“…Wow, is this for real?”

On the darkened streets, shop lights twinkled like jewels, and the paths were filled with people wearing masks.

Animal masks were the most common, and there were also monster masks that made me flinch.

Using the faces of monsters we risk our lives to kill as entertainment. What terrible taste.

As I stared in shock at someone wearing a spider monster mask, the Guildmaster walking beside me finally responded.

“Would I lie to you just to receive a gift?”

Then he walked in front of me, blocking my view of the person wearing the spider monster mask.

‘Did he do that for me?’

Of course, the Guildmaster wouldn’t know that I was fated to die by a spider monster.

But he must have noticed how I shrank back when I saw that mask.

He walked backward without even looking ahead.

“You need to answer. Did you think I was a braggart?”

“Yes.”

“You see through people too accurately.”

“What?”

“I’m joking. Since it could cause big business problems if you get into trouble, I want to be careful too.”

The Guildmaster was a man who blurred the line between consideration and teasing.

I looked up at him intently. I was met with a cat mask with notably smiling lips.

The Guildmaster’s face under the mask must be smiling just like the mask. I was certain.

I fidgeted with the dog mask I was wearing.

About these masks…

“People often wear masks during the Founding Festival. For fun, or to interact with strangers of the opposite s*x while hiding their faces. It’s like an outdoor masquerade ball.”

“….”

“The same goes for today’s eve of the festival. Let’s move around wearing masks like everyone else. And if we act like lovers, which Baron hated, no one will recognize us.”

That’s how I ended up wearing the mask the Guildmaster suggested.

I was prepared to return to the office immediately if things didn’t go well.

But as the Guildmaster said, many people were wearing various masks even on this festival eve. Thanks to that, it seemed unlikely my identity would be discovered.

Finding me among all these people would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

I decided to enjoy a bit of the Founding Festival that I wouldn’t be able to enjoy tomorrow.

I didn’t dislike the festive atmosphere of my first festival since becoming Yerena.

“Is Bless following us well?”

At the Guildmaster’s words, I looked up to see a beautiful bird crossing the pitch-black sky.

Bless, who usually hid in my robe, was enjoying flight above my head.

“Yes, flying well. Seems to be in a good mood.”

“That’s good. Everyone seems fine.”

“Now tell me what you want.”

“Well… What should I get? Hmm. Let’s walk for now.”

The Guildmaster bent his arm in an L-shape so I could link arms with him. I quickly pressed close to him.

“My, you’re too close.”

“You said we should act like lovers. I can do even more.”

“You might regret those words.”

“Never mind that, hurry and think about what you want. We don’t have much time.”

After leaving that homework with the Guildmaster, I also pondered what gift to give Duncan.

Actually, I’d been thinking about this since parting with Duncan but couldn’t decide. I didn’t want to give him something useless.

I wanted to buy something he might need, something that would make him smile brightly.

‘I want to see Sir Duncan’s smile.’

And since it might be my last birthday gift to him, I wanted it to be meaningful.

I carefully observed the endless rows of shops lining both sides of the main street.

Accessories, perfumes, clothing, ornaments… There were so many items it would be harder to find something that wasn’t available.

But I couldn’t see anything Duncan might need. And there were many things he could get without me giving them to him.

At that moment, something made me stop my aimless walking.

It was a ‘pet shop.’

As if drawn by something, I pulled on the Guildmaster’s robe and entered the shop.

Inside were dogs, cats, mice, and even pet snakes.

Among them, what caught my interest was the snakes, which you don’t often see.

Among the various snakes of different sizes and shapes, I couldn’t take my eyes off one small, pretty snake.

Its glossy black scales were truly beautiful.

If it hadn’t been caged, I might have unconsciously reached out to stroke it.

I wondered how it would feel to touch that smooth surface that shimmered in different colors depending on how the light hit it.

While the scales were impressive, there was another reason this creature caught my attention.

“Your eyes, they’re really similar to my eye color.”

The snake’s eyes were a beautiful red. I especially liked those eyes.

The snake flicked its tongue at me and I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

─Hisssss.

I thought it might be threatening me, but its message wasn’t that kind.

‘Let me out.’

“….”

I felt sorry for the creature longing for freedom while trapped in a small cage.

“What a cute snake.”

The Guildmaster, who had approached without me noticing, looked at the snake I was watching.

“It’s asking me to let it out.”

“Oh my. Are you planning to keep it?”

If I can raise Bless without major issues, couldn’t I raise a snake too?

Just then, Bless, who had been flying freely, flew into the shop and perched on my shoulder. Almost simultaneously, the snake’s eyes widened.

─Hisss…

‘Looks delicious…’

The snake’s tongue-flicking gaze remained fixed on Bless.

Though Bless wouldn’t understand the snake’s words, it would understand what that predatory gaze meant.

A small tremor spread across my shoulder. Bless’s trident-like legs were shaking.

“I’d like to keep it, but I’m worried it might eat Bless.”

Just as I was thinking about asking the Guildmaster to keep it, he said.

“How about this one as Sir Duncan’s birthday present?”

“A snake? Would he like animals?”

“This isn’t just any snake, so Sir Duncan would like it. Above all, doesn’t it resemble your appearance?”

“My, someone might misunderstand. As if Sir Duncan likes me!”

“At least it’s clear he doesn’t dislike you.”

Oh, this Guildmaster. Pretending to answer as Duncan while subtly revealing his own true feelings.

“But if it’s not an ordinary snake, is it like a monster? A snake that crossed over from another world like Bless?”

“Not quite, it seems to be a spiritual creature.”

“Oh ho.”

“If you raise it well… No. Let’s stop there.”

The Guildmaster slowly licked his lips like a snake. I could even see his Adam’s apple bob sensually afterward.

“Barbarian.”

“Isn’t that harsh to someone who recommended a birthday gift?”

“But you were salivating over this cute thing that resembles me!”

“I was just thirsty and swallowed. Haha. I didn’t say anything barbaric.”

I definitely shouldn’t entrust this snake to the Guildmaster.

He might eat it up as soon as I leave the capital.

Ending my conversation with the barbarian, I called the shop owner to ask about the snake’s price.

“…Oh my, thank you for buying this one. Everyone avoids it because its black scales and red eyes are scary. Even I find it creepy sometimes.”

“That’s exactly why I’m buying it because those features are pretty! And owner, you should watch what you say since animals might understand!”

“Ho ho ho! What harm can a beast that can’t even talk do!”

The shop owner laughed heartily.

Of course, animals might not understand human words, but they could read the atmosphere.

Sure enough, seeming to notice the owner’s mockery, the snake flicked its tongue.

─Hisssss, hiss.

‘Baldy owner… I’ll bite you.’

I quickly paid before it could develop more antipathy toward the owner.

The owner handed me the cage and escorted us to the door.

“Keeping pets is nice, but you must have children!”

What is this person saying now?

Even more baffling than the owner was the Guildmaster’s response.

“Two children would be nice.”

My response remained consistent.

“Barbarian.”

“Hahaha.”

Ignoring the Guildmaster who was laughing like someone missing a screw, I opened the cage’s bars.