Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: Ghost City (15)
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Carefully brushing off the dirt, I could examine the golden box in more detail. Gems adorned every corner, and its six faces bore beautiful, delicate carvings. The carvings weren't mere decorations. Thanks to my [Interpreter] trait, I recognized them as ancient Angsar script.
There was no keyhole on the box. Nor would it simply open. It couldn't be opened with brute force or an infusion of mana. It was probably designed to open only with a special method. Figuring that out was the key...
Hang on.
This feels like déjà vu.
I pulled the red box from Haynes Manor out of my subspace ring. The golden box was identical in shape to the red one. The same decorations in the same places, the same carvings. Holding both boxes in my hands, I examined them closely. It was like spotting the differences in a puzzle. My eyes were about to pop out. I turned the boxes this way and that for a good while...
"...Found it."
I spotted a subtle groove on the bottom of the golden box and the top of the red one. This was it. I set the red box down and placed the golden one on top.
-Click.
They fit together perfectly with a satisfying snap. Then, the two boxes merged as if they'd been one from the start. And...
"Mother's vengeance..."
The jumbled ancient Angsar script fell into place, finally readable—at least partially.
'So there are more boxes like this.'
Since the sentence didn't connect fully, there must be one or two more boxes. Maybe even more. I examined the fused box from every angle before storing it back in my subspace ring.
'I thought a keyhole would appear once two merged, but no.'
The third or fourth might have one. If so, I could use Riadel's "Key that Opens Anything." That would solve this frustrating puzzle.
-Crush.
I'd gotten the box, so I stood to leave the pit when something crunched underfoot. I crouched again and checked the source of the sound. A broken wooden plank. Brushing away the dirt revealed a wooden box. Worn and filthy, it stood in stark contrast to the golden one.
"...What's this?"
I tried to lift it, but it was far too heavy for its size. No choice. I climbed out of the pit and planted vines nearby. Carefully adjusting my mana, I wrapped the vines around the box and pulled it out.
Argos wagged his tail furiously at the sight of the wooden box. This must have been what he wanted me to find—not the golden box. He circled me and the box excitedly. I dusted it off and opened it.
Inside the wooden box was a large, heavy bundle and various items wrapped in fine cloth. These seemed more important. I unwrapped the green cloth with its faint sheen.
-Woof! Woof woof!
Argos barked as if he'd been waiting, jumping joyfully.
The cloth had wrapped the Dawson family's belongings. A palm-sized frame held a delicate portrait of the Dawson couple cradling their newborn child. A small glass vial contained a single strand of thin, faintly glowing hair—likely Rosalyn Dawson's. There was also a worn rag doll that appeared to be hers. And finally, a well-sealed letter.
I opened the envelope and began reading. It was written by the couple in life, nothing special. Just...
-If anything happens to us, please take pity on our daughter Rosalyn Dawson and care for her. We could offer our souls to a grateful you and it wouldn't be enough, but this is all we can give. Please cherish her.
A plea for their daughter.
"..."
Sadly, I couldn't honor their request. Their daughter was already dead. I folded the letter, wrapped the mementos with it in the cloth, and untied the heavy bundle.
"Gasp!"
Elle swallowed hard in surprise beside me. Understandable. I'd nearly done the same.
The bundle held gleaming lumps of gold. Enough to live lavishly forever in this pseudo-medieval land.
'They left it for their daughter, in case things went wrong...'
Bittersweet.
The daughter they'd loved so dearly had already left this world.
"What will you do with this gold?"
Lloyd asked, and Elle gulped loudly beside him. I pondered for a moment.
It was a form of reward. I'd prevented the tragedy and soothed their grudge. Honestly, no one could complain if I pocketed it all.
"..."
But I didn't want to.
"We'll use it for Rosalyn Dawson."
I stood.
From my seed pouch, I took out a golden magnolia seed the size of my fist. I'd kept it to impress Lynshaka someday, but it seemed I had to use it now.
