Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Denpider's Festival Dinner
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Before long, the sun had dipped low, and Denpider's streets began to sink into a bluish twilight.
Stores had already hung out their butterfly lanterns, emitting a faint orange glow.
The unique bustle of the nighttime streets gradually transformed Denpider's atmosphere.
We passed several shops packed so tightly with people there was no room to step, finally slipping into the lively clamor of a restaurant that had just opened up a spot.
We claimed the single table in the corner and immediately decided to order food.
"Little sis, what do you want to eat?"
Daluh said it so smoothly.
I flinched, and Calipan grinned as he slid the menu in front of me.
"If it's too hard to pick, little sis, should we just get everything?"
"You're doing it again..."
"Ah, I'm not planning to eat it all myself. Don't get the wrong idea."
"Stop it..."
I glanced at the paper bag hanging from my wheelchair's handle.
How was I supposed to know if they got it all for me? I'd honestly thought I'd met the soul rival who fought over Mayches merch.
Dodging Calipan's eyes as he hunted for another chance to tease me, I pretended to focus on the menu.
"The encouragement speech starts at eight, so shouldn't we order whatever comes out fastest?"
Bamper spoke up, and we all agreed. With the crowds, orders were probably already backed up.
Denpider was the final stop on the tour, where our Mayches would give the encouragement speech.
The famous Denpider landmark, 'Amanellia Tree-Lined Boulevard,' which had been closed all day for parade prep, would open up then too.
Honestly, wandering Denpider so far, the only butterflies I'd seen were on tourist souvenirs or city sculptures.
If Doria hadn't explained it last night, I'd have written off the 'Denpider = butterflies' thing as some gimmick the local council squeezed out for tourism.
But there was a clear reason Denpider was called the Butterfly City.
The Amanellia Tree-Lined Boulevard, where glowing butterflies in every color fluttered in rapture, creating an aurora-like spectacle.
It was famous as a spot that turned friends into lovers and lovers into family.
Especially at night, when darkness blanketed everything, strolling there made every step feel like magic, as if you were the protagonist in a fairy tale.
Doria had said only God knew how many promises and vows had been whispered there, her face lost in memories for a moment.
To avoid being late for the parade viewing, we asked the server for the quickest dishes and ordered enough for our headcount.
Before eating, I loosened my fingers like a warm-up and pressed the potion summon button on my wheelchair.
*Poing-*
A thick blue potion appeared (tasteless, obviously intense concentration).
Mayches had made this special one just for one dinner out, since he couldn't tell me not to eat festival food.
Me, with a determined face—one hand clutching the potion, the other doing finger exercises for the heavy outside utensils—caught Yan's eye.
"Hang on, little sis. Is this your first time eating out?"
"Oh, yeah, that makes sense for her."
"Have you all officially decided to call me that for the whole day?"
If so, I'd need to brace myself mentally. I was already developing a slight little-sis complex.
Yan hesitated, then awkwardly pulled out his recording device. I was seriously tempted to smash that pebble in half.
"First time out, and we all get the basics? Kinda lame, right?"
Calipan said.
Daluh raised a hand to call the server back, signaling agreement.
"Yeah, let's order some variety for our little sis."
"If the parade's at eight, the speech probably kicks off at 7:30?"
"Oh, right. You can show up a bit late for that. I always did."
"Nice. So, what're we getting?"
They had that seasoned industry-vet vibe.
Their trustworthy words made my ears perk up, but after a moment's thought, I waved it off.
"I'm fine with the basics. I kinda want to catch the eight o'clock start anyway."
Yan, still aiming his device my way, chimed in.
"How about we just get a bunch of different drinks, then."
Hm, a pretty smart compromise.
Drinks wouldn't take as long as full meals, and it'd still feel festive.
But... I could already picture the poor drink-maker's soul departing their body.
The server taking our order wore a sales smile, but her eyes pitifully begged, Please don't.
That's when Daluh suddenly reached out and slid Jayhan's hood down.
*Flash-*
"..."
Jayhan's face was revealed, defenseless, to the rest of us.
Hidden under the robe for hours, seeing it again, he looked even more handsome than I remembered.
I'd done my best to commit his beauty to memory, but apparently my brain couldn't handle that otherworldly level. It was beauty beyond human perception...
If even I, who saw him often, felt that way—what about the server seeing him for the first time?
"..."
Her smile vanished at the radiant beauty before her.
After a speechless moment, tears welled up in her eyes, like she'd witnessed something profound.
"...If it's what the customers want, serving up endless food and drinks—that might just be our shop's policy."
She didn't even give us a chance to pick drinks. She checked every one on the list and hurried off, flushed.
Not long after she scurried to the kitchen, a staff member with a demon-like scowl peeked out into the dining area.
But spotting Jayhan, his facial muscles melted away, ending in utter serenity.
"Of course we'll make 'em. It's my job. Should we just comp the whole thing?"
We overheard the excited voice as he ducked back into the kitchen.
Soon, our table was crammed with glasses filled to the brim.
"Please have a wonderful time."
They were so generous, everything teetered on surface tension.
The server bowed deeply to Jayhan, then retreated with a satisfied look, like she'd completed a sacred duty.
Jayhan casually pulled his hood back up. Still, his halo lingered like an afterimage.
Jayhan, as always... the cheat key for emergencies. Good thing we were in the corner...
"Alright, little sis. Cheers."
Daluh lifted his lime-fizzed soda like a toast, acting like nothing happened.
I stopped questioning or trying to make sense of it.
Among drinks enough to fill a crowd and still have twelve bottles left, I picked a citrus juice.
The tangy sweetness was great going in. But after swallowing, my stomach churned.
I quickly downed the pre-loaded potion from my left hand. Once my gut settled, I sipped more citrus juice.
Bamper, watching quietly, spoke up.
"Oh dear... we look like total jerks right now."
"Yeah, should we have stopped her?"
"Looks like poison and antidote on rotation."
"She gonna drop dead suddenly? Is that good balance?"
I didn't know about balance—just cycling 'feels good—feels bad.'
No vomiting, dizziness, chills, fever, or seizures, though, so it seemed fine.
"I'm okay. Can I have the melon juice too?"
Calipan looked baffled.
"Can't exactly say 'go wild'.... Save that potion till the food comes."
"Got it! Obviously."
Still, when I happily unearthed a melon juice from the pile, they seemed to accept I was safe.
Everyone picked their own drinks.
But tasting the melon juice, I nearly yelped at the wine glass Bamper grabbed next.
"Hm?"
Bamper must've felt my stare. He offered the glass my way.
*Slosh-*
The red liquid inside swayed ominously.
"Wanna try? Strawberry juice."
My pupils shook wildly.
"No... I don't want any..."
"...Huh? Okay, got it."
He looked puzzled but smiled and brought the glass to his lips.
I held my breath, gripped by a terror no one else could share, watching him elegantly sip the deep, red... strawberry juice.
Bamper tilting the crimson glass looked like a vampire count straight out of a novel.
But... the count's supposed to be my brother—why are you stealing his vibe...?
With trembling hands, I lifted my green grape juice.
It spilled down from how shaky I was, and Calipan—thinking it too heavy—supported the bottom.
*Buzz buzz-*
That's when a faint vibration hummed from somewhere.
A tiny sound that nearly blended into the ambient noise.