Ch.177Chapter 177. Spirit World Escape No.1 (6)

Chapter 177. Spirit World Escape No.1 (6)

My conversation with Mera had matured sufficiently. Good. This should be enough. Time to gradually reveal the truth.

“Lady Mera. Actually…”

I confessed to her what kind of being Charon had become. At first, I thought I might be making things worse, but as we talked, I realized.

To get information about Charon, I had no choice but to tell this person everything. Information is power, and preparation.

Even if hearing about Charon’s weaknesses from when Mera was on earth might not be hugely helpful, there’s always the possibility it could be.

“Charon did such things…? I’m sorry, but that’s hard to believe. My brother isn’t that kind of person.”

“If you wish, you can ask the companions who came with me.”

Nix and Gukbap, whose memories were relatively intact, provided cross-verification.

“T-that can’t be.”

Mera’s face turned deathly pale.

“You must believe it. Charon is still threatening the earth. He’s trying to stand against the Roas.”

My speech skills aren’t particularly impressive. How eloquent could someone be who graduated from a four-year provincial private university with a 3.1 GPA in humanities before starting a convenience store job?

Still, Mera seemed to gradually come around, perhaps sensing the sincerity in my tone.

“S-so, that’s why Charon hasn’t been able to come to the spirit world until now.”

“That’s right.”

In truth, her own belief that someone who reached the spirit world, the Hall of Ancestors, wouldn’t tell petty lies played the biggest role.

I heard from Nike about some of the conditions for coming to the spirit world, and they’re stricter than I thought.

1. You must worship the Roas.

2. You must believe in the existence of the spirit world.

3. You must receive attention from the Roas.

4. You must achieve a feat worthy of recognition by everyone (especially the Roa who takes interest in you).

5. Your soul must not be damaged in the process of dying.

No wonder I only recognized a few faces like Nix, Gukbap, and Denzo.

Especially now, with the demon apocalypse making it easier to achieve feats, normally only two or three people might make it here in a decade.

It’s not an ordinary afterlife but a premium, high-class afterlife.

Those petty Roa bastards, they could just let everyone in. Tsk.

Ah, after hearing that, I asked the believers what feats they had accomplished. It’s just asking what they did before dying.

Nix died blocking demons alone to evacuate the injured, and Denzo died showing fighting spirit even while covered in blood. As for Gukbap, well, I already knew.

“Learning necromancy… an unforgivable sin…”

I gave the confused Mera time to organize her thoughts. From her perspective, nothing could be more horrifying.

In Earth terms, would it be like an older sister studying abroad hearing news that her shy, cute little brother had become a serial killer and terrorist, taking countless lives?

[PetitNoa: Excuse me]

[PetitNoa: Mr. Sans?]

I got a private message from Noa.

[Yeah?]

Wondering if something else had happened, I replied.

[PetitNoa: Lakye came looking for you]

[PetitNoa: She asked me to tell you she misses Malak and wants to know if he’s doing well]

Lakye… she must be feeling lonely without me.

Somehow, my heart feels warm. There’s something nice about knowing someone misses you or waits for you.

Exchanging messages during a conversation is bad manners, but it’s fine now. Mera can’t see the messages anyway.

She’s also lost in thought, drumming her fingers on the table. With an expression that suggests she desperately needs a cigarette.

[Is Lakye there with you?]

[PetitNoa: Yes… she’s staring at me so intensely it’s uncomfortable]

[PetitNoa: I don’t think she’ll move until she gets an answer ಥ◡ಥ]

Still using those weird emoticons.

[Tell her Malak is resting in the spirit world. When I told her that, she was very happy]

I didn’t mention that I need to leave the spirit world quickly. That would only cause unnecessary worry.

[PetitNoa: Really?!]

[PetitNoa: I told her, and Lakye is super happy too!]

…Somehow, I miss Lakye too.

[Can you send me a picture of Lakye?]

It feels like sending love letters through a postal worker.

[PetitNoa: What?]

[Not for me, Malak wants to see her]

[PetitNoa: Ah…]

[PetitNoa: (A photo of Lakye looking happy)]

Ah, Lakye. Beautiful as always. Truly the tribal federation’s greatest beauty.

