【Reason for Participating in the Founding Festival】
I answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“Yes, I will.”
“Really?”
Anne’s eyes widened as if she hadn’t expected that answer at all.
Perhaps Anne’s reaction was only natural.
It’s difficult to achieve good results at the Founding Festival held around this time. In fact, it’s practically impossible.
So, she probably thinks of it as the ambition of a naive young lady who doesn’t know anything.
In contrast, I acted nonchalantly.
“Yeah.”
From my perspective, there was no reason to refuse the invitation to the Founding Festival.
If I participate in the competition and achieve good results, there will be rewards, and there’s even the fun of watching.
‘Besides, most of the qualified young ladies will be participating in the festival, right?’
Yes, that’s it!
Meeting my sister there under the guise of coincidence.
You could call it a kind of ‘Destiny’s Destiny Strategy.’
‘Then there will be more opportunities to build friendship during the festival, right?’
Moreover, during the festival, there would be small food stalls and vendors on the streets, perfect for exchanging small gifts with my sister in a simple way.
Then, setting the target for capture would be completed immediately, so where else would there be such a good opportunity?
Of course! Absolutely!
A smile spread across my face at the plausible thought.
‘First, I need some small items to execute the plan.’
The next day afternoon.
“Anne, I’m going shopping for a bit.”
“What? Are you going alone?”
“Yeah, I’ll be back soon. You don’t have to worry!”
I cut off Anne’s worries in advance and put on a very cheerful expression.
“Then, please be careful, Miss!”
Anne quickly backed down and happily waved her hand.
She knows that I’m the type to get things done if I set my mind to it.
I left the house with a happy heart, receiving Anne’s farewell.
Before long, I arrived at a general store not far from the town square.
The exterior of the building seemed quite old, but the interior was full of items that would make your jaw drop.
You could find a wider variety of items in the afternoon than in the early morning.
There’s always a distribution time.
‘What should I buy first?’
First, I took a basket placed at the entrance and hung the handle on my arm.
I moved my eyes busily.
All my stats were still lacking.
Because of that, there were many cases where I couldn’t participate in the Founding Festival due to insufficient basic stamina in the early stages of the game.
There was a limit to building basic stamina through exercise alone.
The solution I chose to solve that problem was items.
‘There’s a reason why people say “item power” exists.’
Spending money was a sure way to achieve good results.
It reduces stress and saves time.
‘Plus, if I pass the preliminary round, I can get a pretty good item.’
The item given as a reward for passing the preliminary round was ‘Love Goggles.’
Like the name suggests, it had the effect of making the target see you through rose-colored glasses and gain their interest.
That was also the reason why I had to participate in this Founding Festival at all costs.
To do that, I had to meet the basic requirements for participating in the Founding Festival first.
I quickly looked through the shelves and stopped in front of the liquid items.
‘What? Why are there so many kinds?’
As I repeatedly felt after possessing this body, while the big picture of the game story was maintained, the details were often slightly modified or changed.
Just like now.
The colorful shapes in the transparent glass bottles were very beautiful, but the product name tags said otherwise.
I read the name tags attached to the bottom of the glass bottles in order from the left.
[Taste of Soup Stirred with Frog’s Hind Legs]
[Taste of Plant Roots Grown in the Wilderness]
[Taste of Earth After the Rain]
[Taste of Morning Dew]
[Taste of Drinking Something Next to Something Delicious]
[The Taste We Know]
Moreover, the changed point was not only the increased number of types.
Before, you could raise your stamina stat with ‘The Taste We Know,’ but now it said that you had to choose three different tastes out of the six types to improve your stamina.
It was hard to just laugh it off at the bizarre name tags; the situation had become quite serious.
‘What should I choose to be the least terrible?’
As I was deeply troubled because I had never tasted the other flavors, a recommendation list placed on the left side of the display caught my eye.
[1. The Taste We Know]
[2. Taste of Drinking Something Next to Something Delicious]
[3. Taste of Plant Roots Grown in the Wilderness]
“Yes, this is it!”
When you don’t know well, choosing what the majority prefers can reduce the probability of failure.
This was like a life lesson that came from experience.
I happily recalled the list and returned to the display stand.
But.
“Crazy!”
Two out of the three items on the recommendation list were already sold out.
“No, how can they all be sold out like they grew wings in the short time I looked away?”
Does that make sense?
I couldn’t understand it at all, but the situation was urgent.
Moreover, there was only one left of ‘The Taste We Know.’
‘Ah, even this!’
Just as I desperately reached out like a ferocious beast.
My hand bumped into someone’s.
“…!!”
“Say?”
The other person was a very unexpected figure.
“Sister?”
I was so surprised that the sound of my heart beating grew even louder.
I never thought I would run into my sister here.
“Are you doing well?”
My sister asked me cautiously, looking at me.
It seemed like she was worried about what happened that day.
