffuhooooooo!?”
I spat out my drink. Violently. And my stomach started hurting.
Luckily, no one seemed to notice me, but… what the heck is that song?!
And what’s with the ‘Night’ part?! ‘Night’?!
Okay, sure, I slept beside Shiro-san last night!
Her skin felt cool, soft, and warm to hold!
It was a really pleasant lukewarm temperature and felt good! Though I fell asleep almost instantly!
And yeah, she wasn’t wearing underwear! So ‘holding her’ means exactly what it sounds like!
“Hah, singing whatever nonsense they please. Hm?”
A large blue dog ambles over. It’s ‘Sword of Swords’.
Among the Tier I, ‘Sword of Swords’ is always brought up when discussing who is the strongest.
Being the strongest Tier I means being one of the strongest in this world… or so they say.
I never thought it would be an actual dog.
The Japanese Giant Salamander, or rather, the Land Catfish, was also a former Tier I Seeker… what is up with this world?
‘Sword of Swords’ glanced at me, then sat down beside me before lying down.
Seeing its bored expression, I found myself strangely convinced, thinking, well, that makes sense for a dog.
“Still…”
Watching the party scene from a step back near the wall is quite interesting.
Glittering and noisy, elegant and loud. Enjoying the view of this strange congestion.
What bliss.
“Oh my. You seem to be enjoying yourself, don’t you?”
“Eh…?!”
Suddenly, without any presence, a pierrot appeared there.
A flashy red and yellow costume, white and red makeup. A pierrot.
He moves away from me playfully.
“Ah ha, what a scary face.”
“Crown…”
“No, no, I’m ‘Nightmare Parade’, you know.”
“…”
The pierrot bowed respectfully.
“Just a humble clown. Crow Distur. Nice to meet you.”
“Uh, likewise.”
Calm down. Crown is gone now. But pierrots still exist.
Various undead pierrot monsters from the Dungeons are still around.
Besides, street performers and circus clowns haven’t disappeared either.
And that’s a person. Not a Dungeon monster.
“Oh my. ‘Sword of Swords’ is here too, I see. Ah ha, you look bored.”
‘Sword of Swords’ looked at Crow, then turned its face away and closed its eyes.
I suddenly wondered what his disciple, Celeste-san, was doing.
“Ah ha, what were you finding so amusing over here?”
“I thought the view of this pre-festival party, seen from a step back, was enjoyable.”
I answer honestly. It’s not something to hide.
It really is enjoyable.
“I see, I see. A bystander, are we?”
“I suppose so.”
“The audience is essential everywhere. Do you prefer being in the gallery rather than being one of the cast?”
“I don’t really like standing out.”
“Ah ha, that sounds rather ironic coming from a clown like me.”
“…I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Just kidding, just kidding. Ah ha, it doesn’t matter how you enjoy it. A party’s a party. Have fun.”
With that, Crow skipped away, juggling as he went.
So that’s ‘Nightmare Parade’.
I really don’t like pierrots.
Come to think of it… Tier I Seekers… It’s a bit late to realize, but aren’t they all just a bunch of oddballs?
I saw that noisy-eating female Elf earlier, too.
She was stunningly beautiful, but she completely ignored the food and was eating something she brought herself.
I also spotted a pink sphere.
Well, honestly, anyone aiming for Tier I is probably weird to begin with.
Ah, but I haven’t seen Mineha-san yet.
She should be here since she’s the Tsukaeshi for her mother, the ‘Fairy Queen’.
“You… are you Hals?”
“Pachira—sama. It has been a long time?”
“Pachira is fine. I am Pachira of ‘Torquetum’.”
Ms. Pachira… and, who’s that?
The voices are coming from outside the hall… from the veranda.
“Pachira, is it?”
“Hals. What of the others?”
“…I do not know. When I came to, I was alone?”
“Being here means you are a Tsukaeshi, I suppose.”
“Yes. I currently belong to the ‘Seeker Knights’. You were not aware?”
“I have heard of them. I did not know you were among them. My apologies.”
“Perhaps I also thought Pachira was already dead?”
“Well, that cannot be helped. I also thought the others were dead, so I did not search for them at all.”
“Our country is no more… it has fallen, you see…?”
“Indeed…”
I feel like I overheard something I shouldn’t have.
So that was the situation. And Ms. Pachira… she really is someone important.
Besides, the other person is a girl with a unique way of speaking and a husky voice, but I can’t see her.
Oops, looks like they might notice I’m eavesdropping. I should move away, leave the hall, and head into the corridor.
Just as I passed by—I met Juicy-san’s eyes.
“Ah.”
“…Lord Wof.”
Juicy-san was wearing a dress like a blooming red flower.
She wore light makeup with rouge on her lips.
Instead of her usual exceptional cuteness, she displayed exceptional beauty.
However, her Tail was wagging furiously.