Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 402

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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 172.
In the Name of Loyalty and Vengeance (14)
At those words, Maximian’s head snapped up.
“Are you saying that this Korned entered Joshua’s body to drive him out?”
「Well, something like that, I suppose.」
“Wait, hold on! If you turn someone else’s body into a battlefield like that and the boy’s mind completely shatters, what then!”
The voice suddenly dropped in tone.
「Don’t underestimate the Duke. He carries Icabon’s blood.」
By then, Korned could no longer hold himself up and collapsed to the floor. Though he forced his eyes open, convulsions continued to ripple across his face.
「It is somewhat of a gamble. The Duke’s consciousness is extraordinarily powerful—he could even summon hundreds of spirits at once—but right now it isn’t the Duke himself controlling his body, but Korned. How well can that wretch handle the Duke’s form? Can Korned’s mind endure having two consciousnesses in a single body? And if the Duke suddenly awakens, he’ll have to contend with three consciousnesses at once. Can he manage that? He isn’t ‘blessed Arnim’, after all.」
“What if he can’t? Then what happens?”
「This is merely my conjecture, but the Duke can switch his consciousness instantaneously. However, if Korned cannot—if there’s a gap during the transition—he might be momentarily perceived as dead, and necrosis could set in across parts of his body.」
Maximian didn’t even wait to hear the rest before shouting.
“You’re telling me this now!”
Then another voice came from beside him. It was a young woman’s voice, but not the one he’d heard from Corbel before.
「Don’t worry. Perancho just likes to frighten people. The Duke will be fine. He’s our Duke, after all.」
Just because the voice sounded kind didn’t mean Maximian would trust it. But before he could respond, yet another voice spoke.
「Rita’s right. Wait and see. Kelce is a Priest who can purify both body and spirit.」
「I’m worried about Kelce. He didn’t want to lay a single finger on the Duke.」
「It’s because of the traces. D’s traces can never be erased. If Kelce’s traces were to remain on the Duke, that would be no small matter.」
「The Duke must be unharmed. Oh, wait. Listen. He’s calling. Do you hear it?」
「You hear it?」
「You too?」
Riche and Maximian found themselves back-to-back, not moving an inch apart. Maximian muttered as if offended.
“When you asked us to clap earlier, you all played dumb.”
At that, the voices abruptly ceased, as if mocking him. Riche whispered softly.
“Maximian, you came here with Kelce at first. But you didn’t know these others were here? Were they here from the beginning?”
“Kelce spoke to me, so I knew about him. How should I know? I’m not Jo’s son.”
“So we just put on a performance in front of all these spirits?”
“Like I said, I don’t know.”
Riche seemed oddly restless. Maximian watched Joshua—or rather, Korned—intently, as if trying to discern what change was occurring.
Korned remained on one knee, looking as though he might rise at any moment. He stayed frozen in that posture, his gaze wandering through empty air like someone who had thought of something important while trying to stand.
It was a mountain peak where he had once seen a flock of black birds—or rather, a bird. Below came the sound of water, and the whisper of mist flowing. The air rubbed against itself with a rustling sound. Was that what they called the sound of wind? But it was slower than that, and damp.
Joshua had just opened his eyes. Until then, he had been asleep. Why had he awakened? Who had called him?
He couldn’t remember. Joshua sat up. Suddenly, he thought that the bird was no longer visible. Joshua didn’t wonder why—he simply smiled knowingly.
That bird was a trace left behind by the spirits that had attempted to penetrate Joshua’s consciousness. It would never disappear entirely, but he no longer feared it. Not since he had begun to command spirits, to summon them at will, to silence them, to issue them orders.
This was Joshua’s World. That world continued to grow, embracing infinite transformations. Since first arriving here, he had gradually learned how to navigate it. He had come to understand that everything in this place reflected his consciousness—sometimes even things beyond memory.
Once he understood that, the People of Promise began calling Joshua not “young Arnim” or “young Demonic,” but “Duke” instead. It was a sign of change. Whether Joshua liked it or not, he was drawing ever closer to becoming their Duke. The oath was beginning to work again. If so, there had to be a price.
“Joshua.”
A voice called from behind him. He turned, but saw no one. Joshua felt puzzled. Were there still secrets hidden in this world that he didn’t know?
“Who?”
The voice laughed. I turned to find nothing but empty air beneath my feet. I thrust out my hand, grasping at nothing.
I closed my eyes and tried to sense the presence. Slowly, an outline began to materialize. Small. Like a seven-year-old child. I reached out to touch, but my hand sank into a golden radiance that bloomed from the darkness.
