Children of the Holy Emperor - Chapter 447



Only Noblemtl

447. Dachion (4)

Exactly.

I can hear the sound of water drops falling.

Knock knock.

At the same time, a stinging smell was felt. Seongjin looked around, grimacing involuntarily.

The scenery before my eyes is quite familiar. A damp wall covered in filth and moss. A dark tunnel whose interior cannot be seen even with the eyes of an aura user.

‘uh?’

What is it? Just a moment ago, I was in the inn with my father? We were talking about Dacianus, and eventually, the cause and effect overflowed and the world shook… … .

“… If the sewer system were built all over the place, it would definitely be as complicated as a spider’s web.”

At that moment, a voice that Sungjin knew well was heard from the side. When he turned around, he saw Masain Kyung talking to someone with a serious expression.

“There needs to be someone to guide the way, or at least a map that can show the internal structure… … .”

Sir Marsain? What the hell are you doing here?

While Seongjin is blinking, the other person grumbles and answers to Masain.

“That’s ridiculous. You’re looking for a good map in a ruined refugee camp?”

The guide’s voice was clearly filled with discontent. Only then did Seongjin realize that he had experienced this situation not long ago.

Ah, yes. This is Furiano. That author was our guide in the Liberty Underground, and he led us to the sewers where Giacomo Milo was hiding.

“Then, at least a torch… … .”

In response to Masain’s protest, Seongjin felt a strong sense of discomfort and intervened.

“Sir Marsain.”

Then, like a mechanical puppet moving according to a predetermined program, she held up a small lamp toward him. It was exactly the same as before.

“It’s okay. We have this guy.”

Yes, I remember it more and more.

At that time, Sungjin had a strong premonition that he would be able to find Giacomo Milo right away. So, without even using a map or a torch, he decided to just go into the sewers and see.

And according to my memory, the next answer I received from the Demon King was:

-Ahem! Leave it to the great Demon King!

“… … ?”

But for some reason, no thoughts come from the Demon King.

When I looked up at the lamp, the guy was for some reason looking very intimidated and just dimming the flame.

Why is this guy doing this again?

“… Okay, let’s go.”

Seongjin started walking with a trembling feeling. Then, Owen’s bright voice was heard from behind him just like before.

“You won’t need a guide or a map, brother. New… Mores is still the only way through the dungeon… … .”

Everything was as I remembered, except for the Demon King’s reaction.

What the hell is going on right now?

* * *

Thud thud.

Hearing the loud footsteps, Seongjin slowly recalled the scene in his memory.

‘The road definitely split around there.’

Then, a fork in the road appeared at the point I had expected.

‘If you go a little further, there is a place where the bricks are left in a row and missing.’

After a while, a damaged wall appears, just like in the memory.

“… … .”

Seongjin felt as if he was dreaming.

Now, I was starting to get confused as to whether these were really memories from the past or just premonitions that were stronger than usual.

‘Or have I finally gone mad?’

There was no denying the possibility. But for some reason, Sungjin was able to have a strong conviction that it was absolutely not the case.

Although he was in a strange situation, his mind was clearer and calmer than usual. It was as if there was a light shining brightly in his head, pushing away the thick fog of ambiguity and distrust.

‘Well, if you think of yourself as crazy, does that really make you mentally ill?’

Dribble, dribble, dribble.

Following the sound of running sewage, Seongjin led his group deep into the sewer. And around that time, Seongjin was able to discover another thing that was different from before.

‘Strange? At this point, I definitely had an uneasy feeling.’

Yes, that’s right. While I was guiding the group along without any problems, I had a strong feeling that something wasn’t going as planned.

But what about now?

‘I’m not very anxious.’

A strange feeling that everything will turn out well. It’s been a while since I’ve felt this way.

‘And maybe around here… … .’

Seongjin lifted the lamp up and looked at the waterway through which the sewage flowed. He had probably seen a rotting rat moving around here.

It was the Demon King who first discovered it.

-Lee Seong-jin, look at that! There’s something strange over there!

