Chapter 219: Monument

The lord of the North and master of Stunheim, Ron Camilo, sat in his office, frowning.

“Haah… Another year, and the petitions are piling up.”

A mountain of petitions lay stacked atop his desk.

It hadn’t been like this when the previous head of the family was in charge.

So then, was it because Camilo was lacking compared to his predecessor that things had come to this?

Not necessarily.

He didn’t possess the family’s seal. The symbol that represented the house.

In other words, he was missing the intangible asset of trust.

Naturally, many of the business dealings once tied to House Ron had been severed, and countless people had lost their jobs.

To make matters worse, a food shortage had recently begun, plunging the citizens into hardship.

I have to somehow restore the trust that’s been broken at this upcoming banquet.

If that were an easy task, he wouldn’t still be struggling like this.

To think all of this had come about because the seal had gone missing.

Father…

Unconsciously, his gaze shifted toward the portrait of his father hanging in the office.

He knew he shouldn’t feel this way, but he couldn’t help but resent his late father.

What on earth had happened to him?

They say the dead tell no tales.

In the painting, his father simply stared down at the office with a solemn expression.

“Haah…”

“Master.”

“Hmm?”

Just then, one of the staff knocked on the door.

“What is it?”

“The White Whale Mercenary Corps is planning to move ahead of the originally scheduled date.”

“I thought I left everything related to that matter with Kyler. Was there another report?”

“No. There wasn’t.”

“Then it’s fine. I’m sure Kyler will handle it well.”

He had been a clever younger brother since childhood, after all.

After her father passed away, she had voluntarily stepped down from her position as head of the family, worried for the house.

In fact, she had even felt it might be for the better.

Fine then. If the dead cannot speak… I’ll just make them speak.

Once again, he looked at his father’s portrait.

I’ll be seeing you soon, Father.

***

“Hmm. Well, for our part, we’re grateful you’ve taken the initiative. But is there a particular reason for moving so suddenly?”

To Camilo’s question, Jun responded without much hesitation.

“There’s just a bit of work piling up. The banquet, in particular, needs attention.”

“Hmm…?”

At that, Kyler looked at Jun with a puzzled expression.

Because when the banquet had first been brought up, Jun hadn’t seemed all that interested.

Did he have a change of heart in the meantime?

Not that it was a bad thing.

By now, the White Whale Mercenary Corps’ fame had spread throughout the entire empire, and the guests from the west who would be attending the banquet were surely aware of them.

If Jun were to grace that occasion, it would undoubtedly restore the family’s prestige.

He accepted it, thinking: “Why not? A good thing is a good thing.”

“We’ll be arriving soon.”

“It’s not that far, I see. And there aren’t any wyverns in sight.”

“We had good weather to thank for that.”

Indeed, the weather today was exceptionally clear.

Eventually, they arrived at the cave.

“This is recent information, but according to all the local herbalists in the area, none of them have ever seen a cave like this before.”

“Are you saying it just appeared, as if it fell from the sky?”

“Exactly. At first, I thought it might’ve been a landslide. Like snow or earth sliding away to reveal an entrance we hadn’t noticed before. But…do you see this?”

Kyler pointed to the cave’s entrance and its surrounding boundary.

“It’s unnatural, right? The opening is cleanly cut.”

“You’re right. The edges are sharper than what even a skilled craftsman could achieve.”

“I’m thinking it might be a case of spatial displacement. The space itself was relocated here.”

“Do you believe there was some kind of trigger?”

After his conversation with the Reincarnator, Jun had formed a hypothesis.

The disaster he saw in Maya’s dream. Could it have started with the appearance of this cave?

If that were the case, then the next disaster was likely to begin here, in Stunheim.

“As of now, we can’t say anything for sure. We’ve been gathering information related to the God of Death for years, and so many things have happened in that time.”

It would be nearly impossible to single out just one of them.

Still, it was too much to dismiss as a mere coincidence.

“Whatever it is, we’d better be careful… Ah, we’re here. Do you see it?”

