novelraw Chapter 286 Rome Stories February 13 New Share
Chapter 286 Rome Stories February 13 New Share
After watching Abigail leave, Leon wandered aimlessly around with his straw hat on.
As for the festival games Abigail had mentioned, Leon wasn’t the least bit interested. He wasn’t good at those either.
If it were something like beanbag tossing, chicken fighting, or card slapping, Leon might give it a try. But the ones Abigail mentioned? He’d never played them before.
Still, going back this early felt like a waste. It was, after all, his very first festival in Pelican Town. Leon decided he should at least enjoy it a little longer.
Maybe because it was close to mealtime, most people had gathered at Gus’s egg dish buffet table. Leon joined them, though he didn’t eat much.
He wasn’t really hungry—he was mainly there to watch the eating contest.
Among the contestants, Leon recognized Alex. But clearly, the guy wasn’t doing well—he was already slumped back in his chair, eyes rolled back.
Each contestant had a small wooden barrel next to them, filled with boiled eggs, each stamped with the Joja Corporation logo.
The host of this eating contest was Morris, Joja’s resident agent in Pelican Town.
Leon watched for a while before losing interest. It wasn’t a competition he could join, and the prize for first place was a year of unlimited Joja Cola—something Leon had absolutely no desire for.
“Hey old man, why aren’t you in the contest?” After nibbling on a little food, Leon noticed Linus crouched by the grass and bushes at the edge of the square, leaning against a maple tree and yawning. Leon strolled over with a teasing grin.
“I can’t eat that many eggs,” Linus waved his hand, “and I don’t like cola.”“But it’d be a free meal,” Leon joked. “Aren’t you pretending to be a hobo right now? Isn’t this the perfect roleplay stage for your character?”
“Do you know you have to pay an entry fee to join the contest?” Linus smiled and shot back. “How could a homeless man afford that?”
“I could pay for you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just here to enjoy the festival atmosphere. No need to trouble Lewis. If tourists saw a filthy homeless guy wandering around town, all his hard work would be wasted. I’d rather just watch from here.”
After saying that, Linus opened his eyes fully and leaned against the tree, gazing at the bustling crowd. Then he muttered to Leon, “And I’ve told you before—stay away from me. Why don’t you ever listen?”
In response, Leon simply sat down beside him, tilted his straw hat over his face, and said, “This way no one can see me.”
“You…” Linus chuckled helplessly. He knew exactly what Leon was thinking. The kid must have noticed him alone in this corner, looking out of place, and came to keep him company.
But what Leon didn’t know was that if Linus hadn’t deliberately let him spot him, no one in town—except Rasmodius—would have noticed his presence.
“Do you like that hat?” Linus asked, deciding not to refuse the company.
“It looks nice. I like it.”
“Do you like its style, or its special effect?” Linus pressed.
“Both. If there were a winter version, that’d be even better,” Leon said, blatantly hinting.
“Go see the Hat Mouse. It probably has something that suits you.” Linus wasn’t going to fall for it. He liked Leon, sure, but that didn’t mean he was going to just hand him gifts.
The kid had grown up and owned a farm that generated endless wealth. Asking a nearly retired old man for presents was just shameless.
“Didn’t you tell me to avoid the Hat Mouse?”
“I told you to be cautious, not to avoid buying from it. Most of its hats are useful to you. But if one day it tries to sell you a hat at an absurdly low price, that’s when you need to watch out.”
“Trying to unload stolen goods, huh?” Leon chuckled.
“Exactly. It’s a child of the wilds, but it still doesn’t fully understand people. Anyone with half a brain would be wary if it looked that eager to sell.” Linus laughed as well.
“I was wrong then. Compared to it, you’re more like a rat. A cunning, fat rat.”
“Old man, that’s defamation. I could sue you for that,” Leon said with mock outrage.
“Go ahead. I’ve already got one foot in the grave. But some people might not be able to find someone to answer their questions anymore.” Linus countered with his own mock threat.
Neither was intimidated. After lifting his hat and exchanging a glance with Linus, they both burst into hearty laughter.
“All right, you should go. Spend time with friends your own age. Don’t waste your festival on an old man like me.” Linus gave Leon a gentle shove and motioned for him to look southwest.
Following the gesture, Leon saw Emily and Haley together at the buffet table. Emily seemed determined to try a little of everything, while Haley was just eating honey-egg bread.
“Can’t you point me toward a male friend my age?” Leon complained.
“Do you even have a male friend your age in this town?” Linus asked back.
“Uh…” Leon fell silent.
Because Linus was right. He really didn’t have any male friends his own age here. Male friends in general? Sure—Gus, Willy, and maybe Clint. But he hadn’t seen Clint anywhere near the square today.
“Hahaha, I’m off to enjoy the day somewhere else,” Linus laughed again at Leon’s expression. Before Leon could stand up, Linus had already walked a few steps and vanished from sight.
Leon could only sigh, glance at Emily and Haley again, think for a moment, then turn back toward the farm.
If you enjoy this story, please consider subscribing to me on (www./RomayStories)! Your support helps me keep translating faster and ensures I can dedicate more time to bringing you the world of Stardew Valley in vivid detail.
Next Chapter >>>