Capítulo 180: Chapter 180: Ghost Town Part 15
As I carefully brushed away the dirt, I could see the golden box more clearly. Jewels were embedded on each corner, and intricate beautiful carvings adorned all six sides. The carvings weren't just decorations. Thanks to my [Polyglot] ability, I could recognize that the carvings were written in ancient Ansgarian.
The box didn't have a keyhole, nor did it simply open. It wasn't something that could be forced open with strength or by infusing magic. It seemed like it could only be opened through a special method. Figuring out what that was would be the key…
Wait.
This felt like déjà vu.
I reached into my space ring and pulled out the red box I had found at the top of Heines' castle. The golden box was identical to the red one. The same decorations in the same places, the same carvings in the same spots. Holding a box in each hand, I examined them closely. It felt like I was playing a game of spot-the-difference. My eyes were starting to strain. After turning the boxes over and over for a while…
"…Found it."
I noticed a subtle groove on the bottom of the golden box and another on the top of the red box. This was it. I set the red box down and placed the golden box on top.
Click.
I heard the sound of a perfect fit. The two boxes fused together as if they had always been one. And then…
"Mother's revenge…"
The ancient Ansgard script, which had been strangely arranged, finally fell into place and became readable, though not entirely.
So, there are more boxes like this.
Seeing that the sentence wasn't complete, it was clear that at least one or two more boxes must exist. Perhaps even more. I examined the fused boxes a bit longer before placing them back into my space ring.
I thought a keyhole would appear once the two boxes were combined, but that wasn't the case.
Maybe the keyhole would show up on the third or fourth box. If I could find a keyhole, I could use Liadel's "Key that Opens Anything". That would mean I could finally solve this frustrating puzzle.
Crunch.
With the box in hand, I stood up to leave the hole, but I heard something break under my foot. Lowering myself again, I inspected the area where the sound came from. A broken wooden plank was visible. When I cleared the dirt, I saw a wooden box. An old and dirty box that looked completely different from the gold box.
"…What is this?"
I tried to lift the box but it was far too heavy for its size. I had no choice. I climbed out of the hole and planted vines around the area. Then I delicately adjusted my magic to wrap the vines around the box and pulled it out of the pit.
Argos wagged his tail excitedly when he saw the wooden box. It seemed that what he had been trying to show me wasn't the golden box, but this wooden one. He circled around me and the wooden box, spinning in excitement. I brushed off the dirt and opened the wooden box.
Inside was a large, heavy bundle along with various items wrapped in a fine cloth. This looked far more important. I carefully unwrapped the soft green fabric which had a faint sheen to it.
– Bark! Bark, bark!
Argos barked as if he had been waiting for this moment, jumping up and down in joy.
The items wrapped in the cloth belonged to the Dawson family. There was a small picture frame, just the size of my palm, with a delicate portrait of the Dawson couple holding their newborn child. A small glass bottle contained a single faintly glowing strand of hair, which likely belonged to Rosalynd Dawson. There was also an old cloth doll that appeared to be hers. And finally, there was a well-sealed letter.
I opened the envelope and began to read the letter. It was something the Dawson couple had written before their deaths, though there was nothing particularly remarkable in the content. It simply said…
– If something were to happen to us, please, we beg you to show mercy to our daughter Rosalynd Dawson and take care of her. Even if we could offer you our souls in gratitude, it wouldn't be enough, but this is all we can give. Please cherish our daughter.
Just a plea to take care of their child.
"..."
Sadly, I couldn't fulfill their request. Their daughter was already dead. I folded the letter and, along with the other mementos, carefully rewrapped it in the cloth. Then I untied the heavy bundle.
"Huh!"
I heard El gasp loudly beside me in surprise. I understood. I almost did the same.
Inside the bundle were gleaming gold bars that were shining brilliantly. With this much gold, one could live a life of luxury in this pseudo-medieval land and still have plenty left over.
It must have been something the couple set aside for their daughter in case things went wrong…
It was bitter.
The daughter they loved so much was already gone.
"What do you plan to do with all this gold?"
Lloyd asked while El swallowed hard next to him. I fell into thought for a moment.
This was essentially a reward. After all, I had prevented a tragedy and eased their lingering resentment. Honestly, even if I took all of this gold for myself, no one could blame me.
"..."
But I didn't want to do that.
"We should use it for Rosalind Dawson."
I got up from my seat.
I reached into my pouch of seeds and pulled out a golden magnolia tree seed. The seed that was about the size of my fist was something I had kept to gain favor with Lynshaka someday, but it seemed like now was the right time to use it.
