The Boy Who Fell to the Lowest Level of the Dungeon, Becoming the Strongest and Returns to the Surface After 10 Years~He Just Wants to Live a Quiet Life, but His Childhood Friends Who Have Risen to Prominence Won’t Leave Him Alone~ - SS 3: Wishing on Star Festival

“What is Star Festival?”

Looking at the posters put up in the academy, Elta tilted his head.

To that, the silver-haired student council president sitting next to him──Leone replied.

“Oh, I see. Elta doesn’t know about the Star Festival.”

“Do you know Leone?”

“Yeah. It’s a culture that came from a foreign land eight years ago.”

Leone explained while pointing at the poster.

In the royal capital, the “Star Festival” is held every summer.

In front of the academy, a giant tree for a thin rectangle is erected, and in the town, stalls and attractions are set up.

It seems like they are embodying the ways of a foreign country as they are.

Now, it is a few months after the defense of the royal capital.

On the first anniversary of returning from the Asterla Dungeon, Elta did not know about Star Festival.

“Star Festival has been getting bigger every year, and last year was something else!”

“Wow! I’m looking forward to that.”

“Right, right!”

That Star Festival is just two weeks away.

Then Leone invited Elta.

“Then, I’ll guide you on the day.”

“Huh, is that okay?”

“Of course! Hehe.”

The two made a promise, and Leone beamed with a broad smile.

(A festival with just Elta and me. I’m looking forward to it.)

However, Leone was caught up in the excitement as she lost her composure and forgot.

Elta is a personification of insensitivity.

Star Festival Day.

“Hey, Leone~”

“Ah, Elta!”

The two of them meet on time.

Elta immediately starts talking about Leone’s outfit.

“Isn’t it called a yukata? It looks really good on you!”

“…! Really!?”

“Yeah! It’s Leone’s special outfit!”

“~~~Ah!”

She worked hard to learn how to wear a kimono for this day.

She was happy to be praised for it and to be told it was special.

──However, Leone looks behind Elta.

With a suddenly cold gaze.

“So, what about the people in the back?”

Behind Elta, there were three more people.

“Hello, I’m Jura, the older sister.”

“I am Celia, the Vice Captain of the Knights Order.”

“I am his younger sister, Tina.”

At the sight of them, Leone looked up at the sky.

(Oh no…)

She forgot to tell Elta, “Let’s go alone together.”

In contrast, Elta asks Leone.

“Are you okay? You seem a bit dazed.”

“Yeah. Why everyone?”

“I thought it would be more fun if everyone were here!”

“…Ah.”

With that answer, Leone was convinced.

Elta didn’t understand the specialness of going to the festival alone together.

(Well, that’s true.)

Elta basically doesn’t know common sense.

When she invited him, she reflected that he should have been a bit calmer.

Then, the three of them suddenly approach Leone.

“Hey, you can’t get ahead of me, alright?”

“Rather, I was invited on the same day, too.”

“I kind of thought it would turn out like this…”

Elta values his friends.

It seems that when he readily agreed back then, everyone else was planning to invite him too.

Of course, it seems the three of them were also hoping to go together.

(Well, going together with everyone might feel like a festival.)

Then, it seems Leone decided to switch gears and enjoy herself.

Then, Elta spoke to the four people from behind.

“Hey, everyone, what’s wrong? Let’s hurry up and go.”

“””It’s your fault!”””

“Huh?”

As expected, Elta was insensitive.

“Wow, that’s amazing~!”

As they toured the royal capital, Elta’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Both hands are filled with various foods like cotton candy and candied apples.

He’s excited about the first Star Festival.

Also, the other four were having a great time despite everything.

In shooting games, Jura dominates.

“With you around, it’s a piece of cake. Hmph.”

“””Wow~”””

In the goldfish scooping game, Leone shows off her incredible skills.

“If it’s this angle and speed! Hah!”

“””Woah!”””

Thus, Elta had been banned from many stores.

“I broke it again…”

“Don’t come anymore!”

The main affected stalls are ring toss and tin can toss.

Getting a bit too carried away, Elta had turned into a tragic monster.

Even so, Elta and the others are popular figures throughout the royal capital.

“Elta-san, you can break it if it’s this way!”

“Celia-sama, shall we go see the sword?”

“Tina-chan, you’re also running a shop from the academy~”

There were five people who were approached by many wherever they went and thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Then, the festival is not just about the stalls.

There are also performances from various groups.

Among them, there were some that were unique just to stand out.

Captain Schwa and the knights’ order, who are completely unrelated to the festival, are bodybuilding.

“Alright, everyone, let’s get muscular together!”

“””Muscle!”””

A mysterious “jack-of-all-trades” wearing a mask.

“If you tell me, I’ll help with anything.”

“””That helps a lot!”””

And then, there’s the mysterious magical girl (aunt).

“Make a wish upon a star! A gift from Billin! Sparkle~☆彡”

(“””It’s tough! But it becomes addictive!”””)

While inheriting the Star Festival culture, the unique character of this town is also intertwined.

In the months since the defense line of the royal capital, it was the most exciting day in the royal capital.

And so, the Star Festival is nearing its end.

