I'm Not the Heroine-Chapter 81

The anniversary festival of Count Yord, also known as the Festival of the Eastern Plains.

This was actually not something I had read about in the original novel.

'It was mentioned in one of Tania's letters.'

In a letter the Emperor had sent to Tania, it mentioned the intention to provide magical support to the Yord family.

However, concerned that Tania might have ignored that order, I decided to look up more about the Yord family. I had thought of going myself in case it was an urgent matter, but fortunately, it was all related to the festival.

"But isn’t an anniversary usually quiet? Especially for a noble family..."

"It seems it was Count Yord’s dying wish. He told the citizens to distribute food when he passed away."

The positive reactions of those who were pleased and Count Yord's own cheerful personality, which had always favored bright atmospheres, combined to create this festival.

"Thanks to Tania, we’ll probably get to taste some of the specialty products from the Arnoth estate that we missed out on."

People from the Arnoth Marquess family, as well as those from beyond the sea, would visit too. By the way, the reason people from the kingdom across the sea would come was because Count Yord had rid them of the pirates.

He had wiped out the pirates who had been tormenting them, so they had every reason to be grateful.

"I see it now."

"That must be Count Yord’s castle."

In the distance, a massive city stood alone in the middle of the plain. A place filled with the lights of the festival and colorful paper flowers celebrating joy.

That was our destination—Yord.

***

I’ve had the chance to enjoy a festival that wasn’t really a festival with the Hero’s Party.

It was during our days in Alphares.

To be more precise, it could be said that it was the day we left the city. But, since we had already started celebrating our victory before that, in a way, that was the main event.

However, the festival in Alphares was more of a one-time event celebrating our victory against the demons. In contrast, the anniversary festival in Yord was a traditional celebration that had been going on for nearly a hundred years. Comparing the two in terms of scale and variety was almost impossible.

"Come, come! Taste some!"

"Hahaha!!"

The sound of children laughing filled the streets, and the enthusiastic cries of merchants soared into the sky.

"..."

I glanced up, and I found Aswell staring blankly into the distance. The peaceful scenery, no doubt, must have felt quite different for him, considering the battles he had fought with the Hero's Party.

‘Well, except for Stormblast, most of them were in dangerous situations.’

Today, especially, with only joy and happiness surrounding the festival, it must have been strange for him.

‘But I shouldn’t just look at it like this.’

After all, today, Aswell and I were guests of the festival.

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

"Aswell, let’s go."

"Huh?"

"We need to enjoy the festival."

After leaving Tempest and Nightlux at the nearby inn, we quickly entered the street. Since Tania’s meeting, the Hero’s Party’s official travel route hadn’t been revealed.

Thanks to that, even though we came across many people, no one recognized us directly.

At this moment, Aswell was enjoying the freedom from the responsibilities he had forgotten over the past year and a half.

Waaah...

Puff~!

From afar, the sound of a parade or some other event could be heard, and people’s amazed exclamations echoed.

"Let’s head over there first."

"Yeah."

Though I had taken the lead, Aswell seemed just as excited. Because of that, I was able to smile secretly and feel relieved.

‘I’m glad he’s not as strict with himself as he was in the original.’

In the original, Aria had mentioned a festival in the South. But back then, Aswell had dismissed it, claiming that he was still too weak and didn’t have time to play.

Unlike that time, now he was trying to enjoy himself a little, and as a reader and a party member, I was glad to see that.

"Welcome!!"

"Aswell, this is the specialty of the Arnoth estate I was talking about. Crab sausage."

"Oh, miss, you know well! This is a sausage made with red crabs caught directly from Nuru Island!"

The crab sausage, made by stuffing minced meat and crab meat into a sausage casing and grilling it.

I had also been curious about the taste of this while reading the original, so I ordered one.

Hooh. Hooh.

It was still very hot from being on the grill earlier. I blew lightly to cool it down and handed it to Aswell.

"Ah."

"Huh?"

"Ah."

"....Ah."

Perhaps he had seen my determination not to back down until we ate it, as Aswell finally took a bite. I quickly followed suit and took a bite of the sausage.

‘Ah.’

For a moment, I remembered the part that Aswell had bitten, but soon pushed it aside in my heart.

‘Indirect kisses are something only kids worry about, right?’

It wasn’t even a drink, it was a sausage, after all.

I avoided Aswell’s gaze and quickly finished off the remaining sausage.

"It’s good, right?"

"Yeah, it’s really good."

Starting with the crab sausage from the Arnoth estate, our... festival exploration continued.

As planned, we didn’t just buy various foods, but actively participated in the festival’s unique cultural events and games.

"Oooh~! Wow, you’re strong!!"

I took charge of puzzle-type games, and for the ones requiring strength, Aswell stepped in. We practically cleared every single part of the festival together.

‘It’s kind of like a modern-day festival.’

It might have been influenced by the web novel writers of today. They didn’t seem to care about historical accuracy. In a way, I was glad it felt so familiar to me.

As time passed, and as the evening sun began to cover the city, our appearance had changed quite a bit.

"Congratulations~! The prize is a flower crown!"

"....Louis, this is for you."

"Yes, yes."

I asked the vendor about the flower since it was one I had never seen before.

"It’s the flower of the Ga-mak-sal tree! It only grows in specific areas of the South, so you might not know it!"

The Ga-mak-sal tree.

It had such a unique name.

"Here, Louis."

"....Thank you."

Aswell placed the pure white Ga-mak-sal flower crown on my head, and I headed to the last planned location.

Deng~ deng~ deng~.

The top of a large bell tower.

Since everyone else had gone to the nearby hill to enjoy the sunset, there was no one here.

Sighhhh...

As I adjusted my hair, which was fluttering in the cool wind at the top of the tower, I turned around and looked at Aswell.

"Aswell."

"Yeah..."

His face was deeply flushed.

It must have been due to the sunset.

"Did you enjoy today?"

"....Very much."

"And did you truly find peace of mind?"

"Yeah..."

"Then, I’ve achieved my goal."

The reward for my sleep-talking was just a pretext. My true goal was this.

"I wanted you to see this scene, someone who pursues peace for everyone. That’s why I brought you here."

"...."

"I wanted you to feel something warm, quiet, cool, and lively. A peaceful, everyday atmosphere."

I brought him here because I wanted him to experience the kind of atmosphere that he had been struggling with so much.

‘I think I have too much good sense.’

I’m good at magic, smart, and I have great sense.

I think I’m a total all-rounder.

"...."

What emotion was Aswell feeling right now?

Was it moved? Or was it gratitude?

I just hoped it wasn’t anything negative. Recently, especially after the battle with Mercadia, I wanted to completely end those emotions starting today.

"....Louis."

After a long period of silence, Aswell slowly approached, hiding his expression.

"Yeah...?"

Then, placing both hands on my shoulders, he asked.

"Do you remember what you did to me in Wintergard?"

Wintergard... Could it be...

"....Punishment?"

"Yeah."

Thump. Thump.

Why is he bringing that up all of a sudden...?

I felt my heart race with embarrassment.

"Was your action then something you did for me?"

"Uh... Y-yeah..."

I had no idea how to respond to Aswell’s sudden change in attitude. I didn’t even think of resisting or pulling away, and I just blankly listened to his next words.

"Louis."

"....Yeah."

"If so, would you do it for me again?"

....Huh?

"If you don’t want to, turn your head away."

Aswell’s face drew closer and closer.

And I looked at his face, his eyes, and his lips for a short yet long time.

I couldn’t run away.

I couldn’t turn my head.

....Because I didn’t want to.

In the end, I accepted his request.

Unlike Wintergard, this time with my lips.