Chapter 798 – Ten Thousand Dances

000

＂Then shall we go out?＂

At Cleon’s words, Cuon nodded, putting on a small coat over his usual clothes.

“The weather shaman told me yesterday to dress well because the temperature is likely to be lower than usual today, and it was true.”

＂Weather shaman?＂

“Huh. He is the person who predicts tomorrow’s weather using an oracle and announces it. They say there is a 90% chance of being correct. He had a hard time saying that if he got 10% wrong, he would get complaints from residents.”

Cleon wondered if there was such a shaman, and held Kuon’s hand as he came down the steps of the entrance.

The sun has not yet risen, and the sky is dark at dawn.

The reason I came out at this time when the stars and moon could still be seen shining was to take Kuon to the temple.

It was finally the day when the Five Elements Festival began, and it was no longer strange for anything to happen anywhere, so it was necessary to pay maximum attention.

There are more people inside the temple than usual, so tight security may not be possible – but the place where the great shaman is still the place where the priests and shamans of the temple are most concentrated.

It may have been the safest place, including the royal palace where Miyeomgong was located, but the route there was still dangerous.

Even after leaving her mansion and the main gate of the Dark Dragon Company, Kuon did not let go of Cleon’s hand, but slowly shook it and walked along the path of dawn, following her footsteps.

“When I walk down the street like this, it doesn’t seem much different from usual… But I can feel the atmosphere. Before the festival starts soon, everyone is looking forward to it… I guess it’s the tingle before the fun comes.”

“Ah. I’m talking about the feeling of the whole city being slightly excited. Furthermore, I feel it too.”

Cleon nods at Cuon’s words and turns his head slightly. Although the number of people was clearly small, there were residents who couldn’t sleep from anticipation and were outside smoking cigarettes at dawn-

Lights could be seen beyond the windows of the accommodations where tourists were staying.

“This is what I felt… I also felt it the day before El Querdo’s Victory Day.”

When Cuon said that, Cleon nodded once again.

Both are big festivals for the residents of that country, so the sensations won’t be all that different.

“But this time, I won’t let it happen like that day. I don’t want to see Cleon hurt like that anymore. Cleon doesn’t like being sick either, right?”

“Of course. “There are not many people who like being sick.”

When Cleon answered like that, Cuon still looked at him with worried eyes.

“… I will assist you properly this time. Cleon shouldn’t overdo it either. If you come back with a hole somewhere, I won’t forgive you.”

“Okay. Because I will protect my body myself.”

To Kuon, who used an unusually strong tone, Cleon squeezed his hand as if to reassure him.

The hand she held like that was thin and soft, but because her heart was properly connected, it was a warm hand that held Cleon’s hand.

When we are so strongly aware of each other’s body temperature and existence-

A bell rang from the temple along with a cooing vibration.

“Oh…! It’s the bell ringing before the new dance begins! We have to get there before it rings 30 times, so we have to hurry!”

＂Now, Kuon…!＂

When Cleon grabbed her hand and tried to run away, Cleon followed behind her as if being pulled by her.

Kuon’s running speed is comparable to Cleon’s, even if he runs at full speed, Cleon’s speed is similar to Cleon’s walking a little faster, but keeping pace was quite difficult because it was different from walking at his usual rhythm.

Cleon laughs without realizing it as he sees Kuon struggling.

At that time, Cleon suddenly turned her head to the side, feeling like something was looking at them.

But there, there is only a dark road leading to a small alley.

＂…＂

It didn’t change that it was a perfect place for someone to hide, but I couldn’t see anything right now, and there was no time to stop and look inside.

＂Cleon?＂

“Ah, ah. Sorry.”

Perhaps because Cleon had stopped her feet, Kuon had no choice but to stop, and when she looked back at Cleon and called his name, Cleon also came to his senses and hurried with Kuon once again to the temple. Head towards

Just like that, when the sound of footsteps got farther away – inside the alley where Cleon had just turned around – it was a girl with blond hair and blue eyes who peeked out from behind the piled items.

She, with a sword at her waist, heard the sound of Cleon and Cuon walking away and made a sound that sounded like gnashing her teeth.

＂You took away all my happiness… You two are living like lovers… Is that it…?＂

With a low voice as if sharpening her blade of revenge, the girl tries to draw her own sword, but then throws it back.

In order to destroy all of her happiness, she accepted what she was, thinking that she would endure any humiliation.

Even for his sake, she seemed to have grown up a bit and desperately suppressed her own impulses, saying that she couldn’t act rashly.

