Demon Hunter and His Cabin

Chapter 67: Chapter 067: Betty’s Ceremony

The settlement of the descendants of Faku deep in the swamp.

This was a large living area, its land area even more expansive than the center of Swamp Town, where the administrative institutions were originally intended to be set up.

But at that time, it encountered strong opposition from the locals.

Those living here were essentially slaves who had fled from Faku or were traded here.

Uniform black skin and extremely exclusive.

Having been here for over a day, Betty had taken Amanda around the settlement for a rough tour. Even with Betty’s company, the looks Amanda received from those around made her feel somewhat odd.

Their attitudes were still comparatively friendly and there was no abusive language, yet the scrutiny in their eyes made her uncomfortable.

Moreover, there were many rules here, preserving numerous strange customs, and there were even some areas that strictly forbade outsiders from approaching.

“Are we really going to soak in this place for the entire vacation?”

Amanda said while yawning out of boredom.

At first, she was truly interested in these special customs, but as time passed, it inevitably felt a bit dull.

“We had agreed to go for sunbathing.”

“And recently, it’s been raining continuously; I feel like I’m starting to mold.”

Betty, however, seemed much quieter.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be better after tonight,” she said.

“Tonight, at midnight, according to the ancient customs, I will hold my coming-of-age ceremony. You are my best friend, and I hope you can witness this moment.”

“And…”

“I also want to show you something else.”

“Some truths about this world.”

When this topic came up, Amanda immediately perked up, hopped off the bed, and barefooted, went to Betty’s side.

“Tell me, what is it exactly?”

“You really can keep a secret. I’ve been here for over a day and you’ve managed to keep it to yourself?”

Betty laughed.

“Seeing is believing; you’ll naturally believe once you see it,” she replied.

For some reason, although it had only been a fortnight, Amanda felt her once-familiar friend seemed a bit strange.

As the sun set and the persistent gloom lingered, it swiftly grew dark in the depths of the swamp.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Betty, the sun has set; you need to start getting ready.”

“We? Do I have to participate as well?” Amanda asked, puzzled.

The person smiled.

“As Betty’s friend, you are naturally our guest. On such an occasion, I hope you can dress accordingly.”

“Come with me, someone will help you get ready. Trust me, it’s going to be an extraordinary journey.”

The individual extended their only right hand to lead Amanda, walking her out of the room.

“Go ahead, Betty, they are waiting for you,” the individual said.

The one-armed old woman took Amanda to a nearby hut, where inside, several people were already waiting for her.

“We believe in the ancient gods and consider the transition of night into day to be the most sacred moment. At this time, our people will experience a rebirth.”

“A second birth, different from the original birth!” the one-armed old woman explained to Amanda.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Although Amanda didn’t really like the environment, she respected other people’s beliefs and didn’t want to make her friend uncomfortable at this critical moment.

Someone stepped forward to Amanda’s hair, deftly knotting with her hands, and soon a complex hairstyle emerged.

“Put this on.”

A feather crown, made from the feathers of various birds, vivid in color and arranged in a specific combination, was handed to her. Although it was woven from feathers alone, it looked incredibly luxurious.

Soon, Amanda was adorned with ornate silverware and bone ornaments around her neck, wrists, and ankles, and donned vine clothing, instantly adding an air of mystery to her.

Having done all this, the people in the room quietly withdrew.

In the dimly lit hut, only a few candles around Amanda flickered, casting dancing shadows on her face.

“Dear guest, please wait patiently.”

In the dim candlelight, the elderly woman’s originally kind face now seemed somewhat fierce.

Having said that, she pushed the door open and left the room.

Amanda, on her own, waited bored for a very long time until she began to grow impatient, that was when the door opened again.

This time, everyone was dressed in ancient attire, and the elderly woman led Amanda past the residential area and into the depths of the forest.

By this point, the night had fallen completely, and the forest in the darkness appeared terrifying and gloomy. Although she was not alone, Amanda still felt a chill in her heart.

Just as she was contemplating turning back, Betty’s voice came from not far away.

“Amanda, I’m here.”

Betty’s adornments were similar to Amanda’s, at first glance the colors complemented each other, creating a harmonious look, except her face was painted with many strange patterns which made Amanda momentarily unable to recognize her.

“Your family has quite a lot of rules.”

Amanda complained quietly, “Had I known it was like this, I would never have come.”

“I don’t like it either, but tradition is tradition,” Betty also seemed a bit helpless.

Amanda took a couple of deep breaths, “What’s that stuff on your face? It smells weird.”

“Some berries, twigs, and even the fresh blood of beasts…”

“Good heavens, why would you paint such things?”

“Stay away from me…” Amanda joked.

The walk ended up taking almost an hour.

The forest was dense and visibility was low. Amanda had long since lost her sense of direction, wandering aimlessly until she was brought to who knows where.

Only when they had completely passed through the woods did their surroundings suddenly clear.

On the open ground in the distance, there stood several strange statues carved out of various types of wood, and in the center was a tall building piled with stones, surrounded by a crowd of people. No lamps were lit, only dozens of torches crackled in the night wind.

“We’ve arrived.”

Betty’s smile faded, and her expression became serious.

She stepped forward briskly, raised her hands above her head in a strange gesture, then knelt down, her forehead touching the ground.

“My dear child, are you ready to embrace the Gods?”

The leader was a middle-aged woman with a head full of white hair. Besides her hair, her skin and figure were well preserved, and she bore a resemblance to Betty.

“I am willing to offer everything, my mother!”

Thump!

The middle-aged woman tapped her wooden staff, and the sound, though not loud, echoed throughout the area, “The initiation ceremony begins!”

One after another, the surrounding crowd sprang into action, performing a series of complex rituals that left Amanda dazzled. Time ticked by, and soon midnight was near.

Only then did the initiation rituals finally conclude.

Just when Amanda thought everything was over, the leading middle-aged woman raised her staff again, and this time everyone simultaneously knelt to the ground.

“The initiation ceremony is over.”

“The sacrifice ceremony begins!”

A sudden dread surged in Amanda’s heart.