Sometimes a good response can make people want to talk more.
But right now, the situation doesn't actually require a great response.
Experienced mage Miss Mira explained to the newcomer, Rhode:
"It's the Harvest Festival. Magnolia holds the Harvest Festival every October, it's a celebration for the whole city."
"Oh~ it's the Harvest Festival." Rhode recalled participating in an early celebration with Natsu last month prepared especially for them.
To sum it up, it's all about eating, drinking, playing, laughing, dancing around the bonfire, and fully expressing joy.
Rhode asked, "Is it necessary to ignore tasks just for this?"
Mira replied, "Of course, it's the grandest celebration of the year, celebrating this year's harvest, and praying for good luck next year... it's very important to everyone."
Rhode nodded, "I think I somewhat understand now."
He remembered that many places hold harvest festivals in autumn.
For locals, the importance of the Harvest Festival is almost like New Year, something that requires careful preparation.
Mira added:
"It's not just ordinary celebrations. We, Fairy Tail, as Magnolia's only mage guild, have to organize a magical parade that night.
Everyone is staying at the guild to prepare for this parade, which is a well-known large parade across the Ishujal Continent.
Even nearby villages and towns will have people coming over to watch, and Magnolia will be crowded at that time."
"Parade..." Rhode thought negatively due to seeing too much bad news about parades.
In fact, the term itself has no particular inclination; it could be for celebrations, commemorations, or protests.
The guild is clearly responsible for the celebration and performance, and since it's entrusted to the mage guild, it likely involves magic.
Rhode asked, "So what exactly do we need to do?"
"What you need to do is quickly tidy up that table!"
Laki complained, "Don't just chat away; come on, my stomach is already protesting."
Humph, does it take two people this long to clean one table?
Mira said to Laki, "Sorry, it will be ready soon."
Rhode hurriedly said, "Sorry, sorry, I asked too many questions."
Laki, hands on her hips, felt even more annoyed.
Rhode placed the utensils on a tray and carried them off, while Mira carefully wiped the table clean.
Afterwards, it was lunchtime for the tavern staff, the stomach-filling phase Laki mentioned.
But eating didn't stop them from continuing their conversation.
"The most important thing in the magical parade is the magic performance. It has to be gorgeous, distinctive, fully showcasing our guild's style, ideally making people want to join us at first glance."
Rhode thought, if he participated in the parade, summoning a bunch of wild monsters running through the streets...
That wouldn't look good.
Unless they performed some act, like Shadow Wolves jumping through flaming hoops, but that would be like a circus.
"Looks like there's nothing for me to do. My magic doesn't seem to have any flashy effects."
Can't just crown myself with a Crown of Embers and demonstrate hurting the Fire Dragon Slayer Mage with flames.
Mira said, "How could there be nothing for you? Summoning so many wild monsters out of thin air is already glamorous."
"Exactly, exactly, it's not that you have nothing to contribute," Laki said,
"There's a major event you absolutely have to participate in, and that is — the Miss Fairy Tail beauty contest!"
"..." Rhode looked at her, "Me? Beauty contest? Can it get any more ridiculous?"
Laki admires his thought process: "Who said you would be a contestant? Aren't you going to vote? Sister Mira will participate."
Mira gently touched her cheek, "Oh my, now that Laki formally mentioned it, I feel a bit shy."
"Seems like I can look forward to it?" Rhode thought, "Hey, Laki, aren't you participating?"
"No way, I can't compete with Sister Mira. Participating is useless. I hate perverted guys; it's hard to endure being looked at that way."
Laki waved her hand, teasingly said, "And you still have time to care about whether I'm participating? Why not talk about what outfit you'd like to see Sister Mira wear that day."
"Of course, I'd like to see..." Rhode stopped, "Don't ask me about such things; it's a competition, I don't quite understand."
"Make a little wish, what if Sister Mira agrees?"
Laki tried to tempt him, "Perhaps a swimsuit, cat ears, rabbit outfit, isn't that tempting?"
Even if tempted, I can't say it, Rhode said righteously, "I'm not that kind of person!"
Mira laughed, "It seems like what you're saying is something Erza might do."
The specifics of the magical parade are not officially decided yet, asking Rhode doesn't lead to answers.
As Mira mentioned, many times it's only on the parade day that the president decides on people, and then everyone improvises.
Sometimes, even when arrangements are made, unexpected situations arise, necessitating temporary adjustments.
No matter how it's done, everyone will do their best on that day, always delivering a visual feast.
A rather free magic performance, that's the reason why Fairy Tail's magical parade is so famous.
This also truly fits the style of Fairy Tail.
The days passed by in Rhode's busy routine.
Every day after work, he insisted on training, exhausting himself to the point he couldn't get up.
Then he summoned the Crimson Marked Tree Monster for the Crown of Embers aura.
It couldn't restore physical strength, but the life recovery effect of the Crown of Embers helped remove excessive exercise damage.
So when he wakes up the next day, he wouldn't have severe aftereffects like back pain or leg cramps.
However, once October arrived, Rhode's training plan slowed down temporarily.
In common storytelling patterns, such large festivals often lead to major events, so keeping ample magic power and energy for emergencies was necessary.
Moreover, recently, a large number of tourists and merchants flooded into Magnolia, so it's likely they might mix in a few bad guys, precautions can't be neglected.
"Morning Rhode, you're full of energy today."
"Brother Goodman, why didn't I see you come by the past few days?"
"Of course, it's because of that!" Goodman pointed to a few big boxes stacked on the first floor,
"These days, our whole family has been working overtime, finally making so many finished products, just waiting for Harvest Festival to make a big splash!"
During the festival, wooden carvings and woven items, these kinds of handcrafted goods, should sell well.
"Quite the hard work, then I wish your business prosperity."
"Hahaha, thank you!" Goodman hung a string of flags outside the shop, found a pile of balloons, ready to inflate them and hang up.
"By the way, will you participate in the magical parade this year?"
"That's uncertain, I've only been a guild member for three months."
"I know, the strongest newcomer!"
"Even you know about this..."
Seems ordinary people also subscribe to Wizard Weekly.
Approaching the Harvest Festival, almost every household was like Goodman, hanging flags, balloons, banners, and decorations, creating a strong festive atmosphere.
Walkers on the streets were visibly increasing, all kinds of vendors were fired up, ready to earn a big profit during this opportunity.
Rhode bade farewell to Goodman, heading to the guild with Warm.
The little fellow had grown from palm-sized to basketball-sized, still round in shape, running restlessly by Rhode's feet.
There were too many alluring smells in the air, and Warm was a bit dazzled.
So Rhode decided to take it to the guild and leave it in the kitchen to scrounge food, under the pretense of assisting with Poro Delicacies 2.0 version development.