The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 117 The Beginning of the Carnival

In May of Gaia year 201, the hero King Utu and his twelve knights led their army to completely annihilate the remaining demons on human territory, and the territory of the first human kingdom, which had been in decline for more than two hundred years, was completely restored.

Although true and lasting peace will not arrive for several years, the great victory of humanity turning its blades outward is still worth commemorating. Shortly after the establishment of the Delan Empire, the seventh day of May was designated as the Exorcism Day and implemented in every corner of the empire.

The poor have their own spiritual commemorations, while the rich indulge in material extravagance. Every place has its own way of celebrating this important annual festival, but in Lutia, the heart of the empire, the Exorcism Day is a carnival for everyone from top to bottom.

boom! boom! boom!
Eric leaned against the window, listening to the cannon salutes coming from another street, his attention inevitably drawn to them.

Amidst the noise, various cheers drifted over faintly.

"Your Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Chik Utu! Our beloved emperor!"

This place is relatively close to the main road leading to the west gate, separated by only a few rows of houses, so you can hear some of the commotion on that road. Right now, the royal family of the Delan Empire is heading to the shores of Lake Elf's Tears in the suburbs to participate in the anniversary celebration amidst the cheers of the citizens of Lutia.

Leslie leaned against the window on the other side, also listening intently.

"Although the emperor's power has waned in recent years, his entourage when he goes out has become more extravagant year by year."

He had experienced a similar situation last year.

Eric chuckled and said, "If we don't even have this much pomp and circumstance, then our Emperor really has no presence at all."

Leslie glanced at him discreetly, thinking to herself that young nobles like him had lost all respect for the emperor.

"Young Master, when shall we depart?"

“We’ll set off once the emperor has cleared the way and most of the nobles have passed through,” Eric said. “Otherwise, the road will be full of people and carriages, and we’ll have to give way to everyone, which will cause a traffic jam for ages.”

Leslie gazed into the distance, "Some people also go all the way around from the south or north gate."

Eric glanced at him. "If you're in a hurry, you can go ahead first."

"No, not at all... I just don't know if Miss Eileen will be getting impatient."

Even before Eric arrived, Eileen had received many invitations to join the Lutia noble celebrations. However, she had already arranged with her brother that they would first stroll around the celebrations together, and then make an appearance at one of the nobles' resting places to say hello.

"Why is she in such a hurry? The academy is right by the lake."

As Eric spoke, he thought of the person he had invited. The person had agreed just two days ago, but last night sent a letter saying that something had come up and they had to cancel the appointment.

He guessed that the female agent was definitely not up to any good, but it had nothing to do with him anyway. He had only extended the invitation that day because of Eileen.

Feeling that the traffic should be less congested, Eric and Leslie set off towards the western suburbs.

As a result, the number of people and vehicles on the main road was just as high, and the two of them still had to stroll slowly across.

"Leslie, on such an important holiday, don't you have any friends to spend time with?"

"Young master is too kind. I have to take good care of you and Miss Eileen."

"Do you think Irene and I are still children? When we get there, you can come with us if you want, and if you see anything that interests you, go and explore on your own."

The journey was leisurely, with occasional traffic jams, and the chance to see nobles and royalty chatting across their carriages – a sight rarely seen elsewhere.

"Young master, look over there, the Duke of Toulouse is in that luxurious carriage on the left..."

"Oh? People from the Saintess family... I'll go and say hello when we get there."

It took the two almost an hour to walk the short distance, and by the time they reached the entrance of the Lutia Magic Academy, there was hardly anywhere left to tie their horses.

Eric went inside to find Eileen, who said she wasn't in a hurry, but she was clearly relieved when she saw him coming.

"I thought Eric was stuck and couldn't get out."

“Pretty much. I should have walked,” Eric said. “Riding a horse would have been less convenient.”

Eileen smiled, took his hand, and said, "Let's go."

