Chapter 90

After being dismissed by Stannis, I return home and start reading the books I got from the Goblins. I get many books from Japan, and they are mostly ritual books. Most of them are not dark and only ask for protection from the divine.

I know one of the books is about a ritual asking for a blessing on the sea. While I had Dojigiri Yasutsuna, I did not need to worry about the sea, but the others still needed it. I take the book about the ritual of sea fearing and start to read them.

Like any ritual book, the first dozen pages are about the origin of the ritual and what it does. After reaching the 27th page, I can see how to use this ritual step-by-step. I copy them into my notebook and study them.

I read them, study them and practice the ritual. After three hours of practice, I remember all the steps, and now it is time to gather the material for the ritual.

This ritual asks for the blessing of both Susanoo and Amaterasu. I must ask Susanoo, the God of the Sea and Storm, for his mercy and blessing to voyage across his domain. In the second part of the ritual, I need to ask for a blessing from Amaterasu to ensure her brother will accept my request, or if he rejects us, she can make sure the storm is not too long.

The preparation for this ritual is a bonfire and a LOT of alcohol. The higher the quality of the alcohol, the higher the chance of his blessing. Not only that, but the ritual must also be big and wild, like the storm. In other words, Susanoo wants us to have a massive party in his name and drink a lot of alcohol.

I know that the people of Dragonstone will worship him gladly—the people in this place like to party.

I need some help with this task. I cannot use my alcohol supply in this ritual. Not only will it not be enough, but I won't let others drink all my good stuff. I'm not a drinker, but I like to drink good alcohol now and then.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

|3rd POV|

When a merchant from King's Landing arrives in Dragonstone, they get confused. They ask the people of Dragonstone, and their only answer is that a festival will happen on the northern dock. With curiosity on high, they decide to go to the northern dock.

When they arrive there, their eyes go as wide as a saucer. The dock has changed. They know what the northern dock looks like as they usually use this dock to go to Pentos or Braavos. However, what is in front of them differs entirely from what they remember.

There are many lanterns above them and the people's houses. It takes Jacob an entire night to make all those lanterns using his magic. He conjured them, and they will last until tomorrow morning.

The lantern line goes to the edge of the dock, where a wooden tower stands between the two biggest ships.

Inside the tower is Jacob, in his Shinto-Priest outfit, praying. As the book suggests, he has created a magic circle underneath the tower that lets him connect to the higher power. He is currently praying, asking for Susanoo's blessing.

Many people underneath the tower look at Jacob with high expectations. Among those people are Stannis and his wife, Selyse.

"How much longer does he need? It has been three hours."

"Please be patient, my lord. I have a feeling it is just a little bit longer."

And her words are proven true when the sky changes. The bright and clear sky now changes to dark. Large amounts of clouds create a whirlwind-like pattern above him. However, before the other can shout something, it disappears, and something appears above Jacob's head.

It was a symbol of a twin lightning bolt with a katana in the middle. This is Susanoo's symbol. He is the second child hence the twin lightning bolt, and the katana is his symbol of power.

However, it does not stop there. The same symbols appear on all ships parked in the dock area. People see their ship shine brightly for a few seconds before the same symbol appears on the ship's side.

While the people look at the ships in awe, Jacob gets up and loudly says.

"God Susanoo has blessed us! No storm shall appear in front of us! The sea will be our ally, and the wind will be our servant!"

The people shout and cheer at his declaration. After waiting for a few seconds, Jacob continues.

"However! He demands something in return!"

At that word, the entire city became silent. Some people already think for the worse, like sacrificing humans. However, their worry disappears in the following declaration.

"He demands music and alcohol! He demanded that we have the biggest party! Bring the alcohol and start the music!"

At his command, the bard hired a star to play party music, and the servant brought out the wine he bought. The people snap from their shock and start to cheer. Just like that, the people begin to dance and drink to their heart's content.

Not only wine but also hired many food vendors to make food for the guests. He gives them quite a lot of money so the food can keep flowing at this party.

It was a party worthy of the gods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lord Stannis asked me to follow him to the castle, where he told me to sit. I sit on the couch while he and his wife sit in front of me.

"Tell me honestly, Jacob. Tell me, is the party truly part of the ritual?"

I nod and look at him seriously.

"Yes. Susanoo, the God of the Sea, Storm, and Harvest, is a God that values party above all else. Of course, you do not need to have a party if you want to ask for his blessing. However, if you want to go to war, you must have a party in his name."

"Why?"

"To ensure your soldier has a great memory before going to the battlefield. In war, you can die easily, and he wants his followers to die peacefully, knowing that their last memory is a happy memory."

"I see."

Stannis nods and says.

"Also, he is a God of harvest?"

"Yes. If you want to ask for his blessing in your next harvest, you need to create a shrine in his name and offer wine or any alcohol for him. I have a book regarding an offering to the gods."

I take two books from my inventory and place them on the table. I blink a second when I see Lady Selyse quickly take them and hug them tightly.

"I shall spread this teaching, Jacob. You have my word."

I can only nod at her words. She is genuinely crazy, huh? She is the most devout follower of that Red God in the book, right?

"Anyway, I should tell you about Susanoo's domain first, as the three domains I mention are his main authority, and he still has a smaller authority. Lord Susanoo is the God of the Sea, Storm, Harvest, Fields, Marriage, and Love."

"I see. Very well. I shall spread his name alongside our lady, Amaterasu. Is there anything I should know, Jacob?"

"I will teach you later after this war because it is not good teaching the other gods' names before going to war. It will bring bad luck."

"Ah, my bad. Thank you for preventing me from bringing bad luck to this house."

"No problem."

After saying that, I look at Lord Stannis and say.

"Is there anything else, my lord?"

"Yes. You said that this ritual has a second stage?"

"Yes. The second stage is a ritual asking for Lady Amaterasu's blessing. This happened before we set sail. However, for this ritual, I need Lady Selyse's help."

When her name is mentioned, she quickly looks at me and says,

"What can I do for this ritual?"

"Here is the book regarding the ritual."

She quickly takes the book and reads it immediately.

"Is there anything else, my lord?"

"Will this be the same as today's ritual?"

"No, my lord. This ritual involves prayer and giving food to the people who soon go away. You can say that it will be a feast before we go to war. Because of this, I ask for help gathering other people who can provide food for the soldiers. Don't worry. I shall be the one paying them this time."

Stannis nods and says.

"I will gather the people."

"Thank you, my lord."

"Sometimes I wonder where you get that much money, Jacob."

"Hahahaha~ Magicians never reveal their secret, my lord."