With a raspy, blood-scented breath, a skeletal figure stared intently at Juichi, who stood before it.
Then, abruptlyโ
It moved.
A massive arm swung down, leaving a trail of afterimages as it struck the spot where Juichi had been standing.
However, Juichi was no longer there. The blow, capable of shattering a human with ease, sliced through empty air, demolishing half of the stone steps.
The confused monster stumbled, momentarily losing its balance.
Somehowโ
Juichi was now behind it.
Blood dripped from his sword, and a backslash had carved deep into the monsterโs right leg, tearing through most of it.
โ!?โ
Jens, who had been at the entrance of the cathedral, stood there, stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
With one leg incapacitated, the creatureโs bipedal mobility was nearly stripped away.
Based on what heโd heard, the primary ability of this monster was its speed. Juichi had successfully neutralized that mobility right from the start.
Thus, it was no longer a threat to him.
With a piercing scream, the monster retaliated.
Its flailing arms missed their target as Juichi swiftly leapt backward.
They faced each other.
โApologies, but I wonโt hold back to avoid desecrating your remains. Bear with it.โ
Juichi swung his sword, even though there was no way it could reach from that distance.
Like magic, the arc of the sword extended outward, slashing into the creature.
Blood spurted from the skeletonโs neck, abdomen, and arms, causing it to stagger.
This was an attack that used the โInventory.โ
Juichi opened the Inventory window, thrust the swordโs tip into it, then projected the blade from a secondary or tertiary window he had opened near the monster to strike it.
Just as he had used the window to scout by inserting his eye, the Inventory allowed him to project only the tip of whatever he held to a distant location.
This enabled him to โlaunchโ slashes far beyond the swordโs reach.
Moreover, the Inventory windows were invisible to anyone but Juichi, making it impossible for the enemy to detect the origin of the strikes.
It was a trick Juichi had devised to exploit his lack of offensive abilities.
The monster bled profusely, making a grotesque gurgling sound.
Every blow had landed deeply.
Its flesh was vulnerable, without any magical coating, leaving it susceptible to Juichiโs blade.
With both arms nearly unusable, the creatureโs close-combat abilities had significantly diminished, and the blood gushing from its neck and abdomen was putting a limit on its ability to stay active. Juichi, a skilled hunter, had attacked with purpose.
With a blood-choked snarl, the creature lunged on its one remaining leg with surprising speed.
Juichiโs figure vanished.
The creature lost sight of him and stumbled.
Then, as it fell, Juichiโs blade pierced its skull โ before it knew it, Juichi was right in front of it.
It wasnโt that Juichi had vanished.
The creature had โleaped through an invisible Inventory window placed before itโ and โrolled out disoriented in front of Juichi through another window.โ
The windows were unseen, soundless, and intangible. Only those with exceptional magical senses might have detected them.
While Inventory couldnโt hold or trap living, sentient beings, it could allow them to pass through from one window to another.
Juichi had left the remaining leg intentionally, luring the monster into leaping right into his trap.
He withdrew his sword, shattering the skull with a crunch.
โHere it is. Crafting a skull from human remains, going so far as to build a faceโฆ The core must be here.โ
Indeed, where the brain should have been, encased in flesh, lay a small fragment of white stone. Juichi quickly reached in and tore it out.
It was a small, marble-like stone that fit in his palm.
โThis is its power source.โ
Opening his Inventory, Juichi took out another white stone.
This one was about twice the size of the extracted fragment โ another โShard of the Goddess.โ
He touched the small stone with the larger one in his palm.
The smaller stoneโs borders blurred as though liquefied, merging into the larger stone and becoming part of it.
A faint spark of lightning flickered, followed by a soft snapping sound.
โโ OOOHHHH โโ
With a final roar, the creature scattered in fragments, its body disintegrating into liquid and crumbling to pieces.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
The blood-stained, pitiful remains piled into a small mound.
The Shards of the Goddess possessed a unique trait: when brought close together, they fused into one.
When used as a conduit for magic, this merging severed the magical flow powering the effect, halting any ongoing enchantments.
In other wordsโ
The magic that had turned these children into monsters was now extinguished.
Thus, the creature fell apart, leaving behind the bodies that had been its original components, scattered before Juichi.
