NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53 – Gazel Dwargo.
Holding hands, Nahida and Nazuna walked where most stalls, monsters, and humans were. When they got there, Nahida didn't see anyone important.
As Rimuru said he had invited important people, Nahida thought he would meet them as soon as he reached the principal area of the festival, but he didn't meet anyone. There were only "NPCs."
"You're looking everywhere, are you nervous?"
"It's not that. Rimuru said in the letter that he had invited some important people, so he didn't want me to draw attention to myself."
"But why? Maybe because of your hotel?"
"Something like that. But since there's no one important here, I think we should have something to eat, what do you think? I'm also in the mood for a drink, it's been a while."
"I don't really like drinking, but I can join you if you want."
"I don't want to force you into anything." Nahida and Nazuna approached one of the stalls. A goblin was looking after the stall. They didn't have to pay anything.
The food Nahida chose was Okonomiyaki. It was a delicious stuffed 'pancake'. It had been a while since he had eaten Okonomiyaki, so he savored it as if it were the tastiest thing he had eaten in years.
"That's tasty. Why don't you serve this at your hotel? You seem to know what it is."
"It's quite a famous food where I live. It's common food at festivals. Another very famous food is that one. "Nahida pointed to the small "plate" in a child's hand.
It was takoyaki.
"I want to try that!"
"Sure." Nahida and Nazuna went to another stall, and Nahida picked up a plate with a decent number of takoyakis inside. Before eating, he gave it to Nazuna to try.
"Hmmmm, this is so good!" Nazuna put his hands on his cheeks and closed his eyes, enjoying the taste of the takoyaki.
"I really like takoyaki. This one tastes a bit different, but it's still very tasty. Rimuru did a good job with this."
Nahida and Nazuna finished eating the takoyaki and continued walking around the festival together, looking at the game stalls they could play. Nahida wasn't too excited about playing, but Nazuna wanted to have fun.
Of course, Nahida did what Nazuna wanted and decided to play along with her.
They spent long minutes having fun. Everyone who looked at them saw them as a beautiful couple, even though they didn't have a deep relationship.
However, their fun was interrupted when, from a distance, Nahida could see a muscular man wearing beautiful armor. The man in question had tanned skin and black hair.
His eyes were sharp and met Nahida's eyes. Nahida clenched his fist and then turned to walk away. He grabbed Nazuna's hand to take her with him.
"So that's the important person he invited. Gazel Dwargo."
Rimuru was standing next to Gazel, and there were other people with them, too, probably important members of the "Armed Nation of Dwargon."
But even though Rimuru was with Gazel, Nahida wanted to avoid talking to those people.
'Gazel is a guy with a good intuition, and he's also a bit stubborn. Better to stay away.'
However, Nahida didn't have the chance to walk away. Rimuru, who had told Nahida not to draw attention to himself, shouted for him as soon as he saw him.
But contrary to what Nahida thought, Rimuru didn't call out to him because he wanted to, but because Gazel had taken an interest in him. Perhaps because of Nahida's gaze on him.
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While Nahida was preparing to talk to Gazel...
In another world, in a dark and dirty alley, a tall, blond man with the appearance of a delinquent found a mysterious door.
With a cigarette in his mouth, he tried to open the door. But it was locked.
"Hotel Yamato. A hotel in a place like this?" The man stubbed out his cigarette on the wall and then shrugged. He didn't know what that hotel did in that place, but apparently, it was a hotel that was already abandoned.
The man then walked away. However, that door wouldn't leave his mind. He wanted to go back to that place later.
"I don't want to have to help these brats anymore." The man got on his motorcycle and drove down the road at high speed.
####
While a random character had just found an entrance to Nahida's hotel, in Fuyuki, where the holy grail war had begun, Shirou was in a huge church.
Next to him was Rin.
A famous scene from the anime was taking place. Shirou's route had finally been revealed, with some crucial differences. When Shirou and Rin entered the church, Kirei wasn't there.
Archer, who was nearby, appeared soon after.
"Rin!"
"What is it, Archer?"
"..." Archer looked towards the entrance to the church, where a giant had appeared. A small, white-haired girl walked slowly and stopped beside the Berserker.
"Illya?" Shirou swallowed his saliva as he looked at the gentle smile on the little girl's face.
"Hello, Onii-chan."
"Shirou!" Archer stepped in front of Shirou, who Berserker suddenly attacked. With his abnormal strength, the great hero approached instantly, swinging his great sword.
All the chairs in the church were blown away by the pressure of the wind created by Berserker's movement.
Shirou had almost been killed right there. Archer, who had been hit, managed to block Berserker's attack but suffered injuries all over his body.
An intense battle had begun.
And while Shirou fought for his life, Nahida was having fun at the festival.
