Arthas April 12, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The time spent in the carriage felt like an eternity; even the pleasure of the wide-open landscapes outside the window was fleeting.
The constant jolting of the seat, the biting chill that set in at night, and the suffocating silence was overwhelming — it was truly a test of endurance, as if my very lifespan was being chipped away.
I contemplated more than once about turning back and taking the train instead.
As my subconscious and reason engaged in an endless tightrope walk...
Screech—
…the carriage slowed down and gradually came to a halt.
"Young master. We've arrived."
Before I knew it, we had reached our destination, and the coachman opened the door for us. I took Diana's hand as we stepped out and looked around.
The neatly paved vast avenues, the bustling market, and rows of commercial establishments were all familiar sights. And the streets were filled with people in various outfits—it was the imperial capital that I had grown weary of seeing.
I handed the coachman an appropriate amount of Loupe; his eyes widened as he confirmed the sum, repeatedly thanking me before taking his leave.
"Do you have a specific destination in mind?"
I looked at Diana, who asked calmly. Her face was serene, showing no signs of fatigue, which made me roll my tongue in response.
"Yeah, just follow me."
The image of Luna, dejected on the ground, watching the departing carriage, lingered vividly in my mind. Given her twisted personality, she wouldn't leave me be just because I had left the mansion.
Without a doubt, she'll send people after me.
'I need a new identity.'
The priority was to obtain a forged identity.
Forging one's identity was a risky proposition, but it's not an impossible feat in this game world.
After all, this was just a world within a game. It shouldn't be too hard to acquire a new identity here; I remembered that there was even a main scenario episode that explicitly involved playing with a second identity.
Thud! Thud! —
Lost in thought, I eventually found the building I was looking for. It was an old, brick building with an antique yet sinister atmosphere.
"Is this the place?"
"Yeah, no need to be on guard. It's just a regular shop."
It was a shop, after all.
Just one where illicit goods were bought and sold.
Clunk—
I opened the door.
Passing through the dimly lit entrance, the shop's interior emitted a deliberately eerie ambiance; the shelves were filled with aged books and various knick-knacks, bearing the marks of time.
Just as I was venturing deeper into the shop, taking a deeper look inside—
"What's your business here?"
—when a chilling voice suddenly spoke.
Slowly turning my head, a woman sitting on a sofa in the corner regarded me with an indifferent gaze.
"Looking to buy something? Sorry, but we've closed up shop for the day. Please, leave now.”
Her violet hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her composed emerald eyes, illuminated by a red light, shimmered mysteriously — a distinct appearance that I vividly remember.
The Empire's information broker, Emily.
And...
"Merlin Trivia."
Merlin Trivia, a fallen cleric.
"I have business with you."
Merlin's eyes narrowed, her expression one of scrutiny, attempting to discern the hidden meaning behind my words.
'I've come to the right place.'
Merlin Trivia.
Once the most devout of clerics, but at some point, she came to despise the world, even the very God who created this world; the exact circumstances were unknown to me.
I only have a vague recollection of seeing her life summarized in a single word - "tragedy" - in a setting book I happened to read.
This was also my first time actually confronting Merlin.
In the previous playthrough, I never had the opportunity to meet her, as Merlin vanished without a trace at a certain branching point.
Most importantly, it's a risky gamble.
The reason being...
"Hmm."
Merlin has the ability to discern the scent of one's soul.
"How strange," Merlin's expression became devoid of emotion. "I've never encountered this scent before." She slowly rose from her seat, "Just what kind of scent is this?"
One step.
Another step.
The air in the shop suddenly grew heavy.
"You, what are you?"
Her piercing gaze swept over me from head to toe.
I replied in a composed tone, "Kyle Winfred."
"You know full well I'm not asking about your name."
"Well, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
Merlin's face, usually stern and compassionate, was now brimming with intent; the contrast of the two expressions was jarring, if only for a brief moment.
She was determined to uncover the answer, "There's no foul odor."
Human souls cannot hide their stench — it was a line that would come up when interacting with the game version of Merlin.
Of course, there wouldn’t be any foul odor. After all, my soul came from another world.
I seriously contemplated my options.
Should I be honest and seek her help?
