CH 121

I went to Cass’ mansion and lay down on the bed.

“You seem to be using a good mattress. After all, the bed of the rich men is different.”

It was a remark thrown like a joke on purpose to lighten the mood. However, Cass’ eyebrows were cold and motionless.

“Don’t do this to me.”

I knew why he said this.

“Marquis. You know. That I’ve been doing well up until now.”

“…”

“I’m sure I’ll do well this time too.”

His fists were clenched tight as if they were going to break something. The depths of the cold eyes were tinged with a miserable light.

“So you’re saying I’m going to kill you with my own hands?”

Because I’m going to go directly into the state of ‘death’.

I told Cass and the Gods my plan in a calm voice.

[Tears are welling up in the eyes of the God of Death, Kairos.]

[The God of Death, Kairos, looks at you with eyes asking whether you can not do it.]

[The God of Knowledge, Hessed, asks Kairos if there is no other way.]

[The God of Death, Kairos, says that it’s rather dangerous for him to guide living beings himself.]

[The God of Art, Mond, complains that all plants will die if Kairos touches them.]

[The God of Death, Kairos, embraces his precious chair and stamps his feet.]

However, it was necessary to meet her, who had a profound influence on the writing of Draive [Contemplation of the God of Lies].

“Cruel. Beyond description.”

A dark shadow fell over Cass’ face.

“You said you’d do anything. Earlier.”

At my words, Cass stared at me with complicated eyes that couldn’t say anything.

“You just have to burn the incense. Marquis, please protect me and take the neutralizer.”

“…”

“And when my heart rate is so slow that there’s no chance of resuscitation, feed me this.”

I showed him the lithium holy stone I had received from the lord in Ares. I thought it would be useful someday, but I didn’t know it would be used like this.

“Please reconsider this. Saintess.”

Cass looked at me with an unrelenting gaze and didn’t accept the holy stone.

“I’d rather go instead of you.”

“It’s something the Marquis can’t do. Only I… can find her in the Salerium.”

“…”

“If you object, I will go back to the temple and do it alone without the Marquis. The reason I ask the Marquis is…”

I looked at him and told him the truth.

“It’s because I trust the Marquis.”

Similar to what Raid’s prophecies I had read described, Cass was a man who lacked human sympathy and affection. Whatever he did, he acted for the good, and was willing to let go of anything that didn’t benefit him.

But I’ve come to see that he wasn’t like that, at least not to me.

At my words, Cass stared at me with painful eyes for a long time. Then, hardening his expression, he opened the drawer and took out the purple liquid.

“If the Saintess doesn’t come back…”

He took out a bottle of red potion and opened it. Dark blue eyes were looking at me.

“I will storm into the Salerium and grab the God of Death by the collar.”

[The God of Death, Kairos, gropes around his neck with anxious eyes.]

I smiled lightly at his words.

Soon he gulped down the bottle of red potion. He then poured the purple liquid into an incense burner and lit it.

Outside the window was enveloped in thick darkness.

I came closer to Cass, who leaned over to me, and our eyes met closely. My heart was pounding with fear, but looking into his dark eyes somehow made my heart feel at ease.

Soon, the surroundings became dizzy and began to spin around. And a soft touch landed on my forehead then fell. I could tell it was his lips.

‘A good night kiss?’

In the midst of panic, I heard a low voice in my ear and my consciousness was cut off.

“When you wake up, please slap me on the cheek for being rude.”

A chat window popped up in front of my darkened eyes.

[The God of Death, Kairos, blesses the ‘All-Purpose Pocket’.]

[The God of Death, Kairos, uses Response on you.]

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, uses Response on you.]

***

The God of Death’s palace ‘Salerium’ is a land that can’t be reached by a living body.

My consciousness, which was sinking into death, headed there in the dark. It felt far away, as if I was sailing on a boat through an endless universe.

In front of me there was a small light, like a firefly, as if to tell me where to go.

At some point, the surroundings were covered with gloomy darkness without even fireflies.

As if all the sounds in the world were muted, it became less and less heard, then I felt the smell of damp soil at the tip of my nose.

