Chapter 283

Chapter 283

The Silver Winter Merchant Guild had set up tents and shops all around the city center.

With people buzzing around, curiosity got the best of me, and I went to check it out.

"Welcome! Care for a simple game?"

"...Game?"

"Yes! If you participate, well stamp your card. Get more stamps by visiting other Silver Winter stalls, and if you collect all the types of stamps..."

Upon hearing the details, it seemed that each of the Silver Winter Guilds stalls had different gaming or experience zones. Complete a lap around the stalls, collect stamps, and trade them in for a small prize. Whats more, it was all free!

"We definitely have to do this!"

The first stop was a dart-throwing stall.

The four of us took turns throwing darts. I completely missed the mark due to lack of skill, and Evangeline threw too hard, causing her score to be low.

Junior expertly hit all the targets...and then there was Damien. He threw his darts so that each one landed dead center.

"Heh, heh!"

With a weird laugh, Damien shrugged his shoulders. This smug, arrogant son of a...!

"Its just a dartboard, but this is actually pretty fun!"

The staff put a commemorative hat on Damien for breaking the all-time record.

Wearing a silly oversized hat, Damien grinned like a little kid.

Evangeline clenched her teeth, seemingly envious of that hat.

"Were going to visit the other stalls! No, well make a round at all of them! I may be weak at darts, but Ill take first place in everything else!"

"Can we use magic for the next games...? No, I will use it. I want some souvenirs too."

"Easy there, guys. Please. Just take it easy!"

And so, our plans for the afternoon were set. We would go around all the Silver Winter Merchant Guilds stalls and collect stamps.

We visited other stalls, playing bowling, disc throwing, a card-matching game, and even solved quizzes.

Really, it feels good to collect each stamp...!

Every time a new stamp was added to my collection, a peculiar sense of accomplishment filled me.

Im not one to be hooked on achievement scores or completion rates, but now I get it...a little!

At each experience zone, lines had formed. People in line bought snacks from nearby stalls and chatted.

No wonder theyd set up shops all over the place.

There were other parties enjoying themselves too.

Shadow Squad was laughing while bowling.

Kuilan was collapsing while arm-wrestling, and the Penal Squad was roaring with laughter.

The Holy Grail Seekers were smiling faintly while playing a card-matching game...

"..."

I quietly watched them all, each enjoying the festivities in their own way.

If this city had been a place free from monster invasions,

Could I have seen such a scene every day...?

"Stamp collection complete!"

As dusk approached, we finally visited all the game and experience zones and successfully collected all the stamps.

We finished all the quests on the first day of the update, just like how Korean gamers usually do... Seeing this made me feel like my party members were somehow more familiar.

Not in a good way, though.

We should be enjoying this leisurely, you idiots!

Anyway, now that weve collected all the stamps, lets head to the prize exchange booth. We each flipped a bread hat onto our heads and headed toward the exchange point.

The prize exchange was taking place at the central store of the Silver Winter Merchant Guild, located downtown.

"Your Highness!"

Serenade was there.

"Are you enjoying the festival?"

I silently showed her the paper filled with stamped marks in response to her sorrowful smile.

Serenade clapped and laughed brightly.

"Youve collected them all! Congratulations! Let me exchange them for a prize!"

"Uh, umm..."

I felt like I was being treated like a child and it was a bit embarrassing... but honestly, I had fun, so whatever.

The prizes were an assortment of things like stuffed dolls, toy swords, and other knick-knacks. But what mattered was the mood.

Wondering what the others chose, I saw that Junior picked a toy magic wand, Evangeline picked a toy shield, and Damien chose a stuffed doll. You guys really stick to your characters, dont you?

While I was hesitating over what to pick, Evangeline suddenly jumped in and chose a toy crown for me.

Then, she firmly placed the crown over my bread hat. Seriously?

"Oh, it suits you! Truly royal!"

"I would have preferred that knight figure over there... Ah, forget it."