Or should I make up some excuse to deceive her?
"It's neither the stench of a murderer, nor that of one who transcends rank..."
Surprisingly, all her guesses were off the mark.
I tapped the floor with the tip of my foot, waiting for her deductions to end.
'Seems like she hasn't caught on yet.'
My reasons for seeking out Merlin were rather complex. While a forged identity was certainly one purpose, the ultimate goal was to uncover the whereabouts of the Sacred Artifact.
If I could obtain the Sacred Artifact, I could open a gateway to another dimension. Although this detail was only sporadically mentioned in the game, since it was officially recognized in the setting book, the likelihood of it being false was slim.
And most importantly...
'Merlin was the only one who ever mentioned the Sacred Artifact.'
A mysterious something that I've never even seen physically.
Yet only Merlin had ever spoken of this mythical artifact.
The reasons and means by which she acquired this information were unknown, as Merlin Trivia was never a particularly prominent character to begin with.
What matters is that Merlin knows the whereabouts of the Sacred Artifact.
And I am desperately in need of that information.
"........"
Merlin's gaze was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
I calmly broached the main topic, "I've come to purchase some information."
"Information? What sort of information?"
Merlin tilted her head, her tone nonchalant.
I took a deep breath and revealed the true purpose of my visit, "Do you have any information regarding the Sacred Artifact?"
That's when it happened.
"Ha."
The moment I uttered those words, a chuckle escaped Merlin's lips.
And then,
"Your soul," she whispered, a sinister grin spreading across her face.
"You've been kidnapped, haven't you?"
* * * * *
Clatter—
The sound of pouring echoed as steam gently rose from the freshly filled cup of tea. The maid who had poured the tea finished setting up the table for tea time, giving a slight bow before taking her leave.
"........."
"........."
Luna lifted the filled cup and took a sip of her tea. Isabel furrowed her brow as she watched her.
'Why is this woman here...'
Luna Winfred.
The eldest daughter of the Winfred family and Kyle's half-sister.
Isabel knew a great deal about Luna.
From the information Kyle had shared before her revival, to the details she had personally gathered.
Piecing together the scattered bits of information...
'...That crazy woman.'
...Luna was one of the humans Kyle despised the most — Isabel included.
"Luna Winfred."
She frowned heavily, glaring at the unwelcome guest, "State your business quickly."
"For a Lady of Yustia, your speech seems rather brash, doesn't it?"
"The one being brash is you, barging in here without even an invitation," Isabel openly displayed her irritation on her face.
Luna smiled sweetly at the irritated Isabel, "Kyle has left."
"...What did you say?"
"He's gone. Vanished without a trace, just like that.”
"Wh-what do you mean..." Isabel's pupils trembled violently.
Luna spoke with a tinge of mockery in her voice, "Lady Isabel." There was a derisive laughter behind her words, "It's because of you."
"......."
"Kyle’s departure. It's all because of you. I'd have probably made the same choice if I were him. With a repulsive woman like you clinging to him, how agonizing must it have been. It's impressive he endured it for so long."
"...Are you done with your tirade?"
"I hate you."
"........"
"It's not just a dislike. I loathe you to the core. I wish you would just drop dead right here."
Isabel couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh; to hear such curse-like vitriol from the woman who had pushed Kyle to the brink of his life. She wanted to pour the scalding tea in the cup onto Luna's face. Grinding her teeth, her fury boiled over, "Stop your nonsense."
"Oh?"
"Don't act like you don't know how you've constantly used your authority to belittle him all this time?"
"......."
"Even livestock is usually not starved. But to you, Kyle must have been less than an animal, huh?"
Sparks of electricity crackled between their clashing gazes.
A frigid wind brushed past their skin.
".........."
".........."
An eerie silence fell.
After a moment, Luna let out a mocking chuckle.
“You’ve got quite the sharp tongue, Lady Isabel.”
"Shut that mouth of yours."
"Haha, well, alright. I didn’t come here to quarrel with you anyway.”
Luna gazed at Isabel, her fingers interlocked; a meaningful smile blossomed on her lips.
“By the way, have you also…”
Her piercing blue eyes gleamed under the sunlight.
“...regressed to the past?”
