Chapter 500

Chapter 500

Once we got out onto the street, the whole city was already in a festive mood.

Normally, on New Year's Day, the tradition is just to eat meat stew and go to the temple to pray.

But this year, there were stalls set up all over the streets, and the citizens who poured out were bustling about, laughing and chatting joyfully.

Walking among the noisy crowd, the sight of buildings in ruins dampened my spirit.

Crossroad had not fully recovered from the aftermath of the Gorgon Sisters' invasion.

Buildings were crumbling everywhere, and the roads were devastated in many places.

However, the introduction of magical construction techniques from the Lake Kingdom had sped up the recovery process. Still, it would take several more months to completely repair the damage.

And here, amidst this semi-ruined landscape, people were laughing.

New Year's and the festival seemed to have the power to uplift even those who were gloomy.

"Awesome! Where should we start eating?"

Evangeline roared with excitement, clenching her fists in front of her chest. Following her were Damien, Junior, and Lucas, hurrying along.

Seeing them all dressed up in coats, earmuffs, and gloves despite the cold weather, they looked like children. Ah, so adorable.

Chattering away, I stepped into the city with the kids. There were various stalls set up, but one in particular was attracting a crowd.

"Oh, that smells great...! What is it?"

Drawn by the savory scent of grilling, Evangeline ran over there, saliva almost dripping. As I followed, a greeting came from inside the stall.

"Oh, Captain! Welcome, and Happy New Year to you!"

Kuilan and the members of the Penal Squad were busy grilling something on the stove inside the stall.

All five of them, in human mode, were shirtless due to the heat of the stove, attracting a crowd of female customers mesmerized by their well-defined muscles...

These guys are using cheats.

Before I could admire their muscular show-off, I was more worried about them catching a cold.

Especially Kuilan, aren't you still a sunfish in human mode? Are you okay in this cold weather?

"Kuilan, Happy New Year to you too, and put on some clothes while you sell... What are you selling, by the way?"

"Hehehehe. This thing?"

When I asked, Kuilan grinned, then quickly took something that looked like bread out of the oven with tongs, placing it on a plate.

It was sizzling with residual heat... a deliciously browned dumpling!

"Our Leaf Tribe's traditional New Year food! Special homemade dumplings!"

"Oh wow."

I was impressed by its appealing appearance.

That's right, we had that conversation last year. The Leaf Tribe eats these dumplings on New Year's instead of stew. He said he had a recipe from his brother and would treat us if he got the chance.

And now, it seems he really did prepare them. The dumplings were being cooked in several stoves, emitting a delicious and spicy aroma.

"Wow?! They look so delicious!"

Salivating, Evangeline rushed towards the freshly taken out dumplings.

"Can I eat this?!"

"Of course, my lady. Please enjoy! Ah! But there is one caution: you must swallow it in one bite! If even a single drop of juice spills, consider your luck for the year gone!"

As soon as she got the green light, Evangeline popped a dumpling into her mouth.

"Hot hot hot!"

She immediately screamed. It seemed quite hot, as she hopped around with a flushed face, but somehow managed not to spit it out. Evangeline shivered, struggling to swallow the hot dumpling.

"My luck... can't afford to lose it!"

"It seems like your silliness is already overflowing though."

Anyway, having managed to finish it, Evangeline complained with a tearful face.

"My palate is burnt... What am I going to eat today..."

Tsk. With a sigh, I gestured to Damien.

"Damien, please."

"Yep. Heal, heal~"

After Damien cast a simple healing spell, Evangeline's tearful face brightened instantly.

"Wow! My palate's healed! Wait a minute, if there's a healing priest around, I can eat as much as I want no matter how hot it is, right?!"

Evangeline then laid out a new batch of dumplings in front of me, freshly taken out by Kuilan.

"Hurry up and eat, senior! You gotta eat it hot so the luck doesn't escape! If you get burnt, just use the Damien chance!"

"No, I'll wait for it to cool down..."

What foolishness. Believing that getting your palate burnt, or letting a bit of juice spill would make your luck for the year disappear.

While pondering, I glanced over and saw Lucas, Damien, and Junior, who had already stuffed dumplings into their mouths, suffering with red faces... Are they all fools?

While my party members were struggling with the hot dumplings, I casually sat down on a chair in front of the stall, holding a plate. I was planning to eat once they cooled down a bit.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

Then, from the table next to us, I heard a murmuring voice.

