Praise the author!
This chapter was pure gold.
MC stuck in side quest limbo while advancing story quest? Check.
Romance flag by saving a noob adventurer. Check. (Bonus: Self-aware call out)
Mandatory beach episode? Check.
Romance plot advances? Check.
Plus those side quests looked interesting. Did we find the blind guy's goal? Why did the bride veil lady have a knife?? Did he answer the knight's riddle so he could cross the bridge?!