Chapter 40: Sera No Longer Calm
As the sun set below the horizon, Hachiman arrived at Rusa's mansion as promised, bringing along one of the children.
A wealthy household's mansion is truly unlike ordinary homes—not only bigger in size and with more rooms, but the walls were covered in murals. Considering the era, Hachiman pinched his nose and evaluated them as "exquisite."
In later period costume dramas or historical films, the grandeur of banquets is usually extraordinary. If the production lacked funds, they'd at least dress well; if wealthy, they'd almost wish to shoot a fantasy epic.
But in reality, especially hosting a banquet at night, it's genuinely grueling for a modern person.
In an age where darkness rules as soon as night falls, the bigger the house and more rooms inside, the darker it gets. Even though Rusa lit several oil lamps extravagantly in the reception hall, it was still dim.
The food mainly consisted of wine, fruits, and meat. The wine and meat failed to capture Hachiman's interest; only the fruits tempted him.
And these fruits were genuinely delicious, carefully washed—Hachiman was certain they were far tastier and more nutritious than similar fruits in later times.
Rusa had not invited many guests, fewer than ten in total, mostly merchants, which fit the Sera society well, being commerce-based.
Aside from the merchants, there was a woman in her forties. Compared to the others, her attire was luxurious yet sober in color, appearing serious. She rarely smiled and was addressed by all as the High Priestess.
The Sera had no monarchy; their High Priestess and the temple built atop the island's highest point served as both the governing body and the highest authority.
Hachiman glanced a bit more than usual, then, guided by servants, took his seat. He sat beside Isiharu, with Pinaruti on the other side. The young beauty seemed curious about Hachiman and Isiharu arriving together, constantly glancing their way.
Once everyone was seated, the banquet began. Rusa introduced his daughter-in-law—the main purpose of the banquet: to welcome Pinaruti into Sera society.
After the introductions, everyone raised their glasses to welcome Pinaruti.
At this point, the banquet no longer concerned Pinaruti. As the host, Rusa began boasting about his own "great achievements."
In essence, he traveled widely, gained broad experiences, and was highly capable. Sera's wealth and status were due to his outstanding contributions. Despite his accomplishments, he still believed Sera was the best city in the world after visiting so many places.
Self-praise at home is hardly a problem.
But Isiharu, mischievous as ever, secretly mimicked his father's words to make his wife laugh—and succeeded.
"Did you go to the sacrifice today?" Pinaruti asked softly after laughing.
The Sera and Crete shared similar beliefs, though the Sera emphasized Poseidon more. A husband's first duty after returning home was to offer sacrifices to Poseidon, which Pinaruti found reasonable.
"Something happened at the altar today," Isiharu said. "Snakes came out of it, hot water gushed from the ground, and it felt like the entire island was splitting apart."
"You said the ground shook when you jumped over the bull," Pinaruti recalled. "You should discuss this with your father."
"Yes, I will."
The young couple then fell silent, quietly eating and drinking while watching Rusa boast.
Unexpectedly, whether Rusa had become overly proud or tipsy, he began teasing everyone about his son and the temple's priestess.
The male guests let out awkward "heh-heh" laughter; Pinaruti didn't know how to react, and Isiharu stormed off in anger.
Hachiman listened with amusement. Studying with the priestess while this unfolded—this story was interesting. Ancient times weren't so boring after all.
The King of the Earth's power was still liberating. Although Kuafu's simulation and Dijun's ten-day power hadn't yet shifted, once all three powers were free, Hachiman would be confident that no matter what Horus planned, he would remain invincible.
He could turn Horus' home turf into his own.
Hachiman planned: though Rusa's mansion was large, he could turn it into a place fortified by his powers. In simple terms, he would treat the house as a charm, enhancing it enough to withstand the Sera volcano's eruption. As long as Rusa and his family stocked enough water and food, kept fires controlled, and stayed put, they would be safe.
Also, he found the grapes delicious and planned to stock more.
After eating a few more, Hachiman felt full and decided to make a discreet exit.
Before he could speak, a sudden tremor burst from deep underground, rapidly approaching the surface.
He stood up; everyone stared in shock.
"Earthquake! Get out immediately." Hachiman ignored explanations, grabbing Pinaruti and heading to the door, then pulling Rusa along.
The two initially struggled instinctively, but there was no match for Hachiman's strength. He dragged them out effortlessly.
At that moment, the ground began to shake.
In front of the three, the exterior wall of a two-story building collapsed. Columns as thick as a person and stone blocks larger than a human head fell, crashing down.
Pinaruti screamed instinctively. Rusa tried to pull someone out of the way—but grabbed Hachiman instead. Hachiman remained unmoved, while Rusa slipped, landing hard on his backside.
The father-son duo's falling postures were remarkably similar—both had the same "flavor."
As for Hachiman, he didn't dodge.
Facing the falling wall, he slapped the largest column away, casually brushing aside the stones and debris.
Rusa and Pinaruti were dumbstruck.
Why did the Sera emphasize Poseidon? Because earthquakes wreaked havoc, toppling objects and crushing people.
If Hachiman had dodged stylishly, Rusa would have praised his skill—but this "slap a wall aside with a few swings" move exceeded comprehension. Even the so-called top warriors outside couldn't compare; only the mysterious priestesses might match such power.
But no priestess could walk normally amidst the ground's shaking.
Beneath the three, the ground remained stable. Around them, Sera citizens stumbled out of their houses, struggling to stand as the shaking sent objects and debris falling. Many were crushed, creating chaos—screams and cries filled the streets.
"What's wrong with you all?" Hachiman turned, seeing the two still frozen. "Go help people."
"Oh…" Rusa snapped out of it first, ignoring danger and running toward those in peril, shouting orders.
Pinaruti lagged behind a moment, glanced at Hachiman and Rusa, then clenched her teeth, lifted her skirt, and chased after him.
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