CH 64.2

「……ki…….d……」

「I’m not treating you like a kid. I’m just praising you for being awesome.」

「…….mou……」

I tried to say something back but I couldn’t speak up.

I was so angry that I gave her a quick hit with my wing.

She looked happy but I don’t know why.

「Mou, you messed up my hair again.」

As I watch Lucci go to the magic lamp to check her hand mirror, a voice called out to me from the darkness.

「Ano, excuse me. Can I ask you a question?」

「….wh….at….」

「Ah, great. I couldn’t find my little sister in our meeting place….」

A woman with slanted eyes and a dull man with a little girl on his shoulders appeared.

The woman’s face looked just like the one I had seen earlier. I somehow recognize her.

「Have you seen a woman with the same face as mine?」

「……y….es…」

Yeah, I remember, this woman is working at the cafeteria of the headquarters.

What’s her name again? Sol….pro…

Anyway.

「…..the….re…..」

I pointed the way we had just come and the three of them thanked me and left in that direction.

I silently give them a thumbs up in return.

It’s the night of a festival so it would be troublesome to get separated from the rest of your group.

I’ll have to tell master to add more lights the next time we do this.

-0-

When we arrived at the Schenker Street, it was as bright as day with lighting fixtures hung all over the place.

The ondo that had been performed at the fall festival was being played and various people were dancing to the music.

In front of the headquarters, there is a ridiculously big float that could be seen by anyone even if you just arrived at the place. It was the only place that radiated a strange atmosphere.

Even from a distance, it was clearly different and the closer you got to it, the more distinct its appearance became….

When I arrived at its feet, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

「Uwaaa….this float, I’ve seen this thing when it was being built but the finish product is just plain creepy.」

「….sca….ry….」

It’s not creepy, it’s scary.

Such a giant mole float was the highlight of this year’s festival and decided by master.

The light did not reach the area from nose up so the entire figure was only vaguely visible and together with its highly realistic appearance, I feel like I’m looking at a statue of an evil mole god.

I felt a shiver down my spine as I gazed up at the giant mole.

「Vongo-chan, come here, here.」

In front of the mole float, Pickles, dressed up like a princess, is waving at us.

Yeah, today’s festival is for Pickles.

「I’m sorry if this mole is quite scary but he’s my guardian deity so please bear with it.」

「…..g….od…」

I looked up at the giant mole statue and put my hands together.

Yeah, Pickles is a centaur that has the divine protection of the mole god.

Today’s festival is to pray for her safety as she heads north because of her match winning escort mission.

I’m going with her on the escort mission so I have to pray more even if it’s an ominous statue.

「Pickles, you look like a princess today.」

「Thank you. Vongo-chan and Lucci-chan, you should go and eat at the soup kitchen in front of Pura’s store.」

「…….g…….o….」

I’d like to talk a little longer but we’re a big family and many of us are very greedy.

Food is always a top priority.

I’ll be back immediately so I wave to Pickles and continue my way through the crowd.

There were Schenker family members but there were also adventurers, ordinary residents, and all sorts of people.

Everyone was happily dancing, making noise, eating and drinking delicious looking foods.

Festivals are great, aren’t they?

Everyone looked so happy and content.

I wish they held festivals every day.

But then, everyone would be sleep deprived.

-0-

The soup was a brown stew with meatballs.

It had a lot of ingredients and a strong flavor.

Bread and noodles were sold at the stalls around and everyone seemed to be eating them with the stew.

「Do you want to go to master?」