Chapter 64: Chapter Sixty-Two
The festival's daybreak painted Orario in vibrant hues of celebration.
Despite the early hour, the streets hummed with life.
Laughter echoed through the air as children ran from stall to stall, their pockets jingling with coins.
The savoury aroma of food wafted around, drawing hungry adventurers and townsfolk alike.
Amidst the hustle and bustle, Muichiro found himself standing in a particular line, his mouth watering in anticipation. In front of him was his ultimate weakness, the Jagamarukun stall.
The golden potato croquettes glistened under the morning sun, their crunchy exteriors promising a flavorful haven within.
Noticing Muichiro, the stall owner, a middle-aged man with a hearty laugh, prepared his order even before Muichiro spoke. "The usual ten, right?"
Muichiro nodded, his lips curling into a smile. "Yes please..."
The owner chuckled, assembling Muichiro's order. "And one extra, on the house," he said, winking. Muichiro's eyes brightened. This gesture, though small, was a testament to the bond they'd formed over his countless Jagamarukun orders.
Grateful, Muichiro scanned the vicinity for a quiet spot. Among the sea of occupied benches, he finally spotted one with some space.
He quickly made his way over, so engrossed in the thought of devouring his treat that he failed to notice another figure already sitting there, with a pile of Jagamarukun rivalling his own.
Setting his stash beside him, Muichiro fished out a tiny bottle of his favourite condiment.
As he drizzled it onto a croquette and bit into it, two simultaneous crunches echoed, followed by contented hums.
Puzzled, Muichiro turned to his side, coming face to face with a pair of golden eyes that shimmered with equal puzzlement.
Ais Wallenstein, the renowned sword princess of the Loki Familia, sat beside him, her armour reflecting the day's light.
With her long golden-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and her stoic expression, she was the very picture of elegance, beauty and mystery.
A half-eaten Jagamarukun rested in her hand, and a similar condiment bottle to Muichiro's lay open in front of her.
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the world faded away. Here were two individuals, famed in their own rights, brought together by a shared love for a simple snack.
Muichiro blinked, his gaze flitting to her pile of Jagamarukun. Ais followed his gaze and then looked back at him, her usually impassive face breaking into a slight smile. It was as if an unspoken agreement passed between them.
Almost in sync, Muichiro offered her his condiment, while she reciprocated with hers. With a nod of gratitude, they drizzled the sauces onto their respective croquettes.
Biting into them simultaneously, their eyes lit up in shared delight. The combination was heavenly!
As they continued their silent exchange, the atmosphere around them felt light and jovial.
Every now and then, one would surprise the other by introducing a new condiment, leading to expressions of pleasant shock or immense satisfaction.
The festival crowd and noises faded into the background.
...
Amidst the celebratory frenzy of Orario's festival, Muichiro and Ais Wallenstein sat side by side, their expressions as still as statues, yet betraying a hint of joy with every bite of their beloved Jagamarukun.
Every condiment exchange, every synchronous bite, seemed like a dance of shared understanding between two souls.
As the last crumbs disappeared, there was a pause. Neither was inclined toward many words, and their expressions rarely shifted from their typical deadpan state.
But here, now, something unspoken had been shared.
They both stood simultaneously, giving each other a respectful bow." Thank you for sharing..." Muichiro said to Ais.
Ais nodded."Thank you...too" She said nothing after that and Muichiro bowed one last time before leaving.
Ais stared at his back one last time before turning around herself.
But no sooner had Ais turned to leave, a vivacious presence emerged from the crowd.
Loki, with her fiery red hair in a playful ponytail and her tomboyish outfit, strode up to Ais with a cheeky grin.
Before Loki could fully materialize in front of her, Ais subtly moved to block her, a silent message that she was not in the mood for any of the goddess's usual antics.
Loki raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.
"Having fun without me, Aiisuuu~~~?" she teased, trying to peek around Ais. Ais, typically reticent, paused for a brief moment.
"I think... I made a new friend," she admitted, her voice soft and measured, revealing just a hint of the wonder she felt.
Loki's eyes widened, a mix of shock and curiosity.
"A friend? You? And you didn't introduce me?" she feigned hurt, though her tone was playful.
She attempted to circle Ais, hoping to get a glimpse of this mysterious new acquaintance, but Ais remained impassive, skillfully pivoting to keep herself between Loki and the departing Muichiro.
As they walked, Loki, ever the trickster, tried all manner of ploys to make Ais spill more details.
She feigned a dramatic collapse, pretended to cry, and even attempted to tickle Ais, all in an effort to get her to reveal more.
But Ais, with her usual calm demeanour, ignored her goddess's antics, only giving away a slight twitch of her lips that indicated her amusement.
Loki, not one to be easily deterred, walked closely behind Ais, her gaze flitting mischievously to Ais's waist, ever so often, much to Ais's mild annoyance.
'I wonder who it is...perhaps a boy.' Loki thought in curiosity.' Humph!! If it is I'll never give my Sweet Ais to him.'
...
Meanwhile, Muichiro, feeling a sudden chill despite the warm festival air, sneezed. Wiping his nose, he recalled the silent exchange with the golden-haired warrior.
Little did he know that their quiet meeting would become the talk of his goddess soon. With a soft sigh, he made his way back to the Wheat Manor.
There were duties to be done, and the day was only just beginning.
The festival's vibrant energy, the taste of his favourite snack, and the unexpected bond formed with a fellow lover of Jagamarukun would, however, remain in his thoughts, a bright spot in an otherwise routine day.
...
Muichiro, with his usual composed demeanour, made his way through the busy crowd.
But amidst the bustle of the festival, Muichiro suddenly stopped, his footsteps halting mid-stride.
His sharp eyes darted around, scanning the crowd with a sudden intensity. To the ordinary passerby, the scene was all laughter, joy, and celebration, but to Muichiro, something felt amiss.
A distinct scent had caught his attention, one that clashed violently with the ambience of the festival - the unmistakable scent of blood.
The metallic tinge was so potent that it cut through the medley of festival aromas like a knife through butter.
With the scent came an oppressive weight in the air, a bloodlust so tangible that it made the hair on the back of Muichiro's neck stand on end.
His instincts, honed through countless battles and experiences, screamed at him that danger was near.
However, just as quickly as it had manifested, the scent and the accompanying bloodlust dissipated, leaving Muichiro in a state of heightened alert but without a clear direction to act upon.
His gaze remained sharp, eyes flitting from face to face in the crowd, trying to pinpoint the source.
But the fleeting nature of the disturbance made it impossible to trace, and the festival's merriment acted as a perfect cover.
With a slight tilt of his head, Muichiro pondered his next move.
The festival was meant to be a day of peace and celebration, but the presence of such an ominous sign couldn't be ignored. He decided he would bring it up to Demeter, his goddess.
If there was any threat to the town or its inhabitants, it was essential that the goddess was made aware.
And to notify the Ganesha familia to be extra observant on their patrols, for the coming three days.
Weekly Power Status
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