Hero's Coffin Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Of course, it was probably a decision considering various factors, as they had been constantly moving and everyone had suffered to the point of being battered in this Encroachment Zone, but it was surprising to hear the word 'rest' from his mouth.

"Wow, that's great! Let's all go enjoy the Holy Festival together!"

Noi especially welcomed this news enthusiastically. His eyes immediately filled with life and sparkled, and his cheeks flushed red. Words poured out quickly about what foods could be eaten at the festival, what night events were anticipated, and so on. Expectation gradually rose on the faces of the other knights as well.

While he too was glad for the rest, 'Holy Festival'...

Seeing that there was even a festival, it seemed to be a very significant day in the Holy Empire, but from the name alone, an aura flowed strongly suggesting that Isaph would not fit in at all. Considering this initial sense of distance as a needless misconception, he slowly tilted his head back.

The sky was clear blue.

***

They moved to a city.

There were several small villages adjacent to the desert, but Noi, perhaps wanting to fully enjoy this precious rest, set their destination as a city. Through his very excited state, information about the Holy Festival could be gathered.

The Holy Festival was said to be the day Solnium opened this land.

It was the day of creation when Solnium thrust a pure white spear like a beam of light into the land covered in darkness, and light and vitality finally spread. He vaguely remembered seeing such content in a book he had read at the historical hall before. He had grimaced at the "primordial darkness" stuff and immediately turned to the next page...

Anyway, it was a different holiday from the Founding Day when the empire was established, but it was said to be the national holiday that the temple considered most important. The festival continued for several days, and since the timing was also around the end of winter, it also had the meaning of welcoming the coming spring. It was a festival welcoming spring to come quickly.

Having spent considerable time moving, by the time they arrived at their destination, the festival was already in full swing.

"Wow! This is it, the festival atmosphere!"

"Huh, it's been a while since I've seen so many people."

"It's lively..."

As soon as they got off the luggage cart, Noi jumped up and down, and Kalterik and Mela also looked around with quite welcoming faces. Though they had seen many people in Rus, the empire's first capital, it was incomparable to today's festival.

Temporary shops densely filling the streets, colorful garlands hung between the street trees, and flowers filling the roadsides. Though it was said to be a festival to joyfully welcome the coming spring, looking at this scenery, it already seemed like spring. Large flags engraved with the emblems of the Holy Empire and Solnium were also noticeable.

Most passersby wore bright and colorful clothes, and children ran around bursting into laughter. Singing, dancing, and even small performances were happening here and there. The smell of various foods wafted deliciously, and the fresh scent of fruit filled the streets.

Oh... He was amazed to see such a full-fledged festival scene, not expecting to witness this. If it was this lively in the early morning, how much more would it be in the evening? Not only was this the first festival he had seen in this world, but in fact, the event of a festival itself was unfamiliar to him.

In his previous life, he had no experience of seeing festivals as he had stayed cooped up at home. The only thing that came to mind was the school festival from his middle and high school days, but even then, because everyone avoided him and felt uncomfortable, he hadn't participated, not wanting to be someone who ruined the atmosphere.

So the scene before his eyes now was very fascinating and new. Though it was burdensome because of the many people, his head turned busily following his curiosity. A wooden sign caught his eye.

"Give, flowers, to the holy knights...?"

As he read the letters haltingly, Noi quickly responded beside him.

"The Holy Festival is also a day to express gratitude to the holy knights. Because they're beings who defeat the darkness of the world, continuing Solnium's will! So, as much as it's a festival welcoming spring, they give flowers containing that spring to the holy knights."

"Ah..."

"Ahem, well. So, when we were in the holy city, the knight order building used to be filled with flowers."

Kalterik added, clearing his throat. There was a subtle boastful energy, so he glanced at him briefly before turning his head away. Kalterik reacted with "Why are you ignoring me?!" but he didn't bother to answer. Something more puzzling had caught his eye.

There was a reason this phrase had caught his attention from the start.

"But there's even a banner next to it saying they're waiting for the hero."

