Chapter 20: Scenes from Azik’s Memories

Chapter 20: Scenes from Azik’s Memories

Snap!

Klein reached out and happened to catch the slightly heavy letter.

The enormous skeletal messenger did not linger. It directly disintegrated like a fountain, bone after bone falling into the deck and vanishing, as though it did not wish to stay there for even one more second.

Holding the letter steady, Klein did not immediately lower his head to examine it. Following his spiritual intuition, he instinctively turned and looked toward the wooden staircase leading to the first-class cabins.

He saw Donna and Denton, the siblings, with their eyes wide and mouths half open. It seemed that they had wanted to scream because of the scene just now, but before they could make a sound, the matter had already ended, making them wonder whether they had hallucinated.

Children who have eaten Damir Harbor’s special cured meat possess a certain degree of temporary Spirit Vision… Klein’s brow moved faintly. As he had done while hunting the murloc, he raised his left hand, lifted his index finger, and placed it before his lips, telling the two minors to be silent.

Donna, whose figure was already rather tall, immediately lifted her hand to cover her mouth. Both frightened and excited, she nodded to show that she understood.

She glanced diagonally downward and discovered that her younger brother still wore that stunned, blank expression. She hurriedly pulled up his arm and pushed his palm to his mouth.

Cleeves and Cecile noticed that something was off with them. They stopped and looked at Klein, but discovered nothing.

Facing their gazes, Klein nodded calmly and continued walking toward his room.

At some point, a gold coin had appeared in his hand. It flew up and down, swam left and right, as though possessing a life of its own.

Ding!

The gold coin sprang up and fell. The number side faced upward, indicating a negative answer.

This meant that the small episode just now would not bring Klein harm.

Really, the current messenger has no manners at all. Unlike the previous one, which would pat my shoulder, push my body, give me a warning in advance, or directly spiritualize the surroundings to prevent ordinary people from seeing… Klein grumbled inwardly, took out his key, and opened the door.

He sat at the edge of the low bed, lit the half-burned candle, and opened Mr. Azik’s reply.

After taking out the items inside, the first thing that entered his vision was the “Black Emperor” card.

Looking at that irritating face, Klein instinctively let out a breath of relief and lowered his worry.

What he had feared was not that Mr. Azik would refuse to return it. He still had that much trust. After all, potion formulas and corresponding rituals could be copied down; only the characteristic that produced a convergence effect with high-level ingredients could not be imitated. This was clearly not Mr. Azik’s pathway, nor was it the sort that could be substituted. A big shot like him had no need for it.

What Klein had worried about was the messenger being robbed and losing this Card of Blasphemy, which was of great help to the state of his spirit body.

That was not impossible. Strange creatures in the spirit world were countless. It would not be too difficult to understand if a few beings that loved robbing messengers and were skilled at locating them existed.

Returned together with the “Black Emperor” card was the copper whistle from that member of the Numinous Episcopate.

After temporarily putting these two items away, Klein unfolded the letter paper, which had a rather pleasant texture, and began reading Azik’s reply:

“…That card depicting the ‘Black Emperor’ made me recall some scenes. There was the Blood Emperor, as tall as a mountain and wearing a bright-red cloak. His eyes were abnormally mad, almost devoid of reason, on the verge of losing control. There was also the true Black Emperor, resurrected and returned. He sat upon an enormous throne, looking down over everything upon the earth.

“I looked up at Them. The Blood Emperor glanced at me, and I lost consciousness.

“I should have participated in the War of the Four Emperors in some capacity, but the specific details still need to be recalled. Perhaps it was the trauma from that encounter that caused me to lose my memories again and again, to continually die and continually awaken.

“I do not feel greatly stirred by the legend of Death’s treasure in the Berserk Sea. Perhaps only when I take a ship to the Southern Continent and pass through that sea will I sense something and be naturally drawn to it.

“The experience of the copper whistle’s owner is very similar to the ritual of the Undying, yet there are clear differences. I sensed an evil aura and signs of danger. I believe the whistle’s owner is currently in some strange and terrifying state.

“You had best not blow that copper whistle to command its messenger. It will bring tremendous danger. Wait until I have fully recovered my memories and understood what such an experience truly represents before making any attempt.

“The feather left behind by the copper whistle’s owner that you mentioned can be used in the domain of necromancy. It is a unique and spiritually rich material. Once I recall more, I will organize some ritual and charm knowledge for you that can make use of it. Speaking of this matter reminds me of your question about removing mental corruption from Beyonder characteristics. That will probably require waiting for some time. At least for now, I am blank in that field.

“Also, I vaguely remember that, on the Southern Continent, there is a peculiar kind of creature called the Feathered Ones.

“That card had best be sealed to a certain extent. Otherwise, it may attract powerful enemies and numerous calamities to you. I can give you some techniques. They are not too difficult. The first is an improved wall of spirituality…”

As expected, once activated, a Card of Blasphemy has a convergence effect… Good thing I previously kept them above the gray fog… Judging from Mr. Azik’s description, he should not be Death with amnesia. Otherwise, he would not describe himself as looking up at the Blood Emperor and the Black Emperor… He is Death’s child, who followed that deity in participating in the War of the Four Emperors and unfortunately suffered severe trauma. That should be it… As Klein thought, he conjured a flame and burned the letter.

