By the time the group slipped out from backstage, the streets outside had already turned into an ocean of revelry.
Fanatical fans holding portraits of the “Fallen Saintess” were everywhere, and many people were even imitating Celia’s recent outfit, parading through the streets with iron chains hanging from their necks.
“Looks like we won’t be able to get out.”
Elent poked his head out for a look and quickly retracted it.
If they walked out dressed as they were now, they would definitely be surrounded like living action figures until the way was completely blocked.
Celia wrapped her black cloak tightly around her. Although it could cover the shameful nun habit, it couldn’t hide the strange collective aura of the four of them.
“We have to find a way.”
Celia’s gaze swept across a small mask stall by the roadside, which was hung with all sorts of weirdly shaped masks.
“Boss, I’ll buy some masks.”
***
A few minutes later, the four of them returned to the street.
Yuna wore a delicate Red Fox Mask on her face, exuding an air of shrewd calculation that perfectly matched her temperament.
Lynn chose a cute White Rabbit Mask, its long ears swaying with every step.
Elent had a traditional Hero Mask strapped to his face. It had an exaggerated design with golden wings painted on both sides.
“Priestess, why is mine the only one like this?” Elent adjusted the mask that was about to slide off, his tone sounding a bit aggrieved. “The stall owner said this was stagnant stock, so he gave it to us as a buy-three-get-one-free deal.”
“Doesn’t it suit you perfectly?”
Celia walked at the very front.
She was wearing a Salted Fish Mask with a vacant expression. A pair of dead fish eyes stared blankly ahead, mouth slightly agape, radiating a sense of decadent detachment as if she had seen through the world.
“Stop talking and lead the way.”
“Yes!”
Wearing the Hero Mask, Elent moved to the front. Although the mask was tacky, his tall physique still acted like a bulldozer in the crowded throng, forcibly carving out a path.
After passing through the crowded fan zones, they reached the night market of Baker City.
Celia’s eyes brightened behind the mask, and the decadence of the dead fish eyes vanished instantly.
“Over there!”
Celia pointed a finger toward the stall with the longest line, where the sign depicted a row of BBQ skewers thicker than an arm.
“Want to eat?” Yuna walked leisurely behind her.
“Yes.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” Yuna pulled a handful of Gold Coins from her satchel and casually tossed them to Elent. “This lady is picking up the tab tonight. Get whatever you want to eat!”
With the financier’s promise, Celia completely let loose.
“Four of those BBQ skewers, extra spicy.”
“Two boxes of takoyaki from over there.”
“And that fried potato cake!”
In front of the originally crowded stalls, Celia relied on the residual energy of the Happy Water she had just drunk and hadn’t metabolized yet. She moved as fast as lightning, weaving through the gaps in the crowd like a slippery loach.
Often, before the customers in front could even react, money had been stuffed into their hands, and the last portion of food on the rack was already in Celia’s possession.
“Elent, hold this!”
Celia piled the snatched spoils into Elent’s arms all at once.
Before long, this Hero Candidate had completely devolved into a human display shelf.
A bag full of takoyaki hung from his left hand, four giant BBQ skewers were held in his right, a string of candied haws hung around his neck, and two boxes of fried noodles were tucked under his elbows.
“Priestess, I can’t carry any more…” Elent’s voice emerged from behind the pile of food.
“Hang in there, there’s an ice cream vendor ahead.”
Celia charged toward her next target without looking back.
Lynn followed behind, holding only a single stick of cotton candy. She looked at the buried Elent, then at Celia, who was currently in a feeding frenzy, and finally took a quiet bite of her cotton candy.
It was sweet.
Half an hour later, the scavenging ended.
With their hands full of goods, the four of them squeezed onto a high platform at the edge of the Village Square. The view here was wide, directly facing the central clock tower, making it an excellent spot to watch the fireworks.
“Phew—”
Celia took off her mask and pushed it to the top of her head, revealing a face flushed red from the shopping spree. She then took the oversized BBQ skewer handed over by Elent and, disregarding her image, took a huge bite.
The mutton, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, exploded between her teeth, and rich juices flowed down the corners of her mouth.
“I’ve come back to life.”
Celia chewed the meat, letting out a satisfied sigh.
Nothing was more healing than a high-calorie carb bomb after a tense, socially humiliating performance.
“Bang!”
The first firework suddenly shot into the sky, exploding into a golden daisy against the pitch-black curtain of night.
Immediately following, red, green, and purple lights rose one after another, dyeing the night sky of Baker City as bright as day.
The noisy crowd went silent in that instant, leaving only the rising and falling sounds of wonder.
Yuna took off her mask and, using the light from the fireworks, pulled out her notebook.
“This purple color scheme is good; it has a sense of mystery. Next season’s new products can use this tone.”
As Yuna watched, she wrote and drew on the paper, her occupational disease fully on display at this moment.
“Wow, so pretty!”
Lynn gripped the railing with both hands, tilting her head back as the sky-filling fire reflected in her eyes.
Elent used his broad back to block the surging crowd behind them, creating a safe space for the three girls in front.
After confirming the surroundings were safe, he turned his head to look at Celia beside him.
The girl’s mouth was stuffed full like a hamster mid-meal. The light of the fireworks shone on her face, making those eyes that usually lacked motivation look exceptionally bright.
Watching this scene, Elent scratched the back of his head and gave a silly smile.
“Priestess.”
“Mm?” Celia responded unclearly, her gaze never leaving the BBQ skewer in her hand.
“Are the fireworks beautiful?”
“They’re alright.”
Celia swallowed the meat in her mouth and took another sip of the half-bottle of Happy Water left in her hand.
“They look a bit like freshly fried onion rings exploding.”
“…”
Elent choked for a moment, the sentimental words he originally wanted to say getting stuck in his throat.
As expected, it was impossible to count on the Priestess saying anything romantic.
“However.”
Celia licked the sauce from the corner of her mouth and looked up.
Golden sparks burst overhead, interweaving with one another.
Surrounding her was Yuna’s mumbling about accounts, Lynn’s excited screams, and the steady breathing of the idiot Hero behind her.
Although she had been exhausted to death these past few days, not only being specially trained by her teacher but also forced to wear that shameful outfit and lose face on stage—even almost dying of social embarrassment because of a burp.
But at this moment, there was no work and no overtime. Instead, she was feeling the night breeze, eating BBQ, and watching fireworks that didn’t cost a cent.
Enjoying life was truly wonderful.
The corners of Celia’s mouth curled up slightly.
“This kind of day isn’t too bad.”
“Do you want to come back next year?” Elent asked.
“Depends on my mood.”
Celia stuffed the last piece of meat into her mouth and patted the free coupons in her pocket that she had traded her dignity for.
“If there’s free BBQ to eat, I might consider it.”
Of course, that was assuming she hadn’t successfully retired by then.
What a glutton thank for translating