Looking again, she doesn’t really resemble Nike that much. If Nike has an image of someone who should protect you, Lakye has an image of someone you should beg for mercy from—no, someone who would protect you well.

How should I put it, like a rabbit and a wolf? I think she takes after her father more than her mother.

[PetitNoa: She asked when Malak will be able to return!]

Hmm. A very difficult question to answer.

Time passes differently between the spirit world and earth. Nike said that when a day passes here, two days will have passed on earth.

[Tell her I’ll be there within a week]

I should arrive in three days at the latest. I just hope to arrive before Charon perfectly controls the evil god.

It would be best if the evil god and Charon just destroyed each other, but that’s probably too convenient to hope for.

[PetitNoa: Lakye said she’ll protect the tribal federation well until then, and asks you to return safely]

[PetitNoa: (A photo of Lakye kneeling and showing proper respect as a believer)]

[PetitNoa: She took this pose when I told her Malak is watching through a messenger (≧∀≦)]

I chuckled inwardly. She has such cute aspects.

After that, I exchanged messages and heard about the tribal federation’s situation until Mera regained her composure.

“You said you can send information to earth with the messenger’s ability.”

Mera finally spoke after a long silence.

“That’s right.”

“If there’s anything you need, ask. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

She spoke with determination, though with a somewhat haggard look.

“Anything is fine. Really, anything at all.”

Names of children or a wife, names of Autumn Leaf tribe members he was close with would be good.

I might be able to use them to shake him at a critical moment.

“He had a great thirst for knowledge and learned faster than others. Everyone called him a prodigy. And…”

“And?”

“He had an exceptional ability to read the Roas’ energy. He completed rituals more perfectly than any priest I’ve seen. Oh, he was also the only spirit master of our time. Among magical arts, he excelled at those dealing with animals and spirits. Though now that he’s learned necromancy, he probably can’t handle spirits anymore.”

“…!”

Spirit arts. Animals. The ability to read Roa energy. Even close siblings.

Why does this sound similar to Paya?

***

“Hmm…”

MeleeSpy, a man standing on the walls of the tribal federation headquarters, let out a sigh.

He was writing a post by clicking a virtual keyboard with his eyes.

The title of the post was “The Final Chapter of the Rebellious Warrior EunuchBro.” Unlike his usual style, there was no clickbait in the title.

“Sigh…”

MeleeSpy reminisced about the time before being dragged into this world while writing.

It happened when he was playing Champions of Storm as usual, making “fun” jokes with heavy roleplay in the all-chat, and received a 30-day chat ban.

As he marveled at the inhumane and immoral act of having his freedom of speech revoked for a month and was about to access ItemManiac to sell the account he had worked hard to build, he was possessed while reading an email.

“It seems like just yesterday I was lamenting that nothing worse could happen.”

There was another possessed person beside him, but he ignored MeleeSpy’s soliloquy and yawned.

“Yawn.”

The man’s name was Ghoulr, the vice-captain of MeleeSpy’s strategy team and a level 7 paladin.

“Ugh, damn. Maybe because it’s the final chapter, it’s so hard to write. I want to drop a meteor or introduce a ninja or something.”

“Stop talking nonsense and keep watch properly. Before Rachel reports you for dereliction of duty.”

Ghoulr glared at MeleeSpy.

“No one can stop the strongest paladin. Even if it’s a past connection.”

“Why did I end up in the same team as this guy? Is it because I’m the vice-captain? Vice-captain isn’t even a regular position, so why?”

Just as they were filming their usual skit, the status window that MeleeSpy had open flickered and suddenly turned off.

“Hmm?!”

“Huh, what’s wrong with the status window?”

Ghoulr’s eyes widened as he experienced the same thing.

A moment later, the status window reappeared with a flash of light.

[The Cathedral has been destroyed!]

[One of the final objectives, ‘Reclaim the Cathedral,’ has ended in failure!]

[S O M E F U N C T I O N S W I L L N O W B E R E S T R I C T E D]

Some functions will be restricted. That’s definitely what it said.

“What was that just now? The status window glitched!”

“And what does function restriction mean?”

While the terrified paladins were making a commotion at the bottom of the wall.

Whoosh-!

In front of the tribal federation headquarters, space distorted and a black hole appeared. It looked similar to the dimensional gate MeleeSpy had seen in games.