Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 242 - 8 New Year’s Eve_1

Chapter 242: Chapter 8 New Year’s Eve_1

(263...084...458... Readers who want to join the group can simply do so. Ps I ask my passing friends for their collections and recommendations, your support is my greatest motivation. Also, I would appreciate more of your suggestions, thanks. Ps2: For the title change, please see the related works.)

For the intelligent beings of Yarran World, the New Year is the most important holiday in all countries, symbolizing a brand-new start. For thousands of years, countless countries, countless races, have been celebrating this holiday in their own ways. Grand celebrations, bustling feasts, noisy hunts, intoxicating singing events, all races put everything aside on this day to enjoy the joy. Even countries embroiled in war, the warring parties put down their weapons on this day and celebrate heartily. As for the outcome of the war? Let the new year decide it.

The City of Knowledge is no exception. On the New Year’s eve of the first year after the establishment of the City of Knowledge, a group of lively young people danced and sang in the city’s Central Square, showing their youthful vitality. Since then, holding performances on the Central Square during New Year’s Eve became a tradition among the city residents. What started as spontaneous performances slowly evolved into a formal show, with more organized and professional sponsorship. Years passed like this, and at some point, the New Year celebration performance in the Holy City became as famous as the art district of the Holy City. Tourists from all over the world came to see it, some even traveling long distances just to watch once.

Therefore, in the last few days of the year, the Holy City is flooded with countless tourists. The metropolis, originally capable of accommodating 800,000 permanent residents, would suddenly bring in nearly a million people, making the city even more crowded and bustling. So, during these days, the city’s merchants celebrate as if it’s a holiday - which, of course, it technically is - struggling and sinking in the pain of busyness and the joy of skyrocketing income.

However, when the time comes to the last day of the year, the normally bustling City of Knowledge becomes exceptionally quiet. If anyone thinks that the New Year’s hustle and bustle has passed, they are naive. This is just the calm before the storm, everyone is gathering energy, waiting for the final and most enthusiastic explosion, the explosion in the night. Everyone is planning their evening itinerary, with dozens of well-decorated party venues throughout the city’s five districts and 300 square kilometers of city space for people to visit and admire. Different people will choose different places to gather, according to their preferences, to celebrate the New Year in their favorite way.

Of course, among these venues, the New Year’s performance at the Commercial Centre’s Square is always the most bustling and attractive event. The artists in the North District of the city, especially the younger generation of performing artists, are all proud to receive an invitation to the New Year’s performance. The opportunity to go on stage is an affirmation for them, both in terms of fame and artistic level.

"Do you have the tickets?" Closing the mansion’s courtyard door, Catherine finally confirmed with Lina: "Don’t forget, it’s not easy to come back and get them."

"Alright, big sister, this is already the fourth time you’ve asked." Lina said in devastation: "Let’s go, stop wasting time, I want to shop around before going."

"I always feel like I’m forgetting something." Catherine was checking herself: "Tickets, keys, money pouch, weapons, potions, tools, Annie, Vivian, um, seems like everything is there."

"May I know," Vivian asked somberly from behind: "Could you explain what does ’Annie and Vivian’ mean?"

"Yeah, yeah." Annie’s pale little head popped out of Catherine’s chest, likely to scare half to death those who didn’t know the truth. After some time together, the little banshee had become accustomed to the girls’ day-to-day interactions, becoming less cautious and prone to occasional jokes: "Dear sister Catherine, what does ’Annie and Vivian’ mean?"

"Nothing much, just saying you girls are very good." Catherine laughed awkwardly, pushing Annie’s head back into the crystal around her chest: "Don’t come out like that all the time, I will be scared too if not ready for it, do you want to cause a sensation in the whole city?"

"You guys forgot to bring me along." Pannis appeared like a ghost through the wall: "You are simply heartless."

"I knew you would suddenly pop out." Catherine glanced at Pannis: "Who knows where you went, hurry up, if we enter early it won’t be too crowded, or be careful you might become a Pannis pancake."

"Whistle! Whistle!" A few long whistles and a neat sequence of footsteps were heard. Ten city patrol members, lined up in a row, slowly ran from Fox Street.

"Alright, you guys are on patrol duty today as well?" Catherine turned back and greeted the leading patrol member: "You must be having it harsh, patrols even on New Year’s Eve."

"Haha, it’s Miss Catherine. Patrolling attentively overnight will get us an extra half month salary, fight for Yuna’s new dress." Ilapse!

"Nice young men, keep going." Catherine waved at the patrol members: "I’m leaving first, see you next year."