Leslie had the chance to relax, while the brother and sister set off from the college, walking along the lakeside path all the way to the celebration venue.

A large open space by the Lake of Elf Tears had been fenced off and used as a venue for today's celebration. The best spot, overlooking the lake, was a sturdy platform, like a VIP box in a luxury stadium, offering the best view and naturally reserved for His Majesty the Emperor and his entourage.

The celebration lasted for several days, but the highlight was today. It was around 10 a.m., and the citizens of Lutia who came to participate in the celebration were already so numerous that they could be seen everywhere.

Not everyone could enter the venue to enjoy the various programs prepared for today with His Majesty the Emperor, but the festive atmosphere spread through the air, and outside the venue, there was plenty of lively activity that ordinary people could participate in and experience.

Various vendors stood by the roadside, setting up stalls or displaying their dazzling array of horse-drawn carriages, vividly promoting their goods to passersby.

Eric and Eileen walked and looked around, and found that there were a lot of people gathered on the side of the road ahead. When they went over, they saw that there was also a long line of people standing on the opposite side, but there was nothing on the road.

“It’s a horse race,” Eileen explained to her brother. “The track runs around the lake. There’s a race every half hour today, and before sunset, all the winners will have a final race. The ultimate winner will receive a personal reward from His Majesty the Emperor.”

Just then, a series of rapid hoofbeats came from the other end of the road. Eric looked over and saw about a dozen tall horses galloping towards them, passing by in the blink of an eye.

“Wow, you run really fast… Eric, do you want to try?” Eileen suggested.

Eric paused for a moment, but didn't refuse outright. "Can I sign up myself?"

"Of course. I'll take you there!" Seeing that he seemed interested, Eileen immediately became excited and pulled him to the other side.

Eric himself wasn't very interested. Although his riding skills were decent, he was probably far behind these professional horse racers—horse racing was one of the most common forms of entertainment among the Lutia nobles, and most of the fast riders were their specially trained riders—but since Eileen wanted to join in the fun, he would naturally oblige her.

Squeezing through the crowd, Eileen arrived near the starting point of the horse race. She only knew the general idea from hearsay, and when she got there, she was at a loss. She stood on tiptoe, turned her head, and looked around erratically. After a while, she even took out her staff, but it was unclear what spell she was planning to cast.

Eric, being tall and sharp-eyed, spotted what looked like the registration area from afar.

He told Eileen to put away her staff and pulled her through the crowd. There were quite a few people signing up, all eager and full of confidence. He even saw several dashing noble ladies.

But with so many people signing up, how do we arrange for them to play?

Eric stood there watching for a while, then quickly understood, and couldn't help but feel speechless.

—It's all about looks.

Ultimately, this is just a performance, and the more captivating it is, the better.

"That blond gentleman over there!"

As the race attendant at the starting line looked around, he noticed Eric and his eyes lit up. "Do you want to register for the race?"

Eric nodded.

"Alright! Please come over quickly, we're just missing you for the next round!"

Eric squeezed through, and the man asked, "Have you ever ridden a horse before?"

"..."

Eric was speechless. What was the question?
"It's alright, don't worry about speed, as long as you can ride." He patted Eric on the shoulder, feeling that he was quite sturdy, and felt relieved. "Which family in Lutia are you from, young master?"

“I’m not Lutia,” Eric said. “I am…”

He paused.

He intends to keep a low profile, so is it inappropriate for him to reveal his real name here?
“It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me your name.” The clerk noticed his hesitation but was quite casual. “I’ll call you ‘Young Golden Lion.’ Go over there and pick a horse; the next race is about to start.”

“A blond lion…” Eric was somewhat amused and exasperated, then took the metal tag handed to him, which was probably a competition certificate.

Squeezing through the crowd, Eileen immediately asked, "So, is Eric able to play?"

Eric showed her the sign and coaxed her, "I told him my sister really wanted me to participate in the horse races and begged him to let me race, and he agreed. Now it's time to choose the horse to ride."

