Chapter 77: Market

“…Isn’t this a waste of food?”

Perhaps at a loss for words in response to Finihiya’s remark, Darlian fell silent for a moment before finally letting out a helpless smile.

She raised her right hand and gently ran her index finger along Finihiya’s petite nose.

This sudden gesture startled Finihiya a little, and her cheeks puffed out slightly.

“These wheat grains aren’t the best quality, and they’ll be collected again afterward.”

Most of the Plaza was filled with people, leaving only a straight path through the center, a bit wider than the Main Avenue.

The raucous, pounding of drums made Finihiya furrow her brows, and she couldn’t help but raise her hands to cover her ears.

Standing at the very front, the thunderous resonance of more than a dozen drums was almost terrifying.

It seemed Darlian was saying something to her, but in this clamorous environment, she couldn’t make out a word—only the subtle movement of Darlian’s lips.

In response, Finihiya shook her head hard, like a rattle-drum, to indicate she couldn’t hear.

Darlian seemed to understand, and a faint smile played at the corners of her lips.

***

Time passed in that fashion, though Finihiya couldn’t tell how long, until the drums on both sides suddenly paused. From each side’s ranks, a Knight on horseback emerged, lance in hand.

The deepening moonlight enveloped the Knights, while the lance tips glinted with a chilling light.

The two Knights rode to the very center of the Plaza and crossed their lances high in the air.

Thunderous drums and the people’s cheers echoed across the Plaza, ringing out beneath the ever-darkening curtain of night.

After a brief ritual exchange, the two Knights turned their horses and returned to their original positions.

As the Knights leveled their lances horizontally, the drumming from both sides grew ever more intense.

Just as the atmosphere was reaching its peak, the Knights spurred their armored mounts forward, charging fearlessly ahead.

The Knights attacked each other with their lances.

At the moment of close collision, fierce sparks flew, accompanied by a sharp metallic clang.

Watching this unnerving spectacle, Finihiya asked Darlian anxiously, “…Those weapons are real, aren’t they?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“It’s fine.” Darlian smiled reassuringly at Finihiya. “To be chosen as Chief Knight, they must be exceptionally strong. What seems like a heart-stopping battle to commoners is nothing but child’s play to them.”

“…I see.”

Hearing Darlian’s explanation, most of Finihiya’s worries quickly faded.

After more than a dozen fierce rounds, the Knight in pale blue armor was finally unseated and fell to the ground.

“Charge, charge—!”

The victorious Golden Knight, symbolizing the Autumn Harvest, pulled up his mount and pointed his lance at the remaining members of the opposing team.

Behind both teams, aside from the so-called “Chief Knight,” stood a hundred or so Knights.

With drums, flutes, and other instruments playing, the Golden Knight—representing the Autumn Harvest—charged at the Knights symbolizing summer.

Before long, the summer Knights, in utter “disarray,” abandoned their arms and fled.

“It’s time to scatter your wheat grains.”

“Oh…” Finihiya obediently followed Darlian’s words, scattering her Blessed Wheat Grains. “Is the ceremony over now?”

“More or less. Once we receive blessings from the townspeople in the streets and return here, it’ll be truly over.”

“Do you want to join the parade for a bit?”

Staring at the joyful procession before her, Finihiya pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment, then shook her head to decline Darlian’s suggestion.

“No, it’s too crowded.”

“I see.”

Their conversation stopped there, and both fell silent, gazing at the crowd immersed in joy.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, Finihiya lifted her eyes and looked up at the clear night sky.

A full moon hung high, but only a few stars could be seen.

“It’s nice that it didn’t rain.”

Her soft, almost self-murmured words drifted from her lips, and Darlian, standing beside her, raised her brows with a hint of amusement.

“You’re right.” Responding gently, Darlian shifted her gaze into the distance. “Shall we check out the stalls over there?”

Finihiya nodded in agreement. She’d been curious about the goods gathered there even before things began.

Just as she was about to take a step forward, a small, fair hand suddenly appeared in front of her.

Finihiya slowly looked up, her confused face even cuter than usual.

“Your hand! If you don’t hold my hand, you’ll get swept away by the crowd again.”

“…It’s fine, I’m not a child anymore.”

Even as Finihiya muttered in protest, she shyly placed her hand in Darlian’s palm.

“Hehe~ Let’s go over there, then.”

With a cheerful smile, Darlian clasped Finihiya’s hand and led her slowly toward the stalls at the edge of the Plaza.

The gathered stalls formed a small market, and the aroma of various foods wafted into Finihiya’s nose on the night breeze.

Stalls lined the edge of the Plaza, and all sorts of food and trinkets were spread out before their eyes.

Pulled gently by Darlian, she walked slowly from the entrance deeper inside.

“There are a lot of new things at the stalls this year.”

Darlian’s comment made Finihiya tilt her head slightly, glancing around with interest as she surveyed the stalls.

Maybe it was the festive mood, but her voice sounded more lively than usual.

“What new things?”

“Plenty of human goods.”

“Hm?”

Only then did Finihiya realize what Darlian meant.

She spotted a few human merchants tending stalls, each displaying goods from their own culture.

Perhaps because human goods were rare, there were plenty of demonfolk citizens gathered at those stalls.

As she looked around, something suddenly caught her eye and piqued her interest, making her pause.

“Finihiya?”

“I want to try that.” Finihiya pointed at a stall selling fruit yogurt. “It looks pretty good.”

Maybe it was the presence of these human merchants that brought such changes—there were far more things at the stalls that she found interesting now.

When she first arrived here a few months ago, most of the foods sold along the streets, in the markets, and in the shops had left her deeply exasperated.