Chapter 197: After Death Part 5

“Bleeeghhh!”

After enduring torment disguised as training, I was finally able to vomit everything inside me.

I was about to gain weight just lying in the hospital room and stuffing my face, but thanks to Olga Hermod, I might actually succeed in dieting.

“Well done. Thanks to you, we caught her. I knew she’d show up if we kept you close, Johan.”

“Ugh! Let me go!”

While I was busy throwing up for a bit, Olga Hermod had grabbed Yuna by the scruff of her neck.

I had no idea where that girl popped out from again or how she got caught this time.

But still…

“Ah, right… then may I leave now?”

“Go ahead.”

Finally, I could escape this hellish space.

“Take care. Yuna, you too. Good job. Next time, don’t run away, and study properly, okay?”

“Johan! Are you abandoning me?!”

“Why do you make it sound like that? I’m doing this for your own good.”

Seriously.

Being taught by the Master of the Tower is not something just anyone can experience.

She should treasure this opportunity.

***

Olga Hermod’s lessons didn’t come with physical exhaustion, but they certainly brought a heavy dose of mental fatigue.

That’s because I’d been immersed exclusively in illusion magic, with everything else stripped away.

My head’s pounding.

“Phew…”

On top of that, I had more to think about now.

What lies at the end of illusion magic?

To be honest, something that far out of reach… I have no way of knowing.

But one thing I’m certain of is this:

The magic Alice left behind must be incredibly close to that ultimate end.

Alice’s overwhelming talent. So extraordinary that even the Great Sage was amazed.

What exactly was her awakened ability?

Why did she try to show me that magic in her final moments?

What was she planning to do?

The more I come to understand illusion magic, the deeper the questions become.

“Alice…”

What were you really trying to tell me?

“That’s quite sudden. For you to say my name.”

“Ah, shit. You scared me. What is it?”

“I was more startled, actually.”

“I wasn’t calling you, you know?”

“Ah, you meant someone else. The timing was just too perfect, it threw me off.”

“Ugh…”

Why did this girl show up again?

No….well, I guess it makes sense, since we took care of Lemegeton.

“Well done.”

“Yeah.”

Still, she’s even giving me compliments this time. That’s new.

“There are three variables left now.”

“Hold on, why are you telling me that? You’re making it sound like I have to take care of the rest, too.”

“At this point…”

“What do you mean ‘at this point’, you bastard? Don’t drag me in any further.”

“Of course. Why would I go out of my way when you’ll get involved on your own anyway?”

“Wow. Just throw curses at me, why don’t you.”

“Am I allowed to?”

“Hell no.”

I walked alongside the Oracle through the streets. She seemed like she had something to say, so I told her we could talk as we walked.

“Through the death of the Judge, all 72 demons that were bound to her have now returned to the cycle of reincarnation.”

“So that means…”

“It means the number of demons wandering this world has significantly decreased.”

“How many demons were there, anyway?”

“I don’t know the details, but considering how often demon contractors tend to appear, there probably weren’t that many to begin with.”

“I see.”

“We purified demons ranked among the 72 in exchange for a single soul. In a way, that’s pretty cost-effective.”

“And that one person’s soul?”

“……”

Demons can’t return to the cycle of reincarnation because of the damage to their souls.

That’s why they make contracts to devour other souls and find a way back into the cycle.

In other words, if 72 demons have returned to the cycle, that means Tillis’s soul was torn to shreds.

You could dress it up as saving many lives through the sacrifice of one person, but…

“It was a sacrifice. No matter how grave her sins, I still think it’s cruel to erase her very existence.”

“So you still have some humanity left in you.”

“What do you even take me for…?”

The Oracle grumbled and glared at me. Maybe try acting like that more often.

“This is the kind of logic only the Emperor would like. I’m not a fan.”

“The Emperor, huh…”

Now that I think about it, Abraham had figured out Tillis’s true identity from the start.

If this was his plan all along… then “Emperor-like” really is the only way to describe it.

“Sir Black Knight Lanius survived again this time.”

“Oh right, that old man.”

“Death is harder for him than survival.”

I didn’t see him when I came to, so I assumed he’d died.

So that’s the Emperor’s right-hand man?

Or maybe…

“Sir Lanius’s special ability is regeneration. The only ones who could kill him are members of the imperial family.”

