Chapter 763: Blessing Festival

Beside a stretch of city wall reduced to mere ornamentation, Lu Mi's gaze passed between the tall and short gray-white stone buildings and saw a grand temple standing on the side near the mountains.

It stood over thirty meters high, composed of multiple towers, resembling a war fortress left over from ancient times.

At this moment, under the combined influence of the mountains and clouds, the sunlight near noon had taken on a dull hue, as if the grand temple were draped in a robe woven from twilight.

"The Temple of the War God?" Lu Mi asked without turning his head to the "Knight of the Sword" beside him.

The War God Church was the sole state religion of the Fasak Empire, but the defeat in the war several years ago granted other organizations, such as the Church of the Night Goddess, limited rights to proselytize within the empire—though the Church of the Night Goddess seemed uninterested in the matter.

The "Knight of the Sword" replied succinctly:

"Church."

Not a temple—just a church? No wonder the Fasak people suffer from gigantism, and have excellent taste… Lu Mi suddenly recalled a phrase he'd heard at the "Curly Baboon Research Society":

More is beautiful, bigger is better.

He shifted his question:

"Is this a Fasak colony?"

"Yes," the "Knight of the Sword" said in a low voice. "But now, Ruhen people have the right to trade here."

Lu Mi gave a slight nod and said nothing more, following the road ahead into Lacre City.

Along the way, he clearly distinguished people from different nations among the passersby:

Fasak people were tall; most men exceeded 1. meters, and many women approached 1. meters, fitting Lu Mi's stereotype of a nation founded by descendants of giants, with even some half-giants among them, and their clothing was generally casual—either unbuttoned formal wear or no formal wear at all;

Ruhen people mostly had black hair, paid attention to appearance, and always dressed impeccably; women favored round-brimmed lace hats and carried sunshades, while men wore top hats and carried canes;

Locals of Lacre had darker skin, lean builds; men typically wore canvas work clothes, women dressed practically for labor, with only a few wearing brightly colored robes while herding cattle, sheep, and horses.

Lu Mi glanced at the ponies and long-haired cattle passing by, and saw a local man in a dark red robe wearing a stark white skull atop his head, adorned with a gray-white woolen hat.

"Is this the death worship you mentioned, lingering in folk customs?" Lu Mi didn't deliberately choose streets—he moved purely by instinct.

The "Knight of the Sword" nodded slightly:

"Yes. People in the Lacre region keep the skulls of deceased relatives at home, believing it protects them, brings good fortune, and helps them fight dangers from the dark. The more skulls a family keeps, the more prosperous they are considered."

This was similar to Ke'erdu Village keeping the hair and fingernails of deceased relatives… but here, the worship of death was more intense, so they chose skulls—more exaggerated… Lu Mi suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

The "Knight of the Sword" continued:

"Some even turn the skulls of deceased relatives into talismans and carry them always; what you just saw was exactly this. Every year during the Blessing Festival, all locals in Lacre bring their household skulls into the streets, dress them elaborately, and celebrate and pray together." (Note 1)

"Blessing Festival?" Lu Mi's heart stirred; he asked gravely, "What?"

After experiencing the Lenten Festival, the Sea-Prayer Festival, and the Dream Festival, he had developed a kind of trauma—any mention of a special festival now gave him a headache.

Was Osaeto, the "Witch King" of the Rose School and a major devotee of the Primordial Moon, lingering in Lacre specifically for the Blessing Festival?

The "Knight of the Sword" replied in a low tone:

"The Blessing Festival ended long ago. It happened last November, over a month before the Dream Festival."

You know about the Dream Festival… Lu Mi first exhaled in relief, then asked cautiously:

"Did Osaeto first appear in Lacre before or after the Blessing Festival?"

The "Knight of the Sword" thought for a moment:

"Before."

"So he was probably still in Lacre during the Blessing Festival?" Lu Mi frowned slightly.

"Likely," the "Knight of the Sword" replied with restraint.

…………

Franca's gaze returned from a local woman with a colorful skull sewn onto her shoulder, and she smiled at the tall, golden-haired, emerald-eyed Fasak woman before her:

"Sorry, I have a female companion!"

These Fasak people were too blunt.

Not only men, but women too were hitting on me and Jianna!

The Fasak woman giggled:

"I don't mind if you both come to my place."

"I mind," Jianna spoke for Franca.

They had wandered Lacre City for nearly two hours; though Franca had not deliberately unleashed the "Merry Witch's" charm, fearing suspicion of deliberate seduction, the two "Witches," dressed with care, drew abundant attention merely by their looks, demeanor, and figures.

