Chapter 121 - 41: [Forging Competition]

Chapter 121: Chapter 41: [Forging Competition]

"But during the festival, the Holy Hall Priests will temporarily open the tomb’s doors at sunset. They enter the passage to pray that steel and fire will favor the Empire’s will, offering the best piece from the festival’s forging competition before the divine remains’ sarcophagus. If you miss this chance, the next time the tomb passage opens probably won’t be until next year’s festival.

"At the same time, during the festival, the Guards, Divine Hall Priests, and stationed soldiers are all busy maintaining public order and hosting various sacrificial activities. The number of Priests inside the Holy Hall will be much lower than usual."

"Will the festival last for three days?" Samael asked in a low voice.

"Yes. Judging by the scale of the activities, today should be the first day," Old Duke calculated the time. "You have two days left, esteemed Knight Samael."

CLANK, CLANK.

Samael made his heavy way back to the Exiles’ camp outside the town.

It seemed more than half of the Exiles, much like Old Duke, had eagerly gone out to participate in the Caster’s festival activities. Only a few remained to keep watch over the camp, which was encircled by wagons.

A dozen or so Hili Dwarf Horses, aided by their Magical Beast chimera digestive organs, grazed on the withered, thorny grass stalks across the late autumn meadow. Two Exiles had just bought some dry hay from the town, carrying it over to feed the herd.

Talia sat quietly in the shade of a tree, holding an old book she had borrowed from one of the Exiles. She wasn’t wearing her helmet. Her gray hair, usually tied in a short braid at the back of her head, was now let down, cascading over her fair, slender neck. Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering across her like glowing butterflies resting on her forehead and knees.

She didn’t seem to be the type who liked wandering around. On the contrary, Talia was rather quiet—the kind of person who could sit by a window facing a garden for a whole day.

With a heavy CLANK, Samael sat down next to Talia. He bent his legs, trying his best to squeeze his massive, broad, and burly Nether Copper Body into the small patch of shade.

Talia let out a soft snort.

"What is it?" Samael asked, looking at her loose hair. Previously, her hair had always been tied up in a short braid, much like a fawn’s tail. Now that it was let down, falling naturally around her neck, Samael found it quite novel.

"So you still know how to come back? Is the forging competition over?" Talia snorted softly again. "You sprinted off with Yaki Yevir to watch the forging competition before the wagon even stopped moving, and you still remember me?"

"I bought you some food." Samael held up a minced meat and onion baked flatbread wrapped in parchment. "Elder Duke said it’s one of the Ederic Empire’s specialty snacks."

Talia looked at him.

They stared at each other in silence for a dozen seconds before they both couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"Alright, alright, this old trick again..." Talia curled her lips, taking the still-warm flatbread. Holding it in both hands, she took a slow, small bite. "If you like forging... I know how to forge, too. Besides, the Demon Race’s craftsmanship is probably better than humans’."

"Well... it wasn’t just the forging competition," Samael pondered. "I might have to figure out a way to sneak into a Caster’s Hall in the Empire."

"Is there anything I can help with?" Talia asked.

She didn’t ask why or what for. Instead, she simply asked, "Is there anything I can help with?" in a calm tone.

"I don’t know... not yet, anyway. I don’t have a plan right now." Samael rested his head against the tree trunk in a daze. "I’m good at frontal tactics and planning management, but I’m no good at stealth. I don’t have a single clue."

"Hmm... the Demon Race isn’t really used to stealth either, because that kind of work is usually done by controlling small Magical Beasts." Talia leaned against him, chewing on the warm flatbread.

"That’s exactly the problem. This is within the borders of the Empire. It’s a habitable zone. There are no Magical Beasts, nor are there any Undead." Samael reached out with his Nether Copper Hand Armor toward the empty space in front of him, trying to catch a spot of sunlight.

"Why not try making an Undead Servant?" Talia suggested. "Although I don’t know how the Undead are naturally born... maybe they can be created artificially?"

Samael sat up abruptly.

"Maybe... I can give that a try." He looked toward the Witch Gold Long Curved Saber in the distant wagon, recalling the entry description for Witch Gold.

"A small Spiritual Construct."