Goblin Dependency
Chapter 117 - 84: Midsummer (Two in One)_3

Chapter 117: Chapter 84: Midsummer (Two in One)_3

Now, sweating a little is better than bleeding in a mission because you’re unfamiliar with your equipment.

While pondering what to eat tonight, a vivid flame suddenly caught my eye.

The Midsummer Festival has a long history; although the general understanding of the festival is roughly the same, the specific customs can vary significantly due to differences in people’s race, region, or even faith.

For example, followers of the Sun God "Amanata" often step out of their churches on this day to find an open, unobstructed space and bathe in the sunlight;

While the Gray Dwarves of the Dark Territory hold grand forging competitions and throw the losers into the magma to please their deity, the Exile "Radug."

River Valley Town, located near the Mist Forest, has an adventurer association and is a small town with a large number of low level adventurers living and operating year-round.

Over the years, it naturally developed its own customs for the Midsummer Festival.

"Dong... dong... dong..."

A long, resonant bell sound came from somewhere unknown, rippling through the streets.

Amid the heatwaves and scorching wind, a massive pile of wood, formed by stacked trees, crackled under the blaze, and the rising thick smoke stretched upward into the depths of the clouds.

At the town center, in the middle of the open square.

A huge bonfire was burning.

Unlike the lively and bustling other parts of the town, the varied people gathered by the bonfire in an atmosphere that was unusually solemn and serious.

Even those minstrels who lived freely and usually didn’t care about others’ thoughts, singing heartily with their instruments, now put down their instruments and quietly stood by the fire.

Xia Nan slowed his steps, carrying dual swords, and carefully observed the exotic scene before him.

A dwarf with a body as sturdy as a tree stump swayed his beard braid that almost hung down to his thighs and poured the spirits in his hand into the flames, his expression dazed;

A half-orc with greenish skin and two protruding canine teeth threw the metal fragments in his hand deep into the fire, muttering indistinct words with a heavy accent, seemingly praying to his deity.

Xia Nan even noticed "Rock Hammer" Barn, whom he had met not long ago, standing by the bonfire, clutching a finely crafted lady’s necklace, his rugged face filled with mourning and sorrow.

The timing and scene weren’t quite right, so he sensibly decided not to disturb him.

Around the fire, besides adventurers, there were many ordinary townsfolk as well.

An elderly farmer with dark, rough skin and worn linen clothes trembled as he untied the grain sack in his hand, revealing grains of wheat on top, but the rest were small stones;

A girl with a ponytail and a beautiful face tossed the fabric in her arms into the fire, her sparkling eyes reflecting the flame, and as it turned black and burnt, her eyes moistened.

Dispersing hatred, removing ill fortune, mourning the deceased, hoping for a bountiful harvest...

The swirling and rising flames were filled with the most honest and sincere emotions of the people.

Xia Nan stood at the edge of the square, gazing at the giant pile of firewood tall as a house.

After a moment’s hesitation, he felt moved.

Although he respected the local customs, he wasn’t the kind who liked the excitement, nor did he have much sense of ceremony in his daily life.

He seldom celebrated any specific festival.

But after all, he was in a fantasy world with many divine powers.

Sometimes, participating appropriately wasn’t harmful.

Thinking it over, he retrieved a dried-up money bag from Ingram from his waist pouch, naturally long emptied of coins.

He threw it into the fire with force.

In his mind, he recited seriously:

"We’re all just hard-working folks in this town, don’t blame me, and don’t complain to your gods after death. Try to be a good person in the next life."

For some reason, despite his normal actions and expressions, Xia Nan felt like he was fencing stolen goods.

Touching the lucky coin placed close to his chest, the hard sensation beneath his fingers reassured him.

Just as he was about to leave, he caught sight of a robust figure out of the corner of his eye.

A tall barbarian wrapped in a wolf skin fur cloak.

He seemed to have just arrived in River Valley Town, eyes scanning the surroundings.

The uneven fang necklace around his neck clattered crisply; the frost-white fur of the wolf mouth crossed his chest, extending to both shoulders, seemed to grow from within his body.

In that instant, looking at the figure before him, Xia Nan felt as though he had returned to that small wooden house on the outskirts of Kalanfor, his eyes dazed.

It was as if standing in front of him was a ravenous winter wolf, searching for prey on the howling, snowy plains.

He decisively turned away and headed toward the tavern.