Chapter 216

Chapter 216. Seven Stars Cultural Festival (2)

The day of the Seven Stars Cultural Festival has dawned.

Even though it’s a hero school that trains future heroes responsible for the continent and humanity, rather than a regular educational institution, the excited atmosphere throughout the school on this day couldn’t be hidden.

From early morning, external merchants were out preparing for the day’s business.

Banners targeting the wallets of the excited candidates, loosened by the festive mood.

Although there aren’t many participants, there are occasional exhibits like poetry and drawing contests.

Even candidates uninterested in the festival could feel the moderate excitement swirling around the school, thinking, “Ah, today is a special day.”

“Phew.”

In a past life, I might have been one of those uninterested candidates, wondering why everyone was so excited and reacting indifferently (while secretly envying) to the excited candidates.

But this time, my situation is different from that past life when I had no one to enjoy the festival with.

Very different.

‘First, I’m supposed to meet… Lanes, right?’

After the talk about the Seven Stars Cultural Festival.

After a heated discussion on how we could all enjoy the festival together, the day’s schedule was decided as follows.

From 10 AM to 6 PM.

Spending two hours each with Iris, Yurina, Lanes, and Professor Elisha, having time alone with each.

After 6 PM, gathering at the Party House Rooftop to watch the fireworks, the highlight of the festival.

That was my schedule for the day.

‘What kind of crazy Casanova schedule is this?’

Of course, my opinion was not considered at all in this disastrous schedule.

Well, honestly, at this point, having multiple lovers, I had no right to voice my opinion.

Still, it’s fortunate that we managed to agree without much conflict.

The most important part, the ‘heart-shaped fireworks,’ was still under debate, but we decided to think about it when the time came.

‘Let’s get going.’

There was still plenty of time before the 10 AM meeting, but given Lanes’ personality, she was likely already there waiting.

“Huh?”

Arriving at the meeting spot.

Contrary to expectations, Lanes wasn’t there waiting.

‘What’s going on?’

If it were the usual Lanes, she would have arrived long ago and been waiting.

“Well… there’s still plenty of time before the meeting.”

As I sat on a bench to wait for Lanes.

Rustle.

A rustling sound from behind.

“Huh?”

Turning my head, I saw Lanes crouching in the bushes.

“…What are you doing there?”

“Eek!”

Lanes jumped up like a capybara caught in a trap.

Her purple hair was adorned with clumsily arranged branches and leaves, like a poorly decorated tree.

“D-Dale, you’re here?”

“What were you doing hiding there?”

“Ah, no, it’s just…”

Lanes fidgeted and trailed off.

“I… I was embarrassed…”

“Embarrassed about what?”

“Um… my clothes… and hair…”

Now that I looked, she had her usual long bangs pinned up and was wearing a more form-fitting outfit instead of her usual loose robe.

“Ididn’tthinkitwouldlookgoodbutSophiasaidIshouldwearitlikethisandIcouldn’thelpit…”

“It looks good, really.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. Much better than usual.”

Not just the clothes, but with her bangs up, Lanes looked more like a lively girl, quite refreshing compared to her usual gloomy impression.

“Hehe… I’m glad.”

Lanes smiled brightly.

“You should wear your bangs up more often.”

“That’s… no, I can’t.”

“Why?”

“It’s… embarrassing.”

The excited expression from earlier was gone, replaced by a deflated balloon-like demeanor.

I chuckled and nodded.

“Then, how about just when we’re alone?”

“That… I’ll think about it.”

Lanes nodded hesitantly.

“Alright. Shall we get going?”

I reached out my hand to Lanes.

“…Ah.”

Lanes froze, staring at my outstretched hand.

“What?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Lanes smiled bashfully and took my hand.

“Your hand is warm, Dale.”

“Well, I have the Primordial Flame inside me.”

“That’s not why!”

Lanes pouted and pulled my hand closer.

She pressed her cheek against the back of my hand and smiled sweetly.

“Even without the Primordial Flame… Dale would still be warm.”

“……”

If my past self saw this, he’d probably be vomiting blood, telling me to stop being so cringy.

Honestly, even I think this conversation is cringy.

“Let’s go.”

“Y-Yeah!”

Well, what’s wrong with a little cringe between lovers?

As long as we’re happy.

“But the festival is really something… it’s not even 10 yet, why are there so many people?”

