Divine Luck: SSS-Rank Battle Maid Harem-Chapter 452: Goodbye Ceremony

The young boy, Lori Kanh, of the Kanh tribe, approached Zach when evening came around. This time, he carried two bowls of gruel, one for Zach and one for Nora. He was not as scared as last time and even dared to ask why only Zach and Nora ate and not any of the other maids.

He was intrigued by the answer that familiars, especially strong ones, weren’t as bound by food as humans were. And if they wanted to eat, they wanted to eat the best and most delicious food. Naturally, they weren’t interested in the gruel.

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Still, Zach made sure to clarify that he was grateful for the food they were receiving. It wasn’t much, and it was simple, but it was better than nothing. They were prisoners and from one of the Sesha’s greatest enemies, the Evandiel family. It would have been understandable if the barbarians’ starved them.

Zach wouldn’t have minded talking to Lori more since he still wanted to find out more about the barbarians’ situation. From what he had heard and noticed, Lori was a relatively important kid. Getting closer to him could be beneficial.

But he apparently had something to do. He had to return to his family before sunset. Zach didn’t understand why when it hadn’t been a problem last night, but gradually, the barbarian camp came to life.

The foundation of a bonfire had been built right outside the camp sometime during the day. It was large enough that Zach could see it between the tents. He wasn’t sure what it was about, but he hoped the barbarians weren’t planning to set the forest and grassy hills on fire.

They weren’t. Far from it.

It was a clear sky with all the stars coming out to greet the humans looking up at them.

The barbarians started carrying the corpses from inside the camp toward the lit bonfire. The dead warriors were swept in cloths and medicinal herbs almost like they were mummies.

Zach tried to get a peek at what they were doing from his palace in the middle of the camp, but he could only catch glimpses, and even that became impossible when the barbarians all gathered in front of the bonfire.

But Zach didn’t need to see more to know that they were saying farewell to their lost ones.

It wasn’t the best opportunity since they weren’t that far away from the enemy and they were technically within enemy territory. With how much they were dedicating to this ritual, they were exposing themselves to an ambush. If any imperial troops wanted to attack them, this wuold be a great chance.

However, it wasn’t like they would get any better opportunities until the war was over, and by then, all of them might be dead. The skies were clear, and the bodies were ready.

Zach hung his head and closed his eyes.

He felt hypocritical. He was responsible for their deaths. What right did he have to mourn the barbarian warriors? What right did he have to bid them farewell?

"You."

The woman from the first day stood in front of Zach with her hands on her hips. Her long hair was let loose and draped over her shoulders. She wore a flowy light yellow dress.

Zach looked up.

During the day, he had confirmed that she was important. But tonight was not a night for political discussion. He was also pretty sure he had heard her name once or twice, but he wasn’t confident. People didn’t shout her name when she went around playing with her friends like they did with Lori.

"Yes?"

"..." The woman looked at him silently before sighing and walking around to his back. Without a word, she untied him.

"What’s going on…?" Zach asked confused.

"...Since you’re here, you might as well participate," she answered while untying Yanael, Alzara, Soara, Mandra, and Nora as well with deft fingers.

"Participate?" He asked, still confused.

The woman stopped in front of Zach and looked him straight in the eyes. She was making sure he didn’t have any malicious intentions, whether it be with his surrendering to their camp or asking that question.

"We are bidding farewell to our fallen friends and family members and wishing them luck on their journey to the stars. There can’t be too many voices giving them strength."

Zach’s eyes widened. Whatever their ritual was when saying goodbye to their lost ones, they wanted him to be a part of it. They probably didn’t know about the part he played in their defeat a few days ago. But still…

"...Is that ok?" He asked hesitantly.

The woman gave Zach a look. The fact that he was this worried about it was proof that he cared. It was more than ok.

The woman shrugged and turned to join the campfire.

Zach glanced at his maids. They didn’t say anything. This was entirely up to him.

Zach wasn’t sure how to feel. He had been responsible for the barbarian’s defeat the other day. But if he hadn’t gotten involved the troops of Rittel would have been the ones to die instead. He felt something, but it wasn’t pure guilt.

Still, participating in the dead warriors’ goodbye ceremony felt wrong. Experience tales at novelbuddy

The woman glanced back.

"Are you coming or not?" She asked when she saw that Zach still wasn’t moving. The tone she used hinted that Zach was not allowed to say no. If he wanted to move forward, he had to join.

Zach nodded and slowly caught up to her, his maids tight behind him.

Once he decided to participate, his mind gradually eased and he felt freer to indulge in his curiosity as he watched the barbarians and their ritual.

The campfire wasn’t just a haphazard pile of wood. It was a ring with an opening in one section that allowed someone to enter the middle. That was where they put the bodies of the fallen warriors before the fire that had been lit on the opposite side spread to the entire circle. From what Zach could tell, not a single body had been carried inside before the fire was started.

He wondered if there was a specific purpose behind that or if it was just tradition.

Slowly, the heat within the bonfire grew and the ones carrying the bodies inside were soaked in sweat. But they didn’t speed up or slow down. The ones carrying the last body into the bonfire even turned reddish, their skin seemingly about to blister. Silent tears ran down their cheeks as the others helped apply medicinal ointment.

That was the first part of the goodbye.