Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Blazing Heat of the Festival
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The festival kicked off amid scorching midday heat.
This year's Abundant Harvest Festival lasted five days.
During that time, tourists from the inland regions flooded into coastal cities like ours, swelling Rainpole's floating population to five times its usual size.
With visitors from Crossing and Caliper alike pouring in, the streets were jam-packed.
Before promoting my book, I decided to handle some official business first.
*Hmmm, what to do.*
That morning, I'd received a visit request from Bisceta, the administrator over in Kurabel.
Probably because I'd been nitpicking her ledgers and expenditures so relentlessly—she'd snapped and told me that if I was so damn curious, I should come see for myself.
*But touring officially would defeat the purpose.*
Just as a division commander visiting a unit wouldn't get the real picture, any formal schedule would lead to superficial preparations for show.
So I opted for a covert inspection.
*Disguise would be necessary in this case, but...*
I decided going as my true self would be the best disguise.
Thus, I set out to tour Kurabel's residential district as Als.
Eonia came along too, helmet off and in her usual Rania guise.
Only a tiny handful in Kurabel—like Bisceta—even knew her current face, so no one recognized her.
"Out alone together, huh. Heh heh heh..."
Eonia was grinning ear to ear, clearly thrilled at being my sole escort.
"Rania, quit grinning and show me around."
"Yes, sir! This way first, please. This is the academy newly built thanks to Lord Als's gracious generosity."
"Hmm."
It was Rainpole's Second Academy. Far larger than the original, this new building was likely destined to become the main campus.
In front of the academy site, a group I'd never seen before was energetically hawking their wares.
"What are they?"
Men dressed in flashy, multicolored outfits.
"That's... probably the new circus troupe that just arrived."
"The ones Olaf brought in, huh."
The circus was called Four Seasons. Unlike typical nomadic circuses with erratic schedules, they'd named it after their plan to stay put and perform year-round, courtesy of Olaf.
The troupe had spilled onto the streets for guerrilla performances on the festival's opening day to drum up hype.
"Rainpole's Four Seasons Circus! First show tonight at 7 p.m.—come one, come all!"
A boy bellowing at the top of his lungs to promote. His face looked oddly familiar for some reason.
"That kid..."
I couldn't quite pin down who he was.
As I watched the kid handing out flyers, one of the troupe members called out to him.
"Hey, Aegert! Your turn!"
"Right-o!"
Aegert dashed to the prepared spot and rolled up his sleeves. In front of him sat a stack of ten thin stone slabs.
A man nearby started drumming up the crowd.
"Behold the amazing feat from our newest recruit, Aegert! Watch closely!"
The stones were thin, sure, but even a strongman could barely smash four or so. And these weren't weakened for tricks—they were real construction-grade slabs.
Aegert brought his fist down without mercy.
"Hyaah!"
*Crack-crack-crack!* The bricks shattered in a cascade.
"!"
"Oho."
Eonia and I clocked it immediately.
*He's using aura. Not bad.*
Who'd have thought a circus grunt could wield aura.
Eonia whispered.
"Lord Als, he's doing it unconsciously."
"Unconsciously?"
"Yes. Pure intent to unleash full power triggered his body to naturally draw on aura."
"Instinct, huh. Total opposite of my type."
"Hee hee, you overthink everything, Lord Als."
"High praise?"
"The highest."
After his brick-breaking stunt, Aegert struck a goofy muscleman pose, but a little kid piped up.
"Hey! The bottom one's still intact!"
"Wh-what!?"
Aegert glanced around nervously, then stomped—*crunch!*—finishing off the last slab.
"H-ha ha! There, happy?"
He laughed awkwardly.
"What a cheat!"
"Ch-cheat, you little brat?!"
Still, the reaction was solid. Aegert kept flexing and showing off his strength, drawing a crowd.
*Hmmm, where do I know him from?*
No matter how I racked my brain, nothing came up. We'd met, but he must not have left much impression.
*Whatever.*
I moved on to the next spot.
