The text between .......... in this chapter only is the past of Bal.
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It wasn't until nightfall that he reappeared, knocking on their door.
"The High Priestess invites you to join the Song Praise Ritual."
The ceremony for the demihuman tribes is usually a solemn and respectful event to honor the ancestors. However, tonight's ceremony in the ancient Wolf Tribe is more like a wild frenzy involving the entire tribe. The focus of their madness is not the ancestors but...
Under the leadership of the chieftain, Renji and his companions arrived at the ceremonial square. They gazed upon the figure on the high stage of the ceremony, who was adored and idolized by countless demihumans below.Continue reading on N0 VêLbIn
The High Priestess.
From Renji's position, he could clearly see the High Priestess's appearance, which was identical to the one in the pocket watch painting, and even more exquisitely beautiful.
The High Priestess was dancing gracefully on the stage. Her wide kimono did not hinder her but rather accentuated her movement and beauty. The kimono's lines and patterns seemed to sketch out a magnificent scroll as she moved.
The lower part of the kimono was split in the middle, revealing pure white over-the-knee socks that wrapped around her legs. Her feet, adorned with a pair of exquisitely carved wooden clogs tied with light purple ropes at the toes and ankles, served as her footwear.
With every dance movement of the High Priestess, Renji could clearly sense the dense Miasma spreading from the stage to the audience. This Miasma affected not only the visual senses. The crisp "clack clack" sound of the wooden clogs hitting the stage echoed in the ears of the many demihumans participating in the ceremony, sounding like the most enchanting melody in the world. Everyone was cheering and shouting for the High Priestess dancing on the stage.
Even the chieftain beside Renji seemed unable to resist, quickly starting to pant heavily with reddened eyes, lost and immersed in the spectacle, joining the crowd in their adoration of the beautiful High Priestess.
Those who emerged victorious in the battle and acquired the blood saw their skin turn reddish-brown as the High Priestess's blood flowed into their bodies. The power of miasma surged from their bodies, and their aura grew stronger with each passing moment.
The High Priestess's blood had the power to purify their tainted bloodline and free them from curses. It was not surprising that countless demi-humans were driven to madness by this temptation; such was the allure of power.
Watching the chaos below, where countless demi-humans fought to obtain their "blessing," they eagerly tried to express their "affection" for her, Bal couldn't help but smile. 'She' relished this wonderful feeling.
However, what annoyed her was perhaps...
Bal's gaze pierced through the many ecstatic demi-humans below, and it was the group of Renji and the others, who still maintained their composure, that stood out conspicuously. They didn't need Bal to deliberately search for them.
...
"He's so ugly."
"Don't let him join!"
"Let's go quickly!"
lightsnοvεl "No, no, no. We need someone to play the role of the big villain since no one else wants to. I say we let Bal do it; he already looks like a villain!"
This suggestion quickly gained approval from many young demi-humans. At that time, Bal didn't fully understand, but he was happy to play with others. Even though he was cast as the "big villain" and pelted with stones and beaten with branches and twigs by his playmates, he was content.
After each game, the other children would happily return home together, leaving Bal, covered in bruises from being the "villain," in the same spot. He would wave goodbye to these "friends" who didn't even spare him a second glance, hoping they would continue to play with him next time. Then, he would go off alone to a corner to lick his wounds, both the physical and emotional ones.
They grew up like this, until one day, when a miasma monster attacked their village, and Bal's so-called "friends" didn't hesitate to sell him to the monster. It was then that Bal realized he had never truly been accepted among them.