Chapter 38 The Festival And Princess Birthday （2）
The next morning, I woke up to the sound of bells echoing throughout the city.
My eyes slowly opened as sunlight slipped through the curtains of my room. For a moment, I just lay there quietly, listening.
People shouting outside.
Music playing somewhere in the distance.
The sound of wagon wheels rolling across stone roads.
Then another loud bell rang through Dilenia.
Dong... Dong... Dong...
A small smile formed on my face.
"So it's finally starting..."
I pushed myself off the bed and stretched my arms high above my head before walking toward the window. The moment I opened it, a cool morning breeze rushed into the room.
The city below was already overflowing with life.
The festival had officially begun.
Crowds filled the streets from one end to the other. Merchants loudly advertised food and games while colorful banners danced overhead beneath the bright blue sky. Children ran around carrying sweets in their hands, and performers entertained groups of people near the plazas.
Compared to yesterday, Dilenia somehow felt even more alive.
I rested my arm against the window frame while watching the busy streets below.
"This place really knows how to throw a festival..."
After changing clothes and grabbing my gear, I left my room and headed downstairs.
The inn's first floor was just as crowded as outside. Adventurers and travelers packed the tables while waitresses rushed back and forth carrying trays of food.
"Morning, kid."
I looked toward the counter and saw Dennis wiping down a mug.
"Morning," I replied. "Looks busy already."
Dennis laughed. "Busy? Kid, this is only the beginning. By tonight, this place will be overflowing."
I glanced around the inn before asking, "Does the tournament start today?"
"Yep," Dennis replied immediately. "The opening matches start around noon at the Royal Arena."
I raised a brow. "Royal Arena?"
"You seriously haven't seen it yet?" Dennis looked almost offended. "That thing's one of the biggest attractions in Dilenia!"
He pointed toward the window. "Just follow the crowds. You'll find it eventually."
I chuckled. "Fair enough."
After grabbing a quick breakfast, I stepped back outside into the festival streets.
The entire kingdom was overflowing with excitement.
Food stalls lined the roads selling grilled meat, sweets, skewers, and drinks. Musicians played lively songs while dancers performed near the center plazas. Some merchants even sold wooden swords and toy shields to children pretending to be adventurers.
As I walked through the crowd, I suddenly noticed a large group gathered around a nearby board.
Curious, I moved closer.
It was a massive tournament bracket.
Names of adventurers from all over the kingdom were written across it, and people were loudly discussing who they thought would win.
Then my eyes stopped on several familiar names.
Daito.
Isumu.
Chisato.
Masato.
Hikaru.
Naoki.
Osamu.
Yuchikimo.
"So only a couple of them joined..."
I crossed my arms while staring at the bracket.
A small grin slowly spread across my face.
"This might actually be interesting I can't wait."
Just then, another loud bell echoed throughout the city.
A sudden trumpet blast echoed throughout the city, loud enough to make the entire street fall silent for a moment.
Then cheers erupted from further down the road.
"What's going on?" I muttered as people around me suddenly started rushing toward the main street.
Curious, I followed the crowd until I reached a massive open road lined with guards and decorated with countless banners bearing the royal crest of Dilenia.
Moments later, another loud trumpet rang out.
A luxurious white carriage slowly appeared from the distance, pulled by four beautifully armored horses. Golden decorations shimmered beneath the sunlight while flower petals rained down from the rooftops above.
Standing proudly atop the carriage was a young woman wearing an elegant white-and-gold dress.
Her long silver hair swayed gently in the wind, and a small jeweled crown rested atop her head. Even from a distance, her beauty was enough to make the entire crowd stare in admiration.
Then suddenly-
"Happy Birthday, Princess Lofenia!!"
The citizens shouted in unison, their voices shaking the entire street.
"Happy Birthday!!"
"Princess Lofenia!!"
Children waved flowers excitedly while people bowed their heads as the carriage passed by.
"So that's the princess..." I murmured quietly while watching the parade.
Then my eyes shifted behind the royal carriage.
A second wave of cheers erupted from the crowd.
Following directly behind Princess Lofenia were the heroes.
Daito walked at the front with a confident smile while waving toward the citizens. Beside him were Ayame, Yanie, Hiro, Kairo, Yuchikimo, and Zachi-and the others all dressed in far more formal clothing than usual.
"Huh..." I let out a faint laugh. "They're all here and they all look so different since I last saw them I can't tell who is who."
Yuchikimo was grinning proudly at the attention while Ayame looked completely exhausted from dealing with him already. Even from this far away, I could practically hear them arguing.
The citizens continued cheering loudly as the parade moved through the streets, welcoming both the princess and the summoned heroes who had become symbols of hope for the kingdom.
I slipped my hands into my pockets and quietly watched the parade disappear deeper into the city.
"Well then..." I muttered with a small smile
.
"Looks like the festival's finally begun."
DOOOONG-
A loud bell echoed throughout the kingdom, shaking the very air around the city.
A voice amplified by magic rang out shortly after.
"Citizens of Dilenia! The Royal Tournament shall begin shortly! All participants are to report to the Royal Arena immediately!"
The crowd erupted with excitement.
People immediately began rushing toward the center of the city, their voices filled with anticipation and energy. Merchants shouted, children ran through the streets, and adventurers pushed their way through the growing crowds.
I slipped my hands into my pockets and followed after them.