"Ha ha!"

Eileen clenched her fists and waved them excitedly several times, then pulled him toward the stables. "Let's go there quickly!"

The two squeezed their way through, showed their signs, and entered the stable. Inside, there were many horses, all plump and strong, clearly capable of running.

All of them were rare and excellent horses. Eric was not a horse connoisseur and did not have the ability to distinguish the best horses from them. He could only look at their appearance, walk around and look, and finally chose a black steed.

After selecting his horse, Eric had to wait for the previous race to end. He then mounted his horse and, led by his groom, entered the venue, where both the start and finish lines were located.

—Since it's a performance, of course, the most distinguished emperor and nobles in the hall should enjoy it first. Stopping beside the track, Eric glanced back; Eileen had followed him in, but as an invited guest, she could only watch from the sidelines.

Their eyes met, and she raised her arm and waved it a few times.

Eric smiled and waved.

The hall was filled with nobles and their relatives on both sides. There were no other performances at the time, but a dozen or so knights riding tall horses quickly attracted the attention of most people.

Under the sunlight, the "young lion" with his dazzling blond hair was more eye-catching than anyone else.

"Who is that blond rider? He's really good-looking. How come I've never seen him before?"

"He looks familiar...who is he again?"

"Looks like he's some young master... Heh, I knew a young man like him wouldn't just sit around watching. Let's see which team he goes to after the competition."

Not only did the nobles below notice him, but people on the high platform also spotted the unique rider on the sidelines.

“Where is this young woman I’ve never seen before? Natalia, come and take a look… Natalia? Where is she?”

"Your Majesty, Princess Natalia and Princess Mia went downstairs together about ten minutes ago."

“Going down? Okay. The view from here is good, but it’s just the two of us, it’s not lively enough, they can’t sit still… Let’s go down to the platform below.”

Eric saw several people descending from the high platform in the distance, and he recognized the middle-aged man among them who was wearing a crown. He recognized him as Chik Utu, the last emperor of the Delan Empire.

Of course, it's a bit too early to say it's the end of an era...

Chik Utu ascended to the throne as a child and is only about thirty years old now, in the prime of his life.

The emperor descended from the high platform, attracting the attention of many. The nobles rose to pay their respects, and seeing the other riders dismount and bow in that direction, Eric, realizing what was happening, followed suit.

Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the other side; the riders from the previous race were nearing the finish line.

The next moment, several horses rushed into the venue one after another. In the final competition, one of the dark red horses crossed the finish line first with a slight advantage.

Snapped!Snapped!
On either side of the track, a burst of fireworks shot into the sky, and colorful confetti rained down, landing on the winners of the race.

After a while, the other riders returned to the venue one after another, and the last to enter were a few rather leisurely young men, who strolled around on their horses and waved to both sides.

When Eric saw people looking at him, he realized that he was probably one of those people in their eyes, someone who came to show off.

Although he was just showing off to his sister...

Soon, it was their turn to take the stage.

Eric rode his horse onto the track, waved to Eileen one last time as the countdown began, and then dashed off from the starting line with a shout of "Start!" He was out of the stadium in just a few breaths.

The collective charge was accompanied by a dense, rain-like sound of hooves from all sides. Eric, driven by his emotions, charged forward headlong, while the people and scenery on both sides kept receding. He soon realized that he was actually at the forefront, with only two people ahead of him.

He quickly realized that skilled riders were slowing down to conserve their horses' energy. If he continued running like that, his speed would drop significantly before he even finished half a lap—a full lap is quite a long distance.

Eric didn't want to end up being the last one to slowly return to the venue—not exactly embarrassing, but certainly attention-grabbing—so he slowed down considerably.

There were trees and groves here, and the track wasn't straight. The two horses in front disappeared in the blink of an eye, and then another horse overtook them from behind. The rider on the horse turned his head, glanced at Eric, and smiled at him.

"..."

She's a cool and capable female rider.

