Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Corin's Shadow (13)
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Clunk!
The doorknob turned. I carefully pushed the door open with some force. It was lighter than expected and opened more easily than I'd thought. No other secret mechanisms, it seemed.
Creeeak...
It was the ordinary creak of an old door opening. I peered inside through the open door. According to Louis, it should have been empty space. But the sight before my eyes...
"This, this is..."
It was astonishing.
The space inside was about half the size of the study, but since the study was so vast, even half of it wasn't small by any means. The floor was covered in bull hide that seemed to match the hunting trophies in the study.
With no windows, the walls were lined with candles of various sizes. They had ignited the moment the door opened—likely items enchanted with some magical power. Makes sense; who knows what might happen if you left regular candles burning and forgot.
In any case, the inner space felt far more tidy than the study—simple and comfortable rather than imposing. There was a small desk and drawers, and on the wall hung two swords crossed like heirlooms, along with a ornate casket decorated with jewels.
'This isn't what I'm looking for.'
Right. I hadn't come here to sightsee Corin family relics. What I sought was the source of that strange, unpleasant 'unease'. It had to be hidden somewhere in here. The perfect spot for it.
I scanned the surroundings for a long while. Nothing unusual. Just like the study.
'Where could it be hidden?'
As I surveyed the entire space, my eyes caught on the bull hide.
'The bull was the key in the study, after all.'
It might play the same role here. I grabbed the bull hide and pulled it aside.
There it was.
A rectangular groove appeared in the black wooden floor. I knelt on one knee and felt around it. The groove was engraved with a bull motif, just like the hunting trophy in the study—one horn gleaming smoothly.
This is it. Without hesitation, I pressed down hard on the engraved horn.
Click!
The floor panel opened, revealing a square compartment. It emanated a chill like ice—far from ordinary. I cautiously reached in. My starfish leather gloves seemed to shrink slightly at first, but the sensation passed quickly.
A creepy cold slithered between my fingers. Unpleasant. I grabbed what I could feel and pulled it out: the Corin family seal, a secret map of the castle, what looked like a medal bestowed by the king, ancient Angsar gold coins, and...
...!
Thud. The moment 'it' touched my hand, I involuntarily swallowed hard. The source of that chilling cold I'd felt all along. I knew what it was even before seeing it.
'A frozen soul...!'
Yes.
A separated soul created by the forbidden ancient ritual that severs body from soul. To bind such a soul to this world, you had to freeze it—preventing it from returning to its body or ascending. Only then could you possess it beyond the gods' gaze.
'But this ritual... only a warlock could perform it.'
Exactly. The spell to create a 'frozen soul' wasn't for ordinary mages. Only fallen mages contracted with demons—warlocks—could wield it.
'...The Crows.'
My head throbbed. My back crawled with chills. Was my body trembling?
"Theodore, you alright?"
At that moment, Lloyd grabbed my shaking shoulder. Without hesitation, he took the 'frozen soul' from my hand and set it on the floor. Only then did my trembling stop, and I regained my senses.
Uuuuugh...
Then, the 'frozen soul' let out a low, eerie wail. A chilling, agonizing sound that made every hair on my body stand on end.
"What... what the hell is that thing?"
Louis asked. I stayed silent for a moment, unable to answer right away, before finally speaking.
"...It's a frozen soul. Created by a forbidden ritual that rips the soul from the body."
"S-something that horrific... why is it here...?"
"..."
Gulp. I swallowed dryly and cautiously reached out again, lifting the frozen soul. More precisely, the glass jar containing it. Inside the frost-covered jar, a small vortex swirled and subsided repeatedly. Focusing on it...
...!
As expected.
The 'frozen soul'...
Belonged to none other than the Lord of Corin.
Louis's father.
'Louis said his father was in remarkably good condition, not like someone who'd suffered a fall from a horse.'
He simply wouldn't wake.
