Chapter 10: The Missing Bones and the Reconstruction of the Barrier
Location: Atlantis Time: 1:45 PM
I didn't understand what this illusion meant, but the message the others' expressions gave off seemed to say that it wasn't good.
The surrounding air completely condensed, a bit scary. It was so quiet that no one spoke at all.
This made me start to become a little afraid; could it be that there really was something wrong with this illusion?
If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have asked…
"Chu, could it be…you don't think this man's voice sounds very familiar?"
After a long silence, the first one to speak was Senior. He seemed to be thinking about a lot of things, his expression somewhat complicated as he asked me.
"Now that you mention it, it seems…" I think I really did hear such an oppressive voice somewhere before. It's just that I didn't see his face, so I honestly can't remember who he is.
Senior opened his hand and received a floating orb. The wall instantly projected another image, an image that I couldn't forget no matter what.
Terrifying enough to make me not want to recall it.
That day, in the Ghost King's Tomb, the image of Ghost King Yelu coming to life in the water.
The voice in the image was sharp and oppressive, almost the same as the one in the illusion just now. It was just that the Ghost King Yelu in the Ghost King's Tomb had a hoarser voice. But you still can tell that it's pretty much the same person, "The man in your illusion should be Evil Ghost King Yelu, who's been killed a long time ago." Standing beside me, senior Gasai softly said.
"The woman should be Ghost King Bishen. The voice also sounds the same." Senior frowned and tossed away the orb, "What your illusion revealed, was probably from the war a thousand years ago…or maybe the figures of Ghost King Yelu and Ghost King Bishen from an even earlier time."
I took a step back, then another step, incredulously looking at Senior, then at senior Gasai, and finally, at the glasses-wearing black cactus.
Everyone nodded at me.
That can't be…That's a lie, right?
My mind has finally been invaded!?
"Invaded, your head!" With a "pa," a familiar smack hit the back of my head.
Oh right…I forgot my mind has already been invaded a long time ago…
"I guess it was probably when you guys came into contact with the Spirit Door that the memories left behind by the person who set up the Spirit Door entered your mind, as luck would have it. So you don't need to think too much about it." Senior coldly snorted, not wanting to explain to me whether or not I would die if my mind was invaded, "Even if your mind was invaded, you wouldn't be able to die, so relax already!" The last part was emphasized, causing me to take another step back.
Nearby, the glasses-wearing black cactus folded his arms, holding his chin, "This is too much of a coincidence. It just happens that you had this illusion right after the stone sarcophagus was stolen. What could it mean?"
This is related?
"What is that stone sarcophagus?" Before I was aware of it, I had already blurted out this sentence, surprising even myself.
"It's a coffin used to contain corpses." Senior quickly answered me with nonsense.
Of course I know it's used to contain corpses…but a corpse that would make Andellar want to steal it probably isn't an ordinary corpse, right? Could it be that it's another whatchamacallit Ghost King or a buried whatchamacallit first expert and the like?
"You're curious?" Unexpectedly, the one who answered me was Julian, "That sarcophagus has about a thousand years of history. According to the results of our analysis, it's most likely one of the remnants of the war from that time."
A remnant of the war?
"But based on the intelligence history, the war that year didn't spread to Lake Town, so it's also very likely that it's simply someone from a local clan." He shrugged, giving a rather ambiguous answer, "We finished analyzing the stone sarcophagus, and when we weren't even halfway done analyzing the corpse, it was taken away. So for the rest, there's almost nothing to say about it."
For some reason, I keep feeling that Julian wasn't telling me the truth.
What are they hiding from me?
"The things that you should know, you will naturally know. Sometimes, some things, it would be better for you not to know too much." Tilting his head, Senior told me, which counts as directly acknowledging my inner thoughts, "That stone sarcophagus is confidential. Now that it's been stolen, a lot of analysis have been cut off and unable to be confirmed, so Julian can't tell you more. And because of the medical team's regulations, while they have yet to be confirmed, he is unable to tell you any further information."
I nodded, considered to have understood.