A banner with heartfelt content hoping for the true hero of Solares to return was hung on some building, and a sign board saying to pray together was also set up in front. People attached cards to white or yellow flowers and put them in a box prepared inside the building, and flowers were already piled up like a mountain. It seemed too large in scale to be just a small event organized by an individual.

Noi sighed "Hmm" after confirming where his finger was pointing.

"I guess since the Order didn't declare the hero dead but left him as missing, they're holding events like this."

From the beginning, the empire's citizens had been half-believing, half-doubting the hero's death, but with the Order outright denying his death, a scene of everyone hoping for the hero's return had unfolded. There would also be a purpose to calm the troubled public sentiment of the empire's citizens even in this way.

In a way, it was a very impressive and amusing situation. The hero Harenir had really come to a place where [Waiting for the Hero...] was written in large letters. Was this a successful case of bilocation? Ah, he wasn't dead, so it's a bit different.

As he glanced alternately between that place and Harenir, Harenir shrugged. He didn't seem particularly surprised, as if he had expected this from the moment he heard the Order's news at the temple they had visited earlier.

"I have a place to contact, so I'll be back shortly."

"Ah, to that person? Yes, have a safe trip!"

"Have a good trip, sir!"

Noi and Kalterik answered loudly, and Mela also bowed her head. He had heard that last time in Rus, he had contacted someone to block the way to the Encroachment Zone, but who could 'that person' be? A high-ranking person in the temple? Did he have another comrade despite distrusting the Order?

He moved along with the companions, becoming accustomed to a situation where everyone except him knew what was going on. Noi chose a flower shop as the first order of enjoying the festival.

"I'll give these to you, sirs!"

Somehow, Noi had been anxiously checking the time while considering the route to move to the city, and it seemed this was the reason. Large yellow flowers sparkled beautifully under the morning sunlight.

Glancing around, he saw people not wearing holy knight uniforms also receiving flowers as gifts. Perhaps initially they were only given to holy knights, but it might have gradually become a custom to give flowers to all knights, or just to anyone they were grateful to.

So now, the two disguised as mercenaries were probably gladly accepting the flowers and thanking him. The sight of their special bond that could always be read was truly fascinating...

Clang, clatter, a commotion spread, breaking the warm atmosphere.

It was a commotion caused by a flower pot on the ground being kicked as he stepped back. Fortunately it was an empty pot, but perhaps because of that, it rolled noisily. Kalterik frowned at his action of moving far away from the three.

"I wasn't expecting to receive anything from you anyway!"

It might have looked like he was revealing distance by trying to move away from the scene that had warmed up with Noi giving flower gifts. In fact, he too had the unpleasant thought of 'Surely I don't have to give one too...?' when he saw that scene. It didn't seem like it would be enjoyable for either the person receiving the gift or the person giving it.

But his stepping back wasn't because of such concerns. He hurriedly covered his mouth with his hand and turned his head. As he inhaled sharply and staggered, Mela said in a slightly surprised voice,

"You, your face is pale."

"Oh my, it really is...?"

Then Noi also checked his complexion and looked around dazedly. It was a gaze checking if he might have a flower allergy. He answered without being able to properly look at where they were.

"I'm not feeling well... I need to go to the inn first."

He could feel the three of them being flustered by his sudden words. He didn't want to be like this from the start either, but he had no choice.

There were too many ghosts in front of his eyes.

It was a really strange thing. This hadn't happened since entering Isaph's body, and it seemed like he could control the spirit vision according to this body's will, but why couldn't he control it now?

Of all places, this was the middle of the festival street, so more ghosts were visible. Originally, places with many people have many ghosts, and they like festivals too. So far only minor spirits were visible, so it didn't seem like Isaph would be overwhelmed by such beings, but an instinctive aversion surged.

Moreover, a dizzying vertigo came, making him feel ominous. Though it was originally a weak body, it hadn't been this bad, so why? At the end of the chain of questions, an uncomfortable conjecture formed.

Could it be because he had shared Harenir's curse? Since their souls were connected, did he become unstable when far from him?