Chapter 81

Chapter 81: Don’t ruin the spring festival, please! part

When the snow started melting and the spring caravan arrived, it was finally time to celebrate Ironwoods spring festival. Everyone gathered outside and, despite the icy morning wind, most men were standing shirtless with their weapons at the ready.

“W-w-when is this stupid hunt going to begin?”

Luke stuttered due to the cold.

“Don’t be a big baby, we’ve been here for less than five minutes”

“Oh really Anne, how do you know? we don’t even have a clock”

“I just know you’re exaggerating, it can’t be so bad”

“Oh really? why don’t you try taking off your shirt then?”

.....

Luke’s comment oozed lust, making Anne regret feeling bad when he was missing.

From a distance, Helena stared at Anne with envy, after noticing that she was completely surrounded by shirtless men boasting their physique.

“Dear citizens of Ironwoods, this has been one of the most difficult years we have endured so far. The hunger, the cold, the hill massacre, even our disagreements, all that is in the past. Today’s spring festival is not one of many others, this time it not only serves the purpose to remind us of the hardships we faced, but also to mark the beginning of a new era!”

Everyone cheers at the mayor, after a few seconds he continues speaking.

“This is why, on this occasion I’ll be passing on my title of mayor to my most reliable son, Rudd”

People suddenly started whispering to each other, they were used to deal with Karl as their mayor as he’s always been the most important figure of authority in town. Rudd, instead, was a brave young man who has proven himself in battle many times, but he was too young for the job.

After the mayor’s speech, the hunters started running joyfully to hunt the biggest game to prove their worth. Anne moved swiftly in between men with the grace of a falling petal, nothing hindered her movement and she flawlessly dodged the brutish men running wildly all around her. It took her no longer than twenty seconds to reach the front position, but she was quickly challenged by a skinny young man with blond hair.

It was no other than Luke and without even talking to each other it seemed as if they had agreed to race beforehand. Anne ran so lightly that she didn’t even leave foot tracks, Luke, in turn, was a bit faster but he had trouble moving on the muddy terrain.

Ryu saw them disappear from his comfortable chair at the food stand they set up outside Hiraku’s trading outpost.

“Why didn’t you go with the rest, Ryu?”

“I don’t have the need to prove myself as a good hunter, especially because I am anything but a good hunter”

“Still, don’t you want to receive a pretty flower necklace from your gorgeous girlfriend?”

Rina said making a suggestive pose that would melt any men’s heart.

“Not really”

He shrugged.

“Ow, I wanted to participate and make a pretty flower necklace”

“What’s stopping you then? go have your fun”

“I can’t leave you with all the work, also, what would be the point to make a necklace if I have no one to give it to?”

She pouted.

“You two are just too funny”

Claire giggled from behind, she was busy taking the cookware outside the kitchen.

“Oh, not as funny as the way you looked at Luke”

Rina smirked causing Claire to blush so heavily and drop everything she had on her hands.

“It’ not like that, I was just listening to the mayor”

“Everyone knows you fancy him, there’s no hiding it”

“Stop torturing Claire and focus on your job or we’ll be stuck in here forever, we are supposed to cook whatever they bring so we need to get the vegetables washed and peeled beforehand”

“Yes boss!”

The girls replied and started moving around even faster, the only one exempted from peeling vegetables was Helena since she had been working hard to make new clothes for everyone. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the people from the Silver goddess tavern were the best dressed in town.

Helena boasted her plump figure with a silky dress with pale colors that complimented her hair color, she was wearing a leather belt on the waist to cover up the fact that she had gained some weight during winter. Rina was wearing a daring violet dress with a V cut, leaving little to nothing to imagination and Ryu with a stone frown on his face, he disliked when others stared at her chest more than she did, but she was used to wear revealing clothes to attract clients.Claire wore a simple light blue dress with a white apron and a lace in the back, making her look innocent and pure, and since her eyes were the same color as her dress it made a perfect fit for her. Eiri, Kairi and ksenia were wearing their uniforms, but Helena embroidered silver flowers on the side and made some changes in design making a leg cleavage. But the one that drew all the eyes in town was no doubt Claire, who was wearing a deep purple tight dress that emphasized her newly developed figure, her generous cleavage challenged Rina’s and left everyone in awe. Her pronounced curves contrasted with her innocent look, her pale skin and lively cheeks made her look like an unattainable beauty that descended straight from heaven.