"Seeing how interested you are, I can let you look at this." The glasses-wearing black cactus snapped his fingers, and the surrounding floating orbs immediately gathered over, then projected toward the same place. A three-dimensional image of the stone sarcophagus reappeared on the spot, "Before the sarcophagus was stolen, we made an image recording. Thankfully, this one hasn't been destroyed, but the one of the corpse wasn't so lucky. That whatchamacallit first expert smashed quite a lot of analytical data when he broke in."
When he was saying this, I had a feeling that his heart was aching and he was gritting his teeth.
You're more upset about losing the corpse, right?
Turning my head to look at the three-dimensional projection of the stone sarcophagus, it was only then that I noticed the stone sarcophagus was completely carved out of white stone after the sand and rocks were removed. Engraved all over the exterior were totem-like words, ancient Elven words that I've seen before.
"This is an Elf's prayer. The passage on the sarcophagus' lid is a ballad." Senior opened his mouth and said in a low voice:
"To my dear friend, may the Lord God bless you.
After pain and disaster, those dark abysses have already disappeared along with them.
The fragrance of the sweet fruit, the wind of your hometown will accompany your side.
The past that was once forgotten, I hope you will still be able to remember everything that started in the very beginning.
The icy snow of Mirror Mountain, the withering fallen leaves, the golden evening hillock, the bright moon over the sand, and the deep lake that we once walked by.
The sound of Tina's harps still echoes in our ears. That gentleness will accompany you into deep sleep.
Holding the hand of our beloved Lord God, you will forget all the pain.
Enter sleep, and rest for eternity.
There will no longer be a dark burden in your dreams, only a sweet and beautiful fragrance.
To my dear friend, I pray you will be able to enjoy the gentle world that the Lord God has bestowed.
Continue on, until you open your eyes once more."
After his voice fell, the surroundings immediately quieted.
That was a song-like chant. It was only after Senior had stopped that I realized my nose was a bit sour and I felt a lump in my throat.
Who wrote that prayer?
Who received whose prayer?
I looked at the stone sarcophagus, but I didn't understand anything.
"Legend has it that Tina was a place where mermaids gathered on the sea; the mermaids there were good with light harp music. It looks like the person inside the sarcophagus and his Elven friend have probably gone to Tina and heard the mermaids' voices." Breaking the silence, Senior looked at the projection of the three-dimensional sarcophagus and didn't continue translating the rest of the words, "The other words engraved on the sarcophagus are mostly prayers like this too. I believe that person inside it should have successfully moved on already."
"If we succeed in finding the sarcophagus and corpse back, I'd have to trouble Prince Icy Flame to continue translating the rest." The glasses-wearing black cactus eerily laughed a few times, then retracted the projection, "After all, those who know the ancient Elven language nowadays are few and far between, and the Elves who are willing to help us translate are even fewer. Even Mr. Restua is the same. You have to know that the Elves who've lived too long rarely go around dealing with other races and don't like to reveal their own language either."
Senior shrugged, "As usual, the translation fee will still apply for you guys." He very straightforwardly said.
The glasses-wearing black cactus laughed even more eerily.
Just when the matter was more or less finished, a loud running sound suddenly came from the door.
"Yang~~You stood me up!"
Oh, right, I forgot about the five-colored rooster head's existence.
The wounds on the five-colored rooster head who charged in had all disappeared; it was obvious that he had already been properly "taken care of" by the medical team. However, his expression didn't look that good.
"You heartless man; you left me to miserably wait in an unfamiliar world, wasting all the effort I've put in for you for so long." Immediately raising a false accusation against me as soon as he entered, the five-colored rooster head said with a wounded look on his face.
That said, I remember that you seem to be even more familiar with this place than me. Just now I heard someone claim that he often walked around here.
And also, why did you describe being in the medical team as "miserable and wretched?"
"Little brother Ziray, are you going to continue mourning the fact that you've been seeing the medical team for eighteen years next?" Standing nearby, the glasses-wearing black cactus suddenly said, interrupting the five-colored rooster head who was about to go crazy.
"Hmph hmph, if this uncle's actions could be figured out by you, I wouldn't be this uncle anymore." Looking at his brother with a contemptuous expression, the five-colored rooster head coldly laughed.
