Chapter: 96. 0-Rank Participation Record
[End of the World Disease] (1)
“So, why are we in this damn city?”
I opened the window and climbed up to look out. Below me lay a quiet, gloomy city. No one was roaming around, only gray hints draped over everything.
The surrounding buildings were made of that dismal gray stone.
“Macbeth seems to be related to the Otherworld,” said Lin.
Yeah, that bastard Macbeth. When has that prophecy ever been correct? Can he even interpret it properly? What kind of prophecy is this?
“They call it a profound prophecy and say it should be trusted. I even won lunch money on the lottery thanks to it yesterday.”
“Well, that’s a fascinating prophecy, huh?” The kind that has you winning a lottery level of divinity. But how can we trust it?
“Let’s focus on hiding first, as this is a secret operation.”
So that’s why you were sticking your head out from behind the wall? I thought we were doing some kind of ritual or something.
“Don’t worry about that; there’s no one around.”
If we started shooting indiscriminately around here, people wouldn’t notice. That’s probably true.
“People who kill don’t want to walk on corpses either.”
“I usually think death isn’t the end, but this feels like something worse. Not even a corpse rests in the grave.”
Calavera said that and scattered the ashes piled on the windowsill with his hand. Singing a song was just his way of lamenting.
“Isn’t it just about scattering it around?”
Like turning to ashes, “The soul isn’t lingering. It’s different from cremation. This is literally something that leaves nothing behind.”
“It seems there’s no difference.”
Is there even a soul to begin with? I dusted the ashes off my hands, climbed back inside, and closed the window. No matter the country, I have no interest in having my home filled with ashes.
Yes, this city is covered in countless gray ashes. All that remains are the last of what were once humans. An Otherworld-related plague has spread, and to stop it, the surrounding countries have sealed off entire regions of Czechoslovakia.
“What were the symptoms again? Calavera.”
I barely got the information after sneaking in to dodge the higher-ups’ surveillance. All I know is that these ashes are the end for humans.
“The body turns gray, hardens, and eventually turns to ash while leaving nothing but bones. Thankfully, there’s no pain involved.”
“Looks like a disease connected to the Otherworld—where does that kind of thing even exist?”
Either it was a plague mutated by the Otherworld’s Power, or maybe it was planted by their presence.
Ah, what if the disease from the Otherworld itself has crossed over? That would really mess up the ecosystem.
“Haram. What exactly is death?”
“Just say what you have to say.”
It’s all good, but why does he sometimes throw out these random philosophical questions?
He nodded, almost helplessly.
“That disease doesn’t stop at just that.”
“What? What more is there after bones falling off and becoming a corpse?”
“The face doesn’t turn to ash. Up until the end, one still wishes to see their body become ash, and only when the bones, except for the face, are shattered does the face harden.”
What kind of sadistic disease is that? It brings pure fear without pain?
-That kind of thing couldn’t happen naturally.
“Yet the governments refuse to acknowledge it. They think if it ends in one city, they’re lucky.”
Bastards. If there’s an entity causing this, do they really believe they could resolve it with a lockdown?
“What’s the population like?”
“One million.”
One million. If they all die, that would be a peak record for Otherworld-related individual deaths, wouldn’t it? It’s incomparable to any 0-Rank damage.
“What’s the route of infection?”
“Contact with ashes from the infected or fresh corpses.”
“We just touched ashes, didn’t we?”
“We did, my friend.”
This crazy bastard better keep his mouth shut about that.
“Just so you know—”
“Awakeners of a certain ranked level and above have been confirmed not to be infected.”
“You should have said that earlier, you lunatic.”
I thought I was going to die. I started imagining what it would be like for my Awakener life to end with my limbs rotting in bed.
“Just show that prophecy of yours.”
“Weren’t you the one who said you don’t believe it?”
“Shut up. I came here believing it; how else would I know?”
“That’s fair.”
He opened the leather pouch on his waist and handed me a note.
It was just a folded A4 sheet.
As far as prophecies go, it looked pretty unimpressive, but it was the only lead we had.
A worn-out piece of paper with ink smeared all over. It seems like the writing was hurried.
I could barely read it, but I quietly gazed at the words.
『The plague of beginnings shall be unleashed upon the capital of the holy empire of the past.』
『Those struggling to prevent the end shall be oppressed.』
『Thus, in the delayed gray city, the only key must be chosen: sacrifice or grave.』
“How about you ask him to write it out more clearly for me?”
“He claims he doesn’t know how to write it himself.”
