Chapter 824: The Knot (11)
The fact that Dorye’s body, preserved in Mugan, was an arrangement made for Kaiser Bajour.
Realizing this, Lennok stopped his hand, and Davi called out to him with a worried look.
“[…Master?]”
Lennok, who had been silent, ran a complex expression across his face and gazed at the inscription on the altar.
“I see…”
Thinking about it, it was strange.
Although he didn’t know much about the Pontiff, he wasn’t the type to obsess over a body once used and discarded.
No, didn’t the Pontiff in his memories seem to have little interest in Dorye’s existence to begin with?
He had simply dismissed the connection between Dorye and himself as coincidence, merely mocking Dorye’s longing and plight.
If such a Pontiff had stored the incarnated body in Mugan, it was clear it wasn’t for his own sake.
While facing the awakened Ascendant, he had missed the true purpose hidden behind it.
Woooong!!!
The magical formation intricately carved onto the altar began to glow with a vivid crimson light.
As if revealing the lives offered here, an infinitely transparent, crimson glow of fresh blood slowly extinguished the formation.
Lennok quietly murmured, watching the magical formation gradually lose its light and fade.
“Kaiser…”
How had he changed after the Black Consumer Project failed?
The man who vowed to uncover every failure in the world and find solutions, to a future where he participated in an offering ritual as a notary.
Lennok couldn’t yet imagine how many failures, frustrations, and corruptions had occurred.
At that time, the Kaiser he’d met in the sealed zone in the past was so strong that even Lennok was momentarily drawn to him.
The gap between the Kaiser who chose annihilation for Lennok’s sake and the records remaining here was so vast that it made him hesitate even to speculate.
“…”
No, this was ultimately just a past that only Lennok remembered.
The Kaiser Bajour who admitted his failures and handed over his Mind Imprint of reversing the heavens was nowhere to be found.
What was here was a record of Kaiser who, without ever meeting Lennok, failed the project and changed.
Did Seina Naydree know about this?
The transaction between the Pontiff and Kaiser concerning Dorye’s body. She must have known that its history remained here.
Perhaps the Priestess had transferred the High Priest’s authority to Lennok to inform him of this fact.
If so, then Alkaid isn’t just one person after all…
Thinking so, Lennok rummaged inside his pocket with a somber gaze.
Flutter!!
Papyrus Aureus, glowing with a subtle golden radiance.
If records of Kaiser remained here, would Ethan have left records in the Travelogue as well?
Fortunately, new records had appeared in the Travelogue, just as Lennok expected.
“[Memorial Tower, 19th Underground Level, Crematorium. The Papal See and the Court of Soul Pacification conducted a ritual to offer devotees.]”
“[Investigation of bloodstains and remains confirmed genetic information of 139 individuals.]”
“[I offered my own blood and flesh to the altar, but there was no reaction. The ritual is presumed to have concluded completely.]”
“There’s a limit to enjoying eccentricities…”
Lennok shook his head at the seemingly deranged record stating that someone had directly offered themselves to the altar.
There’s no way he wouldn’t know how dangerous the cult is, so he just went ahead and did such things without hesitation?
Like tasting and evaluating the Headrain River water, he must have been a bit twisted in his thinking to begin with.
After that, Lennok wandered around the crematorium, following the records that continued in the Travelogue.
This was because Ethan had apparently investigated this crematorium for quite a long time, as there were a considerable number of records left in the Travelogue.
“[The statues erected around the crematorium are not of Yorta’s culture or style, but Kundara’s.]”
“[Considering the timeframe, they appear to have been made even before the Central City was established.]”
Had the cult brought statues from Kundara and set them up here for their rituals?
However, the records Lennok wanted to confirm through the Travelogue were not these.
If Kaiser Bajour had observed the cult’s ritual in this place, Ethan would surely have found that out too.
He intended to confirm whether Ethan had left any inscriptions related to it in the Travelogue.
After that, Lennok quickly skimmed through the records Ethan had left while traveling through Yorta.
The peculiar eating habits of Myriad Ghost Ao Ro-shiku guarding the 10th underground level. Secrets such as the rare chronic illness afflicting the commander of the Thousand Ghost District Fortress.
Also, that movement between classes in Yorta wasn’t strict, and despite its seemingly complex customs, it was surprisingly easy to live in.
And the fact that, existing between life and death, miraculous reunions with family, friends, and lovers often occurred.
And also that Ethan himself was secretly pleased by this fact.
“…”
It was as if he was summarizing his journey in Yorta and leaving his final impressions.
The emotions he had thought and felt while exploring this city were all there.
“[The Myriad Ghosts’ Night Parade failed, but its fruits remain, upholding the city’s order.]”
“[It is an indispensable task for the city, yet at the same time, it is a constraint that prevents dead souls from leaving the mortal realm.]”
“[Whether it truly serves the deceased, I still do not know.]”
Groooowl!!
Following the direction indicated by the Travelogue’s inscriptions, Lennok found himself at the end of the ruins.
Beyond the gate, where the Headrain River overflowed, the dynamic current of the river’s scenery was visible at a glance.
