The streets on the eve of the Hunting Festival were even more crowded than last year.
Qiu Meng and Shalin each held a roasted apple as they slowly walked down the stone steps.
The apple skin was slightly wrinkled from baking, glazed with a layer of honey and sprinkled with fine laurel sugar powder. When she bit into it, the sweet and sour juice rushed into her mouth with the heat.
“Mmm…!”
Even though it was a bit hot, Qiu Meng still ate quickly, afraid someone might snatch it away.
Shalin watched her blissful expression with great joy.
“If it’s good, eat slowly. Careful, it’s hot.”
“Hey…! I’m already eating slowly!”
“You call that wolfing down slow?”
“Th-That’s because it’s so delicious. The fault isn’t mine—it’s the apple’s.”
Shalin let out a soft laugh.
On both sides of the stone steps leading down to the market below, colorful glass lanterns had already been hung.
Not far away, a bard was playing the harp, while on the other side, vendors called out one after another.
“Hunting Festival exclusive moonberry pudding!”
“Spiced roast meat just delivered by the southern caravan! Miss tonight, and it might not be here next year!”
“This town… really is lively.”
Qiu Meng murmured quietly.
“Mm.” Shalin nodded. “After all, everyone rarely gets to be this lively. The border is usually too tense. When you can smile, you have to smile properly.”
But Qiu Meng wasn’t completely immersed in the bustle.
She was still watching the guards.
On both sides of the street, patrol guards with lanterns checked the stalls at regular intervals.
They confirmed the vendors’ permits, the source of their goods, and whether any unregistered merchants were present.
On the surface, it was a routine patrol on the eve of the Hunting Festival. But whenever Qiu Meng saw someone with silver hair, she became a little on edge.
‘Silver-haired guard… the one with wolf-like eyes… where is he?’
But she was so focused that she didn’t watch where she was going.
“Xiao Meng!”
Shalin’s voice rang out as Qiu Meng’s foot slipped.
Someone had spilled juice on the edge of the stone step. She stepped on it and slipped, losing her balance and tumbling forward.
“Whoa—!”
In the next instant, several nearly invisible threads shot from Shalin’s fingertips.
The threads wrapped around Qiu Meng’s waist, arms, and shoulders, pulling her back steadily.
But the roasted apple in Qiu Meng’s hand rolled away without hesitation, bouncing down the steps until a little boy picked it up and handed it to a nearby dog.
The dog sniffed it, then ran off with it.
“😋”
Qiu Meng was silent for two seconds.
“My apple…”
“Is the apple the main issue here?”
Shalin supported her and sighed softly.
“Xiao Meng, you have to watch where you’re walking. You’ve only just recovered a little. If you fell and hurt yourself and couldn’t walk, what would we do…?”
“Sorry…”
Shalin didn’t scold her. Instead, she crouched down to check her arm.
Although the threads had caught her and she hadn’t fallen directly, the movement had pulled at the scabbed wound on her right arm.
A faint red stain seeped through the bandage.
“The wound reopened…”
“It’s okay, Mom… It doesn’t hurt.”
“Liar.”
Shalin reached out and gently placed her fingertips on Qiu Meng’s arm.
Warm mana slowly seeped through the bandage, easing the sting of the wound little by little. Qiu Meng’s shoulders relaxed.
“Be more careful next time, okay?”
Shalin patted her head and pinched her cheek.
“Mm-hmm!”
Qiu Meng nodded obediently.
“And don’t stare at the guards so much that you forget to watch your step.”
“Umm…”
“What does ‘umm’ mean?”
“It means… I’ll change…!”
“Then it’s a deal. Watch where you’re going, okay?”
Shalin smiled and took her hand.
The mother and daughter continued down to the end of the stone steps.
Purple violets bloomed lushly by the roadside, their pale petals swaying gently in the night breeze.
Many small shops had hung colorful glass lanterns, burning candles imbued with natural affinity.
It was the festive scent unique to this border town—something like pine, like chrysanthemum, like sun-dried lavender.
The fragrance was very calming.
Qiu Meng looked around, and suddenly a tempting aroma drifted from a stall on the left.
It was the smell of cheese-baked potatoes.
She stopped abruptly and turned very seriously.
“Mom.”
“Hmm?”
“There’s something delicious over there!”
Shalin saw the light in her eyes and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Didn’t we just have a roasted apple?”
“But… I didn’t finish it because the dog took it…!”
“So I need a cheese potato to compensate!”
Shalin’s shoulders shook with laughter.
“Alright~ Let’s go take a look.”
They walked to the stall. The vendor was a round-faced young man with a white cloth tied around his head, focused on flipping potatoes in the oven with an iron fork.
The potato skins were roasted golden brown, steam rising from the slits. A pot of cheese was bubbling beside it.
