Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 159 The Feast of the Moon
The off-white exterior walls shimmered with a pearly luster under the twilight, while the extended columns supported the building's clean and simple dome. The cast-iron railings of the terrace reflected the soft light, and several clusters of unidentified vines climbed upwards, adding a touch of verdant green to the building itself.

"Is this your home?"

Xia Nan turned her gaze away from the exquisitely designed three-story villa in front of her, then looked at Jeff beside her with a surprised expression.

In his memory, this honest and frugal team leader always wore a coarse linen outfit that had been worn and faded from washing, and he always tried to save money on food and lodging when he was away from home.

He appeared to be incredibly frugal.

Therefore, he never associated the other person with words like "wealthy" or "luxurious".

They only thought that he was struggling financially, and that the income he earned from working away from home was barely enough to feed his family.

Unable to refuse their hospitality, although they said they had prepared an empty room for him, Xia Nan had already prepared to sleep in the living room before he came.

He had already prepared a plan in his mind, thinking about how he should politely refuse Jeff and his wife when they tried to force him to give up the bedroom without hurting their self-esteem.

But what I didn't expect was.

After closing the tailor shop door, she followed Jeff home.

The distance between the buildings on both sides gradually increased, the pedestrians on the road became cleaner and tidier, and even the guards appeared to patrol more frequently.

The meat stalls that used to be swarming with flies and reeking of fish, and the brothels with their pink lights and suggestive signs, have all disappeared.

Instead, bookstores and high-end clothing stores, which were previously rarely seen, have sprung up.

I even saw a few people dressed in gold and silver, with servants following behind them, who looked like nobles.

It is clearly moving towards the city center.

Then, there is this exquisite Western-style building in front of us, whose expensive construction cost can be felt at a glance.

"It's been quite a few years. I remember when I bought it, Lilina had only been in school for a short time."

"It's already graduation in the blink of an eye, time waits for no one..."

Jeff stood by the roadside, hands on his hips, speaking with a sigh.

Xia Nan's expression remained unchanged, but a hint of envy couldn't help but show deep in her eyes.

Nium is one of the most important core cities in the Panyun Province of the Kingdom of Servia.

In the previous life, it would have been almost equivalent to a provincial capital, and there would definitely have been second- or third-tier cities.

To own a house like this in this location...

All I can say is that even someone like me, who spent many years working in a major internet company in my previous life, couldn't do it.

Looking back now, he was being somewhat presumptuous.

Seeing that Jeff was usually frugal, they assumed that his life was probably not very wealthy.

In fact, Xia Nan should have known.

In this world, any industry that is associated with "adventurers" will see its risk index and income level increase exponentially.

Before retiring, Jeff was a proper caravan captain who could regularly hire adventurers as bodyguards.

He has a certain reputation in River Valley and is an old acquaintance of "The Rock Hammer" Barn.

After working for so many years and being so frugal, saving up enough for retirement is quite easy for him.

To some extent, if we had to say something, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe the other person as a "winner in life."

His wife has been by his side since before he became wealthy. They have a son and a daughter. Even though he has a limp, he has already retired comfortably in his forties or fifties. They own a well-maintained three-story house, a tailor shop, and enough savings for his retirement.

Even in a technologically advanced era, this would be the kind of retirement life that most ordinary people dream of.

"Squeak".

The main gate of the Western-style building was gently opened, and a group of three people walked into the house.

"Mom, come out quickly, see who's here!"

Back home, Lilina was no longer as reserved and cautious as she was in the shop, and appeared exceptionally lively.

He ran towards the kitchen, shouting cheerfully.

A short while later, a middle-aged woman, also in her forties or fifties, with noticeable crow's feet around her eyes and a plump figure, wearing an apron, was pulled out of the kitchen by Lilina.

Upon seeing Xia Nan at the door, one could see that she paused for a moment, her questioning gaze sweeping over his face and equipment.

They clearly did not recognize the other person.

This is perfectly normal, since the two had never met before.

But she maintained a polite and gentle smile on her face.

Her eyes darted to Jeff, who was standing to the side.

"Xia Nan." Jeff didn't go into as much detail as before, but simply said the name with a smile.

