The Festival’s Secret Hunt

“Fruit candy, so sweet and refreshing!”

“Come and see this toy my family made! Just give it a spin, and it makes a lovely sound!”

Strolling through the village night market, South Creek found the lively scene before her involuntarily overlapping with memories from another world. Yet, unlike those memories, the fruit candy here was truly made by encasing real fruit in a delicate layer of sugar, and each toy was meticulously crafted by the villagers’ own hands.

As she extended her tongue to taste the candy in her hand, its sweet aroma, mingled with the fresh scent of earth and the faint whiff of fireworks, filled her nostrils. Not far away, a burly man, wielding a blazing torch, tirelessly swung it in an open clearing. The flickering firelight illuminated his hearty laughter and the beads of sweat tracing paths down his cheeks. Beside him, numerous villagers stood captivated, occasionally clapping and cheering.

The man, growing visibly more excited, gripped the torch, gave it a mighty swing, puffed out his cheeks, and, with eyes wide, seized the opportune moment to blow with all his might. Immediately, a burst of brilliant fireworks erupted in the air, their shapes resembling the fiery clouds of sunset. With this spectacular display, cheers reverberated throughout the entire night market.

South Creek and Fanny wove their way through the throngs and dancing shadows, their gaze lingering at every stall. Every so often, as they passed various snack vendors, kind aunties and uncles would casually hand them a skewer of fresh delicacies. While the two initially attempted to decline, upon realizing they simply couldn’t resist the villagers’ overwhelming warmth, they decided to accept every offering and wholeheartedly enjoy the feast.

Joy and sorrow were particularly palpable for the people of this world; the residents of the fields possessed a keen sensitivity to emotions. On this harvest festival, the villagers expressed the most fervent happiness of the entire year, singing, dancing, and erupting in thunderous cheers that occasionally startled onlookers, causing them to glance around, searching for the source of the jubilation.

The collective mood was entirely ignited by the festive atmosphere, so much so that even performances typically deemed mundane on an ordinary day received fervent applause and boisterous blessings from the crowd. Naturally, on such a special festival, the presence of deities was indispensable. Besides the essential Harvest God, Star God, and Supreme Goddess, even the Forest God, River God, Day and Night Gods, and surprisingly, the Wisdom God—who seemed entirely unrelated—would manifest in various forms within the corners of the night market.

“Wow, you can still eat? Be careful, you’ll be too full to walk in a bit.”

“No problem at all, my stomach still has plenty of room.”

With wooden skewers almost overflowing from the spaces between her fingers, South Creek clutched an innumerable amount of snacks, occasionally taking a casual bite. However, judging by her small hands, which had already begun to tremble slightly, she likely wouldn’t be able to maintain this state for much longer.

“Really? I never knew you could eat so much!”

“Only, mmm, today.”

It wasn’t that South Creek had an exceptional appetite; rather, her usual meals were simply too bland. Today, with a rare opportunity to indulge in so many delicious foods, and without even having to pay, she felt that if she didn’t eat her fill, she would be letting herself down.

“Also, are you about to give up? Your hands are shaking, you know.”

“I… I’m not… No, no, no, it’s going to fall, it’s going to fall! Quick, help me hold some!”

“I knew this would happen. Here, I’ve got them for you, but since they’re in my hands now, I won’t be polite.”

The two continued their stroll, playfully bantering as they walked, occasionally pausing to observe an intriguing performance. However, as they reached an open clearing, their gaze involuntarily converged on a particular sight: an elder with a shock of white hair, leaning on an elm wood cane, yet sporting an unusually comical pointed hat. His long cloth robe trailed to the ground, making him resemble a wizard from some ancient era.

“That… couldn’t be the village chief, could it?”

“It looks like… possibly… probably… perhaps… it is?”

Indeed, it was old Reed, the village chief, who usually wore a perpetual frown. However, at this moment, he had completely shed his customary stern and rigid demeanor, standing jovially in the center of the crowd, seemingly about to announce something of great importance.

“Oh, you two little lassies have arrived! Well then, I might as well explain it again.”

[Explain what?]

Although the two were mingled within the dense crowd, Reed, with his sharp eyes, immediately spotted the young girls. He gently tapped his cane on the ground, and the crowd instantly parted, creating a path for them. Under the watchful gaze of everyone, South Creek and Fanny, despite desperately wanting to turn and flee, could only steel themselves and walk forward.

“This activity is specially prepared for you little ones, so naturally, I’ll explain it to you. Don’t be so nervous; this is a new program I specifically devised this year.”

As expected, the two glanced around, noticing that children of all ages had gathered there. Among them, South Creek even spotted a stern-faced Jack.

“Mr. Village Chief, are we going to do a task?” a child in a small floral cloth shirt nervously stepped forward, raising a hand and asking with a mix of innocence and apprehension.

“Of course not, my child. These days are meant for everyone to relax, and you are no exception. I’ve gathered everyone here simply because I wish to play a game with all of you.”

“A game?”

At these words, the previously quiet children instantly stirred with excitement.

“It’s just a simple little game, a small prize we old bones have rustled up for you,” another elder spoke up; Mr. Lister, dressed in attire identical to the village chief’s, had appeared at some point. He carried a pot of wine in his left hand and a chessboard tucked under his right arm, his eyes gleaming with an unprecedented brightness.

“Here’s the thing: I noticed your village chief has quite a few good items hidden away at home, but I reckon he doesn’t really need them. So, we conspired to hide these items in various corners of the village, treating them as secret treasures. As long as you can find them, those treasures will naturally be yours.”

“What kind of stuff is it?!” another small child, wearing only shorts, loudly demanded.

“Well, if I told you, it wouldn’t be any fun, would it? Since it’s a treasure hunt, there naturally has to be a little suspense. Rest assured, they’re definitely good things you’ll love—that old scholar took quite a lot from my house, things I’d originally intended to leave for my grandson.”

With a hearty laugh, Reed stroked his long beard, then raised a finger, whispering conspiratorially. “Here’s a hint for you: all the places where the treasures are hidden have some connection to the Starfall Festival. Go forth boldly and search; it matters not if you turn the entire village upside down!”

Before his words had fully faded, Reed and Mr. Lister, those two old fellows, leisurely departed shoulder-to-shoulder, leaving behind only the bewildered children exchanging glances in the square.

“Mr. Lister, if you don’t play a round with me today, don’t even think about going home!”

“I’d gladly play ten rounds! Just don’t you dare cheat halfway through, you old chess fiend!”