Chapter 590: The Country Blessed by the King’s Branch and the Gods
In the square before the Temple, besides the People of Esha, there were also the crew members from Captain Cat’s ship.
Soleil was busily talking to the Earth Folk, and next to him was a group. That means Captain Cat is around too? Where could he be?
Ah, there he is, perched on the shoulder of one of the crew members. He had mentioned wanting to see the King’s Branch.
Though not overly crowded for the size of the town, there were still quite a few people eagerly waiting for Karn’s declaration.
These were the capable individuals who had been discovered by Karn and Haulon, fleeing from the war-torn nations of Nakahara. They were the descendants of the Fire Folk who had long since lost their memories and blood ties, remaining in Es. The People of Esha had carried on their legacy across distant lands, preserving their memories and bloodlines.
Anticipation mingled with a hint of anxiety and joy.
The Earth Folk, who were hesitantly standing behind those who would officially become citizens of this country, included Captain Cat and his crew, Soleil and Faramia, and the members of the Trading Company.
They were filled with relief from finishing their work, a sense of liberation, and curiosity about what was to come.
And then there were us. We felt a sense of celebration for having made it this far, along with a recognition of the hardships that still lay ahead. A blessing.
As the orange hue in the sky faded and the bonfires were lit, someone whispered. The whisper called forth more whispers, and before it reached me, the surroundings fell silent.
The staircase leading to the Underground Temple—a square hole reminiscent of a Nile meter measuring the water level—was now covered by a building. From that building, Karn emerged.
The bright moon illuminated the scene, casting a white glow on Karn.
We, the audience, stood in the shadows of the building. The multiple bonfires created shadows, but it felt rather dim. Ah, the Spirit must be covering the flames with a thin black cloth that is part of itself. Was Haulon intentionally dimming the bonfires?
Only where Karn walked was illuminated by the moonlight, making it brighter than the rest.
Haulon must have calculated the timing for today, but it was quite the spectacle.
“I heard the King’s Branch would be revealed…” Captain Cat murmured, sounding disappointed.
It’s okay, it’s being revealed right now!
“On this auspicious day,” Karn turned to face the square after climbing the steps at the entrance of the Temple.
“I shall awaken the Fire Country Shahira. The hearts of the ancient gods of this land reside in this country, and the King’s Branch is in my grasp! Rejoice! The Desert Spirit is with me! Rejoice!”
As he spoke, delicate branches resembling white and black mistletoe entwined around Karn’s outstretched arms, and the white and black Shahira appeared near his shoulders. Behind him, Baylis embraced Karn’s head.
The crowd erupted in murmurs.
Once again, the embodiment of a charming man was on display. The King’s Branch truly was in his grasp, and while he looked cool and the atmosphere was great, there were so many points to poke fun at!
“I am Karn Tildonai. The King’s Branch of your country is Shahira, and the Desert Spirit Baylis protects me! As a price for your devotion, I vow the peace of my people and the prosperity of this nation!”
The crowd grew more excited.
“On this auspicious day…”
The cheers from the crowd quieted slightly at Karn’s voice.
“The gods have descended! Let not the wise seek to invade this land! God of Storms and War, Wanwan!”
Wanwan crossed to Karn’s left and entered the Temple that Haulon and the others had prepared.
A louder murmur arose from the crowd.
Karn’s pronunciation sounded like “u-wan u-wan,” and I couldn’t help but feel a hint of deception.
“The gods have descended! My people shall surely be rewarded for their toil upon the earth! God of Fertility Asas!”
Wait. Setting aside Wanwan, couldn’t something have been done about Asas, who looked like a head embedded in a pillar?
“What a powerful presence…”
“A great light! Two of them!?”
“The shadow of a jackal…! Is that the form of the God of Storms and War…!?”
“For a moment, I caught the scent of green and damp earth?”
“Lord Asas is also known as the ‘Moist Seed,’ capable of creating seeds that sprout immediately.”
…It seems he is cleverly revealing himself, hinting at his true nature without fully showing it.
“Rejoice, celebrate! Bless and enjoy this day! My people shall remember this day!”
With that, Karn unfurled his cloak, revealing his back as he vanished into the Temple.
Following him, water from the Es River began to flow into the square, creating a thin layer of water that defied gravity as it streamed into the Temple.
“Now the Es…! The Goddess of Es follows King Tildonai…!”
The crowd erupted in excitement, and the bonfires suddenly blazed brighter, illuminating the people. Those with large, shallow baskets on their heads began distributing food, and drinks were passed around.
I recalled when Haulon met Captain Cat at Naruadeid, and the Butler was doing something similar at the port. The person who raised their voice in the crowd must have been planted, right?
I’ve learned my lesson, so I won’t be fooled again, okay!?
In the dark Underground Temple, Karn had been waiting all this time, transformed into something other than human. The king who had lost his people was now being celebrated by the few he still had. —I won’t be fooled, but I’m happy and want to celebrate.
“…A bipedal, King’s… Branch?”
Soleil, please join in the celebration instead of staring off into the distance.