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This forest is unique. It was bright in broad daylight even though it was unknown where the light was coming from, even though it looked like there was no light coming from the overgrown branches and leaves. So, the village seen during the day always glimmered with a greenish-gold color.
The banquet began as the sun was setting. As the night descends, the golden sunlight, which is gradually receding, did not color this forest as dark as she thought it would. There was a bright golden light coming up from somewhere.
They looked like lilies of the valley, but were slightly larger in size. It had a light and was shining from all directions. It was also on the ground, and under a huge tree resembling Elandos. Some of the flower buds were floating in the air, shining as if someone had used magic.
In fact, when Jiwoo had decided to go to the most barren land of the Empire, she did not expect to see such a sight.
The empire’s border region was a land dyed black with miasma. This was even the closest to such a land, a forest very dangerous to humans. She thought that such a shimmering place could not exist alongside it.
And here, it was so strange that she was welcomed, even as a human being.
“Um? Helkainis hasn’t arrived yet. I thought he’ll be back tonight. Well, that’s fine.”
As soon as he entered the square holding Jiwoo, the people there all turned their heads at once.
They didn’t feel as hostile as before. Rather, she felt a strong enough sense of favor to overturn it. When their eyes met, everyone smiled lightly, so Jiwoo had to avoid looking at them.
They didn’t even come to greet her first, perhaps they knew Jiwoo felt burdened, or whether Callan had already said something in advance.
As Jiwoo continued to look around shyly, Callan whispered softly.
“If there’s someone you want to talk to, you can go ahead and talk to them. If you don’t want to, you can rest by yourself.”
“Can I really do that?”
“You’re the main character of the banquet. You shouldn’t feel pressured.”
‘What a relief…’
Inwardly, she sighed heavily.
She was worried that she might stiffen up like an idiot while everyone was having fun. She wondered what would happen if her dark personality broke the bright atmosphere of this place.
“But would you like to say greetings? It’s okay just to listen.”
As Jiwoo nodded shyly, Callan held Jiwoo and gestured to some.
Then, as if waiting for Callan’s signal, some people put down what they were doing and came closer to Jiwoo.
Jiwoo was very nervous, but their attitude was pretty straightforward. They greeted her very lightly and didn’t forget to say thank you for saving Helka and Lanceil.
Instead of using the words ‘outsider’ or ‘human’, everyone was friendly, calling out the name ‘Seo Jiwoo’ to address her.
By the time Jiwoo had gotten used to this atmosphere a little, the most familiar among them approached her.
“Hey! You’re awake?”
It was Tevon. An impressive silver hair that is close to a pale yellow color mixed with forsythia. She remembered it because he seemed to be friendly with Lanceil.
She secretly asked Lanceil about Tevon, and he said Tevon was the best hunter here. He was also the one who called Helkainis an ‘old geezer’ and said lightly to stab Helka with a dagger if he’d ever do something to her.
Like the person who said that, Tevon threw a dagger into the air and grabbed it, showing a casual attitude. Perhaps because of his surprisingly light demeanor, holding a weapon in front of her and waving it, he was strangely not threatening at all.
“I’m glad you look healthy. I thought that the old geezer was really going to eat you up.”
Jiwoo asked what she was curious about as he approached.
“How old is Helka, why do you keep calling him that?”
“Very old. He’s going to be over 500 years old.”
“He’s double that, Tevon.”
“…Are you kidding me?”
Tevon looked disgusted and shook his head.
“Anyway, have fun. If you want to hang out with me, just call me.”
Callan whispered as Tevon turned around with his head bowed in a simple manner.
“Tevon is the youngest of us.”
“How old is he?”
“He is going to be mad if I tell you behind his back.”
Jiwoo laughed at those words. The tension that had been pressing on her shoulder since she entered the banquet hall had long since been relieved.
After that, Jiwoo went around the banquet hall in Callan’s arms.
She thought she had only said hello to a few, but when she realized it, she had mixed at least one or two words with most of the people here.
