Chương 167: Chapter 156-Chosen Spring Festival

Festivals. Like I've said before. I've never been to one. Well, actually, technically I have been to one before… twice. Okay, I guess I can't use this line anymore. Let's start from the beginning. I've been to a festival before, but not a Spring Festival. There we go. Now I can start my rant. Festivals are loud and crowded. Which is a good thing when you're trying to commit a crime. Now, I don't think I'm going to commit a crime today, but I'm certain someone else is. Ilota's chest slowly rises and then falls.

"Don't worry. You just sleep here. Not like I could use some help," I say as I pace around his bed. He gives no response. A bit rude, but given that he's in a coma. I'll let it slide. With a sigh, I look out the window at the crowd of students and the festive environment. It's game time. In 3. 2. 1. The now reconstructed clock tower rings four times. The Spring Festival has officially started.

"Time to play our game, Chosen One~," Prideborn says as she fiddles with a dagger.

"Do all Demons have the ability to appear at will?" I ask in a joking tone.

"Only the strong ones. Are you ready to begin our game of Tag? ~""Of course. I accept your game."

"Good. Then, to remind you of the rules. We'll let chance determine who is 'It' first. The last person who is 'It' by the time the clock strikes midnight loses, ~" she explains as she walks right up to me.

"And the winner gets to decide what to do with the loser," I remind her.

"Yes. Now, to begin the game. [System], if you'd do the honors, ~" she gestures to the empty space between us. A game of Tag has been initiated. The first one, 'It' is Prideborn. Before I can even react, she has already placed her hand on my chest.

"Oh, one last little caveat to our game. Keep an eye out. I hear there's something funny happening today~." With a swing- My body is sent clear across the room and into the wall. The force of the shove renders me unable to move. Fuck that was fast. Focusing my blurred vision, I watch as the Prideborn gives a little wave before disappearing. Hopper and Penelope rush into the room.

"Are you okay, CJ?" Hopper asks as he helps me up.

"Yup. Didn't break anything. Hurt, though." Penelope shakes her head as she examines the space where the Prideborn was.

"It isn't a [Skill], or at least not hers. The residual mana is far too dense for that."

"What's that mean?" I ask her as I spot the top of a black mark on Hopper's wrist.

"It means that we were right. Prideborn isn't the only one here. The Purists are here," she explains as I roll up Hopper's sleeve to reveal an intricate tattoo.

"I didn't know you had ink," I say with a hint of respect.

"What in the hells is that?" Hopper asks in confusion. Penelope walks over and looks at the oddly familiar tattoo.

"That's the Giloen sign for Humility, or rather the corrupted version that the Prideborn uses. How did this get on you?" she asks as she turns his hand.

"Could this be some sort of corrupting influence? I really don't want to go through that again," Hopper laments as I watch the symbol disappear from his forearm.

"Both of you stop. Where did the symbol go?" Penelope and Hopper look down in surprise. Hopper rolls up his sleeve further, looking for the symbol, but finds nothing. With a sneaking suspicion, I look over at Penelope to find the top of the symbol peaking out of her sleeve.

"Found it," I say as I point at it. Penelope gives me a confused look and then rolls up her sleeve to find the symbol magically there.

"Interesting. I sense a faint amount of MP from it, but no real harmful effects. This must be the marker to indicate who's 'It'," she explains. With a gentle tap to her forehead, I watch as the symbol appears on my forearm.

"Seems like it. This is not going to be good. We have a whole crowd of people out there. If touch is the only requirement to become 'It', we're going to lose 'It.'" I point out.

"We're going to have to be careful then. Any idea on where she might be?" Penelope asks as we head out of Ilota's room.

"She could be anywhere and anyone," I remind them of her [Skill] to shapeshift.

"Then what do we do?" Hopper asks as we exit the building. The cheers of the citizenry swell as a student in the distance creates a beautiful illusion of a rainbow. Further back into the festivities, I catch a glimpse of Cliff and the Cooking Club as they serve the long line of customers. Viola is drawing a rainbow with her paint magic. Near the entrance, Julian hands someone a flower arrangement. It's utter chaos. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road.

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"We need to split up," I say as the curtains on the clocktower fall.

"I hate the idea, but we're not going to find her moving like this," Penelope says begrudgingly.

"It's a sound hunting strategy. Let's meet up at the base of the clock tower in an hour?" Hopper asks. We all nod and head our separate ways. I know I suggested it, but I'm not a fan of splitting up, but with the threat of the Purists and the Prideborn, we can't afford to be moving as a group. Using my graceful movements, I weave through the crowd without bumping into a soul.