“Y-Yeah.”

Holding Lanes’ hand, we arrived at the school’s Central Plaza.

Even though it wasn’t even 10 yet, the plaza was bustling with candidates around the stalls.

Among them, one particularly large figure stood out.

“Professor Lucas?”

Professor Lucas was standing by a stall with a gloomy expression.

“What is it?”

“What are you doing here?”

“What does it look like? I’m guarding this place.”

“…Ah.”

Now that I think about it, during the last Sealing Festival, external merchants turned into monsters and caused a riot.

“Sigh. Because of this, I can’t even meet Professor Bianca…”

“Must be tough.”

“Well, it’s part of the job.”

Professor Lucas clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Anything suspicious?”

“Well, nothing immediately suspicious, but…”

Professor Lucas scrutinized the external merchants with sharp eyes.

“Recent events in Valhalla City are making me uneasy.”

“Events? What happened?”

“A criminal organization active in Valhalla City was wiped out overnight. And it was a pretty big organization.”

A criminal organization.

“Those scum were kidnapping and selling kids, so their deaths don’t matter… but the problem is who wiped them out.”

“Is there an issue?”

“According to a survivor, it was a kid around 10 years old.”

“…A kid?”

A 10-year-old kid wiping out a massive criminal organization.

“Well, it’s not confirmed. The survivor was so traumatized he couldn’t even hold a proper conversation.”

“……”

“Anyway. Leave this place to us.”

Professor Lucas waved his hand dismissively.

“By the way… who’s the candidate next to you? I don’t recognize her.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say you knew Lanes before?”

As soon as I started talking to Professor Lucas, Lanes, who had been hiding behind me, peeked out and bowed.

“Ah, hello…”

“Lanes… Lanes Malam, right?”

Professor Lucas’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“Ah, no… I remember her face being different.”

Professor Lucas looked bewildered, clearly shocked by Lanes’ transformation.

“I remember her being quite gloomy… but she’s actually quite a beauty.”

“Dale… Professor Lucas seems nice…”

“By the way, weren’t you close with Candidate Iris?”

“Dale… Professor Lucas’s eyesight seems a bit off… should I pick something for him?”

“Anyway. You two look good together.”

“Dale… Professor Lucas seems really smart and cool…”

Professor Lucas’s real-time fluctuating evaluation.

If we continued this conversation, it might just lead to trouble, so I hurriedly pulled Lanes away.

“Hehe. He said we look good together…”

Lanes seemed really pleased with Professor Lucas’s comment.

She smiled brightly and leaned closer to me.

“There… there are a lot of people.”

Saying that, she subtly hugged my arm.

I swallowed a chuckle and started enjoying the festival with her.

“That smells good… Dale, want to go buy some?”

“Dale! That doll looks like you!”

“Ah, look Dale. For 20 gold, they’ll draw a picture on the spot! L-Let’s get one too!”

“Hehe. Dale’s arm is warm… I want to stay like this forever.”

“Ah… it’s almost 12 already.”

Time flies when you’re having fun.

Enjoying the festival with Lanes, two hours passed in no time.

“…Whose turn is next?”

“I’m supposed to meet Iris.”

“Y-Yeah.”

Lanes’ shoulders drooped with a sullen expression.

Seeing her wilt like a flower in the desert, I instinctively hugged her.

“Eek?!”

Hmm.

First, I checked that no one was around.

“…Mmm!”

I carefully pressed my lips to Lanes’.

“D-Dale…”

“See you at the Party House Rooftop tonight.”

“Hehe. Yeah! I’ll be waiting!”

Her face, which had been wilting, bloomed with a smile again.

“Um… Dale.”

“Yeah?”

Lanes tugged at my sleeve and hesitated.

“Will you… kiss me tonight too? When the… heart-shaped fireworks go off.”

“That’s…”

I hadn’t decided who to kiss when the fireworks went off.

But I couldn’t kiss multiple people at the same time.

‘Simultaneously… no, that’s just ridiculous.’

Imagining the ridiculous scene of kissing multiple people at once, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I, I have a good idea!”

Lanes raised her hand excitedly.

“Oh? What is it?”

“Well… you have the Blessing of Resurrection, right?”

Lanes smiled shyly and continued.

“So… if we split you up then… wouldn’t that work?”

“……”

Lanes.

What on earth are you talking about?