Chapter 54: The Holy Light Charity Banquet Officially Begins

Today really wasn’t any special day.

Yet since the founding of Oak Town, no other day had ever been this lively~!

Why?

Because that stingy-for-a-lifetime Lord Old John—

And those rich merchants who usually kept their noses up in the clouds—

Were actually throwing around real silver and gold!

They were giving out benefits to these mud-legged commoners!

No tricky thresholds, no deceitful rules.

More than a dozen fun and practical activities were set up right in the square of the wealthy district.

Things like ring toss, strength contests, riddles—

All kinds of games.

And they were free to play, with prizes for the winners!

As for the prizes—

They were nothing more than freshly baked loaves of bread, crisp fruits and vegetables, or thick, sturdy linen towels, and so on.

Not exactly expensive, but they were real things, edible things!

Those who didn’t dare step up to play, or couldn’t get through the long queues,

Could still wander around the nearby stalls selling grilled sausages and malt candy to soak in the festivity.

After all, just watching didn’t cost anything.

And as long as one showed up in the activity area and presented a small wooden token,

They could claim a small gift pack worth a whole silver coin!

Maybe it was a piece of smoked meat, or a large jar of fruit jam.

“My gods above!”

The square was packed shoulder to shoulder, buzzing endlessly with noise.

“The sun must have risen from the west today!”

“When has Lord John ever been this generous?”

A cart driver pushing a wheelbarrow clutched a small bag of salt he had just received,

His eyes nearly popping out.

“Yeah, yeah!”

“When it comes to collecting taxes, that face of his is longer than a horse’s!”

A woman carrying a basket chimed in, carefully tucking a few apples into her bosom, her face blooming with joy.

“I’d say it’s all thanks to that Priest Colin!”

Among the crowd,

A well-traveled, sharp-eyed mercenary smacked his lips. “It’s all because of Holy Light Town’s influence!”

“Otherwise, how could Oak Town ever host something this grand?”

That thought quickly gained the crowd’s agreement.

“Right, we must’ve received blessings from the Angel himself!”

“If only this event could happen every year, that’d be wonderful!”

“Dream on! Just being lucky enough to enjoy it this year is thanks to our ancestors…”

Amidst the rowdy chatter that nearly shook the heavens,

The sun slowly sank toward the west.

The evening glow cast a warm golden sheen over Oak Town.

As more and more people—

Drawn by the excitement and the free gifts—

Poured in from the dilapidated western side of town and the cluttered craftsmen’s district with their families in tow,

The already crowded wealthy quarter became even more packed, nearly bursting at the seams.

Shops that normally only opened for nobles and gentlemen had long since shut their doors,

Their employees joining the prize-grabbing crowds,

Afraid to miss out if they came too late.

“It’s done.”

From the balcony on the second floor of Oak Castle,

Priest Colin looked down at the sea of people surging across the square, his voice calm.

This gathering of the masses—

Was the most crucial part of the plan!

To have as many civilians as possible stay in a relatively safe area before chaos struck.

Beside him, Old John wiped the sweat from his brow, staring nervously at the dense crowd below.

“So many people… if things really go south, it’ll be impossible to control.”

Baron Gregor, standing nearby, seemed more composed. He added, “There’s no turning back now. Everything must proceed as planned!”

The plan—

Was being carried out as promised.

The grandest Holy Light Charity Banquet

Finally unfolded upon the most splendid stage in the square.

As host, Old John stood at the very center of the stage, facing thousands of eyes below, clearing his throat,

And gave a brief, formulaic welcome speech.

The gist of it was nothing more than: “Holy Light bless us,” and “Thanks to Priest Colin for his benevolence,” and so on.

The same old tune.

After he stepped aside with a beaming face—

The main character, Colin, took the stage.

The crowd immediately stirred.

This priest, whose name had spread throughout Oak Town recently,

Wore a robe so washed it had turned pale, and carried a reserved air.

He looked nothing like those flamboyant trickster priests.

At first glance, he gave the commoners a sense of warmth and familiarity.

Colin stepped to the front of the stage, his gaze sweeping slowly over the crowd.

That calm look of his seemed to hold some kind of power, gradually quieting the noise.

In the front row of the VIP section,

The magicians—those whom Oak Town had paid handsomely to maintain the city’s magic defense towers—

Sat with arms crossed, their faces full of disdain.

Especially the leading Third-tier Earth Magician Taylor,

Who curled his lips and muttered to a colleague, “Hah? That’s it?”

“He’s barely better than a street-side charlatan. What’s Lord John trying to achieve with such a big show?”

“Don’t tell me he actually believes that nonsense about angels?”

To these noble magicians devoted to the study of elemental mysteries,

So-called divine arts

Were nothing but crude tricks or means of deceiving the masses.

Old John’s deference toward this countryside priest

Made them feel it was beneath their dignity.

Colin ignored their scornful looks.

He began to speak.

He did not quote scripture or preach lofty truths of the Holy Light.

Yet his very first words shook the crowd like thunder.

“Fellow compatriots.”

His voice, carried by the Holy Light’s blessing, rang clear throughout the square.

“Today, under the radiance of the Holy Light, blessings are bestowed upon all.”

“I hereby invite those tormented by sickness and bound by long-lasting suffering—whether noble or humble—to step forward!”

The audience instantly erupted in confusion.

Everyone looked at one another, wondering what kind of game this priest was playing.

Only the magicians exchanged glances and sneered.

So that’s it, they thought.

A staged performance!

They’d seen this kind of cheap act countless times before.

Their interest faded, and their contempt deepened.

After a long moment,

A dozen or so patients—pale, thin, their breath weak—finally came forward, urged on by their families.

Timidly, they climbed onto the broad stage.

They looked up at Colin with desperate eyes, as though staring at their last hope.

At this point—

Colin, instead of immediately treating them,

Added more fuel to the fire:

“Those with missing limbs or damaged bodies, or even those weakened by grief or malnutrition,”

“May also come forward!”

“Do not be afraid. I shall grant you new life!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep