“Wow, so many people…”
I couldn’t help but gape at the crowd gathered in the distance. So many people had come to see the fireworks festival. The power of fireworks was truly amazing. People were gathering in groups to watch the spectacle.
“Hana, don’t let go of my hand, okay? There are so many people today, and if you wander off, you might get lost!”
“Okay!”
Just as Maru said, I was sure that if I got swept up in the crowd today, I’d end up lost. If I let go of her hand like I did at the wine event last time, I might have to spend the whole day looking for Maru. Of course, we had phones, so I could wait at a specific spot and find her again, but that would be such a waste of time.
After walking for a while, we arrived at a quiet spot with fewer people. Maru took out her phone and made a call. I held onto her hand and looked around at the scenery. It was a hill-like spot with a good view of the river and the bridge. There was a police line set up, like they do before an event, blocking access. Of course, we could ignore it and go past.
“Yeah… we’ve arrived…”
Maru was busy talking on the phone. I didn’t want to eavesdrop, so I wandered around, satisfying my curiosity. From here, I could see the bridge and the large Han River flowing below.
I heard that rivers in other countries are narrow and small, but Korea’s Han River is known worldwide for being incredibly large. It’s so big that foreigners are amazed just by the fact that such a river exists in the city. Anyway, Maru finished her call and hugged me, saying:
“Hana, the staff will be here soon, so let’s wait~”
“Okay.”
Not long after Maru said that, staff dressed in black appeared. They were carrying something. I was puzzled because Maru hadn’t brought anything to the fireworks festival, but now I understood that the staff would provide what we needed.
The staff set up a mat and even placed some food on it before leaving. Maru saw this and stepped inside the line. Since I was in her arms, I automatically went in with her.
“The festival will start soon. Let’s eat while we wait!”
Maru said this and started unpacking the food the staff had brought. Chicken, pizza, and various other snacks! There was so much that I doubted we could finish it all. Seeing my bewildered expression, Maru laughed and said:
“Hana, it’s okay if we don’t finish it. The staff will take care of it.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Hearing that, I didn’t hesitate anymore. I picked up a slice of warm pizza. The cheese stretched out, and just looking at it made my appetite soar. I didn’t know where they got it from, but the fact that they could deliver such fresh pizza right away… modern society is truly amazing. There’s nothing money can’t do. If there’s something money can’t do, it’s just that you don’t have enough money.
As Maru and I chatted and ate, it got dark around us. Then, loud music started playing. Earlier, I had heard some murmuring from a microphone, but now it was as quiet as dawn. It felt like they were about to start the fireworks festival after the opening ceremony.
My guess wasn’t wrong. The lights went out, and lively music started playing. Fireworks burst in sync with the music. They said it would last for an hour.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sky was filled with colorful fireworks, like embroidery. I forgot about the chicken I was eating and focused on the fireworks. Maru was already recording a video with her phone.
Since it was dark all around, the fireworks looked even more spectacular. And our spot was perfect, right in front of the fireworks. It felt like sitting in the middle, slightly upper seats in a movie theater. The view was full and incredibly comfortable. It was truly a prime spot.
“Wow…”
I couldn’t help but marvel at the fireworks. Where else could you see fireworks from such a great spot? It was a precious experience that ordinary people would never get to have.
As the music played and the fireworks burst, I thought to myself that I wanted to be someone who makes fireworks. What a wonderful job it would be, bringing happiness to so many people. Of course, I knew it took a lot of effort to prepare for a fireworks festival.
“Hana, the fireworks are great, right?”
Maru stopped recording the video and spoke. The fireworks festival wasn’t just about continuously shooting fireworks. They shot them at set times, took a short break, and then prepared for the next round.
If they shot fireworks non-stop for an hour, the machine wouldn’t be able to handle it. Or even if the machine could, the money definitely couldn’t. I heard that each firework is ridiculously expensive, and shooting them every second? No way a regular event could afford that.
“Yeah, it’s so pretty!”
I also thought the fireworks were stunning, so I took some photos. They looked so beautiful that I thought they’d make a perfect wallpaper for my phone. And since my phone is the latest model, even the distant fireworks came out crisp and clear.
“The chicken’s delicious too!”
Watching the fireworks while eating was amazing. Enjoying tasty food while watching the fireworks? Absolutely perfect.
I munched on pizza while watching the fireworks explode. I’d totally attend events like this anytime.
——————————————
The Starlight Research Institute was, above all, an organization dedicated to researching these lifeforms. The ownership of the lifeforms discovered within the Gates belonged to the guilds that conquered those Gates.
However, the institute itself was struggling with deficits, mainly because these lifeforms didn’t appear often. Even the Starlight Guild, which had the highest number of Gate conquests, only encountered intelligent lifeforms once every few months, or maybe once or twice a year.
While researching these lifeforms was important, the fact that it didn’t bring in money was even more critical. So, the institute tried all sorts of ways to make money on its own. But that changed after Hana appeared.
Now, they didn’t have to worry about money and could focus on their research leisurely. No more being pressured by performance metrics. A case like Hana’s was probably unheard of worldwide. A lifeform that could generate money? Other institutes would’ve laughed and called it a lie.
“Are we just lucky?”
“Of course. No other institute is as loaded as ours.”
The researchers could now focus on their core research with peace of mind. The upper management, which used to nitpick about performance, no longer needed to. The atmosphere had relaxed significantly. It felt like walking on thin ice before, but now it was like strolling on the frozen Han River with a confident cat.
It seemed like the whole vibe changed after Hana joined.
——————————
Linea cooperatively participated in the research. This was her first time in a space with such strong World Tree energy. The concentration was similar to being right next to the World Tree itself. Spaces with this level of energy were rare. An ordinary person would’ve already become a mental captive of the World Tree.
Of course, the World Tree wasn’t some harmful entity like a demon that dragged people into ruin. It didn’t cause illness or harm life. But it did inspire an extreme sense of admiration.
With this level of energy, the World Tree might even appear in your dreams.
You’d probably refuse to give up even your liver or gallbladder.
To feel this much of the World Tree’s energy, you’d normally need to stay in one place for months. Of course, an ordinary person exposed for a day or two wouldn’t be drawn to it. But Linea, while cooperating with the research, had already been exposed to months’ worth of energy.
Linea no longer worried about anything going wrong. This place had become a playground for the World Tree.
Linea decided to wait patiently for the World Tree to appear. Though waiting day by day was exhausting, the thought of meeting the World Tree’s soul made it all worth it.
