Chapter: 470
The skeleton’s eyes were clearly hollow, but strangely, I could feel heat emanating from that darkness.
Overwhelmed by the atmosphere that seemed to ooze with deep emotions residing in memories, I forgot the excitement I just had and faced the skeleton.
“Answer me. How do you know about the Fairy Dance?”
His tone was completely different from when he argued with Grandpa—serious and stern.
It was a voice edged like a blade, as if no small joke would be tolerated.
What could the Fairy Dance be that made the skeleton so urgent?
I had no idea. The only thing I knew about the skeleton and the Fairy Forest was that he had plunged it into eternal slumber.
What had happened in between, I didn’t know either.
That’s a story for heroes, not for Soul Academy.
[Speak of what Ganshu showed you.]
While I was picking my words in front of the seemingly ravenous skeleton, Grandpa advised me.
Lies, he said.
He must know that the Fairy Dance Ganshu and I performed had nothing to do with him. After all, he watched the whole scene unfold along with my trials.
Even so, Grandpa had just wiped away his previous enthusiasm and told me to tell a lie.
I may not be the most perceptive person, but at this point, I could intuit what was going on.
The story related to the Fairy Forest was likely something profoundly tragic.
“What a bunch of rubbish the little history nerd showed me, right?”
“…Ganshu showed you the Fairy Forest?”
The skeleton paused at my mocking name for him but soon realized who I was referring to.
“Why?”
“Do I need to know what’s going on in that smelly brat’s head?”
The will of God is indeed convenient.
Just like when prophecies descend from heaven to earth, leaving many interpretations, their divine messages rarely come clearly. If you say you don’t know the intent, the opponent is left with nothing to say.
What can I do? I don’t know.
“Calm down, you pathetic Sympathy Wizard. If you act like that after hearing something you know, who would want to be friends with you? Even those who might think to get closer would run away in fright.”
I intended to shift the topic by irritating him a little, but the skeleton didn’t react at all to my insolent tone.
As if it were a lie that I had been playing around all this time.
“Do you know what the Fairy Forest is like now?”
“Is it the place where that pathetic Evil God lying underground got devoured, trembling? Why do you ask? Didn’t you seal it, oh pathetic Sympathy Wizard? Is your memory so volatile that it’s affecting your empty skull?”
“Right. That place is where I sealed it. A place bearing the sins of a pitiful wizard who chose the world over the forest because he couldn’t handle the devoured woods.
It must be a certain intent that Ganshu showed you, the Apostle of God!”
D…Does it?
I don’t think so?
There’s no way a socially inept history nerd would have such insight.
That little brat probably just wanted to torment me by picking a troublesome place.
“As long as darkness remains on this land, saving that place is impossible, right? Why? Why?”
“That brat got beaten up by me and ran away, crying?”
“…What?”
“Like a coward, when the sickly nerd tried to bother me, he ended up getting destroyed by me. How could such a shoddy thing be called a God? Oh, even a fool is still a god, I suppose?”
I hadn’t completely vanquished the Evil God of Darkness. To erase his existence, I’d need to go down into the dungeon, break the seal, and smash him up.
But one thing was clear: I had blown away most of the power that Evil God possessed.
The Evil God had dedicated everything to eliminate me, the Apostle of Lord Jushin, yet even in that situation, he proved he was lousy by getting defeated by me.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he were busy indulging in some self-righteous victory in his sealed state right now.
“Can you tell me about that story in detail?”
With the skeleton thrusting his skull forward, his voice held an intensity that no one could ignore, forcing me not to push him away.
Hmm. How should I explain this?
I had no confidence in explaining it in a way that was easy to understand, even if it was distorted by Mesugaki Skill.
If I chattered on, the rotten words only I could understand would come out.
After briefly pondering and giving up on explaining, I decided to tell the skeleton that I’d unseal the barrier for a moment and bring Phoebe.
“Are you talking about the day we fought the Evil God of Darkness? If that’s the case, Lady would be better suited for it.”
“I’m too lazy.”
“Then I’ll have to make an effort to speak about her devotion.”
Phoebe, who usually preached to others in the church when she had time, was an excellent storyteller.
If a pretty sister like her narrated in this style on a video site, the views would be astronomical.
But you know, Phoebe? Doesn’t it feel a little exaggerated?
In your story, I’m not a Mesugaki; I’m a figure that would fit right into myths!
I’m not such a noble person! Please tone it down a bit!
Unable to bear the flood of Phoebe’s praises, I covered my flushed face with both hands, but no matter what, Phoebe continued to relay her exaggerated story to the skeleton.
“Lady borrowed the power of Lord Jushin to create a miracle, restoring the city that had been engulfed in darkness to its original state.”
