Son of Man (1)

Hecate was in a good mood.

That’s because she had performed brilliantly. After all, good deeds done in public are always more thrilling than those no one acknowledges.

Hecate had elevated her own standing by defeating the monster called Nidhogg.

-Hohoho! Hohohoho!

Hecate laughed confidently.

Today, the mood had been somber and everyone seemed exhausted, so she had let it slide, but

she was already excited at the thought of sharing stories about everything that had happened once the morning came.

Of course, this was only natural.

Information should be shared. This definitely wasn’t just playing around.

-Whew! It was hard work being the cheerleader!

Hecate had played a huge role in this battle.

She had performed the crucial role of “cheering” during Vritra the Binding Nightmare’s fight against Nidhogg.

She had been startled to the point where her soul almost left her body when she saw Nidhogg rise again despite having its head crushed, but since she had already departed from her body long ago, she could remain calm.

After that, since Yongsik, or rather Vritra, couldn’t handle the opponent alone, they had to mobilize other elite forces from Necropolis.

So what would Hecate do in such a situation? She couldn’t just stand around blankly while everyone else was fighting.

She performed a cheering dance for everyone in Necropolis.

For a full 30 minutes, no less.

Everyone fought with all their might to Hecate’s encouragement.

They surely wanted to live up to her expectations. It definitely wasn’t because they didn’t want to witness that spectacle for long.

-Hoh?

As Hecate was praising herself alone, she suddenly turned her head, sensing something strange.

The lid of her cherished dollhouse, the medium of Necropolis that she always carried, had opened by itself.

-Huh…?

That was the last thing the <Wanderer>, the master of Necropolis, saw.

*     *      *

Línea, who had returned to her room, was trembling under her blanket and pillow, covering her entire body.

She had finally succeeded.

She had broken through Lost’s iron wall.

Though she hadn’t yet completely pushed out the mysterious someone who had already claimed a place in Lost’s heart, it was only a matter of time.

She was confident that if she continued like this, she would eventually occupy that place entirely.

‘They say distance makes the heart grow fonder.’

Línea opened a reference book while fidgeting under the blanket as if trying to hide from others.

It was a book she had bought in the capital for the hefty sum of 1 gold. While some might consider it nothing more than kindling, to Línea, it was her teacher.

She was already certain that Lost had more than halfway fallen for her.

Her efforts had finally paid off.

Of course, Línea hadn’t been able to put into practice any of the things mentioned in the book.

Things like physical contact or sweet talk—when it came time to actually do them, her body would freeze up from embarrassment.

“Hehehehehe.”

But as long as the results were good, that’s all that mattered.

How much had she worried all this time?

How painful had it been to know that Lost liked someone else?

But now, it was over. Hadn’t they even kissed already?

“I’ve won.”

Línea quietly but confidently declared her victory to herself.

*     *      *

“Unnie, you seem to be in a good mood. Did something happen?”

“D-does it look that way?”

“Did you finally capture our rogue’s heart?”

She has good intuition. Or maybe Línea was just being too obvious?

Línea rubbed her cheeks, unable to control her expression, as she thought about it.

“W-well, something like that.”

Línea spoke proudly, standing tall. It was a boast.

“Tsk.”

“What’s that for?”

Claire clicked her tongue at Línea’s response and smacked Lost, who had just emerged from his room.

Lost, who had to take a hit without knowing why, couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

Normally, he would have retaliated immediately, but today his expression was different.

Even Lost, faced with that expression of contempt and anger, wondered if he might be guilty of a crime he wasn’t aware of.

“Lost! Lost!”

Meanwhile, Línea had scurried over to Lost and stopped right in front of him.

Then she closed her eyes obediently.

In Línea’s mind, they were already practically a married couple.

She was already making childcare plans in her head.

“……”

Lost raised his hand as if to flick Línea’s forehead as usual, but then decided to change course and pat her head instead.

Pat pat. Línea, though initially disappointed that his action wasn’t what she had hoped for, soon broke into a slight smile.