But for some reason, the Demon King kept his mouth shut and, unlike before, slowly began to look at Seongjin’s expression. Unable to bear it any longer, Seongjin tapped the lamp and called the Demon King.

“Hey, hey. What’s wrong with you?”

Then the guy answered reluctantly in a crawling voice.

[Uh, yeah… … .]

“Why? What’s uncomfortable?”

[Oh, no. Nothing.]

What on earth is the problem? That was when Seongjin tilted his head.

“lowering!”

Suddenly, Masain Kyung became thoughtful and blocked Seongjin’s path.

“Don’t go near the waterway! There’s something strange over there!”

“huh?”

I followed his gaze –

Wiggle. Wiggle.

As expected, there was a rotting rat twitching and twitching in a disgusting way there.

“Huh! What is this? It’s still moving even though it’s dead?”

Sir Marsain made the sign of the cross, pulling Owen’s cloak back as he approached him absentmindedly.

“Ah, Lord, please protect me from the tricks of evildoers!”

Craning my neck over Sir Marsain’s shoulder, I see the same broken text windows as before.

?TY□E_m_und□□d_no29□2□9?

?err! Unable to find the appropriate object!?

?err! ge□ah!$2ㅗCan’t confirm server… … ?

As before, an inexplicable discomfort creeps in.

Something was shaking from the tightly locked door, as if it would jump out at any moment.

If you don’t get that thing out of my sight quickly… … !

“I don’t like seeing it, so let’s burn it.”

Seongjin shook the Demon King’s lamp.

[… … .]

But the demon king, who should have been excited and set fire to the flames, shrank down again without answering. I was worried that if he kept getting smaller like this, the flames would eventually go out completely.

“hey-”

It was when Seongjin was trying to recruit the guy again.

[…you can do it.]

Suddenly someone spoke to me.

A voice so familiar, in a location so familiar.

“uh…….”

Seongjin blinked his eyes, staring into space.

No, there might be no point in looking somewhere. That longing voice must have come from within his own head.

‘…father?’

As if answering Seongjin’s question, a faint vibration passes through my brain.

And the voice said:

[Use Aura.]

As if led by those words-

Wow!

Sungjin’s will reached his fingertips and created a crimson aura. The most powerful flame he knew, capable of burning down everything in the world.

“lowering?”

Masain looked at the sight with surprised eyes. Although he had personally taught Sungjin the art of training, he thought that he was not yet at the stage where he could freely control external energy.

‘It’s amazing. When did you grow up so much?’

Seongjin noticed the admiring gaze and smiled proudly.

After burning down the sewer so much the other day, I realized that I had become more adept at using the Aura. As I watched the flames flickering at my will, the unpleasantness I had felt earlier seemed to melt away like snow.

It would probably have been better if there wasn’t a guy next to me kicking the bucket.

“Hmm, but it’s still a long way to go, Mores. Is smoke starting to come out of your sleeves?”

“… Shut up, you idiot.”

Seongjin set fire to the rat’s corpse with a frown.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The flame that left his fingertips instantly turned into a high temperature and devoured the rat. Smelling the unpleasant smell of burning protein, Sungjin concentrated his mind to make sure the flame did not disappear.

-Wherever the gaze goes, people’s perception always follows, right?

-huh.

-So it is only natural that thoughts arise there and the aura flows accordingly.

I remember the trick I learned from Logan the day I caught a dinosaur in Bathurst.

-The important thing is to never lose your sense of unity with the outside world. And be careful not to let it out of your sight even for a moment.

If you do that, even if the aura leaves your body, it’s the same as not leaving. Anyway, Logan, your answer to the question is exactly the same as your father’s.

[You’re doing well.]

Whether he knew or not that I was secretly mocking him, I heard another bland compliment in my head.

Meanwhile, the body was almost completely burned, and the fire began to die down.

[Yes, that will work. In order to remove the curse that has bound Bion, you must first burn the flesh that is the center of the curse.]

‘But Father, is that really enough?’

Seongjin asked worriedly.

