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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 10
1.
At the base of the orphanage hill lay a small village.
It belonged to the Holy Nation of Calios and was known by the name “Heinz.”
Recently, unsettling rumors had begun circulating throughout the village—triggered by a strange sound that had continued for several days.
Wooooong—
A low, resonant hum, like the wailing of a whale.
The sound came from the mountain to the southwest. That mountain had long been called the Sanctuary of the Earth Dragon, and so the villagers believed the sound was a sign that the Earth Dragon was about to awaken.
The Earth Dragon, according to ancient legend, was a subterranean creature—a type of dragon that fed primarily on magma deep beneath the earth.
Because of that, no one dared approach the mountain to investigate. It was believed that if they got too close, they might be devoured by the beast.
Gripped by fear, the villagers simply waited for the noise to stop. On the third day, at last, the sound came to an abrupt halt.
Sensing the time was right, the village chief chose the three sturdiest young men in the village and sent them up the hill to the orphanage.
“Start with the orphanage. High Priest Lyernoff from Calios stopped by about two weeks ago—chances are, he’s still there. If anyone can explain what’s going on, it’ll be him.”
Mikel von Lyernoff, a high priest of the Holy Nation of Calios, was well-known even in a small village like Heinz.
He had visited often over the years, and the villagers had seen him select promising children from the orphanage to bring to the Theocracy’s academy.
That’s why the village chief remembered clearly that Lyernoff was currently staying at the orphanage. Anyone leaving the orphanage had to pass through the village—there was no way he would’ve missed it.
So without a doubt, Lyernoff was still up there.
“I’ve sent three men. Surely High Priest Lyernoff will come down himself.”
And once he did, he’d explain everything—what that eerie sound had been these past few days.
The village chief waited in the town hall office, joined by other villagers, hoping for answers.
Half the day passed, and the sun was beginning to set when the three men returned.
Their faces were pale as death, and their voices trembled as they reported to the chief.
“Th-The orphanage... it’s completely empty.”
“Empty? What do you mean? Are you saying the priest isn’t there?”
One of the men shook his head violently and answered.
“Not just the priest. Everyone’s gone. The director, the staff, even the children—no one’s there. And the strangest part…”
His voice caught. He swallowed hard before continuing.
“Everything’s been left behind. The beds, the clothes they were wearing—everything.”
He held up a child’s garment as proof.
It was slightly dusty, but otherwise intact.
It smelled faintly musty—a scent that suggested it had been left untouched for some time.
The chief furrowed his brow.
‘Something’s off.’
The weird, drawn-out noise was one thing, but the report on the orphanage was something else entirely.
Given the nature of the orphanage, children’s clothes rarely sat unused long enough to gather that smell. There were never enough to go around. They should’ve smelled of sweat, not dust.
But according to the men’s report, everyone had vanished—completely. And among them was High Priest Lyernoff.
Which meant this wasn’t just some local incident.
‘This is beyond us.’
The village chief made his decision.
“I need you to go once more. Head straight to the Holy Nation of Calios. Go to the Inquisitorial Bureau and report that High Priest Lyernoff has gone missing.”
The men agreed without hesitation and left the village again.
As the villagers and the chief watched them disappear into the distance, worry deepened on every face.
＊ ＊ ＊
When I opened my eyes, I was momentarily disoriented.
A strange sensation made my head spin.
More than anything, I couldn’t tell if what I had just seen was a dream or reality.
'It was too vivid to be just a dream.'
Especially my master’s pale blue gaze—it still lingered clearly in my mind.
Shaking off the haze of thought, I pushed myself up.
Looking around, I spotted Nocturne lying crumpled on the floor.
The light had faded from the jewel embedded in him.
'Now where’s Equinox?'
No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Equinox’s voice reached me.
“I am here, Master.”
Turning my head, I saw a dark silhouette gazing down at me.
He looked like a dark mage draped in a shadowy robe, hood drawn low over his face.
His form was a dim, shadowy spirit—his face hidden in the cowl’s depths.
He sat down beside me and looked over at Nocturne.
“This one is a malevolent spirit. Were you aware?”
I nodded silently, and Equinox continued.
“Its consciousness had been sealed away far too long. The result... it lost its mind, at least halfway.”
‘So that’s what happened.’
I recalled how Nocturne had gone berserk during the mana ring transplantation.
He had given off an unhinged glow, cackling with disturbing glee.
I picked Nocturne up.
He still felt dense and weighty in my hand, but his usual voice was gone.
“Is it gone? Destroyed?”
“No. Merely exhausted. It should recover by tomorrow.”
Equinox paused, then glanced back down at Nocturne.
“Such spirits should not be kept near, Master. I recommend you destroy or discard it here and now.”
‘Hmm.’
Logically, I knew he was right. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Nocturne’s lonely voice had echoed my own from the past.
Throwing him away felt like abandoning the person I used to be.
Besides, he’d never actually harmed me. Even when he briefly lost control, he still completed the mana ring for me.
I raised my hand and placed it over my chest.
Thump. Thump. Thump—
With the strong rhythm of my heartbeat, I also felt a subtle, distinct vibration.
Without question—it was the mana ring.
That’s when Equinox spoke again.
“There's been a slight issue.”
“An issue?”
“Well... rather than calling it an issue, it would be more accurate to say that the outcome has deviated somewhat from the original plan.”
At Equinox's words, I turned my gaze toward Nocturne, then closed my eyes.
Immediately, the image of my heart appeared clearly in my mind.