I planted the golden magnolia seed in the center where the mansion had stood and sowed purifying plant seeds over the summoning circle. Then I prayed fervently to Lynshaka for a very long time.
Using [Blessing of the Forest], the plants sprouted roots so vigorously it felt like the ground itself trembled. I could see the purifying power spreading through the soil like veins. The land, corrupted and defiled by Ronan's flames, gradually regained its vitality. Freshly swaying flowers and grass, and in their midst, the towering golden magnolia tree. Its petals glimmered like gold in the sunlight.
"Dazzling..."
Elle marveled at the scattering petals. I smiled quietly and placed the mementos before the golden magnolia. Along with the couple's ashes Lloyd had gathered.
"Legion."
Legion, who had been darting about catching the petals with his "Pip pip!", hurried back.
「Theo! I'm here!」
"Burn these. Leave nothing behind."
「Theo. These are dead. Already.」
"Yeah. Dead people."
「Theo. But why?」
"It's a funeral rite. For the dead's peace. We bury them in the earth or burn them."
「Theo. They disappear. If burned.」
"It's not disappearing. It's becoming free."
Legion tilted his head in confusion for a long time before looking up at me.
「Theo. I don't like. Burying you. Or burning you.」
So that's what he was thinking—how to handle me after I die... I suppressed a laugh and asked.
"Then?"
「Theo. I'll keep you.」
"...Hey, that's kinda scary."
「Theo.」
"Don't worry, don't worry. I won't die."
「Theo. Really?」
No. Obviously a lie. But explaining death, the afterlife, and that this is a game world while I'm not from here to Legion right now... That's harder than immortality. So I just nodded.
"Yeah. Yeah."
「Theo. Promise?」
"..."
「Theo. Swear?」
"...F-First, lend me some flames quick. We need to finish this."
Legion eyed me discontentedly but finally opened his mouth. Something boiled in his throat, then black flames poured out. Flames that burned even flames. Their fierce power reduced the ashes, mementos—everything—to cinders.
Now, nothing tied this family to the world.
-Woof! Woof woof! Woof!
Argos gazed at the ashes vanishing on the wind and barked for a long, long time. As if bidding farewell.
* * *
We left the village as the fog lifted, now utterly empty of people. How long had we rattled along the road when Elle suddenly stuck her head out of the carriage and called me?
"...Master."
"Yeah?"
"I thought it was my imagination..."
"Yeah."
"That guy's been following us the whole time."
"What?"
I stopped the carriage and looked where Elle pointed. Between the trees and bushes, a translucent dog peeked out, watching the carriage.
"Argos?"
Surprised, I called, and he wagged his tail as if given permission, joyfully following along. Aila glanced at me slyly before sniffing noses with Argos. This rascal! She knew Argos was following and pretended not to notice!
It had been about an hour since we left the village, and he'd come this far. Ghosts whose grudges are resolved fade slowly, so I'd thought he'd linger by the golden magnolia and vanish. But this...
"Not my imagination after all. I thought I was seeing things."
Elle jumped down and petted Argos, who began licking her face wildly.
"Master, is he coming with us too?"
-Huff, huff huff.
"..."
Argos looked up at me with a beaming face, tail wagging so hard it blurred. No. No way. I don't need another freeloader...
"Well..."
I could feel Argos's loneliness. How lonely must he have been, losing his family, guarding the mansion, enduring the villagers' hatred and fear?
"...No helping it."
One more dog ghost on a carriage that already had a ghost wasn't a big deal...
-Woof! Woof woof!
Before I finished, Argos charged me. Like with Elle, he licked my face furiously. It felt like my whole face was smeared with ice cream. I couldn't push him away and toppled backward. Then Aila joined in, licking my face.
"Ubuub!"
「Don't bully Theo.」
-Roarrrrr!!!
Only when Legion menacingly gathered flames did they scatter.
'...This is rough. So rough.'