“Welcome! How many cheese potatoes would you like?”
Shalin looked down and asked:
“How many does Xiao Meng want?”
“One… no, I want two!”
“Two?”
Shalin pointed at the sample on the display stand.
Qiu Meng realized that one cheese potato was as big as two of her fists.
“That big?”
“Mm, very big.”
“Th-Then I’ll just have half.”
Shalin said softly:
“Then how about we share one, Xiao Meng?”
“Okay~”
The vendor took out a wooden box, used the iron fork to pick up a steaming hot potato, skillfully cut the skin, and scooped two large spoonfuls of rich cheese over it. The golden cheese slowly dripped down the edges of the potato, looking almost criminally tempting.
“Here you go. Your cheese potato.”
“Thank you~”
“Thank you!”
Shalin paid and asked for two small wooden spoons, handing one to Qiu Meng.
“Take a bite.”
Qiu Meng scooped up a big spoonful, blew on it carefully, and put it in her mouth.
The cheese was incredibly rich and thick, while the potato was soft and sweet. The slightly burnt bottom had a crispy texture. The aroma spread in her mouth, and Qiu Meng’s eyes narrowed involuntarily.
“This potato is so good~”
“Is it?”
Shalin smiled at her but didn’t rush to take a bite herself.
Qiu Meng scooped another spoonful and brought it to her mother’s mouth.
“Mom, you eat too!”
“Eh? I’ll eat later…”
“No. Mom has to eat cheese potatoes with me right now…!”
Shalin blew on it gently, took a small bite, chewed, and swallowed.
“Mm, it’s really delicious~”
“Hehe…! Right?”
Qiu Meng looked very proud.
After they finished sharing the cheese potato, Qiu Meng was already a bit full. She patted her belly and reluctantly looked away from the pizza stall.
“Waaah… so sad… I can’t eat anymore.”
“Well, you can eat again tomorrow. No need to rush.”
“Mm…!”
Shalin took her hand and continued walking.
Before long, the stalls shifted from snacks to games.
There were ring toss games, poker tables, and a shooting stall set up with hand crossbows.
Wooden shelves hung with small prizes: plush toys, candy bags, small protective charms, and a stack of exquisitely crafted special cards.
Qiu Meng looked at them with an eager expression.
“I want to try shooting!”
“Then let’s go~”
The shooting stall displayed a row of small toy hand crossbows. The bolts were specially treated, with soft cork tips that wouldn’t hurt anyone. The targets stood a dozen paces away.
Qiu Meng picked up a hand crossbow and immediately put on a confident face.
“Hmph, I’m an expert.”
‘I have to show Mom my aim from the amusement park in my past life!’
The shopkeeper stood up, gripping the wooden chair armrest.
He was a middle-aged man with a short beard under his chin, and his smile was very warm.
“Welcome! Want to try shooting? Hit the bullseye and win a special card. Rings seven to two get plush toys. Miss and you get nothing. One copper coin for two bolts. How many would you two like?”
Qiu Meng looked at the target, then at the toy crossbow, feeling completely confident.
Shalin took five copper coins from her pocket.
“Let’s start with ten.”
Then Shalin pulled ten bolts from the side and handed them to Qiu Meng.
“Go for it, Xiao Meng~”
“I’ll do my best!”
“Even if you miss, it’s okay. If you want a prize, Mom can help you.”
“No need… My skills are fine!”
Qiu Meng carefully loaded a bolt and raised the crossbow.
‘After all, I’ve used real crossbows… and I was good at target shooting in my past life!’
Qiu Meng slowed her breathing, aimed, and immediately pulled the trigger.
Fwoosh—
The bolt flew out and hit just above the bullseye.
Nine rings.
“Hmph!”
Qiu Meng lifted her chin proudly.
‘They didn’t tamper with these weapons… This world is way too honest!’
Shalin clapped with a smile.
“As expected of Xiao Meng.”
The shopkeeper’s smile stiffened slightly.
Second bolt.
Qiu Meng adjusted her angle slightly and pulled the trigger again.
Another nine rings.
The shopkeeper’s expression turned sour.
He nonchalantly stepped across the area and reached out to adjust the target stand.
“The target was a bit crooked earlier. It’s fine now.”
Qiu Meng blinked, not understanding what he was adjusting.
The third bolt shot out.
She had aimed perfectly, but the moment it touched the target, it seemed to be gently deflected by something and fell straight to the ground.
“What happened?”
Qiu Meng was stunned.
‘Damn… I didn’t think they’d actually rig it.’
Shalin’s eyes also turned cold.
Just then, unhurried footsteps came from beside them.
A red-haired girl walked up to the shooting line, drew a pistol from her waist, and raised it.