"Any thoughts on this?" I ask as I search the stalls.

"She's the type to hide in plain sight," Yellow says.

"Any chance you can sense her?"

"No. There are too many people here. It's hard for us to even see you," Yellow explains.

"I'm sorry we can't help more, CJ, but I believe in you," Blue says as I stop in the middle of the crowd.

"Something's off," I say out loud as I search the nearby stalls. Hundreds upon hundreds of strings float in the air. Why are there so many strings of fate? It's rare for me to see even one in a day, but now I'm seeing hundreds? Focusing my mind, I tune out the strings until they fade away. Better. Danger! Bring up Stabby I barely block a thin needle that was aimed right for my eye. Looking at the source, I meet my gaze with Alexander Argent.

"Long time no see, Chosen One," he says with a soft smile.

"Alexander, I appreciate your warm welcome," I [Lie] as the crowd parts around us.

"I almost believe you. You have a silver tongue, Chosen One," he says with a hint of venom.

"What are you doing here?" I ask as I grab hold of Stabby.

"Visiting the Spring Festival. Thought I might get some ideas for improvements when I become Headmaster. The vote is tomorrow after all. Although I'm not entirely sure why we need one. I might as well have the job in my hands," he gloats as his hands slip into his pockets.

"Your pride is showing, Alexander. Guess that's why you and Prideborn work so well together, or rather you work under her, right?" I [Taunt]"Excuse me? I work under no one."

"You're excused, and you certainly do. I mean, you don't want Carina alive, but your boss certainly does. Why else would your boss snatch her from your clutches?" I [Taunt]. Alexander's eyebrows twitch.

"Her plans have greater meaning than you could ever comprehend."

"Oh, you have no idea what I'm talking about, do you? I guess you're much lower on the totem pole than I thought. Still, to think you're more out of the loop than me. Now that's an achievement. Well, you're no use to me. Have fun, Lapdog," I [Taunt] as I carefully disappear into the crowd. Damn, that felt good. Still, that wasn't productive at all. Other than making me feel amazing. Now, where is that Prideborn? Leaning against the Cooking Club stall, I let out a sigh. Damn it.

Why in the fuck are there so many people here? It's like the entire city decided to show up.

"Everything good?" Cliff asks as he hands me some water.

"Just great. Any chance you've seen a very fidgety person nearby?" I ask in desperation.

"Yeah. I saw a woman fidgeting with a stick earlier. Why do you ask?"

"It's okay that you haven't. I mean, what was I- Wait, you have?!" I ask as I quickly down the water.

"Yup. She went towards the stage."

"You're amazing, Cliff! Now, I-" A pot explodes in the Cooking Club stall and then another. Cliff rushes over as one of his club members is doused in boiling hot stew. What in the fuck!? A group of students nearby snicker to themselves as they glance at the chaos. That asshole Davis has taken it too far.

"Cliff, you deal with the injured. I'm going to [Cook]," I say as I hop behind the stall.

"Are you sure you have the time?" he asks as he bandages the burnt face of one of his clubmates.

"I'm going to make the time. Somebody get me a knife," I say as I put a chef hat on. Without a moment to waste, I catch a random knife out of the air and immediately get to dicing the vegetables. With my free hand, I place Stovey down while at the same time slicing up raw steak.

"We're going to run out of food!" one of the Cooking Club members yells out.

"Not on my watch." Having expertly diced the ingredients, I move on to [Cooking] the thin slices of steak on Stovey. Taking a rock, I [Throw] it across the stall. The rock ricochets off a wooden post and then hits the spice rack. The spice rack then goes flying my way. Without even looking, I catch the spices and add them expertly to the steak. In the corner of my eye, I watch as Davis gives me a steak eye.

"Alright. Line up!" I yell at the customers as I wink at Davis. Taking the diced vegetables, I add them onto the sizzling steak. Now comes the fun part. With a confidence that can only come from someone as good as me, I [Throw] the portions I prepared along with some prepared side dishes at the customers. They gasp in surprise as their plates are filled perfectly without a single drop or spill.

"Amazing! To think The Chosen One is this good at cooking!" a customer yells.

"That's The Chosen One for you," another customer says. Cliff walks up to me as I continue to [Throw] food.

"Thank you for buying time. We got the spare pots and have managed to heat up our reserves. We should be good now."

"How's your club member?" I ask as I notice the missing Davis.

"They're fine. I took them to the healer station. I don't know what I would've done without you," he says with a smile.

"It's what friends do. Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a stage to get to," I say as I leap over the counter. Skill <Cook> has Leveled Up