Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 441

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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 211.
The Face of an Angel and
the Blood Flowing Through a Demon’s Heart (20)
If it were merely the jester Clang’s resentment, it could not explain why even those who killed them afterward wandered for hundreds of years. The question was clear, yet no one had found an answer.
Joshua waited with a cold smile on his lips. For a long while, only the sound of wind drumming against the sails and the slow creaking of objects on the deck could be heard. People kept glancing upward at the sky. The morning star would not appear for long. Even if they did not believe this tale, they would not need to wait long to know whether it was true or false. Either they would die, or this night would pass. Then what of the guests who had boarded this ship?
“Shouldn’t we abandon this ship?”
When one of the Altena’s sailors spoke, a clear voice came from the stern.
“I think I understand.”
All eyes turned. Maximian had somehow climbed to the stern.
“What do you understand?”
“What else could it be? The way for you to break free from the curse. Is there anything else you wish to know?”
A brief pause followed, then murmurs spread through the crowd. His words struck true. It mattered not who had cast the spell or why. All that mattered was escaping it. Several people hurried toward the stern.
“Tell us. What must we do?”
“How can we avoid it?”
Maximian spoke.
“Albi told me that pirates are pursuing you—cruel ones called the Red Sails. You thought that if you hanged this jester they were after, you alone might be spared. Yet they chased you through the night, captured you, and slew you all in the end. That is the tale you are reliving, and it has been the same each time. Now do you see? It is far too simple.”
The people still wore expressions of confusion. Maximian’s brow furrowed in exasperation, and he cried out.
“All you need do is defeat those pirates!”
The people could not readily accept this. The statement was so obvious that it was difficult to agree with, or rather, it was as impossible as it was obvious. Soon Yoni shook his head.
“It is mere wordplay. I do not know if victory would truly resolve this, but above all, how are we to defeat pirates? The Red Sails at that. It is hopeless either way.”
Then one man glanced at the jester and spoke.
“If we could have won… we would never have done such a thing.”
May suddenly rushed toward the jester. She fell to her knees, clasping her hands together and raising them to the empty air.
“Please, Clang, help us. I am sorry. Forgive me. We were all wrong. I was helpless, unable to speak, and perhaps that does not deserve forgiveness… but if you would help us… truly… I am so afraid. What is happening?”
Soon many more rushed forward. Like May, they fell to their knees and pleaded. They had no argument to persuade him. They cried out before the jester as they might wish upon a great tree or well at the village corner.
“Help us, Clang, for the sake of what we once were!”
“Release the curse now. Surely after thousands of repetitions your anger must be satisfied…”
“I opposed your death! You must remember!”
“You died and came back to life, so you must have power! You must have the strength to help us! Please, end this terrible prophecy!”
Maximian looked down at them, then saw a figure approaching through the scattered crowd. This person moved with subtle grace, avoiding contact with anyone. As he climbed to the stern and came before Maximian, Maximian spoke quietly.
“You…”
“Yes. I have come.”
Kelsniti offered a smile much like what Maximian had imagined from his voice alone. This was inevitable, for Maximian had once seen a portrait that Joshua had drawn. He was truly identical to it. Not merely in appearance, but in the very impression he conveyed.
“I am pleased to meet you in person, however briefly.”
“Yes. Let us say that is so.”
Maximian deliberately replied with coldness. It was clear they would not meet again, and he was stubbornly refusing to grow close in this brief time, lest it become troublesome later.
“I wish to speak more, but we lack the time. Dawn is not far off. First, I must say that Rifkne’s opinion is certainly sound. It may well be the crux of the matter. They believe it impossible, yet a way exists.”
“Do you have some infallible strategy against pirates? That is impressive, though I heard you were a priest.”
“A priest I am, but I am also a man of Periwinkle.”
Maximian merely rolled his eyes as if he did not understand. Kelsniti smiled broadly, his eyes narrowing considerably.
“People born in Periwinkle aren’t known for elegant names, but they’re all pirates regardless.”
Joshua, who had approached without notice, added this observation.
“Moreover, Kelce was the right hand and chief strategist of the pirate Duke Icabon von Arnim. Isn’t that right?”
Kelsniti answered.
“Yes. That is precisely the answer.”
9. The Sworn Brothers Return
If there exists one who tends to our oath,
Then let the seawater we poured into the cup
Become salt and fall upon my eyes.
The morning star had risen.
At this season, the time to glimpse the morning star was brief. The sky brightened in mere moments, and then it vanished, buried by the dawn. Without deliberate observation, it disappeared before one could even notice.
Yet on this day, countless people witnessed the morning star—from the moment it appeared on the horizon until it faded from view. For those aboard the Homeland’s vessel, that star was terror itself.
The deck, stripped of music and drink, lay desolate. The remnants of last night’s revelry only deepened the bleakness. Scattered across the boards were half-eaten food scraps and stage props. People sat about listlessly, as though they too were merely debris. To any observer, they bore no resemblance to those about to wage a battle for their very lives.