Then the presence spoke.
“Why do you wear such a sorrowful expression?”
“What is wrong with my face?”
“You seem sad.”
I touched my own face, tracing my features with my fingertips as though they belonged to someone else. When I reached my eyes, I felt moisture clinging to them.
“Why am I crying?”
The voice did not answer in words, yet I sensed it had smiled. Though I could not see, I was certain of it.
I asked.
“Tell me who you are. You seem familiar, yet I cannot place you. How long have you been here? Why don’t I remember?”
“It’s all right. You need not remember.”
“What do you mean? Did I know you before?”
“Yes. You knew me, but you are forgetting. It is only natural.”
I considered this. I do not forget. No one, nothing. And yet I am forgetting, and it is called natural?
“I cannot forget anything.”
“That is not true. You do not remember your dreams, nor what lies behind you unwatched, nor what came before your birth, nor the countless days you rested in this place.”
Again came the sound of mist flowing. The voice continued.
“We have met many times. But with each meeting, memory peeled away layer by layer. Now you do not even know who I am. It is all right. You must leave. That is what I wished for. So you may forget me.”
Though I did not know who spoke, tears fell at those words. After a long time, I touched my eyes again. Now no more tears came.
“Joshua, I am glad.”
“Why?”
“Because even if you forget me today, I believe my promise will remain within you….”
I gazed toward where the voice came from, believing that if I looked, I could see. I could not see, yet I felt I had. After a long moment, I whispered.
“Are you… there?”
No answer came. The moment I thought there was nothing, a sense of loss descended upon me. Something that had been there for so very long had vanished. Before it disappeared, I had not even known it existed. Soon after, I placed my hand upon my chest. As if to confirm something. Perhaps it remains. Forever unknown to me.
After a long time had passed, someone touched my shoulder as I stood dazed.
“At last we meet. My troublesome Duke.”
It was Kelsniti. He who had not appeared despite my long calls. But it was not merely a voice. Here, there had always been only a voice, yet this time he stood before me vivid as life itself. Kelsniti even extended both hands and caressed my cheeks. I opened my eyes wide in surprise. It was the first time. Kelsniti had never touched my body before. I thought there would be no sensation, but there was—a faint warmth and a softness like silk gloves. What was this? Mere illusion?
“It must have been so difficult to come this far. Now let us return.”
I suddenly remembered something and shook my head.
“I cannot. I cannot leap away as I did before.”
“No, you cannot. Korned occupies the realm of consciousness. So we must take a longer path. Take my hand.”
“Kelce, before you….”
Kelce smiled, understanding what I meant to say.
“There is no choice now. I can only leave traces. Because of these traces, I, they, will always remain here with you in this world. There are both advantages and disadvantages, but we must accept them.”
Something else was being added to this world. Without asking further, I grasped the hand Kelsniti offered. In that instant, countless shadows began to appear around me. Their translucent forms grew steadily clearer, taking on human shape. They were smiling. More than twenty of them.
I did not know who they were, but the moment one of them spoke, I knew. I had heard that voice before.
“It is fortunate that you appear unharmed.”
“Is this… the Duke’s world?”
“So this is what it looks like. To have come all the way here… and to leave my mark in such a place. It is an honor, Duke.”
“How vast it is. Mountains and cliffs. Mist and towering spires. This is my first time seeing something like this. For others, it was usually just a small room.”
“I am moved, Duke. I will never forget coming to this place.”
At Kelsniti’s signal, they all joined hands to form a long line. Joshua and Kelsniti clasped hands side by side. Thus arranged, they departed from that place.
As they rose through the mist to a higher altitude, the water droplets dispersed and the air grew clear. Looking down, they beheld an endless expanse of thick clouds stretching to the horizon. Beyond the soft, billowing sea of clouds, a golden sun traced a perfect circle. It was a world so impossibly vast—too vast to believe it existed within a single person’s heart.
They flew slowly onward. Each time Joshua turned to look back, smiles answered him. They were faces of every kind. Most were young, but there were children and the elderly as well. Some had their eyes bound, others were missing a foot.
Like a single bird composed of many, they crossed the sea of clouds.
A hand moved.
As the right hand rose, the barrier that had restrained Korned when Kelsniti bound him now peeled away and vanished. Maximian and Riche both tensed, thinking Korned was finally about to cast magic. Though tensing would not help them escape. As the two watched intently, a head turned, and a gaze filled with astonishment met their eyes.
“Maximian… how did you come to be here?”
After a long moment, Maximian’s answer came.
“My lifespan is shortening because of you.”
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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