Right in the center of it, a mana ring was suspended.
As I concentrated, the shape became more detailed, slowly forming before my eyes.
A deep green mana ring, with red energy swirling around in places.
I had never seen a mana ring like this before.
“The mana rings I know from necromancers don’t look like this.”
“This is the result of Nocturne’s rampage. It became unstable but gained much more powerful energy.”
Equinox explained.
After observing for a moment, I understood what Equinox was talking about.
The mana ring in my heart was somewhat unstable, but its density and rotational speed were at an incredible level.
Perhaps this was why I had seen illusions earlier.
“I see.”
Suddenly, the image of my master came to mind again, and I rubbed my forehead.
At that moment, Equinox asked.
“Did you see something?”
“Did you read my thoughts again? I told you not to do that.”
“The situation is different now. You’ve just acquired your first necromancer’s mana ring. As the first necromancer of this continent, and your loyal servant, it’s my responsibility to guide you properly. Though it may be uncomfortable, you must follow my guidance for now.”
I couldn’t argue with Equinox’s words.
They were all true.
In my past life, my master had done the same for me.
When I first began to learn necromancy, my master had explained in great detail what I needed to do and how.
Without that, I wouldn't have been able to find my way.
As I recalled the image of my master, it briefly overlapped with Equinox’s form, and Equinox spoke again.
“That’s not a memory.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s something I visited briefly in the past. Didn’t your master learn necromancy? If so, your master would have recognized you as their pupil.”
I couldn’t even respond to that sharp observation.
Equinox stared at me for a moment before continuing.
“That’s how it is. Once a necromancer acquires their first mana ring, the potential for eternal power is unlocked all at once. This will be confusing. You’ll begin to see things that were hidden, pass through barriers you couldn’t before, and touch things that were once intangible. Additionally, you will be able to move only souls. All the senses you've had up until now will be reset.”
His explanation was somewhat complex, but I could accept it.
Above all, during our conversation, I realized something.
‘There is no light here.’
The firepit where the campfire had once been was now just ashes, and all the lanterns had been extinguished. Outside the cave, it was still dark. Yet, I could see everything inside clearly.
The bowls and herb fragments scattered around my feet. The pebbles haphazardly placed in the corner.
It was all vivid.
Now, I understand why I felt dizzy when I first woke up.
“My vision... has changed.”
“That’s just the beginning. Don’t you see anything new?”
I looked around again at his question. Soon, I noticed something black watching me from one corner.
I stood up from my seat and approached it.
As I got closer, my curiosity about its true identity grew. It looked like a black spirit, similar to Equinox, but it was much smaller and weaker.
When I stood right in front of it, I could feel it trembling.
“This is a vengeful spirit that has been lingering in this cave. It was eaten by a wild beast long ago, but it didn’t realize it was dead and has been stuck here ever since.”
“What should we do with it?”
“Do as you wish, master. This is the time for you to get used to these new sensations.”
Just as Equinox said, I needed to adapt to my new senses.
It was like a child learning to walk for the first time; I too had to familiarize myself with the new abilities I had gained.
I reached out my hand toward the spirit in front of me.
It was supposed to pass through me, but instead, it was caught in my hand.
The sensation was damp and squishy, something completely unfamiliar.
I grabbed the creature by the scruff of its neck and lifted it up. It let out a hoarse voice.
“P-Please, let me go.”
“You’re already dead.”
“What… What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re already dead.”
I sent my thoughts to it, conveying my meaning clearly.
I didn’t exert much effort, but as soon as I focused on my intent, it felt as if the message reached it instantly.
The creature seemed to understand, lowering its head in resignation.
“I see.”
Letting out a long sigh, it looked up at me and spoke.
“Thank you for telling me.”
With those words, the creature faded away faintly.
I stared at the spot where it had been and turned to Equinox.
“Has it disappeared?”
“It merely changed its position. Unless something unusual happens, it will leave this world when the gate to the heavens opens. Some restless spirits leave once they’re made aware of such simple truths.”
“I suppose most of them don’t, though.”
Equinox nodded.
After a moment of thought, he continued.
“You, master, have now become a true necromancer. This means you’ve opened the first horizon toward eternity. Right now, you may not be able to control that power, as you’re only at the beginning, but soon you’ll become accustomed to it. Once you do, it won’t be long before you can traverse through time freely. To gain the power of eternity means to be free from the constraints of time.”
Listening to him, I began to understand my previous teacher’s actions.
Was my teacher also at the threshold of eternity?
Could that be why he was able to travel through time and make his plans?
As I was lost in these thoughts, Equinox responded.
“Your master’s name was… Balthazar, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. Even now, as I look into it, he’s not connected to me. He must have simply studied from copies and never met me directly. That’s why his level is impossible to gauge. However, one thing is certain—he never came anywhere near the power of eternity.”
I couldn’t agree with that.
From my journey to the past, when I locked eyes with my teacher, I could tell he’d experienced something similar to what I was going through.
And my teacher had definitely said—
- We will meet again.
I believe those words.
If I keep moving forward like this, I will meet my teacher one day.
I clenched my fist tightly and looked down at it.
At that moment, I noticed something else.
‘Huh?’
It was an extremely thin thread.
A slender red thread piercing through my chest.
It was connected directly to my heart, but I couldn’t tell where it led.
“What is this?”
I asked, and Equinox responded in a quieter voice.
“That, master, is the soul binding set by the Demon Lord.”
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HELIO SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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