Chapter 288 : Chapter 288

Chapter 288. Open the Integrated Major Booth (1)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Imperial Magic Academy’s Autumn Festival.

It was one of the rare days when the Academy opened its main gates to outsiders.

Marcellent was brimming with energy as the preparation period for the festival arrived.

Rumors that the Academy’s Spring Festival had been fun had spread, drawing tourists from across the Empire.

Most of Marcellent’s decent lodgings were fully booked, and the same went for its restaurants.

Well-located establishments had their reservations filled an entire week in advance.

The city of magic buzzed with the constant flow of visitors.

This Autumn Festival, in particular, caught the attention of Marcellent’s merchants.

Whenever they crossed paths, the topic of the festival inevitably came up.

“Hey, James. I heard you applied for a general booth at the Academy Autumn Festival?”

“Oh? From what I heard, you submitted an application too.”

“So the rumor already spread that far? If you just line up normally, you will be stuck outside all day, so I used a little trick.”

“Figures you would. Booth participants get to enter early, after all. Hahaha.”

They had devised their own little scheme, fearing that lining up among the other tourists would take far too long.

It was the sort of trick only merchants could pull off.

Hearing them, Marcellent’s ordinary residents shot them glares.

“That is unfair, downright unfair! Merchants at least have things to sell. What about regular people like us?”

“Exactly. Are they not going too far?”

“What is so outrageous about it? If you have the chance and the means, you apply. Uh, that, what was it? A club! Let us make a club booth or something and apply!”

As rumors spread that participating as a booth allowed faster access to the festival, the people of Marcellent began searching desperately for any excuse to enter as a general booth.

If something seemed even remotely viable, they submitted an application.

Since most of Marcellent’s residents were mages or worked in magic-related professions, the booth applications grew increasingly elaborate.

As a result, some people became very busy.

Namely, the Academy Grade Representative Meeting.

They were sorting through applications buried under piles of paperwork.

The volume was incomparable to the previous festival.

Anesha rubbed her eyes and handed one application to Pasion.

“What is this one, Senior? I cannot even read the handwriting.”

“Let me see. A Salamander Enthusiasts’ Group? Their goal is to foster new salamander enthusiasts by offering hands-on experiences with over a hundred salamanders raised by the members, as well as opportunities to adopt eggs…….”

“One hundred is impressive. Should we pass it?”

“We cannot judge by numbers alone. Earlier, a Slime Enthusiasts’ Group claimed to have over five hundred, and they still got rejected.”

The one who rejected the Slime Enthusiasts’ Group was none other than Shartea.

Without lifting her eyes from the documents, she spoke.

“Exclude common hobby groups. With the scale of this festival, that level will not be enough.”

“There are so many applications that we really have to filter carefully.”

“This is a first. I have never seen anything like this in four years.”

Shartea muttered.

In all her four years as a Grade Representative, she had never seen booth competition this fierce.

Pasion smiled faintly.

“It must be because word spread that the last festival was fun.”

“Come to think of it, I heard something similar when I went into town over the weekend. People were saying they hoped they could go ‘with the Supreme Deity’ again this festival……?”

“With the Supreme Deity?”

It was a name she had heard somewhere before.

As if it had been set up at a certain first-year booth during the Spring Festival…….

Shartea could now guess why people were flocking to the Autumn Festival.

Knock, knock.

Just then, the very person responsible for that reason arrived at the Grade Representative Office.

“Seniors, I am short-handed at the moment. Could you open the door for me?”

Anesha, buried under paperwork, sprang to her feet and opened it.

“You finally came!”

“You must have been waiting a long time.”

He set a large plate he had been carrying onto the desk.

Steam rose gently from it.

Along with a scent potent enough to cloud the mind.

Without realizing it, Shartea felt her body leaning toward it.

Pasion asked with eyes full of anticipation.

“Is that something new you developed?”

“Yes. I made it to sell at this Autumn Festival. I just fried it, so it is still hot. Please, try it.”

He offered the seniors a taste.

On the plate, golden fried chicken and food coated in an unfamiliar red sauce displayed themselves proudly.

“How do we eat it?”

When Shartea asked, he replied,

“You may use a fork, but it is best to just hold it and tear into it with your hands, Senior.”

At his words, Shartea did not hesitate.

She reached out, picked up a piece of fried chicken, and put it into her mouth.

CRUNCH.

Anesha and Pasion felt a jolt of shock.

Shartea, who always maintained the dignity of royalty, had just grabbed food with her hands.

But when they saw the expression that bloomed on Shartea’s face, they could not hold back either.

CRUNCH.

“So, what do you think, Seniors? Is it good enough to sell at this festival?”

He asked.

But no answer came.

All of the seniors were busy picking up the next piece and putting it into their mouths.

Munch, munch.

Only one thought filled the minds of the three.

‘It is delicious!’

And they understood.

At the next Academy festival, booth competition would become even fiercer.

Still, that was then.

Right now was now.

“Radel, can I have one more?”

“Me too!”

“So can I.”

Radel’s new menu, half-and-half chicken, captured even the seniors’ tastes.

***

News that first-years were opening an Integrated Major Booth reached the ears of the 2nd Prince, Arteo Kudent Cretian.

On top of that, he heard something utterly outrageous.

“What do you mean I cannot enter the festival normally?”

