Skull Blessing Festival

Beside a section of the old City Wall that was only good for viewing, Lumian's gaze passed through the Gray-White stone buildings of varying heights and came to a magnificent temple standing near the mountainside.

It is over thirty meters high and consists of multiple Tower, resembling a war fortress left over from an ancient era.

At this moment, influenced by the mountains and clouds, the midday Sunlight, after shining down, took on a dim hue, making the magnificent temple seem to be draped in a cloak woven by Twilight.

"The temple of the Church of the God of God of Combat?" Lumian asked the "Knight of Swords" beside him without turning his head.

The Church the God of Combat is the sole state religion of the Feysac Empire, but the defeat in the war a few years ago granted other organizations, such as the Church of the Goddess of Evernight, certain missionary rights in the Feysac Empire. However, the Church the Goddess of Evernight does not seem to be enthusiastic about this matter.

The Knight of Swords answered succinctly, "The Church."

Not a temple, just Church? No wonder the Feysac people have a megalomaniac fetish, and their aesthetic sense is quite good... For some reason, Lumian suddenly recalled a phrase he'd heard at the "Curly-Haired Baboon Research Society":

More is beautiful, bigger is good.

He then asked, "Is this a colony of the Feysac?"

"Yes," the Knight of Swords said in a deep voice, "But now, the Loenian have the right to trade here."

Lumian nodded slightly, said nothing more, and entered the Lacray City along the road ahead.

Along the way, he could easily distinguish people from different countries from the crowds:

The Feysac people are tall, with most Men over 1.9 meters tall and many Women approaching 1.8 meters, fitting Lumian's stereotype of them as a nation founded by Descendants of Giant, and even containing many half- Giant. These Feysac people dress relatively casually, either with their suits unbuttoned or not wearing formal attire at all.

The Loenian are mostly black-haired and pay attention to their appearance, always dressing impeccably. The Lady like to wear round-brimmed hats and carry sun umbrellas, while the men are always equipped with top hats and Staff.

The locals of Lacray have dark Human Skin and are lean. Most of the Men wear canvas work clothes, and the Lady are dressed in work-appropriate attire. Only a few wear brightly colored robes and drive cattle, sheep, and horses.

Lumian glanced at the ponies and longhaired cattle passing by and saw a local man in a dark red Robe with a white Skull on his head, Skull was also wearing a Gray-White wool hat.

"Is this what you mean by the Death Worship that remains in folk customs?" Lumian didn't deliberately choose a street, but went forward purely on instinct.

The "Knight of Swords" nodded slightly and said, "Yes, people in the Lacré Region keep the Skull of their deceased relatives in their homes, believing that they can protect them, bring good luck, and help them fight against dangers from the night. The more Skull a family keeps, the more prosperous the family is."

This is similar to how people in the Cordou Village keep the hair and nails of their deceased relatives at home... but the Death Worship here is more intense, so they chose Skull, which makes it seem more exaggerated... Lumian suddenly felt a little sentimental.

The "Knight of Swords" continued, "Some people even make amulets from the Skull of their deceased relatives and carry them with them. What you just saw is an example of this. And every year Skull Blessing Festival, all the locals in the Lacré Region bring the Skull from their homes to the streets, decorate them carefully, and celebrate and pray together." (Note 1)

"Skull Blessing Festival?" Lumian's heart skipped a beat, and he asked solemnly.

After experiencing festivals like Lent Festival, the Sea Prayer Festival, and the "Dream Festival," he developed a kind of gift-giving trauma syndrome, suffering from a headache whenever he heard about special holidays.

Oseto, the "Witch King" of the "Rose School" and a key follower of the "Primordial Moon," is staying in the Lacré Region —could it be just for the Skull Blessing Festival?

The Knight of Swords replied in a low voice, "The Skull Blessing Festival ended a long time ago; it was Last Year November, more than a month before the ' Dream Festival '."

"You know about the ' Dream Festival '..." Lumian breathed a sigh of relief, then asked with some unease, "Did Oseto first appear in the Lacré Region before or after the Skull Blessing Festival?"

The "Knight of Swords" thought for a moment and said, "Before..."

"So, he should also be in the Lacré Region during the Skull Blessing Festival?" Lumian frowned slightly.

"That should be it," the "Knight of Swords" replied with restraint.

Franca withdrew her gaze from a local Women with a colorful Skull sewn onto her shoulder, and smiled at the Women Blond Hair Feysac of her, saying, "Excuse me, I have a female companion!"

These Feysac are so straightforward!

Besides Men, there were even beautiful women who approached and invited me and Jenna to chat Jenna!

The man from Feysac chuckled and said, "I wouldn't mind if you all came to visit me at my home."

"I mind," Jenna said, speaking up for Franca.

