Chapter 129

The greatest festival in the Holy City.

The Changsung Festival was called that.

It wasn’t just because it had the longest history.

Other festivals were only for the citizens of the Holy City.

But the Changsung Festival was a festival enjoyed by students and faculty from the Empire, the Kingdom, and various other countries, in addition to the citizens of the Holy City.

So it naturally had a special significance.

And today, the Changsung Festival finally began.

The vast Lepheria Academy, known for its size, was bustling with people today, unlike usual.

During the Changsung Festival, the campus was open to outsiders during the day.

“Wow… This place is huge! Is this really an academy?”

“Of course it is. It’s not called the greatest academy on the continent for nothing. And stop acting like a country bumpkin. It’s embarrassing to be seen with you.”

A boy with wide eyes looked around in awe.

And another boy scolded him for acting like a country bumpkin.

The commonality between them was that they were both country bumpkins.

The names of the two boys were Rick and Jack.

They had come from a distant rural village, taking several days to reach the Holy City, just for the Changsung Festival.

They had spent years meticulously planning this trip, eager to see what the academy in the big city they admired was like.

Most importantly, they had to save up for the travel expenses.

And the Lepheria Academy they arrived at.

It was worth every penny and every minute spent.

“Hey, stop pretending you’re not a country bumpkin. Just enjoy it. By the way…”

Rick looked around and blushed slightly.

“…Why are there so many beautiful women here?”

“What are you talking about… I mean, yeah, there are.”

Jack blushed too.

Despite trying to act mature, he was just a boy their age.

“Their fashion is amazing.”

Rick couldn’t take his eyes off the passing female students and exclaimed in admiration.

It was a different world from their rural village.

Back home, the local girls wore loose, practical clothes.

But here, the women were dressed in stylish, feminine outfits that made their heads turn.

Is this what city women are like?

It was a cultural shock.

“So, this is what a big city is like…”

Jack, like Rick, was busy watching the passing female students.

“No, it might not just be that.”

Rick suddenly spoke with a sage-like expression.

“Huh?”

“It’s the energy and youthfulness of the academy that creates this atmosphere.”

“…”

Was this guy always this smart…?

Jack was impressed.

He couldn’t be outdone.

“Me too.”

“Good. From now on, we are comrades with the same goal.”

“Agreed.”

After their serious but comical declaration, the boys moved on.

“Huh? Why are there so many people gathered over there?”

Rick tilted his head, looking at a crowd of people, both men and women.

Jack’s curiosity was piqued too.

“What is it? Should we check it out? There seems to be something interesting.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Rick and Jack approached the crowd.

After wandering around the edge of the crowd, they found a spot where they could see despite their small stature.

“Jack, here!”

“Good find, Rick!”

With their view secured, Rick and Jack looked ahead.

And then.

“Gasp…?!”

“Oh my…?!”

Their eyes widened to the point of popping out, and their mouths hung open as they stood frozen like statues.

There she was.

The most overwhelmingly beautiful being they had ever seen in their lives.

She didn’t even seem human.

And she wasn’t.

Her white, smooth, pointed ears indicated she wasn’t human.

“An elf…?!”

Rick managed to say in shock.

It was the first time they had seen an elf, about whom they had only heard stories.

Are elves really such a beautiful race?

But.

“Not just an elf. She’s a high elf.”

A kindly-looking middle-aged man next to them spoke.

“A high elf…?”

“Yes, look at those silver eyes.”

Rick and Jack’s gaze naturally shifted to her eyes.

Mystical and alluring silver eyes that seemed to pull you in.

Just looking at them was mesmerizing.

The boys, who had unconsciously held their breath, finally exhaled.

The middle-aged man spoke again.

“There are no elves with silver eyes in the world. Only high elves have such eyes.”

“Is that so?”

“I see.”

For the first time in their lives, the boys realized there was a race called high elves.

They would probably never forget.

How could they forget such a shockingly beautiful race?

Others were also looking at the high elf with admiring eyes.

It was a feeling closer to awe than mere curiosity about a different race.

But the expressions of the male students were different.

They looked uneasy and restless.

The most popular third-year was sitting alone on the festival day morning, which was highly unusual.

She was clearly waiting for someone.

‘Please, let it be a girl.’

‘It has to be a girl.’

‘It will be a girl.’

‘Girl, girl, girl, girl.’

The male students were earnestly hoping in their hearts.

If the boys could read the male students’ minds, they might have thought, ‘Oh, this place is not heaven but just a jungle,’ and given up their goal.

But, of course, that didn’t happen, and the boys’ admiration only grew after seeing the legendary high elf.

At that moment.

The high elf closed the book she was reading.

