“How did you break the ban, that damn thing.”
A shabby house that didn't seem strange even if it collapsed at any moment. Shadin and the Followers barely escaped and hid in the slums.
Shadin lay down on the musty-smelling blanket. Only eight people, including himself, had escaped.
But the remaining personnel are not important. Since it is an organization that operates as a sect, if people are needed, they can gather Followers scattered throughout the empire.
He had gathered the money and the things he needed. But when he thought about all the jars of loneliness he had used to escape, he felt so sorry that he was going crazy.
“I wouldn’t have been able to raise my own child with that much love and affection.”
They raised it to be a great poisonous insect by feeding it human flesh, but it left without even making any proper money.
“In the meantime, I brought the most useless thing.”
Shadin glanced at the complex called 'His Preservation'. Of course, if it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been able to come out with the other Followers as a shield.
From his hideout that day when he was surrounded, Shadin ordered those evil imperials to stop him while he escaped with his remains.
In effect, it meant giving up their own lives to open Shadin's escape route, but they did so willingly. Not for Shadin's sake, but to continue his legacy.
“You idiots.”
Thanks to that, he managed to escape alive. Shadin let out a chuckle. He couldn't understand why they would throw away their lives just for that one thing.
“I have to break it someday.”
That complex had saved him, but the more he looked at it, the more ominous it seemed. It was somewhat creepy. In any case, he didn't want to get close to it.
It may be because of the way he brought his legacy to the present world.
In fact, the plan of the Followers to put his will into the Prince's body and use him to take over the empire sounded okay at first.
If the plan is successful, the elders will each have a place in the empire and will not have to worry about making a living.
The problem, however, is that reviving his legacy also requires a sacrifice.
The sacrifice was the priest.
“What good is eating the empire? I’ll die.”
I heard that if you're lucky, you might not die, but you probably won't survive.
He didn't know that he would have to live with a body that couldn't move on its own. What good would it do to live in such a state and enjoy wealth and honor?
Shadin would never sacrifice his body for something like that. Why on earth would he do that?
“Priest.”
A shabby house that didn't seem strange even if it collapsed at any moment. Shadin and the Followers barely escaped and hid in the slums.
Shadin lay down on the musty-smelling blanket. Only eight people, including himself, had escaped.
But the remaining personnel are not important. Since it is an organization that operates as a sect, if people are needed, they can gather Followers scattered throughout the empire.
He had gathered the money and the things he needed. But when he thought about all the jars of loneliness he had used to escape, he felt so sorry that he was going crazy.
“I wouldn’t have been able to raise my own child with that much love and affection.”
They raised it to be a great poisonous insect by feeding it human flesh, but it left without even making any proper money.
“In the meantime, I brought the most useless thing.”
Shadin glanced at the complex called 'His Preservation'. Of course, if it weren't for that, he wouldn't have been able to come out with the other Followers as a shield.
From his hideout that day when he was surrounded, Shadin ordered those evil imperials to stop him while he escaped with his remains.
In effect, it meant giving up their own lives to open Shadin's escape route, but they did so willingly. Not for Shadin's sake, but to continue his legacy.
“You idiots.”
Thanks to that, he managed to escape alive. Shadin let out a chuckle. He couldn't understand why they would throw away their lives just for that one thing.
“I have to break it someday.”
That complex had saved him, but the more he looked at it, the more ominous it seemed. It was somewhat creepy. In any case, he didn't want to get close to it.
It may be because of the way he brought his legacy to the present world.
In fact, the plan of the Followers to put his will into the Prince's body and use him to take over the empire sounded okay at first.
If the plan is successful, the elders will each have a place in the empire and will not have to worry about making a living.
The problem, however, is that reviving his legacy also requires a sacrifice.
The sacrifice was the priest.
“What good is eating the empire? I’ll die.”
I heard that if you're lucky, you might not die, but you probably won't survive.
He didn't know that he would have to live with a body that couldn't move on its own. What good would it do to live in such a state and enjoy wealth and honor?
Shadin would never sacrifice his body for something like that. Why on earth would he do that?
“Priest.”
As he lay there, wiggling his feet, the Followers who had gone out to scout the surrounding area returned one by one. They all had dark expressions on their faces.
“There are still many soldiers.”
“There is no place where there is not a wanted poster with a picture of a priest’s face.”
“This place is not safe either. But where should we go now...”
However, Shadin, who was receiving the report, blurted out as if he had thought about it.
“Then I guess I have no choice but to go under the lamp.”
Into the darkest place under the lamp.
***
“It’s because Tan didn’t study hard enough, but his spiritual powers are pretty good. He’s even good at it sometimes, so I think he’s become famous enough to reach Lord Henry’s ears.”
Illuor said, rubbing his eyes as if he was tired.
“The power must have been triggered somehow when I was Lord Erne's heavenly host.”
Although he had insufficient data, he worked hard, visiting elders from other Shartinel tribes and other mediums he knew.
“So, does that mean Erne woke up because of Tan’s spiritual power?”
“You could say so, Miss Harrington. A human being is a combination of body and soul. You can’t live with just one.”
