Chapter 586: The Continuing Feast
Well then, the Wanwan House will be moving to the desert tomorrow. As for Shahira, Soleil and the others should be busy decorating.
By the way, I told the Earth Folk that the golden fruits and vegetable series would be edible once cut, but they were each stored in beautifully transparent boxes that showcased their contents.
Some were shaped like lanterns, with Japanese plums encased in glass, while others had intricate carvings above and below that highlighted the oranges nestled in the center.
There’s a rumor among the Earth Folk that they hoard treasures of gold and silver, which is true, but their reasons for doing so are probably quite different from those of humans.
They do appreciate jewels and gold, things that hold value for ordinary people, but it’s not because they want to own the jewels. Rather, they desire to enhance their beauty or use them as materials. Alternatively, they might want to learn from the techniques used in crafting those pieces.
They praise each other’s work, exchanging ideas on how to improve things. It seems the golden fruits and vegetables have made for excellent accompaniments to the fine drinks.
When the golden apples and golden grapes were placed in boxes crafted by the Earth Folk, they looked incredibly stylish, making me want to keep them as decorations. I chose to ignore the eggplants and cucumbers, though.
I returned to the House and petted Rishu.
“Rishu, I have a souvenir for you.”
It’s Harvgova’s bone, and it’s huge!
Rishu ran over, sniffing the air. After taking a whiff of the bone, he turned to me and sniffed again.
“Oh, sorry. I’m heading to the bath.”
After apologizing, I made a beeline for the bath.
The feasts with the Earth Folk involve drinking copious amounts of alcohol, so I needed to wash off the smell. I might not be able to tell my own scent anymore, though.
I know I shouldn’t bathe while drunk, but I can handle it. Seeing Dean and the others occasionally nursing hangovers makes me feel fortunate. On the other hand, it’s a bit disappointing that I can’t get so drunk that I lose my senses and roll around on the floor with friends.
I sweated it out and drank some water. I doubt this will completely clear my system, but I want to believe it helps a little.
After finishing my bath, Rishu, who had been gnawing on Harvgova’s bone, came over to my feet and sniffed me.
Sorry, Rishu. I’ll try not to drink too much tomorrow. There should be plenty of others besides me, and I’m sure Karn can hold his own against the Earth Folk in drinking contests! I’ve never seen him gulping down drinks, but I think he can handle the quantity.
I played with Rishu and went to sleep to prepare for tomorrow.
In the morning, I had porridge. Well, it was more like thinly salted rice cooked soft in a clay pot.
I took a proper walk with Rishu and checked on the fields. I felt perfectly fine physically, but mentally? The feasts, especially with the Earth Folk, tend to sweep me up in the excitement, making it hard to settle down.
In contrast, the slow pace of eating porridge calmed me. I enjoyed it by varying the seasonings. I only had three types: pickled plums, seaweed, and sesame seeds. If there were too many options, I’d end up rushing from one to the next, so this amount was just right.
I finished with a cup of tea.
“Alright, Rishu, I’m off.”
I petted Rishu and used [Teleportation] to Karn’s Country.
The decorations should be underway, with Soleil working under Haulon’s guidance. I planned to check on their progress, and once the [Teleportation] of the Earth Folk and Wanwan House was ready, along with Wanwan and Asas’s move—what Haulon referred to as the “Crossing of the Gods”—I would bring everyone from Kanum over.
The Kanum folks were also witnessing the town of Karn emerging from the sands. Knowing Haulon’s efforts, they planned to join in the celebration.
Haulon would likely continue to travel back and forth between Kanum’s rented house, but Karn would mostly settle in the desert country. It feels a bit lonely not being near the fireplace.
By the way, I wonder if the People of Esha made it in time for this festival? They seem to be quite nimble and adept at travel, so they might have already settled in.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.”
Lost in thought, I arrived at the desert kingdom of Shahira, at the Aboveground Temple.
There were several skylights, but it was hot, so thick stone covered them, leaving the temple dim even during the day. Perhaps it was Haulon who lit the magical lights, as they floated around, and flowers adorned the floors and pillars.
There were also bonfires and candlesticks prepared. They would surely be lit during the main event. Magic is convenient, but after all, they are the Fire Folk.
“Welcome! We just finished the temporary setup. Once the pedestals are brought in, I’ll make adjustments,” Soleil said.
There were two pedestals set further back in the room.
One was originally used to enshrine the Fire Spirit in this temple, and Asas would be placed on that. The other was a low, square pedestal, which would hold the pedestal crafted by the Earth Folk, or rather, the Wanwan House.
“Oh, sorry. I brought something to offer, but can we change the arrangement a bit now?”
“Oh? What is it?” Haulon asked.
“This.”
I presented a fruit stand filled with golden fruits and vegetables.
“Wh…!” Soleil gasped, holding her breath.
“…” Faramia readied a cushion.
“Wait…!!! This is an overwhelming amount of incredible stuff…!” Haulon exclaimed, eyes wide.
“I couldn’t think of any other use for them. They won’t rot, so they’re just right, right?”
“That’s not right!!!” Haulon shouted, while Soleil just stared at me, her mouth moving in disbelief.
Isn’t this way better than plastic flowers or offerings?