Everyone sensed it.

Something was about to happen.

“Excuse me. Please move. Coming through.”

Soon, someone pushed through the crowd.

“Gasp?”

“Oh no!”

“No way!”

“No, it can’t be!”

The boys didn’t understand.

Why the male students were suddenly making such strange noises.

…It was better not to know.

“Sorry, senior. I’m a bit late, right?”

The boy who appeared.

Max Celtrine said with a smile.

His shoulders were raised high.

“…That is a man’s confidence, boys.”

The middle-aged man spoke again.

“What?”

“Confidence…?”

“Yes, the woman you’re with can be a man’s confidence. Remember that.”

The boys were learning a truth about the world.

Just that alone made this visit to the academy worthwhile.

“No, you’re right on time. I just got here a bit early.”

Hiresia responded with her public demeanor and expression.

Her elegant and graceful presence was evident.

She stood up gracefully from her seat.

“Shall we go?”

“Yes, I’ll escort you.”

“Hmph, at times like this, you should let your senior lead.”

Hiresia gave a light smile.

Her expression and words caused another uproar among the male students.

“Whoa?!”

“Lead? Lead? Lead?!”

“Our high elf senior would never…would never…”

“Ugh.”

The boys started to understand why the place was in such chaos.

“Reality is harsh, Jack.”

“Indeed, the world is a competitive place, Rick.”

However, the boys also realized that where there are losers, there are winners.

“Oh, really? Then gladly.”

Max responded with a bright smile.

“Shall I hold this and follow you?”

He grabbed the bottom of the book Hiresia was holding with her left hand.

Hiresia chuckled in disbelief.

“You’re an interesting junior.”

“That’s why I’m here with you, senior.”

…Even in front of an overwhelmingly beautiful senior, he maintained his playful and confident demeanor.

It was the very essence of a winner’s confidence.

The boys’ eyes were filled with admiration as they looked at him like an idol.

“That’s a winner…”

“So cool…that guy…”

The boys suddenly had a new goal.

To become a man like that cool guy!

“Stop joking around and follow me. And let go of this.”

“Oh? Shall we hold hands then?”

Hiresia’s face turned red at his words.

Seeing this, the male students were on the verge of a mental breakdown.

Whoa.

Ugh.

Grr.

They were almost like a horde of zombies.

“You’re so mischievous.”

Hiresia blushed and gave him a slight glare.

Only then did Max restrain himself.

“Sorry. Did I go too far? I was just so excited about spending the festival with you.”

Even while apologizing, he delivered a final line that touched her heart.

The boys nodded in admiration.

“No need to apologize. It’s fine…”

Hiresia seemed to be trying hard to maintain her composure.

Her flushed face showed she was fanning herself unconsciously.

“I’m glad to hear that. Shall we go now?”

“Yes.”

They finally started walking.

The crowd parted automatically, allowing the pair to walk through.

The sight of them was like a picture-perfect couple.

Those who knew Max would scoff and say it was nonsense, but at least in the boys’ eyes, it was.

Leaving behind new admirers and a horde of zombies, the little episode ended.

* * *

“What was that about?”

As soon as they reached a less populated area, Hiresia protested.

Her eyes were filled with reproach.

But she didn’t seem genuinely upset.

She just seemed annoyed by the sudden approach without any warning.

I smiled.

“Hey, it’s a date, so we should be a bit affectionate, right?”

“A date? A date?”

Hiresia muttered in shock.

Her reaction showed she hadn’t thought of it that way.

Well, since we always trained together, ate together, and did everything together, she probably thought of it as an extension of that.

But hey.

This is a special festival that happens only once a year.

What do you think it means to spend it together as a pair?

“What did you think it was?”

“Well…just…”

“It’s a date.”

“Ugh…”

Hiresia flinched and fell silent.

She seemed lost in thought, then suddenly spoke with a determined expression.

“Wait, wait. We need to clarify something.”

“What is it?”

“You.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think of me?”

“What do you mean…”

“In a romantic sense!”

Hiresia burst out, sounding frustrated.

…She’s coming at me with this now.

It was an unexpected move.

It showed how much the date meant to her.

She didn’t want an ambiguous date.

She was right.

There was nothing more meaningless than false hope.

It was best to clarify our positions.

‘So she has this side to her.’

I thought.

I had never been this close to Hiresia, so I didn’t know this side of her.

“Hmm, I see.”

I put on a serious expression.

This was a crucial turning point in my relationship with Hiresia.

My answer would determine whether we remained just senior and junior or moved into a serious romantic relationship.

I carefully chose my words.

It was an important moment, so I couldn’t afford any mistakes.

After organizing my thoughts, I spoke.

“I think…”