"Alright, alright, no one can figure you out." Shrugging, Julian, who didn't really want to deal with his brother, turned his head back, looking at Senior and Gasai at the side, "The Black Dorm's barrier keys are still in our bodies, so we can't leave for too long. It's difficult to guarantee that what just happened wouldn't occur again."
"I understand." Senior nodded, quickly replying.
"That's right, isn't senior Gasai the Purple Dorm's key…right?" As soon as they talked about going back to the dorms, I immediately remembered this. When I saw senior Gasai rushing over before, he was full of energy, completely unlike someone who was a key.
Curving into a faint smile, Gasai shook his head, "I'm the Purple Dorm's guard. This year, the Purple Dorm's keys are given to the new purple robes, and the rest of us serve as guards. There's a lot more people there than in the Black Dorm, so I have it pretty easy." Pausing for a moment, he looked at me, "Chu, are you interested in applying to become a guard? I can help introduce you to the general dorms."
"Uh, no thank you." Even when I'm not a guard, I always become unlucky and encounter things that I shouldn't encounter when I walk around in the Black Dorm. I sincerely think it'd be better to obediently do nothing at all, and the world will become a better place.
"Being a guard can let you beat invaders up to your heart's content." The five-colored rooster head put his hand on my shoulder and started to make a false advertisement, "For example, evil spirits, monsters or things that annoy you. Especially if it's something that annoys you; you can take advantage of the chaos to beat them up, and even if you beat them to death, it wouldn't matter. And if you accidentally die, the medical team will also help you revive. It's such a great job!"
…Are you sure this really is a guard?
How come I feel like the five-colored rooster head is talking about something else?
"Then do you want to try applying?" Beside us, Julian directly added on this sentence at the end.
"Hmph, this uncle is used to walking in the jianghu alone. Too much…Hey! What are you doing!?" The five-colored rooster head, who was just about to say that he is a knife in the jianghu, only got halfway before his head was directly jabbed by his brother from the side.
"Interrupting you from talking nonsense." Julian answered him as if it was only to be expected.
Unexpectedly, the five-colored rooster head actually obediently shut up.
The hell! Could it be that this is the legendary "a mountain always has a higher mountain" and the logic that the five-colored rooster head also has a black rooster pressuring him?
[T/N: Or "there is always someone better"]
"It should be time for me to return to the Purple Dorm. We have to be on alert these three days, especially since those things have just occurred not long ago." Curving into a faint smile, senior Gasai flipped his palm down and a large teleportation array immediately appeared beneath him.
That's right, there are still three more days.
Three more days before I can get rid of the threat of that female ghost.
Just now when we were distracted by the Ghost King, I almost completely forgot about this issue. Now that I thought of it, I immediately turned my head to look at Senior, blinking my eyes. Please, I beg you. If that problem doesn't get solved, I'll be hacked to death by my whole family.
Red eyes fiercely glared over.
"Go and wait three days!"
…So mean.
"It's about time for us to leave too. Later on, the medical team will be coming here to clean up the aftermath." The black cactus who looked a lot like something drifting over, somberly said.
Speaking of which, they seem a lot better now. Does this mean that those whatchamacallit keys have already become somewhat less painful?
"The time limit for discomfort is almost over. However, we still need to go back to rest because we just used their power and the others were injured. So, we can't move too much for the time being." Senior gave me a glance and said.
So that's the case.
After the teleportation array beneath us flashed, what appeared before us was still the Black Dorm.
Unlike the Black Dorm from before, there was already no one in front of it, leaving only Restua still standing at the entrance. It kind of looks like he was waiting for us to return. Since he quickly walked down the stairs to greet us when we appeared in front of the Black Dorm.
"I restored the Black Dorm to the way it was before the Ghost Tribe came. You guys can rest assured and return to your rooms to rest." He paused for a moment and revealed a familiar gentle smile, "Regarding the room with the passage on the fifth floor, I have temporarily sealed it, and until I receive a reply from the higher-ups, it won't open."
Senior nodded, "Understood."