Although it is said that the soul was removed by burning the body, it would probably not be easy to completely burn the damaged soul with one’s current abilities.

In addition, there were piles of such undead monsters in this sewer. If even one of them were to be lost, there is no telling what kind of devastating effects it would have on the people of the Puriano refugee camp, as well as the entire continent.

That’s why, a while ago, we quickly burned down this sewer, crossing a line that we would never have crossed otherwise.

[slowly.]

As if realizing Seongjin’s impatience, a calm voice soothed him.

[This isn’t a race against time anyway. You have plenty of time to spare to help all their souls.]

‘… … .’

[The continent is not in danger. I will be watching.]

‘father…….’

There was no more answer. But Sungjin could still feel the presence of the small light shining in his head.

“Okay, let’s hurry.”

Seongjin, who had burned all the rats, raised his head and looked at the two people. The loyal knight who was still able to meet his gaze, and the idiot who seemed like he would follow him forever if he just said something.

“We must catch Giacomo Milo quickly.”

* * *

“Your Majesty, the sound has split in two.”

At Marsain’s report, Sungjin glanced at Owen. The quest would have appeared around this time. That was why Sungjin decided to act separately from the group.

“… … ?”

But Owen just stared blankly at Seongjin with an expression on his face as if he didn’t know anything.

“why?”

“… No news yet?”

“Huh? What?”

“I mean, the status window. Isn’t it time to give a quest to find something?”

“What? What the heck?”

Seongjin furrowed his brow as he looked at Owen in shock.

No quests yet? Why? Could it be because I decided not to split up my group this time?

‘Or… because I already got my hands on Dacianus’ secretary once?’

Then Owen approached Seongjin urgently.

“Wait a minute, Mores. How on earth did you do this quest-!”

As he spoke, his eyes widened as if he had realized something. Then, he smiled brightly, almost foolishly!

“ha ha ha!”

“hmm?”

“Hahahaha! Yeah! I knew it!”

“…What on earth?”

Then Owen, who had been laughing like crazy, quickly put his arm around Seongjin’s shoulder and shouted.

“Yeah! I knew you were the newbie! I already knew all about it!”

“… … .”

“Hahahahahahaha!”

Marsain looked at him in bewilderment, but Owen was already so excited that he didn’t notice his suspicious gaze at all. The guy tapped Sungjin on the shoulder and laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! Inma! Why on earth didn’t you tell me until now? How long have I been looking for you-”

This kid, is he too loud?

The hand naturally went up, and a refreshing sound of striking was heard.

Taaak!

“Eww!”

Owen held his forehead with a shocked expression. He was in pain, but his face was also sad that his expectations had been betrayed.

“No! Why are you hitting me all of a sudden? It hurts!”

“Shut up, idiot. Are you going to reveal our location to Giacomo Milo right now?”

“… Hmph!”

After glaring hard at the guy who was hastily shutting his mouth, Seongjin turned around and hurried on his way.

“Let’s go. Giacomo Milo is right in front of us.”

“However, Your Majesty, what about the other one? If one of them is indeed Giacomo Milo, the other one may be his colleague.”

At Marsain’s anxious question, Seongjin suddenly recalled the voice in his head.

-It’s not a matter of time anyway. You have plenty of time to spare and help all their souls.

Yeah. Is there anything to worry about? I missed it once before anyway. Besides, I think we’ll meet again next time.

Seongjin made up his mind and gave instructions to Masain.

“It’s okay, Sir Marsain. Our target is Giacomo Milo. We don’t care about a rat or two living in the sewers.”

Then, Marsain thought for a moment, then nodded with his usual firm gaze.

“Yes, I understand, Your Majesty.”

Yes. This is the Masain Kyung I know. Seongjin felt a little relieved and started walking with him.

And behind them, Owen, who seemed to have lost his sense of direction, was chasing after them. He seemed to be having a hard time hiding his excitement from earlier.

“Haha! Hahahaha!”

Oh, that idiot. He’s secretly making people nervous.