The story about Kaiser that Ethan Bajour had left before departing this city.
“[Father said nothing, but I knew I would not meet his expectations.]”
“[This was because the heavenly mandate bestowed upon me was too meager compared to the future you envisioned.]”
“…”
Ethan Bajour’s final phrase summarizing his thoughts on Kaiser.
His circumstances, having clumsily inherited Kaiser’s talent, and how he accepted that fact.
Ethan’s true feelings were recorded there, in an infinitely calm and quiet script.
“[I bear no resentment. Father, too, with an unwanted nature, had to send away those he was with first.]”
“[I can also understand that this was the most important catalyst for starting the project.]”
“[However, in a situation where I could not inherit the project, there was only one thing I could do.]”
To release and annihilate the curse that bound his heavenly mandate in Mugan’s sanctuary, and to die and be resurrected with the magic of reversing the heavens.
Ethan Bajour had, quite literally, succeeded in the miracle of resurrecting his body by making his own death a catalyst.
“[I leave this Travelogue because it’s highly probable that I, reborn, will not be the same as before.]”
“[Just as you did, a person is bound to change the moment they challenge a feat that alters destiny.]”
“[After successfully resurrecting, will I, upon seeing this Travelogue, recognize that these are my own records?]”
“[To know that, I leave my journey in Yorta here.]”
The inscriptions of the Travelogue appearing on the papyrus ended there.
As if, with those final words, Ethan’s journey in Yorta had come to an end.
“…”
In the end, Ethan never once explained who he was throughout the entire recording of the Travelogue.
He had merely fragmentarily noted down his own impressions, without revealing or explaining himself.
This was likely because the Travelogue was an item prepared not for others, but for Ethan himself.
If he left this item for his new self, would the resurrected Ethan Bajour still be searching for this Travelogue?
Thinking so, Lennok took out a silver-glowing necklace from his pocket.
The seal bearing Faud Older’s name, given by Jordan. And Kaiser’s Memento, the only item Ethan had ever sought to acquire.
It was a type of artifact left by an Ascendant from Kundara, whose very name contained power.
Since he had summoned the Travelogue onto the papyrus using the necklace’s ability, now that he had read it all, he might be able to find another meaning.
Davi, perhaps understanding Lennok’s thoughts, looked at the papyrus from his shoulder and asked.
“[Did he leave the information Master wants there?]”
“As you can see from the Travelogue, Ethan Bajour is extremely obsessive about connections and items related to himself.”
Lennok replied, fidgeting with the seal.
“I don’t know what Ethan’s relationship with Faud Older was, but if he used an item he once connected with as a key, he’s not someone who changes it easily. Then, surely…”
Click!!
The moment he brought the necklace close, the Travelogue’s words began to writhe and move.
The ink forming the letters dissolved, transforming into a series of lines and images.
The instant Lennok realized it was drawing a massive map on the papyrus, he sharpened his senses.
Whoosh…!!
From the depths of the distant Headrain River, a faint vortex began to appear.
“…Wait.”
It was close enough to be visible to the naked eye at the same time it registered on Lennok’s mana sense.
Accurate measurement was difficult due to his poor condition, but the speed was terrifying enough to send shivers down Lennok’s spine.
Something was approaching him from the deep waters beneath the Headrain River.
The moment Lennok realized this, he immediately used ‘Blink’ to step aside.
A pale figure, having passed through the gate, transformed into a streak of light and plummeted directly into the center of the ruins.
Kwooong!!
The massive bedrock shook violently, causing scattered remains and ossuaries to tumble down.
Lennok, shielding his face with one hand, quickly drew up mana and adjusted his Obsidian Mask.
As Davi swiftly concealed herself, Lennok summoned magic scribes and cast his gaze around the ruins.
“Phew…!!”
A pristine white coat, soaked through with water. Long, flowing white hair.
A figure with a hunched back, kneeling on one knee, silently gazing down at the ruins.
Lennok’s gaze, sharply gleaming, intently observed the lean-figured man whose slender build couldn’t be concealed even by his oversized coat.
Despite traversing the deep sea at such speed and crashing down into the ruins, he was uninjured.
A physical ability user. And likely one with considerable tough bones, unsuited for his build.
The man slowly stood up, looked around, then buried his head and vomited everything in his stomach.
“Uweeegh.”
“…”
“I… I drank too much water… It’s salty…”
The man, who had mumbled in a somewhat vacant voice, suddenly whipped his head around.
The man, meeting Lennok’s gaze through his long, disheveled hair, finally seemed to perceive him and tilted his head.
“Oh? Who are you?”
“I think that’s my question.”
Lennok retorted with a cold tone.
“Did you swim naked through the Headrain River and crawl into the crematorium?”
“Crematorium? I thought the smell of corpses was a bit strong, but this is a crematorium?”
The man mumbled, as if curious.
“That’s strange. I was sure I’d come the right way. Wasn’t this Military Spirit City?”
“You…”
As expected, this man was not an insider of Yorta. He must be an outsider who came to the city from elsewhere.
But Lennok felt his gaze drawn first to the unique aura the man exuded.