“Oh, I see.”
I stopped the complaints about someone who wasn’t even here and began interpreting the prophecy. The past was talking about a plague, the present suggested that someone had a way to stop it, but the future…
I felt bitter seeing that line and took a drag from my cigarette.
“This hotel is non-smoking.”
“What do you mean ‘non-smoking’ when there’s no one here? The hotel manager and staff ran away, and we’re squatting here.”
“More importantly, regarding the prophecy—the past is too obvious, and for the present… The one who tries to stop the end definitely isn’t either you or me.”
“I know how to talk to the dead, but I don’t know how to negotiate with a disease.”
The dead. I was told nothing could be felt from those ashes outside. What’s the difference?
As I momentarily shifted my gaze to the window, I noticed the ashes fluttering outside. They were swirling like a fog, thicker than the cigarette smoke inside.
“So this situation is someone’s tale, and we have to find that Awakener? They must be useful to solve this issue?”
“Do you think it’s like a movie, where there’s an immune person protecting everyone?”
“If I keep watching that kind of B-Rank movie, my personality will deteriorate.”
With blood and gore already aplenty on the battlefield, why would anyone want to see it in a movie too?
I bent down, pointing toward the future with my finger as I spoke.
“By the way, looking at the future implies that if the prophecy is accurate, the downfall is already certain, right…”
BEEP!
A foreboding sound rang out.
“I told you.”
Along with Calavera’s admonishment…
SHHHH…
Water burst from the fire alarm. It was cold and made me feel uneasy.
Thanks to that, the cigarette in my mouth got wet, and the note in my hand smudged with ink, causing me to feel like I was about to choke.
Sitting there dumbfounded at the absurdity of it all, I heard Calavera say, “If it’s a prophecy, I’ve written it down, so don’t worry. Also, regarding the future prophecy, Macbeth must have sent us here for something significant regarding that choice.”
…To lessen the number of sacrifices, huh?
“Exactly.”
Hearing the gunshots coming from outside, we darkened our faces in the rain-soaked room.
It seems someone else got shot and killed, but I didn’t care too much. Since we entered this city, it was common to see someone get shot while trying to escape or someone pointing a gun at them to avoid getting close.
Four days passed.
With no results whatsoever.
Sighing, I returned to the lodging, where Calavera greeted me.
“Did you find what you sought in the city of ashes, dear girl?”
Even amidst the ashes, he flashed a bright smile, showing off his cheerful teeth.
“Quit the nonsense; if there had been anything noteworthy, I would have contacted you sooner. I’m already annoyed at the lack of findings, and your Latin charm just adds to my frustration.”
I opened the window and shook off my ash-covered coat, but the ashes just clung on harder, so I flopped onto the sofa.
“What about you, Calavera?”
“Can’t you tell from my bright smile? I found something of interest.”
You should have mentioned it sooner, you rascal.
I adjusted my posture, ready to listen.
“I saw a girl who was pricing the infected. She was crying, saying they could still live.”
“Sounds trivial, doesn’t it? Maybe someone she knows passed out.”
“That’s not it, my friend. When that girl priced the patient, a part of that patient’s body began to restore. It didn’t fully save them, but it stopped their death.”
“You damn fool! Are there illnesses that can kill just by delaying the important details?”
I could no longer contain myself and exploded.
His jokes are only fun on a battlefield; tossing them around in a place where people are dying only twists my gut.
“What can I do? It’s my nature. Don’t you think it’s too late to change after living so long?”
Holding back expletives that were about to spill out, I spat out another shout.
“Forget it! So that girl is the Awakener in question. Where is she? Did you catch her?”
“I missed her.”
No. Dammit for real.
“You bastard! Shouldn’t you have brought in the Thunder God or Infinite Architect instead of some useless wretch?”
Once the floodgates of curses opened, they would not close. A torrent of expletives flowed out.
“XXXXXX.”
“What can I do? My friend, I’m simply not as resilient as you. I tried to chase that child, but I hit my limits.”
“Is that supposed to be bragging? Even an S-Rank gets brushed aside by some random Awakener.”
Lost a lead? You’re dead.
“So why don’t you come with me to find her? With your sensing skills and physical abilities, we might stand a chance.”
“You crazy bastard. Where’s she at? Lead the way.”
I’ll ask for those damn things and get back to work.
“So this is the corpse then?”
“Indeed.”
Ignoring Calavera’s strange tone, I lifted the corpse. Despite turning gray, it hadn’t turned to ash and bore a calm expression.
