Memory (3)
Memory (3)
Just as I was starting to frown at the horrific experiments Koschei was conducting, a third person finally appeared.
Only an eyeball floating in mid-air appeared, but thanks to Koschei's words, I was at least able to learn its name.
Baba Yaga.
The floating eye didn't look like the main body, so I guess that must be some kind of magic.
It's a name I've never heard before.
I turned my head and asked Freya if she knew the name, but she shook her head, indicating she didn't know either.
Seeing as even Freya doesn't know, it seems she isn't a figure from our mythology.
Is she from Slavic mythology like Koschei?
For now, I should watch more of Koschei's memories.
At Koschei's call, the eye floating in mid-air curved like a half-moon.
And then, a mouth appeared below the eye.
Thick lips and white, healthy teeth.
A woman's voice came from the newly formed mouth.
[Koschei. Is the work going well?]
[Why should I tell you that?]
[The magic that drains your life force. Didn't I help you improve it? I think I'm entitled to know at least this much.]
[Bullshit. It's true that you helped, but I have no intention of telling you that much. More importantly, why are you here? You couldn't have come all this way just to hear about the progress of research I might not even tell you about.]
[Aww. Don't be so stingy. But you're right. I didn't come just to know that.]
[Then get to the point. I don't have time to play around with you.]
Judging by the conversation so far, the two didn't seem to have a very good relationship.
To be precise, unlike the slippery Baba Yaga, Koschei took an attitude that seemed to be wary of her.
To Koschei, who was being openly wary without even trying to hide it, Baba Yaga whispered as if telling a secret.
[I've brought a story that you'll find interesting if you're still researching dragons.]
[Dragons, you say?]
[Yes. You wouldn't know since you live holed up in your lab, but a 'Dragon' has appeared in a country called Korea.]
Korea and a Dragon.
And considering this timeline, the dragon Baba Yaga mentioned must definitely be referring to me.
So, the reason Koschei found out about me was Baba Yaga.
[Are you talking about a monster that came out of a Gate?]
[No. What appeared this time isn't some lowly monster. It's likely a being that crossed over here from another dimension, just like us.]
[Then it must possess considerable power.]
Koschei spoke with conviction.
Regarding this, I have my own experiences and stories I've heard from Ratatoskr.
It is said that to cross over to another dimension, one needs immense power, unless one has abilities specialized for it like Ratatoskr, or was summoned from this dimension.
Bia, Asgard, Apophis, Poseidon, etc.
All the beings from other dimensions I've seen so far satisfied one of those conditions.
Therefore, Koschei's words discussing my strength without even seeing me are reasonable.
[How is it? Isn't this information that would be quite helpful for your research?]
Certainly, for Koschei, who has spent a long time researching with Zmei's bones and heart, a living dragon would make a good research specimen.
However.
[Empty words. How am I supposed to use a dragon that crossed over from another dimension of its own free will for research? Dragons are inherently arrogant. Even if I asked for help with my research, would it listen? And catching a dragon? If you want to commit suicide, do it alone.]
The Koschei in the memory had a great sense of self-awareness.
To the point where I don't know why he caused a terrorist attack at the auction house.
Even though Koschei mocked her right to her face, Baba Yaga still answered with a relaxed, smiling face.
[Aww, I didn't mean for us to go catch the dragon right away. I just told you that a dragon appeared. You never know. If you observe it well, there might be an opening to exploit.]
[......]
[I think that's enough for today's meeting. I'll come visit again next time, okay?]
[Tsk. As if you wouldn't come even if I told you not to.]
[Well, obviously.]
Hehehe.
Baba Yaga disappeared, letting out a laugh until the very end.
Once the eye and mouth floating in mid-air vanished and he confirmed that Baba Yaga had completely left, Koschei seemed to be lost in thought for a moment before calling the mafia member he used as a minion.
The mafia member entered the lab with a very nervous look at his call.
That nervous attitude was natural, as some who occasionally didn't understand his instructions properly and irritated Koschei had been turned into a handful of blood.
[I heard a dragon has appeared in a country called Korea. Go and gather any information you can.]
[Yes!!]
The minion answered spiritedly and quickly left the lab, and Koschei, left alone again, looked at the door the minion had left through and the byproducts of Zmei he was researching, then muttered to himself.
[A living dragon... I know it can't be helped, but I can't shake the feeling of regret.]
