A Gift That Brings Companions Who Have Fallen onto the Wrong Path Back to the Right One?

(Happy Lantern Festival, everyone!)

(Many thanks to 'You Bi Ji Yue', 'Extreme Collapse', 'Chang Yu', 'Na Wanyi Yao Yingle Ne', 'You're Quietly Watching Me Update', 'One Rider, Ten Thousand Strong', 'Xuan Yuan Ji Sheng Tiandi', and 'Tenkuu no Sensesu' for their tips!)

The next day, Noah woke from his sleep early.

He was already fully dressed.

Leticia had also helped him finish washing up.

Holding the small sword Est had transformed into, Noah left the room Thousand Eyes had prepared for him with Leticia and arrived at the shop entrance.

There, led by White Yaksha, Sakamaki Izayoi, Kudou Asuka, Kasugabe Yō, Black Rabbit, Jin, and the others had already finished preparing and were waiting for Noah.

"What's this, kid? Why are you the last one here?"

With one hand in his pocket, Sakamaki Izayoi looked at Leticia behind Noah with a teasing smile.

"We don't have a blonde vampire maid to help us get up, yet we still arrived before you, you know?"

"I just got up and washed up normally, as usual. I didn't deliberately drag things out or intentionally arrive late. Isn't the timing just right?" Noah retorted without backing down.

"You're not children anymore. Don't tell me you heard there would be a lively festival today and got so excited you couldn't sleep last night?"

"Too excited to sleep?" Sakamaki Izayoi grinned.

"You're right. I really was too excited to sleep!"

Noah shook his head with a laugh, then looked toward Kudou Asuka.

The pointy-hatted fairy was still perched on Kudou Asuka's shoulder. The moment she saw Noah look over, she immediately hid behind Kudou Asuka's hair.

Noah raised an eyebrow at the sight and looked at Kudou Asuka.

"Looks like this little fairy has completely attached herself to you."

"It really does." Kudou Asuka wore a