She was astounded by Callandein’s natural consideration. Jiwoo, who greeted everyone here, took a seat in a corner.
The first thing to do is to drink the seemingly not burdensome soup on an empty stomach, but Jiwoo was still stunned that she had naturally absorbed this place.
“I thought… I was going to be the representative and say something.”
“If you want to say something, you can do it.”
“I don’t mean that.”
“What do you think about the atmosphere?”
“Ah… it’s good. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought.”
“You couldn’t think of the reward, did you? Shall I think about it?”
“I am satisfied with just this.”
Jiwoo felt good because the banquet was held for her.
As Jiwoo was staring blankly at the square, Callan, who was next to her, gestured over Jiwoo’s forehead.
“Seo Jiwoo, would you like some wine?”
Something crept and came down from above her head. The grapes came down as they ripened. And the grapes began to tremble and drip aged liquid.
Jiwoo took it all in the empty cup next to her.
“Wow….. What did you do? Is it magic?”
“Growing plants is something we can all do.”
“It’s really amazing.”
Jiwoo was preoccupied with her rush to drink alcohol.
She was amazed at the process of getting alcohol, and the taste was also admirable. She wanted to eat as much meat as a side dish with alcohol, but she had been on an empty stomach for a long time, so Callan gave her an appropriate amount and she finished it. That alone was so good.
“Seo Jiwoo, I’ve been thinking about the reward we’ll give you.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Who’s the most handsome here?”
Calandlein, who had been watching Jiwoo with his chin resting next to her, asked abruptly.
Umm? Uhh? Why was he asking such a question all of a sudden?
Jiwoo was curious and looked around the square.
“…You’re all handsome?”
“Then, can you choose according to your taste?”
“Really?”
“Yes. The flower of this banquet is you, so if you don’t choose, who will?”
As Callan spoke lightly, Jiwoo thought lightly as well. It looked like they were having a contest or a bet between them.
It felt like they were naturally uplifting this, so Jiwoo felt much relieved.
“Then it’s Tevon.”
Had there been Lanceil, she would have picked him. However, he couldn’t attend the banquet due to some things, so she chose the one who most resembled Lanceil and was the closest to him.
Callan nodded his head.
“And?”
“There, that person.”
Jiwoo gestured to the next three or four people roughly. She liked the color of their hair, or the color of their eyes, and some were just on the right height…
It was an action half-driven by alcohol.
* * *
Jiwoo drank alcohol after a long time and she got drunk quickly. The quality of the wine made by these fairy-like people was so good that she drank more than she normally would.
Callan said as she drank and supported Jiwoo, who was lying on the table, to get her up.
Jiwoo, who had become accustomed to being held by him, took a comfortable position.
“Shall we go back now?”
“Yes…”
Jiwoo was carried by Callan and returned to the house where she was staying.
While patting Jiwoo, who snuggled in his arms, Callan gestured to the men Jiwoo had chosen earlier. Among them, Tevon entered.
Jiwoo thought that they saw her leaving the banquet hall too early, so they were seeing her off. She watched them follow with a blank look.
But they followed Jiwoo to the end.
When they entered the large house that had been cut through the old trees, they all came together.
In the end, she had to ask.
“Hey, but why are you following me all the way here?”
Callan said.
“Ah, you picked them earlier. Today they will service you until you go to bed. This is one of our rewards.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Her mind sobered up immediately. Jiwoo asked if it was possible.
“What kind of ’service’?”
“Night… service?”
Jiwoo leaped. She almost jumped out of Callan’s arms.
“No, no! I didn’t mean that? I thought it was a joke…”
“What. Really?”
And with that violent reaction, the quick-witted Tevon frowned.
“It was a joke?”
Tevon’s face turned red. Although Tevon reacted violently as the representative, it was the same for the others as well.
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t/n: tl;dr Jiwoo, as a reward for saving our friends, we’ll give you a buffet of handsome men~ ahahahahahahahaa omgggggg “hey you boys this woman saved our people so you better entertain her” XD