“If you cut the vein on your arm deep enough, we should be able to fill the basin to the brim in no time with blood, right?” At first, she was thinking of making a cut on the neck because as far as she knew, anywhere located on the neck and above bleeds more than other body parts. “Don’t worry, you won’t die. That badass liquor you own should be able to save you afterward.” Serein casually brought up her idea, not really paying attention to how gory it might have sounded since she’s more used to such street talk than being polite. However, Cherry actually responded with a deadpan rather than simply blanching further at how laid-back her guide was. “Serein-shi, I’ll be dead by then. Why don’t I just cut off my arm instead?” “Oh? You’re willing?” While Serein looked pleasantly surprised by the princess’s bravery, Cherry stared at her unimpressed, as she later sighed. “Serein-shi.” Once again she called with exasperation. “Although it’s true that the elixir can do some miracles–
Despite her growing suspicion, Cherry decided not to ask this time, as she did not wish to be exposed to random stories that might drag her into more unnecessary trouble than she already had.She'd had enough of mind-shattering truths.So instead, she obediently followed her guide, who just finished wrapping her wrist with a ripped cloth, before heading to the slightly opened door.“Whoaaaa~!”Soon enough, Pam’s awed voice could be heard as they entered a room filled with abundant riches and various items scattered all over.However, instead of paying attention to all the glimmering golden piles and jewelry strewn around, their yes were locked on something else.“Is that… who I think it is…?”Gulping lightly, Cherry trailed off on her sentence as she let out a gasp of disbelief at what she was currntly witnessing.“Well, I mean, it can't be anyone else, now can it?”There, sitting imposingly on a magnificent throne, was a neatly magic-preserved skeleton, wearing a mage robe with staff
‘I’ve nearly died like... 2 times already. I need to be more careful.' Serein hummed to herselfOf course, she did not count the times when she deliberately hurt herself or let herself become injured in a more controllable situation, no. She was talking about when she was about to be joyfully mauled by Aidou and when those stone warriors wildly aimed their weapons at them like savages.“Whoa! A shapeshifter! So cool!”All the while she was in her own headspace, Pam actually left her side and jumped onto the Great Sage’s shoulder. To his delight and everyone’s shock, he actually landed on her.“Ah, Pam-min!”Still, Cherry reached out, fearing that something would happen to the young hatchling for disrespecting the pioneer of her glorious Kingdom.Neither of the two humans was expecting the Great Sage to chuckle softly instead as she reached out to the small head and rubbed it gently.“At least my coat is warm, isn't it?”This time, the young wyrm nodded eagerly with a big grin as he ad
‘Could it be that I’m… not human?’ Concealing her face to mask the confusion she felt, Min Suhyun attempted to carefully recollect her knowledge of the draft and her brief experiences living as Serein.‘No. Actually, Aidou said something similar previously as well...’A query about whether she knew what she had become.In fact, Aidou, the tyrant ruler of the Blasphemos Woodland, also said other things she couldn’t comprehend.‘–Smells like nature, felt similar to an ancient being, bearing the curse of a broken oath, and one whose fate bends.’Honestly, Serein hadn't paid that much attention firsthand– because, you know… she nearly got killed.Regardless, she heard and remembered bits of it because it sounded important.And now that it’s actually being brought up again, her curiosity shot up once more.“You said that you have nothing to do with the disappearance of my race. Then, you supposedly know what happened to them?”Asking with a pressing expression, she attempted to lure the Sa
“Yay! Sadge loves her name!”Swishing his tail in celebration, Cherry flinched a bit, startled by the movement as the young wyrm finally emerged from his hiding place. Amidst all that had transpired, she barely registered the fact that Pam was using her hair as cover from her ancestor’s... consciousness fragment.“Well, it seems so. Above all, you've helped us calm her down, Pam-min. Thank you.”Once Pam returned to his favorite perching spot, Serein's arm, he was instantly rewarded with another head pat from his little human. Enjoying the attention, the greenish-blue hatchling almost let out a purr before catching himself, grinning smugly at them instead, feeling rather accomplished.“I think I've unlocked my elemental power too! Ceva-chi would be so proud hehe~ Now I’m on par with my brother as well!”Happily bragging, though someone didn't seem as celebratory. Instead, a gloomy voice emerged.“Brother…” The Sage sounded sorrowful this time. The edges of her smile slowly lowered as
As the glowing presence smiled, Serein heard another cryptic remark, "It’s been a while since I last saw him… I couldn’t even comfort her or their family upon the loss. But, it’s nice that I could have this chance to fight alongside the descendant of my old comrade." She smiled before her image was absorbed into the jewel that Serein carried. All the riches were absorbed into the staff, which then transformed into a dull-looking, inconspicuous bracelet.With both items now resting on Serein's hand and wrist, the room was left empty except for old broken chests and a slumped skeleton.Only then did she realize that no one had moved from their place—neither Pam’s chirps nor Cherry’s startled noises were heard during the profound interaction with the Sage earlier.The silence was broken by Pam’s high-pitched shriek as he looked around, “Everything is gone! Kapoof!! Where did they go?? Sparkly sparkly things went missing—KYAK! Sadge turned back into a boring skull! Oh no! She’s broken!”
“Yes, that item. There’s no one else recorded to own that Archaic Relic other than The Great Sage. So, I figured that I’d find it here– though I did not find any books around when we first arrived.” Granted, she only skimmed over with her eyes and did not even look around properly just yet when things escalated in a matter of seconds. She was even sure that their bizarre interaction with the Great Sage only lasted for less than half an hour or so. “Right, uh… there’s only one Archaic Relic that my family owns as an heirloom. I have never known any record that mentioned other relics to be in our possession, so…” ‘Well, clearly not.’ After all, she basically cheated on this knowledge, as Min Suhyun was the one who wrote about the existence of this world and its minutiae. Not to mention, this relic was not supposedly included ever, as the ability of this notebook was not suitable for fighting or defending. Its importance in the original draft she wrote only amounted to as much as the
‘A contract with {Space}...?’— It also mentioned something about a trace of ‘another one of us.’‘Does it mean another spirit? Another Archaic Relic? Or… another ancient item?’In the midst of confusion, she could only hope that it was one of the guesses she made. Because honestly, she's out of wits at this point.Far too tired to extend her imagination just to figure out exactly what the spirit meant.So, rather than straining her brain further, she chose to ask whether she could make a contract with the spirit or not.To which, much to her delight, the spirit did not dilly-dally and simply smiled at her—- a mysterious smile that gave her stomach a light churn, but it was not a ‘no’ either.“There's a price for your prize. My tales aren’t affordable, and I shall get my remuneration for every session. But first."The spirit paused, its theatrics full of dramatization befitting an ancient being."The contract itself costs your sense of taste. Are you willing to sacrifice it?”This tim