Chapter 55

“Don’t just send people flying so easily, okay?”

“Sure.”

Riko, who rarely gives me advice, warns me. When we landed, her face was pale, and her whole body was tense, so she must have been really scared.

“Can’t you fly higher?”

Hairo, who seemed to be fine with heights, appeared to have enjoyed the descent as well.

“I can. Shall we go up to where we can see the whole of Fifth Street?”

“Yeah! Let’s go, Riko, come on.”

“Let’s not. Okay?”

Her hand, which she held out with a smile to stop us, was drenched in sweat. Hairo must have noticed this, as he didn’t say anything more.

I could take you up into the sky anytime you want, if you ask.

My stomach is almost full from the sausage I had earlier, so I’m not tempted by the food stalls anymore. There are grilled fish sprinkled with plenty of herbs, sandwiches with mashed potatoes in bread, and hard cakes sprinkled with what looks like sugar. I want to eat them, but I’ll save it for another time.

I’ll save it for another time. I want to, I want to...

These are unusual dishes for me. It’s no wonder I kept looking back.

“It’s still daytime, so it’s not fully in swing yet.”

“Yeah, they won’t do it while it’s still light.”

We walked straight down the main street and came to a large square where wood was piled up.

“What are they going to do here?”

“Hmm? Oh, when it gets dark, they’ll have a big bonfire here. They’ll burn all this wood.”

“They say that if you smear the ashes on your cheeks or forehead, you won’t get sick that year.”

“Huh...”

It’s probably like eating cocoon balls to prevent colds. I don’t know if it works, but if it’s a charm like that, I might do it later.

“Still, Riko got a three-day fever!”

Hairo laughed. Riko also smiled wryly.

It seems that the time when they almost died has become a laughing matter among them.

The festival continues.

We went around the stalls, eating and sharing our thoughts.

We even tried a target game.

There, in a field about twenty meters long, there were several targets ranging from the size of a fist to a basketball, made of compressed cotton. It seems that you get a prize corresponding to the target you hit. It’s like a shooting gallery, or rather, it is a shooting gallery.

Hairo, Riko, and I each handed money to the stall owner and received a bow and three arrows. The tips of the arrows were flattened to prevent injury, but they were designed to stick into the cotton if they hit properly.

“Do I just aim for those targets?”

“Yes, but... maybe it’s a bit early for you, kid...”

The owner was reluctant to let me try, even though he would take my money.

Despite this, I nocked an arrow and drew the bow.

“Here goes.”

I don’t have much experience with bows. I’ve tried making a few with materials I could find in the forest, but none of them flew properly.

Still, it seems that I can shoot a proper bow properly.

My arrow flew weakly and grazed the compressed cotton target. Close, but no cigar.

“Still tough...”

“Even crows can’t do everything!”

Hairo chuckled. He was laughing, but he had already wasted two arrows.

Riko took careful aim and finally released an arrow.

Her arrow flew straight and fast, easily piercing the center of the target.

“Hit!”

A young woman standing nearby raised her voice loudly.

Then, she lightly landed in front of the target, pulled out the arrow, and collected it. She also picked up the arrows that Hairo and I had dropped.

“Good shot, kid.”

The owner, impressed, handed Riko a prize. It was a bottle wrapped in paper, containing a liquid.

“What is this?”

Riko tilted her head and then pulled the cork out of the bottle.

She brought her nose close to it and grimaced, saying, “Ugh.”

“It’s alcohol.”

“Wow! That’s great! I’ll aim for it too!”

Hairo got excited, but Riko seemed a bit dissatisfied.

“Do you dislike it?”

“I can drink it, but... I’m not good at it.”

“You could give it to Hairo.”

Hairo, on the other hand, was aiming at the target with a serious look, holding the bow.

Riko, looking at Hairo, answered in a whisper.

“Yeah. If I miss, I’ll give it to Hairo.”

“I think that’s a good idea.”

In this world, there’s no age limit for drinking. However, there’s an unwritten rule that minors should avoid it.

Maybe the owner didn’t encourage me because the prizes included alcohol.

“Hit!”

Hairo’s arrow caught the edge of a different target from the one Riko hit.

“Yeah!”

Hairo clenched his fist and was happy. He seems to like alcohol.

“Ah, you hit it. Then, I’ll give this alcohol as a souvenir to Gustav.”

“Why don’t you sell it?”

“Yeah, well, maybe.”

He can bring items as gifts without selling them. It’s a good thing to have that kind of leeway.

The woman who had been collecting arrows from the targets danced in front of them again.

But this time, something was different.

She was originally wearing a rather revealing outfit.

Over a yellow bikini-like outfit, she wore a piece of fabric so thin it was almost see-through. Her outfit was designed to be provocative, showing off her sensuous chest and thighs.

Her movements were much more seductive than before.

She danced, showing off her well-proportioned face and body, as she collected the arrows.

The other customers were cheering and watching her.

“Nice one, kid!”

“Whoo! I’m jealous!”

The customers called out to Hairo. Hairo, confused, looked at me and Riko.

“You’re a bit young, but you’re a fine man, kid!”

The owner also cheered, smiling. What happened to the prize?

Next to the confused Hairo, the woman who had been collecting arrows landed.

Then, she slowly pulled Hairo’s cheek towards her and kissed it.

“Wha!?”

Hairo made a strange sound and jumped back. His face was bright red. The woman chuckled.

“Oh, maybe it’s a bit early for you, dear.”

She smiled, her beautiful face showing a grin, and licked her lips. The men cheered lightly at her gesture.

Then, she waved her hand and retreated to the side of the targets.

Could this be...

I’ve heard of such places before.

They give prizes to customers who hit certain targets.

The prizes include alcohol and tobacco, and services from attractive women.

There must be various other targets, from light to more time-consuming ones.

“W-What about the prize!?”

“That was the prize, Hairo.”

It was probably that kind of place. This place.

I only shot one arrow, but I don’t feel like shooting any more...

Unexpected adult time left us three with mixed feelings.