Chapter 38: The Blessing at the Bonfire Festival

“That sounds good. What is your fee?”

“It only costs one Silver Thales, Sir,” Perry replied eagerly, rubbing his hands.

“Then take me to experience the warmth of Cimali.” Ace said gently.

“Certainly, Sir. Would you like to change into our local traditional attire to better feel the festive atmosphere? Renting a set of clothing is only 10 Copper Thales, and buying one is 1 Silver Thales,” Perry said to Ace, somewhat eagerly.

Ace had no ill feeling about this. Participating in a distinctive festival and blending in with the crowd was certainly the best choice, especially since he had made a small fortune and had several hundred Gold Thales on hand, so he was not short on cash.

Ace changed into the local men’s clothing. He wore a straw hat, a short-sleeved, short-hemmed top, and wide-leg shorts similar to long boxers on the bottom. Cinched with a black belt, he looked exactly like a Cimali fisherman going out to sea.

He fastened his essential Spell Book to his left side, and the Magic Short Sword “Emberlight” was slung diagonally on his right. He placed his Rune Book and Magic Diary in his backpack. After putting on the backpack, Ace and Perry joined the crowd, singing and dancing along.

The joyful atmosphere infected Ace. His mood also became very pleasant. Occasionally relaxing like this was quite nice.

“This street is the most prosperous commercial street in Cimali. If you have money, you can find many good things here.”

“That turret building over there is the tallest structure in Cimali. We rely on it to frequently spot sneak attacks by Merfolk.”

“This stone slab road leading to the idol was bestowed by His Excellency Pontos. Legend says a devout follower moved Him. He took giant rocks from the seabed and cut them into neat slabs, laying them all the way to the feet of the idol.”

“The girls here are daughters of the sea. Not only is their attire bolder than those inland, but their personalities are also fiery. Your Excellency the Scholar will surely appreciate this after staying here for a while.”

The girls around wore bandeau tops and high-waisted short skirts with slits, draped with fishing nets. They sang loudly to the rhythm. A few girls boldly whistled at Ace. The fiery dance of the sea, with the flash of white thighs under the torchlight, was even more captivating.

Ace’s face was slightly flushed under the torchlight. He never expected the fishing port in the other world to be so open.

Ace closed his eyes and activated the Lesser Ultrasound Perception spell card. Ultrasound waves resonated in a radius of about 500 meters around him. The perceived information sketched a magnificent picture in his mind.

Fiery dragons of torches moved throughout the port city, converging on the central square of the city. People within the fiery dragons were singing and dancing. The fiery girls and unique local dances made this the first time Ace had felt so happy in the other world. He felt an impulse to freeze this moment completely.

Perhaps I can try creating an oil painting, Ace thought. With his powerful mental perception and subtle mental manipulation abilities, combined with the acute spatial composition sense honed by studying runes, he was perfectly capable of creating an oil painting depicting this beautiful spectacle.

He completely relaxed his body and mind, sensing and enjoying everything. His spirit felt warm and seemed to float upward. His mental power was incredibly full, and he naturally entered a meditation state, his mental power strength beginning to climb rapidly.

“We have reached the square. That is the idol of Pontos worshiped in Cimali. It is carved entirely from marble and took 20 years to complete.”

Ace subconsciously opened his eyes. His mental perception reached the idol. Countless mental power and Mana were gathering there with extreme regularity. At a deeper level, it seemed to be connected to some presence. His body suddenly jolted. He instantly left the warm, pleasant state, feeling like he was falling from a great height.

A large amount of sweat immediately seeped out of his body, dripping down his neck, chest, and ankles.

Ace didn’t have time to regret missing the excellent opportunity to touch a higher realm. He quickly reined in his mental perception, like a small beast that has encountered an epic ferocious beast, ready to play dead on the spot.

The idol seemed to be connected to something. Ace was only vaguely aware of it unintentionally, yet he was immediately overwhelmed by a corner of this great presence, plunging him into the abyss and chilling him from head to toe.

This great presence didn’t even notice him, just as a person would not notice an ant’s gaze. The aura Ace unintentionally sensed was enough to intimidate him. This was likely the great power of His Excellency Pontos—divine might like a prison.

Would saying “How terrifying” be more fitting for the atmosphere right now? Ace chose to back down and quietly complained in his heart.

He meticulously controlled his mental power and Mana, fearful of leaking even a trace that might draw the attention of the great presence. A thought grew wildly in his heart. He recalled a phrase from his past life: He can be replaced!

Although I am weak, I have always believed that as long as my life has not ended, and as long as I persist in the spirit of objective and neutral research, I will eventually unravel the mysteries of the supernatural world. Even the terrifying great presence I sense now will one day lie on my operating table.

The smile on Ace’s face had disappeared, replaced by a blank expression. Yet, the thought in his heart grew bigger and its roots deepened. This world is truly too interesting.

The crowd was singing, dancing, and exceptionally lively. Ace, however, had lost the intense emotional sense of life. The sight of flashing thighs could no longer sway his will. The path of a Spellcaster is ultimately a lonely one.

He danced with the crowd, drank the murky wine with the crowd, ate the fresh roasted fish in big mouthfuls, and smiled at the girls who whistled at him. His mood was exceptionally calm, as if he were detached from the crowd.

He cautiously observed the idol with his naked eyes. The joy in the air seemed to be pulsating. The gathering of mental power and Mana around the idol became more and more intense. In the vision of his mental power, the surroundings were black and white, and the idol was like a brilliant, incandescent sphere of light. Without even actively perceiving it, he could feel the palpable glow.

It seems that the Deities might need this rainbow-colored power mixed with joyful mental power and Mana. Perhaps it could be called Power of Faith? Ace thought, though he did not know its specific usage or effect.

A long, drawn-out bell rang. It was 10:00 PM. The crowd stopped their merrymaking and prostrated themselves before the idol. Ace continued to back down, prostrating with the crowd.

The sphere of light seemed to have reached its limit. As the crowd knelt in piety, the light burst forth, then instantly shrank into a single point and vanished. Only small spheres of starlight remained, like ripples splashing out from the shrinking great sphere of light, floating in the air.

Ace cautiously released his mental power to perceive the nearest sphere of light. Just as his mental power perceived the sphere, it seemed to gain sentience and flew straight toward Ace.

This sphere of light was the blessing Perry had told Ace about. Perry also stared wide-eyed at the sphere of light rushing toward Ace, never expecting the foreigner to be blessed by Pontos. He is so lucky.

Ace did not think so. Directly contacting an object of unknown origin involving a Deity was too dangerous. Out of necessity, he drew “Emberlight” from his waist, attempting to block the small sphere of light.