โโฆโ
It had posed less of a threat than expected. For an apparition created with a shard of a god, a piece of white stone, it had been surprisingly weak.
Perhaps such failed ancient magic was merely of that caliber.
Jens, who had been watching the battle from the doorway, rushed out with a jubilant expression.
โWe did it! The monsterโs been defeated!โ
Juichi said nothing.
He only stared at the pitiful remains.
Juichi couldnโt save them. After all these years, his humanity had dried up and withered, leaving him unbothered by such painful thoughts.
Or so it should have been.
By nowโ
By now, he should feel nothing. Those children had already died.
And yetโฆ
In his vision was Jens, leaping in joy at his survival.
A surge of emotion rose within him at that sight. Whether it was a sense of duty or personal anger, or a blend of bothโ
He realized his feelings had not withered as he thought.
Toward this man, at least.
Regardlessโ
โWell now. Jens Amieu.โ
โHaha! Youโve done it! Iโm alive! Hahahaโฆโ
โItโs time for judgment.โ
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โW-What? Judgment, you say?โ
In front of the church amidst a scene of devastation, one man holding a sword silently faced another, aged man.
โJudgment for your sins, Jens.โ
โW-What nonsense is this? Amber!โ
โYour attire is strangeโฆ It looks like it was just pulled from the back of a storage room โ there are still dust marks, no signs of regular wear.โ
He advanced slowly.
Step by step.
With his blood-stained sword in hand.
Jens stepped back.
โM-My attire, what does that have to do with anything? Youโre actingโโ
โI know the surname โAmieu.โ Around 200 years ago, there was an ancient kingdom called the Matryx Magocracy here. The Amieu family was the name of that fallen royal house.โ
At Juichiโs words, Jensโs eyes widened in shock.
โIn my knowledge of historyโฆ All direct royal descendants were supposed to have been slain. Even if a branch family managed to escape, or someone assumed the title on their own, I can tell that youโre connected to Mataryx.
And youโre certainly not just a mere traveler. Youโre the โvillage chief himselfโ and the one who caused the supernatural disturbances here.โ
Jens turned on his heel and ran.
However, before him, the churchโs stone steps suddenly appeared, and he tripped, collapsing to the ground.
โ?!โ
Itโs useless.
You wonโt escapeโthis is Juichiโs ability.
โThere must be a grave sin for you to atone for.โ
The deaths of the children. The death of the escape helper.
And there are likely many more sinsโtorture and murder performed underground, all to summon the โdemonโ you intended to possess.
These atrocities cannot be erased. Not even your life would be enough to atone for them.
โHiiโฆ Hiii!โ
Jens, now cornered, crawled up the stone steps.
But as his hands touched the steps, they suddenly lost their grip, as if the ground beneath them had vanished. His hand slipped, and he slammed his jaw against the stone.
โGah?!โ
Teeth flew, and blood poured as he groaned in agony.
This was also an application of Juichiโs inventory ability.
By opening it as a โtrapโ to trip his opponent, he ensured Jens would fall.
Only Juichi can see the inventory, so Jens had no idea what had caused him to stumble.
โGive up. Thereโs no escaping this. Thereโs no way youโll get away with concealing everything that happened here and escaping alone.โ
Jens looked back and screamed at Juichiโs cold, emotionless words.
โWhat on earth are you talking about?! Youโre attacking me out of nowhere, throwing baseless accusations! I know nothing of what you say!โ
โThen why did you run?โ
โBecause youโve lost your mind! What proof do you have?!โ
โThis is the proof.โ
Juichi touched the ground.
A blue illusion rose from the earth.
Juichiโs โPast Replayโ ability activated.
โMany villagers surrounded about ten children.
The terrified children trembled, while the people around them were hysterical with joy. They chanted eerie prayers, burned strange herbs, drank, and even engaged shamelessly with each other.
The frenzied crowd shouted in delight, each person visibly deranged.
It wasโฆthe image of the โwedding ceremonyโ that took place here that day.
What Juichi had witnessed before investigating the church.
โUghโฆ!โ
โI can see the past. I know what you did, what you were part of. Thereโs no hiding it.โ
The church doors opened. Jens, crouched down, looked at them.
An apparition in distinct clerical robesโan elderly man.
It was unmistakably Jens-Amieu himself from that day.