“You know, Kelce, I never thought I’d actually see your face. And here I thought you’d look older.”
Under normal circumstances, Riche would have been frightened simply because he was a spirit, but she seemed oddly reassured in Kelsniti’s presence. Perhaps having at least one familiar spirit aboard a ship full of them provided some comfort? Kelsniti, hearing Riche’s words, would normally have offered only a faint smile, but instead he posed a question.
“What did you imagine me to be?”
“Well, your voice didn’t quite match, but since you’re supposedly old enough to be Joshua’s grandfather, you know how it is—when you think of it that way, a certain image forms. But I didn’t only think of it that way; there was also that feeling, something like that.”
Kelsniti’s response was brief.
“I see.”
“Are you perhaps upset?”
“What? No. That couldn’t be.”
Listening to their trivial exchange, Maximian let out a snort of derision. At this, Kelsniti turned to face him.
“More importantly, Rifkne, have I explained the role that Avril must undertake?”
Riche was startled.
“What? What am I supposed to do?”
“It seems you haven’t heard anything. No matter. I’ll explain shortly, so don’t worry.”
“Hold on. You never even told me, so why are you speaking as though you’re doing my job for me?”
While a minor dispute unfolded at the stern, Joshua climbed to the upper deck. There, Albi sat huddled. Joshua stood before him. Beside Albi sat the jester.
“Look at me.”
The jester Klang averted his gaze from Joshua, but Albi looked up at him with eyes considerably brighter than when he first met Maximian. Yet his lips remained pallid. Joshua gazed down at Albi and asked gently.
“Tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“The truth. What you desire. What you do not.”
As Joshua sat beside him, Albi spoke.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“You said this situation would never end, yet we are trying to end it. Then you should be happy. Those on the deck cannot trust, so they falter—but not you. Yet you are not happy.”
“No, I am happy…”
“Your face tells a different story.”
Albi’s eyes darted about anxiously. Joshua did not press further. He simply waited. Albi cupped his gaunt cheeks in both hands. Color flooded back into them, then drained away again. Finally, with a sigh, the words came.
“I’m… the only one still alive.”
“I knew.”
Albi’s eyes widened.
“You knew?”
Joshua smiled at last.
“I’m a medium. I don’t mistake the living for ghosts. Though I do occasionally confuse spirits for the living. When I recognized you as alive, I thought—so you’re the only one with your wits about you.”
“A medium? Then you’re the one who—”
“Yes. I summoned Clang da Perbur.”
Albi whispered.
“Why did you do that?”
Clang da Perbur, who had been burying his face between his legs, lifted his head. Joshua moved closer and met his gaze. The jester spoke.
“You said you could control me? Does that mean now that you’ve summoned me, you can send me back?”
“You’ve been drifting around this ship all along, watching over the fates of those aboard. Last night, I heard your song from my vessel. Perhaps only I could hear it. At first, I didn’t even realize a spirit was singing—the melody was far too lively for that. I wanted to see the person who sang it. As you know, I’m not someone who sings ordinary songs. When I heard yours and fell captivated, I crossed over to this ship to find you. In the end, because of you, my companions and I became bound to this vessel. There’s one thing I need to ask.”
Clang da Perbur did not answer, and Joshua continued.
“Why? You could have left this ship. Why didn’t you?”
“I couldn’t leave. I too am bound to this ship’s fate. If they repeat death, I remain bound in death.”
“No. You could have left.”
“Are you saying you could make that happen?”
A flicker of light passed through the jester’s eyes—eyes that had remained expressionless even when he was tormenting his former companions. A hint of interest, a glimmer, crossed them.
“You wouldn’t necessarily need me for that. Of course, you couldn’t leave as a spirit. But you could choose to dissipate. Your consciousness would fade, but at least you’d be freed from this narrow space-time, and eventually you might be reborn anew. Surely you weren’t unaware that was possible?”
“I…”
“Stop saying it was because of vengeance. I could possess you in my own body. If your soul had been consumed by resentment and unable to rest, it would be in a different state now. Such a soul feels different from the start.”
The jester shook his head. Bells chimed softly.
“No. I couldn’t leave. I don’t know why either. But this magic won’t even let me rest. I’ve never once considered whether I wanted to rest, but your words feel foreign to me. It doesn’t seem like something I can do myself. Can you do it?”
Joshua lowered his head, then spoke.
“To be honest, I’ve never tried anything like that before. I have a feeling it might work, but I’m afraid to attempt it rashly.”
“If you can, do it. I no longer wish to be here.”
Albi spoke softly.
“You’ve let him say everything he’s wanted to say to us for hundreds of years. Now he has nothing left to say.”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Publishing
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Publishing.
To reuse all or part of this book’s contents, 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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