Chapter 216: New Year's Eve Flower Festival

Chapter 216 - New Year's Eve Flower Festival

New Year's Eve Flower Festival

Hopestadt's climate was such that not wearing any coat would be chilly, but putting one on was enough to endure the cold. Snow should be falling in Scholarzard right now and that made Hikaru feel just how long the continent was.

「It's like there's a festival going on today.」

It was already late, but lights were still on in the city. Which wasn't surprising. After all, tonight was New Year's Eve, the last day of the year. During this day, the citizens of Einbeast would sing and dance all night long.

Hikaru, Lavia, and Paula were out walking the streets of Hopestadt, with Drake wrapped around Lavia's neck.

It wasn't just the food carts that were selling fast food. Restaurants set up tables outside to serve customers as well. Eating while walking was common. Musicians leaned out of windows, strumming their lutes, singing songs of love, of good harvest, while the hasty ones were already singing new year songs.

「Since we're out here anyway, how about some food?」Hikaru said.

『I've been waiting for this!』

Drake was the first one to react. Letting out a bitter laugh, Hikaru asked the girls what they wanted. They then bought different kinds of food, and secured mini tables where people could eat while standing.

Drunkards sang while joining shoulders. Girls wearing their best clothes danced before the boys they liked. Hikaru watched them while eating his grilled mutton. Spicy, hot meat juices filled his mouth. He could feel his body warming up inside.

「I didn't think it'd be over by the end of the year.」Lavia said, sipping hot tea that Paula brought her.

「If not for the Drakon Passage, it wouldn't be. You were a great help, Lavia. Sorry for letting you expend so much mana, though.」

「It's fine. We couldn't really do much for you in the end.」

Lavia and Paula looked dejected.

「No, no. I could move around easily because of the information you two gathered for me.」

The girls actively looked for any intel about the government and its internal conditions, Lavia in the Adventures Guild, and Paula in the Church. Hikaru could make precise moves because of the information they collected.

With the help of the Drakon Passage, everything was finally over.

「Hikaru-sama. Will the war really stop?」

「It's not a hundred percent guaranteed, but I think there's a high chance of a ceasefire. Ponsonia will lose Leather Elka, but this will be the end of the civil war. Einbeast has their treasure back and the previous king's daughter is coming home. I think it's an okay compromise.」

Things actually went the way Hikaru expected. It might seem that Ponsonia was only losing in this case, but it was Prince Austrin who dragged Einbeast's army into the kingdom in the first place. Kudyastoria should consider the losses as due to the civil war and be glad that the war didn't escalate to the point that the kingdom was divided in half.

「Thanks you, Paula. We were able to give Ponsonia the push they needed because of the information you had on Jillarty.」

「I-I just happened to hear about it. I didn't do much...」

Paula was fidgety from being sincerely thanked. Lavia watched them with a smile, which bothered Hikaru a bit.

「What is it?」he asked.

「Hmm. Getting along is so wonderful.」

「I have no idea what you're saying...」

Hikaru shrugged. When he glanced back at the food, half of it was already gone. The culprit, of course, was none other than the white creature smearing sauce all over Lavia's chest.

「Ah, what a mess.」

「Wait, Drake!」Lavia wiped the sauce off her clothes.

「Hikaru-sama. What will happen to Bios?」

「Hmm?」

「There's a chance that Einbeast wages war on them... right?」

For Paula, Bios was the headquarters of the church where she grew up in. It would make sense that she showed concern.

「That's all up to the Pope. Then again, if the Tower falls into chaos, the regional priests will go to the holy city in droves. Am I right?」

「Yes, I think so. If something serious happens at the city, the provinces will rise up, and conversely, if something happens in the provinces, the city will control the situation. That is how the Church works.」

「Einbeast won't wage war out of the blue, but they will probably file complaints. If that happens, the regional priests will head to the Tower. I think that will be most critical moment.」

From what Hikaru saw, corruption ran rampant in the Tower. He didn't know what the regional priests were like, but if they were decent people, they should be able to do something about the Tower, using the chaos to their benefit. The Church's ability to purify itself would surely be tested.

I set the stage for you, Gilbert. You should forget about launching a suicide attack and use your power instead.

