CH 33.1

Chapter 33.1 – Festivals Are Fun No Matter How Old You Are

AN: This is about the Fall Harvest Festival.

「What? A purple eight-legged horse? No way something like that exists, idiot!」

「It’s true! It was pulling a portable shrine in the south district! The streets are full of people who want to catch a glimpse of it!」

「Really? Then, let’s go check it out too!」

「Let’s go then! Or else we’ll miss it!」

Two young men started running together.

It’s nice to be young.

They can move their bodies as they please.

I, for example, feel a little heavier these days. Sometimes, it takes me days to do something.

Being young is really a good thing, it’s an asset.

Today, I plan on seeing a young girl I know perform on stage but I’m already tired before I even get there.

Oh, I bumped into a person when I’m getting tired.

It’s a festival so there were many people.

「Whoah, I’m sorry old man.」

「It’s my fault for being groggy.」

I’m glad that he’s a good-natured young man. These days, there are a lot of short-tempered young lads.

I hear that there are times when they take daggers from their pockets for something trivial.

「Old man, are you okay?」

「Oh, I’m sorry. I spaced out.」

「Are you tired of walking? Where are you going?」

「Ah, this place…..」

I showed him the handwritten invitation I was given.

「Oh, you’re going to the Schenker Family play too? I was just on my way there myself. I’ll take you with me.」

「Oh, is that alright?」

「Don’t worry about it. We’re going to the same place after all.」

I’m really glad that he’s a good-natured young man.

Even in this harsh world, humanity hasn’t completely left this world.

「Who gave you the invitation, old man?」

「I got it from a girl named Lars who often comes to take care of my garden. She asked me to come because she had a role with a lot of dialogue.」

「Whoah, she must be pretty good to get dialogues.」

「She’s a lovely girl. She’s also very energetic and very attentive.」

I remember the day I tapped her on her shoulder.

I tried to give her some pocket money but she told me that she couldn’t accept the money.

That’s why I’m here. I want to at least support her in her performance….

「As for mine, I got it from a girl who works at my favorite food stall. She’s a very pretty girl too but she’s only working at the backstage.」

「The Schenker Family seems to be doing a lot of business lately. They used to be wheat wholesaler family.」

「Ah, that’s because of the 3rd son. He’s a bonafide healing mage. He buys disabled slaves, heals them, and gives them various jobs.」

「Ah, is he someone like the Sacred Solace of Indigent?」

「No, no, no, he’s not like those who are making a business out of the poor. All the slaves of the Schenker Family are genuinely smiling.」

「I see.」

「Ah, here we are.」

Various people are crowded in front of a large tent while looking up.

There are women in cool matching blazers organizing the line of people….

「Maybe the guys who failed to get an invitation got together. Oi! Neesan!」

The young man called out to a powerful-looking scalekin woman who came to us.

She is carrying a saber on her waist, which can be recognized as something valuable with just one glance, and did I already say that she looks powerful?

「What is it?」

「We were both invited guests.」

「Show me.」

When we showed her our invitation, the woman pointed to the short line next to the long line saying, “Over there”.

「If you want something to drink or eat, you can buy it there before you go in.」

She then pointed to a short line of stalls by the side of the tent. After that, she went back to organizing the lines.

「Old man, that “Cinder” Mince, the leader of the Schenker Family adventurer squad.」

「She exactly gave off that atmosphere.」

「She’s a real warrior who survived having her left arm bitten off by an armored hair cutter.」

That’s a giant behemoth that’s reputed to destroy even the largest caravan by itself.

Looking closely, I noticed that all the people in the long line were also quiet.

The strong women in blazers standing in line must have intimidated them.

「I’m going to buy this new octopus dumpling that came out. It’s a great snack that goes well with sake. I don’t know what an octopus is since even the neesan of the stall doesn’t know.」

「Well, there are a lot of new things these days.」

The woman at the stall poked the semi-sphere-like things with a pointed steel skewer and it magically turned into a ball-like thing.

It looks amazing but I’d prefer something more familiar.

Ah, there’s a fried potato stall. That’s something I know.

The two of us chose our drinks and with food and drinks in hand, we fell in line.

We put our drinks on the table next to the entrance and showed our invitation to the guard and entered the tent.

As I sat down on one of the wooden boxes covered with cloth, a large line of people started coming from the outside.

They are going to repeat this play many times today so maybe everyone will be able to see it.

The music echoing from the other side of the stage made even the old me excited.

「However, “West District Dish House”, what kind of play is it?」

「I don’t know much about it myself but I heard that a woman who played the lead role in the great Kubotoa opera house recently joined the Schenker Family. I heard she’s a sight to behold.」

「Ah, Kubatoa opera house. My wife and I managed to get into that big opera house once.」

「Really? It looks like you made a lot of money when you were young. Given how much money I make, watching in an opera house is only a dream…..」

Toottt! The trumpet sounded and it seemed that the show was about to start.

The young man next to me stopped talking and looked forward.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a play so I’m going to enjoy it.