It was just as Erna said.
The ruins where the two people were located had a structure similar to the Grand Duke of Hessengard's castle.
It felt strangely familiar, and it was only natural, considering the structure was similar and the furniture inside was from Hessengard.
Even to Callion, who was fairly brave, a chill ran down his spine, and his exposed skin became bumpy.
It is an ancient ruin. An architectural structure from an era where much of the records, technology, and magic have been lost, easily exceeding a thousand years of age at the most conservative estimate.
Since this place could not have been modeled after the Grand Duke's Castle, built at most a few hundred years ago, it was clear that the Grand Duke's Castle had been built following this place.
The Grand Duke's Castle was the largest building in Hessengard. If such a place had been built following a specific ruin like this, he would surely have heard an explanation about the origin of its form at least once... but he had never once heard any mention of the ancient ruins.
Callion struggled to turn his stiff neck and looked at the large door beside him. If the structure was the same as the Grand Duke's castle, this was the couple's bedroom.
But there's no way a ruin would need something like that.
'But... it hasn’t been revealed yet what the ruins were built for either.'
Although traces of human presence have been found, such a structure would not have been built for general habitation.
Callion stared at the stone door for a long time before raising his hand. If this place were truly identical to the Grand Duke's castle, there would surely be at least one bed inside. Before Callion could push the door open with force, Erna tugged at his clothes and whispered in a low voice.
"Don't open it."
Callion became even more nervous when Erna, who had been quiet until now, suddenly tried to stop him.
"Why?"
"Look at the decoration over there."
Callion looked at where Erna's finger was pointing.
Decorations were carved into the stone door. A carving in the shape of a lion's head. Callion knew exactly what that was. Something found only on buildings in Hessengard. A decoration used to signal to outsiders whether or not the room's occupant was allowed to enter.
It means that if the lion's head is facing straight forward, it is allowed to enter, but if it is twisted to the side, it is not. And the ornament that the two people were looking at was shattered and turned to the side.
“...I don’t think you should go in.”
“...”
Callion nodded at Erna's terrified whisper. The stone ornament hadn't just broken.
Upon closer inspection, there were sharp gouges here and there on the stone. It was clear that it had been struck roughly with a hard object. Judging by the haphazard nature of the marks, it appeared that the person who struck it had done so with great emotion.
What on earth happened to the owner of this room? More importantly, who on earth is the owner of this place?
Callion recalled when the two of them entered this place.
A passageway with a form remarkably different from what has generally appeared until now. The names of two people are written above the main gate leading into the ruins. And ruins with a structure similar to a Grand Duke's castle. Artifacts from a Grand Duke's castle that were not that old. There were far too many suspicious aspects to this ruin.
Even then, he could feel Erna's body growing hotter as he carried her. Callion walked past the door of the couple's bedroom and looked elsewhere.
"Let's take a short break here."
According to the layout of the Grand Duke's castle, there was a bed in what was supposed to be the maids' room. This place was not much different from the one in the castle. Callion laid Erna, whom he had been carrying, down on the bed and covered her with his cloak.
As if she were coming down with body aches now, Erna let out a groan as her body touched the hard bed. Callion fumbled on the bed with his hand.
'Someone definitely stayed here until a few decades ago.'
There is furniture in this room, and quite a large amount of furniture remains in other places as well. It was not just one person who stayed here. Several people stayed, and they were people connected to the Grand Duke's castle.
'Whoever?'
Callion searched the room. Fortunately, there was a large glass bottle and a glass cup covered in dust.
“Erna, I’m sorry, but can you use magic?”
"Yes..."
When Callion approached, holding a bottle and a cup, Erna understood his intention and drew a magic formula in the air. Then, a mass of water about the size of a human head appeared above the glass bottle and floated around.
Callion washed the dust off the cup and bottle with a portion of the water, then filled it. Soon, the glass bottle was filled with sloshing water, and he poured it into a cup and brought it to Erna.
"Are you okay?"
“My head hurts a little..."
Erna habitually says she is fine. However, if she says she is in pain herself, it means she was really in severe pain.
Water flowed down under Erna's chin. Her feverish hand could not hold the cup properly. Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, Callion held the cup for her, and Erna managed to drink the water without spilling.
Who knew that handing me water when I collapsed from exhaustion after sex would be helpful at a time like this?
After finishing her water, Erna lay weakly on the bed and curled up. Seeing her like that, Callion felt upset for no reason.
'Shall I go check out the next room?'
If it were a grand castle, the adjacent room would have been his. Of course, he does not know who the owner of this ruin is, but in any case, it is an important room located in the center.