Arthas April 12, 2024 No comments
Don't forget to rate and review the novel on Novelupdates
The time spent in the carriage felt like an eternity; even the pleasure of the wide-open landscapes outside the window was fleeting.
The constant jolting of the seat, the biting chill that set in at night, and the suffocating silence was overwhelming — it was truly a test of endurance, as if my very lifespan was being chipped away.
I contemplated more than once about turning back and taking the train instead.
As my subconscious and reason engaged in an endless tightrope walk...
Screech—
…the carriage slowed down and gradually came to a halt.
"Young master. We've arrived."
Before I knew it, we had reached our destination, and the coachman opened the door for us. I took Diana's hand as we stepped out and looked around.
The neatly paved vast avenues, the bustling market, and rows of commercial establishments were all familiar sights. And the streets were filled with people in various outfits—it was the imperial capital that I had grown weary of seeing.
I handed the coachman an appropriate amount of Loupe; his eyes widened as he confirmed the sum, repeatedly thanking me before taking his leave.
"Do you have a specific destination in mind?"
I looked at Diana, who asked calmly. Her face was serene, showing no signs of fatigue, which made me roll my tongue in response.
"Yeah, just follow me."
The image of Luna, dejected on the ground, watching the departing carriage, lingered vividly in my mind. Given her twisted personality, she wouldn't leave me be just because I had left the mansion.
Without a doubt, she'll send people after me.
'I need a new identity.'
The priority was to obtain a forged identity.
Forging one's identity was a risky proposition, but it's not an impossible feat in this game world.
After all, this was just a world within a game. It shouldn't be too hard to acquire a new identity here; I remembered that there was even a main scenario episode that explicitly involved playing with a second identity.
Thud! Thud! —
Lost in thought, I eventually found the building I was looking for. It was an old, brick building with an antique yet sinister atmosphere.
"Is this the place?"
"Yeah, no need to be on guard. It's just a regular shop."
It was a shop, after all.
Just one where illicit goods were bought and sold.
Clunk—
I opened the door.
Passing through the dimly lit entrance, the shop's interior emitted a deliberately eerie ambiance; the shelves were filled with aged books and various knick-knacks, bearing the marks of time.
Just as I was venturing deeper into the shop, taking a deeper look inside—
"What's your business here?"
—when a chilling voice suddenly spoke.
Slowly turning my head, a woman sitting on a sofa in the corner regarded me with an indifferent gaze.
"Looking to buy something? Sorry, but we've closed up shop for the day. Please, leave now.”
Her violet hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her composed emerald eyes, illuminated by a red light, shimmered mysteriously — a distinct appearance that I vividly remember.
The Empire's information broker, Emily.
And...
"Merlin Trivia."
Merlin Trivia, a fallen cleric.
"I have business with you."
Merlin's eyes narrowed, her expression one of scrutiny, attempting to discern the hidden meaning behind my words.
'I've come to the right place.'
Merlin Trivia.
Once the most devout of clerics, but at some point, she came to despise the world, even the very God who created this world; the exact circumstances were unknown to me.
I only have a vague recollection of seeing her life summarized in a single word - "tragedy" - in a setting book I happened to read.
This was also my first time actually confronting Merlin.
In the previous playthrough, I never had the opportunity to meet her, as Merlin vanished without a trace at a certain branching point.
Most importantly, it's a risky gamble.
The reason being...
"Hmm."
Merlin has the ability to discern the scent of one's soul.
"How strange," Merlin's expression became devoid of emotion. "I've never encountered this scent before." She slowly rose from her seat, "Just what kind of scent is this?"
One step.
Another step.
The air in the shop suddenly grew heavy.
"You, what are you?"
Her piercing gaze swept over me from head to toe.
I replied in a composed tone, "Kyle Winfred."
"You know full well I'm not asking about your name."
"Well, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
Merlin's face, usually stern and compassionate, was now brimming with intent; the contrast of the two expressions was jarring, if only for a brief moment.
She was determined to uncover the answer, "There's no foul odor."
Human souls cannot hide their stench — it was a line that would come up when interacting with the game version of Merlin.
Of course, there wouldn’t be any foul odor. After all, my soul came from another world.
I seriously contemplated my options.
Should I be honest and seek her help?
