Chapter 194 Cosmos Ocean [2]

Rosalin Flora could not believe what was screened in front of her piercing blue eyes. Her daughter, the Princess of Nereia, Rumia Flora was peacefully lying on her queen-size bed. Under the deafening silence after the princess' best friend's words escaped her mouth, the breathing of a sound-asleep princess could reach the auricular sense of each of them, signifying something ominous.

In other words, Rumia, who was perfectly fine in every aspect of being a human, lost her life due to mysterious reasons.

In the past few days since Ayleen Mayfield was summoned, Rosalin searched every nook and cranny of her daughter's whereabouts with the help of her shadows – Raya and Yara. She then found that there was nothing amiss, but according to their reports, one thing particularly stood out – the Tower of Growth.

Specifically, the existence of the Tower's Administrator, who had bestowed the [Ancient Pearl of the Cosmos Ocean], which every party member at that time agreed on to be in Rumia's possession, was most likely the cause of everything.

Unaware of the Title: Ocean's Child, which Rumia received when she consumed the Ancient Pearl of the Cosmos Ocean, Rosalin Flora stood blankly at her lifeless daughter.

"...T-this isn't real. This must be a dream."

As Rosalin's words of disbelief reverberated throughout the room, an indescribable chill jolted everyone awake, even Elizabeth who was blankly staring at her best friend.

Samantha, who was also unable to process what was happening at this moment, instinctively felt what must be done.

"Queen Rosalin, please excuse us."

The others, who seemed to understand the intention behind Samantha's words, also excused themselves, which Rosalin nodded in appreciation. In other words, Samantha had correctly guessed that the Queen of Nereia wanted to be alone with the sleeping princess.

After a few minutes, trying her best to wake up her daughter, she started to involuntarily accept the reality of the situation. Her cry, just hours before the end of the year, seemed to echo throughout the hearts of her people.

[The Constellation, Wanderer of Cosmos is looking at her Champion.]

***

Samantha Hall, waiting in one of the hallways of the Royal Palace, along with the others, heard the queen's burst out of emotions as they could not help but be swept up in it. After all, the cry of a mother for her child was absolutely contagious and soul-shattering.

'I wonder why she's not speaking about it.'

The entity in Samantha's head was silent for some time now, not informing her, even vaguely, regarding Rumia's strange condition, who at this moment could be declared dead. Samantha tried to ask, but she was only met with silence similar to before when she was closely talking to Russell Moon.

"Hey guys, does this even make sense?"

Han Jiho's incredulous voice, who was trying to process Rumia's state, jolted everyone awake, sending them back to reality to at least try to not come to a conclusion just because someone stopped longing for air.

His simple question of disbelief was in fact rational because a healthy, cheerful, amiable princess just passed away because of something they had no idea about.

"This is bullshit!"

When no one responded to his general question, Han Jiho couldn't help but curse.

"Unless you are an undead, there's no way a person's alive with the absence of a cycle of breathing."

Anya Amasawa, leaning on the palace wall with her two hands on the back of her head, interjected. Everyone's attention, with each having different thoughts about the matter within themselves, landed on her.

"I'm just saying that-

"Stop it."

Elizabeth, hugging her knees as she crouched with her back leaned on the palace wall, put a stop to Anya's logical words. Her light green eyes, which seemed to die when she learned the truth about her father's death, became dimmer as if it was only a matter of time before she completely lost herself.

"But-"

Anya wanted to retort but the door of Rumia's bedroom slowly, but gradually opened. Knowing that they were still waiting in the hallway, Rosalin spoke in urgency. Her piercing blue eyes which resembled the thickness of the sky were somewhat dyed crimson.

"Does anyone of you know the individual named Russell Moon? I know he's from A-1 class just like all of you, but do any of you have close ties with him?"

***

Samantha, Elizabeth, Jiho, and Anya looked at each other upon hearing the familiar name, which they had never expected to be mentioned at this time of dread regarding Rumia's state.

'Oh, come on!'

Samantha inwardly lampooned as the three shifted their gaze to her, causing Rosalin to do the same.

"Samantha's the closest one with him."

Anya, based on her observation skills, who saw how Samantha seemed eager to get close to the man, responded to the queen's strange inquiry.

"W-wait. I'll call him."

Samantha, recalling what the entity in her head had told her about the partial identity of Russell Moon, seemed to know what the queen was aiming for.

'I don't know how she knows him… I should ask Dad later.'

After a few seconds, the man in question answered Samantha's call. Surprisingly for Russell, it wasn't only through voice, but his face was projected out of the smartwatch, causing everyone to see his current state.

"A-are you drinking?!"

– "Yeah, why did you call, anyway?"

Samantha remembered what she called him for as she quickly relayed Rosalin's words.

"Uh, this might seem strange and sudden, but the Queen of Nereia is looking for you."

– "Huh..? Why? Did I do something wrong?"

Russell, who knew why Rosalin's radar was navigated at him and knew the current situation of Rumia, spoke in a way that seemed to show that liquor was the most important thing at the moment.

Samantha glanced at Rosalin, who then nodded at her. Understanding the meaning behind the nod, Samantha responded to Russell.

"It is strange, but it happened suddenly. But right now, R-Rumia's dead. I-I don't know, but she's not breathing!"

Russell fell silent for a moment, his expression could be seen by everyone.

"Is he alone..?"

