Chapter 243

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The next day, the townspeople were gathering at the south gate to clean up the monster’s carcass and hold funerals for the fallen soldiers and adventurers. Most of the profit from selling the monster materials were given to the families of the fallen soldiers and adventurers.

In this world, they believed in the existence of the God of War who ruled over the battlefield. They believed the war maidens (Valkyrie), the messenger of God of War, would guide the souls of the fallen warriors to the God of War. Here, they had a tradition where the young women would dress up as Valkyries and perform a sword dance while guiding the coffins of those who died in the battlefield.

From what I had heard from Yurina-san, it seemed this world had a polytheistic belief that bore striking resemblance to Greek mythology.

Charlotte-san and many other girls dressed up as Valkyries were parading through the town with the coffins of the deceased warrior. They performed sword dance, accompanied by the sound of flutes and bells.

The town was filled with more enthusiasm than usual, with strong-willed merchants lining up their stalls, ready to rake in profits. The widows wore black veils and put on their mourning attire. However, there weren’t any strict rules  for the attendees. Only the widows were required to put on morning attire while the rest of the attendees were free to wear whatever they wanted so the town was generally filled with festive mood.

The children from the Wolf Cub’s Village were given pocket money that they could use to buy some food from the stalls. They were having a great time, enjoying the merry festival. Indeed. The ceremony of sending the souls of the fallen warriors to the God of War was more like a festival rather than a mere mourning ritual.

At the end of the ritual, the bodies of the deceased would be buried in the church’s cemetery. Yurina-san, Tanya, Ash and I wore black clothes as a mourning attire to show our respect for the deceased as we watched the funeral ceremony.

A sobbing sound could be heard coming from a woman in a black veil. Her belly was swollen, she must be pregnant.

Yurina-san went to that woman and comforted her, crying in sympathy.

If I wasn’t mistaken, that woman in black veil used to work together with Yurina-san at the Butterfly’s Cradle. Coincidentally, just the other day ago, Yurina-san had told me that one of her coworkers got married. That coworker must be her.

So her husband died in that battle….

I felt like I needed to say something to her but in the end, I didn’t know what to say. I guess it would be better if I just left her alone so she could mourn in peace at a time like this.

The mourning ceremony was finally approaching its final stages.

As I listened to the adorable howling coming from Ash, I started thinking to myself. 

Even just for a little bit, I guess it’s fine for me to believe that the souls of the fallen warriors are truly on a journey to the God of War. Just like what the people here believe in. After all, this is a world where things like magic exist. 

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T/N: It’s kinda sad… On one side, we have people mourning for their loved ones. On the other side, we have people happy that they get to live for another day and enjoy the festival. Life must go on. (つ﹏<)･ﾟ｡