Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Sin and Karma
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Young Lena lay in a meadow blooming with wildflowers, reading a book. Completely immersed, she kept turning the pages when suddenly she lifted her head and asked,
“Is this real?”
At Lena’s question, Regina, who had been floating in the air, drifted down lightly. She glanced at the book Lena was reading and muttered in disbelief.
—So that’s what you’re reading….
The book Lena was reading was none other than the biography of Emperor Nihil. And of all parts, it was the section where Nihil first descended into the tomb and met the five kings.
“I mean, is this real? Did he really say this?”
Lena’s eyes sparkled as she asked again, and Regina let out a sigh-like laugh at the innocent gaze. It was a smile of relief. Lena Rubel, abandoned by her father and brushing death multiple times. The girl, only twelve years old, had been left alone in a cruel world, yet she resolved to live on. She boasted she’d live well just to show her betrayer of a father. But that bravado didn’t last long. A new intruder disrupted the fragile daily life she had barely built. The King with Many Hearts had secretly targeted her, and thanks to that, Lena was dragged back to the tomb without knowing why. When she first fell into the tomb, she was so shocked she could barely speak. After zoning out for dozens of hours like that, Regina brought her to the field and opened the bookshelf, and the child snapped out of it like magic. Finding it both admirable and pitiful, Regina happily indulged Lena’s curiosity.
—I shall return and rule over you once more. The living shall not endure the dead….
Lena nodded excitedly as Regina read her line from the biography. The young girl was more curious whether Regina had really spouted such novel-like lines than the fact that a fragment of history was right before her eyes. At that blatant anticipation, Regina answered awkwardly.
—Well, yeah, I did.
“Wow….”
—You rude little thing.
Regina clicked her tongue and sprawled out on the meadow like Lena. Emboldened, Lena chattered on even more excitedly.
“But why didn’t you?”
—What do you mean?
“You said you’d rule, but you didn’t do anything. Isn’t that too passive compared to the other kings?”
She’d grown so accustomed to the tomb that she was even making jokes like this. Regina was stunned into laughter for a moment. On the other hand, she understood why Lena was asking. Among the wraiths rampaging on the surface—and those who once had—none belonged to Regina. Compared to the most terrifying declaration in the biography, the presence of the Unforgiven King was extremely faint. Lena found it strange and asked about it, and Regina tapped her half-missing cheek and said,
—There are three answers, but I’ll give you two.
“Cheapskate.”
—First one. I’m not passive at all. Not on average, and especially not compared to the other kings. If anything, I’m radical.
Lena thought it didn’t ring true at all. Regina could clearly see her irreverent thoughts, but she continued regardless.
—And second. Everything you’re reading is bullshit.
“Huh?”
—Most of it’s fabricated.
Lena’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.
“Fabricated? All of it?”
—It’s based on facts, but they hid the truth. Twisted it cleverly. Plus, he didn’t write it himself anyway.
“H-How do you know that?”
—I’m not the type to sit and write stuff like that. It’s definitely ghostwritten.
Regina smirked as she spoke. Lena froze in a daze because of it.
—Lena?
Regina checked on her as she suddenly went rigid. For some reason, Lena looked truly shocked.
—What’s wrong?
“…It’s all lies, this.”
When Regina asked again, Lena finally came to her senses and muttered,
“I didn’t know….”
Lena touched the book with a deeply disappointed face, then closed it. She buried her head in her arms, looking upset.
—Is it that shocking?
“I don’t know….”
—You got some connection to the emperor?
“…I just thought he was amazing.”
Nihil, who wielded a sword against wraiths, the great girl who conquered the tomb and became emperor. Fallen into the tomb, Lena felt a strange kinship with Nihil and admired his brilliant victory. But fabricated? It felt like the brief comfort she’d gained was snatched away.
“Feels empty.”
Lena muttered softly, swallowing her disappointment. Thinking about it, this wasn’t the first time she’d felt this hollowness. Back when she was a noble viscount’s daughter, she dreamed of glamorous high society and fateful encounters while reading romance novels. But those dreams faded into the distance with her changed life, so Lena read other books. It was a warm essay by a teacher recounting their impoverished childhood plainly. Reading it, Lena briefly imagined becoming a teacher herself. But even that became a distant tale when threatened by thugs. So Lena, cornered to the point she could barely breathe, sought new stories to avoid despair. That was Emperor Nihil’s biography. Hearing it was all lies made her barely scraped-together strength drain away again.
—I shouldn’t have said anything.
Regina patted the crown of disappointed Lena’s head. As Lena quietly accepted the comfort, she peeked up and said,
“Then you’re not a bad person?”
—What’re you talking about?
“The wraith kings were all tremendous villains in life, right? If that’s fabricated, then you’re not a bad person?”
Lena asked cautiously. It was the tone of grasping at a straw of hope.
—No, I am a villain.
Regina knew what Lena was hoping for but answered firmly. And added,
—But I didn’t become a wraith king because I was a villain. It’s the opposite.
As she said that, Regina wound Lena’s hair around her finger. At the touch that was either tender or indifferent, Lena muttered in a petulant tone.
“Why did you become a wraith king then?”
—Because I bore karma.
“Karma…?”
—The sins piled up by humans create a threshold here, and the one most suited becomes its gatekeeper king. I did nothing wrong in life. But the sins and karma accumulated here chose me, and I followed.
