Chapter 366 - Chapter 9: The May Festival and the Class of 175
Since we couldn't stay long, we returned to Nakanohara the day after our talk with Salamander ended.
During our three-day stay, the only time I entered the hot spring was on the last night, where I was able to soak slowly in the secret hot spring Salamander told me about. Salamander also seemed to like the bowl's acrobatic flight as usual and we became friends.
Of course, I can't relax after coming back. I'll participate in the May Festival in the Flatlands, and then go to Northern Gram immediately after.
Aira is marrying into Eowyn-sama's side. I have to go to the wedding.
Initially, I had ended up taking on the very honorable role of assisting the Archbishop of the Northern Gram Royal Capital Great Church, who would serve as the officiant, but due to the kidnapping incident in Finis, it was decided that it's better not to stand out, and I was relieved of the duty. In that regard, Eowyn-sama is truly reliable.
And one week after the banquet hosted by the royal family, a reception hosted by Saxburg was to be held at the villa where we also stayed. A grand banquet with no formalities was planned there, and all the members of the Class of 175 and the newly added Associate Class of 175, Miana and Keira, were invited.
The King and Queen, and Evans-sama, who are participating as official envoys, are traveling by ship. Since they're going in time for the May Festival, they had departed hurriedly after my ordination as Bishop.
In that regard, we, who are not participating in the royal wedding, have plenty of time because we'll fly in Henry-sama's group's bowl as usual. We stopped at the fortress in the Eastern Plains and delivered the birth gift made by all the shops of the Class of 175, except for Mary's apprentice who is at the second shop, to Gladys-sama, who gave birth to a boy as beautiful as a gem.
After that, we participated in the May Festival events, but this year we put effort into the events in the Flatlands. A church hasn't been built in the Flatlands yet. Only a shrine. However, I became a Bishop. If I'm a Bishop, I can perform prayers at festivals. Because I'm of the class of a small church head.
There are no festival-like festivals in the Flatlands. Since I was also asked by Adolf-san and Lewis-san, I decided to accept.
Actually, the fourth shop had been steadily preparing while I was pushing hard for the ancient language exam.
The venue is the settlement around the fortress of the Light Infantry Corps where the shrine is located. Since there's a post station and the floating ship of the Light Infantry Corps, people will gather.
As for the arrangement of stalls and the setting up of the stage, Miana, accompanied by Beowulf, managed that. After all, she's a Princess. The bandits, who were begged with "Please," couldn't possibly refuse. Under Lewis-san's command, they did everything from stage building to preparing the stalls.
Furthermore, powerful reinforcements came. In April, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama were hired by the Marcelo Company and participated in the construction of the reservoir in the Flatlands. For the first pond, residents participated in hardening the bottom of the pond like labor, but when Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san are there, the two of them can harden it. Beatrix, who participated for the purpose of training, seems to have become exhausted, but it seems the remaining four ponds were successfully completed. They stayed and helped with the civil engineering work for the May Festival together with the bandits. Lewis-san must have used Miana's name.
The main body of the residents are former serfs who came from Engrio. Since they had never participated in the management of such things, Beatrix took the lead and held repeated meetings.
In Nakanohara, the person who plays the role of the Goddess is a minor girl aged ten or older chosen by resident vote. And the role of spirits is usually played by acolytes. However, there are no acolytes. When I asked Owen-san, who participated as a consultant, the selection method used in Nakanohara was just something the residents decided on their own in the past, and as long as they are residents, it doesn't matter if they are adults.
As a result of everyone's discussion, the girl who won third place in the Nakanohara District preliminary for the Super Handsome and Beautiful Contest was chosen as the Goddess, and the roles of spirits were decided by voting for two boys and two girls from among the minors.
In that way, the group of amateurs in management proceeded with preparations while receiving various help.
On the day, more people gathered than expected. The residents are all people who have the stamina and courage to have crossed the border through the forest in the middle of the night. Most likely, everyone came leaving their houses empty. However, since the bandits decided to patrol the houses, everyone probably came out with peace of mind.
I waited outside the venue wearing my priest's robes. While feeling nervous, I waited for the signal to start together with the four children in spirit roles who were frolicking, and the members of the Light Infantry Corps who were properly dressed as guards. On the stage, Lewis-san, acting as the MC, was standing. Since he was in formal dress and wearing all the medals he had received until now on his chest, it was extremely flashy. I realized once again that he is a veteran warrior.
Lewis-san called the vice-captain to the stage, and the two of them started a short comedy routine. Apparently, they're having trouble preparing the girl in the Goddess role. The people in charge of clothing and makeup are the sisters from the brothel who dance on stage. If I recall correctly, they should have participated as the makeup team in the Super Handsome and Beautiful Contest too. They must be putting a lot of effort into it.