“Yes. It looks exactly like it did in the photo.”

“Alright. Take a look then.”

“Understood. Maya, let’s go in.”

“Yes.”

Outside, Aiden kept watch while Eleanor focused her senses, checking for any nearby spirits that might feel out of place.

[Leader.]

[What is it?]

[I can’t see it clearly… but I’m sensing some sort of spiritual flow from that monument.]

[Really? That lines up with what Kyler’s team found. Maya, what do you think?]

[I see it too. But it seems to be asleep.]

[Ah, so that’s why it looks so faint?]

[No. It’s a strange thing to say, but… it feels like a dead spirit.]

Spirits are formed from the dead. So what could a “dead spirit” even mean?

But Eleanor immediately understood what Maya meant.

[The soul core isn’t visible, is it?]

[That’s right.]

[Hmm… So it’s like the soul core has disappeared entirely?]

At Jun’s question, both Maya and Eleanor shook their heads.

[If the soul core disappears, the spirit vanishes too. I think its consciousness has been deeply sealed.]

[Yes, that’s right.]

[Then it’s like it’s fallen into a kind of slumber. Hold on.]

Naturally, Jun’s eyes turned to the hand that wore Illusia.

Illusia. What do you think? Can you make contact with that spirit?

– I’ll… give it a try… But… lately… you’re working me… too hard…

I’m sorry. Just tell me if there’s anything you want. I’ll get it for you if I can.

– Okay…

Though Illusia was under contract with Jun, what it was doing now had nothing to do with that agreement.

Protecting Maya from nightmares or connecting Jun to the Reincarnator, like before—those were all things made possible only because of Illusia’s goodwill.

What would a spirit even like…?

Should he go find and give it an elemental stone?

But… did a dream-elemental stone even exist?

Even Jun, a veteran player, had never heard of such an item.

He was lost in thought when—

– Master… I’ve done it… But… it’s not… safe…

What do you mean?

– It’s a forcibly… slumbering spirit… The one who commands that power… could interfere…

You mean the God of Death could affect me?

– Yes…

Can you extract it before that happens?

– I can…

With Illusia confirming it was safe, Jun thought back on the request.

The writing on the monument I saw in the dream. I couldn’t fully translate it because it had beastkin language mixed in, but from the bits of ancient script I could understand… it was full of words related to sealing.

Jun quietly came to a conclusion. It was most likely about releasing the slumbering spirit.

But since I can’t be sure, I’ll have to confront that ancient spirit myself.

Kyler’s request was to translate the language on the monument.

But unfortunately, Jun had no real knowledge of how to decipher it.

Well…technically, he did…

Damn it. Why does this have to be so difficult and complicated?

The problem was that the knowledge came from his previous life. Even after reaching the Sixth Circle, he still hadn’t fully inherited his past-life memories.

If he tried to work with that hazy knowledge like trying to grasp at fog and translated the script by the book…

It could take at least six months. Maybe even a year.

With a major disaster looming, there was no way he could afford to spend that much time.

– I’m ready now…

Alright. Send me in.

And with that, Jun activated his spell.

[Mental Type: Marionette Line]

A violet thread, now imbued with the power of dreams, drifted gently and made contact with the monument.

At that moment, Jun’s consciousness was drawn deep within, following the guidance of the dream.

No matter how many times I do this, I just can’t get used to it.

Temporarily separating from his physical body and falling into the consciousness of a completely different being—

It was far from a pleasant experience.

He was reflecting on that feeling when—

This place is…

A forest, black and dead, shrouded in mist.

Every tree had lost its light and hung its head low, and the ground itself was black, as if lifeless.

Trickle…

Somewhere nearby, the sound of flowing water could be heard.

This feels like something out of a myth… like the underworld.

If that were the case, then where was the ancient spirit?

Jun looked around, and soon, he spotted the silhouette of a person.

Next to a dead tree, someone was kneeling….completely still, without the slightest movement.

Is that it?

As he approached, the figure finally stirred in response.