However, the Shartins tended to place greater value on the soul. The most famous phrase, passed down from mouth to mouth, from adult to child, was the sentence, 'The soul is the life force, and the life force is the soul.'
This was no different for the Followers. That was why they valued his will, that is, the complex in which his soul was believed to reside, so much.
“There is a passage through the human body through which the soul passes. When a person dies, the soul leaves through that passage.”
However, when one stops breathing, the soul does not leave all at once; it usually leaves gradually over three days.
“It is believed that the soul can communicate while it is in the body, so a three-day funeral is held.”
“So that’s why the funeral lasts for three days.”
Erne snapped his fingers, saying he had discovered something new.
Erne's funeral was said to have been held in a hurry because the chief mourner had many things to do, but most nobles held funerals over three days.
“There are three doors in the passageway through which the soul passes. The soul must pass through all three doors to leave the body.”
Illuor pointed to his own crown with his finger.
“This is the astronomical gate. It is the last gate the soul passes through.”
There are three in total, including the Honmun, located between the navel and the chin, and the Okmun, located in the middle of the groin.
“When the soul leaves, all three gates open. When the soul leaves the heavenly gate, it closes. So how can we bring the soul back to the body?”
“I guess I’ll have to open the door again.”
“Yes, that’s when you need spiritual power.”
The necromancy performed by the priest was to summon the soul and then open the door to the body.
“No matter how great the spiritual power of a priest is, can it be as strong as the laws of nature?”
When nature takes the soul, three doors open at the same time. However, it is impossible for human power. Even the priests who are born with the highest spiritual powers must open the doors one by one.
“So, does that mean that the priest opened the door to let the soul in and collapsed, and Erne was trapped between the doors?”
“Yes, that’s right. The soul, which is the life force, is inside the body, so it doesn’t die, but it wasn’t able to settle down properly, so it couldn’t perform any other functions.”
But Tan accidentally opened the door that had been closed by the night market.
'Was it because of the three doors that Shadin and I were possessed at once?'
Erne was necromanced after some time had passed since his death. However, the original Shadin and Judith Harrington were possessed immediately after their deaths, when the door opened wide to let their souls escape.
“Thank you for noticing.”
Erne's expression seemed to have somewhat satisfied his curiosity. Illuor waved his hand, saying that it wasn't a certain story.
“Anyway, Tan wasn’t a total fraud.”
“Yes, if he studies hard, he can become a good medium.”
"Is it so?"
Judith smiled and nodded as if she had heard the story she wanted to hear.
Then she called Tan. After the wanted poster was put up for the traitor, who was a Shartin, and a medium, Tan, who was a medium, had no work to do.
So Tan helped make incense inside the mansion, but he was secretly thinking about turning it into a full-time job since simple labor suited his aptitude.
“You don’t have anything to do today, do you? Why don’t you hang around in front of the incense shop? Dressed like a shaman.”
“Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“I came to ask about your business, that is. There is a young lady who is looking for a medium.”
Tan, who had not washed his hair until now, avoided Judith's gaze and muttered, "It's annoying."
“By any chance, our Tan, have you become tired of living? Are you like this because you want to die? Will you stop bothering me forever?”
“...Ah, I’ll do it. Just do it.”
Judith slapped Tan's shoulder, who couldn't shake off his annoyed expression.
“Are you going to act like a teenager? If you have the face of a teenager, you should act like an adult.”
“Wasn’t that something really hurtful that you just said?”
“Wouldn’t that be better than getting hit and getting hurt?”
Judith glared. As long as she was here, it was forbidden to say anything about making money at the Rhineland Mansion.
Tan glanced at Erne, who was standing behind Judith, asking for help just in case.
Erne slowly shook his head as if he was sorry. I'm sorry, but when it comes to finances, I can't help you, that's what he meant.
“What should I do in front of the incense shop later?”
Finally, Tan, holding the white flag, asked with a sigh.
“There will be a guest coming, Viscountess Wilbur, with blond-like light brown hair and a worried look on her face.”
“How can you tell with just that?”
“I can see everything. Anyway, when Lady Wilbur comes out of our store after buying some candles, you will show up and talk to her.”
“What did you say?”
“Is there any trouble in your house?”
Then, the young lady, Viscountess Wilbur, will be surprised and ask, “How did you know?”
“Don’t answer that question. Just tell her that there is someone sick in her house. No matter what medicine she uses, it doesn’t get better. That’s what I’m asking.”
“Is there a patient in that house?”
“Yes, the youngest son of Viscount Wilbur, who would not mind being put in the eye.”
Lady Viscount Wilbur will be surprised to learn that Tan and Judith know each other. She will probably ask Tan for help right away.
“But, Miss Harrington, that’s a scam.”
“Scam, Tan. This isn’t a scam. I’m just trying to fix that house’s reputation.”
“If you're a Viscount, you've seen a lot of doctors who say I'm a long time coming.”
Judith raised her eyebrows and squeezed Tan's shoulder.
“Collect a large commission. In gold, no matter what.”
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