Chapter 192: An Old Friend (8)

While I was lost in thought, the lord asked if I was the Envoy of Malphas.

"Yeah," I answered, nodding slightly.

The guards tensed, gripping their weapons tightly in response to my casual tone.

One of the guards barked, "You insolent—"

I ignored them completely, focusing on the lord.

"

Cough...

"

The lord looked like he was in terrible shape. Negotiating with the creature that drained his life every night would be beyond his strength.

"I'll explain everything."

I told the lord about everything I already knew—how the Chandler family had been enslaved to Isaac for generations, forced to share the so-called revelation with him night after night. I even described the layout of the tomb beneath the castle.

By the end, tears had welled up in the lord's eyes. "You... you know all of this... There is no room for doubt."

Yet, despite his words, a flicker of hesitation lingered in his expression.

Since this was our first meeting, I needed to give him absolute certainty. I raised both hands.

Blaze.

Whoosh!

[Magic Charging.]

[Double Casting.]

Thunder Strike.

Bzzzt!

"A... a mage!"

"He's... he's a true mage."

"Fire in one hand, lightning in the other..."

The guards all drew their swords at once.

"Enough! Stand down, you fools!" the lord shouted.

"My lord!"

I had examined the situation precisely, then demonstrated my magic.

My actions helped the lord decide quickly. "We will kneel and welcome the envoy. How may we serve you?"

At that moment, a familiar chime rang out, and a translucent quest window appeared in the air.

Ding!

[Quest Forced Activation]

[The Sorcerer in the Ancient Tomb – The Curse of the Chandler Family]

[For centuries, grand sorcerer Isaac Bel'Homec has enslaved the Chandler family. From within a fortified barrier, half-dead, he drains their life force to survive. Yet, somehow, you already know it all. Defeat the wicked sorcerer Isaac Bel'Homec! The lord, in fear and awe, entrusts this task to you.

— If you accept: This quest has already been forcibly started.

— If you succeed: The Chandler family's fear and submission to you will skyrocket. Your reputation in the southern empire will greatly increase. You will receive a special reward from the Chandler family.]

[Do you accept the quest?]

[—/—]

[You have already begun this quest.]

Suppressing the wave of dizziness that came over me, I read through the quest details. Aside from the usual grandiose phrasing, nothing was really new. Much like before, I dismissed the window.

"To enter the tomb, I'll need blood," I said bluntly.

Breaking the underground seal required the blood of a true descendant. Even for me, I wasn't sure I could shatter the barrier by force alone. Going in boldly and failing would be both humiliating and suspicious.

"Prepare it. I'll return tomorrow," I ordered, turning to leave.

The lord bowed repeatedly, accepting help from a servant as he withdrew. He was already in poor health. I decided to give him at least a day to draw the blood because it made no sense to rush and undermine his resolve.

I'll need him to dream tonight, too. Isaac should have seen all of this through the lord's eyes, and he must be desperate to meet me now.

There was no doubt that he would send some revelation to lure me below.

***

I spent the night in the guest chambers. I refused any food and told them to keep everyone away.

All night, I sat alone, lost in thought. This was my second time in this room. It was the same room where I'd once sat with Rena, watching her stuff her mouth with food so quickly it was impossible to guess where it went.

Where is she now? How is she living?

I also remembered the handmaiden, bustling around in a panic, unsure of how to treat me. She had polished every scrap of armor until it gleamed.

Is she off on some vacation, nowhere to be seen?

I remembered the training hall where I taught Chandler and Christina with a towering golem model. I first tested the sword technique I absorbed from the imperial guard there.

But... all of that exists only in my memory.

No one else remembered what had happened or the words we had exchanged. I was the only one who carried those memories. A cold dampness crept up from my ankles, as if the floor itself were soaking me.

Before dawn, the lord appeared again with a steward and a maid at his side, bowing his head over and over.

With the air of someone who already knew everything, I asked, "Did you sleep well?"

"You know... yes. The revelation has come to me!" the lord answered.

"Open the Hall of Ancestors. I have something I must retrieve."

"Yes!"

Had I ordered them to open it yesterday, they might have hesitated. Now, they moved without question.

[Skill: Sword Energy Lv. 3 activated.]

Vwoooom.

"

Ah... ah...

"

"Incredible..."

More smoothly and easily than before, I drew the sword from the stone wall and began the long descent down the underground corridor. The steward beside me looked like he was lost in a dream. I remembered the man who had once leaned against one of these pillars, his throat half-sliced and flapping as he gasped for breath. Even in the face of ghosts, he had been a capable warrior.

In a city without Chandler or Christina, he was likely the most skilled man here.

"Do not worry. I will free your lord and his son from their suffering."

"Thank you..."

Creaaak.

Rumble...

I activated the secret mechanism exactly as Chandler once had.

The steward's eyes widened in shock. "You... you know even this?"

I nodded. "From here on, I will go alone. Return upstairs."

"Y-yes!"

My footsteps echoed as I descended the dark staircase.

Pop.

In front of a crow-shaped statue bathed in blood-red light, I removed the stopper from a glass vial. I poured the blood in, and a hollow metallic voice rang out from the crow's mouth.

