Side Story 23: Outside the Raid.

Side Story 23: Outside the Raid.

Loud and bustling.

Those would be the words to describe the middle district of Firwood, an area where most of Firwoods populace would gather. Adventurers commuting to either the hunters or mercenarys guild for their next Quest, merchants and street chefs selling their wares at the towns marketplace, artisans managing their workshops as the sounds of forges and looms echoed through the streets. The middle district was indisputably the heart of Firwood.

However, tonight it was eerily quiet. Even after the moon has risen and most daytime workers fall asleep, the nightlife of Firwood should still be active among the more nocturnal residents. However, the most active area in Firwood wasnt in the middle district of the slums the lower district today, but the upper district, also known as the merchants district.

The reason why this district got its name was the concentration of rich merchants in the area. Like a haven for the rich and elite on Earth, this area was dedicated to merchants with developed networks who could even interact with nobles and do business with them. Nobles in the Greenveil duchy are known as merchants by other duchies, but even merchants require subordinates to coordinate areas beneath their station.

So, this was the area where these merchants would do business and live since it was located just outside the noble districts gateway. Although there were reputable inns, Peolyncas version of middle to high-class hotels, there werent many of them. The nightlife in this area was lacking, unlike the other commoner districts, and any nightly dealings would be kept quiet anyway. So, why was this the most active area tonight?

Clothing! Clothing! Purchase clothing to support Lady Hestia! Purchase clothing to support Aurora!

It was because this worlds second idol concert was being held in the merchants district plaza. This first and only idol of Peolynca was performing today.

Ooh, this skirt is quite cute. Although, isnt it a bit short? Hmm, but Lady Hestias name is on it. Mother. Father. What do you think?

This art is...new. Lady Hestia was already beautiful when she sang and danced, but this version of hers is different from normal art. Still, it looks well made and adorable. The seamstress must be excellent, wouldnt you say, Dear?

Agreed, Dear. I heard a new seamstress at the tailor guild was gaining traction recently. She has been making mana clothing in exchange for wool and silk thread instead of money. I believe Lady Hestias seamstress must be her, as it would make sense for a foreign noble to bring their own retainers.

This was Auroras plan to acquire funds. Saori, using the many wool threads she acquired, made the idol merchandise that was now being sold here at Hestias concert by the servants of House Helvas. These clothes would vary in appearance, as some had cute chibi versions of Hestia while others had her name and partys name in stylized writing. Idol merchandise was there for a fan to support their idol while also showing people who they liked. Naturally, these clothes had to be adapted to the local fashion sense.

While the normal wage worker wouldnt be able to afford them, merchants or rich individuals could. It was especially successful if these merchants had either young daughters or wives, who wouldnt shy away from these vibrant colored clothes. As Saori accounted for this fact thanks to feedback from running Auroras restaurant, she didnt tailor many in order to create an artificial scarcity, attracting young women who want to stay in fashion.

Commoners want to look and act like nobles. Whether it was on Earth or here on Peolynca, this fact remained true. Clothing maketh the man. As Hestias status and name have been spreading in the commoner district due to her music and priestly duties, no respectable merchant wouldnt know about the white-robed noble lady playing music on the streets and how she was only charging 200 Davi for any healing services. Merchants knew her identity and were assessing her worth with the restaurant and concert. It also helped that the rumors spread by Ellaine and High Bishop Theodore were leaking, too.

Impressed by her singing and being able to entertain the raucous crowd of Firwood, the idol merchandise was soon sold out, whether because the buyers had become Hestias followers or purely due to fashion. Clothing supported by a noble was being sold to them, commoners, so no young women could resist. It also meant that those unable to buy anything were left disappointed and angry.

W-What do you mean there is nothing left?! You must have planned the stock would be sold out in minutes! T-This cant be!

Please, there must be a dress that you forgot in storage, right? Could I ask you to look for it? My father would surely repay you for your hard work.

This is outrageous! An artificial scarcity for something any respectable merchant would be able to predict would sell out in seconds is unbelievable! You should have expected this and made more!

However, those complaints and pleas went into one ear and then out.

