Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 347

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 117.
Ninety-Eight Souls (30)
“Fallen… you say?”
This time, Joshua’s mouth hung open in genuine shock. For Maximian and Riche, it was an incomprehensible matter, but from Joshua’s perspective, the very origin of his entire Family Clan had been utterly negated—no small thing at all.
「Some departed, and some vanished. My current form is exactly as I appeared at the moment of my death. The dead do not age, after all. It has been so long I’ve forgotten, but I was perhaps in my thirties… Back then, at Jade Ring Castle, approximately five hundred of us died together.」
The Jade Ring Castle that Joshua remembered was a place of such peace that battle and death seemed unimaginable. The front gates left unlocked during the day, staircases worn smooth by the passage of years, great windows that gave no thought to defense, an elegant garden where nothing more dangerous than a gardener’s blade could be conceived. Yet the more Joshua recalled the castle’s peaceful visage, the more unsettling Kelsniti’s account became—as though there existed another castle buried beneath it.
Maximian, listening from beside them, suddenly spoke.
“Then the spirits that appeared to Joshua today were those who died back then?”
Kelsniti turned toward Maximian, though of course Maximian could not perceive this.
「Not all of them. Of the five hundred, perhaps a hundred remained as spirits, and since Juspian’s House possesses such formidable energy, countless ancient spirits dwelt there as well—I suspect they became intermingled. Still, most of the spirits that entered Joshua’s body were likely among them. Though I cannot say with certainty, as they now seem reluctant to meet me.」
“So that’s why they call you Priest? Having lived together in life… Ah, then those spirits weren’t merely soldiers—they were companions of someone named Icabon?”
「Precisely. They were all people who followed Icabon from Periwinkle Island. In those days, we called ourselves the ‘People of Promise.’ They were those who believed in Icabon’s promise and followed him. In exchange for their aid, Icabon vowed to grant them all a certain wish they desperately desired.」
At that moment, Joshua, who had been staring at the floor, suddenly lifted his head.
“Kelce, then that wish was never fulfilled, was it? If it had been, you and they wouldn’t be wandering as spirits now. Isn’t it resentment that transforms people into spirits? What on earth was that wish? What was it that caused you all to drift through Jade Ring Castle for centuries?”
Kelsniti turned to look at Joshua.
「I cannot tell you. But I can tell you this much—even now, I strive to fulfill it. That is why I must warn you, Joshua.」
Though invisible to the others, Kelsniti drew close enough to brush past Joshua, peering into his face. Throughout their time together, Kelsniti had never brought his face so near. Once before, Kelsniti had spoken of wishing to avoid Joshua’s body passing through him.
「Beware the others. When I look upon you, I think of Icabon, my childhood friend, and my heart softens. But those ‘People of Promise’ are different. Many of them believe Icabon abandoned them, that he is responsible for their deaths. They gave their loyalty only to receive betrayal. Those consumed by such thoughts manifested as vengeful spirits even when Icabon lived… But that was long ago, when their power was weak. Now, with the passage of time, they have grown strong. Moreover, among them is Korned, Corbel’s brother, who spoke with Rifkne’s forces. Even in life, he harbored much resentment toward Icabon… He believes Icabon ruined everything. Above all, he is a skilled mage. You must not allow such a one—who would use you and discard you like a mere tool—to enter your body. Absolutely not.」
Even to Maximian and Riche’s ears, Kelsniti’s voice rang with sincerity. Riche had forgotten her initial fear and now listened intently to the tale. In that moment, she found herself curious about what Kelsniti actually looked like.
「You are not a direct target of their vengeance, and their purpose is not revenge, but surely you see no reason for them to regard you kindly? Think of all those countless voices that have circled you since before. Most of them were mocking, were they not? Did they not interfere with your daily life? Even if there were kind voices among them, they would have been few. It was a grave mistake to allow such beings to enter your body.」
Joshua tried to object.
“But I can control them. I cannot explain how, but I know intuitively that it works.”
Kelsniti shook his head.
