A day after I returned from that delivery job, I hitched a ride on a patrol carriage from Barga to Miral Village, west of the city . It was still early in the morning when I arrived, and there were a lot of people headed in the same direction . Not only adventurers but also children . Don’t tell me they’re going to the same place…
When my stop came into view, the queue could be seen from the carriage already . There were many carriages moving between the two locations . Now, I was considering using my own vehicle; plenty of adventurers had their own horses anyways . But even if I stayed off the highway, I couldn’t guarantee I won’t be seen . So, I had no other choice but to hop in line .
With the closing of the labyrinth on the horizon, Lord Franklin Barga (Lord of Barga) had come as well . Currently, he was staying within the Miral Village Chief’s abode . This was mentioned by the skewer vendor I had met on the road . The village wasn’t the only place with an uptick in activity because of the festival, though .
A 2 hours’ ride by carriage to the west, there was the Emerald Demon’s Labyrinth camp . The place was still full of tents stretching through the forested road; filled with adventurers .
A large tent had also been prepared for visitors who couldn’t find any lodging within Miral . I too needed to secure lodging, as the sun was setting . I have to book myself a bed in a large tent before the sun went down . With so many people gathering in one place, naturally, the crime rate would rise . I saw fully armored knights passing by; probably on patrol between the village and the Labyrinth .
Simply speaking, the Harvest Festival was like, well, a festival . Lanterns illuminated the street sides and houses along the forested road; just like a carnival . Apparently, this was how the night portion of the festival went . There also were other large tents . These ones acted as taverns or restaurants instead of makeshift lodging . I came to wonder if the people working at the restaurant sent their menu here . I had noticed some of the dishes served were authentic menu items .
There were also tents for the children . I peered into a tent where, I think, a play was being performed . Who knew that, among these tents built for those to conquer the labyrinth, some were meant for creative plays? Some performed puppetry shows . The puppeteer controlled a cat beastman doll deftly, it was killing a goblin-like monster doll . Could that be Mitche-san?
Drawn in by my curiosity, I watched the show alongside the parents and their children . The story was of a lord’s daughter who’d gone to challenge the labyrinth with her companions; conquering the labyrinth and brilliantly reaching its core… Tsk… I wasn’t in the play though… Well, I guess they’re just being creative, nothing wrong there . But then, I saw that a few dolls looked like the Rafflesia Knights, and yet, not me…
Was it that unexpected? Of course, it’s not unexpected, right?
I paid the fee after the show was over and headed down the road . I caught a whiff of liquor mixed with food, and the sound of people cheering and laughing . Was that the sound of a musical instrument? I heard something akin to a melody coming from somewhere .
In this world, a successful labyrinth subjugation was a happy occasion; even I could feel it . Meanwhile, delicious scents sneaked into my nostrils . This reminded me of how hungry I was . Looking for something to eat, I went to check on several of the tents that acted as restaurants .
“Ah! Schwartz, nya~!”
I heard someone call my name from a tent, the fragrant smell of grilled fill came from it .
“Ah-! If it isn’t Schwartz, nya! Here, come ‘ere!”
The ones who called out to me turned out to be Sasanqua’s Mitche-san and Marindsan . Ruu-san was also sitting with them . Ruu-san didn’t say anything, nor did she have any particular expression on her face . She only simply gestured for me to come over with her hand .
“It’s been a while . Never thought that you’d show up here of all places . ”
“Sit sit~!”
The table they sat on at four chairs . Since one was vacant, so I decided to take the seat . Meanwhile, Ruu-san was banging the table with her hand . Was she already drunk or something?
I couldn’t care less about that, I was too hungry . So, I simply sat down . The waitress came to take my order soon after . Apparently, this was one of those tents run by a well-known restaurant that sent their men specifically for the festival . Beverages ranged from liquor to fruit juice . But since I didn’t want anything weird, I settled a few plates and ale to sate my hunger; I gave the waitress some silver coins as payment .
“Nothing less from Schwartz, nya . I would be surprised if you ordered fruit juice, nya . ”
“I notice that Schwartz has arrived a bit late here! Where have you been?”