Moreover, my sister was the one who saved me.
I nodded and tried to look as calm as possible.
“Ah, yes. How about you, Sister?”
“Me too, well.”
“Haha! I see.”
Even while exchanging awkward greetings, I kept glancing at the items.
Although it was an unexpected situation, I couldn’t forget the purpose of coming here.
I quickly grabbed ‘The Taste We Know’ when my sister turned her gaze away.
‘Got it!’
Only after getting one in my hand did I realize what I looked like now.
‘Ugh, I must look so funny right now.’
Today, without fail, Anne had gathered my hair together and tied it up as if I were sitting cross-legged.
This style was currently the maximum that Anne could do with her skills, and I hadn’t paid much attention to it today.
I never dreamed that I would run into my sister in this state.
‘Sigh, if I had known, I would have let my hair down and worn a bonnet.’
It was no use regretting it now.
I just wanted to get out of this situation.
Fortunately, my sister didn’t seem to mind my appearance at all.
“How’s your knee?”
“Yes? My knee?”
Ah!
My cheeks flushed at the sudden question.
It was nothing but a nuisance, that my sister would bring up what happened that day.
Even worse, the memories of the past that were forcibly injected came to mind.
‘Sister, you have to marry me when you grow up.’
Oh my god.
Isn’t this just a complete release of embarrassing history?
It wasn’t enough to just build good feelings, but I was clinging to her to marry me, and yesterday I was lying in the middle of the road saying I was going to die.
My face ripened like a bright red tomato.
‘Ugh, should I just feel the pain one more time and regress again?’
I thought the start wasn’t too bad, but now it seemed like I was on a path to ruin.
I barely swallowed my shame and answered.
“Thanks to you, it’s healing well.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Ah, well thank you for what happened that day.”
“I didn’t bring it up again to get another thank you. I was just wondering if that thought was healing well too.”
“Ah, that thought?”
Of course, Sister. I’m over it.
I came to my senses faster than anyone else and set you as my target, haha!
I couldn’t say that, so I expressed it indirectly.
“Well! I’m considering it in a pretty positive direction.”
“Really?”
“Yes, so you don’t have to worry anymore. Then, I’ll go first.”
Really, seriously! I didn’t want to be here in this shabby state any longer.
Just as I finished saying goodbye and was about to turn around quickly.
“Say, wait a minute.”
My sister called out to me.
“Won’t you give that to me?”
My sister’s gaze was fixed on the potion bottle in my hand.
“Yes? This?”
“Yeah.”
I was so flustered that I couldn’t hide my surprise.
Why would my sister want this?
Actually, it wasn’t my business what my sister bought, but for a brief moment, all sorts of thoughts were jumbled in my head.
‘If I give the item to my sister.’
I might get closer to my sister because of this.
But the picture I had in mind was never like this.
How much will my life change if I give up this one item?
‘Yes, get a grip. Don’t forget the purpose of coming here!’
I clearly made that judgment in my head.
But,
‘Uh-oh? Why is this happening? It’s definitely my hand.’
My hand was already reaching out to my sister.
Reason had already been consumed by instinct.
“Thank you. My mother will like it.”
Mother?
I doubted my ears for a moment.
Yes, that could be.
Adults’ tastes are still in an area that we can’t understand.
Above all.
‘It’s not for any other reason, but because your mother likes it.’
How can I win against that?
It’s come too far to ask for it back now.
“Thank you so much, Say.”
This time, my sister even gave a small smile.
It was just a word of thanks, but my lips quickly drew a curve as if someone was controlling them.
“Haha, it’s nothing. If you need anything, just say the word.”
Oh dear!
I quickly covered my mouth.
I don’t think I needed to say anything more.
Regret washed over me for the unnecessary slip of the tongue.
And now I knew.
‘I’m a character who’s weak to my sister. A lot!’
It seemed that my position in the game was that my sister was ‘the boss’ and I was ‘the subordinate.’
Then I thought I had no choice but to pull myself together even more.
‘That’s right!’
Suddenly, a method came to mind.
Crisis is an opportunity.
I asked slyly with a triumphant smile.
“Sister, what are you doing during the Founding Festival?”
“Founding Festival?”
“Yes! I’m going to participate in this festival. Shall we have a meal and tea together then?”
I went straight ahead without hesitation. As if there was no backing down in my dictionary.
As the old saying goes, strike while the iron is hot?
If I’ve already decided to do it, it wouldn’t be bad to go for it.
I smiled brightly, confident of victory.
‘Yes, strategy is nothing special.’
Even if the first meeting was like that, seeing her by chance at the general store, it seems that my sister and I have a special connection.
‘This is what destiny is. Hehe.’
I happily turned on the positive circuit and cheered inwardly.
However, my hope collapsed in an instant.
“Sorry. I don’t like to make promises I can’t keep.”