Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: 25. Wilderness Festival
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Thud. Thud. Thud.
Ooooh...
"Fellow student! Look! Check that out!"
Bang! Bang!
I had to bite down hard on my lip to endure the excited slaps on my back from the guy pounding away.
Yeah, yeah, I can see it just fine. You don't have to hit me, you bastard.
Ooooh...!
"Fellow student! Look at that! They're roasting whole slabs of meat! That's warrior food!"
"...Yeah. It's roasting nicely."
Dragged along forcibly by Barcan's hand, the place we ended up was, predictably, a festival street packed with people.
Amid the vibrating aroma of sizzling meat from all directions and the chaotic clamor assaulting my eardrums.
Even as I bumped into people in the massive crowd, half my soul already checked out, I trudged along in a daze.
My modest dream of just watching from afar and then taking a break had long since.
Shattered to pieces before the iron grip of this damn barbarian crushing my arm like it was nothing.
'Blood isn't flowing anymore.'
I was seriously wondering if my arm might necrotize when.
"Mm! As expected of a festival—can't go without booze and meat! Innkeeper! Give us five of your biggest meat skewers!"
"Y-Yes, sir! Right away!"
Barcan laughed heartily as he placed the order with the skewer vendor, then.
Strode over to a seat at the stall and plopped down with a thud.
Crack.
His massive frame made the chair creak and scream the moment he sat, loud enough for me to hear it clearly.
"...Hoo."
"What's with the sigh, like some dainty girl! Fellow student, on this joyous day, let's enjoy the festival!"
'...It's because of you, you know?'
Ignoring my complicated feelings, he just blabbered on as he pleased.
Only after sitting down did he finally release my arm. Thanks to that, blood started flowing again, and I massaged my numb limb.
I let out a deep sigh and slowly looked around.
"Looks like something fun over there?"
"How long since enrollment, and that Yollo guy's already got a girlfriend..."
"Don't talk about that. Makes me depressed..."
True to its reputation as one of the academy's flagship festivals.
Tents of every color lined the streets, and students wandered about, each enjoying the festivities in their own way.
'It's kinda fun to watch.'
Seeing in person what I'd only viewed through a monitor felt strangely moving.
Because this place where I stood was real, not some fabrication.
'...Still, too many people.'
But the fun lasted only a moment.
I hadn't imagined such a crush of humanity, and fatigue set in quickly.
I'd never been one for crowds even in the real world.
Especially noisy places like this. It drained my energy, somehow.
"Big fella over there! Food's ready!"
"Ooh! Already? The cook must be skilled. Be right back, fellow student!"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Barcan brushed past me, huddled in exhaustion, to grab the food.
Clutching five skewers in his pot-lid-sized hands, he tore into the meat with huge bites.
"Hahaha! This is the taste! Fellow student, have a bite!"
Thrust.
He shoved a skewer the size of my face right in front of me, nearly splattering grease on my shirt,
But I dodged disaster by leaning back swiftly before it could stain.
"...I'm good. Eat as much as you want."
"No need to hold back! Good food's meant to be shared—that's what makes it better!"
Dismissing my firm refusal with booming laughter, Barcan.
Finally nodded in satisfaction after forcing a hefty skewer into my hand.
"..."
My hand ended up covered in dripping grease from the meat, but...
What could I do? He wasn't doing it out of malice.
"...Thanks. I'll eat well."
I mumbled soullessly and forced a bite of meat.
Separate from the mess on my hands, the taste wasn't bad.
Crispy outside, juicy inside bursting with flavor—pretty high-class stuff.
'...It is tasty.'
If there weren't so many people, I might've ordered more.
Since I'd been dragged here anyway, I figured I'd fill my belly. Munching away blankly while staring at the street, that's when.
A familiar silhouette caught my eye briefly in the crowd.
Messy dark brown hair, hunched shoulders. Even the thick horn-rimmed glasses.
"...Hye-ra?"
"Ugh..."
She clutched bundles in both arms, walking cautiously to avoid bumping into people.
Her darting glances made her look just like a lost child. Right around then.
'She really lost her way?'
Barcan, mid-bite, must've heard my dazed mutter. He turned.
"Hm? Who's that? Fellow student, someone you know?"
"...No, classmate. Look. Over there."
I pointed toward her scanning the surroundings, my face screaming "Are your eyes just for show?"
"Mm! That scrawny girl with no muscle—you mean her? Warrior woman!"
Barcan bellowed at full volume, skewer in hand.
His voice boomed so loud that every eye turned our way.
'...Please lower your voice, just a bit.'
As people halted like they'd rehearsed, staring at us.
I turned away, pretending not to know him.
Hye-ra did the same. She whipped around in surprise, spotted Barcan waving energetically from his seat, and her eyes widened.
Her face flushed beet red as she hurried over in short steps.
