Chapter 61 - The Water-Splashing Festival
Today is the Water-Splashing Festival.
Before I knew it, the second Sunday of August had become a national holiday, a day to mourn those who died in battle. Apparently, it's the weekend of the day the first king raised his banner like a bandit and the first casualty occurred. Because it was a sudden decision, Nakanohara decided to hold it on the first Sunday as originally planned. It seems they will align with the national schedule from next year onwards.
The town-wide promotion must have been successful; many stalls were set up, and it was literally bustling with people.
There was even a puppet show featuring a priestess wielding a holy spear as the protagonist. The model was, needless to say, Katherine-sensei. The Revenant she faced had somehow become a monster, and the one controlling the monsters was an evil emperor who had made a deal with the Demon Lord. The climax of the story was that the priestess, having received a divine revelation, turned the spring water into holy water, repelled the monsters with the townspeople using that water to protect the town, and then marched into the evil emperor's country to make him reform. By the way, the name of the country where the evil emperor resided was the Engrio Empire. I wonder if this will cause a diplomatic issue? I'm worried.
In the morning, ceremonies closed to the general public continued, such as the consecration of holy water and rituals at the church to mourn the dead. In the afternoon, there was a parade for the townspeople to participate in, followed by a water-splashing battle. It would probably wrap up before sunset, but the taverns seemed to have stocked up quite a bit in preparation for the second part for the middle-aged men.
The Marcelo Company's main attraction was, of course, hair-dyeing magic. They offered a one-day transformation for the ladies enjoying the festival. Unlike scrolls, it was very cheap and well-received.
Since Angelica-san was the only one who could use the magic, there was naturally a limit on the number of people. Because of that, the rule that it was limited to those who hadn't experienced it before—specifically those who usually couldn't afford such luxuries—also gained a good reputation.
Besides that, Beatrix was drawing portraits. She took orders on the spot and drew them impromptu, and they were so accurate that they were very popular. For some reason, she was also selling portraits of Katherine-sensei, which were selling like hotcakes to the middle-aged men.
I also put something up for sale: Green Marble. During last month's expedition, it was quite popular among Angus-san and the other hunters, and I received several orders. This was Beatrix's scheme, having noticed that. She didn't do anything herself, but fortunately, Angelica-san helped me, so we were able to prepare about thirty outfits. I set the price at ten copper coins.
For those who wanted it, I offered embroidery for an additional two copper coins. However, among the men who came to buy, several asked to have Katherine-sensei's portrait embroidered instead of their own names. As a joke, I said it would use a lot of thread and asked for an additional ten copper coins as an embroidery fee, and they paid it without hesitation. I have nothing more to say.
When about ten had been sold, two customers arrived. A couple.
The woman was a startlingly beautiful blonde and, for some reason, was wearing leather armor. Seeing the stir around her, she was clearly out of place. She must have come from abroad. Since she was wearing armor, perhaps she was a mercenary.
The man was quite large and had his hair cropped short. He was also wearing leather armor and a cloak. He might be a knight she was seeing. The Water-Splashing Festival only started this year. They probably came to see it out of curiosity.
"What is this?"
Her blue eyes sparkled with curiosity. Well, of course. After all, I only developed it last month.
Behind me, Paul-san, holding a bow, immediately began to strike poses. To show off its effectiveness, he had gone to the trouble of bringing three small trees in pots. While holding his bow, he was moving in and out from between the trees. He must have been excited; his face was unusually flushed, and he was breathing heavily through his nose.
"You made this, didn't you? Can it be worn over armor? May I try it on?"
She spoke like Will. She might be a noblewoman.
I immediately had her put it on and tied the cord at the waist. She was someone who already wore armor. She looked incredibly cool. Her gesture of reflecting herself in the full-length mirror that Angelica-san held was also quite elegant. The surrounding men were also sighing in admiration.
When I asked the knight, "How is it?" he laughed and said, "It's good, isn't it?" He was a handsome man with a sharp tan. His was what you'd call a carefree smile.
"I'll buy it. Is this enough?"
He suddenly pulled out a gold coin. This confirmed he was a noble.
When I told him the price, he said he didn't have any change. Being a noble, he apparently only had gold coins and a few silver coins. However, if he had silver coins, the change would be ten copper coins. That would work out.
"If that gentleman over there buys one too, one silver coin will be enough," the shrewd mage said, and he bought it without hesitation.
I had also made large ones for men, and when he tried it on, it fit perfectly. On an average man, it would be baggy and the hem would cover the knees, but because he was large, it came to about mid-thigh, and it looked easy to move in with a sword belted over it.
Just in case, I timidly asked if it was alright for a high-ranking knight to wear such a thing, and he replied that he was originally a hunter. I had heard that in other countries, it was quite something for a hunter to become a knight, so he must have been promoted. Perhaps it was one of those life-long knighthoods.
The embroidery on the back takes time, so it would have to be cash on delivery. The woman was interested, but she reluctantly gave up. They might be traveling.
In the end, they bought two without embroidery. The two of them walked away while still wearing them. After that, customers rushed in, and they were sold out in no time. Beautiful people wearing them must have been good advertising. I should have given them a ten percent discount.
While this was happening, the parade began. I wondered what they would do, and it turned out to be a decorated wagon pulled by horses carrying an extra-large barrel. Two or three people on board were splashing water scooped from buckets with bowls. It was surely holy water.
To my surprise, the teachers from the orphanage were at the front. All three were wearing red ceremonial robes. The members of the vigilante corps who had fought together that day surrounded the wagon as if to protect it. Owen-san was there too.
