Chapter 179
Harvest Festival
No civilization had ever developed without passing through an agrarian society, and in that sense, festivals that expressed gratitude for the crops harvested over the year inevitably left their traces everywhere.
However, the Harvest Festival of the Tribal Alliance felt a bit different from the holidays of the Empire or other nations.
More precisely, the difference lay in the fact that a priestess serving the role of ‘warding off misfortune’ was absolutely necessary.
The position of priestess was that of a religious leader within the Tribal Alliance, and during occasions like this, she was someone who had to go around showing her face everywhere, delivering enlightening words to the people.
In other words, it meant she would be ridiculously busy.
Of course, given her position as a priestess, it was possible for her to substitute for that role, but it was something everyone who knew, knew well.
Unlike Rania, who always wore an eyepatch to cover the Divine Eye—the proof that she had been ‘chosen by the gods’—Cretin had no such mark.
It meant that, clearly, even among priestesses, there was a point that distinguished differences between them.
In a way, the fact that she, a fellow priestess, was doing what was essentially the work of a maid—helping with the adornment of Rania, who sat quietly with her eyes closed—was itself an eloquent demonstration of that reality.
“Harvester.”
With the Harvest Festival just around the corner, as she gazed at the bustling streets, Rania calmly brought up the word.
Cretin, who had been quietly helping with her makeup beside her, flinched and looked at her, but Rania remained expressionless as usual, puffing on her pipe.
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“It’s said to be one of the many demons that the God of Ascension sealed in accordance with this period. You’ve heard of it too, haven’t you, sister?”
Cretin stayed silent for a moment, then lowered her gaze slightly and resumed moving her hands, continuing to apply makeup to Rania’s face.
After all, every time Rania brought up stories like this, she was in a position where she had to endure the pricking sensation in her chest.
“…I’ve heard of it.”
“They say it’s a God of Calamity that never reveals itself as long as proper rites are offered to Urgan, but well.”
This time, it was almost certain that something unusual had occurred to the Great Chieftain, who had been designated to perform those rites.
“The day the Harvester reveals itself, calamity shall descend from a sky dyed red. It’s a famous legend, isn’t it?”
“……”
“They say that if one tries to oppose it, it’s powerful enough to wipe out the Great Plains entirely… but it usually doesn’t go that far. They say that if just one offering is made, even a God of Calamity calms down and withdraws.”
“……”
“Though that offering itself is rather… inhumane. Don’t you think?”
“……”
While Rania continued speaking, instead of answering, Cretin kept brushing makeup onto her face.
She couldn’t stop her hands from trembling as she drew religious pictographs imbued with meaning.
In the end, the reason she brought the question out loud was because her patience had run dry.
“…Why are you suddenly saying things like that?”
Even her father, Dunadan, couldn’t understand most of what Rania said.
Cretin, who as a priestess could at least sense the ‘presence’ of a god, was in a slightly better position, but even so, the gap between her and Rania—who stood in a position of directly ‘contacting’ the divine—was immense.
In that sense, even asking such a question felt like a sin to Cretin.
To begin with.
Wasn’t the very reason she and Rania now stood at such a difference because of what she had done to her in the past?
Originally, it should have been her, instead of Rania—
“Sister.”
Before she could continue that line of thought, Rania’s firm voice cut into her consciousness.
Startled, she looked into her eyes, only to see Rania smiling faintly, as if asking whether she was thinking such things again.
“You don’t have to worry about it.”
“……”
“I told you before. That was when we were young. It doesn’t matter now.”
“……”
If it didn’t matter now…
Then it meant that Rania herself acknowledged that she didn’t view what had happened positively.
So.
‘…I shouldn’t dig any deeper.’
The past was the past. Rania was a precious younger sister who had never once resented her for such things.
“……”
…Which was exactly why she couldn’t just hand her over to some nobody who came out of nowhere.
At the very least, only someone who could pass all the strict standards she had set could even be considered worthy of being entrusted with Rania…
In that regard, that Aiden Kellermain guy—
‘…Uh, well.’
Cretin suddenly realized her thoughts had halted for a moment, and was soon horrified at the direction they had taken.
In the past, she would have firmly denied it, so why had she hesitated just now?
As if she could allow that man to have Rania?
Think carefully. People often say that in dangerous situations, one can easily develop rational attraction—it was probably just that the circumstances made her briefly find him appealing.
Even after noticing that she had disguised herself as Rania to test him, he never pointed it out, always treated her with consideration, and when danger arose, he firmly took the lead and tried to protect her—what possible reason could there be to feel drawn to such a man—
“…Sister.”
“Yeah?”
“…Why is your face turning red by yourself? What are you thinking about?”