Then, Xia Nan clearly saw that the woman's eyes suddenly lit up.

The subtle distance that had been in her smile vanished completely, replaced by boundless enthusiasm.

"Oh, you've finally arrived."

"Please sit down! Please sit down! Make yourself at home."

“Our Jeff keeps saying he wants to see you again. Now that you’re here, take a few days to rest and recuperate.”

He saved the life of the family's breadwinner.

Clearly, Jeff's family was very familiar with the name "Xia Nan," but they had never met him in person and could not match the name with his face.

Jeff just mentioned it, and his wife immediately understood.

Xia Nan had barely stepped through the door, and before she could even stand up straight, the other person pulled her down onto the sofa in the living room and showered her with concern.

The fruit and snacks on the coffee table in front of him were stuffed into his arms as if they were free.

The overflowing enthusiasm was almost overwhelming, even for Xia Nan.

"Alright, Daisy, let him rest for a while."

Seeing Xia Nan's predicament, Jeff stepped in to help.

"I'll go tidy up the empty guest rooms upstairs. While it's still early, you should prepare a few good dishes so the guests don't go hungry."

"Don't worry!" Daisy handed Xia Nan a steaming teacup, her smile unchanged. "Jamie is coming back from the academy today, so let him get to know this gentleman."

Too enthusiastic.

Until the kitchen echoed once again with the crisp sound of spatulas clattering together.

Xia Nan rubbed his face, which was stiff from smiling, and breathed a sigh of relief.

I wasn't particularly opposed to it.

Because he could sense that Jeff's wife, a woman named Daisy, wasn't being overly friendly because she was his guest.

They genuinely welcomed and thanked him for his arrival.

Just now, Xia Nan was invited to sit on the living room sofa, took a teacup from the other person, and looked at the other person's face, which was full of warm smiles.

Only then did I truly realize the impact my actions had on the world.

If, on that night in Caranford, he hadn't heeded the warning from the Pine Wood Sword and broken into Jeff's room to save him, but instead allowed the cultists to take the honest man's life...

Then, a few months later, he came to Newme on a mission for the association and arrived here by chance.

What we see is probably just a broken family on the verge of collapse.

Pigeon Feather Tailor Shop may still be able to stay open for business, but faced with the threats of thugs, Lilina, who has no power to resist, can only helplessly submit and pay an expensive protection fee every month that is enough to offset her income.

Daisy, who supports the family alone, also needs to be extremely careful, wary of the countless greedy eyes from the outside world that covet her husband's inheritance.

Xia Nan's power is not particularly strong.

But this seemingly casual act allowed a small family, countless kilometers away, to live on with hope and a smile.

Night falls.

Xia Nan sat at the dining table, which was laden with a sumptuous spread of food.

It is also clear that, in order to take care of him, the dishes made from relatively expensive ingredients were all placed in front of him.

His gaze swept over each dish without lingering.

Until a plate of thick, white soup, exuding a milky aroma and with glimpses of mushroom bits, came into view.

Xia Nan's gaze finally stopped.

Holding the spoon, reach out, gently scoop, and put it into your mouth.

Ok……

Unlike the sweet and rich flavor of the White Tit Tavern, Lady Daisy's cream of mushroom soup was saltier, seemingly with more pepper added.

The soup contains more mushroom slices, and while the overall texture isn't as thick and silky, it leaves a lingering aftertaste on the tongue.

Compared to the white tit, it is a novel feeling that is subtly similar, yet with obvious differences in the details.

While carefully savoring the homeowner's cooking, Jeff and Daisy across the table were whispering to each other.

"The Moon Festival is coming soon. We will hold the ceremony at home this year. Don't forget to prepare in advance."

"Don't worry, I bought everything two months ago. The items are all stored in the basement. You can take them out and use them when the time comes."

"Ah That's good."

"The priest of the Luna Church was supposed to be distributing lamps today, but I was too late and missed out, which is a bit of a shame."

"Goddess bless you..."

There was no intention to eavesdrop, but since the two were sitting right across from each other, and given Xia Nan's current physical condition, even the softest voice would be incredibly clear to his ears.

"The Feast of the Moon", "Church of the Moon Goddess"...

