Chapter 0005 Harvest Festival (Part One)

These fireworks transformed into flowers, into dancing golden serpents, into the proliferation of trees... These beautiful fireworks instantly captured Roman's attention

In the past, Roman would habitually come here to pray, as it was the custom of the town. Essentially, all children who had reached the age of twelve would accompany their parents to pray.

She is the pride of the town, possessing a devout heart and keen perception, able to connect with the power of the goddess. Thus, she has become an apprentice priestess at the temple of the agricultural goddess in the town—if all goes well, she may very well be the next priestess of the temple.

Upon arriving at the square, a young man wearing a tall black top hat ran onto the stage: "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. Next, the Cardo Performance Troupe will present an exciting show to ensure you have a joyful and pleasant afternoon. Please give them a warm round of applause!"

The young man wearing a tall black top hat waved a small wooden stick in his hand, and with each swing, sparks flew from the tip of the stick, soaring into the air and bursting with a "bang," forming various shapes of fireworks

Ah, thank you, Roman. We are about to set off, so you should come along with us!" Elinor said, her gaze already catching sight of Pastor Ternis. When Pastor Ternis approached and saw Roman and Elinor together, his expression darkened.

The harvest festival of this small town will not feature any miracles, and the hymns to the goddess are quite simple. The ceremony concludes in a short time, followed by a celebration filled with beer and barbecued meat

In the past, Roman would not have noticed the invisible holy light concealed on the statue, but now, empowered by the forces of Shennong Corner, it appears to Roman as a green light, enveloping the statue like a massive cocoon, flowing and occasionally illuminated by firefly-like green lights dancing within the hall

Thank you, goddess, for providing us with food, thank you, goddess, for granting us abundance. The harmonious voices echoed around the high platform as seven to eight hundred townspeople shouted in unison

After staying for a moment longer, perhaps influenced by memories of the past, everything brought a sense of familiarity. This familiar feeling diluted the anxiety and strangeness. Romon, after a brief silence, finally revealed a bitter smile, fully accepting the reality of his time travel.

The young boy before me remains so familiar, unchanged in every way. Although it is predictable that he will become a handsome man in the future, previously, Ailini had no such feeling. However, now, a certain air of heroism between his brows suddenly makes this little boy shed much of his childishness and gain an indescribable charm.

Kingdom of Aisuke, Lika Town

"Alright, wait a moment. Come, Roman, let's go together!" said Ailini

The houses are crowded along the narrow street, which is paved with gravel, and grass grows in the crevices.

"What is it?" Ailini turned around; of course, there were no bras in this world. The opening of the priest's robe was quite large, and with this turn, Romon caught a glimpse of a pure white expanse.

Roman walked slowly along the cobblestone street, where the familiar yet strange blacksmith shops, grocery stores, as well as artisan shops and mills deeply captivated the newly arrived Roman

"Ailini, let us set off!" he said

Romon stepped out and looked over; most of the houses were wooden. A little further away stood the largest building in the town, a stone temple.

"Sister Ailini, thank you. I pray to the goddess for your health," said Roman

These tricks instantly made the audience burst into laughter, but for Roman, they were merely tedious antics; nonetheless, he continued to observe.

Just as Roman stood in a daze before the statue, a young girl slowly approached him and said, "Roman, how did you end up here? Usually, you have so much fun playing outside, don't you?"

A woman dressed in a tight black leather outfit, holding a whip in her hand, emerged from the car

Astonishing, this is the fleeting emotion of Romon.

For Luomon, this temple was by no means unfamiliar; it was the temple of the agricultural goddess and, of course, the only center of faith in this town called Lika. A town cannot afford to support multiple temples.

This is one of the benefits of the temple, a channel that connects to the incomprehensible outer realm from Romon, ensuring that there is always clear and palatable spring water available in the temple

The goddess Isidis, growth and harvest are both integral parts of an eternal cycle, representing the most natural aspects of existence for sentient beings. Today, we can reap a bountiful harvest; we must express our gratitude to the divine, to the earth, and to nature. Subsequently, in the spring of the coming year, we shall sow more seeds of life, allowing the world to be filled with greenery. This was preached by Pastor Ternis

Observing the street, although the voices of people are loud, it is actually quite tranquil, after all, there are only a few hundred households in this town

On the wall, there are reliefs carved with bulls, trees, flowers, and books. The statue of the goddess is entirely sculpted from white marble, standing approximately 5 meters tall. She wears a crown made of flowers and greenery, dressed in a green gown. Her beauty is striking, with the curves of her form subtly visible, exuding a profound feminine charm. However, her eyes are particularly expressive, radiating a compassionate gaze that looks down upon all living beings.