At Regina’s explanation, Lena blinked vacantly.
“I don’t really get what that means….”
—You will someday.
Regina smiled faintly at Lena’s protest. Then she whispered to the child who resembled her.
—You’ve been chosen by sin and karma too.
***
“We can’t afford to slight you, so welcome anyway. O King Deprived of Blessing.”
Hiems Grasha said that as he greeted the intruder, Lena Rubel. Lena watched his graceful gesture impassively, while Rubid gaped in shock.
“King Deprived of Blessing?”
Rubid’s eyes widened as he looked back and forth between Lena Rubel and Hiems Grasha. But Lena and Hiems ignored Rubid and spoke to each other.
“I’m not some king.”
“Then what should we call one as noble as you?”
“Just one person. One among very many.”
“Such excessive humility.”
Hiems smiled faintly. That smile made him look even more like Clavys. At the unwelcome association, Lena hardened her expression and got to the point.
“I came for the heart.”
“I know.”
“Will you resist?”
“With my body already half-gone, how could I defy you? Now that you’ve entered the castle, I have no chance of victory.”
Hiems’s attitude toward Lena was extremely courteous. Considering he was a king, it even seemed servile. Hiems Grasha seemed to have already accepted defeat, asking in a serenely relieved tone,
“Did you take the Weeping King’s heart like this too?”
“King Chelleste gave up his heart willingly.”
“I see. He had no choice. You’re the forsaken child, and he the forsaking parent, so he couldn’t face you.”
That was when it happened.
“What the hell are you talking about? If you’re gonna talk, make it understandable!”
Ignored by the two kings, Rubid suddenly asserted his presence. When serious talk flew between adults, children usually knew to stay quiet, but the young prince was just annoyed at being left out and grilled Lena without tact.
“What’s this? You know him? Why?”
“Wait a minute, we’re in the middle of something important….”
“It’s important to you, not me!”
“Rubid.”
“Are you a wraith?”
“…Pardon?”
Lena lost her words at the utterly baseless question. But Rubid was deadly serious.
“No, I’m not….”
“Then why call you like a wraith?”
King Deprived of Blessing. To Rubid, it sounded like nothing but a wraith’s title. Unable to hold back his doubts, Rubid whined loudly, and at his utterly clueless display, Hiems Grasha asked,
“What’s that novel creature?”
“My descendant.”
Hiems burst into a wry chuckle at Lena’s curt reply.
“A hundred years ago, a daughter took half of me, and now a son comes for the other half.”
Hiems self-mocked like that, then reached out to Rubid.
“Since it’s come to this, I’d like to see your face up close. Come here. You, a Grasha, deserve to ascend here.”
The moment Hiems beckoned as he spoke, Rubid realized it. Where this strangely familiar place was. This was none other than Do-um Palace. The very audience chamber that had shone brilliantly as the royal palace before it became ruins, before it was called Do-um Palace. Realizing where he was, Rubid’s mood shifted slightly. Finally sensing that Hiems Grasha was his ancestor, he hesitated unconsciously at the command to come up.
“Don’t go.”
But before he could move, Lena blocked him.
“It could be a trap.”
“I have no intention of struggling further here.”
When Lena stayed wary, Hiems murmured sadly. But Lena didn’t believe him. The King with Many Hearts had warned her. That the Fanatics and war maniacs were after her. So this couldn’t be all. Mindful that Hiems Grasha was no pushover, Lena stood in front of Rubid and said,
“I’ll take it now.”
“Please, take it.”
At Lena’s demand, Hiems removed his cloak and bowed low like a surrendering king. Leaving Rubid behind, Lena stepped across the red carpet of the audience chamber toward the king. Even as Lena climbed the stairs and stood before the throne, Hiems remained bowed like the dead. Lena approached him slowly and reached out. At that instant, flames erupted from Hiems Grasha’s back like wings and enveloped her.
‘Of course!’
Lena hurriedly pulled back from the intense heat. But the soaring flames amid the smoke were faster, trapping her inescapably, and with no choice, Lena charged again. Amid the blazing inferno, the red-hot Hiems Grasha lunged at Lena too. Clang! Lena’s dagger clashed with Hiems’s hand. His hand blazed like lava, heating her blade red. At the transferred heat, Lena dropped the dagger and drew her whip. Then, in the swirling flames, she clashed endlessly with the king bearing Karmic Flames.
“O newborn king! I curse you!”
Hiems shouted while enduring Lena’s fierce assault.
“Impudent! Blasphemous! Arrogant! I curse you, playing king by dragging rotten logs! I will surely…!”
Hiems’s shout cut off abruptly. The whip that withstood the heat finally sliced through his burning flesh, scraping toward the heart. As the heart was exposed, Hiems’s body stiffened and the heat subsided. As Hiems halted, Lena tightened the whip coiled around his body while gasping for breath. Then, exhaling long, she muttered,
“You don’t even believe in God, and you talk of curses.”
At Lena’s mockery, Hiems laughed weakly. Cooled of heat, he was crumbling like charcoal. But his face remained beautiful and kind.
“As expected, half can’t beat one.”
“You knew, so why bother.”
“When two halves become one, that’s one too.”
Hiems smiled faintly, bound by the whip. Then, squeezing out his last strength, he exploded his scorched body into ash.
“Ugh!”
Lena quickly covered her mouth. But it was too late. Unknowingly, she had swallowed a mouthful of that pitch-black ash.