CH 33.2

Chapter 33.2 – Festivals Are Fun No Matter How Old You Are

The story is very original.

There is a mansion with a ghost maid who lost one of a set of ten painted plates. It was treated as an unforgivable crime and she was thrown into a well as punishment and had everyone she knows look at her down there.

The story goes with the ghost woman counts one, two, and so on until she laments for losing the tenth plate. Death will follow.

A few young women, who were very curious, gathered around the well, Lars was one of them.

She was wearing a very beautiful costume and she looked different from usual.

「It can’t be……one…….two…..」

「S-he’s really exists!」

「What should we do? Let’s run away now, let’s escape!」

「Wait wait, let’s listen until seven.」

「Five….six…..seven…..」

「Everyone! Run!」

「Escape!」

Lars and her friends running around the stage is so adorable but do they really have to pick that red-haired lady as the ghost?

I mean, she’s a fishkin so there’s no way she’ll die in a well, right?

「Oh no, I’m chilled to the bone!」

「My legs are stiff.」

「That was scary!」

「Let’s go again tomorrow. Let’s take more friends.」

「Thus, the haunted house became a place for young ones to have fun and within a month, it became so popular that food stalls are placed near it.」

When the narrator said that, a crowd of people appeared.

They brought props from the side, in the middle are stalls.

It was quite elaborate for a merchant’s pastime play.

The bright and frightening music was also good and I was able to get carried away by the performance.

This time, another group of three young ones came in front of the stage and began talking.

「Oh, so this is the West District Dish House.」

「What is this place famous for?」

「Ah, it’s famous for the maid named Roast who’s haunting that well.」

「Oneesan, oneesan, is this your first time?」

The trio, who were talking nervously, were startled when they were called by an usher.

「Visitors here must buy something. That’s what the ghost wish.」

「The ghost can talk!?」

「Of course, even babies can talk you know.」

「That makes sense.」

「Is that so?」

「Anyway, come here. Everything is delicious.」

The usher pointed to the stall signs and began explaining the food.

Hahaha, the Schenker is indeed a merchant family. They are advertising in the middle of the play.

「This is called Takoyaki. It is kind of weird, round, crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside.」

That’s the dish that the young man next to me bought.

The usher who received the Takoyaki from the stage person standing behind the stall and eat them with a stick.

「It looks pretty easy to eat, doesn’t it?」

「It looks delicious.」

「What’s inside?」

「There’s smoked meat inside and the texture is great.」

The usher, who handed the Takoyaki to the guy on the stage, now received something that looked like a wooden plate.

「This stall serves the famous Torquiva specialty called p.e.p.e.r.o.n.c.i.n.o. You should know what it is, right? I guarantee the taste because they use the dried noodles of the Schenkers.」

「It smells great. Is that a tomato pepperoncino?」

「Sounds delicious.」

「I know that one.」

I’ve eaten pepperoncino before. I got hungry in the middle of the night and happened to pass by a stall that served it.

It’s just boiled noodles with sauce over it.

It was pretty delicious though. Come to think of it, it was also the Schenker family’s product.

Next, the stage person brought something that looked like a wheat-colored ring.

The usher smiles as she takes a bite of it.

「And last but not the least, doughnuts. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and it’s meltingly sweet….」

「Sweet?」

「Sounds delicious.」

「Isn’t that expensive?」

The woman asked but the usher waved her finger in front of her face and pointed to the price with a discount written on it.

That is….I can’t see since I’m already old.

「Five dirs per piece. The latest sweet treat that only cost that much. A must-have souvenir for the family.」

Five copper coins only? When did sugar become so cheap?

Shall I buy one as a souvenir for the old woman with a bad back?

That wrinkled old lady used to love sweets and would often beg me to buy her one.

I suddenly laughed.

It’s been a while since I laughed by myself.

「Then, I’ll have Takoyaki.」

「I’ll have a doughnut.」

「I’ll have peperoncino.」

「Buy buy! It’s about to start so please go to the well!」

The usher disappeared along with the stalls and a well was placed in the middle of the stage again.

The red-headed ghost and Lars seemed to be talking but when the three arrived, Lars left.

「Are you new here?」

「Yes, we are.」

「I’m thrilled.」

「I’ve been looking forward to it.」

「I’ve been getting a lot of guests lately. The girl who just let has been coming here for a long time.」

「Wow, you’re really popular.」

「Amazing!」

「How long have you been a ghost?」

「Well, I guess around 50….or maybe 40 years.」

「Whoah, we’re not even born yet.」

「Yeah.」

Then, thud thud thud thud thud thud thud, the sound of sticks being hit was heard.

「It’s about time, please keep your distance.」

「I’ve been waiting for this.」

「Whoah, this will be the first time I’ll see it.」

「exciting」

Unlike before, the red-headed ghost counted the plates one by one with a very confident look on her face.

「……six, seven, eight……」

The whole hall watches her as they hold their breath down.

「ten, eleven, twelve」

Wait, didn’t she count too much?

「15, 16, 17, 18」

She stopped counting.

「You counted nine more, isn’t it?」

Someone on the stage asked.

「I’m going to play tomorrow so I counted for tomorrow.」

The ghost’s absurd answer caused the entire hall to erupt in excitement.

What kind of j.o.k.e. is that?

I couldn’t help but laugh even though it was a bit silly.

I think this would be a good souvenir story for the old woman.

Ah, and I have to make sure I won’t forget her doughnuts.

I was reminded of that when I saw Lars, one of the actresses, lining up in front of the stage, waving at me happily with a doughnut in her hand.