I Became the Progenitor Vampire Chapter 190

Chapter 190: Chapter 191: Funeral of a Hero, Carrying the Coffin

“School?” Harrison paused briefly, then shook his head.

“Clan Leader, schools are not a necessity for Dawn City at the moment.

There are many tasks more important than school. I have already asked the City Hall to initiate evening classes in the square, where civilians can learn to read twice a week.”

Lide shook his head.

“Schools are a necessity, and they must be established in the future.

Education is a massive undertaking, and Dawn City must acquire more cutting-edge talents in the future.

However, it does indeed need to be prioritized later.”

Educational empowerment is an unchanging truth–most of Dawn City's population are lower-class civilians, many of whom cannot even recognize their own names.

Only with a foundation of highly qualified people can more top talents emerge, a truth everyone must acknowledge.

A farmer who cannot read producing talents is certainly less likely than a level 15 Great Mage producing talents.

But for now, it is indeed too early to build schools since much work still needs to be done in various areas.

At the very least, people need to have enough food and clothing before they can think about education.

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“The war has ended, and Dawn City now needs to return to its developmental path.

We cannot allow a single war to halt our progress.”

A heavy look flashed through Lide's eyes.

“Tomorrow, we'll hold a funeral for the heroes–to honor all those who died for Dawn City with the utmost respect.”

As the topic shifted, Harrison's gaze dimmed slightly.

“Yes, Clan Leader.” He was the only second-generation Bloodline who hadn't participated in the battle; all others had died on the frontline while he could only await news from the rear.

At that moment, Harrison couldn't help but wonder if he had made a mistake. Was it really right not to study offensive magic?

If one day enemies reached Dawn City, would his role be limited to casting supportive magic from behind the Bloodline?

Harrison felt somewhat lost.

Lide, noticing Harrison's dimmed gaze, seemed to understand his thoughts and shook his head slightly, “Harrison, not everyone needs to charge into battle.

I am very confident about the management skills Dawn City has taught you; you are as valuable as three level 15 Great Mages here.”

The fact was indeed true; without Harrison handling the tedious political affairs continuously, Lide wouldn't have had the energy to do anything else.

Talents are diverse; they can be business prodigies, management experts, builders, or even blacksmiths forging weapons.

If a city only possesses powerful combat abilities, it is undoubtedly imbalanced–unless it is strong enough to disregard all enemies; otherwise, it is merely limping along.

Harrison nodded, and the dimness in his eyes gradually cleared, regaining their brightness.

“Clan Leader…I think I understand.”

Waging war always revolves around obtaining more living space, a theme that has never changed.

And the soldiers who fall in battle often bring the most heartache.

As the residents of Dawn City and the Holy Light Bloodline integrated, the initial fear and wariness had long vanished, replaced by a harmonious relationship.

But after this war, many residents found that the Bloodline members, who had been talking and laughing with them just days before, were now wrapped in white shrouds, encased in black coffins, forever leaving them.

Such sudden departures are often difficult to accept.

There are no wars without death.

With the efforts of the propaganda department,

The next day's evening,

As the dusk deepened, the residents of Dawn City spontaneously gathered in Dawn Square.

These residents were dressed in black or dark clothes, wearing a white flower on their chest, standing solemnly on the square, their gazes complex as they looked at the neatly arranged coffins.

Above each coffin, magic-rendered paintings depicted faces with smiles, now eternal.

In the center of the dozens of coffins lay a one-eyed giant, vast as a hill, resting peacefully.

A white cloth covered its head, and its body was covered with dense scars, indicating the giant's bravery.

Twenty members of the Bloodline continuously used magic to protect the body to prevent damage from high temperatures.

Beneath the twilight, pale golden light twinkled in the sky.

Below was a crowd filled with sorrow.

The atmosphere could easily infect others, and even those who did not personally know the deceased Bloodline members could not remain indifferent under such conditions.

“The City Lord of Kachar has arrived,”

A whisper ran through the crowd, and they turned their heads in unison.

Seeing him in a black mage robe, also adorned with a white flower, the crowd showed excited expressions.

“Good day, Your Excellency Kachar…”

“City Lord of Kachar…”

For a moment, even the air seemed less filled with sadness.

This was their king, the master of Dawn, beneath the great Divine, and their savior.

Lide, under the crowd's gaze, solemnly stepped on the cobblestone ground, not turning as he walked directly through the gaps between the coffins, step by step.

In black attire, wearing a conspicuous white flower, the crowd's gaze followed Lide as he moved forward.

The black coffins, the gigantic figure of the one-eyed giant, everything exuded a heavy air of mourning.

Lide's gaze swept over each smiling image on the coffins, and his heart grew heavy.

These were the undisputed heroes of Dawn City, their deeds destined to be recorded in the annals of the city's history.

Step-step–step-step–

The sound of stepping on the stone was very deep, step by step up to the high platform.

With a deep and piercing gaze, Lide looked down at the silent crowd below, taking a deep breath after feeling the heavy atmosphere in the air.

“My fellow citizens, I am your city lord, Kachar.”

A standard opening, but unlike before, Lide's tone was very deep and serious.

Betty had brought Isa to the gathering as well, and both girls were dressed in black robes tailored for them by the tailor shop today.

Upon seeing Lide, Isa's eyes immediately lit up, her small hand grasping Betty's tightly.

And Betty, the Northern Land Valkyrie, looked around with curiosity. Although she had a favorable impression of this city, having seen death often, she did not feel much sadness towards it.