Arteo’s brow furrowed.

What kind of nonsense was this?

As royalty, and as an Academy graduate, he had never once been denied entry to an Academy festival.

When a royal appeared, people were supposed to step aside!

Yet something that overturned his common sense was happening.

“What absurdity is this?”

“Well, um…… we informed the Academy in advance, but they said the crowd will be too large this time, so entry requires lining up. If you wish to enter early, you would have to line up from dawn…….”

“How dare they!”

Unable to contain his anger, Arteo roared.

“How dare they tell me, the Empire’s 2nd Prince, to stand in line? Like commoners?!”

“They said there will be no exceptions from now on. It was fine when there were fewer people, but now it is difficult. They said that unless it is the Imperial Capital, the Academy is an educational institution, and before magic, everyone is equal…….”

Cromwell Bondis.

Arteo ground his teeth.

Ever since his Academy days, he had hated Cromwell, the principal.

A loathsome man.

One who schemed behind a sinister smile.

He was a mad mage who endlessly insisted on being allowed to research the Abilities of royalty while serving as the Academy’s principal.

Arteo had always known the man would bare his fangs at royalty someday.

But why now, of all times?

With contact with Shartea cut off, the only way to see her directly was to attend the Academy festival.

Every night, he lost sleep worrying about his younger sibling.

Had she been tainted by something strange?

Had she become warped by pointless rebelliousness?

Even after having her escort knight, Heinrich, gather information, he learned that since returning from the Imperial Capital, Shartea had not once left the Academy grounds.

He had to confirm with his own eyes that Shartea was doing well at this festival.

He wanted nothing more than to replace the Academy’s principal, but that authority belonged to the Emperor.

“Hoo.”

Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself.

Thinking about it, Cromwell was the principal of the Imperial Magic Academy, a place every royal had to pass through.

How high would his nose be?

No matter how exceptional a royal was, they all had to attend the Academy.

From Cromwell’s perspective, there was no need to curry favor with Arteo, who was not the Emperor.

To him, royalty were merely students.

Cromwell behaved this way because he had something to rely on.

Grinding his teeth, Arteo said,

“Tell them I will donate whatever amount they ask for. As much as they want. They will open the gates when money is involved.”

“Um, Your Highness…… actually…….”

Arteo’s subordinate hesitated, then spoke cautiously.

“We already made that offer, but they said it was unnecessary. However, they did say that if you truly wish to enter early, there is one method.”

“What method?”

“……They said you should formally apply for a general booth.”

Arteo was left speechless.

He was an Academy graduate.

That meant he had participated in a booth every year from first through fourth year.

And now he was supposed to do it again?

As the Empire’s 2nd Prince?

Arteo’s expression hardened.

***

Raviedel.

Before the sun had even risen.

People gathered in the fields amid the pale dawn.

The sturdy men each held a hoe, squatted down as if accustomed to it, and moved their arms.

THUD!

Each time the hoes swung, weeds were ripped from the ground.

They then carefully gathered the pulled weeds into one spot.

Once the sun rose, they loaded the gathered weeds into baskets and carried them elsewhere.

There, Lizardmen wearing headscarves and aprons were stirring large pots of soup.

“Hey, Lizardman chieftain!”

One of the men waved familiarly at the Lizardmen.

A man with a sword scar running across his right eye.

Beck Ardan, commander of the Meteor Shower Knights.

At Beck’s greeting, a Lizardman wearing a headscarf raised a ladle in response.

It was Lando Chau, chieftain of the Chau tribe.

“You are here. You brought the weeds, did you?”

“Of course! Who do you think I am?”

“Who indeed. The thick-headed commander of the Meteor Shower Knights.”

“Haha, you know me well!”

The two exchanged words with ease.

Soon after, Serge Sorte, vice commander of the Meteor Shower Knights, arrived as well.

With a face worn from pulling weeds, he greeted Lando Chau.

“You have my thanks for your hard work today as well. The soup last time was excellent.”

Weeding was not suited to Serge, who came from a noble background, but he managed nonetheless.

There was no other choice if he wished to adapt to life in Raviedel.

Those who did not work did not eat.

From small children to the elderly, Raviedel’s territory residents faithfully followed Radel’s words.

The Lizardmen were no exception.

This month, the Lizardmen were assigned to prepare breakfast at the potato fields.

They had grown quite adept at making simple soup.

After handing over the weeds and receiving bread, Beck asked Lando Chau,

“By the way, why are you wearing that headscarf? You do not even have hair.”

“The human lord said that fundamentals are important. Cleanliness is essential when cooking.”

“Huh? Really? I never thought I would hear something like that from a Lizardman!”

The Lizardman chieftain in a headscarf and the knight commander holding a hoe burst into laughter.

It was a truly strange sight.

Just then—

“Is the work going well, everyone?”

Chariot Sapphire, Raviedel’s Lord’s Deputy, came to see them.

“It is the human lord’s deputy. What brings you here so early?”

“Is it a magical beast? Did one appear?”

Beck asked with thinly veiled anticipation, clearly wishing to go hunting rather than farm.

Chariot shook his head.

“No. I came because of a telegram that just arrived.”

What followed was news no one had expected.

“The Lord says he needs help.”

At those words, both the Meteor Shower Knights and the Chau tribe turned toward Chariot at once.