I raised my head to look up. The floor that was originally blasted apart really was intact without a trace to be seen. If I were to say that there was an explosion here before, no one would probably believe it.
So godly, too godly!
But this skill would probably be hated to death by the construction industry.
"Yang Yang." Restua walked over, smiling very, very warmly as he gazed at me. Then he bent down slightly to meet me at eye level, "When you're randomly strolling around, I would like to trouble you to please don't stroll into any strange places again."
In that second, I seemed to feel a terrifying murderous aura.
I gulped and took a step back, "I, I'm sorry. It won't happen again next time." I was completely aware that it was my fault.
Restua stood up, still smiling, "Liliya has already been sent to the medical team because she was a bit traumatized. After her injuries have healed, she will probably directly return to the White Dorm."
"Nn…" I nodded, letting go of the worry in my heart.
"Then that'll be it for now. I still need to handle the other dorms' affairs. See you tomorrow."
And so, just like that, Restua said goodbye to us.
That night, I stayed in Senior's room.
Because Julian said he didn't live in the Black Dorm, he had to borrow my room. Then that five-colored rooster head, who ran in on his own but temporarily couldn't leave the school, also said he didn't have a room at school, so he could only reluctantly share a room with his brother.
Then I bit the bullet and went to borrow Senior's room.
It could be that when the Ghost Tribe invaded, I was in a state of high excitement due to adrenaline strengthening, so when I ran back to the Black Dorm, I didn't feel anything. But as soon as I reached the room, my whole body slackened, and I fell into a deep sleep before I could even talk to Senior about this.
Before falling asleep, I think I saw Senior sitting on the balcony reading a book.
When I woke up again, I was awakened by a rude, vigorous "peng peng peng" knocking sound.
I hazily got up. No one was in the empty room, and there was a book on the table beside the balcony.
"Who is it?" While yawning, I dragged my feet and walked to the door with half-opened eyes. After opening the door, what appeared outside was a certain idiot who completely didn't have any symptoms of fatigue from doing strenuous activity the other day.
"Yang~~You're still sleeping!? It's already noon!" The five-colored rooster head said in a you-lazy-bones kind of tone.
"My whole body is sore…so tired…" I stamped my foot. Yesterday when I ran around, was pulled as I jumped down, and dragged as I climbed, I didn't feel anything. Now, as soon as I got out of bed, I found that my feet were completely sore, "Wait a minute! What time did you say it was?"
"Noon." The five-colored rooster head took out a flashing golden phone with a big phone sticker on it and looked at it, "It's almost one o'clock. I came to tell you to go down and eat lunch. Third brother (Julian) said that if you miss another meal, it won't be good for your body."
"Then doesn't that mean they've already finished setting the keys in?" I became wide-awake and then very regretful. Clearly when I fell asleep last night, I even arranged for the cellphone to tell me to wake up early tomorrow to see how they did it!
That phone didn't ring when I wanted it to again!
"That's right. They did it this morning. I even watched them on the side." The five-colored rooster head nodded, and said.
"Then why didn't you tell me!?" Holding my head, I felt an urge to bash my head against the wall. Since you're calling me to eat lunch, you could've just told me to wake up during breakfast!
The five-colored rooster head glanced around the room for a moment, and seemed to be very interested in Senior's room, "Around six in the morning, I bumped into your Senior downstairs. He said you were sleeping like the dead and told me not to wake you up." He shrugged, indicating that he did have the thought of waking me up before, "Otherwise, you think I would've let you sleep till now? Hehehehe…"
I'd like to trouble you not to add that creepy part at the end.
I deeply regretted oversleeping and not being able to see it.
"Hurry up and go wash your face, or else there won't be anything to eat later." The five-colored rooster head pushed me into the room.
"Oh…I'll go right away…Wait a minute!" I abruptly turned my head, and the five-colored rooster head standing in front of me seemed to be startled, "How did you guys wash up this morning!?"
The five-colored rooster head was stunned for a moment, "We used the bathroom in your room." He narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down, "What's wrong? Could it be that you hid some porno books above your bathroom's ceiling and didn't want anyone to see them?"
"Of, of course not!" I immediately retorted back, "You guys didn't see anything strange when you went in?" A typical person should at least say something about the human model in the bathroom, right?
