Chapter 74: Travel Notes

Chapter 74: Travel Notes

“This small city called Utopia is, in essence, no different from the places I have visited before. Whether its folk customs, races, or architectural style, all are standard Loen.”

“I have heard that the Southern Continent has many strange and unusual customs. I hope that one day I will be able to experience them personally—of course, after East and West Balam regain peace.”

“Returning to Utopia, its most special point is its changeable weather. Storms are common, so much so that most people own umbrellas and raincoats coated with Donningsman tree sap. A server at the inn told me that as long as one has a certain income and must go out to work, one has to save money for a raincoat no matter what; otherwise, illness will take even more away.”

“There are no meteorologists here, so I have no way to know the cause of this changeable climate. I can only guess that it is related to being near the sea and located in a hurricane belt. Yes, several kilometers from Utopia there is a deep-water harbor, but they lack manpower and cannot manage it well. They can only maintain it on a very small scale.”

“They also have no local newspaper. After all, this is only a small city of several thousand people. The newsboys mainly sell the Tussock Times, the Desi Mirror, and the Sea Breeze…”

“The second reason I like this place is that many people in Utopia are cheerful and optimistic, full of passion toward life.”

“As I write these words, a band happens to be passing outside the inn.”

“This is not a professional band, but a group formed purely from amateurs. Among them are government employees, magistrates, solicitors, professional policemen, schoolteachers, candy factory workers, shop owners… Those with money and time play the more difficult instruments like the tuba and violin, while lower- and middle-class citizens use simpler items such as seven-stringed guitars and harmonicas.”

“On certain days of rest, they take to the streets, starting from the municipal square, making a circuit around the city, and returning to the Saint Arianna Church near the square. They call this a ‘music parade.’”

“During the parade, they not only do not reject the participation of citizens, but encourage them to sing or dance along with the procession. From my observations, the participants are all quite happy and satisfied, freely expressing their love for life. It let me experience a vigorous, spirited attitude.”

“I must admit, this is highly infectious. I once tried joining the parade, and amid the music, dancing, and singing, I forgot my worries. I remembered only happiness…”

“Today, they are not parading. They are going to the church to offer blessings to a newlywed couple.”

“Speaking of weddings, the point about Utopia I least understand is that it has only a Church of Evernight. One must know that in most places in the kingdom, even in a small town, there will be at least two churches: one belonging to the Evernight Goddess, and one worshipping the Lord of Storms.”

“Before today, I absolutely could not imagine there would be an ordinary town in the kingdom that believed in only one deity.”

“However, this does not trouble me much. Before the age of eighteen, due to family influence, I could only believe in the Lord of Storms. But after graduating from grammar school, I truly understood that the Goddess is the most benevolent and merciful one.”

“Returning to the wedding itself, I attended a wedding two days ago and discovered that Utopia does have some special customs in this area.”

“Among them, what I appreciate most is that, when the priest announces that the marriage has been established, the bridegroom and bride bow to each other. There is no question of who is higher or lower. They are simply expressing sincere gratitude for sharing the rest of their lives together.”

“Perhaps this is a manifestation of equality between men and women within the Goddess’s teachings…”

“In addition, at the celebration after the…