I handed over the sword I originally used to Yuna temporarily while trying to figure out its abilities, and until we reached the Aindehi Marshlands, I only used this sword.
And so far, I’ve learned absolutely nothing. When I channeled mana, no sword energy or anything similar came out, and when I tried talking to the sword, there was no response.
It’s just a sword that emits an ominous glow. That’s all it is…
Clearly, the corpse mentioned something earlier. What in the world is going on here? It seems like the others couldn’t make sense of it, but I heard it clearly.
And that voice resembled the bandit I had slain with this sword. Though slightly distorted, upon reflection, it was definitely that voice.
Even though Akashi and Yuna kept saying something, I was too busy staring at the sword in my hand to hear them. As Alterra said, once something left the sword, it stopped glowing.
And then the possessed corpse suddenly rose. While I had my sword lowered, I felt something connect—could it be that something left the corpse and entered the sword?
Apparently, that something was most likely a soul. However, the problem lies in still not understanding the conditions. What are the conditions for extracting a soul, and what are they for reinserting one?
“…That’s right. The crack disappeared too. Even I don’t know how it happened…”
Akashi seemed to regain interest in the sword he had previously disregarded and was looking at it again.
“Is it not just about pulling out and imprisoning souls but also about releasing them? Then… Hmm. Hey, leader. Do you have any idea how you just did that? Also, does any intellect remain within?”
It was a good question, but I had no clue. All I knew was that something happened when the sword touched, though it wasn’t the first time it had touched something.
If touching alone were the condition for injecting a soul, shouldn’t the souls have seeped in when we cut through the bandits on our way here?
“There’s no sense of it yet… But it seems like some intellect might remain… At least, I heard a voice.”
Since I’m not knowledgeable in this area, getting help from an expert like Akashi would be better. Akashi appeared to be wracking his brain by vigorously rubbing his head, but in the end, even he couldn’t come up with a clear answer.
“Damn it! I don’t know! If we don’t know the conditions, what difference does it make whether intellect remains or not?! We thought we made progress, but…”
Judging by how he was tearing his hair out, Akashi probably doesn’t know either. Yuna approached as if she didn’t care much about my sword and spoke with a dissatisfied expression.
“…If what Akashi says is true, Myungho, aren’t you effectively ruining someone else’s livelihood? Even if it wasn’t intentional, what will you do if the owner shows up and starts questioning you?”
Interestingly enough, necromancy isn’t illegal. Of course, you’d be treated strangely if you go near shops selling such things, but unless it’s in a place where religion holds immense influence, they generally don’t stop people from selling them.
Of course, digging up bodies from graves is prohibited, but honestly, how can we tell if this necromancer pulled the body from a grave or if it’s a bandit?
“…We should ask first if it’s from someone else’s grave or if it’s a body acquired legally. If it was obtained legally… Hmm. Maybe compensating would suffice…?”
Yuna sighed deeply, warning me not to act impulsively again, while Alterra nonchalantly plucked the last scale and tossed it on the ground, kicking the corpse back into the puddle with her foot.
…So, every place where the sword pierced has these kinds of things? This makes the marshland feel like a massive graveyard.
The feeling is unsettling. I get a creepy sensation, like something crawling down my spine.
“Akashi, stop tearing your hair out. Let’s move on now. Yuna, sorry for acting impulsively earlier. Alterra? Not that it’s my business, but it’d be preferable if you moved the human corpse with your hands instead of your feet. Just a request, so feel free to ignore it.”
“…Hmph, fine. Is my work supposed to go smoothly? Hey, tell the worm to bleed again for the key. Let’s roughly determine the direction and go.”
Altera growled angrily at being called a “worm,” but Akashi seemed to have no attention left for her.
“Calm down, Alterra. Could you spare some blood for the key? Since Akashi wants to figure out the path. Ah, apologize for calling you a worm…? Um… Akashi, Alterra wants you to apologize.”
“What did I do wrong? Dragons belong to the sky—it’s absurd for them to belong to the earth. Know your place, worm.”
…Only after commanding Akashi’s mark to apologize did Alterra reluctantly bleed onto the ingot-like key.
Upon receiving the dragon’s blood, the ingot opened wide, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful night sky, as always. The stars floating like a galaxy quickly pointed in one direction before closing again.
“…That way, it seems. Let’s go. Everyone, surely none of us want to stay here long, right?”
