Chapter 49: The Deer Chase

After exploring more of the festival, Finn turned to Luca and said, "Let's split up and visit different places. We'll meet back here after noon. If one of us sees Lisa or Aveline, we can inform the other then."

Luca smiled wryly. He had a feeling they might end up in some kind of trouble. Still, he agreed.

Rather than searching for Aveline, Luca decided to wander wherever his curiosity led him. As he strolled through the bustling streets, the aroma of roasted meat and sweet pastries filled the air, mingling with the lively chatter of festival-goers. Music played in the distance, and vendors called out their wares.

He soon overheard a group of people animatedly discussing a game happening at the stadium. "Did you hear? The Deer Chase is starting soon!" one man exclaimed.

Intrigued, Luca followed the flow of eager spectators. At the entrance, he noticed people handing over coins to get in. He hesitated briefly but decided it was worth the price to see what the excitement was about. After paying, he stepped inside.

The stadium was larger than he expected, its stone seating packed with people still settling in. Laughter and chatter echoed all around as anticipation built.

At the centre stood a man holding a large, cone-shaped object to amplify his voice. With an exaggerated sweep of his arm, he declared, "Welcome, everyone! The Deer Chase is about to begin!"

Luca had never heard of this game before, so he listened closely as the announcer explained the rules.

A special breed of deer, larger and stronger than normal—had been raised specifically for this event. The challenge was simple: remove a cloth tied to the antlers of the deer. However, there were strict rules, no weapons, no harming the deer in any way. Anyone who succeeded would win a prize of 100 silver coins.

The moment the prize was announced, the crowd roared with excitement. Luca raised an eyebrow. That's a decent amount of money, no wonder so many people are eager to try.

The first contestant stepped forward. The deer stood still, eyeing him warily. The moment the man reached for it, the animal bolted, its powerful legs kicking up dust. The contestant sprinted after it, determination on his face—but within moments, he was panting, hands on his knees, gasping for breath. The audience laughed and clapped at his struggle.

The next contestant, wearing a bull mask, took a different approach. With a loud grunt, he charged straight at the deer.

The result was immediate. The deer dodged effortlessly, leaving him lunging at empty air. He stumbled and fell face-first into the dirt.

The announcer chuckled. "Well, at least the bull mask caught some dirt!" The audience roared with laughter.

Then came another contestant, this one in a cow mask. Instead of charging, he held out a handful of grass and called sweetly, "Come here! Cluck, cluck, cluck!"

The stadium fell silent for a moment.

The announcer sighed. "That's... not a chicken."

Unfazed, the masked man tried again. "Moo! Moo! Come here, moo, moo!"

The deer blinked at him. Nothing.

The contestant scratched his head, then suddenly had another idea. "Buck, buck, buck! Come here!"

This time, the host smirked. "At least you got the right animal."

But the deer still showed no interest. The man looked increasingly frustrated. Then, after a moment of deep contemplation, he straightened up as if struck by divine inspiration.

He started shaking his hips and dancing, his arms swaying in dramatic rhythm.

"Little deer, come near

I'll find you a male deer

So you can mate, my dear!"

The crowd burst into laughter. Luca, watching from the stands, couldn't help but blink. What in the world am I witnessing?

At first, the deer simply stared at the dancing man. Then, without warning, it charged.

The contestant's face lit up with excitement—until he realized just how fast the deer was coming. "Wait—no, no! SAVE ME!" he screamed, turning on his heel and running for dear life.

Too late. The deer knocked him onto his rear with a single, well-placed shove of its head. He landed with an unceremonious thud, groaning as the stadium erupted into wild laughter.

The announcer wiped a tear from his eye. "Your strategy might have worked—if only the deer was female!"

Still rubbing his impacted rear, the man grumbled. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

As the contestant was helped off the field, Luca shook his head, thoroughly entertained.