*
*
*
Kurabel's residential area featured quite a few tall buildings.
To house the swelling population, Bisceta had built them as communal apartments—averaging three stories, with over five households per building.
Sure, thirty-story apartments are commonplace in the modern world, but this place lacked the infrastructure for that.
Such density posed major issues, chief among them drinking water and sewage.
"Hmm, not bad?"
Bisceta had accounted for that in her design.
She'd artificially split a river flowing toward the sea: one branch for drinking and irrigation water, the other for sewage.
Rather than dumping sewage straight into the ocean—which would pollute nearby coasts and cut fish yields—she'd built treatment facilities at the outfall. Untreatable pollutants got buried, while the rest was turned into fertilizer for local farms.
"So that's why she requested so much funding."
Big projects like this cost a fortune.
*Better this way, though.*
Better to go big and done than piecemeal and inefficient.
Of course, only if you had the chops to pull it off.
And Bisceta did.
*Wish I could recruit her onto my side...*
But her resolve to return home was ironclad. No clue how to sway her.
Right then—like speaking of the tiger—she appeared.
"Eo? What're you doing?"
Bisceta was apparently patrolling for the festival too.
She gawked at Eonia's bare face.
"She's grown up!?"
Eonia floundered at the sudden appearance.
"Uh, um! I'm not Eo—I'm Rania!"
"Oh, right. That was the deal when you're like this."
Bisceta glanced at Eonia, then turned to me.
"But who's the kid with you?"
*Why does everyone call me a kid?*
*I'm already full-grown height-wise.*
Guess my baby face gave it away.
"Well..."
I could've played it off as a chance encounter, but Eonia panicked and blurted something dumb.
"Sh-he's my favorite little guy! We chat sometimes!"
"Your favorite? For real?"
Bisceta shot me a knowing look, probing my intent.
No choice—I played along.
"Y-yeah... Big Sis Rania's always looking out for me."
"Hmm?"
I thought I'd sold it without a hitch, but Bisceta narrowed her eyes, like she'd caught something.
Meanwhile, Eonia was freaking out.
"Big sis!?"
Bisceta shrugged.
"Since we bumped into each other, mind hanging out a bit? Both of you."
Trailing her, we got a detailed tour of Kurabel's residential zone. Bisceta briefed me on the designs like I was her superior.
Her explanations were so technical, her secretary probably wondered why she was bothering with a punk like me.
*Definitely busted.*
I'd planned to reveal myself soon anyway, so no biggie. But the exposed vibe had her poking fun.
"By the way, the guy shaking up the continent turns out to be such a kid. Shocker. Then again, only a child would pull that childish mask charade."
"...Pardon?"
"Heh, just mumbling to myself. Something hit a nerve?"
"If it was mumbling, you wouldn't have called me a kid."
"So you do see yourself as a kid. My, my."
"..."
"But Rania, why the distance? If he's your favorite, shouldn't you at least link arms?"
The arrow swung back—Eonia's eyes went wide.
"Any issue with that?"
"No issue, just... If you're close, linking arms seems natural, no?"
"L-linking arms!?"
"Nah, he's still a kid—maybe a gentle hug instead. Keep him from getting lost."
"...!?"
"Can't manage that? Guess 'close friend' was a fib."
*This lady... what the hell.*
*Squeeze.* Warmth pressed against my back. Eonia had hugged me from behind.
Our heights matched, so her breath tickled my ear directly.
A faint tremble ran through her—nerves, probably—transmitted via my back.
I whispered low.
"...What are you doing?"
"M-making sure Growth doesn't catch on! Plus, I'm the big sis now! This is natural!"
Seemed she'd copied Julia-sis's usual moves on me.
"Fine, fine. That's enough. You can let go now."
"N-no! Growth is sharp—she might suspect if we slack off!"
*In a situation where it's already obvious?*
Still, Eonia clung on for a full ten minutes.
"Guess I'll head out. Rania, let's grab tea sometime. Als, see you later—I have words about that new circus troupe."