He then tried out the sealing technique and familiarized himself with the knowledge Azik had taught in the letter.

After finishing all of this, he performed another ritual and brought the “Black Emperor” card and the Numinous Episcopate copper whistle into the mysterious space above the gray fog, eliminating any possibility of accidents.

Without a doubt, Klein did not wish to suddenly encounter the King of the Five Seas, Nast, while at sea.

…

At dawn, the sun leaped out from the sea’s horizon, dyeing the distance gold.

Klein went to the second-class buffet, where the food was not especially abundant, and ate two slices of toast with bacon and butter, washing them down with a cup of lemon black tea.

Having filled his stomach, he went to the deck to breathe fresh air and enjoy the beauty of the early morning.

At this moment, he saw Captain Elland return drunk, the straight sword at his waist swaying.

Thinking of what had happened the previous night, Klein walked over and, without showing a smile, said, “Good morning.

“White Shark did not trouble you, did he?

“He should be able to find out that I am a passenger on the White Agate.”

Elland, dressed in a dark-red coat, took off the bicorne hat on his head and laughed heartily.

“That is his own problem.

“Actually, he did ask you to pay half the cost of repairing the bar counter, but it was not much—only a few soli. I happened to win six pounds last night, so I gave a little more as a tip, and the matter ended there.”

Captain, are you afraid that I, this mad adventurer, will make the matter worse for the sake of face, so you simply took it on yourself? Klein was silent for a few seconds, then said, “I understand.”

Then, as he turned and walked back toward the bow, he left behind a very soft sentence.

“Thank you.”

Returning to his earlier position, Klein felt the sea breeze strike his face and slowly exhaled, feeling that maintaining a persona was truly damned difficult.

After enjoying the wind for a while, he was just about to return to the cabin when two figures suddenly appeared beside him. They were the siblings Donna and Denton.

Cecile, responsible for protecting them, was wandering a few steps away.

Donna had clearly not slept well the previous night. The bags beneath her eyes were slightly swollen, and her complexion was rather dull. Yet her spirit was unusually excited. Though she was obviously imitating Klein by looking at the scenery, her eyes were turning nimbly.

Just as Denton, whose state was similar to hers, wanted to speak, she seized the chance first.

“Uncle, last night, last night that—that thing. Who was it?”

As she spoke, she looked straight ahead and did not turn her head, but her body trembled faintly, as though she were recalling the scene she had seen at the time.

“That was a messenger. You can understand it as a postman.” Klein likewise did not look at the two children, speaking as though he were discussing what he had eaten for breakfast.

“Messenger?” Denton almost failed to control his volume.

“The world is so large that there will always be some peculiar creatures. Believe me, although it looks vicious and terrifying, it is actually very gentle and possesses professional ethics… It delivered a letter to me just now from a distant friend.” Klein briefly explained, working hard to describe the nearly four-meter-tall skeletal messenger as pitiful, weak, and helpless.

After a night of fright, and because she had suffered no actual harm, Donna had calmed down considerably. Her eyes unconsciously brightened.

“So—so amazing!

“It is just like listening to a story!”

“So cool!” Denton also expressed his opinion.

Then, somewhat puzzled, he asked, “But why did no one else see it? They did not react at all!”

“That is because your hearts are pure,” Klein said with the faintest curl of his lips.

This was a well-intentioned lie. After all, he could not directly say it was because of the special cured meat. That would make the two curious little fellows unable to resist trying it again.

In that case, setting aside the problem that eating large amounts could cause illness, merely opening Spirit Vision recklessly was very dangerous. Even though Klein could now sustain Spirit Vision for long periods, he still did not dare keep it open all the time. Sometimes, seeing things one should not see could drive a person mad—or even kill them!

“Can we—can we also have our own messenger?” Donna asked, curious and excited.

“That depends on luck.” Klein’s expression remained calm as he gave a concise answer.

Inwardly, he could not help but grumble:

Even I do not have a messenger of my own!

To obtain a messenger, one first needed to design an accurate summoning ritual and prepare the corresponding contract with a spirit-world creature. This belonged to a specialized field of knowledge, and messing around carelessly made it very easy to summon something unpleasant. Therefore, before he had confidence, Klein did not dare make any reckless attempt.

“Mm-hm.” Donna looked rather expectant.

Then, in a very soft voice, she said, “Uncle, we will keep your secret!”

Denton beside her nodded heavily as well.

At that moment, a new passenger who had boarded at Damir Harbor carried his luggage onto the deck.

After Blazing Danitz finished sending his telegram, he considered that his captain might have instructions for him and decided to interrupt his vacation, heading to the capital of the Rorsted Archipelago to await orders.

Through his own channels, he obtained a ticket, wore a wig, darkened his brows, and boarded the White Agate with great ease, waiting for the passenger ship to sound its whistle and depart.

Ah, just as Emperor Roselle said, capable people are always a little more tired… As Danitz walked toward the cabin, he leisurely looked around. Suddenly, he saw a familiar figure.

He saw that young adventurer in a black coat, refined in appearance yet mad in essence, standing at the bow and smiling at him politely like a gentleman.

Bit by bit, the muscles of Danitz’s face turned stiff.