The red magic stone embedded in the back of her neck-spinal cord slowly blinked, but soon returned to green. She couldn’t tell it herself, but she could feel the intense emotions that dominated her entire body fading away a little. There was

I didn’t know if she was controlling it herself, or if she was being controlled by the magic stone.

＂I will not forgive you, Cleon…! Kuon…! These traitors…!”

If anyone who knew her situation heard what she said, she would spit out resentful words that would make them laugh, and then she would leave the scene and hide herself.

001

Somehow, Cleon and Cuon arrived at the temple before all the bells rang.

Then, unlike other places in Asteris, quite a lot of people had gathered at the temple since dawn.

Perhaps all the important figures of Asteris are gathered here? To the extent that one might think, royal families, nobles, and vassals.

Selena, a distinguished guest from her kingdom, Diora, her escort, and Herty, her superior.

In contrast, the guards at the gate were controlling it, as if ordinary citizens could not enter the temple now.

Thanks to this, the area near the entrance was clogged with a large crowd of people, so it was quite a struggle to get out.

“… Is this okay?”

＂Well, so…＂

Cleon, looking at that scene, thought that if an explosion big enough to blow up the entire place occurred, there would be tremendous damage to both the Eastern Country and the Kingdom in an instant.

That’s because it seemed like if all the important people were gathered together, it would naturally be easy to become the target of such terrorism.

＂It’s okay.＂

“Ah, it’s Aine.”

＂Hiik!＂

When a voice was suddenly heard from behind Cleon, Cleon and Cuon, who had not sensed the presence, spoke out simultaneously.

Kuon was startled by the sudden conversation and even screamed.

“If you look closely, you can see that all the people who appear over there are participating by welcoming us from different places. His Majesty Myeom-gong and his children are at the palace, Herti is at a secret location owned by the company… And Selena is at the camp where the kingdom’s troops are stationed. … There were many elements that could cause problems in this Five Elements Festival, so we decided in advance to ensure safety in that way.”

“… Indeed. If that’s the case, you’re safe.”

Is the era called remote participation? When Cleon answers with the same thought, Ain looks around and speaks.

＂Originally, ordinary residents would fill this place to see the great shaman’s sacred dance… But this year, for safety reasons. ＂

＂Ah…＂

Is that why Cleon surrounded the entrance to the temple where residents could not enter?

Even if it was announced in advance, it may not have been delivered properly, or it may have been residents who came just in case.

“Once the sacred dance is over, the interior of the temple will be opened to the public. I think the crowd will continue to increase given the weather tomorrow.”

“Well… Is that something that can’t be helped?”

After Cleon nodded to Aine’s words, two short shrine maidens wearing fox masks appeared from inside the temple to greet Kuon.

＂Quon. You are here. This way.”

＂Oh. There’s still time left… Right? Until the end of the new dance…”

When Kuondon and Tokoyo responded with a bit of hesitation whether they wanted to see the sacred dance, one of the shrine maidens shook her head and answered.

＂Tokoyo said that it would be better to perform the new dance for this opening with Kuon.＂

“Yes!? I didn’t hear it…!”

When Kuon spoke in surprise, one of the shrine maidens who came to meet her also nodded her head as if she was troubled.

“We heard it earlier too. Is it Tokoyo-sama’s whim, or did he receive an oracle from the early morning prayers?”

＂Anyway. Now, this way. Tokoyo is waiting for you.”

“Ah, okay! Well, then, Cleon, see you later!”

Kuon waves his hand at Cleon and heads toward the shamans’ room, led by the shamans.

As he watches Kuon leave, Cleon stays quiet for a moment and then looks towards the base of the huge tree where the sacred dance will be held.

Tokoyo was already there, with a mask on her face and a shrine maiden uniform that was much more colorful than the one she usually wore.

The shrine maiden’s uniform had a great contrast between white and red, and the remaining part of the skirt that floated slightly in the air was long enough to be close to her height.

Thanks to this, every time she walked, her red waves fluttered, creating a mysterious impression.

＂Mr. Cleon.＂

Looking at Tokoyo like that, Cleon, who was wondering if Kudo would wear clothes like that, was brought back to reality thanks to Aine who called her by that name.

When her Cleon looks at her like that, she speaks to her Cleon with a very serious expression.

＂… While Cleon was away in Asteris the past few days, there were some suspicious sightings in the city. ＂

＂Suspicious sighting…?＂

Cleon focuses on the story, wondering if her words have anything to do with the Exiled Church.

“Yes. A girl who appears to be a noblewoman of the kingdom is walking around the interior of Asteris. It was… With blonde pigtails and blue eyes. This is a girl wearing clothes that make it easy to move around and wielding a sword.”

