A Former Child Soldier Who Uses a Magic Sword Wants to Live with an Older Sister of a Former Enemy Executive - Chapter 98

• Chapter 98 : The diary and the magic sword in the basement.

Seto and Satis were nearing the exit of the building.

There was no sign of any attackers, but an even more unsettling atmosphere was thickening around them.

As they were walking down the hallway, they noticed countless hands stuck to the windows.

These hands were scratching and banging frantically, seemingly desperate to get to the two of them.

Even Satis, who was a demon, grimaced in disgust at this sight.

Seto, on the other hand, did not change his expression much.

He had always been used to such deteriorated places that even incited fear.

Remembering his past, he made sure not to let his mind waver.

Come to think of it, there was a time when I waited in a pitch black graveyard after being ordered to launch a surprise attack. …Although, this place is clearly nothing compared to that time. (Seto)

He was ready to pull out his magic sword at any time.

If push came to shove, he himself would become the sword and shield to protect Satis.

Although no attackers had shown themselves, there had been an increasing number of disturbances caused by these poltergeist phenomena and hallucinations.

The way they squirmed as if trying to drag them into the abyss was reminiscent of ghosts.

—In that case, were they actual ghosts?

All of their assailants were dead, but the statue and the boy crawling along the wall did not feel quite alive, yet they did not seem to be dead either.

They felt like the living, struggling in pain and fear, seeking help, or perhaps trying to make others experience the same feelings.

That was how Seto perceived them.

Though, of course, that did not make them any less grotesque.

There was some secret hidden within this dungeon of mist and silver that continued to spawn these strange creatures.

Perhaps it was something that had to do with the “magic sword” that Gravis mentioned at the start.

While pondering this, Seto spotted what seemed to be an exit up ahead.

A large door leading outside was wide open, making an eerie sound as the air passed through it.

[We can finally get out of here.] (Seto)

[Yeah. But to be honest, I wish we could have explored a bit more.] (Satis)

[There’s nothing we can do about it. It’s a dungeon, after all. Frankly, there’s no safe place here.] (Seto)

This was the sort of place where your mind gets worn out before your body does.

The white mist visually clouded your thoughts, and the grotesque creatures lurking in the black and white kept you on edge.

In a sense, it was like a hunting ground.

Whether it let intruders live or die, this place captured the essence of the unknown way more than any other dungeon.

Seto and Satis quickly escaped the building while remaining cautious.

There were no pursuers or attackers when they confirmed the safety and security of the area.

[Hey, someone’s coming!] (Seto)

[Those silhouettes look familiar… Could they be…?] (Satis)

Two figures emerged from the mist.

It was Hydra and Gravis.

[Seto, Satis, are you all right?] (Hydra)

[Phew, thank god. We finally managed to meet up.] (Gravis)

[Glad you guys are okay too. How was it on your end?] (Seto)

[We were attacked by a strange bunch, but I took care of them in a flash. That’s right, I did it!] (Gravis)

[Liar.] (Satis)

[WHA?!] (Gravis)

Satis used magic to heal the damage Gravis had sustained and listened to what the latter had learned.

It seemed that much like Seto and Satis, they had both hostile and non-hostile encounters.

[Uh, did anyone come this way?] (Hydra)

[Like who?” (Seto)

[We came here following a certain person. Though we could only see their silhouette because of the mist…] (Hydra)

[No, we haven’t seen anyone other than you guys.] (Seto)

[That’s right. We didn’t hear any footsteps either.] (Satis)

[I see. …Then who could that have been?] (Hydra)

[It’s no use thinking about it. More importantly, when we were exploring, we found this. We think it’s a diary.] (Gravis)

And so, Gravis handed what she found to Satis.

When she picked it up, it felt heavy, and she could barely make out some writing on the cover.

[…It does seem to be a diary. The name on it is faded and unreadable, though.” (Satis)

[Bingo! I knew you could decipher it, Satis.] (Gravis)

[You can read it? That’s amazing…] (Seto)

[Only a little bit. I can’t decipher all of it, but…] (Satis)

After Satis deciphered it, the contents of the diary began to emerge.

However, since some of the text was faded or unreadable to begin with, some speculation was involved, meaning the interpretation might differ from the actual content.

The story went as follows:

Thanks to the advancement of supernatural technology up to today, humanity finally achieved a lifespan of 300 years. Medical science could now easily treat diseases and mysterious symptoms that were once incurable.
However, as if to threaten our long-standing peace, a mysterious illness had broken out here again.

The patients’ bodies became emaciated like rags, bleeding incessantly, and their minds turned feral, like beasts.

Although we had medicines and treatments to suppress their symptoms as much as possible, we couldn’t hope for a fundamental solution. I could no longer bear to see people live for 50 or 100 years with no hope of recovery.

That’s why I developed a life-support device that separates the mind from the body.

It safely stores and manages patients by keeping them in their spirit form, and their bodies mindless.

I decided to call it the “Ghost Project”.

At first, it was going well—it really was.

So why… Why did it have to turn out like this?

I never imagined that the life-support device itself would begin to develop a “will” of its own.

Now, it indiscriminately captures and places even those who aren’t infected into itself.

Determined to stop it, I sought the help of the city’s top sorcerer.

That device was built extremely sturdy, and could not be destroyed with ordinary weapons. But with “that thing”, then maybe…

However, the fuel it required was far too dangerous.

And I’m not talking about efficiency.

What do you mean it takes a vast amount of souls to recharge it?!

This wasn’t what we agreed on. Saving people should not require killing just as many. I went to the sorcerer’s house, but he had already left, and disappeared without a trace.