Swallowing his regret, he couldn't let go of a shred of expectation and returned to his research.
For a while after that, it was a continuation of his usual research.
Capturing humans to extract their life force, making his subordinates clean up the corpses, and researching Zmei's byproducts.
Then, he would continue conversations while having pointless psychological warfare with Baba Yaga, who would visit once in a while.
As days like this passed for over a few months, around the time the location of the Monochrome auction was changed to Korea due to items released from the Dragon's Nest Gate where my main body is located.
Baba Yaga visited once again.
[What is it this time?]
[The auction called Monochrome. You know it, right?]
[I know it, as quite good items appear there occasionally.]
[I heard the venue for this time has been changed to Korea.]
[Korea? Wasn't it supposed to be Russia this time?]
[It's all because of that dragon. To be precise, because of all the rare items that came out from inside the Gate where the dragon is!]
Unlike her usual slippery attitude, Baba Yaga's voice was quite agitated over the mere fact that the auction location had changed.
Perhaps sensing that, Koschei asked Baba Yaga.
[Was there an item you were aiming for in this auction? No, that's not it. If that were the case, you could just use a minion. It would be more accurate to ask what you were planning to do at this auction.]
[Aha. Was I too excited?]
[Yes. You were too different from usual.]
[Hehehe, how much have you been observing me?]
[Stop talking nonsense and tell me what you were planning to do.]
[I was preparing a simple ritual. A ritual based on human sacrifice to receive wisdom from a great being of another dimension.]
A ritual to gain wisdom based on human sacrifice?
Hmm. That's a method that reminds me of someone.
Freya and I simultaneously turned our heads to look at Odin, who was sprawled out and sleeping in a corner.
The great sage who tied himself to Yggdrasil, sacrificed himself, and gained wisdom...?
"What's with that look?"
"No. I was just wondering if one really has to go as far as human sacrifice just to gain something like that."
"...Even if Odin looks like a fool who makes stupid mistakes, gets his soul stripped by you, and can't handle a single job properly, it's true that he's smart enough to be called the God of Wisdom, you know?"
"Are you trying to defend Odin or put him down?"
"Ugh..."
Perhaps realizing it sounded strange even to herself, Freya couldn't properly refute my words.
While we were sharing some not-quite-gossip about Odin, the conversation between Koschei and Baba Yaga continued.
[What a nasty personality. Anyway, why the auction house?]
[Is that something you should be saying? And besides, it's hard to gather humans with this much ability unless it's an auction like Monochrome, right?]
Certainly, as she said, if one intends to perform a human sacrifice where the quality of the offering is important, there aren't many places as good as the Monochrome auction.
People in power from all walks of life and the high-ranking Awakened who protect those powerful people.
And executives or guild masters of giant guilds.
Lastly, even the heads of criminal organizations like giant mafia organizations.
Since many high-ranking Awakened who are usually hard to gather were assembled there, it would have been a very suitable place for human sacrifice if one had the power to subdue them.
However, her plan for human sacrifice was thwarted before it even began.
As many rare items from the Gate where I am flowed into the auction, the location was changed from Russia to Korea with less than a few months left until the auction.
[So. I would like you to help me a little.]
[As you said, you know better than anyone, but there is a dragon in Korea. I don't want to cause trouble for no reason and attract its attention.]
[I'm the one who said it, so of course I know. And I also know... that only you, who can resurrect from death, can remain safe even after attracting the dragon's attention.]
[Damn it. Do you think I'll help you?]
[Yes. Because I plan to give you a Holy Relic containing the power of Chernobog as a reward for this job.]
[What?]
Chernobog.
It's a name I've heard while listening about Slavic mythology through Yoo Da-eun.
It was a name that remained in my memory even more, especially since he is a god of death similar to Hel.
[Chernobog. It's an offer you can't refuse, since you are trying to achieve immortality through death, right?]
[Damn it. I hate to agree, but you're right. But it's the Holy Relic of Chernobog, no less. I won't ask where you got it. Is this ritual important enough to offer that?]
[Yes. If this job succeeds, I too will be able to cast off my mortal body.]
[So that's what it was.]
Koschei, who seemed to be convinced by Baba Yaga's words, nodded and accepted her proposal.
[Then I'll be counting on you.]
[First, since there's plenty of time left, let's investigate the dragon more thoroughly.]
[I'll also let you know if I find anything out through my own investigation.]
That is how time passed.