Malindsan raised a large wooden mug, filled to the brim with ale . She downed the contents all at once .
“Eh, I went to the capital . Explored the Wolves’ Labyrinth . ”
“But those wolves are boring!”
“That’s no good, nya . Nobody has found the path to go deeper than the 21st floor, nya . It’s a labyrinth with too much fighting, but too little treasure, nya . Best you can get, nya, is just collecting some magic water, nya . ”
I always had this slight feeling that the Wolves’ Labyrinth wasn’t too popular… I rarely saw another Adventurer while diving there . So that was the reason .
“But you can make a decent amount of money from the magic water, right?”
“Magic water doesn’t sell that high! Not only is there a limit to the tool bag; going there to collect some feels nothing like conquering a labyrinth . Only a coward would do a stupid thing like that . ”
I-I see… Let’s avoid mentioning I made my money by collecting that magic water then…
The waitress arrived with my order in the meantime . Thus, I joined the others in enjoying the dinner . We also chatted about the festival; how the Emerald Demon Labyrinth was slowly closing in, being engulfed by the void .
It was estimated to close completely in three days . By then, a ceremony would be held at the Labyrinth’s entrance . In addition to that, Barga’s City Lord would give a speech to praise Sasanqua for retrieving the labyrinth’s core . It would also be the official appearance of the three daughters of Lord Barga . Mainly Lapitilicsama; as a member of Sasanqua .
“And this harvest festival will also end then . ”
Mitche-san, with a lonely expression, jokingly said .
— × —
The next day, I found myself in the Sasanqua Clan’s tent . We had dinner together and took our time with merry conversation while enjoying drinks . When we finally left the tent, it had been too late in the night to return to the lodging tent . I was prepared to go without sleep, but fortunately, Mitche-san invited me to spend the night in the clan’s tent . So I got to sleep .
In the tent, I met some of their other members for the first time, who immediately spirited Mitche-san away from me . I was then directed back to the spot I had slept .
“You were such a bully yesterday, nya . ”
“You’re the one who brought a guy in!”
“Nya–…”
Only now did I remember that Sasanqua was a female-only clan . So, maybe bringing a male in was some sort of taboo? I felt bad for staying the night here . After giving a quick morning greeting and a thank you to Mitche-san; who was being scolded by the others . I hastily left the tent .
Speaking of which, Malindsan and Ruu-san went to the village chief’s abode last night . It seemed that their job as Lapitilicsama’s escort was still going on .
Although it was for drinking, I washed my face with the water from the water bottle, After feeling refreshed, I walked toward the entrance of the Labyrinth . The bustling noise of last night was gone . Replaced by the shouts of people wanting to get into the Labyrinth; vendors also offered breakfast or tools for exploring . Then I heard it .
“How about a Labyrinth bento box~! Thank you very much~!”
It was the voice of the bento box vendor from Marida Company . Somehow, that voice sounded familiar to me… The stall was situated near the entrance . It was a fairly wide space, and apparently, they were also buying non-attribute stones on the side . Marida company’s priority was to buy as many of them as possible . This was the only place they were sold after all . Aside from buying those and selling the bentos, they were also collecting salmon for the bentos .
There was already a long queue at the stall . The line mostly consisted of regular parents, their children, workers, and even some adventurers . Apparently, the bento had become popular by word of mouth . I also queued up and waited for my turn while watching the sales . It seemed that a good result had been achieved during this test run . But there were worries over how it’d fare after the festival .
When my turn came, I finally got a look at the vendors . As I thought, it was Amy and Pricilla, dressed in cute aprons . Of course, they didn’t know I was Shaft . I ordered a box, listened to their explanation on how to get a discount by submitting salmon . The explanation was short and easy to understand . It seems like we can expect to collect some profit from this .
Maltsan said that, eventually, they’ll find a way to make a cheaper disposable paper box . In the end, I couldn’t tell how high this world’s technology level was . It was because of their technology revolving around mana and magic stones, which was beyond my knowledge . But it was still faster than I expected . It was also fun to watch how the technology and standard of living in this world steadily improve .
I was living a pretty happy life now .