"These lads are the hardest." Turning around, Catherine sighed: "New Year’s is their busiest time, it’s just too many people around."

"Actually, it’s not so bad, just a bit more exhausting." Pannis said: "At least they don’t have to risk their lives, unlike us adventurers, who might lose our lives if not careful."

"You’re right, everyone has their own difficulties." Catherine beamed: "Stop thinking about it, we should enjoy every bit of happiness we can have now. Let’s go, the celebration is about to start."

The night had completely fallen, and the public lamps in the street had all been lit by the city’s Night Watchers. Plus, the lights hanging specially at every doorway illuminated the entire city. The number of pedestrians on the streets was increasing, becoming denser and gradually converging into a stream of people, rolling and flowing towards all corners of the city.

"Hahaha, I’m the tallest, I can see the clearest. Oh, over there, over there, thirty degrees to the left." Vivian laughed excitedly. Afraid of her getting lost, Pannis lifted Vivian directly to sit on one of his shoulders. Vivian’s frail body didn’t carry much weight, so Pannis could carry her without feeling pressure.

"What did you see?" Catherine followed behind while seeing Vivian so excited, couldn’t help but be happy too. "Don’t move too much, sit tight, be careful not to fall."

"I see a familiar face." Vivian happily slapped Pannis’s head. "Quick, only ten meters left to him. Hey, it’s us. Have you come too?"

"I know who it is." Pannis shook his head vigorously, driving Vivian’s patting hand away. "I smell seafood. I’m hungry."

Thanks to professional physical abilities to push through the crowd, everyone quickly found the familiar face Vivian saw. Guli-Elmer, the captain of the Blue Coral Adventure Team from the Sea Kingdom of Casa, greeted everyone with his team members, looking pleased. The most eye-catching was Bartholomew, an infant deep-sea octopus with a large and mighty figure, a full face of beard, yet skin so nervous it had turned purple. At this time, he was anxiously following his captain, his six subconscious tentacles behind him causing constant trouble for his teammates.

"It’s truly a blessing to see you all safe and sound." Catherine shook hands with Guli-Elmer with a smile, "Your journey out of the jungle went smoothly, right?"

"Very smoothly, without any danger, thank you all." Guli-Elmer nodded, looking uncomfortably at the surging crowd around him. "I didn’t expect to meet you at the celebration. However, it’s too crowded now, let’s chat separately after the New Year."

"Okay, you should be able to find our guild residence, it’s No. 6 Fox Street. We welcome you as our guests." Catherine also noticed that she was obstructing traffic and hurriedly left an address, "Goodbye, hope you’ll have fun."

The crowd continued to surge forward. This route was leading towards the bustling Central Square commercial area, therefore both sides of the road were occupied by regular shops, unlike some other areas filled with many itinerant vendors. Seen from above, there were separate streams of people on both sides of the street, like two rushing rivers, with thin branches being diverted into roadside shops and constantly merging back into the crowd from the shops. As people moved forward, they would nod and clap hands with whoever they met, known or unknown, greeting each other with ’Happy New Year’ like old friends.

"There are even more people this year." Lina screamed hoarsely, her voice becoming indistinct amidst the surrounding clamor. "At this rate, in less than ten years, the Business Federation will probably have to limit the number of people entering the city."

"They probably won’t limit the number of people, but they will definitely enhance the diversions." Catherine shouted back her response, "Vivian, have you seen any interesting shops around?"

"I see a lot." Vivian simply used the Illusion Sound Technique, making her voice sound like it was coming from all sides: "Lots of beautiful things, toys, little ornaments, decorations, books, snacks, fruits, there’s so much. I want to visit every shop."

"There are even bookshops?" Pannis exclaimed in surprise, "How studious one must be to still think about buying books in this environment."

"Who knows." Vivian gave a nonchalant gesture, "You once said that when you meet a lot of people, you will inevitably bump into a few weird ones. Plus, isn’t there such a studious person right behind you?"

"Wow, wow, I want to go see." Lina said with flailing arms, "Don’t stop me, I have to go see."

"Enough already." Catherine knocked on Lina’s head with her fist, "Hmm, sounds like there is more space inside now."

"Hey, sis." Lina pushed Catherine’s hand away indignantly, "There are so many people now, don’t push me too hard."

"Aren’t you always that way?" Catherine spread her hands, indicating innocence, and before Lina could pounce, she added, "Okay, I’ve memorized the place. I can come with you to check it out when we go back tonight, right?"

"Humph, that’s more like a big sister’s manner." Lina immediately forgot about her previous resentment and continued on her way contentedly.