Chapter 243: His Holiness the Pope will always be healthy!

On December 1444st of the Imperial Calendar year 12, the New Year celebrations were finally about to begin.

After hundreds of years of silence, Autumn Dusk Island, which was occupied by the undead, finally welcomed the noisy atmosphere of celebration again.

The rubble on the ruins of the former ruins was cleared away, and the water voles living in the ditches were swept away by the citizens of the nearby neighborhoods.

Between the buildings of the Insula, colorful triangular flags fluttered in the cold wind, and the children pointed at the paper flags above their heads and laughed loudly.

All day long, there were citizens and villagers wandering around everywhere. From the afternoon, vendors selling goods and night watchmen maintaining order appeared in the official residence square in the center of the town.

In the evening, there are several important activities, the first of which is the octagon cage showdown after dinner.

When Horn said we should have a chance to fight, he really gave us a chance to fight. When the elders said we should fight, they really did fight.

There were three octagonal bare-knuckle fights, with six elders taking part in the fights themselves to decide the names of the official residence square, the theater, and the cathedral.

The reason why there is no need for voting is because the Senate implements the principle of absolute majority, which requires the consent of two-thirds of the people.

If literary struggle doesn't work, then physical struggle is the only option.

The second event was the dance party after the Octagon.

Regardless of social status, all young men and women who meet the age requirements can participate.

This is to solve the marriage issue of young men and women in the Papal States.

The third activity was the New Year’s Eve countdown after the dance party.

The big bell developed by Hemodin will ring in the New Year to celebrate their passing through another difficult year.

To this end, Horn issued a special notice to extend the curfew on December 12 and January 31 to one o'clock the next day.

"But I don't understand one thing." Mitternich, who was following Horn, asked as if questioning, "You are in a time of shortage of supplies. What's the point of making this kind of thing?"

"Life needs a sense of ritual." Looking back, seeing that Mitternich didn't understand, Horn smiled and said, "Throughout the ages, people have always been confused about how to shape their sense of identity with the group."

“Do you know how to shape it?”

"I think it is shaped in political rituals and shared memories." As the shoppers moved forward, Horn's mouth curled up, looking at the men, women, and children bargaining.

“It is actually difficult for people to understand and trust each other, and shared memories are the key to distinguishing you from me.

If you and I go to the same clown show on the same day every year, but he doesn't, then we definitely have more common language and sense of identity than he does.

This sounds ridiculous, but it is often the case. The various festivals and collective activities in our daily lives are probably born for this purpose. "

Jeanne added: "Another point is that they have suffered too much hardship and grief this year, and we need to vent their suppressed emotions."

Mithril thought for a moment, then asked, "Wouldn't happiness make people forget their hatred? Wouldn't it make them weak in the face of the church?"

"On the day when people should be reunited, one or more relatives and friends are missing. They will only remember the hatred more firmly." Horn stood in front of a villager's cheese stall and shamelessly tasted three large bites of cheese before buying it. "Besides, they want to overthrow the church not just for their own hatred."

"Will you host all these activities in the evening?"

"I might show up at the opening ceremony of the Octagon fight, and the rest will be arranged by Madeleine, Armand and others."

Horn took a stick he had just picked from the bushes and ate the cheese in two or three bites.

The group walked out of the official residence square and came to a street wide enough for four carriages to run side by side.

"After the opening ceremony, I will go to the workshop area and the barracks to visit the soldiers and craftsmen. I will be back during the countdown."

After leaving these words, Horn mounted his horse and headed towards the industrial area.

From afternoon to nightfall was almost a blink of an eye, and night fell silently.

As food was still in short supply, every ten households only had eggs and butter added to their meals, but it still left people wanting more as they hadn't tasted meat for a long time.

Clusters of torches were lit up, and half the sky was illuminated by the melodious music of the flutist. Citizens of the Papal States from all blocks walked out of their Insula apartments and headed towards the theater.

When Gaskul and his wife and children approached the theater, there were crowds of people everywhere.

Some people who were not interested in the octagonal cage fight came to the official residence square in advance. They carved dice out of bones, took out the few dinars they had, and started shouting loudly.

The flutist and lutenist were rehearsing intensely on the wooden stage, and melodious music came out from the instruments.

Standing in front of the official residence square, amid the noisy voices, Gaskur smelled a hint of barbecue and honey.

He swallowed his saliva, but thinking of the high price of meat, he still dragged his wife and children to the theater.

Before the octagonal cage showdown, local citizens rehearsed their own programs. According to Horn's requirements, each hundred-household area had to come up with a program.

Before the competition begins, six elders will act as judges and score the programs. The hundred-household district with the highest score will receive a red flag that symbolizes honor.

After scoring, the six judges will personally perform free fighting.

At this time, based on the previous ratings, the citizens and villagers definitely had some tendency to support or oppose the elders.

This is the only way to make the show more effective.

A large part of the reason many people come to the theater is to support the programs in their own district.

That’s what the Gaskul family came for.

It’s just that I came a little late today, so I guess I won’t be able to get a good seat.

Walking into the semicircular theater, Gaskul carefully selected and finally found a suitable seat in the sixth row.

Slapping away his son Dormammu's hand that was curiously tapping on the bronze urn, Gaskur changed into a comfortable posture and looked towards the center of the stage.

"Good evening, fellow believers, Sinner Horn, your Pope sends you warm greetings."

"A hero to the people of Qianhe Valley!"

"We, the people of Qianhe Valley, have our own Chosen Pope!"

"Your Holiness will always be in good health!"

"There is no two suns in the sky. Your Majesty is the eternal sun in my heart!"

As soon as Horn finished speaking, the believers stood up in unison or raised their hands and shouted at him.

They clapped wildly and waved their hats in greeting.

All the enthusiastic eyes were focused on Horn, because they knew that the man before them would lead them to overthrow the church and make them redeem all their injustices and grievances.

Just as he had once cut off the Duke's head.

With his hands pressed together, Horn felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He looked around at the expectant audience:
“This year is 1444, a year of hardship. I started my army from the Gulag and went through countless hardships before finally reaching Fort Jeanne.

I thought that Duke Kush of Jeanne d'Arc was someone who could be entrusted with the Thousand Valley, but I was wrong, he was also a devil.

Archbishop Barniforth is a devil, Duke Darnay of Kush is a devil, and the high and mighty Archbishop Constance is a devil.

Their power is too great, we have to hide here.

They have locked us down, thinking we will have a miserable New Year's Eve, but I say no.

Under the shining light of the Holy Father, even if they deliberately want to limit our joy, we will not let them succeed.

We want to prove that as long as we unite, we can not only obtain happiness and glory, but also overturn their castles and break their scepters!

Today we are celebrating here to celebrate that our people have finally awakened. The coming year will be a painful year for the demons, because we are about to arrive!
Enjoy yourself, Myrcella's lambs! Myrcella bless you!"

(End of this chapter)