Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends - V 2.2 Chapter 4.4

Today, I had the day off, so I decided to head into town for a bit of a change of pace. The festival’s just around the corner, so the guild has been in a frenzy. Dan and Ruri suggested I take a break now, since things will only get busier once the festivities begin.

I was a little uneasy about possibly running into any Aluda people, but if I let that stop me, it’d only shrink my world. I haven’t done anything wrong—so I should hold my head high.

With Lulu and the little birds in tow, I began walking through the town. It was already bustling with preparations for the summer festival.

The streets were packed, full of cheerful chatter and lively commotion.

“Hey, Kuna-chan! Out for a stroll?”

“Hello! I thought I’d do a little shopping to clear my head.”

“I see. The town’s been real lively lately, so stay alert, alright? Oh, here—take this.”

The kind old man from the sweets shop I frequent slipped me some baked treats in secret.

“Eh? Are you sure?”

“I went a little overboard with the baking today. Don’t tell anyone, alright?”

He said with a wink, pressing a finger to his lips in a playful shh. I bowed deeply and gratefully accepted the sweets.

When I placed them in my basket, Lulu, who had been at my feet, started wagging her tail excitedly.

“Later, okay?”

At that, she began darting around, eyes sparkling with excitement.

As I continued down the street, for some reason, people kept calling out to me.

“Kuna-chan, here, take this with you!”

“Kuna-chan, this is for you! If you’d like it, please!”

One after another, shopkeepers began tossing items into my basket. I was completely taken aback.

What’s going on with everyone today? But when I looked closer, I noticed they were handing out extras to the other customers too. Business must be booming!

Even when I passed by Beryl’s bakery, Solaris’s aunt handed me a sweet bun shaped like a rabbit.

“Our Solaris is always in your care, you know.”

The plump auntie said that as she gently patted my head.

Solaris-chan was working her shift again today, which was a huge help.

The Beryl family had lots of children, and Solaris was the second youngest daughter. She’s hoping to become an appraiser in the future, and as part of her training, she’s been helping out part-time at the guild café too.

“Thank you. Everyone’s been so generous lately… Ah, not that you’re not always kind! I mean, even more than usual!”

When I said that with a flustered smile, Beryl’s aunt gave a hearty laugh.

“Well, it’s because you’re just too cute, Kuna-chan! When we see you working so hard, we just can’t help but want to spoil you a little.”

“N-No way…”

As I gave an awkward laugh, she suddenly looked serious and said,

“No, really. Kuna-chan, you flew through the sky on a griffon not long ago, right? Ever since that happened, there’s hardly anyone in this town who doesn’t know who you are.”

Now that she mentions it, I did fly over the town on Ares’s back. People at the café often bring it up.

“Everyone sees you like their own daughter, Kuna-chan. We all just want to look out for you.”

“……”

Even if I try to hide it, I suppose people can sense something about me. Not so much where I’m from, but more like… that I probably don’t have a place to go back to.

“If anything ever gets too hard, Kuna-chan, you come talk to us, okay? There’s a lot of good folks in this town. Sure, plenty of troublemakers come in from outside, but I know the people here will be on your side.”

“…Thank you.”

A gentle warmth bloomed in my chest. The auntie gave a mischievous grin and said,

“Well, to tell the truth, business is booming during the festival season. Makes us feel extra generous, you know?”

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. During the seven days of the summer festival, the dungeon gets filled with a strange light. The items you can find during that time shoot up in quality. Everyone in this adventurer town knows that, so the money starts flowing better right before and after the festival.”

Wow… I had no idea. So that’s what’s behind all the bustle.

“So don’t worry about it, Kuna-chan! Take whatever people give you! We might not be able to do much, but during times like these, we want to do what little we can.”

I bowed my head and thanked her again.

After that, Beryl’s aunt even handed some bread crumbs to Lulu and the others — completely winning them over in no time.