「Since Icabon’s time, there have been several Demonic mediums. Why have their lifespans been so short? Why have so many gone mad? I have witnessed Galifer, born as Icabon’s great-grandson and a Demonic medium, and several others besides. All of them possessed your gift of mediumship. The earlier such power manifests, and the more frequently one contacts spirits, the faster one’s personality crumbles. Knowing this, I avoided conversation with them. That is why you, Joshua, are the first Demonic medium I have truly spoken with as a medium. The moment you recognized me that night, my existence became bound to you. To be honest, Joshua, while other Demonic mediums are said to have been mediums, none seemed as formidable as you. They were manageable so long as I did not initiate contact. But you that night—you recognized me, and as though drawing in spirits, you not only freed me from my earthly binding but seemed on the verge of summoning every ghost in that castle. Even the paintings hanging in the Grand Hall proved useless.」
“Paintings? What do paintings have to do with it?”
「Who do you think stood in those paintings from Icabon’s era hanging there? They are the People of Promise themselves. Your father did a wise thing hanging those paintings. Spirits are quite fond of their own faces. They lose all sense of time gazing upon themselves. Nearly all those strong enough to cling to you and awaken your mediumship had their faces in those paintings. That is why you grew up unaware of your mediumship for so long. Had it not been for your sister’s death, you would have been safe for years more.」
Joshua furrowed his brow, trying to recall the faces in those paintings. He remembered each one distinctly—so clearly that he could match them one by one with the voices he had heard today. It was a deeply unsettling sensation.
「So listen well, Joshua. To be frank, the stronger your power over spirits becomes, the farther I can travel. But I wish you would not pursue such strength. You stand upon a precipice most perilous. You have one foot in the human world and one in the realm of spirits. Should you stumble and lose your footing, what then? So even if you believe you can control them, I beg you—do not use such power again.」
Joshua, who had been gazing into Kelsniti’s eyes, eventually looked away. When he opened his mouth, his voice came strained, as though something caught in his throat.
“Kelce, the truth is… there was a reason I accepted the spirits.”
Maximian spoke.
“I’ve wondered about that all this time. Why you suddenly decided to say ‘come in, all of you.’ What were you thinking?”
Joshua hesitated a moment longer before speaking.
“It was… because of Ive… ”
Maximian had heard the name Ive long ago and had naturally forgotten it.
“Who is that?”
“Ivnoa… my sister.”
“Your sister? The one who died long ago?”
Only after speaking did Maximian realize the truth. That sister named Ivnoa had also died at Jade Ring Castle, and she had drunk poison—her death was no natural passing.
“Caesar told me. He said he was wandering in the Meadow and saw a young lady, but she suddenly vanished. And he said… her face resembled mine. When I heard that story, my entire body felt as though it were freezing over.”
Joshua still trembled slightly at the jaw, as though perpetually chilled. Maximian recalled the moment when Caesar had spoken those words—how Joshua’s face had drained of all color, turning a sickly pallor. At the time, he hadn’t understood why.
“Until now, I hadn’t even considered it. My sister too… that she could become a spirit. Because I’ve grown so accustomed to Kelsniti, I never thought spirits were frightening. But the moment I heard those words, I was so terrified… my lips wouldn’t stop trembling. Was it because she was someone I lived with while alive, or was it the memory of how she looked when she died?”
Joshua turned his head toward Kelsniti.
“Kelsniti, do you know? Can you tell whether my sister’s spirit exists or not?”
Kelsniti shook his head.
“No. But if you were so frightened, why did you attempt the necromancy in the first place?”
“Because I was afraid, and I hated myself for being afraid.”
Joshua raised his hand and covered his face.
“Did I not love my sister? If she had appeared as a spirit, she would surely have missed me desperately, yet instead of welcoming her, I trembled in fear. If she had known, how heartbroken she would have been. Perhaps knowing that, she chose not to appear before me, only before Caesar… when I think such things… I despised myself so intensely. I who found her affection burdensome while she lived, I who cannot bear to face her even in death—what a worthless creature I am, thinking only of myself. And yet, my sister died in my place back then….”
No one spoke. Joshua rested his elbows on his knees and covered his eyes with both hands.
“I thought that if I did so, perhaps my sister, if she were among them, would enter into me. Since I couldn’t speak to her directly, I told them no one would refuse. But looking at it differently, wasn’t I hoping for a situation where my sister would be lost among countless spirits, where I wouldn’t recognize her… such a repulsive thought also occurs to me. Of course, I never met my sister. Now I don’t even know what I’m hoping for anymore.”
Joshua fell silent, his forehead resting against his hand, and the others did not readily speak either. As the darkness began to pale slightly, Kelsniti spoke.
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.

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