Goblin Heavy Dependence

Chapter 332 The ceremony begins

Based on what Xia Nan currently knows about this world's career advancement system.

In addition to paving the way for future promotions and job changes, upgrading your job level is not entirely without other benefits.

While integrating their abilities into a fixed system, just like [Gravity Control], [Tidal Shaping], and [Mind-Guiding Vision], the professional will also benefit from it as their level gradually increases.

For niche classes like [Meteor Blade Hunter], whose upper limit is level 5, the key turning points are most likely level 3 and level 5.

This means that Xia Nan, who is currently a level 2 professional, will have a high chance of gaining another corresponding combat skill or specialty if he levels up [Gravity Etching] to the maximum level and raises his professional level to level 3.

The latter goes without saying; he had already experienced the powerful effects of [Tidal Shaping] and [Mind-Guiding Vision]. As for the former, if it could provide him with a brand-new combat skill, that would certainly be even better.

It is automatically acquired as the job level increases, which means that Xia Nan does not need to consider the compatibility between combat skills and the job itself, nor does he need to worry about whether it will affect his future strength limit.

Once you've mastered it, there won't be any harm in it.

Now, the proficiency level of [Gravity Etching] has reached lv3, not far from the maximum level. As long as he trains daily during the cooldown period, he can push it to lv5 even if he has to drag it out.

If you're lucky enough to successfully activate the [Dream Corridor], this process can be accelerated even further.

Of course, this falls under the category of medium-term goals.

Right now, his most important task is to complete the fog lamp grass collection task and pay off the debt owed to Barn.

Dongshu's morning exercise did not last very long.

Not being a professional, teenagers generally have average physical fitness, and last night they experienced such intense emotional fluctuations that they barely got any rest.

Being able to get up and go out for training is the result of both willpower and habit, and physical strength is somewhat depleted.

In this situation, no matter how much he cherished this precious opportunity to be guided by a professional-level expert, he wished he could keep practicing until nightfall.

Xia Nan realized that his physical strength had reached its limit and the training intensity was beyond the normal range, so he was asked to stop and go back to the village to rest together.

"You need to take every training session seriously, and you're doing a great job of that. I can see your focus." As they walked along the country path, Xia Nan glanced at the boy beside her, whose face was pale from exertion, and reminded him.

"But unless it's a planned extreme training session, it's best to conserve at least 30% of your energy to deal with any unexpected situations."

“I understand, thank you for your guidance, Mr. Xia Nan.”

Dongshu nodded earnestly and sincerely.

Then, on that freckled face, the shy and pure smile characteristic of a country boy reappeared:
“I don’t usually do this, since I still have to work when I get back. If I make myself this tired every morning, Brother Aspen will scold me.”

"Since you're here watching over me today, I thought I'd practice a little longer and see if I could get some pointers...hehe."

Xia Nan certainly wouldn't mind the simple-minded boy's little scheme.

To be honest, he wasn't some extraordinary or legendary powerhouse; he had only recently obtained his professional level.

The so-called "guidance" is nothing more than pointing out obvious mistakes or omissions in the training process when the mood strikes.

If you really asked him to develop a rigorous training plan or career path for those beginners... Xia Nan really couldn't do it.

"But the sacrificial ceremony in your village is quite solemn. I think people were already setting it up last night, right?"

Halfway through the journey, Xia Nan suddenly spoke up, asking casually.

Upon hearing this, Fuyuki, whose face was beaming with a cheerful smile, paused for a moment and nodded somewhat stiffly:
"Yes, after all, this is an ancient tradition passed down through generations in our Fog Lantern Village, and it is held every once in a while."

"The village chief said that the ritual and prayers can protect the villagers, keep those dangerous monsters away from the village, and make the wheat grow faster."

"Passed down through generations?" Catching the key phrase in the other person's words, Xia Nan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Has this ceremony been held in your village for many years?"

"I...I don't know." Fuyuki's expression became increasingly difficult to maintain, and even his voice became low. "This tradition has existed as long as I can remember."