Finding Russell as a weird one, Elizabeth muttered softly, not enough for everyone to hear her.

– "Rumia's dead? She's not breathing?"

"Y-yes. That's exactly her state right now. We're at Nereia's Royal Palace at the moment."

– "I see…"

Gulping down a mouthful of liquor that could be seen by them including Rosalin, Russell's next words, and actions sent everyone into a state of shock.

– "Good for her then."

As soon as his words came out of his mouth, Russell ended the call without any warning.

***

"W-what...?"

Staring blankly at the smartwatch from where Russell's projection appeared just now, Han Jiho couldn't believe what he had just witnessed.

"...Did he perhaps think that we are pulling a prank on him?"

Anya muttered the possibility since Russell didn't see Rosalin herself.

The four of them shifted their gaze to the queen, only to find an expression that seemed to become serene rather than sorrowful.

"All of you should go home.

"I appreciate your visitation, but..."

Rosalin addressed them while her mind was focused on the tone and words of the drinking man on the call.

Rosalin also remembered Russell's attitude when Ayleen brought him to the Obelisk Organization headquarters to make a statement regarding the solution against the Failure Penalty of the Tower of Growth, which was still ongoing in the present, but with extremely lessened casualties.

"We understand, Queen Rosalin.

"Please, don't be too hard on yourself since we do not know what happened to Rumia.

Samantha replied with reverence to the queen, realizing that something had changed in Rosalin's demeanor after the call earlier.

"I will inform each of you if something happens.

Rosalin revealed a sorrowful, faint smile. Her piercing blue eyes turned gentle.

After that, bidding farewell, Elizabeth, who wasn't saying anything since she discovered that Rumia wasn't breathing, teleported them out of the Royal Palace under the queen's permission — which was necessary since it was impossible to teleport inside the Royal Palace due to defensive measures wrapping around it.

Sometime later, after Elizabeth and the others departed, Rosalin went to Rumia's bedroom as she also summoned her secretary.

"Tell my equerry to open the doors of the royal basement."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Without asking about the purpose or anything, the secretary did her job as she quickly disappeared from where she was standing.

Glancing at her lifeless daughter, Rosalin checked Rumia's Status Window.

It was something she rarely do because of one reason — as a mother and not as a queen, Rosalin didn't want to invade her daughter's privacy, which was the reason she never learned about the Title: Ocean's Child, that Rumia acquired after consuming the Ancient Pearl of the Cosmos Ocean.

But at this moment, Rosalin discovered it as her expression turned blank.

"Lucid dream...?"

***

[Ocean's Child]

Description:

As an Ocean's Child, you will have the ability to traverse the Cosmos Ocean — the first ocean in existence.

Rank: Mythic

Effect:

When sleeping, you will have a 49% chance of having a lucid dream regarding the Cosmos Ocean.

***

It had been some time since Rumia was experiencing it, though she never did tell anyone. But at this moment, as the year was ending and a new cycle entering, the hidden impact of being an Ocean's Child would then be revealed.

"...This is truly from the Tower of Growth, but..."

Rosalin's blue eyes widened when she realized something.

According to the reports delivered by Raya and Yara, at the end of the 19th floor, the party members would pick someone who would be bestowed the Ancient Pearl of the Cosmos Ocean.

In other words, it was not only Rumia who received such a thing, including the Title: Ocean's Child. And if what was happening at this moment was more than bizarre, it meant that Rumia wasn't the only one in this state.

"My dear daughter... Where did you go...?

"Wherever you are, please be safe."

Rosalin muttered as she stroke Rumia's hair.

After a few minutes, the secretary came back and told her about the royal basement, which a long process was necessary for it to be opened.

"Your Majesty, your equerry is waiting."

"Alright. Guard my daughter, but make sure that the guests on the ground floor are being properly catered."

The secretary nodded as Rosalin left the room.

***

[You are under lucid dreaming because of the Title: Ocean's Child.]

Rumia, in her Soul Body, floating into a vast, serene, and infinite void, glanced around but saw nothing except a flow of black, white, and grey thick liquid.

But after some time, she realized what it was. From afar, various worlds that were painted dimly were following each other.

Rumia tried to move, but her body couldn't reach anything from afar. Even though the situation was something she couldn't easily get used to, she felt like this experience was eye-opening as she realized how small of an existence she was.

"Where is this place...?"

Some distance away, one after another, numerous countless beings with their face shrouded and barely seen, appeared one by one.

[There must only be a lone Ocean's Child for every World Cycle.]

[Eliminate the other Ocean's Child!]

[Every Ocean's Child will enter the ancient past of the World Cycle.]

[...World Cycle's classification has been determined!]

[...Soul Transfer begins!]

Without knowing what it meant since it was the first time that the System interacted with her during the few times she experienced such a phenomenon, Rumia, feeling helpless, let whatever was happening to transpire.

'I hope this ends quickly-!'

***

"Wake up! Ruri! I brought us some food!"

An unfamiliar voice entered Rumia's ears. A small, supple hand was pressing her cheeks.

'Ruri? Who's that?'

Slowly opening her eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling appeared in front of her. Slowly shifting her gaze, Rumia found a girl in a maid dress, closely looking at her.

"W-who..."

Rumia couldn't help but mutter. At that moment, the System's messages were screened in front of her.

[World Cycle's Classification: Transmigration]

'W-what?!'