“That can’t be.”
“It is true. Lord Erginius. I’ve heard from the people of the church there that it’s become a holier place than before.”
“…Really?”
“I swear to Lord Jushin.”
As Phoebe gently smiled and nodded, Erginius subtly turned his head to look at me.
I didn’t know what he was expecting, but the ‘me’ in that story and the real me were entirely different. Don’t set your hopes too high—only scorn would return.
“Lucy Allen, was it?”
“You remember my name, yet you keep calling me a brat? Why? Were you embarrassed to call a girl’s name?”
“The miracle that happened in the city. Can it be spread to a wider area?”
Is he referring to the act of dispelling the Evil God’s energy?
There’s no reason it can’t be done.
If I retrieve a few sacred artifacts from Isabel Arteia, it’s definitely possible.
Both Phoebe and I have grown to an incomprehensible extent since then.
After I nodded silently, the skeleton gritted his teeth before slowly starting to shake his head.
“You said you were a student of the academy.”
“So what?”
“When the vacation starts, can you come find me? I want to make a deal. If you help me, I’ll share what truly is hidden. While there might be inaccuracies because even after I took over the memory, the real one continued to act, I can assure you everything will be precious.”
The skeleton’s proposal was of a type I’d never seen even once in the game.
Though he bears the memories of Erginius, he never shared any information about him.
So, the skeleton’s proposal now indicates how desperate he truly is.
However, despite that desperation, the proposal wasn’t too appealing to me.
I would know better than this skeleton where Erginius had hidden his stuff.
Of course, I’d know that the sewage of Soul Academy is filled more than a skeleton buried under the desert.
But…
‘Grandpa, is this proposal from the skeleton related to the Fairy Forest?’
<…It’s probably so. Even in the instant everything concluded, he felt regret reminiscing about the forest.>
‘It would be dangerous, right?’
[I personally want to tell you to just ignore it. It's like poking a beehive for no reason.]
Grandpa tried to dissuade me, but I didn’t pay heed to that advice.
The Fairy Forest was a place even I couldn’t visit in the game.
A magical labyrinth that I never set foot in. A hell where what lurks is unknown.
What other tempting words could exist in the world like this?
With a smirk, I stepped closer to the waiting skeleton and kicked his shin.
Even a great wizard couldn’t presumably handle an unexpected attack, as he stumbled, placing our gazes on the same horizon.
“I have no interest in what you, oh pathetic Sympathy Wizard, left behind. I wouldn’t want to poke around in a smell-ridden object. I’m worried the smell might cling to me.”
“Those are no items that can be belittled like that! They are!”
“Oh, the sympathy wizard knows nothing of girls. You, pathetic wizard, can’t accomplish anything by yourself, so you tuck your head into the dirt in front of a girl. After so much time, would you like to fulfill your wish that’s decayed and rotting?”
“…Yeah.”
“Then stop barking nonsense and help me with that idiot. He’s sure to do something strange out of the blue again.”
I believe in Joy’s ability.
And I also believe that she cannot escape from being a fool.
If left to her own devices, Joy would paint her face pale with the grandest failure unlike any other.
Not wanting to see my friend cry in regret, I asked the skeleton to help her.
Then the skeleton paused for a moment before quietly asked.
“…Do you know what I’m going to ask you?”
“I have a rough idea?”
“Do you also know it would be dangerous?”
“Danger? Ah! Enduring the smell of that old hen would be a bit tough. I’ll admit that.”
“Yet, you’d help me fulfill my wish with just this little assistance?”
“Hey, you nerd wizard. I think you’re under a misconception, so let me clarify. I have no interest in your smelly wish. I just want to do what I want to do. So, don’t be delusional. There’s nothing more unpleasant than a nerd giggling to himself.”
With my words completed after a light tap on the skeleton’s forehead, I took a step back and gripped my mace again.
The moment I assumed my first stance, intending to solidify the clues gained from the Fairy Dance, a hearty laugh erupted from behind me.
The rattling skeleton, as if out of his mind, only stopped laughing after a while, stood upright, and let out a voice full of mirth directed at me.
“One must never doubt the keen insight of the great Lord Jushin.”
…What.
What is going on?
Why is he suddenly saying such things?
Has he awakened some dark inclinations within himself after facing scorn?
Another pervert would be troublesome!
“Sloppy fox! Attack!”
“…Huh?! Why?! Why?! I was just complimenting you! Why would I be scared?!”
“Lucy, you’ll be sure to give me a proper reward later?”
“Gyaaaah! Don’t come! Don’t come, please!”
Thank goodness. From his confused reaction, it seems his tastes haven’t changed.
“Please don’t come near me!”
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