The Day that Should be Celebrated

8th moonlight, 4th year of the new dawn Era.

Today, People all around this country celebrate a very happy occasion. Today is the same day as 4 years ago, the day humanity was finally released from the terror of monsters. You can see their face look full of happiness, celebrating humanity's victory. The street was brimming with all kinds of people who opened stalls selling all kinds of things, mostly food and drinks. Some people are excited and shout with very loud voices, I think there are also someone keep shouting nearby too. Sadly, the street is not all safe. With all these people there bound to be one or two suspicious people who make use of the situation for their own benefit, since I can see one or two people have had their wallets stolen. Ah, there’s another one.

While those people are busy trying to mingle among the sea of people, for both good and bad reasons. I calmly observe and take their picture with my ‘picture stone’ in my hand.

Suddenly, a woman in a nun's clothes with brown short hair was walking cautiously towards me, a beauty nonetheless.

“Um, Sir, what are you doing there?”

“Don’t mind me, I’m alright here.”

“…yes, certainly you look VERY comfortable sitting there.”

“Not quite, my legs are starting to get tired and my back is starting to cramp.”

My legs are starting to hurt holding my body here, wish I could float with magic like the great wizard that always seems to be floating around the hero. And she’s cute too.

“I see, that’s unfortunate.”

“Yeah, don’t worry about it.”

Oh! Another thief! Oh, black water, it’s the same thief as before, can’t use this picture.

“Sir, you did know that Today is the day of Liberation Right? The day the hero and his party defeated the monster king.”

“Of course I know about it. That is why I come here, taking pictures.”

Everybody in this country, no, in this continent, knows about it. It’s weirder if nobody knows about it.

“…Then you should have realized the statue that you are currently sitting on is the hero statue, and you make people who wanted to worship him really uncomfortable here.”

When I look down below, I see a long line of people waiting in front of the hero statue and looking at me with a very bad look. One of them, a man with a bulky body, looked at me like I had killed his entire family while holding an almost crying little girl in one of his hands. Scary.

“…my bad. I will come down now.”

Once I come down, the nun bows towards me with a sigh of relief while the scary, bulky man still stares at me with a death stare.

After bowing towards the nun and the people standing, I hurried my feet so I won’t be mauled to death by the angry mobs. Somehow, I hear people cheering behind me, and when I turn around,

I see the young nun from before is being surrounded by the people cheering her, while her face turns red.

Hmm, nice picture. Thank you very much.

Then what should I do now? The celebration will only start once the sun goes down. Should I go to sleep? Nah, it will be boring. And who knows how many stories I will miss if I go to sleep at this hour.

Okay, it’s decided. I think I’ll just go towards the tavern while waiting for the main show to begin. Who knows, I may catch some big story there, since all those people really loosen their lips once they are drunk enough.

I hope there will be something interesting, just like 8 years ago when I met that immature young man who was crying and smeared his snot everywhere. Whoever guessed that awkward and immature young man would become someone really influential now. If only this ‘picture stone’ had been invented, I could have shown everyone how funny his face was at that time.

I think that man must enjoy his life right now, with all the riches and women he could find now. I mean, he has finally found success in life, what else will he do if it’s not that?

While reminiscing about the past for a bit, I have arrived in the tavern. Smells of booze and sweat are flying in the air. What a great smell, it’s the smell of a great story waiting.

After choosing an empty table placed in a very great place, right in the middle of the tavern, I got seated and raised my hand, trying to attract the waitress who seemed busy already.

While waiting for the waitress to come, I can hear all kinds of stories. From the excitement of the celebration today, a man crying his eyes out because his wife is cheating, to a young man with great ambition talking big about his dreams.

'What a great place.’

Yeah, what a great place. I can hear all kinds of stories just by sitting here without even doing anything, and before I realize, the waitress with clothes that make it hard for me to look comes with some empty plates and mugs.

“Alright, mister. What do you want to order? Ah, by the way, we ran out of meat and cheese. I think we only have ale for drinks, and for food, we still have some fruits and a lot of bread.”

“Ale is good for me. And for food, just give me whatever you can.”

“I see. Then it will be 15 copper for a portion of an ale and food.”

I toss her a gold coin, and she catches it with her free hand.

“Wow, gold coins. I think it will take a while if you need any changes, since it’s crowded here.”

“No worries. Will be here for a while, waiting for the hero speech after all. Will ask for a refill when needed.”

“Okay, wait for a bit here. Will come after I finish what I have in hand now.”

After giving her a sign that it was alright with my hand, I continued hearing the stories around me while waiting for my ale and food.

Suddenly, my eyes caught on someone. It was the back of someone I know, but it’s almost impossible for him to be here since he is extremely famous right now. But somehow, he just hunched his back in the corner and drank alone without anyone realizing it. If my hunch is right, it will be him. But if not, and it was just some stranger? Well, that in itself is also interesting.

After giving an exaggerated sign that I will move my table from afar to the waitress from before. I walk towards the lone man's table along with a weirded face from the waitress and the people around me. I wonder why.

Not long after, I arrived in front of the lone guy. He looked a bit startled, maybe because he was surprised. Anyway, I need to break the ice since I believe he has already forgotten about me. So, without wasting any more time, I greeted him.

“Mr. Hero, may I have a bit of your time?”