I had become an odd-looking creature with both a bread hat and a crown. Seeing me like this, my party members burst into laughter. Well, as long as theyre happy...

"Thanks for setting up this event booth, Serenade. It really adds to the festive atmosphere."

While my party members swarmed over to a nearby snack booth, I spoke to Serenade.

"But if you give all this away for free, will you make any profit?"

"We definitely cant make a monetary profit," Serenade said, smiling gently.NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

"So, the atmosphere is just gloomy because I couldnt rest even on the day of the festival. I shouldnt be complaining about this as a cleric... Im sorry."

"Ah, dont worry about it."

"We totally understand! No need to apologize!"

Evangeline and Junior emphatically comforted Saintess Margarita.

As the sweet snacks and alcohol continued to flow, Margaritas face thankfully began to soften.

The remaining problem now was...

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

"..."

"..."

Lilly, who had been chugging wine as if it were water.

"Um, Lilly... Whats wrong?"

"... "

Slamming down the bottle she had been drinking from, Lilly growled, her face flushed from intoxication.

"Its a festival, right?"

"Yes."

"Its common sense to spend the festival with your lover, right?"

"Uh... Yeah?"

"Do you know what that elf said?"

That elf was obviously Godhand. Lilly heaved a sigh.

"My companions are experiencing their first festival today. Can I spend today with them and start spending time with you, Lilly, from tomorrow? Thats what he said."

"Ah..."

"What could I say? His situation seemed tough too, and understandable. So, I said go ahead."

Well, she had said go ahead. Everyone started sweating nervously.

"Meanwhile, everyone else is having fun, and I had also planned to enjoy the day with my boyfriend. Instead, Ive been moping around all day... Im getting frustrated. It feels like hes taking care of his elf companions more than hes looking out for me..."

Lilly wiped her heated forehead with her hand.

"It might be an odd comparison, but it feels like Im dating a man who already has kids..."

"Pfft!"

The remaining three spat out their drinks simultaneously. Ignoring them, Lilly continued.

"Hes also totally clueless... doesnt know how to set the mood... I must be a fool for flirting with an elf. Ugh."

Thud!

Lilly slammed the liquor bottle down on the table, grinding her teeth.

"Do you realize how clueless he is? I havent even gotten a proper confession yet."

"Huh?"

"Really?"

"Werent you guys dating?!"

"Well, it just sort of naturally turned into a relationship... Ah, I dont know. Maybe this is the elven way of dating."

Lilly guzzled down the liquor. The darkness looming over the table deepened.

"Hey! Even though were all a bit lost right now!"

Just then, Evangeline shot up from her seat, raising her glass high.

"I assure you, as the president here, that well all get what we want in the end!"

"Oh, thats right! Greater happiness is definitely coming!"

Junior hastily agreed, rising from her seat as well. Following suit, Saintess Margarita and Lilly also blinked their eyes brightly, raising their glasses and shouting in turn.

"To finding love!"

"To finding true love!"

Junior and Evangeline joined in the shouts.

"To, to finding health?! Wait, what am I looking for..."

"Crossroad is mine!"

Cheers!

It was a toast lacking context, typical of a tipsy gathering, but who cared about context at a place like this anyway?

The four of them emptied their bottles and glasses cleanly, and then

Thud!

Lilly toppled forward.

She had long since exceeded her normal alcohol limit. Her face flushed red, she hit the table face-first and passed out, letting out soft, wheezy breaths.

It was just then that the remaining three were about to discuss how to get Lilly back to her quarters.

"Ugh, ugh! Excuse me...!"

Someone rushed into the entrance of the cafeteria.

"Is Miss Lilly here by any chance? Ive been looking for her for a while now..."

A tall elf with greenish-brown hair. It was Godhand.

Upon locating the culprit, the other three members shouted simultaneously, pointing their fingers accusingly.

"Hey! Cant you do things properly?!"