Anyway, whenever he asked, Teacher Jino would put on a stern face and say to him, "You're still far from it," and then he would hear the sound of grinding teeth shortly after.

Hate!

I really hate it!

...

[Location: Prince's Mansion]

Louis met Alice here.

Alice grinned innocently:

"Hey, big busy person, you said we'd investigate together, then you disappeared for half a month. Do you know the president's been talking to me about it?"

Louis coughed:

"This training exceeded my expectations. I didn't think it would take so much time."

He discreetly observed Alice and added:

"Besides, didn't I have someone send you a message to inform you of the situation?"

Grace, beside him, glanced at Louis, lowered her head, then reached out to tug on Alice's sleeve.

Alice huffed and fell silent.

Louis knew she wasn't really angry.

Just putting on a show.

Louis said earnestly:

"It's not my fault. I thought initially it would be a week's training at most; I didn't expect it to be more challenging than I thought."

Grace whispered softly:

"Sister Alice also went for special training."

"Oh?" Louis drew out his voice.

Alice's previously stern face couldn't hold anymore:

"You're allowed to train, but I'm not?"

Louis said slowly:

"With what I know about you, knowing I went for professional training, you probably started training secretly early on."

"Come on, tell me when you really finished your extra training, don't try to hide it from me, I'm good at reading minds as a succubus."

Louis chuckled softly.

Alice's face suddenly turned red, she turned her head, and raised her index finger.

"Just a day ago?"

Louis was shocked; these geniuses keep pushing each other, it's unbearable!

Alice was silent for a moment before saying:

"An hour ago."

"So you just came out after getting my notification?"

"Cough, that's not important." Alice said seriously, "The point is, we don't have much time left, if we don't complete the task in the next few days, we'll really be deducted points."

Louis nodded:

"How about we go check it out tomorrow?"

Alice said, "Alright, it's a date, make sure not to bail on me."

"I definitely won't."

And so, this was settled.

Alice added:

"Actually, even if you wanted to do the task today, I wouldn't go."

"Why?" Louis was curious.

Alice glanced at him and said:

"Have you forgotten? The Slumber Festival is almost here? Without proper preparations, I don't want to get into a brawl with undead creatures or the like."

"Hiss! Is it already the day of the Slumber Festival?"

Louis took a cold breath.

The Slumber Festival is an event held annually on February 20th on the Star Continent.

The organizer is the Church of the God of Death.

It's said that this festival is a celebration for the rebirth of the master of death and slumber.

If you must find a similar festival from past lives, it's somewhat like the Mid-Autumn Festival of Great Xia, and also a bit like Neon's Ullambana Festival.

Strictly speaking, in Buddhist traditions, Ullambana Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival coincide in timing.

On this day, there are legends about the gates to the underworld opening.

The Slumber Festival is the Star Continent's version of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

And yes, on the Star Continent, this is a real ghost festival.

After all, on this land, gods truly exist.

On this day, people on the Star Continent typically stay indoors.

No joke, because starting from February 17th, influenced by the lord of death and slumber, undead creatures all over the continent become more active.

They not only become more aggressive than usual but also gain a considerable boost in strength.

Mages, as seen in books Louis read, held this view:

"The lord of death and slumber wakes up regularly on February 17th each year. The moment he awakens, an unconscious wave of energy is released, forming a tidal wave of energy."

"This tide covers a wide range, even able to penetrate the crystal walls of the Star Continent, affecting the undead creatures on it."

"Undead creatures absorbing large amounts of death energy become more active than usual, posing a greater danger to nearby cities."

Indeed.

To the people of Star Continent, the hundred ghost parade truly exists.

To avoid accidental harm from potential ghostly undead, going out is generally avoided.

The Church of Death and Sleep, as believers of the God of Death, holds some small-scale festival activities on this day.

The events usually last until 8 PM.

City folks generally attend these activities and then head home to hide before 8 PM approaches.

The undead energies, which become active starting the 17th, peak on the 20th.

The bright silver moon in the sky will temporarily turn into a crimson moon during this time.

Priests of the Church of Death and Sleep conduct a continent-wide prayer ritual on this day.

As followers of the lord of death, they are among the few who can suppress the rampaging undead during this time.

Louis's expression became a bit awkward.

He actually knew why.

Emperor Lao Deng wanted him to deal with the ghosts wandering on Central Street, but he refused.

The affair with Rogen made him view some of the emperor's maneuvers unfavorably.

Or rather, Louis respected the emperor's self-sacrifice.

But he refused to become someone like the emperor.

If he were the emperor, he would have immediately organized everyone in Ense after barricading the gate.

Next, he would have announced to the whole world, sending people over quickly to help him block the entrance.

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