"What thing?" The five-colored rooster head tilted his head, and didn't seem to be messing around with me.
"A human model." I gestured to show its approximate size.
Unexpectedly, the five-colored rooster head shook his head, "Nope, but don't worry. We'll help you move the stuff outside the bathroom back. You don't need to worry about your X-rated films or secret stash of money being seen." He patted my shoulder, saying this in a tone as if he understood everything, "That's all. You should go wash your face first and then hurry out to eat lunch."
I was pushed into the room by the five-colored rooster head.
Great, now I don't even dare to think about whether that human model is still in the bathroom.
If it's not in the bathroom, then where in the world did it go!?
This question continued to be unanswered after I freshened up.
Stepping out of Senior's room, I did feel that the familiar sense of sounds everywhere in the Black Dorm had returned. After the barrier was removed yesterday, it was quiet enough to unnerve me. Now it's somewhat better.
That room where I discovered the fifth floor's passage had already appeared. There was only one empty room's door left. The other one had merged into the wall. I guess it's probably because Restua didn't want people to go in again, so he eliminated it.
After quickly running downstairs, sure enough, halfway down the stairs to the first floor, I could already see several people sitting on the sofa in the hall. The things covering the table should be food from the Black Dorm's kitchen. Most of them were steak dishes, and in the middle were bread and some desserts that were shared by everyone. It looked a lot like the scene of some large-scale dinner.
"Yang Yang, morning." The black robe Dallow* very spiritedly waved at me.
[T/N: Chu's also calling him 老兄, which is brother or dude, but I'm omitting it since it sounds weird]
"Mor…Morning." Actually it should be "good afternoon" now.
"Yang~~Sit here!" Already occupying a corner of the sofa, the five-colored rooster head patted the empty space next to him.
I looked around. Senior, senior Randall and the others were all sitting on single sofa chairs. It's rare to see Nile also sitting down…I guess senior Randall probably forced him to. The other sofa was full as well. I had no choice but to bite the bullet and go sit on the space beside the five-colored rooster head.
"Did you sleep well last night?" Sitting opposite of me, Dallow very enthusiastically asked.
"Uh, very well, thank you." I opened the clean tableware placed beside me. Inside was a knife and fork set, so shiny that even my face was clearly reflected on them.
"The following two days will be very smooth. You'll be able to freely move around. Once the keys have joined with the dorm, you guys can leave first to do other things." From an diagonal side, Nuelle smilingly swirled the noodles in the plate and happily said.
The current atmosphere was so relaxed it was like all the things that happened yesterday were fake.
This made me deeply feel that these people's adaptability was very strong. I'm still a little scared about what happened yesterday…
"At any rate, we have ways to deal with it. What are you thinking so much for?" An icy tone smashed over from the side, chilling me for a moment. As soon as I raised my head, I just happened to see Senior shooting a glance at me before lowering his head to eat the food in his plate.
I'm an ordinary person; it's very normal for me to think, alright…
"That's right, you guys will be returning to the original world to deal with the female ghost next, right?" Swirling his wine glass, sitting opposite of his butler, senior Randall curved into his consistently elegant smile.
"Eh, that's right." After all, none of the black robes here know that I'm being haunted because I forgot my talisman at home!
Red eyes immediately glared at me fiercely the instant I had that thought.
Sor, sorry.
"Judging by the time, it's also almost Lunar New Year. After finishing the barrier, by the time everyone comes back, we'll all be going home to celebrate the New Year's." Dallow said with a smile, "I'll wish everyone a happy new year here."
A few people put down their knifes and forks and picked up their cups. I hurriedly did the same too.
"Then, Happy New Year." Crisp sounds rang out in succession and echoed in the room. The rare atmosphere slowly made me relax.
As to meeting the female ghost again in two more days, I suddenly felt that it wasn't so scary.
After all, compared to Evil Ghost King Bishen, an average unable-to-rest-in-peace female ghost really is a lot friendlier and kind.
In fact, it's not like my future is completely dark, right?
…Ah, I actually became optimistic.
Such a miracle.