When the mayor sounded the horn signaling the end of the hunt, everyone hurried up to get back to town. the townsfolk were already dancing to the music in drunk ecstasy, but everyone stopped in their tracks and greeted them as they arrived.

The muscular appearance of the first to show up accelerated the heart beating of girls and women alike, it didn’t take long until three girls placed a flower necklace on him and he placed the small wolf he hunted by himself. Soon after a group of four came dragging a huge boar with a wide smile on their faces, they all got at least one necklace each, but the leader was a married man and when he got his a woman came running to pull him away. Everyone watching the scene burst in laughter.

People enjoyed food and beer the same, they danced and laughed as hunters came back in groups. Soon after the only ones left to return were Anne and Luke, they went hunting on their own and nobody knew where they were. But before anyone could even worry about them, what seemed to be a cloud of dust appeared in the distance.

Anne was dragging a gigantic elk while Luke brought with him a bear. Seeing them with such prey on their backs was enough to leave everyone astonished, but they were running at a speed that seemed inhuman while carrying heavy weight.

Luke got so many flower necklaces that he looked like a flower arrangement, Anne didn’t get any. At least until a small child came running to her.

“Excuse me, miss lady silver goddess”

“It’s ok you can call me Anne”

She crouched down to be on her same level and smiled at the child’s pure heart.

“Uhm, I made this for you. Thanks for saving my mom that day.”

The little girl said as she placed a pretty necklace made with small flowers.

Ryu was busy cooking both the boar and the Elk with Claire’s help. Sera, Eiri and Kairi were serving the tables while Ksenia charged the clients. Even though they were on an open space it was crowded, all due to the wonderful smell that came from their outdoors improvised kitchen.

Everyone ate their full and enjoyed themselves when Dylan came running to Ryu.

“Mister Ryu, we have a problem!”

“What now? what could have possibly gone wrong now?”

“Don’t be such a pessimist Ryu”

Rina poked him on the side

“I can’t help it, sometimes it seems that I can’t have a single day without someone asking me for help”

“Mister Ryu, it’s about Helena”

Ryu took a glance around and Helena was nowhere to be seen. Dylan took the chance to whisper something into his ear and Ryu’s expression changed after every murmur. It went from surprise, to doubt, then surprise again and lastly it was pure shock.

“Rina, I’ll leave you in charge for now, I’ll be back soon”

He said in between stutters as he darted to an alley.

In a dark corner, Helena was kissing with a tall muscular man. He was wearing leather boots, pants and a single flower necklace made by Helena herself.

“Stop what you’re doing immediately!”

“Ryu! what are you doing here? you had your chance, now I’m with Roman”

“It’s Norman! Anyway, you heard the lady, now beat it”

Norman said with a smirk.

“You don’t get to speak like that to mister Ryu!”

Dylan said as he unsheathed his sword.

“Yeah, don’t talk like that to Ryu! you know what, I’m not in the mood now”

Helena said as she left with Ryu and Dylan.

“So, did you change your mind or something?”

She said drowsily.

“It’s not that Helena... geez, you reek of alcohol, how much did you have to drink?”

“Uhm, nothing much, just a couple drinks... of each drink. But that’s not important, just tell me what’s the matter, and you better have a nice excuse cause I was about to have some fun”

“This is hard for me to tell you Helena, I’m really sorry but...”

“Stop beating around the bushes Ryu, just say it!”

She was losing her patience, but everything she said looked cute and sloppy instead of mad.

“You... you’re a priestess so... you can’t have sex”

“EEHHH!!!???”

.....