Vol 3 Chapter 57

"Hey, high schooler."

"Yes."

"Why don't you sit here instead?"

As Kran pointed to the seat next to him, Un-o firmly shook his head.

"It's troublesome."

"Wouldn't it be better to move, though?"

"I don't see why I should move when I'm already seated."

"...Urgh!"

Kran's words seemed to fail him as he glared with wide eyes and trembled, while Un-o was seen slightly raising the corners of his mouth in a smile.

"...Hah. Fine, alright. There are things you can only do from the opposite seat anyway. Hahaha!"

"..."

Kran... was he acting like this because he wanted to sit with Un-o? As Kapros's suspicion grew, a waiter approached and asked for their order. Kran examined the menu he was handed, got their agreement, and ordered several unfamiliar dishes. The food arrived shortly after.

"Hmm... This looks delicious."

"Right?"

As Kapros expressed admiration at the meat dish that had been finely minced, then reformed and topped with brown sauce, along with soup, bread and jam, and even wine, Kran showed a proud expression as if he had made it himself. Un-o also seemed to like the food, picking up his knife and fork without complaint.

"I like that the portions are large."

"What? Is that all you can say about this artistic cuisine?"

As Kran suddenly exclaimed with sparkling eyes at Un-o's comment, Kapros put a piece of meat in his mouth and said,

"That's what I liked best too."

At that, Kran's expression changed dramatically and strangely.

"Ah, no. That was just a joke. A joke! Actually, what good is it if it just looks pretty? Food should fill you up, right? Uh, hahaha!"

"..."

It was a somewhat awkward laugh, but Kapros decided to let it slide. It wasn't like Kran being strange was anything new.

How much time had passed as they started to fill their stomachs while having a relatively pleasant conversation? At some point, Kapros raised his head as the voices around them grew louder, and saw that everyone's attention was focused on the decorative tree set up in the center of the restaurant.

'What's going on?'

Swallowing the food he was chewing as he turned his head, curious about the people's seemingly excited expressions, Kapros saw a man sitting in a chair prepared under the decorative tree. Thinking he might be about to perform, seeing him wearing a hat and holding something like a small guitar in his arms while getting into position, Kapros was about to turn his attention back to the food when he heard excited whispers from the surrounding tables.

"Isn't that the talked-about bard NPC, Dilonel?"

"He's handsome. No wonder he has a fan club even though he's an NPC."

"I'm looking forward to this."

Bard...?

Looking again, Kapros saw the man gently but with presence placing his fingers on the strings of the instrument. As everyone's eyes focused on those fingertips, a soft voice began to sing.

"A young man with rough hands.

No maiden approached the youth.

The diligent young man was so poor

No maiden approached the youth.

Then one day,

The village held a beautiful flower festival.

When all the soft hands rejected the young man,

A maiden with snow-white hands approached.

Holding a white flower, with moonlit hair flowing,

She took the young man's rough hands in hers.

Oh, beautiful maiden. Who are you?

My love, don't worry about such things tonight.

Hand in hand, intoxicated by the flower's fragrance.

The sweet scent of flowers spinning round and round.

The hands held together are moonlight.

The sweet scent of flowers spinning round and round.

These joined hands are now also moonlight."

When the soft voice finished the last note with a slight tremor, the quiet restaurant slowly erupted into applause, soon followed by thunderous cheers.

"Wow!"

"His voice is so beautiful!"

"Bravo!"

After applauding with bright smiles, people everywhere started moving their forks and knives again, which had momentarily stopped. Kapros too, realizing he had forgotten to eat while focusing on the song, hurriedly stabbed a piece of meat with his fork. Un-o seemed to be in the same situation, as the sound of a knife scraping against a plate urgently came from beside him.

However, Kran alone remained motionless, staring intently at the bard NPC who was bowing after his performance. His face, lost in thought, was frighteningly serious.

'...Kran?'

Could it be... was there something in that song just now? As Kapros was debating whether to call out to him or not, given his overly serious expression, he heard two older men at the next table talking loudly while laughing.

"The flower festival... Come to think of it, there's only about a month left until the White Flower Festival."

"That's right. They'll start preparations soon. Is that why he sang that song?"

"Of course. Hearing the legend of the White Flower Festival in song again brings back memories. Pour me another drink."

"You've already had quite a bit, take it easy."

They were clearly NPCs living in this village. Kran's eyes suddenly sparkled as he listened intently to their jovial conversation.

"Wait here for a moment. And I'll take this too."

"Huh?"

Without even looking at Un-o, who had been mumbling and focusing only on eating until then and was now raising his head, Kran grabbed an unopened bottle of wine from the table, stood up abruptly, and approached the neighboring table.

"Excuse me, elders. May I ask you something?"

"Hm?"

"What is it, young man?"

"First, may I pour you a glass of this? Haha."

At the sight of Kran offering the wine with a friendly smile plastered on his face, the NPCs were surprised for a moment, but their wide eyes soon changed to a look of ecstasy as they began to gaze at the wine in his hand.

"Oh... That's...!"

"Isn't that the Léon 10-year wine that's too expensive to even taste?"

"Y-yes. What did you want to ask?"

It seemed that this wine was no ordinary wine. After quickly pouring and drinking a glass each, the men made satisfied expressions, going "Ahh!" Kran, who had already brought over a chair and sat down, grinned and opened his mouth.