Eric smiled back, and the latter swung the reins again, chasing after the two men ahead.

Several more horses overtook them.

At this rate, he'll be able to meet them again soon.

Eric turned his head and glanced at the five or six riders who were relatively close together behind him; they were the main force for the final winner.

His intuition told him that if he followed their pace, he would be among the first to return to the venue.

The final showdown will take place over there, which I think will be quite exciting, right?
Having made up his mind, Eric controlled his speed, lagging slightly behind, and kept running alongside the others.

His intention was clear as he went from fast to slow, and the two riders who were slightly ahead of him smiled at him.

Having set a strategy, but not yet at the stage of accelerating and sprinting, Eric even managed to steal a moment to look at the spectators on both sides of the track.

There are so many people coming out of town to participate in the celebration today.

There were men, women, young and old, and all sorts of races. Some were hairy, some were green-skinned, and some were even shorter than a horse's belly. There was even a winged person flying overhead. It was unclear whether they were planning to fly with them for the entire journey or were just passing by. If they were carrying a camera, they could be doing a live broadcast.

Even dark elves came to join the fun...

Eric rode his tall horse, his gaze sweeping over the face of the short dark elf at the back of the crowd. After galloping a distance, he looked back sharply, only to find the elf already obscured by other figures.

What is that?!

Eric was filled with suspicion. Although it was only a fleeting glimpse, he did see a somewhat familiar face under the hood.

"Kira...that captured demon princess?"

Eric glanced back a few more times. His horse hadn't stopped for a moment and had already run quite a distance. The crowd was surging and had long since obscured the figure he had just glimpsed, and he could no longer see it.

He could only try to remember the general location and come back to look for it later.

The horse races continued, but Eric no longer had much interest in them.

"I can't believe my eyes..."

The most visible difference between dark elves and demons is the horns on their heads. He hadn't paid attention to them before, let alone seen them clearly, especially since she was wearing a hood.

Kiraya, a demon princess who was captured at the time when "Thorns of the Crown" was launched, was not explained in terms of how she was captured. Eric remembered that there was a purely dialogue-based quest where you could extract information about the demons from her.

"11312, 31123..."

Because it was a rewarding quest, Eric did it many times with both his main and alternate accounts. He even remembered the order of the dialogue options for that quest. You had to get all ten options right to proceed to the next step; otherwise, you had to abandon the quest and start over.

With people everywhere, it would be difficult for him to find that figure again if he stopped. With everyone watching, he might alert the person, especially since he wasn't sure if he had misjudged the situation. He could only finish the horse race first and then come back to look for it slowly.

Temporarily withdrawing his thoughts, Eric caught up with the other riders who had already put some distance between them, and rode alongside them, circling the lake once more, before approaching the starting venue again.

At a certain moment, as if they had received a signal at the same time, the riders accelerated and began their final sprint.

Eric immediately urged his horse to catch up.

Da da da--

The sound of hooves was like a rapid drumbeat on the ground. As they galloped, they kicked up dust all the way. Eric kept his body low to the ground and tried to catch up, but his rhythm was off from the start. In the end, he couldn't catch up with the riders who had already reached the front and crossed the finish line with them by about ten steps.

"Eric!" Eileen was already waiting outside the finish line, extremely excited. "I didn't know you were such a good rider! You almost overtook them!"

He's far from perfect...

His sister had an incredibly strong bias towards him, and Eric just smiled and didn't say anything more.

"Let's go out. I saw some interesting things on the way. Let's go look for them."

"Okay."

Eric was about to leave the venue to find and confirm his guess when a figure hurried over and called him back.

"Sir, please wait a moment."

Eric and Eileen turned around together, but neither of them recognized the newcomer.

"You must be Miss Eileen's brother?"

“That’s right.” Eric nodded.

The visitor bowed and said, "His Majesty greatly admired your heroic demeanor just now and requests that you come over for a meeting and a chat."

(End of this chapter)