"If you want to know more, you might as well ask the elderly in the village; they might know some details."

Xia Nan could sense that Dong Shu hesitated when answering him, and his lips trembled as if he wanted to say something but held it back because of some concern.

You can roughly guess what the other person is thinking.

Since that's the case, we might as well be more open about it.

"What were the specific details of the sacrificial ceremony? What were the offerings? It seems no one has ever mentioned it to me."

despair--

That was the crisp sound of leather boots hitting the ground.

Fuyuki froze on the spot.

His gaze unconsciously shifted downwards, unable to meet Xia Nan's eyes beside him.

The body trembles violently due to muscle spasms caused by overtraining, and also as a sudden release of suppressed emotions.

His dark eyes stared intently at the boy before him. Seeing the boy's silence, Xia Nan hesitated for a moment before slowly opening his mouth:

"Her name is Lillie... right?"

hum-

Dongshu suddenly looked up, his pupils contracted sharply, and the expression on his face seemed to freeze at that moment.

The air fell into a deathly silence in an instant, and even time seemed to stand still.

Only the drop of sweat clinging to the boy's forehead slowly trickled down his cheek and seeped into the soil.

"You...you knew all along?"

Dongshu's voice trembled, and the surging emotions in his heart brought an unnatural flush to his face, which was slightly pale after training.

Xia Nan turned around and continued forward, leaving only one voice echoing in the boy's ears:

"What do you know about that 'being deep in the canyon'?"

Fuyuki quickly followed, her gaze on the other's retreating figure filled with an indescribable complexity, a look of deep concern on her face, yet her mouth unconsciously uttered a reply:

"About Him... I don't know much either. The canyon is forbidden territory in the village. Not to mention me, even Brother Aspen is not allowed to enter."

“The children in the village were warned from a young age not to go near it, as it would disturb the guardian spirit sleeping there, and anyone who violated this rule would be punished severely.”

Xia Nan's face showed a thoughtful expression, but he didn't say anything. Dong Shu, on the other hand, seemed to have found an outlet for his emotions. He changed from his previous silence and hesitation and said excitedly:

"I want to take Lillie with me!"

"She shouldn't have to suffer this. It's not her fault, no, she did nothing wrong, she's innocent!"

“But…but…”

Dongshu's eyes turned red, and her voice gradually choked up, unable to utter another word.

Xia Nan waited quietly.

Only after the rapid breathing beside him subsided did he speak again and ask:
"Aspen, he should be your mentor, right? Have you mentioned your thoughts to him?" "Brother Aspen... he won't agree." Fuyuki's expression was complex, filled with admiration, understanding, and respect, but without a trace of hatred.

"Oh?"

Fuyuki hesitated for a moment, but finally slowly opened her mouth.

"The offering for the last ceremony was Aspen's daughter."

Xia Nan frowned, and the image of that mature and steady middle-aged man who was willing to sacrifice himself to create a way out for the young people in his companions when faced with the siege of goblins subconsciously appeared in his mind.

The contact time was not long, but Xia Nan's keen perception allowed him to notice it.

The middle-aged man named Aspen was unlikely to be the type to stand by and watch his daughter be chosen as a sacrifice.

When Xia Nan raised his doubts with Dong Shu, the other party gave a wistful answer.

"You guessed right, Brother Aspen did indeed take his own measures at the time."

"He is not only the most experienced hunter in the village, but also the captain of the temporary militia when the village faces the threat of monsters from outside. He has a very high reputation."

"Brother Aspen loved his daughter very much, and even though she was chosen as a sacrifice, he was unwilling to just watch his flesh and blood be sent into the canyon."

"He did a lot for this."

Fuyuki didn't go into details about what Aspen had done, but judging from his expression, Xia Nan could roughly guess what it was.

Just like the image of an adventurer in his mind.

In this technologically underdeveloped, medieval world, there is such a remote and dilapidated village.