A Will-thought twisted in a way alien to other mana users.
A presence so well-formed that it existed as an independent entity, though incomplete on its own.
Lennok had encountered a psychic similar to this before coming to Yorta.
“You’re a clone ability user. And a very powerful one.”
“…Hmm?”
“Functioning almost as a perfectly independent entity, establishing a firm ego, is that it?”
Lennok’s eyes, watching the man, sank coldly.
“Who are you? If you possess innate abilities of this level, are you a General from the Innate Ability Revelation Unit?”
“Innate Ability Revelation Unit? No, I’m Song-ha.”
“…”
“I heard that the Memorial Tower built in this city collapsed.”
Song-ha scratched his head nonchalantly as he explained, despite Lennok’s sharp interrogation.
It was hard to tell if he simply didn’t care about the surrounding momentum or atmosphere, or if he was just oblivious to begin with.
Song-ha, ignoring Lennok’s reaction, mumbled blankly as if recalling memories to himself.
“My strategists told me about this, so I came to check it out. There’s also something I want to find before the others arrive.”
Strategists and confirmation, huh. It’s disorganized and hard to understand, but it’s clear he knows about the tower’s collapse.
He must be a nimble organization, or a powerful figure belonging to its leadership, capable of quickly grasping and acting upon sensitive topics even within Yorta.
“What are you looking for?”
“Oh, you’ll help me look? But actually, I don’t really know.”
Song-ha turned to Lennok with a look of pleasant surprise, then mumbled vaguely as if fumbling through his memories.
“It’s like a log, not a notebook, but more like a record. Something someone left behind.”
“…”
“I heard it’s in the form of a scroll, and it’s likely to be submerged at the bottom of the river.”
As Lennok remained silent, Song-ha grumbled with a blank expression.
“I haven’t seen it myself, only heard descriptions, so it’s hard to find. That’s why I swam to where I felt a familiar Will-thought—”
At that moment, Song-ha abruptly stopped talking and stared intently at Lennok’s fingertips.
The worn papyrus, half-hidden between the folds of the shadow robe.
Song-ha, looking at the papyrus which was actively drawing a map and thus couldn’t be fully hidden, said.
“They said it looks exactly like what you’re holding.”
“…”
A quiet silence fell, with Lennok offering no reply.
Song-ha, silently staring at the papyrus clutched in Lennok’s hand, asked.
“Is that you?”
“And you?”
Lennok countered.
“Are you a General from Deadrise?”
“…Hmm.”
Song-ha, arms crossed, tapped the back of his hand as he pondered.
Lost in thought with a blank expression, he asked.
“Just asking, but… you’re not from our hometown, are you?”
“…”
“I see.”
Despite appearing vacant, he seemed to understand the answer with uncanny perception, as Song-ha nodded and dramatically threw open his coat.
A single greatsword hung from his slender waist. Although mostly concealed by his coat, its length was exceptionally long.
Clang!
Song-ha leisurely lowered his stance, placing one hand on the hilt, and looked up at Lennok.
His movements showed no threat, so slow they almost seemed languid.
But Lennok clearly perceived that from the moment Song-ha lowered his stance, his intuition was screaming alert.
“I don’t know how you knew, but as you said, I’m a clone ability user.”
Song-ha said, turning his waist and stroking his sword.
“I split my clones and use them in various parts of the corps, and I pay a great price to maintain them even over long distances.”
So, he was a superhuman powerful enough to swim the Headrain River, despite having his abilities restricted to maintain clones over ultra-long distances?
The moment Lennok understood the implication and tried to gauge how much Song-ha’s abilities were restricted in his mind.
“My physical abilities, metabolism, and respiratory functions are all restricted to within 30%. Normally, it’s so inconvenient that it’s difficult even to live.”
Song-ha’s reply, explaining the conditions of his restrictions as if it were nothing.
“But my swordsmanship exists in its complete form, regardless of these restrictions. It’s my foundation, something I’ve trained in even before my psychic abilities.”
“…”
Seeing Lennok silent, Song-ha confidently said.
“So if you don’t want to die, hand over that scroll to me. Understood?”
“Right. I don’t want to die.”
Lennok, who had been quietly listening to Song-ha’s words, let out a small laugh and asked.
“But is it really okay for you to explain your abilities and restrictions in such detail?”
“…Hmm?”
At that moment, Song-ha tilted his head as if he hadn’t considered it at all.
“Oh? Eh? Hmm?”
Song-ha fell silent, seemingly lost in thought as he replayed his own words.
“Did I… do that?”
“He’s either oblivious or completely out of his mind.”
Lennok sneered at the sight.
“Does maintaining your clone restrict your intelligence to 30% too?”
“…”
At that moment, Song-ha flinched his shoulder and quickly averted his gaze.
A sensitive reaction, as if the sarcastic remark had struck a nerve.
Lennok, immediately noticing this, asked with a bewildered expression.
“…You’re serious?”
“[Wow…]”
“…You.”
While Davi marveled at the utterly illogical premise, Song-ha, his earlobes turning red, gripped his greatsword.
“You’ve learned something you shouldn’t have.”