The Sinfonia Kingdom Founding Anniversary Festival was exactly as one would expect from a national celebration; the Royal Capital’s streets were more congested than I had ever seen them.
At this rate, getting anywhere on foot was going to take an eternity, so registering the stall’s location in my teleportation magic tool had definitely been the right move.
It took a fair amount of time just to reach the Sinfonia-yaki stall, but the lively atmosphere made the leisurely stroll pleasant enough that it didn't feel like a chore.
After browsing the shops along the way, we reached the stall, bought enough for the whole group, and ducked into a less crowded area off the main path to eat.
"It's... not quite what I imagined," I remarked.
"Oh? What did you think it would look like, Kaito?" Tre-san asked.
"I was picturing something more like a crepe..."
Sinfonia-yaki was, well... shaped more like an omelet. The wrap was a thin layer of egg, and it was stuffed with fruit. It was incredibly tasty. There was no heavy, sugary cream; instead, it relied on the natural sweetness of the fruit. It was a high-quality dish.
"Kaito, Kaito! Say 'ahh'!"
"Wait, what? We're eating the exact same thing, you know."
"Aaaaaahhhhh!"
"...Fine, fine."
"Mm! Delicious!"
I gave a wry smile as I eventually relented to Tre-san’s persistent demand and fed her a bite. she nodded with a look of extreme satisfaction. I had a nagging suspicion she was thinking something like, "Event flag triggered."
"So, what's next? Since we're here, should we try to make it to the Central Ceremony Venue?" I asked.
"Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Let’s head that way and stop at any interesting shops we see along the way."
Cento-san and Sien-san agreed, so we set the ceremony venue as our goal and set off again.
Naturally, the closer we got to the heart of the festivities, the more the crowd swelled. Navigating the sea of people was becoming a real struggle.
"It's getting really packed," I noted.
"Mmm... I'm getting a bit tired," Tre-san admitted. "Let's buy something to drink and duck out of the crowd for a quick break."
"Let's do that."
I agreed with her suggestion. We bought some drinks and looked for a place to rest.
I had assumed the crowds would thin out once we left the main thoroughfare, but for some reason, the area we moved to was just as busy. In fact, a massive crowd had formed around something.
"What's going on? It’s not just congestion; people are actively gathering here," I said.
"An event, perhaps?" Cento-san murmured.
Cento and Sien both looked on curiously. From our current position, the wall of people blocked our view, making it impossible to see what was happening in the center.
"...Is that music? A performance?" Tre-san mused. "Alright, Cento, Sien! Pick Kaito and me up and fly so we can see from the air."
"Won't we stand out?"
"Everyone is staring at whatever is over there. I'm sure it'll be fine."
It was a bold suggestion, but I was curious myself. I nodded in agreement, and we prepared to take off.
Cento-san picked up Tre-san, while Sien-san took hold of me.
"Sorry about this, Sien-san," I apologized.
"Don't worry about it. I've shielded you with magic, but please hold on just in case."
Despite their petite frames, Cento and Sien were vastly more powerful than me, yet I still felt a bit guilty about being carried. Sien flashed me a gentle smile and leaped into the air. Her movements were remarkably graceful; unlike with Alice, I felt almost no wind pressure.
It was a bit embarrassing being carried like a princess, but Cento and Sien used recognition inhibition magic to ensure we wouldn't be spotted by the crowd below.
From our vantage point in the sky, I saw an open space in the middle of the throng. And there...
"...Are those Erial-san and Til-san?"
"Oh, you're right! It is them! No wonder there's such a crowd."
Down below, Erial-san was dancing while Til-san played a flute-like instrument. Erial’s movements were captivating, and Til’s upbeat melody perfectly captured the festive spirit. It was truly a magnificent performance.
Just as Tre-san remarked on why everyone had gathered, both performers suddenly glanced up toward us.
"...Since those two are much higher-ranked than Cento or me... well, it was only a matter of time before they noticed us," Sien explained.
"I see..."
Now I was in a bind. Should I try to go down and say hello? But how would I even get through that crowd?
Serious-senpai: "T-This is it! I feel the Waves of Seriousness!"
???: "Well, I suppose this part of the story is technically the most serious it gets."
Serious-senpai: "...No, it actually started out with a fair amount of seriousness! But it was hunted to extinction!"
???: "And what exactly was the cause of that?"
Serious-senpai: "It’s because a certain damnably competent guard started sticking to him twenty-four-seven!"