'There was a sign saying not to enter the bedroom, but it wasn't the room next door, so I thought it should be fine.'
Besides, to get out of here, he needed to obtain a clue, anything at all. Callion picked up Erna. He wanted to let her rest a little longer, but leaving her behind would cause a huge fuss.
Even in her half-asleep state, Erna hugged his neck. Feeling somehow proud that Erna trusted and relied on him right now, Callion held her even tighter.
Callion went back out into the hallway and pushed the stone door with all his might using his back.
“Ugh!”
Contrary to expectations that it would be difficult to open due to its weight, the stone door opened lightly, as if it had been waiting. Because of this, Callion staggered significantly. Fortunately, he did not fall and looked around the room.
"Just as he expected."
This place, too, looked similar to when he first received a room in the Grand Duke's castle. No, it was almost exactly the same as back then.
Similar furniture, similar layout, similar decorations. It looked exactly the same, making him wonder if he had gone back 10 years, and he felt a sense of déjà vu despite it being his first time visiting the ruins.
'I'll have to look into it properly when I get out.'
Given this, there must surely be records in the Grand Duke's castle as well. It seemed he should start by looking for the records of the furniture that had been sent elsewhere at that time. Of course, that is assuming they made it out safely.
Callion found the bed and laid Erna down. He was even more worried about her limp body. He wanted to return to the Grand Duke's castle immediately, wash her, and let her sleep comfortably in a clean room.
"Wait a moment."
“...”
As if she no longer had the strength to answer, Erna looked at him and closed her eyes. Callion urgently scanned the room. Desk. Chair. Writing instruments. Books on the bookshelf.
Looking at the books on the bookshelf, half were readable, and half were unreadable. Just as he was about to pick up a book that seemed to be related to the ruins...
Pop!
The magical lights attached to the wall went out at the same time.
“Callion!”
As darkness enveloped everything, Erna called his name like a scream. Callion fumbled and approached Erna immediately. Erna's body, burning with fever, burrowed into his arms.
“Oh, the light...”
The darkness can simply be restored by creating light again. Just as Erna was about to draw a magic formula with her hand, Callion grabbed her hand and covered her mouth with his other hand.
As Erna looked up in surprise at his sudden action, she heard Callion's voice from the darkness saying 'Shh!' briefly, as if telling her to be quiet.
What's going on? Erna stopped moving and slowly turned her head.
"Gasp...!"
If Callion hadn't covered her mouth, she would have screamed at the top of her lungs. In the middle of the darkened room, a hazy, ghost-like figure appeared.
It was the first time in her life she had seen a ghost that looked this vivid. The ghost wandered around the room in the darkness. Even though it was a ghost, it didn't feel like the melting sensation she usually imagined.
It was a ghost so vivid that, had it not been for the hazy light, one would have believed a person was simply standing there. He looked to be around forty years old. He was a slender man with a rather handsome appearance.
One would expect a ghost to notice the two of them, but he walked slowly around the room without giving Callion and Erna a single glance. Then, he took something out of the desk drawer and put it in his pocket. Watching this, Callion narrowed his eyes.
At first, even he wondered if it was a ghost. But as he watched, he realized something was different. The scene he was seeing felt less like a ghost and more like peeking into someone's memories.
Callion was engulfed in a strange feeling, as if someone were showing him what had happened in this very spot in the past. The moment he examined the ghost, Callion realized that its face was familiar.
'Who was it?'
As Callion pondered where he had seen that person before, feeling as though he had encountered them a few times at the Grand Duke's castle, the ghost began to move.
He walked out slowly and down the hallway. He wondered if he should just let the ghost disappear, but his instincts whispered that he had to follow it now.
Carillon stood up and walked while holding onto Erna. Fortunately, Erna seemed to hesitate for a moment, then held onto him and walked with him.
The hallway, too, had turned dark with all the light gone. Thanks to this, the ghost's back was seen even more clearly.
It’s not just a slow pace.
The ghost was staggering like a person who was extremely exhausted. Its weary gait, appearing as if it might collapse at any moment, was enough to make one momentarily forget their fear and feel pity for the ghost. The ghost slowly walked down the central staircase.
“Ugh!”
Callion, who was walking behind, stumbled at the end of the stairs and let out a loud cry, but the ghost did not turn around. As if it could not hear.
At that sight, Callion snapped his fingers. But the ghost still did not turn around. As Erna tugged at his clothes as if asking what he was doing, Callion straightened his shoulders, which had been hunched with tension, and spoke.
"They can't hear us."
"...But."