After the performance, there was little time before Pastor Tennis from the town appeared on a wooden platform in the square. Meanwhile, the crowd naturally gathered around the platform, and the hymn to the goddess officially began.

Romon was awakened by the sound of this call, and he turned to look at the young girl.

The pedestrians on the road are all wearing smiles, while the children are chasing and playing. The Harvest Festival is not only one of the four major festivals prescribed by the agricultural goddess Isis, but also one of the universal festivals for most of humanity, transcending religion and nationality for many races.

The theater troupes are composed of a group of pitiful individuals, performing tricks, songs, dances, and clown acts to entertain the public and earn meager sums of money. Within these troupes, the young women are often engaged in prostitution. From the analysis of scattered remarks in the surrounding area, Roman understands that this situation is quite common

For many children, everything before them is incredibly exciting. This is a rare day of rest in the year. No matter how busy one is, after finishing the morning's work, there will be half a day in the afternoon to rest and participate in the celebrations

Roman glanced at the bustling crowd around him, nodded slightly, and then departed. After walking for a while, he turned back and happened to catch the gaze of Pastor Ternis— a gaze that was chilling.

Roman took the towel, washed his face quickly with the spring water, and upon seeing the freshly washed Roman, Ailini suddenly felt her face flush for some reason, amidst the books and pictures.

As they walked out, everyone present applauded, watching the woman in black directing the tiger to pass through the iron hoop and making the monkey roll on the ground

"Sister Ailini, I need to talk to you about something tomorrow. Are you available?" Taking advantage of the moment, Luomon stepped forward and said.

In the distant hills, the spire of the castle atop the hill belongs to the local lord, Baron Rocas, and has a history of four hundred years

A sudden wave of shivers spread rapidly, and in an instant, Roman was lost in thought. However, in the blink of an eye, the gaze from behind brought him back to his senses: "Sister Ailini, I would like to ask you to witness something tomorrow."

Do not refer to it as a theater troupe; it is merely a typical mercenary group. Those young female warriors are all selling themselves. They must earn a sum of money before their physical strength declines, or their future days will be even more difficult

A large parrot flew behind her, incessantly squawking: "Welcome, welcome!"

"Roman, why are you still dirty? Come here and wash your face, so you can attend the harvest festival this afternoon." Elinor saw his dirty face and clothes after he fell to the ground, and as she spoke, she pulled him behind the temple, where there was a pool of clear water

As I strolled into the temple, there stood a statue on the high platform, that of the goddess of agriculture, Isis.

Although this body had come into contact with her many times before, it still possesses a breathtaking beauty that evokes a sense of "astonishment". Sunlight casts upon her, enveloping her in a faint green glow, accompanied by a peculiar, subtle fragrance

This young girl, approximately fifteen years old, is walking out of the temple, dressed in a female priest's long robe. She speaks in a tone that is somewhat high-pitched, revealing her long, snow-white thighs, cinched at her delicate and slender waist with a green floral ribbon. Her gentle eyes are clear and deep.

In the distance, there is a large vehicle, which is the touring vehicle of the theater troupe

Is this magic? Even if it is the most basic trick

After all, for the majority of intelligent life forms, a bountiful harvest signifies an abundance of food and also represents hope

Although it is already the end of September, the entire town is filled with greenery at a glance. Towering ancient trees are everywhere, and their canopies, which block out the sun, envelop the nearby low-lying houses.

The next morning, Romon was awakened by the sounds of laughter from below. He got up, put on his clothes, and went downstairs. The inn was quiet, with very few people around.

The ancient and tranquil essence, unchanged for hundreds or even thousands of years, becomes even more pronounced amidst the revelry of the harvest festival

And almost simultaneously, a tiger followed behind, with a monkey perched on the tiger's back

A hint of malice pricked at him, and Roman furrowed his brow slightly. After becoming a Druid, he had become very sensitive to this, but there was nothing he could do but follow along.

Ailini was somewhat surprised: "What is it? Oh, I'm very busy right now, I'll be waiting for you tomorrow!"

On September 25, 748 of the Shengyuan era, this day is the Harvest Festival

Unbeknownst to him, he arrived in front of the Temple of the Agricultural Goddess. Gazing at the stone temple, its vibrant colors signified ancient traces, and a sense of rebirth joyfully surged within him, mingled with a hint of melancholy

Roman glanced at the sun; it was evident that there was still ample time before the official commencement of the harvest festival

Miss Ailini..." Roman naturally called out the name of the young girl, and his swift memory informed him that this girl was the object of secret dreams for all the men in the town