Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 338

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 108.
Ninety-Eight Souls (21)
Observing Joshua up close, Maximian found himself doubting his own eyes. It was no longer just his hair. Every exposed inch of skin—his face, his arms, everything—had taken on a pallid, bluish-white hue. His eyes remained closed. His face bore the appearance of sleep, yet he stood perfectly upright, unswaying. Enveloped in a light so brilliant it seemed ready to burst and winds that lifted all things into the void, his pale form resembled… that is to say, it resembled…
A doll. A porcelain doll, pure white.
Joshua’s words echoed in my mind. “He is also me,” he had said. Damn it—had they created dolls by cloning humans, and now humans themselves were becoming doll-like?
“Joshua.”
As if responding to Maximian’s voice, Joshua, whose head had been hanging down, slowly raised it upright. The motion appeared grotesque rather than reassuring—like a doll beginning to move once its spring had been wound.
“Joshua!”
Maximian reached out his hand, attempting to grasp Joshua’s limply swaying arm despite his body remaining upright. At that moment, a voice came from beside him. It was the voice of an unfamiliar woman.
「The young Arnim cannot hear your words. And do not touch him. Even the slightest impact could sever his life.」
Maximian shot a glare toward the source of the voice.
“What on earth have you done? He might die, and you’re calling that an explanation!”
The woman’s responding voice was infuriatingly composed.
「We did nothing extraordinary. Simply too many souls entered him, that is all. An ordinary human could not withstand even one or two souls. Of course, such a quantity could never enter from the beginning, so the question of endurance is moot. But Demonics are different. The moment the young Arnim permitted spirit possession just now, hundreds of souls attempted to enter his body. It was, so to speak, a competition. Yet remarkably, the power of his spirit possession was far too formidable. Because of this, far too many souls entered him all at once.」
“How many souls entered him!”
「Ninety-eight. So it is hardly surprising that he lost his own consciousness amid the flood of external consciousnesses pouring in.」
For a moment, my mind went blank. Ninety-eight souls inside a single person?
“Then what you said about him possibly dying…”
「Exactly as stated. He is a Demonic, yes? But even if his mental fortitude is strong enough to accommodate ninety-eight souls, his body remains a physical entity and cannot endure such violent strain. In other words, he is now suspended in a state of near-rupture. Should he be touched carelessly, his life could end without a moment’s hesitation.」
There was only one response to give.
“Then simply have them all leave! Those souls or whatever they are—they surely don’t wish for Joshua to die!”
「That too is far from simple. Everything occurring before you is powered by those souls. Because there are so many, an unimaginably potent spiritual force pours forth. Yet the young Arnim who should control it has lost consciousness. To use an analogy: it is like a rider who has fainted while mounted upon a horse galloping wildly. To command the horse, the rider must first regain awareness, must he not?」
There was no pleasure to be found in such an analogy at such a moment.
“Why do you speak as though this is all so obvious? Do you think explaining it to me absolves you of responsibility? I don’t know who you are, but shouldn’t you command them to stop!”
「Unfortunately, communication is impossible. For a soul within a human body to converse with the outside, it must inevitably use that human’s body. In other words, it must speak through the young Arnim’s lips. But with ninety-eight of them, who among them should speak? They cannot even communicate with one another. Should they all attempt to speak simultaneously, the result would be, as you might imagine, catastrophic.」
“Then what am I supposed to do!”
「There is but one way. Our Priest must come. The Priest can address all of us at once. That is why we search for him now.」
“The Priest? Do you mean Kelsniti?”
Until that moment composed, the woman’s voice shifted to one of surprise.
「You know the Priest? How do you know of him?」
Even amid his alarm, Maximian sensed something amiss. Joshua had said that Kelsniti protected him from other spirits. Moreover, it was Kelsniti who had emphasized several times not long ago that he should show no response to other spirits. That Kelsniti was their Priest and possessed the ability to converse with all of them simultaneously?
As this thought took shape, doubt crept into the words he was hearing. When pieces did not fit, it was faster to reject the entire situation and begin thinking anew from the start than to debate what to believe.