Still, things had changed. There had clearly been progress in their relationship.

“Stop that and give me some food.”

The affectionate exchange between the two continued until Claire, who was lying on the sofa scratching her stomach, voiced her complaint.

*     *      *

Though yesterday had been skipped due to fatigue and other circumstances, today we needed to tie up loose ends definitively.

With that thought, I headed to the meeting hall where I was supposed to meet Nina, but…

-Hnggggg! Hnnnggggggggg!

The moment I arrived, I wanted to turn around and leave.

Why on earth was that crazy ghost lying face down in front of the door?

Is she the doorkeeper? Should I knock her down?

She may be a kind ghost who once helped me, but it can’t be helped.

It’s truly regrettable, but I’ll have to exorcise her.

“I apologize, Vicarious Saint. My senior colleague has shown you an unseemly sight.”

As I was contemplating whether to deal with Hecate or not, Nina opened the door to the meeting hall and picked her up.

Hecate sobbed loudly in Nina’s arms. It was truly an unseemly sight for someone of her age.

-Hnnnggg! Junior! Listen to me!

“Ah, yes. I’ll listen.”

After crying in Nina’s arms for a while, Hecate flew over to me and shouted as if confronting me. It seems something bad had happened.

Oh dear, how pitiful.

“Lost, you’re smiling.”

-Hnnnnnggggg!

Hecate wailed even more sorrowfully.

It’s quite fascinating how tears can fall drop by drop from a spirit form.

-I’ve been impeached!

“Oh my, how did that happen?”

“Lost, you’re completely failing to manage your expression.”

Honestly, I’m more surprised that it hadn’t happened until now, but it’s definitely not an ordinary matter.

-Sniff, Yongsik, how could you… After all I’ve done for everyone!

“Oh dear, that must have been really sad for you. What a pity.”

-Hnnnnnggggg!

It seems she was impeached by someone called “Yongsik” who fought against Nidhogg. Somehow, I could imagine why she was impeached.

“That’s what happens when you meddle from the sidelines while others are fighting.”

-I was cheering them on!

“Oh my…”

Why did she do such a thing?

“Though she says that, I don’t think they’ve actually expelled her. It’s probably just venting or a lecture…”

Nina quietly added.

Honestly, I think the same. Necropolis is a group formed by Hecate’s goodwill after all.

Of course, the reason she could act as their master was because she had that much power.

Since she depleted her power to save Eremus, the current Hecate might seem unqualified.

But it’s unlikely that Hecate ruled Necropolis with force.

That power was purely for protection.

Despite everything, Necropolis was formed by ghosts gathered due to Hecate’s kind humanity.

So this is the end of their loyalty.

It’s highly probable that they thought drastic measures were necessary seeing their master interfering like that elsewhere.

-Hnngg! I hate everyone!

“Indeed, this feels like the kind of lesson one learns only through painful experience.”

“Precisely.”

Though Hecate has been impeached, she could return if she just showed some remorse. She should have known when to stop.

I hope she’s learned that taking jokes too far leads to punishment.

-Junior!

Hecate, who had been crying endlessly, suddenly looked at me with blazing eyes.

She must be plotting something bad again.

-Please take care of me!

The picture is too easy to draw. No doubt she wants to leech off me and put on a show to make those who abandoned her regret it.

“I don’t have a habit of collecting valueless items.”

-How could you say such a thing?!

But I have no reason to help her. What value does she have now that she’s lost Necropolis as a military force?

-I’ve helped you so much!

“I’m always grateful for the ocean-like benevolence of the former Saintess. But do you expect compensation for your kindness?”

-How shameless! How can you be so shameless! I’ve misjudged you, junior!

Hecate flies around in the air, posing as if wailing. She’s like a fly.

-I can be useful! I’ll give you lots of advice!

“Let’s save the self-promotion for later. Shouldn’t we have the meeting first?”

-Hoeee…

So get lost.

I pushed away the annoyingly clingy Hecate with one hand and took a seat in the meeting hall.

Looking around, I saw that Titan was already seated.