Ahh, it’s all over.

The device had gone out of control, and “that thing” was also giving off an ominous aura.

Could it be that it was also developing a will of its own?

What a disaster!!

After checking, I discovered that it truly did have something close to a will.

I somehow managed to seal “that thing” underground.

I hid the card key in a certain place, but it may only be a matter of time before someone finds it.

Most concerning was that “that thing” continued to exert its effects.

I did what I had to do, but… Aah.

The city was overrun with rioters, and the guards were committing terrible massacres in the name of maintaining order.

The world, once so bright with the breath of life, is now stained with blood and death throes.

If this city is destroyed, what impact will it have on the world?

I may never know the answer to that.

[????That was the content of the diary.] (Satis)

[Uhh… What the heck? That’s some real heavy stuff.] (Gravis)

[Amazing… To think they could extend their lifespan to 300 years…] (Hydra)

[It is amazing, but that’s not the real issue here, right? “That thing” was apparently created to destroy the life-support device, but… Perhaps it was…] (Satis)

[Yeah, I think it could be a magic sword. I was actually able to cut through their armor with mine. …But that part about fuel-efficiency is a bit suspicious.] (Seto)

[True. The mention of a large number of souls is quite unsettling…] (Satis)

[There’s a lot of parts that bother me, but… What’s this about a “card key”?] (Gravis)

[I was thinking the same thing. I’ve never heard of such a thing in Benjamin Village.] (Hydra)

While everyone pondered, they noticed that the last page of the diary contained a drawing that appeared to be a map leading somewhere.

They compared the shape of the drawing with their current location as best they could and began searching for the location.

After about an hour, they found a location that matched.

It was hard to see because of the white mist, but it seemed like it was the largest building in the area.

[Is this it? The entrance seems to be open.] (Hydra)

[There’s something creepy about it, more than any place we’ve seen before.] (Gravis)

[What’s the plan?] (Seto)

[We’re going in this order: Seto, me, Hydra, and Gravis. Gravis, keep an eye on the rear. Hydra, you focus on the sides.] (Satis)

[Got it~.] (Gravis)

[Understood.] (Hydra)

The four of them entered, but the place was filled with debris, and there seemed to be no passable paths.

There didn’t appear to be any assailants, and above all, it was too quiet.

Nothing strange or supernatural happened, and there was nothing noteworthy to explore, leaving everyone at a loss.

[Hey, what’s this?] (Seto)

Seto spotted what looked like a door-shaped wall further ahead.

He knocked on it lightly, feeling it might lead somewhere beyond.

However, without a doorknob, it could not be opened.

Even if he were to destroy it with his magic sword, it would be no laughing matter if it caused the building to collapse even further.

[Is something wrong, Seto?] (Satis)

[Hmm? What is this…? It doesn’t seem like a wall.] (Hydra)

[Does this lead somewhere deeper? Then let’s just open it already. Use your magic sword, your magic, or whatever to blast it open!] (Gravis)

[No, doing that would be dangerous for the surroundings… Maybe this is where we use that card key thing.] (Seto)

[But we don’t have that card key, do we?] (Gravis)

[Hmm… Seto. Can you take out that thing we found inside the statue at the place we were sent to?] (Satis)

Seto took it out as instructed.

It was unclear whether this was the so-called card key.

But they could not get anywhere unless they tried it.

As they pondered how to use it and tried experimenting, the wall seemed to react to it.

It slowly opened with a heavy, grinding sound.

It turned out to be a door after all, but the suddenness of it left the four of them stunned.

A staircase leading to the basement appeared, from which an ominous aura suddenly emanated.

Everyone gasped at how dense it was, something they had never experienced before.

[Maybe this is it…] (Seto)

[Yeah, most likely. This is where “that thing” is located.] (Satis)

[Wow, this is getting interesting… There must be some crazy traps and enemies down there.] (Gravis)

[Don’t say things like that. You’re going to jinx it.] (Hydra)

[You idiot! In situations like this, it’s almost a given that there are tons of dangerous twists and turns.] (Gravis)

[Okay, enough wasting time. Let’s go.] (Satis)

[…I’ll take the lead. You guys follow me, but keep a little distance.] (Seto)

Seto went down the stairs first.

The further they descended, the more oppressive the presence became.

It was definitely murderous intent.

In terms of type, it was similar to that of the attackers they had encountered.

However, in terms of magnitude, the presence of whatever laid ahead was much stronger.

If it had been staying underground this whole time, it must have been insatiably hungry.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, they arrived at a vast open space.

There was something glowing suspiciously further in the area.

[Is that…] (Seto)

A double-edged sword was thrust into a pedestal.

Seto instantly recognized it as a magic sword.

[That’s… the magic sword of the Silver City.] (Seto)

As Seto moved closer, he immediately sensed a sharp, vicious presence above his head.

Attacking them from above with a screech was a tall, thin, animated mummy clad in the same sturdy armor as the assailants from before.

What an overwhelming fighting spirit… Is this guy the commander of the undeads? (Seto)

Seto dodged the attack and put some distance between himself and the enemy, drawing his magic sword and taking a stance.

Satis, Hydra, and Gravis arrived shortly after and also took fighting stances.

[W-What’s with this guy…?! Is he the boss of those mummies?!] (Gravis)

[I see. He’s probably the captain of the guards who once protected this city. Even in death, he continues to kill…] (Hydra)

[However, we’re four against one. Let’s attack all at once.] (Satis)

As the atmosphere turned to battle, the magic sword at the back seemed to shimmer with eerie delight, as if enjoying the spectacle.