“Do not lie. Kelsniti is your Priest? It would be the opposite. Kelsniti has long prevented you from approaching Joshua. He did so fearing you would commit such acts as this. You sought to seize your opportunity in his absence to achieve your goals, but as you yourself stated, unexpected circumstances arose and your attempt to claim a living body failed. Would you truly wish to save Joshua? If he survives, that would be well enough, but if he dies, that suits you just as fine, does it not? But allow me one piece of counsel: there is no one in this world besides Joshua capable of properly manifesting your power as you do now. The very existence of the countless spirits gathered here is proof of that.」
How much of the truth had I struck? The delay in response—was it because I had pierced their intent accurately, or was it all a misunderstanding?
But having started, there was no meaning in not pushing through to the end. Maximian shot a glare into the void, then turned his head toward Joshua and cried out.
“So, do you have the will to leave or not? Enough of this nonsense about needing a Priest. Why can’t you leave? The way I see it, the reason is simple: you have no intention of yielding to one another! There is no noble purpose here—you are all rotten creatures thinking only of your own desires!”
It was then. The white radiance that had enveloped Joshua suddenly dimmed, and simultaneously a yellowish light appeared, wrapping around his body in a circle. What was this? As Maximian turned his head, he saw Juspian.
“A child ignorant of magic, yet speaking so fearlessly to spirits. But thanks to you, it is done. While you drew their attention, I cast a protective barrier. Now they can leave, but they cannot return. Wait a moment. Only a few need to diminish. They are already diminishing.」
Maximian could not entirely shake his unease.
“Wait, you say?”
Juspian cast his gaze sideways like a young boy.
“You suspicious bastard. They’re underestimating the power that Demonic Joshua possesses.”
Maximian didn’t understand Juspian’s meaning. But moments later, remarkably, Joshua’s eyes snapped open.
“Are you coming to your senses?”
Joshua didn’t answer, but the flow of air and stone that had been sweeping across the Meadow immediately began to slow. Then the voice that had been conversing with Maximian moments before echoed once more.
「It wasn’t a lie that it would be better if our Priest came. But you—you knew of the discord between us and the Priest, didn’t you? Yes, we both hoped for his arrival and dreaded it. If he comes, he won’t leave us be. Hehehehe…」
It was a deeply unpleasant laugh, but since Joshua had awakened, Maximian refrained from responding further, unwilling to provoke needless conflict.
Joshua stared as the whirlwind in the Meadow gradually subsided. Was he controlling it of his own will? It was impossible to say, but his expression remained composed. As the wind weakened, the stones descended slowly, like falling snow, settling gently to the ground. When the last stone had finally come to rest, the voice spoke once more.
「Young Arnim, you are truly extraordinary. In all my centuries, I’ve never encountered a medium like you. With merely eight souls severed, you’ve already regained consciousness. Are ninety souls nothing to you? But now that the path has been opened, we shall return whenever we wish.」
The voice fell silent. Only its echo lingered in his ears. It took some time for the chill to fade.
Juspian spoke from beside him.
“The Spirit’s prattling doesn’t matter. Come now, take that wretch and leave before the enemies regain their wits. You’ve pestered me so much these past few days—a quiet life feels like something from a hundred years ago.”
Maximian approached Joshua without a word and extended both hands. Joshua’s gaze met his, his expression blank as a stranger’s. But soon he took a step forward and leaned his body against Maximian.
Maximian hoisted Joshua onto his back. As the two disappeared across the dust-choked Meadow toward the Ship, Juspian folded his arms and muttered to himself.
“Then perhaps I should tidy things up to reclaim my quiet life.”
Someone rose quietly and stood beside him, speaking.
“Shall I lend a hand?”
It was Caesar, who had returned after confirming that Riche had boarded the Ship. He was the one who had rushed to the Ship immediately after the necromancy erupted and informed Juspian of the situation.
As the dust settled, a scene of devastation revealed itself: fallen horses and soldiers, the Meadow torn open as if raked by a colossal claw, and boulders scattered haphazardly across the ravaged ground. Yet only the cavalry who had arrived late were struggling to rise like lightning-struck men, and the greatest threat that had menaced them was nowhere to be seen.
“The Young Duke certainly left things in a terrible state.”
“When necromancy reaches this scale, even a competent Mage becomes useless. Though that creature seems scarcely aware of how formidable his own power truly is.”
One stood with arms crossed in satisfaction, the other leaned casually on his sword, and as they waited for the cavalry to rise, behind them, the Continent’s only flying Ship began to ascend.
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright of this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————