However, as expected of those who hold a one-man show contest every year, the storytelling skills of Lewis-san and the vice-captain were skillful, and they were exciting while inviting laughter from the audience. When the Goddess was ready and the vice-captain withdrew to the side of the stage, a grand applause rose.
Finally, the appearance of the Goddess. Wearing a crown made by Bonnie and Matilda, she came out from the place where cloth was stretched on four sides, which had been prepared as a waiting room, wearing a white fluttering costume.
As expected of someone who was chosen. Speaking of beauties, I've seen the Queens and Princesses of each country, starting with Gladys-sama, and there are also the sisters from the brothel. I've been seeing Beatrix, Will, and Mary since we were children. Even so, it's fine to say she's sufficiently beautiful.
The Goddess gave a light bow toward us and headed for the main gate of the venue, accompanied by two sisters from the brothel who were participating specially as attendants. I told the children in spirit roles to follow, and the procession began.
While the men were buzzing and the women were raising voices of support, we circled the venue once. Only the four in spirit roles and I went up on stage. The guard soldiers surrounded the stage as if protecting it.
The four in spirit roles lined up two on each side of the Goddess. It's a production that spring has arrived.
"Everyone. Spring has arrived in this land like this."
The audience applauds at the Goddess's line. Some are whistling.
Next is my role.
"Spring has arrived in this land. After this, summer will come, and eventually autumn will be welcomed. I will pray to the Goddess so that it will be a fruitful autumn, so please chant with me."
I knelt before the Goddess and folded my hands in front of my chest. The audience all followed suit. I prayed, and everyone chanted.
Next is the dance of the priestesses... in other words, the sisters from the brothel, dedicated to the Goddess and spirits. The progression around here is also different from Nakanohara, but Paul-san was in charge of the production.
Being the daytime version, there was no risquéness in the costumes or the dance, but that was good in its own way.
The children watching were also dancing in imitation. The bandits, who know the night version, were also sending applause. It might be good to do both the day version and the night version in Nakanohara too.
The ceremony ended, the Goddess and spirits withdrew, and the priestesses and I followed after them. We withdrew while receiving grand applause and cheers.
On the stage, it's a one-man show contest by the bandits who were excluded from the guard soldier role. Twenty selected people are scheduled to each perform a feat. I wanted to see it, but since it's embarrassing to stay in priest's robes, I gave up.
The Goddess went straight into the waiting room. I also went inside with the spirits.
"Good work. Were you nervous?"
The girl in the Goddess role was surrounded by the four sisters from the brothel who were in charge of the costume and makeup, and was being hugged in turn. When I called out, she hugged me. She's teary-eyed.
"I was nervous!"
"You did well. The audience was also very happy."
I stroked her head. The sisters also came over, so we all surrounded her.
"When I fled the village with my dad and mom, I wondered what would happen, but everyone is kind to us, and I'm really glad I came this far."
"Oh my, you didn't flee; you just moved from a slightly far place."
"That's right, you already have a household register, don't you? You're Sertorian."
"I-I'm sorry. Thank you very much."
Which one is it? After everyone laughed, we toasted.
"The dance was also good. Since it's always at night, I've hardly ever seen it."
"Ufufu. This time there's no night part. It's a special version."
"Why don't you do it in Nakanohara too?"
"We're negotiating now. We want to show it to children too."
In Nakanohara, it's become for old men only.
"Is it Adolf-san?"
"Well, the proprietress. And the Archbishop. Jeanne, can you say something too?"
"Sure. I'll involve the Headmistress too."
"Ufufu. Thank you. That aside, is the shop okay today?"
"I'm going now. Miana is baking bread, so please come. There's also mead."
"Then we have to go!"
After finishing changing, when we went to the stalls together, a crowd had formed. Thanks to the five reservoirs being full, a suitable amount of water was flowing in the channels, and Dune had brought out the fluffies. Beowulf was doing traffic control.
Beatrix had gone to the festival at the second shop with Mary, but Beowulf, Will, and Keira joined Miana's support. With the cooperation of the bandits, several stalls also appeared.
The shop of the Class of 175 sold bread that Miana had been baking since early morning... or rather, since the middle of the night, and mead, and for children, warmed goat's milk. Miana was wearing a yellow apron with a large picture of a rabbit on the chest over her uniform. Will is in charge of drinks.
Keira, sitting on a barrel, was calling out to passersby, and Miana was selling bread like a salesgirl. Her bangs were down, but her face was held high.
While watching that figure, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, wearing farm clothes as usual, were sitting on stones near the shop drinking mead.
Lewis-san, who was drinking mead a little away, beckoned me.
"Miana-sama has become strong. It's thanks to you all."
I wonder. I feel like everything is exactly as Magdalena-sama intended.
"We're just friends, though."