After snapping the party out of their fascination with the mesmerizing scenery, they proceeded in the direction the constellation had indicated.
– – – –
Tastes bad. That was my immediate impression after biting into the swamp monster’s meat. No amount of seasoning could mask the earthy taste permeating the flesh.
Why can’t I eat meat that tastes like dirt when I supposedly eat dirt well enough? Well, truthfully, I don’t particularly enjoy eating dirt either. It feels like my palate has become more refined, making me overly sensitive to off-flavors in food.
I seriously wonder if there will come a day when I won’t be able to eat without the chef and starve to death. Back when I was less discerning, I would’ve wolfed this down, calling it delicious.
“…This tastes strange. Isn’t this supposed to be the swamp monster…? Is this how it usually tastes?”
“What? I made it edible despite it being poisonous. Are you complaining? Just eat what you’re given. All swamp creatures taste the same anyway. They’re all soaked in mud and water, tasting like garbage. If you really dislike it, dig up a corpse and eat that instead.”
“No, I’ll politely decline that offer. Anyway, does this mean we’ll have to keep eating this tasteless stuff for a while…?”
Really. How can I call this food? Feeling disheartened by this bleak outlook, I held onto a sliver of hope that there might be something tasty around.
Surely not all these beasts taste terrible? Closing my eyes tightly, I took another large bite.
Unfortunately, the meat’s color—a mix of green and blue—was already putting me off. Moreover, the original appearance of the monster kept flashing before my eyes.
Its jaw was as long as its body, and when I split its stomach open, numerous undigested animals tumbled out. Plus, it had countless legs, which was visually repulsive.
It was the first time I encountered something so grotesque that it sent shivers down my spine. And it smelled foul.
“…It tastes bad…”
“I’m sorry, but according to Akashi, we’ll have to eat this until we reach the ruins.”
“But… I find it delicious. The tanginess is almost addictive.”
“That’s why elves are problematic. Their palates are ruined, which is why traditional foods are messed up. What was it? Maggot pie? Do they really make such things?”
“Apologize! Maggots fed exclusively on mint have a refreshingly pleasant taste!”
“That’s exactly the problem. Why do you need freshness in a warm dish like pie? Anyone sane knows it’s inappropriate to add such flavors to comforting food.”
Still, the noise and commotion made the meal somewhat tolerable. Watching Myungho mediate between Yuna and Akashi, who were ready to argue, made me realize the group wouldn’t function without him.
Still, I can’t eat this. After sucking the meat off the bones, I threw the exoskeleton back into the pit where the swamp monster originally lay.
Then I scooped up a handful of dirt and ate it to cleanse my palate. Surprisingly, the dirt tasted better.
Should I start eating rocks instead of living things from now on? As I pondered this seriously, I detected an unusual vibration.
A distant sound, like something being dug out of the ground. More specifically, it sounded like something sharp scraping against the earth.
Someone seems to be digging over there. Since we’ve finished eating and I’m bored, let’s check out what they’re digging.
Myungho asked where I was going and followed me, but judging by his exhausted demeanor, it seemed like he’d escaped mediation duty between those two and decided to run away with me.
“Someone seems to be digging over there with something sharp. I thought I’d take a look. Want to come along?”
“Someone digging… Sure, let’s go. If it’s those necromancers, we should check whether the corpses they use are legal or illegal. Wait a moment, Alterra! I can’t keep up with your speed because my feet sink into the ground!”
Lightweight as he is, how can his feet sink into the ground? Irritated, I turned around and dragged him by the arm.
“Lightweight, yet sinking into the ground. Humans really are fragile. Try spreading your weight as much as possible while walking. If you can’t, watch and follow me.”
Look at me doing it. Myungho observed my steps and attempted to mimic my method. Despite his efforts, he still sank ankle-deep.
Unable to bear the frustration, I simply dragged him along, and eventually, he seemed to get the hang of it.
“You didn’t need to drag me…” he complained, but it’s the fault of someone who learns slowly.
Approaching the source of the mysterious vibration, it seemed like the source also detected us and headed straight toward us. It was blurry, but there was only one person.
There was indeed only one person. However, dozens, maybe hundreds of swords floated behind them.
Bright red hair, and eyes as yellow as mine. Dressed in pristine white clothes, as if they hadn’t stepped foot in the muddy marshes.
The woman, who seemed detached from the world, soon spoke to me.
“Curious about who was digging up my things, I came out to see—it was you?”
