Chapter 420: The Taste of the Wine of Victory...... (1/2)

After the game with Megiddo-san was over, I went around to the various attractions with Lilia-san and the others.

Even though most of the attractions were sport-like games, we still had lots of fun going around…… but to be honest, my scores weren't so good.

I don't know if I was feeling listless after my victory over Megiddo-san, or perhaps, the joy I felt from winning against Megiddo-san hadn't settled down yet, but I wasn't able to concentrate on the attractions.

It was the first time I had fought to the death in front of such a large audience, so it was probably inevitable that the realization that I did such a thing would come to me later.

After visiting the attractions until evening arrived, I was able to gather 22 stamps. I then went to the Central Plaza to exchange the stamps for prizes.

I thought for sure that it would be counted as me having 22 stamps but…… Each of the Five Generals' oversized stamps was worth ten stamps. The colossal stamp, which was the sign of my victory over Megiddo-san, was calculated as 100 stamps.

In other words, I had collected 172 stamps and I was able to get the top prize, ”a pair of gloves made from Megiddo-san's mane”…… H- Hmmm.

It seems that they can handle extremely high temperatures, and if you put these gloves on, ”you won't feel the heat even if you touch magma”…… However, ”the parts other than the gloves would still be burned though”.

How should I say this…… It's a very difficult item to use. I at least don't think I would ever face an instance where I would need to touch magma in the future…… I mean, I don't want to be anywhere near magma.

……Can't I just use them as a substitute for working gloves or as mittens? I guess not. Unnn, this thing would certainly be very expensive…… Well, I'll just leave figuring out how to use this for the future me.

The hectic first day of the Six Kings Festival came to an end at 8 p.m., and the participants were now returning back to their accommodations.

However, since Lilia-san and I were invited to a party by Megiddo-san, we didn't return to our accommodations, but moved to the Central Tower where I challenged Megiddo-san.

……Isn't this strange? How the heck could this have happened?

There were currently many people in my line of sight, and I was standing on a platform overlooking them.

[Ohh! It seems like everyone has gathered!!!]

And standing beside me was Megiddo-san, who had returned to his original form and was nodding in satisfaction at the sight of the gathered people. I'll just ask again, how the heck did this happen?

As soon as we arrived at the assembly hall, I was separated from Lilia-san and the others, and for some reason, I was brought to the stage set up in the center with Megiddo-san.

No matter where I look, I could only see people, people, and people…… I could feel eyes silently looking at me from a 360 degrees around me. I feel really restless here.

As if to say that he didn't care about my feelings, Megiddo-san proceeded to loudly speak.

[The people I've called here tonight are my subordinates and those who performed well at today's festival! We all had a good fight! Today was a great day!!! As a thank you, I've prepared plenty of food and drinks for everyone. Go and have all the fun you want!!!]

With Megiddo-san's shout, a loud cheer rang out.

As I was feeling overwhelmed by the atmosphere of the huge party, Megiddo-san picked me up and put me on his shoulder. What the heck is going on!?

[But before we start the party, I want to introduce someone to all of you! ”This is the only person who defeated me”…… Miyama Kaito!!!]

Immediately after that, loud cheers rang out again. O- Oohh……

As Alice told me on the way here, the number of people who have managed to defeat Megiddo-san…… or rather, the number of people who managed to challenge Megiddo-san was just one.

That's because it seems like Agni-san, who was originally already strong, was completely fired up after she got defeated by Iris-san…… After I got a badge from her, night had fallen without any other person managing to win against her.

[Listen here! Kaito beat me. That means he's better than everyone at this party right now! Ora! Here comes the strong warrior!!! Get excited, you lot!!!]

At that moment, the crowd broke into cheers…… U- Uwoooohhhh…… This feels kind of amazing. It feels like I'm shivering in excitement.

Or rather, n- no matter how I look at it, lifting me up is a bit too much……

After the loud cheers subsided, Megiddo-san announced the start of the party. Most of the people here were Megiddo-san's subordinates……  In other words, there were people who were used to parties, so no one was bewildered when a noisy party started.

Looking down at the scene of people everywhere shouting ”Cheers!”, I felt an indescribable emotion welling up in my heart.

There was this itchy…… embarrassment, but I'm also feeling a different kind of excitement, making me reflexively clench my fist.

After slowly lowering me down, Megiddo-san took a large cup out of nowhere and handed me one of them before pouring me alcohol.

[……Here, alcohol. Look here, Kaito.]

[Eh?]

[You're better than anyone here today…… and no one's complaining. That's because you beat me.]

[……Megiddo-san.]

[Be proud, Kaito. You have fought your way through the fight with me…… and won. This scene is something you have definitely won.]

[………………]

It's there again. Another indescribable itch budding in my chest…… Ahh, I see, I understand what this feeling is now.