Chương 121: The Autumn Harvest Festival

After arriving at the clothing store, Zelier began picking out some new clothes for himself. After a brief selection, he quickly purchased everything he needed. Two white linen shirts, two thick-lined long coats in gray and black, a dark brown leather vest decorated with simple embroidered patterns. A pair of durable black trousers and a new pair of knee-high soft leather boots. Then Zelier stood before a mirror.

"Hmm…" The boy reflected in the glass did not look much different from before. However, with his increased Charisma attribute, his overall presence had subtly changed. There was something about him that made people feel naturally drawn to him. And perhaps it was because he had experienced so many battles and killings recently. Whenever Zelier slightly furrowed his brows, his eyes and expression immediately sharpened, carrying a cold edge that warned others to keep their distance.

But the moment he relaxed his expression, that intimidating aura vanished without a trace, returning him to the same handsome and gentle-looking young mage he had always been.

"Not bad." Zelier was quite satisfied with his current appearance. After buying his clothes, there was still plenty of time before his appointment with Auro, so Zelier followed his usual routine and headed to the outskirts to practice magic for a while. He had spent so much time tinkering with swordsmanship lately that he couldn't afford to neglect his true profession. Magic was simply troublesome when it came to finding a suitable training ground.

Powerful spells like Arcane Missile or Flame Breath could easily tear apart the sword training grounds—or worse, start a fire. The outskirts were still the safest option. Zelier practiced magic until close to evening before leisurely making his way back to Nightflower Inn. He first went upstairs to wash away the fatigue and dust from his body, then changed into his newly purchased clothes. When he came downstairs, he found that Auro had already been waiting in the lobby.

Auro wore a moon-white coat that reached her waist, paired with a dark indigo skirt that fell below her knees. Her loose hair had been tied into a playful ponytail behind her head. The girl looked bright, lively, and full of energy. She was merely sitting on the sofa in the lounge area, swinging her legs while waiting, yet somehow her presence alone seemed to make the entire lobby of Nightflower Inn more vibrant. As if sensing something, Auro glanced toward the staircase.

The moment she saw Zelier walking down, a brilliant smile bloomed across her face.

"Let's go, Zelier!" The night of the Autumn Harvest Festival was every bit as lively as expected. Zelier and Auro arrived at the busiest street in town. The sweet aroma of wheat and fruit wine rushed toward them. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! Yet instead of feeling stuffy, the scent blended with the overwhelming cheers and laughter, pulling them straight into the heart of the festival.

The Blackstone Town administrative office had specially cleared the widest main street for the Autumn Harvest Festival. From the central plaza all the way to the southern town gate, the entire road had been transformed into a bustling night market. Under the eaves on both sides of the street hung rows of warm pumpkin-shaped lanterns, illuminating the entire avenue as brightly as daytime. A cheerful atmosphere spread among everyone present.

Children ran through the crowds, holding glowing fluorite sugar sculptures in their hands as they chased after one another. The miners who usually spent their days working underground had also gathered in groups of three or five. Holding wooden mugs overflowing with foamy draft ale, they sang loudly without a care in the world. At the most eye-catching stalls, farmers displayed their harvests proudly. The fullest wheat ears. The largest pumpkins. The most vibrant and tempting multi-colored berries.

They weren't there to sell them. They were there to show them off. Many people gathered around, discussing and commenting on the crops, wondering how they could produce such impressive harvests next year. Even Zelier couldn't help but be infected by the atmosphere. After arriving in this world, this was the first time he had witnessed such a grand celebration.

"Wow! Look at that!" Auro's eyes were already sparkling. She excitedly grabbed Zelier's hand and pulled him straight toward the most crowded section of the night market. The crowd was shoulder to shoulder. The two of them could barely move forward unless they stayed close together. Zelier instinctively shielded Auro from the crowd, while she showed no hesitation at all. Whenever pedestrians approached from the opposite direction, she would press herself closer against Zelier to make room.

Tonight, Blackstone Town had practically transformed into a city that never slept. Beside the cheerful melodies of wandering bards' lutes, countless people gathered together, singing and dancing beneath the festival lights. Zelier even spotted several barrel-shaped figures bouncing around deep inside the crowd. He rose onto his toes and looked over the heads of the people. Only then did he realize they were rare pure-blooded dwarves. The two of them wandered through the festival together.

Aside from admiring the strange and fascinating sights along the streets, they also bought plenty of local delicacies. Zelier's favorite was a food similar to fish balls from his previous life. They were skewered on bamboo sticks and soaked inside wooden containers filled with rich broth, allowing people to eat them while walking. According to the vendor, they were made from silver-scale fish caught in nearby rivers.

The tender fish meat was mixed with flour and repeatedly pounded until the texture became incredibly elastic. Each bite carried a unique freshness and a satisfying chew. Auro, meanwhile, was even happier. She held a freshly fried round pastry in her left hand, while her right hand carried a small box of strawberries covered in fruit jam. She was enjoying herself immensely. The two continued strolling while eating. Suddenly, bursts of cheers and disappointed sighs from ahead caught their attention.

When they approached, they found a game that Zelier had seen countless times in his previous life. A lucky ring toss. The stall was surrounded by a dense crowd. Zelier casually glanced over it. The prizes were mostly small figurines and decorative trinkets. He had no interest in them. Auro, however, was immediately captivated. Seeing those adorable little items, she eagerly squeezed her way forward. Most of the spectators gathered around were girls who enjoyed cute and novel little objects.

After stuffing the round pastry into her mouth in just a few bites, Auro handed the jam-covered strawberries to Zelier.

"Zelier, hold these for me. I'm going to test my luck!"

"Hey, that game is really hard to win. Playing it is just wasting—" But before Zelier could finish speaking, Auro had already paid. She boldly spent twenty copper coins and received ten wooden rings from the stall owner, full of confidence. However, perhaps because the distance was simply too far, every ring she threw missed the target by just a tiny bit. On top of that, the wooden rings themselves were light and flexible. Sometimes they clearly landed over a prize, only to bounce away after spinning around.

Nine of the ten rings were gone in no time. Auro hadn't even won the smallest prize. She returned to Zelier with her cheeks puffed out in frustration. The stall owner continued teasing her with a grin.

"Ah, you were so close! Why not try another ten rings?"

"Zelier, you try!" Unwilling to accept defeat, Auro shoved the final wooden ring into Zelier's hand. The moment he held it, Zelier immediately understood why the game was so difficult. The ring was unbelievably light. No wonder it was so hard to land accurately. Zelier's gaze swept across the pile of prizes. He didn't think too much about it. He simply copied Auro's throwing motion and casually tossed the ring toward the center. The wooden ring traced a shaky arc through the air.

Then, incredibly— It landed perfectly around a beautifully crafted wooden cat sculpture. The little wooden cat looked almost lifelike, carved from exceptionally fine materials. It was undoubtedly the most valuable prize at the stall. In fact, many people had come specifically hoping to win it.