[Your offering... has been accepted...]

Rumble...

The door opened. So far, everything was exactly as I remembered.

Vwoom.

I stepped into the broad corridor beyond, swinging my blade idly as I walked.

[Isaac Bel'Homec's Hall]

[Dungeon Rank: B-]

[Recommended Level: 81–90]

[You should not even attempt to enter this dungeon.]

[Optimal Clear Party: 1 person]

What does the optimal number of people even mean?

This time, unlike in my previous life, I was alone.

Would that change anything? Would some hidden trap be triggered?

To be honest, even if something did change, I was confident I could smash through the entire tomb on my own.

What truly puzzled me was that despite sealing Isaac in my past life, I had never seen a dungeon clear message.

Did I have to completely destroy his soul for it to count?

Regardless of intention, I didn't even know how to do so. I walked deeper in, step by step.

"Hey, friends," I called out.

Six massive brass golems stood motionless.

"Are you just going to stand there?"

"..."

"It's been a while. Don't you have any greetings for me?"

However, they offered no response at all, and the anticlimax made me feel almost foolish for swinging my greatsword around like that.

[Skill: Engineering Lv. 3 activated.]

[Scanning entities...]

They weren't broken. I wove my way through them, moving further inside.

Are they still under Isaac's control?

If so, maybe I could repurpose them somehow. For the meager experience they offered, there was no need to waste energy breaking them.

"Don't go attacking me from behind, though. That would be annoying."

"..."

The golems that once barreled toward me remained perfectly still. Leaving them behind, I walked deeper into the passage. Neither the golems nor the stone walls on either side moved at all.

Hmm...

I found myself in the central hall again, standing before the warped, spherical sculpture.

Isaac's stone coffin...

I took the vial of blood and poured it into every crack and crevice I could find.

Rumble...

A voice full of rage echoed from within the sarcophagus.

"

You filthy fraud!

"

"Hey, Isaac."

Creak... creak...

The fissures in the stone egg began to widen.

"How dare you speak as if you know me? Who... are you?"

"Hold on a moment."

Thunk!

I plunged my greatsword deep into the crack.

Blaze... Wind Blast.

Whoosh!

The sorcerer's half-corpse, sealed inside the sarcophagus, erupted in flames.

His entire body is a kind of seal...

"Come on out," I ordered.

"You impudent wretch! I will simply possess you!" Isaac exclaimed.

Bang!

A cloud of pitch-black smoke surged out, enveloping me once more.

[Resisting Possession!]

[No Mental Resistance skill detected. Resistance chance and range are determined by the Wisdom stat.]

[The Destiny of the Implied World has been activated. With Wisdom of one hundred fifty or higher, you would not be overwhelmed by Fear, Despair, and Oblivion.]

[Your Wisdom is too low. Resistance failed.]

Even after reading it again, I thought it was an absurd ability. Those with high Wisdom also couldn't resist the curse.

Of course, they wouldn't resist at all if their Wisdom stat was too low, but...

Ding!

[This is a possession you have already overcome once before.]

For some reason, ever since my last life, I had begun to resist it, bit by bit. My fingers twitched oddly. Gradually, I started to regain control.

"

Ha ha ha...

I thought you might be something more, but you're nothing. You couldn't even take me at once—wait, what?"

Isaac's triumphant laughter faltered.

"Not working out, huh?"

I sent the thought directly to him.

Flick.

It started with my middle finger, then expanded as I pushed the range of my control further. Maybe it was because I had already reclaimed my skeleton once before—this time, it was much easier. Of course, for now, it was still limited; I could only control it up to my wrist. But that was enough.

"Wh-what... what are you? This... this is impossible..." Isaac muttered.

However, it wouldn't do for him to panic too soon. Isaac was already slipping into a frenzy, discarding helm and armor as he probed my every bone and joint.

"W-what are these circuits engraved in this body? The circuits of a final-century genius, replacing the Arcane Heart!"

Did he live in the final century?

I didn't think so. In any case, his ranting was getting unbearably loud. I focused on my teeth, clamping my jaws together. The overall control still belonged to Isaac, but as long as I focused on one part at a time, I could manage to move.

"

Urk!

This... damn—

urk!

"

Isaac could no longer speak.

"Talk in your head. If anyone saw me like this, they'd think I am completely insane."

"This... this can't be! My circuits, the Demon King's seal I alone carved... you... what are you?"

Isaac was clutching my skull, groaning in disbelief. I watched him struggle in silence, continuing to steadily expand my control. I knew what was next. He would soon start asking about my true name and the supposed key to this tomb. If I told him, he'd try some bizarre spell and end up sealing himself again.

At least, that was what I expected.

In the midst of all his confusion, his attitude shifted completely.

"You..."

"What? What are you getting at?"

"What are you trying to lead me into?"

"Lead you?"

I stiffened slightly. Isaac sounded calm, almost like an old friend reuniting after many years apart.

"You came here so suddenly. You clearly know far more about me than anyone should."

Isaac was frighteningly perceptive. As if determined to win my trust, he continued communicating to me in that same, almost amiable tone.

"I don't know exactly what you want from me, but I'll do my best to cooperate. So come on... let's get to know each other, shall we?"