Soul Orchid (2)
"Horrible."
That was the word that slipped from my lips the moment we descended into the canyon.
From above, it had been shrouded in purple mist, but now a vision of hell lay spread out before my eyes.
Hundreds—no, thousands—of corpses blanketed the canyon floor.
From bleached bones to bodies still retaining their form, the dead from various times of demise were piled up like a massive grave.
Something felt off from the start. Now I can confirm it.
Ascaros's voice suddenly echoed in my mind, and I voiced my doubt.
"What do you mean?"
In the game, Black Rock Canyon was just described as the gorge where the Soul Orchid grew—nothing more detailed.
Neither Ascaros's grave tone nor the thousands of corpses before me made any sense.
As you know, since becoming your subordinate, I've lost most of my power... which makes it all the clearer to me. The mist in Black Rock Canyon carries a special magical wavelength that bewitches those with black magic.
"Bewitches?"
I hadn't felt anything like that.
No, even if it was due to my supernatural ability, Seraphim should have been the same—and Darkteria couldn't possibly be unaware of it.
As if answering my question, Ascaros continued.
It's as if the canyon itself... is alive, selectively drawing them in. The weak from the strong. Since my black magic is fully under your control, it must have judged me weak and tried to bewitch me. The demons here probably fell without a thought, ensnared the same way.
"So you're saying it's a pretty canyon to the strong, but for the weak demons... precisely, black magic users... it casts illusions to lure them here to their deaths?"
Yes.
But Ascaros's explanation had a critical contradiction.
Even granting that the canyon had a will and distinguished between weak and strong as a fantasy world trait—
What I couldn't accept was that the Demon King and the Seven Deadly Sins wouldn't know about this.
Did they know and hide it on purpose?
No.
From their perspective, hiding it only gave me leverage if I caught on, putting them at a disadvantage.
No reason to conceal it.
Fine, let's say Zeke might not know. He's strong, but he doesn't handle the details. Darkteria runs properly thanks to his son, Baal, anyway.
But at minimum, Seraphim—who directly owned this place—should know.
Anyone descending into the canyon once would see it.
Moreover, many of these fallen demons would be from Seraphim's faction.
Even if not, there must have been missing elites among her subordinates.
Would she really hide this intentionally?
What would she gain?
"I don't get it."
I muttered while staring at the pile of corpses.
Why would the canyon even have a will to bewitch black magic users and drive them to leap to their deaths?
Lord Astra, what if...
Ascaros spoke cautiously.
...all of this is connected to the Soul Orchid?
"The Soul Orchid?"
The legendary flower that blooms once every hundred years, only when it absorbs moonlight and black water simultaneously... what if it actually feeds on the life force and black magic of demons?
That was when it happened.
Hoo~ As expected of a lich. Quite clever.
A sudden voice reverberated, and I reflexively scanned our surroundings.
A third party had intruded on my mental conversation with Ascaros.
"This voice... Frost Flower?"
The Frost Flower Gloves on my hand glowed faintly.
Yes, child. You've come as promised. Thanks to this loophole, I can speak through a fragment of myself. And it seems you've met that one?
"If you mean the Absolute, yes."
Puhahaha!
Frost Flower burst into sudden laughter.
That guy called himself the Absolute?
"Yes. He said he couldn't reveal his name, so call him the Absolute."
Kekekeke...
Frost Flower kept laughing as if she'd heard the funniest joke.
Him, the Absolute! The other gods would clutch their sides laughing too. He's less an Absolute and more... hmm, yes. Destroyer suits him better.
"Destroyer?"
Ruler means one who governs from above. But he was a Destroyer, so... hmm, can't say more yet. Anyway, he's the Destroyer. The Destroyer.
A subtle mockery laced Frost Flower's voice.
"Destroyer... What did he destroy to earn that?"
You'll learn in time. You hold a piece of him, after all... ahem. Focus on the Soul Orchid now. As the lich said, it's not a flower that needs black water and moonlight. It grows absorbing the despair and resentment of demons...
Frost Flower fell silent for a moment.
In short, it's like solitude.
"Solitude?"
Child, do you know what solitude is? It's a curse where thousands of venomous insects are sealed in a jar to devour each other until one remains. That survivor carries all the poison and grudge of its kin.
Frost Flower's voice grew cold.
This Black Rock Canyon is that jar. Thousands of demons fall here, their life force drained, all their despair and resentment flowing to the Soul Orchid. A flower blooming after a century fed on thousands of deaths... that's the Soul Orchid.
"So you need the Soul Orchid for Baekseol because..."
Yes. A flower infused with life force—including the emotions of the stolen demons. Not pure life energy, but a special power matured in despair and grudge.
I mulled over Frost Flower's explanation as I surveyed the canyon.
Purple mist rising from the cliffs, thousands of corpses piled below. And a single flower to bloom from all this death as nourishment.
Beautiful from afar... but inside, a massive jar killing thousands of demons to bloom one flower.
Ironically cruel.
It drove home once more how harsh this world was for the weak.
A brutal order where the powerless became fodder just because they lacked strength.
You're traveling with a fine lich, child.
Ascaros flinched so hard my shadow rippled at Frost Flower's sudden remark.
Lich, why so quiet? Am I that scary?
...An honor to meet the progenitor of the millennium nine-tailed fox.
Ascaros greeted awkwardly.
Kekeke, no need to fear. You're serving Astra well, so I'll praise you. Seeing through the Soul Orchid's essence was impressive too.
"Enough. We're entering the canyon now."
I cut the conversation and moved forward.
After some walking, we reached a massive waterfall, and beside it stretched a cave passage plunging into darkness, as if deliberately carved.
Oh, and child.
Frost Flower's voice returned as she departed.
As I said before, help Baekseol, and I'll lead you to my remnant. It should be where the Soul Orchid blooms. Can't say the form, but... the canyon's will probably stems from that remnant.
Snow still fell endlessly over Frostheim territory.
In the frozen white world, a woman gazed out a massive window from the top floor of Frostheim Castle.
Snowflakes scattered coldly, mirroring her heart.
"Captain."
A cautious voice broke the silence.
"Yes, what is it, Marcus?"
Baekseol answered without turning from the window.
Her silver hair faintly gleamed in the reflected light.
Marcus, Bai Ling Regiment's chief physician, watched his captain's solitary figure by the window.
Lord Astra and Baekseol had left together for Tian Yi Hui.
But for some reason, only Baekseol returned to Frostheim alone.
And since then, whenever she had time, she stood like this, staring at the endless snow.
This is her true self, really...
Marcus thought to himself.
She joked with her subordinates and smiled brightly at times, but alone, she always showed that lonely silhouette.
As if harboring an eternal, unfillable void.
But with Lord Astra, it was different.
Then, Baekseol brimmed with genuine vitality.
Like a warm flame reigniting within trapped ice.
Marcus averted his gaze briefly, then mustered courage to continue.
"Lady Ria has something to report."
Baekseol's shoulders twitched faintly.
Still facing the window, she asked,
"Ria... what about?"
The only one drawing Baekseol's current interest was Ria, the girl with demon eyes who came with Astra.
"Seems she has questions from using her demon eyes."
"I see. She's at the training grounds?"
"Yes, at the training grounds."
Baekseol slowly turned.
Her face remained expressionless in the window's reflection, but a subtle ripple stirred deep in her eyes.
"Then I'll go alone. Rest now, Marcus. You've been watching over Ria for me until now."
"Understood."
As Baekseol quietly left the room, Marcus murmured inwardly.
Do you miss Lord Astra, Lady Baekseol...?
Perhaps she sought traces of Astra even through Ria.