“That level of skill and that kind of ability? That’s terrifying.”

“Why terrifying? Don’t tell me you’re planning a coup?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then don’t say things that leave room for interpretation in the first place.”

It’s stressful.

“By now, the Emperor is probably in talks with the Great Sage.”

“Why are you telling me that?”

“Just saying. It’s good for you to know. No harm in being informed, right? You should be grateful for this kind of consideration.”

“That’s not what I’d call consideration.”

Does this girl really think I’m going to take care of the remaining terrorist groups too?

Dealing with Lemegeton this time was unavoidable.

Back in Eden, it’s not like I actually did anything significant. I just helped out a bit.

How am I supposed to face monsters like that? All I can really do is persuade and talk.

Kult was incomplete as a person, and Tillis was completely unaware of everything. That’s why I could try talking to them.

But the rest are different.

What’s left now are monsters that can’t be reasoned with from the start.

The Great Sage goes without saying, and the Scriptwriter….there’s just no talking to that one.

The Great Warrior? There’s probably no one more righteous than him.

My silver tongue won’t work on someone like that.

At best, the only thing I can do is encourage Ariel, who’s set to duel the Great Warrior.

“By the way… is that your dog?”

“Huh?”

I turned my head in the direction the Oracle was looking.

Mephistopheles was following behind us, trotting along with Mastema perched on his head.

That guy’s been showing up a lot lately.

Is it really okay for him to be walking around so openly?

“What are you doing…?”

I quietly called out to Mephistopheles so the Oracle wouldn’t notice.

“To others, I’ll just look like an ordinary dog. It’s fine.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Is it okay for you to show yourself like this?”

“Now that the lunatics are gone, I can move around freely.”

So now that Lemegeton and Tillis were gone, she didn’t feel the need to lay low anymore?

To begin with, even when she was around, she probably wasn’t much of a threat…

Maybe she just found it annoying to have Tillis and Lemegeton constantly around.

Well, if I imagined being surrounded by lunatics like Molech, I’d hate it too.

“That brute with nothing but power and no brains is finally…”

“Chirp! Chirp!”

“Ow! What the hell?! You stupid spirit! You dare attack me?!”

Mephistopheles had badmouthed Tillis in front of Mastema and got punished for it.

Even I had to admit he was in the wrong.

No matter how much of a villain Tillis may have been, to Mastema, she was like family.

He really should’ve chosen his words more carefully.

“Get down here, you coward!”

After pecking furiously at Mephistopheles, Mastema flew up to perch on the rooftop of a building.

All Mephistopheles could do now was stare up like a dog watching a chicken on the roof.

“Tsk.”

Mastema let out a cry that sounded exactly like a disapproving click of the tongue.

Even in that tiny bird form, I could clearly feel the disdain and disgust radiating from her.

“What a noisy dog. Why is he barking like that… If he’s yours, you really should’ve trained him better.”

“He’s not mine.”

“For someone who’s not yours, he sure follows you well.”

“Maybe he’s just a friendly dog.”

Ugh! My stress levels were through the roof!

Please, I just wanted them all to disappear from in front of me!

***

Leaving Mastema and Mephistopheles to fight it out, and parting ways with the Oracle as well, I finally arrived at my destination.

Yes, the Andvaranaut Merchant Guild.

“Johan Damus, isn’t it about time we had an honest conversation?”

“What are you talking about? Why do you have to drain people the moment you see them?”

“And draining people without even seeing their face makes more sense to you?”

Cattleya pushed me into a corner with an exhausted expression the moment we met.

Even though it’s been a while since I last saw her, she still looks just as perpetually tired as ever.

“I’m seriously starting to get suspicious, you know? Eden, the Under Chain, and now a demon contractor from Lemegeton. What kind of connections do you have, exactly? You’re surrounded by people far more dangerous than the ones I’ve built up through years of running a merchant guild.”

“Don’t be so dramatic. It’s not that serious.”

“A new Prophet and a demon contractor who’s rare even within Lemegeton?”

“Jeff and Melana are low-level. And isn’t your sister an executive of Ex Machina? Maybe you shouldn’t talk.”

“Ugh! My head…”

Eventually, Cattleya started swaying, clutching her forehead.

Headache or not, one thing was clear: Andvaranaut’s situation was getting more and more intense.

“Where are the kids?”