"Hmm, that guy there, the Beast King..."

"Indeed, he has impressive latissimus dorsi muscles."

"The muscles aren't bad. But where is the red fur Yun mentioned...?"

"If only he had the fur, he wouldn't be a bad son-in-law..."

Turning to look, I saw warriors from the northern kingdoms, dressed in clothes made of white fur on their pale skin. They were looking towards Kuilan and murmuring such things.

It was Elize, Serenade's escort...

I awkwardly waved my hand as I approached her.

"Uh... hello, Elize. Happy New Year."

"...Greetings, Your Highness. I wish you much happiness."

"Cotton candy... making?"

"We're short-staffed, so I was drafted here."

Elize, who murmured gloomily, glanced briefly at Serenade nearby and then looked back at me.

"...Would you like some? It's delicious."

I ordered five.

Elize, with a stiff face but skillful hands, gathered the cloud-like sugar strands and made cotton candies, then handed one to each of us.

"Yay~ It's been a while since I've had this!"

"Eating this occasionally during festivals in the Imperial Capital when we were young. Brings back memories."

Evangeline and Lucas, having lived in the Imperial Capital before, seemed to have eaten it before,

"Sweet...?! It's melting...?!"

Junior, trying it for the first time, was shocked and jumped up,

"Wow! It's like our Podo, all fluffy and clumped together!"

Damien was too engrossed in admiring the cotton candy to even take a bite. His hamster Podo must still be doing well.

I also slowly tore and melted bits of the cotton candy. It's sweet and sticky. This primitive and violent feast of sweetness... it's been a long time.

As the five of us were slowly eating the cotton candy,

"Ah, Your Highness?!"

"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

My colleagues who had just entered the Silver Winter Merchant Guild's stall greeted me.

Zenis, Torkel, and the newly joined black magician Chain, the blind swordsman Nobody. Lastly, it was Lilly.

The first two were working at the temple, and the last three were patients in the hospital. They must have come out for some fresh air.

I waved back at them as they approached, with Lilly pushing her wheelchair.

"Happy New Year to all of you! And to Sid too."

In Lillys arms was Sid, swaddled in cloth with only his face peeking out.

The child, experiencing his first festival, had his eyes wide open in wonder at everything. How can he be this cute?

But, is it really okay to bring such a newborn out in winter?

Well, its a fantasy world, so maybe it's fine. Besides, they're staying at the temple, so there shouldnt be any health concerns. High Priest Zenis is with them too.

Putting aside unnecessary worries, I pointed towards the cotton candy machine and asked.

"Do you all want a cotton candy?"

I decided to treat them. Elize skillfully spun new cotton candies.

"Here."

Elize, unasked, naturally handed over a freshly spun cotton candy to Lilly. Is it an illusion? It seems several times larger than ours.

Lilly received the cotton candy with a smile.

"Thank you."

"No, thank you."

Elize's face, which had been dead-eyed till then, unusually showed some color. I wondered what made her happy, and sure enough, it was Sid in Lillys arms.

"Cute..."

Elize murmured darkly. Cant she raise the tone of her voice a bit? It sounds a bit scary with that tone.

Lilly carefully tore off a small piece of the cotton candy and gently fed it to Sid.

Is it hygienic?! Can a baby eat sugar?!

A moment of worry flashed through my mind, but then, fantasy world! Romance! Two priests right there! This should be fine!

Contrary to my modern-Earthly concerns, Sid's eyes widened even more after tasting the cotton candy. His face seemed to say, What is this amazing flavor?!

His expression was so amusing that everyone in our group burst into laughter.

"How is it, little one?"

Though he couldnt see the face, Nobody seemed to sense the atmosphere and murmured softly.

"That's the taste of life."

"..."

Next to him, Torkel, who had carefully received his share of cotton candy, cautiously lifted his helmet and put the candy in his mouth.

"Indeed."

After carefully tasting the cotton candy with his grizzled chin, Torkel faintly smiled.

"Life, sometimes, has this kind of flavor."

Zenis and Chain also put their cotton candies in their mouths and looked towards Sid with smiles on their faces.

The child babbled something and kept munching on the cotton candy his mother tore off for him.

It was a perfect moment for the first day of the new year.