GILF Hunter

Chapter 489: 489 What Kind of Festival Is Being Held

It seems like... the number of people has increased a bit.

Frenda muttered while watching people come and go in the empty lot in front of the temple.

Workers from outside were carrying boxes and setting them down on one side of the temple’s courtyard.

She had already grown accustomed to the sight of numerous wagons and workers moving along the main street outside. However, she couldn’t understand why those items were being moved into the temple.

Workers continuously bringing in cargo. A few City Hall employees visiting suddenly. Temple staff dealing with them.

Although Frenda hadn’t stayed at the Labyrinthos temple for very long, she could tell this wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

The invasion was over. There shouldn’t be anything specific for the temple to do now.

Feeling curious, Frenda took a closer look at the supplies piled on one side of the lot.

The contents of the boxes weren’t clearly visible, but looking at the materials being moved together, they seemed to be things like tents, chairs, and tables.

These items... are typically the kind used for events.

Thinking that, Frenda tried to recall what kind of event the temple might host this month, but nothing in particular came to mind.

Frenda approached the priest nearby who looked the most relaxed and asked softly.

’Everyone seems to be preparing something... is there an occasion? Perhaps a memorial service...?’

’No. It’s not a memorial service, but a festival.’

’A festival?’

Frenda asked back in surprise, then belatedly understood what that meant.

’Is the festival held at this time? Not in the autumn?’

’You wouldn’t know, Priestess Frenda. In Labyrinthos, it’s always held around this time.’

Cities that didn’t practice farming tended not to be bound by harvest seasons, but usually, they would still hold them then out of habit. This was a rather unique timing.

However, after thinking it over, Frenda realized that now was actually the perfect time to hold a festival.

’It’s held in commemoration of the invasion ending. It’s certainly a good time for a festival...’

’Yes. Once the post-invasion cleanup is finished, it’s a period where mercenaries and residents rest for a while. Many merchants also come in, so this is the best time.’

Frenda fell into thought upon hearing the word ’festival.’

A festival...

She had heard many stories about them.

She had read about them in books and heard about festivals from children who had enrolled from the outside.

Regrettably, she had almost never participated in a festival herself.

To begin with, there was no way she could go out to play and see a festival during her life in the monastery. She had helped with festival preparations for the local residents, but... that couldn’t be considered participating in a festival.

Even when she stayed at the Great Temple, festivals were occasionally held, but at that time, Frenda wasn’t on the side enjoying the festival; she was the person in charge of the event.

Moreover, religious events hosted by the Great Temple were... honestly, incredibly boring. It was just a massive amount of prayer.

But this place... the city of mercenaries.

The festival held here would surely be the kind of festival Frenda had only imagined.

Frenda felt her heart flutter slightly for no reason.

Watching the temple people move around, Frenda asked with inner anticipation. Looking at this, the temple was clearly preparing something for the festival as well.

’Is there something we do during the festival too?’

’Of course. Usually, we set up emergency clinics along the plaza streets. It’s easy for injuries to occur during the festival, and many people suddenly feel unwell.’

’Ah...’

The priest nodded at Frenda’s question and continued his answer.

’Of course, we also hold a large special festival prayer meeting. There’s also an event where the statue of the Goddess is revealed to the residents.’

’...’

It didn’t sound like a festival activity at all.

Wasn’t that just work for the temple?

Well... this was a temple, after all.

Frenda tried to control her expression, but she couldn’t help but wear a slightly subtle face.

The priest who had told her that also smiled softly as if he understood Frenda’s feelings.

’But well, not everyone has to work on festival day. The temple staff need to participate in the festival too.’

’Then... do you divide the personnel?’

’Yes. Usually, we select personnel to work during the festival separately, and only those few groups work in shifts. The rest rest or go out to see the festival.’

Saying that, the priest subtly made a suggestion to Frenda.

Her eyes had been sparkling since she heard the word festival. To anyone’s eyes, she looked like she wanted to go see the festival.

’Priestess Frenda, you haven’t been here long, so this must be your first festival. How about going to see the festival this time?’

’B-but, I should help with the work...’

