Chapter 223
Chapter 223
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 223
Chapter Title: Souls, and Souls (23)
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- Thud……!
A heavy thud echoed through the entire kitchen.
- Thud……!
- Thump……!
- Crash!
- Clatter!
The orcs who had inhaled the poisonous mushroom spores collapsed here and there, creating a racket.
In normal circumstances, a little inhalation of poisonous mushroom spores wouldn't have felled the orcs like this. But now, with various factors stacking up, the spores had become lethally damaging to them.
First factor: the cramped space and the crowd.
In a confined area like the kitchen packed with bodies, air circulation was poor. There was a small vent window for ventilation, but it was woefully inadequate for expelling the mushroom spores.
Second factor: the combination of steam filling the kitchen and the mushroom spores.
The spores were threatening enough on their own, but mixing with the humid steam doubled the danger. The moisture-laden spores clung even more stubbornly to nostrils, throats, and lungs. Once attached like that, they couldn't be expelled by sneezing, guaranteeing a severe poisoning.
Third factor: multiplying the spores with [Breath of the Forest].
The 'Angel of Death' mushroom had slipped into the basket because it hadn't fully matured. True to its name, when it was ready to release spores, its white cap unfurled like wings to carry them farther on the wind. Before full maturity, though, it resembled an ordinary mushroom, allowing it to blend in. Of course, even at this stage, its poison was fearsome—but not enough to kill an orc in one breath. That changed with my skill that induced 'growth.' Just as [Breath of the Forest] had produced more than double the fruit on a plain apple tree, it enabled this poisonous mushroom to spew over twice the usual spores.
For me, with my [Merciful Monster] totem granting immunity to all poisons, the 'Angel of Death' spores held no terror……
'One, two, three, four, five…….'
I started counting seconds. It would probably take fifteen for all the orcs to drop. Twenty at most.
'Twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen…….'
The kitchen was shrouded in a fog of steam and spores, obscuring clear vision, but no one was left standing properly. I scanned the room broadly, then leaped down from the ceiling.
- Thump!
Whoops, landed on an orc's belly. Not much cushioning. Stepping over the heaps of fallen orcs carpeting the floor, I headed for the window. It was tiny, practically useless, and fixed half-open.
- Crash!
I smashed the window with my elbow and ripped out the frame entirely. Airflow rushed in, clearing the blockage. The spore- and steam-choked air vented outside, fresh air flooding back in. Couldn't let the cleanup crew get poisoned too. After ventilating thoroughly, I dusted my hands and turned, eyeing the foam-flecked orcs sprawled everywhere.
"Whew. Way more than I thought."
Even replacing the castle guards with orcs…… That meant they were deeply entrenched.
'……Gotta get back to Dawood soon.'
The longer Dawood stayed in this world crafted by the fragment's power, the harder it'd be to pull him out. Obvious, really. A world made just for him—how tempting. But that sweetness was a poison deadlier than the 'Angel of Death.' Before he surrendered completely, I had to drag him out. Otherwise……
'……The Crows would claim the fragment.'
Wading through the dead orcs, I melted back into the shadows. Had every orc in the castle rushed to the kitchen? No guards at doors or corridors.
I already knew where to go.
Dawood's bedroom.
The very place Eli had infiltrated.
'The mirror.'
The one Eli had nearly been drawn into. Where the third box was found. Inside that mirror lay a space akin to the Void. At first, shoving my arm in, I had no clue—but after experiencing the Void, I knew: it was the Void. A 'small' one. Just as they used mercenaries' souls to open the Void, that mirror was a gateway forged from a soul—the vanished maid's—to another Void.
The Crows were likely contacting Dawood through that 'Void,' biding their time to reclaim the 'fragment'……
With the incident blown open, Dawood would've headed straight to the mirror bedroom. To alert the Crows and borrow their wisdom to eliminate the intruder. If unlucky, they might seize the fragment from him right now.
I dashed to the bedroom. No guards in corridors or blockers, so arriving was easier than falling off a log. The heavy door looked unchanged from memory. I grabbed it and shoved hard. It groaned open wide.
"As expected!"
Beyond stood Dawood, arms spread as if awaiting me. Our eyes met; his mouth split in a grin as he began slow, resounding claps.
-Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Not applause—more like tearing air. No welcome. Mockery, scorn, like marveling at a rat surviving a trap……
"The castle rat was you!"
His metallic, slightly hoarse voice rang out. Almost laughing.
"Yeah, I knew you'd come. Knew it!"
"……"
"'They' warned me. Knew something like this would happen……"
"Dawood."
"Shut it, rat!"
"Get a grip. This isn't your world."
Right. A sliver of the Void. Just a dream in its infinite worlds. Dawood's 'real' world lay beyond. Though he'd never admit it.
"Just think about it—you'd see."
"See what?"
"That this isn't your place."
"Hahaha!"
"……"
Dawood doubled over, roaring with laughter. Tears imminent. His eerie antics made me scowl as I watched.
"Rat. I already knew you'd say that."
"……"
"The great 'One' told me everything. Even what a pathetic worm like you covets!"
'The One'……
The Crows. They'd already instructed him via the mirror. This wouldn't end easy. Bracing for anything, I slowly, cautiously reached for the dagger at my waist.
"'The One' chose me, granted me the 'fragment.' With this great power……"
"……"
"I'll topple the Empire, found a new nation. A new 'Corin'……!"
"……"
"That's the mission 'The One' showed me!"
Totally lost it. The Crows hadn't just poked his ambitions—they'd detonated them. Corin wasn't enough; now the Empire? Insane. The Barak Empire, though not matching old Angsar's glory, was the continent's mightiest. No matter how grand Corin, toppling the Empire……
'……!'
A grim premonition flashed.
'What if the Crows are plotting this not just with Dawood, but in other domains too……?'
But the thought didn't linger. A sharp red light hurtled at me.
I barely twisted aside, but it grazed my cheek, drawing blood and pain. I touched the hot gash. Real.
"……"
Yes. The world inside the Void wasn't 'fake.' More like infinite possibilities that could exist. Parallel worlds? So……
-Whooosh!!!!
Death here wasn't 'fake' either.
The spinning red orb, blazing crimson, charged again. Heat enough to vaporize blood on contact.
"……Fine, no more chit-chat, huh?"
-Whooosh!!!!
"Good. I'm done with polite explanations too."
-Whooosh!!!!
The orb smashed into floor and walls with lethal force before returning to Dawood, repeating.
Ah, not a dagger job. I reached for the bow on my back. Or tried to.
-Peep!
As my hand moved, Ppippi fluttered from my bosom, perching on my fingertip. Wings spread wide, it emitted light overpowering the orb's crimson, transforming into a radiant rainbow bow—with two fragments already embedded.
"Th-that's……!"
Spotting the fragments, Dawood's eyes gleamed with greed. Hopelessly avaricious. I gave a hollow chuckle, drew the string taut. Light swirled at the center, coalescing into a glowing arrow.
-Hummmm……
My arrow blazed as fiercely as Dawood's orb. No—brighter.
'……One shot.'
I angled it obliquely.
'Make it count.'