“……”
At Rania’s absent-minded remark, Cretin widened her eyes and forced down a strained groan into her throat.
‘Don’t be ridiculous. Don’t be ridiculous!’
As she huffed in irritation, she sped up the hands that were helping with Rania’s adornment. That man really knew how to get on people’s nerves.
A shameless flirt who hit on every woman he saw. The kind of man who would treat any other woman the same way, not just her or Rania!
…Of course, to anyone watching from the side, Cretin—who was fuming like that—would just look like a strange person getting angry all by herself.
Rania, who had been watching her with a faint smile, gently closed her eyes and changed the subject.
“By the way, you asked earlier why I brought that up, right?”
“Hm?”
“You asked why I was talking about the Harvester.”
“……”
When Cretin quietly nodded, Rania spoke again.
“Sister.”
“…What?”
“Don’t be too surprised, okay?”
“…………What?”
“Just promise me that. No matter what happens, you won’t be surprised.”
“……”
“No, well, it’s nothing that serious.”
Leaving Cretin—whose face had turned pale, wondering what her younger sister was talking about—Rania calmly puffed on her pipe again as she continued.
“…Even if the probability is low.”
For some reason, the way Rania said that—
“I feel like something might happen to me.”
To Cretin, it looked as though she was foreseeing something that would certainly happen.
She couldn’t give any kind of answer in return.
▣
And the unease that Cretin was dwelling on right now was undoubtedly being felt just the same by a certain infamous womanizer somewhere.
And unlike Rania, who had only given vague and incomprehensible explanations, this side was sensing it in a much clearer form.
-System Message
▶ A quest that will cause a major shift in the main scenario will soon be prepared.
▶ Protect the target ‘Rania A‘Shan’ carefully.
▶ Upon success, an event that greatly increases your personal happiness will occur!
…This was the first time I felt like picking a fight with the System Window.
No, I understood that something big was about to happen.
‘Personal happiness…?’
What kind of personal happiness…?
If it was what I wanted, it was just to finish the main scenario properly, return home, and live peacefully with my family in a world that would no longer be destroyed.
“……”
Well, I didn’t really know.
Come to think of it, since I got entangled in the scenario, had anything ever been explained to me properly?
It would be better to focus on what I could do right now.
‘Protect her….’
I carefully read over the line written there and stroked my chin.
Looking around, everything was bustling. Considering the atmosphere when something like a Harvest Festival was held in the Empire, it was only natural that the Tribal Alliance—where religious elements remained much stronger—would be no less lively.
And if it was this crowded, with excitement boiling over everywhere,
It was only natural that it would become difficult to respond if a major incident broke out.
And.
It was obvious that something would happen here. I had come here from the start expecting that some kind of incident would occur during the Harvest Festival.
‘…I’ll have to prepare well.’
I needed to come up with countermeasures in advance.
At the very least, judging by that window appearing in front of me, it was only natural to assume that things would unfold beyond the incident I had already anticipated.
Bringing the person beside me was also part of that plan.
“…Disgusting.”
The Mountain God muttered that as she looked at the people passing nearby.
Her ears were perked forward, and even her tail—which had been swaying—was now stiff with pressure, as if she was expressing that sentiment with her entire body, not just words.
“It’s nothing but that bastard’s scent all around here. I don’t know if coming here was a good idea.”
If the people passing by heard that, they’d think it was nonsense and turn to look, but I simply smirked without bothering to stop her.
Well, this was a festival held by people who served Urgan—the one who killed the god she once served. From her perspective, there was no way she’d find it pleasant.
“I’m glad you find it disgusting.”
“……”
That was exactly what I wanted, after all.
The Mountain God looked at me as if I was talking nonsense, but I shrugged and continued.
“I happen to know people who are perfect for stirring that up.”
As we walked together, our destination gradually came into view.
A Void Zone covered entirely in dark energy, the barrier formed around it, and finally, the Altar set up before it.
Rania, dressed in splendid attire, Cretin attending to her, and the Tribal Leaders of the Alliance were all standing before that Altar.
And among them—
I picked out the gazes directed at me with killing intent.
They were probably the ‘hardliners’ that Dunadan had repeatedly warned me about beforehand.
“……”
I calmly accepted those stares and walked toward the Altar.
I didn’t feel bad at all.
Considering what I was about to do to those people.
Behind me, the Mountain God followed with a displeased expression.
‘…I’m really glad she’s in a bad mood.’
I hadn’t brought Noel, Katya, Milene, or Elena. Right now, I was moving with only her.
That meant—
What I was about to do with her now…
‘…No matter how generously you put it.’
Was nothing more and nothing less than a rotten, ill-natured act.