It all made sense now. A fall that should have mangled his body beyond repair, yet his flesh remained intact—while the Lord of Corin lay comatose.
He'd been separated from his soul via the 'frozen soul' ritual.
'Why on earth...'
Couldn't they just kill him outright?
No way. That didn't make sense. Better to die ten times over than become a frozen soul.
Which left only one possibility.
'They have a use for this soul.'
For Dawood, it was perfect. No chaos from the lord's sudden death. As the heir, Dawood could stand in temporarily. 'My father might wake up any day now,' he'd claim, planting himself in the seat. With the soul gone, the body would weaken and 'naturally' expire—undeniable death, no suspicions.
"..."
I hesitated for a moment. Telling Louis this 'frozen soul' was his father—who knew what he'd do? I glanced at Lloyd first, then nodded toward Louis. Lloyd nodded back and positioned himself beside him.
"Louis."
I spoke carefully. No matter how gently, the shock wouldn't lessen.
"This is..."
"..."
"Your father's soul."
"...!"
Louis's brown eyes widened. His mouth hung half-open. For a moment, he stared at me in disbelief, as if it couldn't be true.
"What do you..."
His dazed expression shifted in an instant—shock, horror, then rage flooding his face.
"What the hell does that mean!!!!"
Louis shouted and lunged at me. Or rather, at the 'frozen soul'. Fortunately, Lloyd—forewarned by my signal—grabbed him and held him back. From behind, Lloyd restrained him firmly, like binding a prisoner. Louis struggled and thrashed, but to no avail.
"Let go, Lloyd!"
"Louis. Calm down. This changes nothing."
"Shut up!"
"Cool your head and think rationally. Theodore didn't do this to your father."
"That's...!"
"Don't be an idiot. Ruin things here, and you might never save him."
"...!"
After much heavy breathing, Louis finally exhaled long and slumped. Lloyd released him. I addressed him.
"Lloyd's right."
I returned the frozen soul to its place. Immediately, Louis roared in fury again.
"What the hell are you doing?!'
"Louis. Think logically. I know how much you care for your father. But if we take this now..."
"..."
"They'll notice our infiltration. That's when your father would truly be in danger."
"Damn it, shit! Dawood, why the hell...!"
"Shh. You never know who's listening—keep your voice down."
"...Ugh..."
"I'm not sure if this comforts you, but your father's condition looks stable... We just need to thwart their plans before he can't hold out any longer."
"Father..."
The Lord of Corin was a sturdy man; he'd endure longer than most. That's why his body still looked fine. Of course, the longer the soul stayed separated, the weaker the flesh would grow...
'But I'll save him before then.'
Watching a grown man weep and murmur "father" tugged at something in my chest. Yeah. If it were my dad, I'd lose it too. I understood Louis's pain. But...
'As much as it pains me, we can't act now.'
Louis was in no state to check anything else. So I'd have to pull myself together. I pulled out an old notebook and opened it. I copied the ritual markings on the frozen soul's jar, transcribed the letters below it, examined the ancient Angsar gold coins closely—noting their design, the years engraved, and the count. Copying wasn't ideal—better to take them and study properly—but impossible. As I'd told Louis, they'd spot our intrusion.
'...This will have to do.'
Pushing aside the regret, I closed the lid, covered it with the bull hide, and double-checked the secret space matched its original state—for safety.
"How's it look, El?"
"Same as when we entered, Master. Bull hide position and all—perfect. No one will know we were here."
"Good... I hope."
Was the unease from this space's eerie vibe? Or...
'Did I miss something?'
But we couldn't linger. Especially not in such a crucial spot. The longer we stayed, the higher the risk.
I gave Lloyd a subtle nod. He helped the limp Louis to his feet.
"We need to go."
We exited the secret space.
Grrrrrind...
I pulled the bull's horn back out, and with a heavy, somber sound, the portrait returned to its original position.
Boom!
Now, time to leave this place.