Several key words entered Xia Nan's ears with the air, and his thoughts raced through his mind.

The Moon Feast is one of the most important festivals on the continent of Aifara.

The time is the "Month of Decay (Uta)" near the end of the year, that is, before the harsh winter.

On this day, people on the mainland hold various ceremonies to commemorate their ancestors and pray for the deceased.

Before we set off, the general store in the valley town had already laid out many sacrificial items.

With the festival fast approaching, the festive atmosphere in Newme is growing stronger.

Even the disheveled, emaciated homeless people on the street were able to have a few full meals after a long time.

As for the "Church of the Moon" that Daisy mentioned, it most likely refers to the church of the "Silver Mother" and the "Moon Goddess" "Serenne".

Even a small town like Caranfort, located on the outskirts of the kingdom, has a magnificent and splendid church dedicated to the sun god.

A large city like Newme is no exception.

Even because of its enormous size and the countless residents living within the city.

This resulted in the existence of numerous churches belonging to different deities in the city.

The difference in influence is simply due to the different personalities and divine roles of the deities and the different audiences they serve.

In the West District where Xia Nan is currently located, the most influential person is the "Moon Goddess" Serene, whom Jeff and his companion mentioned.

He didn't have any particular thoughts on this.

After all, gods and churches are too common in this world, and even I have gradually gotten used to them.

Deep down, however, there was a lingering sense of resistance due to what had happened in Caranfor.

I don't really want to actively engage with related things.

"Crench."

While I was pondering, the sound of the door opening suddenly entered the living room.

"It should be Jamie. Judging by the time, he should be home by now."

Daisy helped scoop a large piece of stew into Xia Nan's bowl and said.

Jamie, the second son in his family, has not yet graduated and is studying at the Newme City College.

I usually eat and live at school, and only go home once a week on my days off.

Accompanied by light footsteps, a tall, thin, and youthful-looking young man wearing glasses came into view.

Upon seeing Xia Nan's unfamiliar face in the living room, he was taken aback.

After Daisy introduced him, he realized what was happening and gave a rather shy bow.

He has good family upbringing, just like his sister.

However, they did not stay in the living room for very long.

He had already eaten dinner at school, and it seemed that his advisor had given him some task.

After exchanging a few pleasantries at the dining table, Jamie said goodbye, intending to return to his room to do his homework.

But perhaps because he was walking too fast, he tripped on the carpet on the ground, staggered a few steps, and the cloth bag he was carrying fell to the ground.

"boom."

A dull thud echoed through the air.

Xia Nan's gaze unconsciously drifted over.

He froze for a moment, his pupils shrinking sharply!

Even the spoon that was stirring the mushroom soup in her hand stopped in mid-air.

Noticing the change in Xia Nan's expression, Jeff leaned forward and asked with concern:
"what happened?"

No reply.

Xia Nan simply stared straight ahead at the gray-black object that had rolled out of the cloth bag after it hit the ground.

Resembling both a sheep and a deer, it stands upright on two legs like a human, with a pair of curved horns that meander upwards and disappear into the end.

It seemed that it was that statue that devoured his thoughts and attention that made him notice the inexplicably strange [Sheep-Deer Statue].

The next second, he instantly realized what was happening, abruptly looked away, and dared not look again.

Then, a strange feeling inexplicably welled up deep inside me.

I only glanced at it briefly and didn't look at it closely.

But he also seemed to instinctively notice the extremely subtle differences in the wood carving's texture, and the difference in the overall feel.

It's like spending a lot of time with twins; you can tell them apart even with just a glance.

The wood carving in front of him was not the one he had seen on the shelf of "Fairy Wind" before he set off.

I couldn't help but recall the words the grocer, Farrillo, had used when introducing him to the shop:

"From Neum," "Said to be the work of a master sculptor," "Recently very popular among the nobility"...

With a furrowed brow, he glanced at Jeff and Daisy, who were looking at him with concern, and felt a headache coming on.

Realizing the potential risks involved, they disregarded whether it might offend anyone.

Looking at Jamie's surprised expression, he pointed to the statue on the ground and said in a serious tone:

"Where did that wooden sculpture come from?"

(End of this chapter)