"Hey! Give me back that sword! It's still covered in bat blood!"
"Who cares? It's mine now. Go ahead and sue me in court if you can."
"Anyone buying skulls!?"
"Anyone want worms!? They're great for eating dead skin!"
The clamorous cries of trade filled the air like an ordinary marketplace—except the buyers and sellers were anything but ordinary.
"What is it? Country boy?"The guard asked when he noticed me looking around everywhere like a curious cat.
"…It feels strange. I wrecked such a large area—why does no one seem to care?"
"Because no one bothers to care."The guard raised both hands in exasperation, like a teacher tired of repeating the same lecture.
"There's no king here. No nobles. No one ruling over us. We're… more or less free. So even if someone destroyed this entire place, the worst they'd get is a few curses and a beating. As for minor damage like yours—who cares?"
"…I don't understand a word you just said…"
He ignored me, casually pointing toward a distant castle as he spoke."Your body stopped rotting a long time ago, but if you leave it too long—after a few more days—you might not have a body to return to. Got it?"
"…That place—is that where the Black Heaven you mentioned is kept?"
"Yes. And no. You're not just going there to find Black Heaven—you're going to devour it. Then you'll fuse the core and swallow your own Black Heaven Core."
"So basically, absorbing Black Heaven has to be done there?"
Seeing my confusion, he added impatiently,"You'll understand once you go in. Don't be like a three-year-old who needs every little thing explained."
Not bothering to argue, I dashed toward the black-and-gold castle.But without mana, I barely made it a few dozen meters before I was gasping for breath.
"HA—HA…"
Why do I still get tired even after becoming a ghost…
…
The castle looked as though gold plating had been pried loose from its black stone surface. Its ancient appearance made it resemble an abandoned cathedral more than a majestic fortress.
Inside, scattered blue-flamed candles flickered among broken skeletons strewn across the floor. At the center of the hall stood a banquet table, upon which covered dishes were neatly arranged.
I raised my hand and quickly sensed and manipulated my arm, transforming it into a demonic limb. It swelled grotesquely, sharp edges protruding as bone was exposed, red pustules blooming across the flesh.
"Huh. Just like you said—souls change more easily in areas rich with death mana."I quickly regained control and returned my arm to normal.
"Only within limits," the guard replied as he passed by me."Overuse it and your soul will permanently degenerate."
He took a seat at the head of the table. I followed and sat at the opposite end.
"Alright, relax. No one's going to hurt you~"
"So what is this?" I asked, watching him strangely enjoy the banquet.
"To proceed toward Black Heaven, you must become one who crosses the boundary where death and near-death intersect. It's hard to explain—just know you'll need to pass a few minor trials."
…I still didn't fully trust him.Honestly, the fact that there was an alternative method to halt bodily decay compared to the original process was suspicious enough. I hesitated.
"Hey. I want to ask you something."I decided to be direct.
"What is it this time?"He tilted his head, looking at me suspiciously.
"…Do you know about the Lunar Bone Wraith?"
"What do you mean?"He leaned toward me, lifting a plate as if about to open it.
"A skeleton that's existed for over 1,200 years. I think he'd be special. I want to find him."
"Heh-heh. Who has time to remember some worthless old bones like that?"He burst out laughing, mocking me."You don't know this place well—someone five hundred years old is basically a newborn here."
"…Then what about a—forget it."I tried probing further, but his laughter wouldn't stop.
"Sounds like a nice legend. Since I'm interested, why don't you tell me more about it?"
"Haah…"
I didn't expect much anyway. I was already in too deep.Besides, I was anxious—dragged here without any choice, and time was limited.
"So when is this Black Heaven you mentioned going to appear?"
"Hm? So impatient. Why not enjoy some food before we go?"As he spoke, he opened a plate—inside was, unsurprisingly, a piece of rotten meat. Just looking at it made me sick.
"No, thanks—"
Before I could finish, dozens of arms burst out from all directions, surrounding me. They tore at my clothes and flesh in an instant.
Ha!
I tried to use mana to escape—but it failed.I hastily shifted my soul to alter my form, and just as I slipped free—
I found myself standing amid blue flames.
Within the azure fire stood a man in a white suit, holding a photograph.
"So," he said,"Have you kept your promise?"
A twisted smile spread across his face, as if mocking Ron himself.
"Ha—ha…"My breath trembled as I stared at the figures before me. I was powerless.
Pulling something from my pocket, I raised the gun and fired at them.
A shadow silently emerged from behind, lifting a scythe—
SLASH!
A sharp sound rang out. A head fell.
Ron Irus—or perhaps I—
died.
Everything sank into infinity.
Then I opened my eyes and saw a familiar figure.
"Are you alright?"
I was back at the harbor from the beginning.
But… why was I here?