Free Web NovelChapter 345: The End of the Beginning (6)
Shapiro gestured sharply. "Fine. Then you’ll come with me. Lead the way."
Of course, it had to be him.
If it had been Gilbert, the one who drooled over gold, it would’ve been far easier to handle. But judging by how the other two stayed behind, they were probably going to report to someone else.
Clack.
Just as I was about to step forward, he pulled a pair of shackles from his pouch and locked them around my wrists. To think I was being chained again, by a grunt like this, no less.
"Is there a problem?" Shapiro asked.
"Of course not. As long as His Majesty’s safety is secured, I’m prepared to return to the grave at any time."
"Hmph."
Better to play along. Whether I wore cuffs or not, escaping wasn’t an option anyway. At least with the restraint on, he’d let his guard down a little.
"Undead," he said coldly, "Just guide me. If your information proves true, I’ll make sure the priests perform a purification rite for you."
The nonsense echoed through the graveyard, but I bowed my head as if deeply moved.
"Thank you. I’ll be counting on that."
As I led him toward the cave, I took the chance to glance around the area. The thicket where Rubia and I had once hidden. The pit where I’d tossed in two of Necron’s followers. Everything was as it had been. Maybe a few things looked slightly off, but only just enough to make me doubt my own memory.
"Here." I led him in wide circles, three times the direct distance, until we arrived at the labyrinth’s entrance. It was a small opening, half-concealed by tangled brush. "We have to go through here."
He eyed the dark entrance warily, his expression tightening. "Hmph..."
"After you."
Clatter.
It wasn’t my first time entering, so I stepped in easily.
After a pause, he followed, perhaps realizing there was no point in turning back now. "Hff."
I hated the thought of someone like him walking into the same cave tied to my memories of Rubia, but it couldn’t be helped. This was part of the plan.
Tap. Tap.
Our footsteps echoed softly. Shapiro stayed tense, scanning the ceiling, floor, and walls as we walked. I could feel his shoulders draw inward, as if expecting an arrow to fly out at any moment. It was almost funny, but of course, I didn’t tell him there was nothing here. Courtesy went both ways, and if he wasted his nerves early, that only worked to my advantage.
Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.
He broke off small twigs and dropped them behind us. At each fork, he scraped the wall with his sword to leave marks.
"Impressive," I murmured.
"What?"
"You were trained for situations like this?"
It wasn’t flattery for its own sake. If I led him to Gith-Za-Rai and she killed him, his essence could make a fine first offering. In a way, I was hand-delivering his soul for harvest.
"Hmph." He made a short, self-satisfied snort. "You’re good at finding your way, too."
"I used to pass through here often."
We traded idle talk as we moved deeper into the cave.
He even mentioned, "I’ve been to the capital once..."
His Affection had risen to seven by then. Before, I’d thought earning a mortal’s goodwill was pointless. But in my current state, even the approval of a man like Shapiro felt oddly precious.
After two hours of cautious walking and careful conversation, I finally heard the chirping of birds, just like it had happened with Rubia.
"Oh? Are we there?"
Ding!
When we emerged into the narrow exit bathed in morning light, a bright sound chimed. However, a message like “You have cleared a C++ rank Labyrinth!” didn’t appear. Instead, what appeared was something entirely different.
Bzzt... Crackle...
The system window flickered. The once-clear letters warped and glitched, the spaces between them blurring until even the numbers swam before my eyes. Black-and-white lines pulsed like a broken signal, the distortion so violent it made me nauseous.
Bzzt...
[Analyzing player data.]
Bzzt! Crackle!
[Continuity unstable.]
[Reference point damaged.]
[Data corruption detected.]
[Relevant ??? pathway permanently sealed.]
[Creating backup... Storing data in a secure location.]
[Initiating integrity scan.]
[Detected risk: manual repair unsafe.]
[Starting autonomous recovery protocol.]
What is this...?
Black-and-white dots flashed erratically. That was the only thing I could make out amid the broken text. After a while, long streaks of light rippled across the air.
Ding!
[You have cleared the Tutorial!]
[Survive the First Night: Completed.]
[Reward: +1 Scenario Slot.]
[Current Slots: 2/4.]
[Assimilation Rate has decreased.]
[54.72% → 54.19%.]
[Upon Tutorial completion, one random skill will be restored.]
[Feign Death Lv. 1 acquired.]
[Racial trait applied!]
[Feign Death now has 5x effectiveness against all targets.]
[Additional 5x effectiveness against any target lacking Eye-type detection skills.]
What’s happening?
No level increase for clearing the labyrinth, but a skill restoration instead. Both pointed to one conclusion.
It recognizes me.
It recognized the link between who I was before and who I was now. Continuity unstable, reference point damaged... Those warnings probably referred to what had happened when all my stats and skills were stripped away.
I hadn’t tested it yet, but if I truly was connected to my previous world line, then there could be a way to restore what I’d lost, and fast. But the messages didn’t stop there.
Ding!
[As a reward for clearing the Tutorial, you have acquired a new Trait.]
[Trait: Deceptive Lies]
[— Where your conscience once was, deceit now weaves its threads like a nest of spiders. Was it necessary just to survive?
— Your chances of successfully lying increase slightly.