He had mentioned having things to discuss with Nina overnight, so it seems he spent the night here. He was watching the farce until now with his arms crossed, smiling.

Right, so you’ve found peace of mind? How nice and comfortable for you.

Meanwhile, I’m getting more and more complications.

“Yaaawn… Hey, can we start soon?”

Pinocchio was lying on his desk. Geppetto was patting Pinocchio’s back with a bitter smile on his face.

“Old Man Geppetto, I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t know those monsters had such abilities and put Pinocchio in danger.”

“No, what danger? If I had thought it was that kind of problem, I wouldn’t have sent Pinocchio in the first place. When we entered Alfheim, we broke through all three monsters.”

“I suppose…”

Pinocchio’s trial rank is 6. It’s natural for him to be stronger than the <Wind’s Tomb>, which is ranked 7.

While I can’t definitively say they’re stronger based on the numbers, typically, survivors are the stronger ones. Pinocchio is stronger than the <Wind’s Tomb>.

-I’m number 3…

“Ah, yes. Senior. You’re amazing. That’s enough self-promotion, so please wait quietly for the results.”

-Hoeee.

Even if it’s not his prime, Pinocchio is likely the strongest among the beings here.

After all, his only limitation is time.

His power and knowledge haven’t disappeared.

He’s definitely stronger than Hecate, who has lost both her power and her forces.

Anyway, the problem of missing information is resolved. Geppetto also doesn’t seem to have any complaints with Nina, so there’s no reason to continue this topic.

“Well then.”

In the center of the meeting hall is Ratatoskr, caged.

Even if yesterday is yesterday, we can’t just leave this be.

A subdued trial. It’s natural that we must decide the fate of a trial that has killed hundreds of humans.

If I don’t at least get a definitive answer from him, regardless of good or evil, regardless of crime and punishment, I must eliminate him.

After all, that’s just the process of dealing with a tide that attacks humans.

“I believe he should be given a chance. No, it’s not a belief. It’s a plea.”

“I understand Nina’s opinion. But shouldn’t we hear from the party concerned first?”

Ratatoskr, trapped in the center, merely stares blankly into the void as if his soul has left his body.

Looking at this, I came to the same conclusion as yesterday.

Death would hold no meaning for Ratatoskr.

No, it might even comfort him.

“I don’t care either way.”

“……”

As expected, Ratatoskr responded as if he didn’t care.

His attitude is truly irritating.

There’s even someone here willing to die herself to save such a monster.

“Then I guess I should kill you and Nina as well.”

“……”

“Is that also something you ‘don’t care about’, Wind’s Tomb?”

Yes, now we’re getting a reaction.

Ratatoskr, who had been acting as if he had no will to live, started to glare at me.

Even a mere beast has decency. Being the head, he should naturally feel sorry for Nina who risked her life for him.

“…What do you want from me?”

“Nina said that both of you should be punished the same way. I yielded to that and decided to postpone your execution.”

Nina is placing Ratatoskr and herself on the same line.

Then I too should step back here and view them with the same perspective.

“Cooperate with us. Die fighting in the war that’s about to break out.”

“Ha…!”

The reason I struggled so hard to defeat the trials was to liberate Nina from those constraints.

Then why did I go to such lengths?

It wasn’t just because I wanted to bestow kindness.

I need Nina’s power.

The enemy I face has strong power, commands vast troops, and is cunning to boot.

“Fine… I’ll do that.”

Ratatoskr glanced at Titan once and then nodded.

There was deep sorrow in his eyes, but he didn’t say anything more.

“If that’s how I can be of help to you, I’ll do it.”

Who can punish Ratatoskr’s crimes? At least not me.

The harm that he inflicted on me and my companions, we’ve completely forgotten as of yesterday.

But that doesn’t mean Ratatoskr’s crimes disappear.

And selecting someone to punish him is not an easy task either.

That process would be too long and difficult. And unfortunately, there’s not enough time now.

Then there’s only one way.

“Then atone for your sins in that manner.”

The only way is for him to punish himself.