＂…＂

Cleon nodded when she realized it was the same girl she had seen yesterday.

“But you can’t be suspicious just by the clothes, right? He may be an aristocrat whose parents have such tastes…”

“We thought so too at first. Since we are also sharing information with the royal palace guards, we asked them to report anyone who was even slightly suspicious… But the problem lies elsewhere than that obsession.”

＂Somewhere else?＂

In response to Cleon’s question, Aine closes her mouth for a moment and then answers Cleon.

“She was seen in multiple places at the same time.”

＂… That doesn’t mean that there are several similar people-“

“Yes. Exactly the same impression. Hairstyle, clothes, and the sword he is wearing. Even height and body shape. A person matching the information we are sharing was seen at a very different time and from a distance that cannot be physically traveled. If it had happened once or twice, we would have thought it was an optical illusion… In the past few days, the number of sightings like that has exceeded ten…”

At her answer, Cleon silenced her for a moment.

Blonde, blue-eyed – girl with a sword. In some ways, the anxious feelings and seeds of doubt she felt at that time may not have been wrong.

＂If it has the characteristics of a kingdom noble, it may have some connection with the Exile Church.＂

“Yes. We think so too, but there is one thing we don’t understand.”

＂… Huh?＂

When Cleon reacts like that to Aine’s words, she responds.

“Usually, if you sneak in like this, you don’t do anything that might raise suspicion by being seen at the same time. But. She is exposing herself to us like this. I don’t know if there’s some hidden purpose there, but…”

“… Ah. Surely. As if this was my first time doing something like this, it’s hard to imagine I’d make a beginner’s mistake. There might be some intention. They’re trying to divert our attention in that direction…”

Aine nods her head as if she agrees with Cleon’s words.

“I was thinking the same thing. Her exposure was intentional, and maybe there was another hidden plan.”

“… There was no arrest?”

“Because he didn’t show any particularly remarkable behavior. Government forces also need to have some basis for arrest. Official sanctions cannot be imposed.”

Cleon was silent for a moment at her words.

“In that case, private sanctions would be possible.”

＂… Mr. Cleon.＂

When Aine called that name with her concern, as if he understood what she meant right away, Cleon nodded.

“Are you okay. It’s not something new that the kingdom has a bad image. I caught them and they were actually twins. If it ends up being the same, I’ll apologize here.”

“… If it were that simple, we wouldn’t have to worry about it either, but… Be careful. Having a sword means you can fight back.”

“Ah. Of course.”

The moment Cleon answered like that, he moved his head to follow Aine’s gaze towards the bottom of her sacred tree, and he could see that Kuon was walking to the side of where Tokoyo was standing with the help of the shrine maidens. 〉

She, too, was wearing the same type of shrine robe that Tokoyo wore, and she was wearing the same mask as Tokoyo.

＂…＂

Cleon was almost entranced by the mysterious sight.

And after a while – the two people start dancing.

Footsteps move slowly, with a prolonged sacred music with a mysterious atmosphere resonating from somewhere.

Each time, the skirt fluttered, creating a contrast of red and white.

Step. Step. Move to the beat and move the stick with the paper that shakes off the hemp held in your hand.

Every time a trajectory was drawn, when the particles of magic sparkled, it could be seen that the magic of the earth radiating from the two people’s bodies went through the sacred tree and spread throughout Asteris.

＂The flow of magic power is faster than usual. I think it’s because the two of you danced at the same time…”

Aine expressed such sentiments, but Cleon’s gaze was still fixed on Kuon.

And after a while, the sacred tree slowly creates light from the roots, extends up the trunk, and moves to the branches – and then to the leaves – and from there, a pink flower quickly grows and forms a bud.

The moment Cleon took a deep breath at the mysterious sight that seemed to transcend the laws of nature –

Wow! As if that sound effect was heard.

The branches of the new tree, where only green leaves had grown in abundance, were covered with countless pink flowers in full bloom, like waves spreading out, and the petals began to flutter.

With that, the divine music stops, and the two shamans stop dancing.

“… Other trees outside the temple have also bloomed.”

When Rio Mess said so, Miyeomgong nodded his head.

Originally, it was a fact that should have been declared to everyone who came, including residents, and was shouted loudly in a situation where there were few people listening.

＂Right now, here, we declare the holding of the Five Elements Festival!＂

Once a loud voice resonates so loudly that it can be heard not only inside the temple but also outside.

Outside, the cheers of citizens were heard.

＂… It’s the beginning. ＂

Cleon mumbles like that and slowly takes out the mask Herti gave him from his arms and puts it on.

From the exiled church to the ghosts – there were a lot of problems to solve.