Chapter 175: The Power of Mysticism

Chapter 175: The Power of Mysticism

Most of the houses in Gurain were built along roads that spiraled upward. Occasionally, where the ground became flatter and broader, there would be a plaza or market.

Carrying his luggage, Klein relied on a Seer’s spiritual intuition and casually chose a direction, searching along the way for the more lively sort of bar.

There were not many carriages on the roads, and rented ones were even rarer, appearing only after long intervals. The most popular means of transportation in East Balam was the “coffin.” This came from customs rooted in Death worship, from the belief that coffins could bring tranquility and peace. As a result, Klein constantly saw several people carrying a black coffin past him. Its lid was much lighter and thinner than normal, as if it could be opened as casually as a carriage door.

Two people carrying one, four people carrying one, eight people carrying one; horses or horned sheep pulling one… This kind of folk custom is a little frightening at night. Mm, it is not much better during the day either. The whole city seems gloomy and eerie…

While admiring the “scenery” along the road, Klein stepped into a plaza. On the left was a church of the Lord of Storms, while to the right stood a row of restaurants, bars, and similar shops.

When he stopped, a coffin carried by four people had just been set down at the roadside.

As the lid opened, the passenger lying inside the coffin stood up and stepped out. He was a Northern Continent-style gentleman wearing a white shirt and black vest.

The gentleman’s formal coat had remained draped over his arm the whole time. Only after leaving the coffin did he put it over his shoulders.

Then, Klein watched this gentleman head straight for the Church of Storms and walk inside.

That really does give off a strange sense of incongruity… Hasn’t the Church of Storms always liked changing colonial customs and forcefully promoting Loen’s ways? Why are they not doing so in East Balam? Because the Death pathway and the Evernight pathway belong to similar types, so the Church of Storms wishes to preserve certain folk customs of Death’s domain in order to restrain the Evernight Church’s spread?

Klein nodded thoughtfully and turned toward the row of buildings on the right, preparing to enter one of the bars.

Only after this firsthand experience did he vaguely understand why many history books described ancient Balam Empire clothing styles the way they did.

They liked wearing trousers, preferred lightweight styles, and considered pleats beautiful… Wasn’t that because it was convenient to go out and lie in coffins?

Klein shook his head with a smile, pushed open the bar’s heavy wooden door, squeezed through one drunkard after another, and walked toward the bar counter.

At that moment, the two military “trackers,” afraid of exposing themselves, had deliberately put some distance between themselves and Dawn Dantes. They had only just reached the door.

Seizing that brief opening, Klein suddenly changed direction. Like a fish slipping through water, he passed through the crowd and ran toward the area near the back door.

—Although he did not understand Dutanese, he could read drawn symbols and knew which area was the washroom and which area was off-limits to customers.

After circling to a region invisible from the main entrance, Klein shook one shoulder and swiftly removed his coat, draping it over his arm.

Immediately afterward, he tucked the gold-inlaid cane under his arm, stretched one palm over his face, slowed his steps, and changed direction again, heading for the bar’s main door.

When he had put nearly ten meters between himself and the place where he had removed his coat, Klein lowered the right hand pressed against his face. His entire image had completely changed.

His graying temples, deep eyes, and elegant bearing had all vanished, replaced by the features of a Loenese man one could find anywhere on the Northern Continent.

Carrying…