People from the Northern, never fearing death, especially not the warriors dying on the battlefield, which was an honor.

What interested her was that these commoners were so saddened by the sacrifice of vampires.

This was unimaginable anywhere else.

“Today, we are to hold a grand funeral for our heroes,”

“The Holy Light Bloodline are the protectors of Dawn City, the guardians of every resident.”

“Each member of the Holy Light Bloodline peacefully lying in their coffins has sacrificed for Dawn City.”

“They are heroes, undoubtedly heroes, heroes that every resident of Dawn City should hold in reverence.”

Lide's tone was filled with sorrow.

“No one wishes to give up their life, yet for the sake of family and friends left behind, for the land beneath their feet, for the lovers in their arms.”

“Every member of the Holy Light Bloodline stood unwaveringly, sacrificing their lives for the prosperous future of Dawn City.”

“We are all beneficiaries,”

“Today, we gather here to mourn these heroes who sacrificed themselves for Dawn City, this honor belongs to them!”

Lide's voice had an irresistible force of incitement, increasingly vehement.

“As the Patriarch of the Holy Light Bloodline and the City Lord of Dawn City, I swear to my people,”

“From now on, any resident who sacrifices themselves for Dawn City, whether commoners or the Holy Light Bloodline, shall be entitled to be buried in the Heroic Cemetery and will be eulogized by all of Dawn City.”

“To commemorate these heroes who died for Dawn City, I will erect the Dawn Heroes Memorial in the city,”

“Every hero who gave their life for Dawn City must be remembered!”

These words stirred the crowd below, everyone who sacrificed for Dawn City receiving such an honor was almost beyond belief.

Who wouldn't want to be celebrated and revered after their death? The commoners were too insignificant in the past, insignificant to the point that no one cared about them, but now they felt recognized and valued once more.

And the Security Team and other City Hall employees were extremely excited, feeling a sense of purpose in the words of the City Lord of Kachar.

The people who contributed to Dawn City shall not be forgotten.

“Long live Lord Kachar!”

“Long live the City Lord of Kachar!”

As the commoners shouted loudly, the sorrowful atmosphere diminished significantly.

Watching the handsome figure on the platform, numerous residents felt genuinely grateful in their hearts.

Lide took a deep look at the crowd; the sacrifice of heroes was a sad affair, but it could also transform this sadness into a unifying and uplifting occasion.

Once the crowd quieted down, he continued.

“I hope every resident remembers this day.”

“To commemorate the fallen heroes, I've decided to declare their day of sacrifice–May 10th–as Hero Memorial Day.”

“Every May 10th, we shall hold a remembrance ceremony for the passed heroes.”

Lide paused, looking at the eager crowd below.

He spoke loudly.

“Now, to proceed with the hero's funeral,”

“Offer flowers,”

At that moment, outside the square on the streets, the Holy Divine Priest, Nero, clad in a pure white priest's robe, followed by twenty nuns holding pristine white flowers, stepped forward.

Nero's eyes, glowing with a faint golden light, held indescribable dignity and sanctity, causing the surrounding crowd to unconsciously adopt a solemn expression.

No one dared to profane the Divine dignity.

Step by step.

The nuns behind her quietly chanted hymns, filling the scene with a strong religious atmosphere.

Under everyone's gaze, Nero gently placed her flowers on the central coffin.

The white flowers contrasted sharply with the black coffin.

After offering the flowers, Nero bowed deeply to the coffin, then turned around and rejoined the nuns, chanting hymns softly.

The crowd began to step forward spontaneously, placing the white flowers they held or wore on the coffin.

The whole scene was solemn yet immensely sacred.

Everyone felt an inexplicable sense of honor in such a setting; being a part of it seemed like a matter of fortune for everyone.

For a full Sunshine Hour, the crowd finished offering flowers.

By then, the coffin was covered with a thick layer of fresh flowers.

Lide's tone remained heavy.

“Enter the Heroic Cemetery,”

Upon hearing the command, the nearby Security Team members stepped forward to carry the coffins.

And the enormous corpse of the One-eyed Giant was lifted by twenty Bloodline members using Mage's Hand.

The scene was striking.

Dozens of coffins, plus the body of a One-eyed Giant, began their procession down the streets of Dawn City.

All residents followed the funeral procession.

At this moment, the crowd was undivided by rank or familiarity; they all stood together.

They were all seeing off their heroes.

The fresh flowers from the coffins gradually fell onto the stone ground with each step forward, rendering the scene profoundly poignant.

A path paved with flowers formed along the streets of Dawn City as the coffins progressed, lending an unspeakable sanctity to the flowers that fell.

Lide led the funeral procession at the very front.

Among the crowd, countless gazes watched this spectacle, all filled with emotion.

Even Betty, the Northern Land Valkyrie, accustomed to countless life-and-death situations, could not help but wear a solemn expression upon seeing such a scene.

To receive such an honorable funeral was almost every warrior's dream; never had she seen such a grand funeral in the Northern lands, and the surprises in Dawn City grew increasingly profound for her.

She was also astounded by Lide's actions.

As a sovereign of a city, a king of a race, witnessing such dedication to fallen warriors was unimaginable.

In Human Country, when had high-flung nobles ever cared about the life and death of their soldiers?

Glancing at the poignant eyes in the crowd, she suddenly understood something.

The city's vibrancy and charm were not without reason.

Because they had such an exceptional City Lord, a king that even she envied.

Chapter end