— You can now detect lies more easily from others who deceive.]
When I thought about it, even if it said the skill had been restored at random, there was a clear link between Feign Death and Deceptive Lies.
Both were forms of trickery. It meant the system was rewarding how I’d survived—through deceit.
If the tutorial reward was like this, then perhaps every quest I cleared would restore more of my former abilities, depending on how I adapted to each situation.
"Hey, you found your way out just fine. Why are you spacing out now?" Shapiro asked. His tone had softened; his nerves were finally easing.
"It’s nothing. Let’s move."
Before long, the path split in two: a steep mountain trail on one side, and a flat road on the other. The choice was obvious. The mountain road led to a rampaging Snow Troll that had lost its mate. I didn’t know Shapiro’s exact strength, but even so, it was hard to imagine him surviving a Snow Troll alone.
If he died, great. But if I died alongside him, it was pointless. Besides, taking the rough path would only raise his suspicion. The flat road, though, meant a higher chance of encountering people. Still, with him around, that wasn’t much of a problem.
He recognized it immediately as soon as we stepped onto the flat trail. "Heading toward Yublam?"
It made sense that imperial patrols like him would know the basic geography.
"That’s right. I’m dead, after all. If we run into trouble with the living, I’ll trust you to handle it..."
"Hmph."
He sounded oddly proud. As we drew closer to Yublam, I couldn’t help but glance toward the familiar gray city walls. What kind of city was it now?
Back then, it had been a cesspool of vice, with drugs flooding the streets, travelers murdered in alleys—a joint masterpiece by the Necron cultists, the city guard, and the lord himself.
If things had changed, I doubted they’d improved. And if the soldiers were telling the truth, then Erast now belonged to House Chandler, which meant Yublam was likely under their influence as well.
My gaze lingered on the road leading into the city, where Rubia had died. No, it would be reckless to even suggest staying at an inn there.
How is Rubia living now...?
The thought returned, unbidden. If Erast was under House Chandler, I couldn’t begin to guess what kind of situation Rubia was in. My only hope was that the scenario still existed.
I kept walking, refusing to turn toward the city, but another place came to mind. The orphanage run by Lime. Was it still there? Was Lime still playing the part of caretaker, pretending to nurture human children?
Its kind had always served under the Demon King Purson, the same faction that sought to overthrow the human world.
And then... Rena.
What had become of her? The scenario slots still recognized Rubia and Rena, but questions piled up faster than answers.
"What is it?" Shapiro shot me a suspicious glance.
"Nothing. Just checking to see if you’re keeping up."
I wanted to stop by the orphanage to see the truth for myself. Still, if the situation had changed even slightly, I could easily end up dead again. I’d already lost count of how many times I’d died. Now wasn’t the time for curiosity. I had to focus on meeting Gith-Za-Rai.
We reached the dungeon’s entrance around midday.
"This the place?"
"Somewhere nearby."
"Hmph..."
I didn’t know the exact spot, but if I wandered a bit, she was bound to appear. Crossing a narrow bridge built from fallen logs, I saw the familiar stream below, the air cool and damp. Everything looked the same, except for the wooden planks.
Ssshhh.
A white mist rose from the crashing waterfall ahead. Beyond it lay the empty tombs of the Barren Underground Tomb.
"That it?"
"No, not that."
She should’ve appeared around here.
I wasn’t planning to enter the dungeon. Even if I were, I doubted Shapiro would follow me inside so easily. If she were lying in wait nearby, she should have revealed herself by now. We’d already passed the spot where she appeared last time.
Did I come too early?
I stalled, pretending I hadn’t found the place yet, circling the area over and over, hoping she’d show up, but there was nothing. There was no ambush, no sound, not even birds or insects.
The silence made even Shapiro uneasy.
"You... what are you doing?" His blade glinted as he raised it above me. "You’ve been walking in circles. Want your skull cracked open?"
His irritation was justified. But I couldn’t die here, not yet.
Why hadn’t Gith-Za-Rai appeared? I’d traced the same path as before. Had the assassination truly been abandoned this time? Or...
I froze, remembering the moment I first met her, standing in that very thicket.
"Shhh. Your hands are so red. What sins have you committed? Yet, look how pale they are. A life lived aimlessly makes one like you. Who are you? What toys did you play with? What mother abandoned you?"
And then it hit me. I was powerless now, every stat at one. I was a mere Lv. 1 Skeleton Soldier. I no longer piqued the curiosity of that strange necromancer. The Lover of the Necromancer perk was gone.
Damn it!
"This is your last chance," Shapiro growled, tightening his grip on his sword. "Explain yourself."
I didn’t answer him. Instead, I raised my voice, shouting toward the silent forest, "Necromancer Gith-Za-Rai! I was sent here by your future self! Do not give up! Pursue the dream that runs parallel to the Sun of Lindbrum!" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
That instant, even before the soldier behind tried to cry out...
"Gkk... ggurk..."
White bone fingers pierced through his throat. They did not tear it; they slid clean through, plugging the wound completely.
I knew whose hand that was. I turned my head to meet her gaze...
"Gith—"
"Shh."
Her hand closed around my neck, and then the ground opened beneath me. She pulled me gently into the earth so carefully that I couldn’t even think to resist.