I could tell through my five senses that I had arrived at the Salerium.

“…”

After a while, when I opened my eyes in the dark, I saw a hard marble floor. And at that moment, my vision brightened.

Gravity was working the same as in the present world, and this place seemed like a normal world, just like the world I lived in.

I got up with my hands on the floor and looked around. My head ached, yet, my vision was fortunately clear.

The ivory-colored pillars of the temple buildings stretched out majestically into the sky. It felt much larger than the Temple of Elium.

Besides, there wasn’t just one such temple, but it was seen countless times across the distant landscape.

‘Is this the Palace of Death, Salerium?’

Although the atmosphere wasn’t completely daytime, it wasn’t dark at all, it seemed to be around 5 o’clock in the afternoon or 6 o’clock in the morning.

It’s a light suitable for the City of the Dead.

‘I’ve lived and seen the afterlife.’

I focused my vision to find the oracle.

However, the chat window didn’t appear. It seemed that the oracle didn’t work here either.

‘It’s a bit frustrating to fall like this without anything.’

After hesitating for a moment, I decided to walk straight ahead.

First of all, since there were no people around, I decided that it would be better to get out of the way and ask someone.

Kairos, the owner of the Temple of Death, is responding to me anyway, and it shouldn’t be a big deal.

It was when I was walking for such a long time. I heard a little noise and stopped my steps.

“Can’t you work properly?”

“If you can’t finish it in time, there’s no rest today!”

The atmosphere was unusual, so I lowered my body and walked toward the source of the sound.

It was seen that the fence had been put up. After walking about 100 paces, I poked my head out of the fence.

“Huft… Huft…”

“Cough…”

I saw a very wide open space. It seemed to be about the size of a football field.

A sign appeared in front of me.

[Construction Site No. 7843]

Then, I saw about a hundred people who were naked, standing in a row with chains around their necks, carrying stones.

There were also women among them, who wore sleeveless shirts and shackled legs.

In the center, a floor was being made that would serve as the foundation for a future gigantic structure.

“Ugh…”

A man collapsed.

Then the grumpy man who appeared to be the warden started beating him with a whip.

“Cough! Aakh!!”

Slamㅡslamㅡ    

Through various media or creative works, I came across a scene where people were paid for their sins in the afterlife.

So I could guess that this was also like that.

‘Ugh, but isn’t this a bit harsh?’

Then a woman ran out, and she knelt beside the man being beaten and begged.

“Chief Warden, please stop. I don’t think he can stand it after 12 hours of non-stop work.”

I stared at the woman and man with a serious expression.

The appearance of the woman with a skinny, bone-like appearance stimulated my chivalry.

‘No… Even if you commit a sin, how many times have you committed crimes to that extent?’

At that time, I saw something engraved like a tattoo on the neck or shoulder of the slaves.

I read them.

‘Robbery… Murder? Rape? Indirect Murder by Fraud?’

I heard the grim Warden growling and talking.

“The parents of the children you kidnapped and sold would have breathed in difficulty even for a second while standing still. They must have lived their whole lives in agony!!”

The Warden kicked the man, and the man tumbled and rolled.

“Uuughh!”

“You don’t deserve it! Get up and get to work!”

Their articles were engraved on the necks of men and on the shoulders of women.

‘Child Abduction and Human Trafficking.’

Oh no.

It’s also dangerous to judge people by their appearance. Now, in my eyes, they no longer look pitiful.

“Please have mercy!”

Slamㅡ!

Even the devils are more human than the child abduction and human trafficking couple.

Slamㅡ!

‘If you give me that whip, I can wield it better.’

Please hit them harder.

I shook off the thoughts that came to me while watching the Warden’s harness swinging merrily.

‘Let’s leave the field of justice for now… Let’s find someone else.’

I tried to pass this place with my body bent even tighter. It was because, seeing the harsh atmosphere of the forced labor camp, I thought it would be better to ask someone else about the road.

“You there!”

That moment. I heard the voice of the Warden calling me.