After they were done, they left without a trace. Farron then found a nearby bench and sat down, letting out another sigh. Hope Priscilla is enjoying herself. She looked so sad when I told her I had to leave

After fighting all those monsters, the family man Farron couldnt help but think of his daughter. After witnessing Hestias first song with Priscilla, he had to leave the concert to fulfill his Quest. Although he knew it couldnt be helped, Farron wished he was there, as experiencing something like another worlds music was sure to be a good memory for him and his daughter.

Well...it is my duty as the guild master. Cant get around it when the job description says that Im needed to protect the town the guild is stationed in the case of a monster attack. Got myself into it, so I better fulfill my end of the deal, Farron reasoned to quell his inner turmoil. As much as he wanted to complain, Farron was a professional. A normal hunter doesnt have any obligation to sacrifice their life for the guild or town, but the guild master does. Even after leaving the military, I still cant get away from responsibilities.

Farron, melancholic now, began caressing the feathers on his swordspear, looking at them wistfully like a veteran remembering the faces of his fallen army brothers. They were uneven, like scars on the weapon after experiencing many battles, but they were kept clean and pretty, alluding to the fact that Farron was keeping his weapons long, brown feathers in a good state. He made sure to clean any blood drops off of them before sheathing his weapon again with a deep sigh. He was done reminiscing about his past.

The big fella would be disappointed if he saw me now. Not exactly the strong and proud master he came to know, he said with a faint smile. That was when his thoughts drifted back to his daughter singing and dancing along to Hestias song, and also to another person he deeply cared for. Come to think of it, shouldnt she be around? I wonder if she can come visit Priscilla, but I guess her job should be keeping her busy. Poor lass deserves less busy parents, honestly.

It was a self-deprecating comment. As the guild master of the hunters guild, Farron was swarmed with documents of fulfilled Quests and potential work from nobles, meaning he had little time for leisure outside his work hours. Fortunately for him, his daughter decided to work as a chef for the tavern adjacent to the guild, so he wasnt always alone.

Nevertheless, as a father, Farron wished he could spend more time with his daughter. He also wished his wife were here with him.

Haaaa, whatever, he said, before hearing and seeing something surprising in the direction of the concert. Loud explosions rang out in the sky and giant light flowers could be seen there, amazing Farron as he never witnessed a firework before. At first, he thought it was an attack on the town but he couldnt sense any danger around, so he eventually calmed down although he kept his guard up.

But then another loud sound happened. This time from the alchemy guilds building.

Shite...should I help them out? Farron pondered as he looked at the burning guild house, clutching his swordspear, ready to fight. However, he knew how to keep a cool head and instead looked at this party bracelet. But neither Saori nor Tasianna are looking like they are in danger, butI can feel something is up. What the hell is Davison doing?

Before the raid happened, Aurora already knew Farron would help them, so Hestia had him join the party so everybody could keep tabs on each others status. Gael was the only one who wasnt part of the party since no one in Aurora knew he would participate.

Farron frowned as he was contemplating on what to do. The building was burning and the loud sound came from the collapsed 2nd floor, where Davisons office was supposed to be. The building was in shambles; its previous more refined appearance built upon all the wealth and work the previous alchemy guild masters had accrued was gone. It was no longer a place of alchemy and ingenuity for catalysts, but a battlefield.

Farron sighed, I promised Priscilla not to risk my health as much as possible...this damn curse is making it so hard to fight properly. My scars and age are catching up to me. Farron clutched his chest, slowly breathing but he couldnt help but wheeze and sigh deeply. The [Crystallized Lungs] curse turned his lungs hard and insufferable to live with, which Farron was only suppressing with medicinal potions and low physical work.

His fight with the monsters and his spars with Hestia wasnt too taxing on his body, but he was afraid of battles where he could receive damage. As an A rank adventurer, Farrons intuition was astute and he knew what he would be getting himself into wouldnt be a cakewalk. He didnt know why he was so worried about Davison, but this lingering bad feeling he had of him since the moment they met was gnawing on him.

Duty or family. That was his choice here.

...Blind acceptance of your duty is a flaw.

In the end, he decided to step aside, as he knew why he took up the mantle of the guild master of the hunters guild. His job as a hunter was to hunt monsters, nothing else. Instead, he did something else. Something that would actually help the raid.

Activating [Gale Steps] once again, Farron sprinted away towards the direction of the lights.