What Gilbert and Conia should do is up to them. Hikaru didn't plan to get involved any deeper. This is a problem concerning their beliefs, and as such, only they themselves can solve it.

「Hmm... I gotta say, all the traveling has left me completely exhausted.」

The hot lemon tea he sipped was a tad bit too sweet, yet still surprisingly pleasant to the taste buds. He didn't pay much attention to it, but fatigue was finally catching up to him.

After leaving Agiapole, he delivered the lost treasure to Einbeast, and then met secretly with Gafrasti in Ponsonia. Hikaru ended up handing over two holy mana items, but to him, the revolver—also known as the Almighty Pipe—was all he needed. He had no intention of keeping power that exceeded human capabilities.

「There, all clean. You should learn to eat more properly, Drake.」Lavia reprimanded the drakon.

『I'm sorry...』

Not a trace of dignity from a drakon, Hikaru thought.

「What about you, Drake? Are you tired? I did drag you around to places.」

『Not at all. I just clung to your neck the whole time anyway.』

「I see. The Drakon Passage is quite handy. Sucks that we can't use it without you around, though.」

『Anyone can use it as long as they can provide the holy mana needed.』

「Good point... If it's just a problem of technology, we might be able to address it. It's not like you'll be with us forever.」

『Wait a sec! Are you trying to get rid of me?!』

「You're a great help with the Drakon Passage. But that's it.」

『No, no, no. I'm pretty sure I'm doing a great job as the group's adorable mascot—Wait, what's going on?』

The rowdy people suddenly went quiet. Hikaru wondered what was happening, and from a distance he heard the tolling of a bell.

「You see, when that bell rings for the twelfth time, that means it's a new day. It'll be a new year.」Paula said.

A dignified silence blanketed the city. A little bit later, the year would end.

Hikaru felt Lavia's hand on his. She looked at him, smiling.

A lot of things happened this year...

He reincarnated in this world and rescued Lavia. He met Paula, destroyed a dungeon, and even got involved in Forestia's issues. He also killed an Earth Dragon to stop a monster raid. Now the war between countries.

I'll be with you next year and then the next. I'll be with you forever.

He grasped Lavia's hand tight. Lavia squeezed back as well. The bell rang for the last time.

Cheers and applause filled the air. Couples embraced each other. People bowed to those around them.

「Lavia, Paula, and also Drake. Happy new year.」

「Happy... what?」

「Ah, right. It's a greeting from my hometown, and an expression of joy.」

「I see. Happy new year, Hikaru.」

「Happy new year, Hikaru-sama!」

『Let's eat a lot this year too!』

Lights filled the night sky, followed by loud booms.

「Fireworks...」

Unlike the fireworks on Earth, these were more primitive, and produced clear, distinct lights, flashing like a stroboscopic lamp. The fireworks came in various colors, making for a magical scene.

The fireworks didn't use gunpowder, probably using magic instead. Smoke didn't hamper visibility. Just a purely beautiful display of lights.

Einbeast called the celebration on new year's eve the Flower Festival, with the fireworks display as the finale. All the racket and merrymaking would end here. After this, people would either drink until dawn or retire to bed.

「Hmm...」

『Huh?』

For a moment, Hikaru and Drake thought they spotted a creature's silhouette among the colored lights above. It disappeared a split-second later, however. Hikaru thought he was seeing things since his Mana Detection didn't pick anything up. Or perhaps there was something out there, but it was too far. The two exchanged glances. It didn't seem like anyone else noticed what they saw.

「Probably just seeing things...」

『Hikaru. Can I... buy everything?』

「That's not really something you say with a straight face.」

They decided to forget what they saw. Perhaps it was just the lights. Even if it was a living creature, Hikaru thought it had nothing to do with them.

How they would come to know about this creature is a story for another time.

「Let's go back and sleep. I'm kinda tired.」Hikaru said.

「Same here...」Lavia agreed.

『I still want to eat!』

「Let's just buy your food for takeout.」Paula said.「I'll get you some tea as well.」

The four walked the streets of Hopestadt. No one would think that they played a huge role in stopping a war between nations. For Hikaru, that was best.

The colorful lights illuminated their path. A new year was upon them.