“Then, everyone, shall we go decorate the thin rectangle?”

“””…!”””

At Elta’s words, the four of them suddenly opened their eyes.

They had been looking forward to this moment.

(“””Finally, it’s here…!”””)

Inheriting the Star Festival culture, people in the royal capital also decorate strips of paper.

However, there was a unique legend.

“When you stack strips of paper with the same wish, both of your wishes will come true.”

Though they say it’s the same wish, the name can be different.

In other words──

“May I be happy with A-san.”

“May I find happiness with B-kun.”

That is also permissible.

This is, in other words, a saying directed towards lovers and couples.

It’s just a legend, but Jura, Celia, and Leone were well-prepared.

A strip of paper with the words “May I be happy with Elta” written on it.

(“””This with Elta…!”””)

Of course, they thoroughly enjoyed the festival.

However, for them, this is just the beginning.

It’s not a festival, but the real thing of war.

And finally, the group arrived at the academy.

“Hmm, what should I write…”

“””…!”””

Elta writes his wish here for the first time.

Then, the four of them immediately began their battle.

The first to make a move was Jura.

“Hey, hey El, if you write it as big sister says… I might let you make a magic suit?”

“Wait, really!?”

“And there’s also something to look forward to… Hehe.”

While exposing her shoulders from her yukata, she invites with a sexy pose.

He’s not interested in flirtation at all, but Elta is intrigued by magical armor.

“That’s bad,” Celia exclaimed.

“Wait, El-kun! If that’s the case, then if you listen to me…”

“If I could?”

“I won’t take it off either, no, no, I won’t take it off!”

“Ouch!”

However, when trying to imitate Jura, they burst out of embarrassment.

In the end, it came to the point where they threw the brush pen themselves.

For that, the people around let out a sigh.

“””Are you not going to take it off?”””

“What the hell are you guys!?”

When Elta and the others were doing something interesting, a crowd of onlookers gathered.

It is already a well-known fact that the four of them are targeting Elta.

Even in such an atmosphere, Leone stepped forward.

“Elta! W-w-w-rite it the way I say!”

“Leone?”

However, that face is so red that it can be seen even at night.

Moreover, she is holding back her chest tightly.

It seems like she’s about to convey something.

“I… I… like Elta──”

“Watch out, Leone!”

“Huh?”

However, from afar, a star-shaped object suddenly approached.

Elta shielded Leone from the blow.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah.”

“So, what were you going to say?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Leone was interrupted before she could say what she wanted.

The more she tried to put it into words, the weaker her heart became.

It seems that the star-shaped object fell from the magical girl venue.

And then, Tina finally approached.

“Big brother.”

“Hmm, Tina?”

“I want you to write it like this, big brother.”

“…Yeah. I was planning to do that from the beginning.”

Special move, his sister’s upward glance.

Furthermore, Elta starts writing without hesitation.

In contrast, Jura and the other three were horrified.

(“””W-what!?”””)

Thinking they were completely done for, the three of them collapsed in exhaustion.

Then, Elta made a puzzled face.

“Everyone, what’s wrong? Let’s hurry and go decorate!”

“Because, El… wait, that…”

However, the thin rectangle of Elta that they caught a glimpse of did not contain what they had thought.

To prove it, Elta read his thin rectangle aloud.

“I wrote, ‘I hope everyone can be happy.'”

“””…!”””

Celia inadvertently turns her gaze towards Tina.

“Wh-why?”

“I realized it today. I really want to be with everyone and smile together.”

“…!”

“That’s why I wish for this too.”

Tina also shows her thin rectangle to the three of them.

There was also written, “May everyone be happy together.”

That smile is a genuine expression of true feelings.

Then, Jura and the other three also smiled and stood up.

“Hey, what are those older girls up to?”

“Huh, that’s true.”

“I got a little flustered, too.”

Without hesitation, the three of them also create a new thin rectangle together.

With the wish that everyone can be happy.

“Then, shall we decorate?”

“””Yeah.”””

And so, the five strips of paper were stacked and displayed.

Also, Elta suddenly thinks.

(Next year, the year after next… I hope someday I can add another layer.)

The one person on his mind.

It’s probably about that childhood friend and best buddy of his.

Thus, Elta and the others finished the Star Festival.

Starting with Leone’s disappointment, various things happened, but it seemed like they thoroughly enjoyed the festival.

“””Ahahaha.”””

If the legend is true, the five people’s wishes will come true.

No, rather, even without any legends, the expression on their faces already showed that they were happy.

Thus, three unnamed strips of paper were later found.

It was casually written there, “May I be happy with Elta.”

───────────────────────

Afterword

The third SS was a Star Festival-themed one to match the season!

I actually wanted to submit it yesterday, but I couldn’t make it in time.

It’s been a while since the last update, but writing the SS for Elta and the others is quite easy!

Since it’s quite a group of unique personalities, characters start talking on their own, haha.

If you haven’t yet, please consider rating this work with ★★★!

Even if it’s just for this SS, it’s fine to consider the entire narrative!

If I could get even a little, it would really encourage me to update again!

Then, see you next time in the next SS!