Shaking the body showed no signs of crumbling like the surrounding ones.
“It seems to be really healed.”
I don’t know why it died, but it was probably either too late or not enough treatment.
“Do you feel any prices?”
Feeling any prices… Well, there are plenty like that around.
“Calavera.”
“What is it?”
“Check the corpse next to her. Flip it over.”
Calavera looked puzzled at my advice but complied without question.
As I applied slight force, the sound of rustling ashes filled the air, and the ashes from what was once a human body scattered into the void.
In that nightmare scene, the turned individual gasped softly, proving they were still alive.
Even though most of the body had deteriorated and their eyes couldn’t open properly, being alive is still being alive.
I moved closer to that person, speaking softly.
“Have you seen any children around here? They say one is running about nearby.”
While a small voice emerged, it was barely audible.
I suppose a dying person wouldn’t have a loud voice.
So, I leaned in to capture her words in my ear.
“There’s a treatment… there’s a person here…”
As expected, rumors are circulating about someone like that in this area.
“We’re also looking for that kid. Seems you haven’t seen them either.”
“I can’t… save?”
“I’m sorry, but we’re more into fighting than healing.”
Her breathing grew more rapid.
Filled with grief—at the same moment…
Rustle. Rustle.
With sounds that grated on the ears, her body, which had barely held form, began trembling and breaking apart.
As if her will was draining away, her body shattered.
“Kill… me…”
“It hurts… I’m fading. I want to… disappear…”
Didn’t they say there was no pain? Then, where is this woman feeling her pain?
…If it really hurts, I can end it for you, but do you want that?
“Maybe… I don’t know… I’d rather die…”
Each time she spoke, her body crumbled further, as if she was exhausting herself to force out words.
“Calavera. What about this woman’s soul?”
“It’s still there.”
I don’t believe in such things as souls, but the anguish she feels must come from something unknown that Calavera refers to as a soul draining away.
“Is this death salvation, Calavera?”
There was no answer to that question.
Only the feeling of a nod in response.
Bam. Clang. Splinter.
From my hand, a hammer shot out, slicing through the air. A pure white hammer modified so it wouldn’t feel burdening.
I didn’t want it to look like an execution tool, and somehow, I held up the modified hammer with both hands.
“Your soul shall be saved.”
At my words, she smiled.
Could it be her last bit of strength?
As her face crumbled away, I swung down the hammer toward that fading smile.
“STOP!”
Suddenly, a small child jumped in front of me.
She bore ash-gray wounds across her skin, with messy black hair—a small girl.
She jumped between me and the ashes, her eyes locked onto the ash without a hint of fear toward the hammer.
The little girl presented her back to me.
CRACK!
Along with the sound of metal overburdened with force, the head of the hammer halted just before touching her head.
The handle of the hammer bent as I reversed the force to ensure I didn’t hit her.
“An Awakener?”
Despite my concern behind stopping the attack, she disregarded my question as she clutched her frail head in her hands.
…She has no fingers.
By the look of the tear, she appears to have had it cut with a sharp blade.
“I can still save you! Remember the times when you were happy, before the illness consumed you… please…”
There was no trace of any Otherworld’s Power. All that echoed was the simple grief of a child.
But somehow, from where her hand touched, the gray ashes began to restore to human flesh.
The pink hue slowly spread, and finally, a normal complexion returned to her as she silently began moving her lips.
…What’s your name?
It was a simple question. Despite lacking lungs and a throat, her voice still came through, a bizarre aspect of the disease.
However, there was something stranger; even to such a simple question, the child seemed to flinch and hesitated to respond.
Almost as if afraid of the pricing, she trembled, reluctant to utter her own name.
How long did such anguish go on?
“I… I’m Alib.”
Within the gray silence, her voice softly echoed.
At that moment, the girl’s face that had been regaining its pink hue began reverting to gray once more. Not as fast as before, but it was still noticeable.
“Ahh… So you’re that child. If we had listened to you from the start…”
With words that seemed to know the price, her face slowly faded.
Leaving behind a sad smile, she uttered, “Please, forgive us. And save us… I’m sorry.”
Those last words floated in the air as the wind whirled past, tearing apart what once was human.
In the face of the wind, the human visage slowly transformed into faint dust.
Leaving only a small trace in someone’s hand.
“Oh… Ahh…”
The little clue we found had us sitting on the ground without being able to save the person before us.
It was a commonplace occurrence.
In this city.
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