"Truth be told, Kenley, there isn't a great deal of disparity in how the nobles and the common folk celebrate the festival," remarked Daina.

  "Is that so?" Kenley murmured, lost in contemplation.

  There were but three days remaining until the Kulsmatlin Festival. On this auspicious day, as a gesture of gratitude for the bountiful blessings bestowed by the Sun God, the populace would orchestrate a grand bonfire extravaganza. Friends and relatives would be gathered around the crackling flames, offering copious amounts of sumptuous food to the divine. Amidst the merriment, they would engage in jubilant singing, spirited dancing, and melodious music-making, hosting a lavish gastronomic soiree around the bonfire.

  For those fortunate enough with the means, a live opera performance would be arranged on-site. The royal family, in particular, would make their way to the Royal Opera House during each Kulsmatlin Festival to partake in the magnificent New Year's theatrical spectacle. Moreover, under the auspices of the church, new blessings and prayers would be offered annually to the subjects, all under the watchful gaze of the deity. These were truly grand and solemn celebrations.

  Just then, a knock resounded at the door.

  "My lord, Lord Fess, Lord Orphen, and Lord Tek have arrived at the castle gates," a servant announced respectfully.

  Kenley was taken aback, not having anticipated the arrival of Fess and his companions.

  "Kenley, it seems you've gained quite a bit of popularity among them," Daina observed with keen interest.

  "Perhaps it's due to the approaching festival. They might have come to extend their greetings," Kenley surmised, turning his head towards the door. "Quickly invite them in. It's bitterly cold outside, and we must uphold the standards of courtesy."

  "Yes, my lord," the servant replied obediently.

  Before long, Kenley heard the distinct footsteps of three individuals approaching the door.

  Kenley promptly rose to his feet.

  "Fess, Orphen, Tek, you are most welcome! I wish you all a joyous Kulsmatlin Festival in advance!" he exclaimed heartily.

  "Hahaha, Lord Kenley..." Fess began, but upon catching sight of Daina, who had been seated on the sofa nearby, he was rendered momentarily speechless by surprise.

  "Captain Daina," Fess immediately bowed in deference.

  Orphen and Tek exchanged a meaningful glance, equally taken aback by Daina's presence.

  "Greetings, Captain," the three of them chorused, paying their respects to Daina.

  Daina reciprocated with a bow of her own. "I wish you three a happy festival in advance."

  "The same to you," Fess replied. For some inexplicable reason, beads of perspiration formed on his forehead, as if he harbored a deep-seated fear of Daina. Despite her attire as a noble maiden, there emanated from her an intangible aura of authority that was impossible to ignore.

  "We simply dropped by to extend our regards and to extend an invitation to you, Lord Kenley, to join us for the Kulsmatlin Festival banquet. Our three families intend to host a joint banquet. We were just wondering..." Fess winked at Kenley.

  Before Kenley could respond, Daina, wearing a benevolent smile, interjected, "Fess, Mr. Kenley has already made prior arrangements with me. On the day of the Kulsmatlin Festival, he will not be going anywhere else."

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  "I understand, Captain. Lord Kenley, then we shall take our leave. Hahaha, happy festival! Happy festival!" Fess, with beads of sweat on his brow, led the other two away in haste.

  "You three..." Before Kenley could utter another word, the trio had vanished without a trace.

  "How peculiar... What on earth was wrong with them?" Kenley mused aloud, his brow furrowed in confusion as he took his seat once more.

  "Perhaps they're suffering from a stomachache," Daina quipped with a mischievous glint in her eye.

  Kenley scratched his head in bewilderment. "Is that so?"

  Just then, Tia descended the stairs. "Master, that Normani has been carelessly placing stones on the bed again!"

  Kenley let out a helpless sigh. "Tia, don't be too hard on her. It's just her nature."

  "Master, while I can understand her penchant for collecting stones, she actually went so far as to place an ice element magic crystal core on the bed. Master, that kind of crystal core could cause you severe frostbite!" Tia exclaimed, clearly displeased.

  A fire element magic crystal core could serve as a comforting source of warmth during the winter months. However, having an ice element magic crystal core on the bed in the cold of winter was indeed a cause for concern. Kenley had admonished Normani on more than one occasion regarding this matter, yet she persisted in her heedless ways. The idiosyncrasies of dragons truly were a source of exasperation.

  "Kenley, there is, in fact, a way to make the dragon more tractable," Daina interjected suddenly.

  "What ingenious solution do you have in mind?" Kenley asked, his curiosity piqued.

  Daina explained, "I had originally planned to join the Imperial Dragon Knight Guard for a period of advanced training next year. To prepare for this, I spent some time studying within the ranks of the Imperial Dragon Knight Guard. Dragons have a natural affinity for collecting shiny gems, but they also have a preference for holy springs. Providing them with regular servings of holy spring water can help to make them more docile."

  "I had no idea there was such a method. Thank you, Daina. You've truly been a great help to me," Kenley expressed gratefully. During his time in the game, he hadn't encountered such complexities. Although he had once been a dragon knight in the virtual world, certain aspects had been simplified. As a result, Kenley was not well-versed in the finer details of this matter.

  "But Captain Daina, holy springs are typically of natural origin and are extremely rare, making them rather difficult to come by, aren't they?" Tia raised a valid concern.

  "Your Highness Tia, holy springs can also be obtained through the principle of equivalent exchange in the art of alchemy. There are numerous alchemists in Marlen Imperial City who are capable of using this method to acquire holy spring water," Daina elucidated with a gentle smile.

  "I almost forgot. Alchemists do possess such an ability," Tia exclaimed, lightly tapping her forehead in realization.

  Kenley's eyes lit up, as if a sudden inspiration had struck him. As an alchemist was a highly sought-after profession in the game, Kenley had long harbored the intention of learning the craft. With this in mind, he resolved to pursue the path of an alchemist.

  "Thank you, Daina. I now know what I must do," Kenley said, gently patting Tia's head.

  Watching Kenley's affectionate gesture towards Tia, Daina felt an inexplicable pang of emotion well up within her. She suddenly blurted out, "Kenley, would you consider becoming a dragon knight?"

  "A dragon knight?" Kenley exclaimed, taken aback by the unexpected proposal.

  "Yes. You currently possess a dragon as your mount. By entering into a contract with her, you can successfully advance to the rank of a dragon knight. As a dragon knight, you will have the opportunity to join the Imperial Dragon Cavalry and contribute your strength to the empire. This will not only be advantageous for your future elevation in the noble hierarchy but also for the potential grant of a fiefdom. Every Imperial Dragon Knight stands a chance of becoming a hereditary noble. Kenley, I urge you to give my proposal serious consideration," Daina implored, her voice laden with temptation.

  Kenley nodded silently, acknowledging the soundness of Daina's argument. Becoming a dragon knight indeed held numerous advantages. However, it also entailed undertaking a job transfer quest, which would undoubtedly present a series of challenges along the way. Being a dragon knight was a prestigious and rewarding profession, and it even offered the possibility of a third job transfer to become a Sword Saint.

  Wilke was both a Sword Saint and a dragon knight. From this perspective, there was no real downside for Kenley in pursuing the path of a dragon knight.

  "Indeed, I will give your suggestion due consideration. Thank you, Daina," Kenley replied sincerely.

  Just then, Daina suddenly shifted her position and seated herself beside Kenley. "Once the Kulsmatlin Festival concludes, I will be heading to the Imperial Dragon Knight Academy for advanced training. Would you care to accompany me? I will take care of all the cumbersome formalities involved," she offered.