“I’ll write down the address; go check it out. I’ve gathered them all there.”

I couldn’t help but tilt my head as I looked at the address Cattleya gave me.

No wonder….it was a different place from where Jeff and Melana used to live. Much more secluded.

“Why’d you stash them away in such a remote spot?”

“And what, you think I should plant the World Tree where everyone can see it?”

“Ah, right.”

With everything going on, I’d completely forgotten about the World Tree.

I really need to figure out how to deal with that…

“For now, I’m keeping it because I have no choice, but you’d better find a solution soon. Unless you’re planning on dying a peaceful death with me, that is.”

“Yeah, I’d rather not.”

“Same. I’m not a fan of you either.”

What should I do with the World Tree?

It’s still just a sapling now, but it’s obvious it’ll grow big enough to be seen soon.

And now, finding a new location feels like…

“Ah.”

At that moment, a certain face came to mind. Though, honestly, it wasn’t a face I was eager to think about…

“I’ll ask someone I know first.”

The Oracle.

With her ability to cross between spaces, maybe she could help me find a suitable location.

“Is this person you know trustworthy?”

“I’m not sure about that.”

She seems like a good person, but the fact that she’s affiliated with the imperial family still nags at me.

Still, even if things go wrong, she’d probably at least make sure I keep my life.

She’s decent enough for that, I’d say.

“Oh, and by the way….do you still have the item I left with you?”

“Oh, that? Honestly, it’s a bit of a burden, but yeah, I still have it. Want me to bring it out now?”

“Sure, let’s do that. They say strike while the iron’s hot, so I might as well deal with it now.”

“Just curious….what exactly are you planning to do with it?”

“What do you mean? I’m going to return it to the family. Otherwise, I’d be cursed for sure.”

“Oh, thank goodness. I was worried you were going to use it in some bizarre ritual or something.”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

Wow. That was a firm answer.

“Well, as long as it’s not that, then fine.”

And so, I accepted Luda’s urn.

It was time to return it to her family.

***

When I arrived at the address Cattleya had given me, I saw some familiar faces.

“Looks like they’re doing alright.”

Dietrich and Jeff were chopping firewood in the front yard, while Helena stood nearby, blankly watching them.

“Oh, it’s been a while, doctor. Thanks to you, we’re doing well.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Cattleya hasn’t been making you do anything strange, has she?”

Dietrich, the first to spot me, greeted me with a smile.

For someone who’s become a wanted man, he seems to be living surprisingly cheerfully.

“Doctor, it feels like there are more people around you than before?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“I-I am a harmless creature, despite how I may look. So please, Prophet, don’t look at me like that.”

“Is that true?”

“Well, more than harmless, he’s just useless. You can ignore him.”

“Then I’ll do that.”

Mephistopheles flinched even though no one had said anything to him.

“This one… I don’t sense any malevolent energy. What is it?”

“A spirit.”

“A spirit! I’ve never seen one before! Are all spirits this cute?”

“Beats me. This is the only one I’ve ever met.”

“I’m cute too.”

“Please, just keep your mouth shut. You’re only halfway tolerable when you’re quiet.”

What in the world turned you into such a groveling mess?

Where did all your old presence go?

Did you leave it buried in the past?

“By the way… where’s Monia?”

“I’m right here, Johan Damus.”

Speak of the devil.

Monia stepped out of the house, trudging forward as she opened the door.

She didn’t look well.

“I told you to rest. Why do you look like that again?”

“Doctor, big sister Monia has trouble sleeping every night because of nightmares.”

“Pathetic, isn’t it?”

Helena spoke with concern, while Monia mocked her own condition.

“Well, I wouldn’t say pathetic. Anyway, I came to give you something…take it.”

“…What is it?”

“Open it.”

I handed Monia Luda’s urn and stepped back a little.

As soon as Monia unwrapped the bundle and saw the urn with Luda’s name on it, she froze, speechless.

“Better to leave her alone for a while.”

With that, I led the others out to the front yard.

Monia would need some time to process it. She’d have a lot on her mind.

Her sobs were so clear, they could be heard even from outside the house.

We stood silently in the yard, listening.

“Doctor.”

“Yeah?”

“Big sister Melana is still inside… what should we do?”

“…She’ll figure it out.”

Yeah, that house must feel like hell right now.