Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Netherworld Tour - 1
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Impellium shrugged.
“That’s something you’ve probably already realized yourself.”
“What are you talking about? If I had realized it, I would’ve used it right away.”
“Anyway, I can’t answer that question. You’ll figure it out yourself when the time comes. I’ll give you some advice then.”
“…….”
“Getting back to it, you’re probably planning to demand a way to save Serein from Bellosian. But trying to save one party member at the cost of wiping out the rest is the worst choice possible. As a leader, stay calm and rational.”
I swallowed hard.
And reflected.
He was right.
Fear of losing a party member had made me lose my cool.
Rushing off to meet some unknown called Bellosian without a plan wasn’t like me at all.
‘Thanks.’
I was grateful to Impellium for steadying my heart.
I opened my mouth to tell him so.
But he spoke first.
“So just abandon her.”
“…….”
“Abandon Serein and find another party member. That’s your best option right now.”
Boom.
When I snapped to, I had Impellium by the collar.
“Say that again.”
“I don’t think you missed it.”
“Damn it, I was a fool for feeling grateful even for a second. You toss out ‘abandon a precious comrade’ that easily?”
“…….”
“You know secrets I couldn’t dream of, and I respected you a little for battling guys like Adwin or Bellosian. That’s why this disappointment hits so hard.”
“Hmm.”
“I won’t lose a single one. I’ll make sure they live long, happy lives—happy enough to go bald!”
Slap.
I roughly released his collar.
That’s when it happened.
“Hahaha.”
Impellium burst out laughing.
He stood, then patted my shoulder.
“Sorry.”
“What the hell is this?”
“Sorry. I mean it. I wasn’t really telling you to abandon Serein.”
“Then why say that shit?”
“I wanted to test it. See what choice you’d make. And you gave exactly the answer I hoped for.”
Step.
He turned and approached the window.
He drew back the curtain and gazed outside.
Hands clasped behind his back, admiring the view... it looked exactly like ‘that’ image I’d always pictured.
“What’s got you grinning like that? Mind if I take a look?”
“Won’t do you any good, but come on.”
“……?”
I walked over to him.
Then peered out the window, shoulders level with his.
“Huh? No way?”
But there was nothing.
Sunlight streamed through the glass clear as day, yet outside was void—as if the window itself birthed the light.
“A quiet afternoon. Warm sunlight in a neat room. Scenery beyond the window.”
“What’re you on about?”
“That’s the retirement I dreamed of.”
My jaw dropped.
His description matched my vision of a ‘peaceful retirement life’ perfectly.
“So that’s why you can’t see the view. Your retirement doesn’t match that scenery.”
“…….”
“I’m a city lover. You?”
“Countryside.”
“That explains it.”
He snickered.
Then faced me.
Dead serious, he continued.
“I’ll say it again: don’t meet Bellosian now. But there’s another way to heal Serein.”
“……! Tell me.”
“You heard from Adwin already... her soul’s faded. Bellosian wiped out about half of it.”
“As expected.”
“But he didn’t touch Serein’s soul directly.”
He stared right at me.
“Force it in front of you, and you’d have blocked him body breaking. He knew that.”
“…….”
“So he picked the easy route.”
“Easy route?”
“He erased half the soul connected to Serein’s.”
What?
I pressed him with my eyes alone.
Impellium glanced out the window once more.
“You know Serein has a sister?”
“She did.”
“No—she does. Right now.”
“……!”
“Second finger of deceit. Firensha is Serein’s sister.”
My legs buckled.
“Firensha died, and Idria snatched her up. Turned her into another minion, same as always.”
“…….”
“Back then, Idria was solving the last piece for her fake world trip.”
“What piece?”
“Souls.”
It all clicked in my head.
Adwin had said it once.
Idria would head to a fake world.
But souls—she couldn’t fake those.
So she’d exterminate humanity to steal countless real ones.
“Idria didn’t plan total human extinction from the start. She tried crafting fake souls alongside the fake world.”
“…….”
“Impossible. But Idria wouldn’t quit. She tested on Firensha.”
“Fake soul for Firensha?”
“Yeah. That birthed your party member Serein. She was meant to be stillborn. Idria’s fake soul filled the empty shell.”
My gut twisted.
Thud.
I collapsed back into the chair.
Serein’s parents saw her as their dead daughter reborn.
In a way, they were spot on.
Impellium glanced my way and went on.
“Like I said, Demon Kings can’t make fake souls. Idria failed.”
“…….”