“Death… repetition… eternity…”

Was this spirit the beastkin Jun had seen in Maya’s dream?

Its fur had all fallen out, and between the dry rotting patches of skin, a few long strands remained here and there.

“Can we even communicate?”

The spirit had such a grotesque form that a weaker person might faint just from looking at it, yet it stared directly at Jun with eyeless sockets.

The hollow, pitch-black voids where eyes should’ve been radiated nothing but emptiness.

Still, Jun decided to ask something, anything.

“Hey. I’ve got a question. That monument you’re bound to…what’s the name of the text written on it?”

“Death… does not disappear… under new life… it wishes to dwell…”

“That’s what it means?”

“Sealing… a way… to undo it…”

Surprisingly, Jun was able to hold a basic conversation with the ancient spirit.

His curiosity was piqued, so he continued.

“What kind of world did your people live in?”

“Death… repetition… eternity…”

“What’s your name?”

“Death… repetition… eternity…”

“Where did you live?”

“Death… repetition… eternity…”

“Tch…”

However, to every other question, it merely repeated the same muttering as before.

Could it be that the spirit could only converse on topics related to the seal?

Well, whatever.

It was just a small curiosity anyway. This wasn’t his original goal.

Jun continued with his questions.

“Then, is it possible to break the seal on you right now?”

“Impossible… Death… must come… only then… possible…”

“Tch. So it’s only possible once the Great Calamity begins.”

That wasn’t exactly good news.

He’d wondered if turning the monument to ash in advance might prevent the calamity altogether.

“Destruction… is possible… but… divinity… required…”

“Divinity? Are you talking about holy power?”

Could it be destroyed using Eleanor’s power?

“In this world… the power of gods… is not… a real force…”

“Tch. What’s that supposed to mean now?”

Was it saying Eleanor’s divine power wouldn’t work?

Taking it that way, Jun continued questioning.

“The pocket watch that falls after your seal is broken. What’s it for?”

“Do you… need it…?”

“Huh?”

“Take… it…”

Clunk.

A pocket watch, the same one Jun had seen in Maya’s dream, dropped onto the black ground.

What the…?

Was it really something you could get just by asking?

No, more importantly, could he even take it out of here?

Just as that thought crossed his mind—

“Knowing… death… does not… stop it… Face… your death…”

“Hmm. Well, you gave it to me, so… I’ll take it, I guess?”

Still keeping a wary eye on the ancient spirit, who remained seated with its knees drawn in, Jun picked up the pocket watch that had fallen to the ground.

It’s definitely the same one I saw in Maya’s dream. The magic pattern I saw back then… yeah, this is it.

Strangely, the watch only displayed the section from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock.

There were no second or minute hands. Only a single hour hand pointing toward 11 o’clock.

I think I get what this is for. It probably marks the time when the Great Calamity arrives.

The strongest magical power could be felt from the 12 o’clock position.

Most likely, when the hour hand reached 12, the calamity would begin.

This is huge. Can I really take it out with me?

This was no small discovery.

In theory, just knowing about the monument cave and having this pocket watch would allow him to prepare for the calamity perfectly.

Of course, finding the monument cave in this vast empire won’t be easy.

Still, having the pocket watch alone made responding far easier.

Right now, the watch is pointing at 11 o’clock. So when it hits 12, the calamity starts.

Either way, it was a meaningful result.

Just as he stood up, satisfied with what he’d gained—

– Master…!

“Ghk…!”

Overwhelmed by an oppressive presence pressing down on his head, Jun nearly dropped to his knees.

He instinctively bit his lip to stay conscious.

“Death… is drawing near… He… is coming…”

Before he realized it, the beastkin spirit was also staring up at the sky.

Following its gaze, Jun looked up as well.

And there, he saw it…black eyes.

As if they contained death itself, the moment Jun met that gaze, he felt a powerful force trying to corrupt his mind.

[Deciphering the spell…]

[Deciphering complete.]

[The influence of the spell, ‘Odyssey of the Lazy Pilgrim’, is reduced by 50 percent.]