Among them, Fasak people were bold and direct—both men and women; Ruhen people were reserved and subtle, needing good reasons before approaching; locals mostly only watched from afar, trailing quietly, with only a few daring enough to speak up as guides.

"Alright," said the Fasak woman, half a head taller than Franca, waving regretfully before turning into the nearby café.

Franca and Jianna were now at the center of Lacre City, standing on a street whose architecture exuded the grand, ornate style of Fasak design.

"It's nearly noon. How about trying some Fasak cuisine?" Franca looked up at the bright but not hot sun.

She meant the "San Milong Restaurant" ahead and to the left.

San Milong was the capital of the Fasak Empire; naming a restaurant after it seemed meant to convey "authenticity."

"Fine," Jianna nodded slightly.

As the two "Witches" entered the grandly decorated, exquisitely detailed restaurant, Anthony sat on a bench across the street and quietly ate his lunch—a corn tortilla rolled with beef and lamb, seasoned with several spices.

…………

Lu Mi led Lu Dewei and Lu Jianuo all the way to the lake-side church, which resembled a temple.

After they truly entered the city, the "Knight of the Sword," Marichi, vanished—but Lu Mi's instinct told him the holder of the Minor Arcana card was still nearby.

"Any unusual sensations?" Lu Mi asked Lu Dewei.

"No," Lu Dewei shook his head.

Lu Mi turned to Lu Jianuo:

"What about you?"

"Me?" Lu Jianuo looked bewildered.

Isn't it Lu Dewei's job to sense the target?

What's this got to do with me?

"Do you have any unusual sensations?" Lu Mi repeated calmly.

For some reason, Lu Jianuo felt his employer had lately acquired a more approachable aura, so he answered honestly:

"No."

Gurgling, gurgling—a strange sound echoed in their ears.

Both turned their gazes toward Lu Dewei.

Lu Dewei patted his stomach, his face full of longing:

"It's time for lunch."

"Alright," Lu Mi agreed readily.

His philosophy: never let a child go hungry—after all, a starving child might eat people.

He glanced around and pointed toward a relatively bustling street northwest of the Lake Saint Square:

"There seem to be many restaurants there."

This time, Lu Dewei didn't need Lu Jianuo to hold his hand—he scampered off on his short legs, and Lu Mi quickened his pace, strolling casually beside him, while Lu Jianuo followed closely behind.

The street had distinct Fasak features, with sidewalk trees and benches, resembling the streets of northern continent countries.

Lu Mi gave a quick scan and nodded toward the "San Milong Restaurant" nearby:

"Try some Fasak cuisine."

"Good," Lu Dewei wiped his mouth.

Suddenly, his longing expression turned slightly puzzled; his head instinctively swiveled left and right, as if searching for something.

Lu Mi noticed this unusual behavior.

"What's wrong? Want an ice cream too?" he asked in a tone meant for a child.

Lu Dewei imitated Lu Jianuo's usual manner, lowering his voice:

"I think I sensed the corpse-child, but it's very faint."

Sensed the Bird-Claw Monster-Baby? Lu Mi scanned the surroundings, but saw no other children; passersby were mostly Fasak and locals, with Ruhen people scattered among them.

There weren't even any pregnant women.

At that moment, Lu Dewei added:

"I can't sense it anymore."

Outside a thirty-meter range? Lu Mi quietly withdrew his gaze:

"If what I just sensed was truly connected to the Bird-Claw Monster-Baby, then my Oumibela bloodline might have been sensed by them too…"

Lu Mi nodded and smiled at Lu Dewei:

"Forget it. Let's eat first. Nothing matters more than a full stomach."

"Exactly!" Lu Dewei felt for the first time that his godfather's words had struck right to his heart.

Inside the "San Milong Restaurant," Lu Mi immediately spotted Franca and Jianna seated in a prominent spot.

The two meticulously dressed "Witches" made Lu Mi glance at them for two extra seconds.

At the same time, he thought to himself:

Is this the Law of Anomalous Property Aggregation?

We just happened to choose the same restaurant…

Franca and Jianna noticed his gaze and looked back; one gasped with slightly parted lips, the other chuckled silently.

They quickly controlled their expressions and returned their attention to the beet soup before them.

Under the waiter's guidance, Lu Mi, Lu Dewei, and Lu Jianuo sat down in a corner.

"Sir, what would you like to order?" The waiter handed over a menu designed to resemble a book.

Lu Mi glanced at it, did not open it, and said directly:

"Bring me one of everything except drinks."

Note 1: Inspired by Bolivia's Skull Blessing Festival

(End of Chapter)