“No fake. Serein’s soul stayed linked perfectly to Firensha’s. Even a Demon King couldn’t cut it.”
“Serein and Firensha... same person?”
“Not ‘sort of’—identical. One soul, two bodies.”
He explained patiently.
“Surface level, two distinct souls. No glowing thread or anything.”
“Still the same soul. Adwin saw both. No way he missed it.”
Impellium smiled, like figure it out.
Lightning struck.
“Idria.”
“Right. Idria tweaked Firensha’s soul color just enough. No necromancer, no matter how skilled, spots the match.”
“…….”
“She couldn’t create souls, but recoloring one? Trivial.”
“Why bother... nah, no need to ask.”
Idria already fed Ophelia to Jenia’s blade.
Another lie-harvest scheme.
‘Thinking back, we killed Firensha pre-regression too.’
I was right.
Kaild’s ‘victories’ over deceit’s fingers—they didn’t die.
No way she’d let her ‘children’ fall to a clown like him.
Just a fame-boost play.
Impellium spoke.
“Getting it?”
“Wait. If so, Bellosian half-erased Firensha’s soul. Idria just watched?”
“On the sly.”
“How?”
“Firensha got the full story from Bellosian. Begged him to do it behind Idria’s back. Idria’s clueless about it all.”
I went quiet, then spoke.
“Why would Firensha...”
“A kid helping her ‘mom.’ Her sacrifice ties your feet—helps Idria.”
“Ha. Bullshit.”
“Their cruelty targets humans only. Guess they’ve got loyalty among themselves.”
“…….”
“That cover it?”
Like hell.
I snapped back curtly.
“You skipped the key part. How save Serein without facing Bellosian?”
“Sever the linked souls. World sees them as separate then. Laws accept it.”
“…….”
“Firensha’s erasure won’t touch Serein. Erased bits auto-repair, if I’m right.”
“How sever linked souls?”
“Too tricky to spell out. See for yourself.”
See myself? What?
He read my face, shrugged it off.
“Visit the netherworld.”
“……?”
“Go there—I’ll guide you.”
“You telling me to die?”
“Not easy round-trip alive. Hint: imperial palace underground. Way to netherworld’s there.”
I gawked, absurd.
“You said no Bellosian. Now palace underground?”
“Avoid the ‘special room.’ Other doors? Open freely.”
“Find what...”
“Time’s up. Back.”
Window vanished.
Table, tea.
Furniture, walls.
Even Impellium gone.
Just endless dark.
His last words:
“Someday, invite me over. Post-retirement.”
The group huddled, peering down.
I asked.
“Why the intense stares?”
“Your face.”
“Obviously.”
“You looked so serene.”
Huh?
Felt pretty heated to me.
Jenia said.
“Pleasant dream? Too pleasant’s bad...”
“Not really. Got real leads—no worries.”
“Good.”
Jenia sighed, relieved for real.
Neril crossed arms.
“What’d Impellium say?”
“Assuming I met him?”
“You said leads. Saw the serene face too.”
“Hmm.”
“What leads?”
I explained calmly.
Faces shifted wildly.
Adwin looked guilt-ridden, like a felon.
“S-Serein sis and Firensha... one soul? Me missing that...”
“Demon King of Lies hid it with power. Not on you—lose the face.”
“Hyung.”
“Anyway, sever the link to save her. Netherworld trip for that.”
Neril grinned.
Voice chilled though.
“Metaphor, right?”
“Er, seemed literal.”
“He said die?”
“Clue in palace underground first. Avoid special room.”
We don’t know it anyway—no issue.
Unlucky or not, won’t hit it in thousands.
“Jenia. How close?”
“Almost. Descending. Agril!”
Felt Agril drop, headed to carriage.
Door open: Risel gripped Serein’s hand.
“Serein?”
“Bad. Fever’s raging—delirium nonstop.”
“What’s she saying?”
“Swimming in gold coins—so happy.”
“True heart leaking, not delirium.”
“Sniff. Where are we?”
Gently:
“We’re here. No tears—got a lead.”
“Lead?”
“Need watcher for Serein—stay put. Explain on return.”
“Yeah. Ah, Maide.”
Grab.
Risel clutched my sleeve.
Eyes brimming, unwiped:
“Serein’s rough-mouthed, materialistic often—no, a lot...”
“…….”
“But she’s good at heart. Can’t lose her here.”
Right—Risel longest with her.
Nodded firm.
“No worries. No one lost.”
That’s hero work.