Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Anniversary - 1
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Ellie cautiously brought up the topic.
"The festival... what do you think?"
"Huh?"
"Don't you know about festivals? It's a big party where everyone in the village gets together."
"No, I know what they are. I was just caught off guard since I wasn't expecting it."
It was just another day returning from requests, same as always.
Rien had gone back to the 11th floor to focus on climbing, and Sua had been hunting slimes like mad before dragging herself back to the inn, complaining of exhaustion.
After finishing requests, there's usually a time when conversations flow on all sorts of topics.
Sometimes we share deeper, more serious thoughts from the heart, or toss around silly jokes with zero nutritional value.
But a question like this? That was a first.
"What made you suddenly fixate on a festival?"
"Well... because it's boring?"
"That's it?"
"Until the next batch of new adventurers arrives, the village will be quiet again. Like last time when all those adventurer guilds came down and sparred with each other... wouldn't it be nice to have something fun to do?"
"Hm. That might actually be a decent idea."
My instincts told me right away.
This had Rien's influence written all over it.
Timing-wise, she brought it up right after Rien left.
Plus, the 1st floor hadn't had a festival or anything like it in years, so it was unlikely she'd come up with it on her own.
"Everyone just waits for adventurers to come, but there are no days where we actually set work aside and enjoy ourselves."
"So, let's prepare a festival just for us?"
"Exactly."
Peak season and off-season.
When new adventurers flood in, the village buzzes with energy for a while.
Raymond's inn has no empty rooms, Deina's shop sells out of the clothes she's meticulously made.
Restaurants, shops—most residents thrive.
Once adventurers move past the 2nd floor and beyond, the village quiets down.
I prefer the calm of everyday life over noisy days, but that's easy for me to say as an adventurer who can make ends meet hunting a few slimes a day.
For the residents, it's just prep time until the next adventurers arrive.
Quests provide new events to adventurers—who are basically customers—but the residents themselves neglect events for their own sake.
They always end up as the busy hands on crowded streets, never the ones enjoying them.
"Everyone gathers without exception, eats together, plays together... and drinks too."
"Drinks?"
"I-it's just about taking care of everything. I hear festivals aren't complete without alcohol...?"
The 1st floor has taverns.
That's how Raymond can chug booze every day.
On mornings when I go for early walks, I often spot him nursing a hangover.
Good thing it's a tower—anyone else abusing their body like that would be wrecked.
Neither I nor Ellie have ever touched the stuff.
Here, people are either teetotalers or alcoholics. No in-between.
He takes good care of his regulars, which keeps the place running smoothly.
"Anyway! Wouldn't it be fun? Back when it was called Luden, there were several village festivals, but since it became a tower... none."
"Yeah. Let's do it—a festival."
"Earthbound Spirit will surely enjoy it too. You've looked tired lately; days like this are perfect for a change of pace, right?"
"...This isn't because of me, is it?"
"Not exactly... Just, you know, various reasons."
Since giving up on Harman's memories, I've been terrible at managing my expressions.
No matter the situation, Ellie had long since noticed when my mood soured.
Clearing my head with slime hunts had reached its limit.
I figured having something to do would help.
"To push this properly, we should ask the village chief. Want to go see him today?"
"After closing up shop, let's go together."
Ellie showed her usual diligent professionalism.
"Let me say this upfront: I'm not budging. Fool me twenty times, shame on me."
"Village Chief, that's not it. You're barking up the wrong tree."
The chief eyed me suspiciously, squinting.
He was fed up with my rude habit of demanding proof tokens, then rejecting them once delivered.
The moment I cleared the 1st floor by meeting conditions, a save point got created—inescapable even knowing it.
An unwanted save point, no less.
Of course, this time it wasn't about temporarily scouting upper floors.
"I'm not some stray dog wandering the village. Training for my lower body health? Pass."
"I didn't come for a token, I swear. Ellie's here with me."
"Hello, Village Chief."
"It's really true. So, what favor are you two here to ask this time?"
Ellie carefully explained the festival plan to the chief.
It was less a detailed blueprint and more a list of desired elements, but her intent came through clearly.
"A festival, huh..."
"It'll be great, right? Fun, yeah?"
"True, the village hasn't had any real events. Back in the day, we used to gather for communal meals."
The chief considered Ellie's idea positively.
Of course, considering and executing are different.
The festival scene Ellie described wasn't just a small meal together.
Stalls lining the market, orange lanterns hanging on streets, people laughing and milling about.
She wanted a grand festival.
For some reason, she insisted alcohol was non-negotiable.
"No reason not to try, so I'll push it forward—but whether it works is another story. Don't get your hopes up."
"Why not?"
"We have to consider costs, and all prep has to happen within the village. Whether we can supply enough for everyone to enjoy fully... that's uncertain."
Why had events dried up after becoming part of the tower?
The chief didn't wish for no special days either.
"Festivals were for enjoyment, sure—but also for inviting outsiders. Nearby villages would bring families when one held a festival."
"No other villages now."
"That's the issue. Adventurers replaced neighboring guests, but they don't stick around long like before."
Holding a festival for adventurers would hurt shopkeepers.
No telling when the next wave arrives, so regular festivals are impossible.
"Even just for us locals, without outsiders?"
"Who'd go overboard preparing food and drinks for a festival with low sales potential...?"
One core problem.
Would demand justify the costs?
"The purpose is vague too. A festival for residents sounds nice, but someone has to work to make it enjoyable. No stalls? It won't fly."
"True..."
"For shopkeepers, it'd feel no different from usual. Same hours, same customers—just fancier streets."
No outsiders. Wait, not quite.
In this village with barely two outsiders, a grand festival?
The chief's view: internal numbers alone couldn't sustain it smoothly.
Tiny compared to the 6th or 11th floors, sparse population.
From the moment Luden isolated itself, it was inevitable.
No guests to enjoy their festivals, no other villages to visit.
"Unless the festival itself holds special meaning. Otherwise, it'll be tough."
"What if it's a special event?"
"No one calculates profits at a birthday party. Commemorating something, honoring sacrifices. If it moves people beyond money, something like that."
Memories of the 11th floor flashed by.
There was a commemorative day there.
Didn't love the meaning, but they called it Salvation Day.
"Let's make one. An anniversary."
"Pardon? Commemorate what?"
"We can spin the reason however."
"Ah!"
Ellie reacted like something clicked.
"Got a good idea?"
"Yes. The timing's perfect—exactly 20 days left."
"Not generous, but doable."
Once the festival's locked in, rallying people for prep wouldn't take long.
But the justification had to be ironclad, no demand doubts.
"What's in 20 days? Village Chief's birthday?"
"Mine was yesterday."
"..."
"So, what day is it? Even I don't know."
"I'll tell you."
Ellie smiled at me.
Then whispered in the chief's ear.
"Ah... Oh ho. I see."
"What? Tell me too."
"It's fine?"
"Not thrilled, but it's an anniversary everyone can nod to."
Ellie looked mischievous.
The chief's expression was enigmatic.
Neither planned to explain to me.
"So, we proceed?"
"Yes. No time to waste—we'll dive into prep right away."
The chief left us one request.
Village Festival Preparation 《RARE》
📍 Goal: Survey residents' opinions on the festival (0/1)
🎁 Reward: 1000 EXP
"Check which shopkeepers plan stalls at the market and if they're up for participating. Spread the word while you're at it."
"How? I need to know what festival to promote."
"Ellie, you can handle it, right?"
"Of course. I'll go around with Earthbound Spirit."
"I'll round up hands for prep. Budgeting won't be easy, but I'll do my best."
"Thank you, Village Chief."
This festival... it should be okay, right?