I planted the golden magnolia tree seed in the very spot where the mansion once stood. Above the summoning circle, I planted seeds of various purification plants, and then I offered a long heartfelt prayer to Lynshaka.
When I used [Blessing of the Forest], it felt as if the entire ground was trembling, and the plants began spreading their roots rapidly. I could see the purification energy spreading underground like veins through the roots. The land which had been tainted and corrupted by Ronan's flames gradually started regaining its original vitality. The flowers and grass swayed vibrantly, and in the midst of it stood the towering golden magnolia tree. When the sunlight touched the magnolia petals hanging from its branches, they shimmered like gold.
"So beautiful…."
El murmured in admiration as she watched the petals drift through the air. I gave a quiet smile and placed the keepsakes in front of the golden magnolia tree. Alongside them were the remains of the Dawson couple that Lloyd had retrieved.
"Legion."
Legion who had been busily running around trying to catch the falling petals with Beepy quickly rushed over.
[Theo! I'm here!]
"Burn these. Leave nothing behind."
[Theo. This. Dead. Already.]
"Yes. They're people who have died."
[Theo. But, why?]
"It's a funeral. To bring peace to the dead. Some are buried in the ground, and some are burned."
[Theo. Gone. If burn.]
"They're not gone, they're freed."
Legion looked at me for a long time as if he couldn't understand, then looked up at me and asked.
[Theo. Don't like. I won't. Bury. Or burn. Theo.]
So that's what he'd been thinking; what to do after I die. I barely held back a laugh and asked,
"Then what?"
[I. Keep. Theo. With me, Theo.]
"…Hey, that's a little creepy."
[Theo.]
"Don't worry, don't worry. I'm not going to die."
[Theo. Really?]
Of course not. It was obviously a lie. But trying to explain death, the afterlife, or even the fact that this world is a game and that I'm not actually from here… well, that would be harder than immortality. So, I could only nod in agreement.
"Yeah, sure."
[Theo. Promise?]
"..."
[Theo. Swear?]
"…Let's just focus on finishing this up. Lend me your fire for now."
Legion stared at me; he was clearly dissatisfied, but he finally opened his mouth. Something began to rise from deep in his throat, and soon black flames poured out. Flames so powerful that they could burn fire itself. This fierce power consumed the remains and keepsakes, turning everything to ash.
Now, there was nothing left in this world to bind this family.
-Bark! Bark bark! Bark!
Argos looked up at the ashes disappearing with the wind and barked for a long, long time. As if saying a final goodbye.
***
We left the village that was now cleared of mist and completely empty of people. After traveling down the rattling road for a while, El suddenly stuck her head out of the carriage and called out to me.
"…Um, Master."
"What is it?"
"I thought it was just my imagination…"
"Hmm?"
"That guy has been following us for a while."
"What?"
I stopped the carriage and looked in the direction El was pointing. There, poking its head out from between the trees and bushes, was a semi-transparent dog staring at the carriage.
"Argos?"
I called out in surprise, and as if given permission, the dog wagged its tail and cheerfully followed us. Ayla who had been glancing at me nervously eventually sniffed noses with Argos. This rascal! So she knew Argos was following us and pretended not to notice!
It seemed like it had already been an hour since we left the village, and yet he had followed us all the way here. Usually, ghosts with unfinished business disappear slowly, so I thought he would stay near the golden magnolia tree and vanish. But to think something like this would happen.
"It wasn't my imagination after all. I thought I was seeing things."
El jumped off the carriage and started petting Argos, who immediately began licking her face with enthusiasm.
"Master, is this guy coming with us too?"
-Pant, pant pant.
"....."
Argos was looking up at me with such a bright, cheerful face, wagging his tail so vigorously that it was practically invisible. No, I couldn't. I wasn't about to take in another stray…
"Well…"
I could feel Argos's loneliness. How lonely must he have been, losing his family, guarding the mansion, and enduring the villagers' hatred and fear?
"…I guess it can't be helped."
Having one more ghost dog attached to a carriage already haunted by a ghost wouldn't make much of a difference anyway…
-Woof! Woof woof!
Before I could finish my thought, Argos charged toward me. Just like he had with El, he began licking my face furiously. It felt like my entire face was being smeared with ice cream. Unable to push him away, I ended up falling backward. Before I knew it, Ayla had joined in and started licking my face too.
"Ugh…!"
[Theo. Stop. Annoying.]
-Whoosh!!!!
Only when Legion threatened them with a burst of flames did they finally scurry away.
…This is rough, really rough.
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