Chapter 7

"Let's go find your dad." Lumian stood up abruptly.

He was always a man of action and knew that investigating the village legend couldn't be delayed; if it dragged on, his sister Aurore would likely find out, and she would certainly not allow him to continue.

This was because, in Aurore's eyes, pursuing extraordinary power was an extremely dangerous endeavor.

How could I not know it's dangerous? Aurore wouldn't lie to me on this point, but even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, I have to go on; I can't let Aurore face it alone... As he stood up, this thought flashed through Lumian's mind.

Whenever Aurore mentioned the increasing dangers of the world, the seriousness and worry on her face were unmistakable!

Raymond Cleg was even more confused:

"What for?"

"To ask when the legend of the wizard happened." Lumian glanced at Raymond.

Why can't this guy understand simple human speech? It seems I need to find a chance to test his IQ.

Raymond's face was full of confusion as he looked at Lumian and asked:

"Why do you need to know so clearly?"

Hmm... Should I just make up a reason to fool this guy, or should I be straightforward? Lumian fell into deep thought.

Considering that his future investigation couldn't be completely hidden from these few friends, and that the reason of pursuing the truth of the legend itself seemed like a lie, and that the villagers wouldn't believe it if it spread, Lumian quickly had an idea.

He instantly showed the smile he usually used when lying.

"..." Raymond took two steps back, "Speak clearly!"

Lumian straightened his dark short coat and the linen shirt underneath, and said with a smile:

"I think the legend of the wizard is worth pondering."

"Where's the worth in it?" Raymond thought for a while before asking.

"The phrase 'There was once a wizard in the village.'" Lumian said seriously, "Think about it, when I make up stories to deceive people, I definitely wouldn't mention times, places, and backgrounds that everyone can immediately confirm. But the legend clearly states that there was once a wizard in our village, Cordu. If it were a lie, wouldn't it be easily exposed by everyone?"

"But that was a long time ago," Raymond countered.

"I'm referring to the people back when the story first started circulating. They should have easily confirmed whether a wizard had died in the village at that time," Lumian said with a smile. "Since the story has been passed down, it likely means it really happened."

This reason didn't convince Raymond:

"But when you make up stories, you often use phrases like 'a hundred years ago,' 'several hundred years ago,' or 'a long time ago' to make it impossible to verify."

"That's why we need to confirm it with your dad!" Lumian had a look that said, "Now you know why I want to find your dad."

"True..." Raymond accepted the explanation but still felt something was off.

As they left the square and walked deeper into the village, Raymond finally realized:

"But why do you need to confirm whether this legend is true or false?"

"Wizard, it's a wizard! If we can confirm which house he lived in and where he was buried, we might discover his secrets and gain extraordinary powers that surpass ordinary people," Lumian said, speaking the truth that sounded like a lie.

Raymond indeed had a look that said, "Don't lie to me":

"Most of those stories are made up to scare children; how can they be true?

"Besides, pursuing the power of a wizard could get you thrown into the Inquisition!"

The Intis Republic is located in the northern continent of this world, where the orthodox deities are the "Eternal Sun" and the "God of Steam and Machinery." Their churches have divided almost all the people's faith and do not allow the "Goddess of the Night" church of the Loen Kingdom, the "Lord of Storms" church, the "Earth Mother" church of the Fennepot Kingdom, the "God of Knowledge and Wisdom" church of the southern and central countries like Lumburg, and the "God of War" church of the Fesac Empire to preach in the northern continent.

The Inquisition of the "Eternal Sun" church has always instilled fear in the people, with countless heretics and non-believers being imprisoned and subjected to cruel treatment.

Lumian laughed:

"Why worry about this now? You yourself said that most of the legends are made up, and the chances of finding the wizard's remains are almost zero.

"Besides, even if we do find the wizard's remains, we don't have to inherit that forbidden power. We can hand it over to the church and receive their rewards. Yes, as a wizard, his burial goods must include a lot of treasure."

The church Lumian referred to was the "Eternal Sun" church, as their village, Cordu, did not have a "God of Steam and Machinery" church, which was usually concentrated in large cities and areas with factories.

Seeing Raymond's heart palpitate, Lumian inwardly "tsk"ed and added:

"Do you really want to be a shepherd?"

The shepherds he referred to were not the idyllic shepherds known in the cities, where one is part of a family and just needs to take a few sheep to graze in the morning and look after them.

In the Dariège region of the Leston province where Cordu village is located, being a shepherd is a profession, a profession destined to be hard and lonely.

They are hired by the sheep owners and drive dozens or even hundreds of sheep back and forth between the mountains and the plains.

This is called "transhumance" — when autumn arrives, the high mountain pastures around Cordu village wither, and the shepherds drive the sheep to the warmer plains outside the mountain passes, often crossing the border into the Fennepot, Lumburg, and other countries. In early May, they drive the sheep back to the villages, shear the wool, and wean the lambs. In June, they go up the mountains, enter the high mountain pastures, live in huts, make cheese, and herd the sheep until the weather turns cold.

Thus, the shepherds transhumance year after year, spending most of their lives traveling, with only a small amount of time spent in the village. Therefore, most of them are single, find it hard to marry, and cannot form families. The few widows who have to become shepherds for a living are very popular in this group.

Raymond was silent.

After a while, he hesitantly said:

"I'll follow your lead. This sounds like a fun way to pass the time."