Bisceta flashed a grin and left. Busted for sure.
"Whew. Oh well, better this way."
Easier than dramatically unmasking.
"But Eo—how long you gonna stay like that?"
"Huh? Oh, right..."
Eonia peeled off reluctantly. Midsummer heat had left my back sweaty.
Hers too—her front was soaked, bra line visible. I pretended not to notice, but she clocked it and flustered.
Casually, I said,
"Walking so long wore me out. I'll rest here a bit—you go handle any business."
"Yes, sir! I'll step away briefly!"
Eonia bolted. Ymir arrived in her stead.
"Young master, Eonia asked me to take over escort duty."
"Haha..."
Probably too embarrassed rethinking her actions to return.
"What happened?"
"Nothing. Anyway, Ymir—you free today otherwise?"
"No pressing tasks."
"Perfect. My inspection's done, schedule's clear. Let's tour the festival together."
For all the hard work Ymir usually put in, I'd escort her today.
*
*
*
A five-day festival typically peaks from day three onward.
I'd figured the early days would be chill, but nope.
Rainpole's unique situation.
Crossing folk had other options, so they skipped us—but not Caliper's.
Caliper lacked a summer festival entirely. Rainpole was their one and only, drawing hordes.
"Sheesh, didn't expect this many people."
Meant to escort Ymir, ended up surveying festival ops instead.
Vendors running out of food, tourists bickering over lodging, nobles wrinkling noses at street hygiene.
"Gotta report this to the admins quick. Sorry, Ymir—festival next time."
"It's fine. This was plenty."
"No way. I'll make time."
Mid-tour, I spotted a familiar face.
"Ah, Als!"
A slender boy waving as he approached—Dorothy.
"Dorothy? What brings you here?"
"Came to celebrate the festival. It's my friends' territory—you, Beryl, Banningss."
"Haha, Max'll flip. A Grimwood count visiting?"
"I'm still a rookie. And he'd be too busy for that."
"Why?"
"Duke Helian tagged along."
Sure enough, Duke Helian appeared behind Dorothy, touring with his top five retainers—including Marquis Linhardt and General Ironheart, who knew my identity.
"Ugh."
Sensing trouble, I tried slipping away with Dorothy—but Duke Helian spotted me first.
"Well, well. If it isn't Als."
"...Have you been well, Your Grace?"
"Heh, well enough."
Two retainers voiced confusion at him addressing me. They must not know who I was.
Duke Helian explained.
"One of the golden generation cadets, leading the pack. Future pillar of our military, that one."
"Leading? On par with Ruan Chase or Casper Milias?"
"And then some—I rate his potential higher."
"Ooh! If Your Grace says so, it must be true."
Seemed Helian was here to rally his faction.
*Max is gonna lose it.*
Our house had never hosted this many bigwigs.
But it didn't end there. Parting the crowd around the island-sparked throng came a man.
"Blocking the festival street, Regnat? Pointless."
A man smiling meaningfully—Gilbert Salleon.
Helian scowled at the sight.
"Gilbert? What are you doing here?"
"Any rule saying I can't? Here to enjoy the festival."
There was a reason he shouldn't. Our house belonged to Helian's faction.
Uninvited rival faction heads visiting sowed rumors— tacitly forbidden in noble circles.
"I knew you were rude, but this? Unbelievable."
"Heh, easy now. No need to rage over trivia. Besides, I have business with Baron Ilrain today."
"With Baron Ilrain? What business?"
"None of your concern. Speaking of... Ah, Ilrain. Long time. Doing well?"
Gilbert smiled at me, his gaze somehow warmer.
"Mind escorting me to the lord's manor? Roads confuse me."
Helian bristled.
"Rude. I was speaking with Als."
"Why not wrap it up? I saw you earlier—'future of the faction' nonsense. Pathetic, fawning over kids."
"What was that?"
The two traded barbs.
*Not Estelle and Erina, but these old guys?*
Watching grown men snipe soured my mood.