"I see. Then, I want you to continue to be friends in the future as well."
He said so and laughed.
There is no night part in the May Festival in the Flatlands. After that, everyone is to enjoy themselves.
Two hours before sunset, the cleanup began, and people who came from other places went home by the post station and the floating ship. However, around the silica mining site, they'll probably make a fuss at brothels and bars, but if the place the guard team and the Light Infantry Corps have to guard is only one place, it'll be easy.
We, who gathered at the farm in the middle of the night while hearing the loud noises, flew toward Northern Gram all at once in Henry-sama's group's medium-sized bowl the next day.
When we actually went there, the border lord and the Queen came, accompanied by an apprentice butler, attached to stones for possession placed on a military bowl.
And from the herb garden of the isolation facility, Dryads and Alraunes participate. There's also Renata's clone. The Dullahan, now known as the Black Knight, was also there. The Dullahan was quite surprised that we brought the low-level demon Keira.
"Oh? Did the Dullahan come too?"
"That's my line. Why is a demon like you with humans?"
"Because I made a contract with Jeanne. Also, Saxburg is a friend."
"I-I see. As expected of Jeanne-dono and Saxburg-dono."
Apparently, Eowyn-sama and Saxburg are serious about making the villa a place where various creatures, starting with spirits, gather, and it seems they thought they wanted to scout low-level demons like Keira too.
"Hey, Jeanne. I'd be grateful if there was someone in charge of rabbits here too."
I think that's certainly true. After all, what Saxburg is doing with Duke Hexham is pet rabbits.
It's better to have a caretaker who stands on the side of the rabbits to teach a better way of keeping them.
Also, it would be disrespectful to let a rabbit raised by a Princess die. The nobles, who were begged by their daughters and recommended by the Princess and couldn't refuse, must be alternating between joy and sorrow at the state of the rabbits. Of course, behind that, there are people who are keeping rabbits with a sigh of relief. Pitiful.
When I asked Keira, she tilted her head, wondering. Demons don't usually have much interaction with each other. Aside from the opposite sex during the breeding season, members of the same sex usually don't listen to what others say unless they fight and decide the hierarchy. It'll be a problem if Keira loses. That said, it's not good for Saxburg's partner to be a male demon.
"What. Is Saxburg-dono troubled by such a thing? Then it's easy. There are those who live in my forest, so I can have them cooperate. The reward is the right to participate in the banquet here with me."
"A woman? Is she knowledgeable about rabbits?"
"It's fine as long as she's a woman who can possess a rabbit, right?"
"Yes. Please. How about one barrel of continental wine as an introduction fee?"
"Umu. Let's make a contract."
As expected of someone who was trained to become a Queen. She easily settled the talk with a monster.
When the bride and groom arrived in a Royal Guard bowl, the royalty of Northern Gram and Finis also came together.
"Jeanne. You look well."
"Jeanne. We're holding a meeting in our country next month. Since Aira has married, I will be in charge for the time being. I'm counting on you."
Come to think of it, that was the case. If I think about it, Aira's nationality is changing.
Eventually, the Crown Princess who married into Gwyn-sama's side will probably take over, but the child is still small, and she might be pregnant with the second one soon.
"Hey, Jeanne. I'm sorry my son threw a tantrum the other day."
It's the King of Northern Gram. It must be about when Eowyn-sama was blustering that he'd attack with the navy when I was kidnapped.
"No, wait. King of Northern Gram. Originally it was due to my son's unworthiness. The responsibility lies with Finis. There is no need for you to apologize to Jeanne."
Gwyn-sama should have been under house arrest for a while. However, since the village children who want to learn swordsmanship want to meet him, I heard it was lifted in about two weeks.
Then, Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama appeared.
"No, no, Gwyn-dono did well. Since Eleanor and I were also there. It's also our responsibility. After all, after we returned, we were scolded mercilessly by the current King."
The Kings and former King of the three countries apologized to each other, and the Queens and former Queen exchanged greetings while glancing at them.
Well, it's a good thing that it's peaceful.
The banquet reached its peak with the appearance of the bride and groom.
With the bowl the two were riding in at the lead, several bowls flying the flags of Finis, Northern Gram, and Gram, whose name Eowyn-sama is scheduled to succeed, followed. At the same time the two landed, various magic was fired all at once from the bowls waiting in the sky. At the same time, colorful flowers fell over the heads of the bride and groom.
"The one over there is Gwyn. This time, as punishment for the previous misconduct, I've ordered him to do the grunt work for this banquet."
The King of Finis said.
Where he pointed, there was one bowl moving around at a particularly high place. When I looked with Sight, a single blue-painted man with long blonde hair fluttering was directing the other bowls. He said it was punishment, but he has a full smile. It's Gwyn-sama, the bowl lover. He must be doing it with joy.