Jennifer-sensei was chanting the Chant of Exorcism, while Amy-sensei and Katherine-sensei were splashing the holy water they scooped into bowls onto the surroundings. The reason Katherine-sensei's face, which rarely appeared in public, was bright red was probably not because she had been drinking.
Spectators were drawing close to the wagon to be doused with the blessed holy water. Was it my imagination that the people who had ordered the Green Marble with Katherine-sensei's embroidery were gathered there?
On the second wagon, Hanna-san, wearing her town hall uniform, was splashing water next to a priest who was chanting. Come to think of it, she did say she had defeated seven of them.
Angus-san was walking as a guard for the wagon with a face crumbling into a smile. Angus-san is from the neighboring village, so he's not part of the town's vigilante corps, but I suppose I shouldn't worry about the details.
After that, for some reason, the ones splashing the holy water were women, and the ones gathering around the wagons to be splashed were, for some reason, all middle-aged men.
The destination of the parade, which continued for about ten wagons, was the plaza behind the church. The barrels were carried in through the back of the orphanage. That's where the real event began.
In a reenactment of the Revenant extermination, everyone, centered around the vigilante corps, splashed holy water on each other to their heart's content using buckets. No matter how you looked at it, everyone would end up soaked. I didn't want to participate, but apparently, there was going to be an after-party at the assembly hall afterward. Owen-san called out to me, saying, "I'll treat the Class of 175." Apparently, the taverns were grateful to me for successfully coordinating the catering-style party, so we were getting special treatment. It's all Beatrix's fault.
Since I was being treated, I couldn't run away. I steeled myself. I wrapped a hand towel around my neck, put on my old, patched-up work clothes, and headed to the venue. Beowulf and Will were assigned to perimeter security, so I went with Beatrix.
At the venue, the barrels that had been carried in the parade were placed here and there, and everyone had buckets. Paul-san and the Marcelo couple were already holding buckets since they were members of the vigilante corps. They were full of motivation. Everyone was smirking while waiting for the signal, choosing their targets to splash.
This is bad. I have to find a safe place before I'm targeted...
While wandering around the venue after losing Beatrix, I bumped into someone. They were wearing Green Marble. Looking closely, it was the noble couple from earlier. They must have come to watch.
"It's the girl who sold us these clothes. These are quite good. I like them."
When I apologized for bumping into them, he was saying such leisurely things. This is no time for that.
"You'll get soaked if you don't stay further away."
"Will the color run if it gets wet?"
That's not the case. I made these with Angelica-san, putting my heart and soul into each one. They weren't so flimsy that the color would run just from being doused with holy water. It was a mistake to say that so resolutely.
"Then it's fine. It must be some kind of fate that we met here. Let's go a little further inside together."
She suddenly grabbed my hand and tried to pull me toward the middle of the venue. Before I knew it, I was being pulled along further and further. She intended to go right into the center of the venue.
"Wait a moment, please wait a moment!"
I tried to escape, but the woman's hand wouldn't let go. I didn't know how or where she was holding me, but I was dragged along without being able to resist.
This is bad. Everyone is looking this way. At this rate, I'll definitely be targeted...
As I was struggling to escape, the venue began to stir. People started saying, "It's His Highness Prince Roberts."
I've never seen royalty. I have to see... While I was looking around, the man spoke up, "I haven't introduced myself, have I?"
"I am Roberts."
Eh?
"I am Gladys. Nice to meet you!"
Could it be, the Prince and the Princess who came from Medioland... No way, such a cliché...
Looking closely, four knight-like men who seemed to be attendants were following them. Could it be that I sold hemp sacks to royalty, and even to a princess who came as a bride from a neighboring country...
Suddenly, someone abruptly splashed water on Lord Roberts. I was dragged into it too.
"It's been a while, Roberts. Have you been well?"
It seemed the Headmistress had snuck up and splashed him before I knew it. As expected of Catherine the Apostate. She has no mercy.
"It has been a long time, Bishop Catherine."
An attendant handed a bucket to the soaking wet Lord Roberts.
"I am glad to see you are in good health!"
As he said that, he splashed the Headmistress. The Headmistress nimbly dodged, and instead, a middle-aged man behind her became a drowned rat.
"Not yet. You're still naive. You can't beat me like that!"
This time, Lady Gladys became the target. I was dragged into it too.
An attendant handed a bucket to Lady Gladys.
"I am Gladys. It is an honor to meet you, Lady Catherine!"
The Headmistress nimbly dodged again, and another man became a drowned rat.
The attendant then handed a bucket to me. I had been splashed twice already. I was desperate.
"Headmistress! Don't blame me if you catch a cold!"
The Headmistress nimbly dodged again, and behind her were familiar faces, including the Marcelo couple.
"Ho-ho. You've got nerve... I hope you're prepared, aren't you?"
The soaking wet mage readied her bucket. Oh no. Her target is completely on me.
"Enough! Everyone! Take up your buckets! Now is the time to show that our Eastern Plains Corps is the strongest in Sertoria!"
At Lord Roberts' words, Lady Gladys and the attendants readied their buckets. They were smirking. Before I knew it, my bucket was also filled with water.
"Everyone! Now is the time to show the true strength of the Nakanohara Vigilante Corps, the birthplace of the Kingdom of Sertoria! I am with you, so it's alright. Have no fear! What is the Eastern Plains to us!"
In response to the Headmistress's words, the vigilante corps also raised a war cry. An opportunity to splash water on royalty doesn't come often. I can brag about this for the rest of my life.
Thus, a fierce splashing match began with all participants laughing, and I, who was in the middle of both camps, ended up soaked to my underwear.
I... didn't do anything wrong, right?