If someone has considerable prestige among the villagers, is quite capable, and even controls the village's main defense forces...

There are indeed many things he can do.

Judging from Fuyuki's words and tone just now...

"He failed?"

Xia Nan asked Dong Shu.

"Just a little bit more." Dongshu's eyes became unfocused, and his expression unconsciously became melancholy and struggled. "The village chief is too old, and it really was just a little bit more."

"But exactly one month before the ceremony, an unknown and ferocious monster attacked the village."

"It did not break in and wreak havoc, but lurked in the darkness around the village, as if it regarded Foglight Village as a den for its livestock, dragging the lone villagers into the bushes and devouring them."

As he spoke, Fuyuki's voice trembled as if he were experiencing the fear he felt back then once again.

"The village chief said that it was a punishment from the canyon that He had sensed Brother Aspen's infidelity."

“Only when the sacrificial ceremony of that year is truly completed will Fog Lantern Village be forgiven.”

Xia Nan remained silent.

After a long while, he asked another question.

"So, the monster that attacked your village eventually left, right?"

Dongshu nodded slowly, but his voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

Yes, it's gone.

"Two months after the ceremony."

……

In the end, Fuyuki couldn't bring herself to utter the plea that had been brewing in her heart for so long.

If it weren't for what happened that night, he might have been very sincere, even at the cost of serving the other person as a servant for the rest of his life, to beg this powerful adventurer to take his beloved away from the village.

But Lillian's indifferent attitude, as if she had already accepted fate, and her merciless and incisive questioning, made the boy truly realize something.

No matter how approachable and unpretentious this respected and powerful dark-haired man may be, he was still a stranger in this land, an adventurer passing through.

The other party has no obligation to save the girl, nor is it obligated to grant their request.

To change the course of the story, Fuyuki felt that ultimately he had to rely on himself.

So, on the day the sacrificial ceremony was held.

Since Aspen led me down the path of the hunter, all these years...

The first time, he didn't do his morning exercise.

Xia Nan, who had been thinking of giving the kid some pointers on the way, was left empty-handed.

I felt something was strange, but considering the special nature of today, I had a general idea.

As usual, when Xia Nan finished her morning exercise, washed herself clean in a clear stream, and returned to the village, the sky was still a dead, fish-belly white.

Foglight Village has awakened, or rather, it has not slept all night.

The already oppressive village was even more silent on the day of the ceremony, with only the howling of the cold wind sweeping across the low-lying area and the mournful barking of dogs.

What lingers in the air is a chilling, deathly aura that seeps into the skin and sends shivers down one's spine.

The pale white banners fluttered weakly in the damp, cold wind, like the spirits of the dead, hanging over every thatched hut and bare tree trunk.

The fog thickened, but in addition to the faint putrid smell that already lingered within, there was also a pungent, bitter odor from burning herbs.

Xia Nan had asked the villagers if the purpose of burning these herbs was to dispel evil spirits and fear in the village.

But without a doubt, given the villagers' extremely suppressed emotions at this moment, this can only have the opposite effect.

The streets, which had been dirty and muddy, were cleaned up a bit and became cleaner. However, many crude dolls made of straw and rags were placed on the roadside, staring blankly in the same direction.

They are the silent witnesses to this sacrificial ritual, and also the substitutes who share the sins of the villagers.

The already silent villagers now walked out of their homes without uttering a word or showing any expression.

Everyone changed into their cleanest and tidiest clothes—even though they were still full of patches.

Men and women gathered in the center of the village; no one spoke, no one wept.

Even the most mischievous children, under the heavy pressure of such a deathly silence, obediently shut their mouths and stood still in place.

At the very center of the crowd stood an elderly man with a face full of wrinkles, the village chief of Fog Lantern Village. His eyes were slightly closed, and the mist from the burning herbs swirled around him, making it impossible to discern his expression.

On the other side of the square, in a makeshift white tent.

The offering for this ritual—a girl named "Lillie"—is undergoing the final stages of her life.

(End of this chapter)