Knock Knock

Zack got up from his couch and went to see who was knocking on the door so urgently.

"Finally, you answer," exclaimed Manny, who had been knocking on the door.

"Uh, sorry. I was busy with something else. What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised to see who it was. In front of him, Manny, Rea, and Sally were waiting for him with dissatisfied looks.

"Why are we here? We've come to take you to the festival with us," said Sally, annoyed. Obviously, she didn't enjoy the walk here.

There's hardly any entertainment here. Everyone is too busy working to survive. Compared to Zack's world, where you can entertain yourself in a thousand ways with just your phone, this place is a desert wasteland.

Today is Harvest Festival Day. One of the few times a year when people forget about work and have fun without worries. Every minute away from the city is a minute less of festival. If it weren't for Rea insisting they should bring Doctor Matthew with them, he'd be dancing in the main square to the music right now.

"Thanks for the offer, but I have a lot of work piled up. I wanted to take the time to study some medical texts, so I don't have time," said Zack, inventing an excuse on the spot.

The times he's been in town these past few weeks, he's seen the festival preparations. As dedicated as the townsfolk are to this day, Zack, having seen and been in parties in his world, is not drawn to the invitation.

Instead of going to the festival and accidentally attracting the attention of the noble and his entourage, it's better to stay home and level up some of his new spells.

"No way," "No." Before Zack could close the door to his residence, Rea and Manny grabbed his arms and legs and pulled him out of the house.

"Woof"

Hearing the noise, Titan had joined them at some point. Strangely, the dog, instead of helping his owner, started pulling with them.

(Which side are you on?!) he thought while mentally scolding the mutt that was tugging at his pants, perhaps thinking it was some kind of game.

Just as he was thinking about whether to prepare dog stew for dinner, Rea's voice sounded with an imperative tone.

"I'm not going to let you stay locked up here and miss the party." If it weren't for her help, they would have had serious problems. Not everyone is willing to lend a hand when you're in trouble. After everything Matthew had done for them, this was the least he could do to thank him.

"Sister Rea is right. You have to come with us to the festival," said Manny as he grabbed his leg. Since Zack went to the orphanage to help Sally, Manny had become very attached to him. He even left town on one occasion to come play with Titan.

Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

Seeing the insistence with which they were dragging him, Zack had a bitter smile on his face. It would be a lie to say he wasn't happy and grateful that they had come all this way to see him, but the truth is he doesn't want to go to the festival.

After all the effort he made to escape from the palace, the last thing he would want is to make a mistake and be captured.

Although he hasn't heard any news of them looking for him, in case they let their guard down and find him, the result would be disastrous.

Seeing the big eyes they were looking at him with, Zack wanted to accept their offer, but in the end, he hardened his heart and prepared to reject them.

"Leave it. There's no point in forcing him to come if he doesn't want to."

Just as he was about to say it, Sally's voice, who was watching the show from a distance, sounded behind them.

"But it would be a shame to miss the festival," Rea said somewhat reluctantly.

"If you're so sad about it, we can come and tell you how it went. Besides, it's not a bad thing not to go to the festival this year."

"Uh, why is that, Sister Sally?" Manny asked confused. Wouldn't it be better to all go together and have fun?

"You're saying that because of the noble who came to the town, right?" Rea commented, knowing what she was referring to.

"Has something happened?" As soon as the word 'noble' left his lips, Zack's attention on the matter spiked.

Sally and Rea told him the rumors they had heard in town before coming here. Soon Zack understood.

"Are you telling me that the noble who came to town has been in the city's brothels all this time?" asked Zack, amazed. Not that he thought nobles weren't capable of such a thing, but coming here just to do that seems stupid.

Although the town's economy is based on meeting the needs of adventurers, and there are several brothels, he's sure there must be much better brothels in any city.

Zack thought the noble's reason for coming here would be to level up in the dungeon or to seek to improve the town's situation for the territory to prosper. Coming all the way here just to get drunk and play with women sounds so... trivial.

Perhaps he was looking at it the wrong way. It's not that the noble had a reason to come to the town, but that he had a reason to leave the city. There must be another reason why he came to the town other than to spend the whole day drin...

Suddenly, his mind shifted, and he thought of a possibility.

"Alright," Zack said suddenly, leaving them unable to react, "I'll go with you to the festival."

Upon hearing this, Rea and Manny's faces showed a smile, and Titan barked happily. As for Sally's face, it only showed confusion at the sudden change, but she was also glad that this trip hadn't been in vain.

Seeing the expressions of the others, Zack's heart felt warm. Although he wasn't very interested in the festival, he didn't want to disappoint them. After this time, it would be a lie to say he hadn't grown somewhat fond of them.

If the noble spends all day locked up in bars, then there wouldn't be any harm in going to the town for a while to have fun, right? After all, Manny and the rest of the kids are going to come too, there's no way they'll visit that area with a handful of kids.

"But I'll only be a couple of hours," he warned. No matter how little risk there may be, it's also not advisable to tempt fate more than necessary.

In fact, Zack thought he was worrying too much. Seeing the noble's behavior, it was obvious he hadn't come here looking for him. Even if he could detect his mana, he would only think he had limited mana talent, just like one of the guards who escorted him last time.

After talking with them, he went back to the house to get ready to go out. Fifteen minutes later, he had changed his clothes and had a small bag of money and a backpack with some food.

"Sorry for making you wait. Let's go to the festival."