The grip was carved with golden patterns, a diamond-shaped fire mana stone embedded in the magazine, and runes engraved around the muzzle. The girl’s wrist movement was clean and decisive. Without aiming, she pulled the trigger.
Bang!
A mana bullet shot through the air, hitting the target precisely.
A faint ring of light burst at the center of the target.
Qiu Meng stood frozen.
“A gun…?”
This was the first time she had seen a firearm in Karasel.
Not gunpowder, but a magic gun powered by mana stones.
“No bullets, and almost no recoil… That’s amazing…”
She murmured in awe, then quickly reacted.
“No, that’s cheating!”
The red-haired girl turned around.
She wasn’t much older than Qiu Meng, but her clothes were clearly luxurious. Silver thread adorned her cape, and a decorative chain bearing the count’s family crest hung at her waist. Her eyes were calm and clear, carrying the natural composure of a noble’s child.
Shalin frowned slightly, looked at the target, then turned her gaze to the red-haired girl.
“Are you… the Border Count’s daughter?”
The girl smiled and nodded.
“Hello, I’m Kapei Liuna.”
Shalin still wore a smile, but her gaze became more scrutinizing.
“Hello, Miss Liuna. But I’d like to know—why did you take my daughter’s target?”
“Sorry, let me apologize first!”
Liuna bowed her head frankly.
“I didn’t mean to steal your target, but this one is rigged. If I hadn’t shot, it would have been hard to prove on the spot.”
The shopkeeper immediately panicked.
“Don’t talk nonsense! You need evidence!”
Liuna walked to the target, crouched down, and picked up a few tiny mana stone fragments from the ground.
“This is the evidence.”
Qiu Meng also went over to look.
The fragments retained a very faint mana fluctuation, as if they had been embedded inside the target’s surface.
Liuna frowned and muttered:
“Damn… they lose effect once broken. I miscalculated!”
Qiu Meng raised her crossbow and aimed at the adjacent target.
“Since the target is fine now, I’ll shoot another arrow.”
She was about to pull the trigger when Shalin gently moved her behind her.
The shopkeeper was relentless.
“Young miss, since it’s a misunderstanding, don’t you think you should pay compensation?”
As he spoke, his right eye shifted slightly, and a gleam like mana stone reflection appeared deep in his pupil.
Shalin lowered her voice.
“Xiao Meng… step back. This guy’s off. He can use magic.”
Qiu Meng obediently retreated, gripping her crossbow tightly.
It was only a toy-grade training crossbow, not very powerful. But if she shot it close to his eye, it might buy them some time.
Liuna seemed not to notice the shopkeeper’s eyes and just sighed helplessly.
“Fine. This is my fault. Tell me, how much do you want?”
The shopkeeper blurted out:
“At least ten silver coins!”
Liuna was startled.
Qiu Meng was also shocked.
Ten silver coins equaled two hundred copper coins, and a strong ox cost only about four hundred copper coins. A shooting target worth half an ox?
“Ha? Ten silver coins? How can a target be that expensive?”
Liuna clearly couldn’t believe it.
The shopkeeper walked up to Liuna with an air of self-righteousness.
“Miss, this is a special imported target from the Four Alliance Merchants’ Union!”
As soon as the words “Four Alliance Merchants’ Union” left his mouth, Qiu Meng felt a stir in her heart.
Shalin leaned close to her ear and whispered:
“See, Xiao Meng? This is the kind of swindler that fleeces people without mercy.”
Qiu Meng nodded silently.
“…Mm.”
Liuna gritted her teeth, clearly not wanting to argue with the shopkeeper out on the street. She took ten silver coins from her purse and handed them to him.
“Fine. I’ll take the loss today.”
The shopkeeper took the money, a smug grin spreading across his face.
Then Shalin spoke coolly:
“And my daughter’s prize?”
The shopkeeper turned his head, his smile turning more brazen.
“Prize? The target’s broken. Do you have any shooting record?”
Before he could finish.
“Oh… is that so?”
Shalin kicked him directly in the face.
Bam!
The shopkeeper flew backward, crashing heavily into the wooden shelf behind him and falling unconscious on the spot. Plush toys, cards, and candy bags rained down with a clatter. Passersby stopped and looked over.
Shalin stood where she was, her skirt settling, then patted the dust off her hem.
“Disgusting…”
Qiu Meng’s eyes lit up.
“Next time you run into someone like this and there’s a reliable third party around, teach them a lesson. Got it?”
“Got it!”
Shalin ruffled her hair.
“As long as you’re sure they’re not in on it, don’t hold back. People like that only learn from a beating.”
Liuna watched with a cold sweat.
Soon, two patrol guards arrived.
Liuna briefly explained the situation and revealed her identity. The guards saw the mana stone fragments on the ground and confirmed the remaining magical reaction in the shopkeeper’s eyes, then immediately dragged him away for investigation.