โEveryone, the day has finally come. We will offer the blood of these children as sacrifices, and our kingdom will be revived! Our long-awaited day of celebration has arrived.โ
โOh, chief!โ โHail Mataryx!โ the villagers cheered in madness.
Nearby was the escape helper, his legs broken in an ambush, dragged before the crowd.
Pinned down, he cried out, pleading to be spared.
Desperately.
With a sadistic grin, Jens, flanked by attendants, descended the stone steps past his current self to stand before the terrified children. Taking the hand of the smallest girl, he drew a knife from his belt, grinning wickedly.
โNow, let us begin the final riteโโ
He gripped the blade, lifting the โwedding dressโ of the children, who were bound in place.
A scream filled the air.
Desperate cries for help, piercing in agonyโฆ
โSuch beautiful skin. I enjoyed it thoroughly down below. Surely, my forefathers will relish this flesh as well.โ
Jens raised the knife with a terrifying flourishโand with that, the pale illusion dissipated.
All that remained in the ruined village was Juichi, looking down, and the trembling Jens.
Juichi ascended the stone steps.
Standing right next to the man, he looked down, his blade pointed toward him.
โJens-Amieu. Itโs you.โ
A voice of death.
Cold, machine-like eyes pierced through the evil sinner, casting all his crimes into the light of day, allowing no room for excuses, and passing judgment.
โThe victimsโ terror cannot be fully comprehended. No life could ever repay the suffering of those children. But even so, as with the other wretched villagers who died, someone must see you brought to justice.โ
โNoโฆ Noโฆ That canโt beโฆโ
โYouโll never escape. When I asked you who you were, had you at least told me the truth, I might have killed you right then and there. But you lied. Your stories never cease to amaze me in their fabrication, how you could just keep spinning tales. You dared to call those children monsters? Youโre the true monster hereโฆ!โ
Juichi felt that, if he were to act on his personal feelings, heโd even let this wretch think heโd escaped, only to pull him back down into hell.
Juichi looked behind him.
The children lay in pools of blood.
โIn front of these pitiful souls, you should die. You should witness your sins and reflect on your actions as you draw your final breath. Do you have any last words of repentance?โ
โHelp! Please! Spare me! No, I beg you!โ
โFilth.โ
He spat out the words. Stepping on the pitiful man, he raised his sword without mercy.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ
โHe dug.
In the cemetery behind the church, among the simple graves.
Under a large oak tree, he dug eleven graves. The last one, he dug a little larger.
Wiping his sweat, Juichi carefully picked up each of the bodies laid beside him, gently lowering them into the graves.
When he finished with the children, he laid to rest the round-nosed manโthe escape helperโbeside them in the same way.
He covered each grave with soil, finishing the burials.
โYou were the only adult who remained on their side until the endโฆ I couldnโt save them, but he tried to help. You, too, deserve to rest here. Though Iโm not a priest, I can only pray for your peace.โ
He offered a small prayer.
He had no intention of digging graves for the other villagers. Left abandoned, they would soon disappear, consumed by birds and beasts. It was fitting for them, given their actions.
The sun was setting. The task had taken a long time.
When he finished, Juichi knelt, speaking to the rounded mound of earth.
โโฆThere isnโt even a gravestone. I donโt know your names. Iโm sorry.โ
He refrained from using Past Replay to uncover them. His quiet words drifted away with the wind.
With soil-stained hands, he gazed up at the twilight sky.
โSomewhere along the way, Juichi had stopped smiling much. He knew it was because he had witnessed so much sadness, tragedy, and ruin.
He had seen so many wretched things, ever since arriving in this world.
Things beyond redemption, throughout time.
Three hundred years.
In the distant reaches of memory, that abandoned castle.
So much time had passed since that day of regret.
An endless, endless stretch of timeโฆ
โUni. Pairy. Dean. Orto. Amy. Kroon. Tintro. Latis. Sarka. Astonโฆโ
The ancient names he could never forget.
His mind, eternally young, was incapable of forgetting.
Looking back, he wondered if he might have been better off never knowing their names.
Perhaps, for humans, to grow old and die was a kind of salvation.
That eternal life granted by the Will-oโ-the-wisp Angel on that day was indeed a โcurse.โ
Juichi stood, drawing out a container of water from his inventory to clean his hands before turning his back to the graveyard.