Or should I make up some excuse to deceive her?
"It's neither the stench of a murderer, nor that of one who transcends rank..."
Surprisingly, all her guesses were off the mark.
I tapped the floor with the tip of my foot, waiting for her deductions to end.
'Seems like she hasn't caught on yet.'
My reasons for seeking out Merlin were rather complex. While a forged identity was certainly one purpose, the ultimate goal was to uncover the whereabouts of the Sacred Artifact.
If I could obtain the Sacred Artifact, I could open a gateway to another dimension. Although this detail was only sporadically mentioned in the game, since it was officially recognized in the setting book, the likelihood of it being false was slim.
And most importantly...
'Merlin was the only one who ever mentioned the Sacred Artifact.'
A mysterious something that I've never even seen physically.
Yet only Merlin had ever spoken of this mythical artifact.
The reasons and means by which she acquired this information were unknown, as Merlin Trivia was never a particularly prominent character to begin with.
What matters is that Merlin knows the whereabouts of the Sacred Artifact.
And I am desperately in need of that information.
"........"
Merlin's gaze was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
I calmly broached the main topic, "I've come to purchase some information."
"Information? What sort of information?"
Merlin tilted her head, her tone nonchalant.
I took a deep breath and revealed the true purpose of my visit, "Do you have any information regarding the Sacred Artifact?"
That's when it happened.
"Ha."
The moment I uttered those words, a chuckle escaped Merlin's lips.
And then,
"Your soul," she whispered, a sinister grin spreading across her face.
"You've been kidnapped, haven't you?"
* * * * *
Clatter—
The sound of pouring echoed as steam gently rose from the freshly filled cup of tea. The maid who had poured the tea finished setting up the table for tea time, giving a slight bow before taking her leave.
"........."
"........."
Luna lifted the filled cup and took a sip of her tea. Isabel furrowed her brow as she watched her.
'Why is this woman here...'
Luna Winfred.
The eldest daughter of the Winfred family and Kyle's half-sister.
Isabel knew a great deal about Luna.
From the information Kyle had shared before her revival, to the details she had personally gathered.
Piecing together the scattered bits of information...
'...That crazy woman.'
...Luna was one of the humans Kyle despised the most — Isabel included.
"Luna Winfred."
She frowned heavily, glaring at the unwelcome guest, "State your business quickly."
"For a Lady of Yustia, your speech seems rather brash, doesn't it?"
"The one being brash is you, barging in here without even an invitation," Isabel openly displayed her irritation on her face.
Luna smiled sweetly at the irritated Isabel, "Kyle has left."
"...What did you say?"
"He's gone. Vanished without a trace, just like that.”
"Wh-what do you mean..." Isabel's pupils trembled violently.
Luna spoke with a tinge of mockery in her voice, "Lady Isabel." There was a derisive laughter behind her words, "It's because of you."
"......."
"Kyle’s departure. It's all because of you. I'd have probably made the same choice if I were him. With a repulsive woman like you clinging to him, how agonizing must it have been. It's impressive he endured it for so long."
"...Are you done with your tirade?"
"I hate you."
"........"
"It's not just a dislike. I loathe you to the core. I wish you would just drop dead right here."
Isabel couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh; to hear such curse-like vitriol from the woman who had pushed Kyle to the brink of his life. She wanted to pour the scalding tea in the cup onto Luna's face. Grinding her teeth, her fury boiled over, "Stop your nonsense."
"Oh?"
"Don't act like you don't know how you've constantly used your authority to belittle him all this time?"
"......."
"Even livestock is usually not starved. But to you, Kyle must have been less than an animal, huh?"
Sparks of electricity crackled between their clashing gazes.
A frigid wind brushed past their skin.
".........."
".........."
An eerie silence fell.
After a moment, Luna let out a mocking chuckle.
“You’ve got quite the sharp tongue, Lady Isabel.”
"Shut that mouth of yours."
"Haha, well, alright. I didn’t come here to quarrel with you anyway.”
Luna gazed at Isabel, her fingers interlocked; a meaningful smile blossomed on her lips.
“By the way, have you also…”
Her piercing blue eyes gleamed under the sunlight.
“...regressed to the past?”