Under normal circumstances, once the family decides which child needs to be a shepherd, they send the child to a shepherd's house to work and learn how to herd sheep between the ages of 15 and 18. After three years, the child officially becomes a shepherd and seeks employment.

Raymond, who is 17 this year, has already delayed this for over two years with various excuses. If his life continues without change, he will have to learn to be a shepherd next year.

"Let's go." Lumian patted Raymond's shoulder, "Is your dad in the fields or at home?"

"There's not much work lately, and Lent is coming. He's either at home or at the tavern," Raymond said enviously, "You didn't know this? You're not a farmer; you have a good sister!"

Lumian walked slowly with his hands in his pockets, ignoring Raymond's sigh.

As they approached the village's dilapidated tavern, a person walked down a side road.

This person was wearing a deep brown long coat with a hood, a rope tied around the waist, and a pair of new, soft-looking black leather shoes.

"Pierre, Pierre Berry?" Raymond exclaimed in surprise.

Lumian also stopped and looked toward the side road.

"It's me," Pierre Berry smiled and waved.

He was slim, with slightly sunken eye sockets, oily black curly hair, and a beard that hadn't been shaved in a long time.

"How did you come back?" Raymond asked in confusion.

Pierre Berry was a shepherd, and it was early April. He should have been herding sheep on the plains outside the mountain passes. How could he possibly be in the village?

Even if he had transhumanced to Lumburg or the northern border of Fennepot, it would take about a month to return to the Dariège mountains.

Pierre had gentle, smiling blue eyes and said happily:

"Isn't Lent coming soon? I haven't participated for several years, and I can't miss it this year!

"Don't worry, I have a companion watching the sheep. Being a shepherd is good in this way; there's no overseer, and as long as you can find someone to help, you can go wherever you want, very free."

Lent is a widely celebrated festival in Intis, where people welcome the arrival of spring and pray for a bountiful year.

This has nothing to do with the "Eternal Sun" church or the "God of Steam and Machinery" church, but it has become a folk custom and does not involve the worship of pagan deities, so it is tacitly allowed by the orthodox.

"You want to see who will be chosen as the Spring Sprite, right?" Lumian joked with a smile.

During the Lent festival in Cordu village, a beautiful girl is chosen to play the role of the Spring Sprite, which is part of the celebration.

Pierre laughed along:

"I hope it's your sister Aurore, but she definitely won't agree, and she's too old for it."

"Alright." He then pointed to the nearby tavern, "I'll go pray at the church and then buy you drinks."

Raymond instinctively responded:

"No need, you don't have much money."

"Ha ha, the gods teach us, 'Even if you have only one copper coin, you should share it with your poor brothers.'" Pierre quoted a proverb that circulated among the shepherds in the Dariège region.

At this moment, Lumian smiled at Raymond:

"Pierre must have made some money, he'll definitely buy us drinks!"

He was referring to Pierre Berry's new leather shoes.

Pierre Berry was very happy:

"This time, my employer was good and gave me several sheep. I'll also get some wool, cheese, and leather later."

The shepherds' rewards consist of food, a small amount of money, and shared livestock, wool, cheese, and leather, depending on the contract signed with the employer.

For shepherds who have to travel long distances, a good, suitable pair of leather shoes is their most urgent and practical need.

Watching Pierre Berry walk toward the village square, Lumian's gaze gradually became serious and filled with doubt.

He murmured to himself:

"Just to participate in Lent, he spent one or two weeks, even nearly a month, to come back?"

After a moment of thought, Lumian收回视线，和雷蒙德走向了酒馆。

酒馆没有名字，也不需要名字，科尔杜村就只有这么一家，村民喜欢称它为老酒馆。

刚进酒馆，卢米安习惯性地环顾了一圈。

突然，他的目光在某个地方停顿了。

他看见了昨晚那个提前离场的外乡人。

和莱恩、莉雅、瓦伦泰明显不是一伙的外乡人。

这是一位女士，身穿橘黄色的长裙，褐发微卷地披着，淡蓝色的眼睛正盯着手里的那杯淡红色的酒精饮料。

她美貌而慵懒，与低矮昏暗的破旧酒馆仿佛不在同一幕场景里。

PS：感谢司空燚濱打赏白银盟。

Lumian收回了视线，和雷蒙德走向了酒馆。

酒馆没有名字，也不需要名字，科尔杜村就只有这么一家，村民喜欢称它为老酒馆。

刚进酒馆，卢米安习惯性地环顾了一圈。

突然，他的目光在某个地方停顿了。

他看见了昨晚那个提前离场的外乡人。

和莱恩、莉雅、瓦伦泰明显不是一伙的外乡人。

这是一位女士，身穿橘黄色的长裙，褐发微卷地披着，淡蓝色的眼睛正盯着手里的那杯淡红色的酒精饮料。

她美貌而慵懒，与低矮昏暗的破旧酒馆仿佛不在同一幕场景里。

PS：感谢司空燚濱打赏白银盟。

Just as he entered the tavern, Lumian habitually glanced around.

Suddenly, his gaze paused at a certain spot.

He saw the outsider who had left early last night.

The outsider who was clearly not part of the group with Leon, Lya, and Valentine.

It was a woman, wearing an orange-yellow dress, with wavy brown hair and light blue eyes staring at the light red alcoholic drink in her hand.

She was beautiful and languid, seeming to be in a different scene from the low, dim, and dilapidated tavern.

PS: Thank you, Sikong Yibin, for the silver alliance donation.