’The personnel in charge for this year were already decided before you arrived, Priestess. If we suddenly change the duty roster, it will just get complicated... we appreciate the thought, but it can’t be helped this time.’

’I... I see?’

Hearing that, Frenda’s expression brightened slightly.

Certainly. The duty roster was already set, so if an extra person were suddenly added and the schedule got messed up, some people might find it troublesome.

It was a logical reason that Frenda found quite convincing.

’In exchange, during the final prayer meeting... I’d like you to participate briefly for just one day.’

’Of course!’

Watching Frenda, who was completely excited at the thought of participating in the festival, the priest spoke subtly.

The people attending the special prayer meeting would all be coming to see Frenda, so he had to get this promise in advance.

In any case, everyone in the temple treated Frenda not as an ordinary priest, but as a high-ranking priest on dispatch.

Was there any reason to put such a high-ranking priest into menial tasks like an emergency clinic?

Just showing her face briefly during the prayer meeting where the residents gathered in crowds would mean Frenda had done her part.

’By the way, if you’re going to see the festival, you’ll need someone to guide you. Shall I assign someone from the temple?’

’Ah. That...’

Frenda, who was about to nod, paused as a certain thought occurred to her.

Someone... to see the festival with?

＊ ＊ ＊

After her daily duties were finished, Frenda took some time to leave the temple and walk the streets.

The streets of Labyrinthos were already bustling.

Until now, she had thought it was just noisy due to the post-invasion cleanup and construction, but knowing that a festival was being held, she finally understood the changed atmosphere of the streets.

Already, preparations for the festival could be seen starting in various places along the streets.

A large stage was being set up in the plaza as well.

Stopping briefly to eavesdrop on the conversations of nearby residents, she heard that since a new mayor had been elected, they were preparing more grandly than in average years to commemorate the occasion.

As she walked along the street, Frenda naturally came to a stop at a certain place.

It was in front of the gate of the Ian Mercenary Group.

Wandering around the festival alone would be quite fun, but...

As soon as she heard about seeing the festival, the first thought that came to mind was this.

While Frenda, standing still in front of the Ian Mercenary Group’s gate, was preparing herself mentally, she heard a familiar voice from somewhere.

’Oh? Priestess Frenda?’

When Frenda hurriedly turned her head, she saw the faces of the knights.

They were a few knights who had been loitering near the Ian Mercenary Group’s building.

...Even so.

At this point, they were almost at the level of private security guards.

’What brings you here?’

’Well, I have something to discuss with Leader Ian... ah.’

While Frenda and the knights were talking in front of the gate, the door suddenly opened and someone came out.

Whether by coincidence or luck.

The one who opened the door and came out was Ian. He had likely been about to head out somewhere for a moment.

Ian spotted Frenda and the knights gathered in front of the door and asked with a puzzled expression.

’Hm? Everyone is in front of here... what is the occasion?’

’Well...’

Frenda, meeting Ian so suddenly, couldn’t answer immediately and hesitated.

She hadn’t finished her mental preparation yet. She hadn’t finished thinking about how to make the suggestion naturally either.

However, if she stood here without saying anything, he would obviously think it was strange... so she had no choice but to bring it up somehow.

Having finished her thoughts, Frenda spoke cautiously.

’Um, Leader Ian. Do you happen to have any plans during the festival...?’

’Nothing fixed yet.’

For now... Step 1 was a success.

If Ian had prior plans or was busy with other work during the festival, there would have been no hope. It was a relief that he had no appointments.

However, was it because Frenda’s expression of relief was too blatant?

The knight standing beside her peeked at her, and then, as if realizing something, chuckled under his breath.

And instead of Frenda, who was fidgeting in front of Ian unable to say the next words, he poked his head out slightly from the side and spoke to Ian.

’Hey, Leader Ian? If you don’t have plans during the festival, please give us a tour of the festival! Everyone is new to the festival here!’

’...!’

Frenda’s head whipped around.

’The festival? Since I don’t have any special plans... shall we do that then?’

’Thank you! Priestess Frenda, you should come along too! That’s okay, right?’

’Ah... y-yes.’

Frenda, whose intended proposal had been snatched away, nodded with a bewildered expression.