"B-Barcan... Your voice is too loud..."
"Nonsense! Festivals are for enjoying like this! Here, take a seat!"
"N-No, I just came out to buy ingredients..."
"No refusing! You're destined to be a fine warrior woman!"
Ignoring her protests, Barcan cleared a spot and plopped her down beside me.
Suddenly, it was two guys and one girl chowing down on skewers.
"E-Evan's here too..."
"Kinda got dragged into it."
I shrugged with a wry smile.
Don't worry. I get how you feel.
I got kidnapped against my will too.
"What's that you're hugging?"
To change the subject, I pointed at the treasure-like bundles in her arms as she nibbled daintily on the skewer Barcan shared.
"Th-This? Saw it in a book and wanted to experiment with alchemy... Hehe."
"So you bought it?"
"Y-Yeah!"
Hye-ra hugged the herb bundles tight like precious gems, smiling shyly.
She must've been waiting eagerly, hearing rumors that rare ingredients hard to get normally showed up at festival markets.
"But rare stuff like that costs a pretty penny, right?"
Flinch.
"Th-That's..."
Her shoulders jumped visibly at my question.
She stared dead-eyed at the ground, clutching the bundles tighter.
"I-I scraped it together and bought it...!"
I was certain watching her mumble evasively.
No need to see—it was obvious.
'Emptied every last coin she had again.'
Given her tight circumstances, she'd saved up bit by bit, no doubt.
If the dorm didn't provide meals, she'd probably be foraging grass in the mountains.
She had real talent for alchemy, but her grasp of money matters was hopeless.
"...After the festival ends, we'll start that thing we talked about. Hang in there till then—no overdoing it?"
"Y-Yeah!"
Drip. Drip.
"These skewers are top-notch! Gotta invite the chef to our tribe someday."
Wiping grease from his mouth contentedly.
Barcan patted his belly and stood.
While Hye-ra and I chatted, he'd apparently ordered more rounds.
Piles of bare skewer sticks littered around him.
"...You ate all that?"
"Basic for a warrior, no?"
No, I think only you could.
Enough for five grown adults, soloed by one guy—
Awestruck by his stomach once more, I stood too.
"Alright, bellies full—time to move! Gotta hit other stalls too!"
"O-Other stalls too?"
"Of course! The charm of a festival is endless exploration!"
"I-I just stepped out briefly, so I should head back..."
Grab.
Ah. Knew it'd end like this.
"Eek!"
"Fate brought us together—join the tour, girl!"
Snagging her shoulder as she tried to slip away slyly.
He nodded at her terrified gaze and laughed heartily.
I couldn't help closing my eyes at the sight.
Hye-ra. That guy doesn't know the word "no." Give up.
"E-Evan..."
She trembled, shooting me pleading eyes, but...
I silently raised my one trapped hand toward her.
'Give up. I'm caught too.'
Like ornaments dangling from a runaway locomotive, Hye-ra and I flanked the ecstatic Barcan as he barreled from spot to spot.
"Whoa. Scary."
"Barbarian, right?"
"Looks like it. Kidnapping people? Should we call the guards?"
Us being hauled like livestock to slaughter understandably sparked misunderstandings.
Or not really misunderstandings, thinking about it.
"..."
'Just wanna go home...'
After being swept along for ages, a familiar figure approached from the opposite direction.
Neat uniform, impeccable posture. A black-haired boy.
"Kaien?"
"...?"
About to collide, I called his name.
Kaien, right in my face, looked up. Our eyes met, and his brow furrowed faintly.
"...What are you doing."
His gaze swept over Hye-ra and me, wedged under Barcan's arms.
That circus-monkey look in his eyes gave me an odd sense of defeat.
Hey, I'm not doing this willingly.
"Can't you tell? Getting dragged around."
"Pathetic."
He clicked his tongue shortly, about to ignore us and pass, when.
"Oh! You're from S-Class too! Nice to meet you!"
"No, pass."
Spotting the hassle instantly, Kaien rejected Barcan flat-out and turned to leave.
Grab.
Barcan snatched his shoulder as he passed.
Kaien staggered, losing balance for a moment.
"What... Let go."
"No need to be shy! Festivals are best shared!"
"I said I'm fine! You brute, all brawn and no brains...!"
Kaien struggled to shake free, but the rock-hard arm didn't budge.
In the end, even Kaien quietly joined our shameful procession.
"Why am I in this mess..."
Face flushed with humiliation, he ground his teeth in a mutter.
His pristine uniform was rumpled from Barcan's grip.
"Ahh... It's wrinkled again..."
Hye-ra murmured in resignation.
I shot Kaien a wry grin and a nod.
"Good to see you, roommate."
"...Do I look happy?"
Mistaking my tease for real, Kaien glared murderously.
Injustice. I'm a victim too.
"Don't misunderstand. I got dragged too."
"...Sigh."