A while later, I finally arrived at the Royal Arena.
The moment I saw it, I stopped walking.
The colosseum was massive.
Towering stone walls stretched high into the sky, decorated with enormous banners bearing the royal crest of Dilenia. The structure alone was large enough to hold thousands of people, and judging from the endless streams of citizens entering through the gates... it probably would.
"Damn..." I muttered quietly. "This place is huge."
Hundreds of people were pouring into the arena from every direction. Near the main entrance stood several ticket booths where workers were collecting entrance fees.
Unfortunately...
The lines were unbelievably long.
"Damn... I should've come here earlier," I said in disappointment while staring at the endless crowd.
"Heeyy! Sir Raito!"
I blinked and looked to my left.
Ayame was standing near one of the side entrances, waving at me with a bright smile.
I waved back before jogging over to her.
"It's good to see you again, Sir Raito," she said.
"It's good to see you too," I replied before rubbing the back of my head awkwardly. "But... could you drop the 'Sir' part? I'm not really used to people calling me that."
She looked slightly surprised. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah," I said nervously with a small laugh. "It feels weird."
Ayame smiled warmly. "Alright then... Raito."
I returned her smile.
"By the way, Raito," she suddenly said.
I looked at her. "What is it?"
"The other participants are already inside preparing for the tournament." She tilted her head in confusion. "What are you still doing out here?"
"Huh?" I blinked. "I didn't join the tournament."
Her eyes widened immediately.
"Wait, what!? You didn't join?" she exclaimed. "With your strength, you could easily win!"
I laughed awkwardly and scratched my cheek. "Well... I decided to just watch this time."
"Really?" Ayame looked genuinely disappointed. "Daito and the others were actually really excited because they thought you'd participate too."
"Hehe... sorry to disappoint them."
She let out a small sigh before crossing her arms.
"So, have you bought an entrance ticket yet?"
"Unfortunately... no."
"Huh? Why not?"
I pointed toward the massive lines near the ticket booths.
"The lines are way too long. I should've come earlier."
Ayame glanced at the crowd before nodding. "Yeah... you definitely should have."
Then suddenly, a playful smirk appeared on her face.
"You know..." she said slowly, "I could probably get you inside without needing a ticket."
I blinked in surprise. "Wait... you can?"
"As one of the heroes, we get free access to the tournament whenever we want," she explained proudly. "And I'm allowed to bring guests with me."
Then her smile softened slightly.
"Think of it as my way of thanking you for saving us back then. I never really got the chance to thank you personally."
For a moment, I stared at her before smiling faintly.
"Alright then," I said. "Thanks, Ayame."
Her smile brightened immediately.
"No problem, Raito. Come on-the tournament's about to start."
"Yeah, sure," I replied with a smile.
The two of us walked toward one of the side entrances of the colosseum. Compared to the crowded main gate, this area was much quieter, guarded by several knights wearing silver armor decorated with the royal crest of Dilenia.
As we approached, one of the guards stepped forward.
"Excuse me," Ayame said politely. "May we enter the tournament grounds, please?"
The guard looked at her for a moment before his eyes widened slightly in recognition.
"Oh! Miss Ayame, it's you." He immediately straightened his posture. "Of course. You're welcome to enter."
Then his gaze shifted toward me.
"And who might this person be?"
Ayame answered without hesitation.
"Oh, this is my friend, Raito. He's my guest."
The guard studied me for another second, probably checking if I looked suspicious. After a brief pause, he stepped aside and nodded.
"Understood. Then please go ahead. I hope the two of you enjoy the tournament."
Ayame smiled politely. "Thank you."
Then she turned toward me with a grin
.
"Come on, Raito. Let's go."
"Right."
We passed through the gate and entered the colosseum.
The moment I stepped inside, the noise hit me like a wave.
The roar of thousands of voices echoed throughout the enormous arena. Cheers, shouting, laughter-it all blended together into a deafening storm of excitement.
My eyes slowly widened as I took in the sight before me.
The inside of the colosseum was even larger than I imagined.
Massive rows of seats stretched upward in every direction, packed with citizens and adventurers eagerly waiting for the tournament to begin. In the center was an enormous circular battlefield made from smooth white stone, marked with countless scratches and cracks from previous battles.
Above the arena, giant banners bearing the royal crest fluttered proudly in the wind.
"This place is insane..." I muttered quietly.
Ayame laughed softly beside me. "Pretty amazing, right?"
I nodded honestly.
Even I had to admit it.
The Royal Arena of Dilenia is really massive.
"Look over there," Ayame said, pointing toward one side of the stadium.
I followed her finger and spotted a large group sitting in a special section of the arena. Unlike the normal stone seats surrounding the colosseum, these ones were covered in elegant red cushions. Several guards stood nearby, clearly separating that area from the rest of the audience.
A few people from that section were waving enthusiastically toward us.
I narrowed my eyes slightly before recognizing the familiar faces.
Those guys must be...
Ayame smiled beside me. "Those are the other heroes."
Then she lightly grabbed my sleeve and pointed toward the special seating area.
"Come on. Let's sit over there. We'll get a much better view of the tournament."
I nodded.
"Right."
The two of us began walking up the stairs toward the hero section while the deafening cheers of the crowd echoed all around us. Below, in the center of the arena, workers were making final preparations for the opening match.
The tournament was about to begin.