They had been wandering around Lacray City for nearly two hours. Although Franca did not actively unleash the Charm of the "Pleasure Witch" to avoid being suspected of deliberately Fishing people, the two "Witch," who were carefully dressed up, were enough to attract a lot of attention with their appearance, temperament, and figure alone.

Among them, the Feysac people are bold and direct, both men and women, while the Loenian are conservative and reserved, always needing a good reason to approach. The locals mostly just watch from afar and follow quietly, and occasionally a few Courage will strike up a conversation as guides.

"Alright." That One Women from Franca, who was half a head taller than Feysac, waved regretfully and turned to enter the Café next door.

Franca and Jenna are currently in the heart of Lacray City, on a street with a grand and ornate architectural style characteristic of the Feysac.

"It's almost noon, how about we go try Feysac cuisine?" Franca looked up at the not-too-hot but dazzling Sunlight and said.

She was referring to the "Saint-Milon Restaurant" diagonally in front of her.

Saint-Milon was the capital of the Feysac Empire, and using it as the Restaurant's name seems intended to convey a sense of "authenticity."

"Okay." Jenna nodded gently.

As the two "Witch" entered the grandly decorated and exquisitely detailed Restaurant, Anthony sat down on a bench across the street and quietly began to eat his lunch—a corn tortilla rolled with beef and mutton and several spices.

Lumian led Ludwig and Lugano all the way to the temple-like Sacred Lake Church.

After they actually entered the city, "Knight of Swords" Maric disappeared, but Lumian's intuition told him that the Minor Arcana Holder was still nearby.

"Do you sense anything unusual?" Lumian asked Ludwig.

"No." Ludwig shook his head.

Lumian then looked at Lugano:

"And you?"

"Me?" Lugano looked bewildered.

Wasn't it through Ludwig that people were found?

What does this have to do with me?

"What unusual sensations are you experiencing?" Lumian repeated the question.

For some reason, Lugano felt that his employer had become more approachable lately, so he honestly replied, "No."

A strange gurgling sound rang in his and Lumian's ears.

Both of them turned their gazes toward Ludwig.

Ludwig patted his stomach and said with a longing look, "It's time for lunch."

"Okay," Lumian readily agreed.

His philosophy was that no matter how hungry he was, he couldn't let the child go hungry, because a child who was extremely hungry would eat people.

He looked around and pointed to a fairly bustling street northwest of Sacred Lake Square: "There seem to be quite a few Restaurant there."

This time, Ludwig didn't need Lugano to lead him; he quickly trotted Past, while Lumian quickened his pace, seemingly leisurely following beside him, with Lugano close behind.

The street had very typical Feysac features, with trees and benches lining the streets, making it look more like a street scene from the Northern Continent.

Lumian glanced around briefly, then gestured with his chin towards the "Saint-Milon Restaurant" not far away, saying, "Try the Feysac cuisine."

"Okay." Ludwig wiped his mouth.

Suddenly, a hint of doubt crept into his yearning expression, and his head moved unconsciously from side to side, as if searching for something.

Lumian noticed this unusual behavior.

"What's wrong? Want another Ice Cream?" he asked in a teasing tone, as if playing with a child.

Ludwig, Imitation Lugano's usual demeanor, said in a low voice, "I think I can sense the Corpse of that child, but it's very vague."

Sensing the Bird-Clawed Monster Infant? Lumian looked around, but saw no other children. The passersby were mainly Feysac, books, and locals, with Loenian scattered among them.

There weren't even any pregnant women among them.

At this point, Ludwig added, "Now it's undetectable."

Beyond thirty meters? Lumian thoughtfully withdrew his gaze:

"If what we just encountered was indeed related to the Bird-Clawed Monster Infant, then they might have sensed my Ombella bloodline..."

Lumian nodded and smiled at Ludwig:

"Never mind, let's eat first. Nothing is more important than filling our stomachs."

"Yes!" For the first time, Ludwig felt that his Godfather's words had resonated with him.

Upon entering the "Saint-Milon Restaurant," Lumian immediately spotted Franca and Jenna sitting in prominent positions.

The two meticulously dressed "Witch" made Lumian unable to resist staring at them for a couple more seconds.

At the same time, he thought to himself:

Is this the Convergence Law of Beyonder Characteristics?

It's such a coincidence that we chose the same Restaurant...

Franca and Jenna noticed his gaze, glanced back at him, one slightly opening her mouth in surprise, the other chuckling to herself.

They quickly regained their composure and turned their attention back to the Beet Soup in front of them.

Led by the Waiter, Lumian, Ludwig, and Lugano sat down in a corner.

"Sir, what would you like to order?" The Waiter handed over a menu decorated like a book.

Lumian glanced at it, didn't look through it, and said directly, "One of everything except drinks."

Note 1: Referenced to the Bolivian Skull Blessing Festival