Erna, who had been startled and tried to stop him the moment Callion spoke, cautiously spoke after confirming that the ghost was indeed continuing to move without paying attention to the two of them.
“But that person...”
“Do you know who that person is? The face looks familiar, but I absolutely cannot remember who it is.”
“Don’t you remember? You’ve seen it many times.”
Erna asked back as if to say, "How could you not know?"
"Richard Hessengaard."
As soon as he heard the name Erna mentioned, Callion stopped in his tracks. He remembered where he had seen him. The last portrait hanging in the corridor of the Grand Duke's castle.
The 17th Grand Duke, who took his own life.
Richard Hessengard.
The ghost walking in front of them was clearly him.
The ruins where the two people were located had a structure similar to the Grand Duke of Hessengard's castle.
It felt strangely familiar, and it was only natural, considering the structure was similar and the furniture inside was from Hessengard.
Even to Callion, who was fairly brave, a chill ran down his spine, and his exposed skin became bumpy.
It is an ancient ruin. An architectural structure from an era where much of the records, technology, and magic have been lost, easily exceeding a thousand years of age at the most conservative estimate.
Since this place could not have been modeled after the Grand Duke's Castle, built at most a few hundred years ago, it was clear that the Grand Duke's Castle had been built following this place.
The Grand Duke's Castle was the largest building in Hessengard. If such a place had been built following a specific ruin like this, he would surely have heard an explanation about the origin of its form at least once... but he had never once heard any mention of the ancient ruins.
Callion struggled to turn his stiff neck and looked at the large door beside him. If the structure was the same as the Grand Duke's castle, this was the couple's bedroom.
But there's no way a ruin would need something like that.
'But... it hasn’t been revealed yet what the ruins were built for either.'
Although traces of human presence have been found, such a structure would not have been built for general habitation.
Callion stared at the stone door for a long time before raising his hand. If this place were truly identical to the Grand Duke's castle, there would surely be at least one bed inside. Before Callion could push the door open with force, Erna tugged at his clothes and whispered in a low voice.
"Don't open it."
Callion became even more nervous when Erna, who had been quiet until now, suddenly tried to stop him.
"Why?"
"Look at the decoration over there."
Callion looked at where Erna's finger was pointing.
Decorations were carved into the stone door. A carving in the shape of a lion's head. Callion knew exactly what that was. Something found only on buildings in Hessengard. A decoration used to signal to outsiders whether or not the room's occupant was allowed to enter.
It means that if the lion's head is facing straight forward, it is allowed to enter, but if it is twisted to the side, it is not. And the ornament that the two people were looking at was shattered and turned to the side.
“...I don’t think you should go in.”
“...”
Callion nodded at Erna's terrified whisper. The stone ornament hadn't just broken.
Upon closer inspection, there were sharp gouges here and there on the stone. It was clear that it had been struck roughly with a hard object. Judging by the haphazard nature of the marks, it appeared that the person who struck it had done so with great emotion.
What on earth happened to the owner of this room? More importantly, who on earth is the owner of this place?
Callion recalled when the two of them entered this place.
A passageway with a form remarkably different from what has generally appeared until now. The names of two people are written above the main gate leading into the ruins. And ruins with a structure similar to a Grand Duke's castle. Artifacts from a Grand Duke's castle that were not that old. There were far too many suspicious aspects to this ruin.
Even then, he could feel Erna's body growing hotter as he carried her. Callion walked past the door of the couple's bedroom and looked elsewhere.
"Let's take a short break here."
According to the layout of the Grand Duke's castle, there was a bed in what was supposed to be the maids' room. This place was not much different from the one in the castle. Callion laid Erna, whom he had been carrying, down on the bed and covered her with his cloak.
As if she were coming down with body aches now, Erna let out a groan as her body touched the hard bed. Callion fumbled on the bed with his hand.
'Someone definitely stayed here until a few decades ago.'
There is furniture in this room, and quite a large amount of furniture remains in other places as well. It was not just one person who stayed here. Several people stayed, and they were people connected to the Grand Duke's castle.
'Whoever?'
Callion searched the room. Fortunately, there was a large glass bottle and a glass cup covered in dust.
“Erna, I’m sorry, but can you use magic?”
"Yes..."
When Callion approached, holding a bottle and a cup, Erna understood his intention and drew a magic formula in the air. Then, a mass of water about the size of a human head appeared above the glass bottle and floated around.
Callion washed the dust off the cup and bottle with a portion of the water, then filled it. Soon, the glass bottle was filled with sloshing water, and he poured it into a cup and brought it to Erna.
"Are you okay?"
“My head hurts a little..."
Erna habitually says she is fine. However, if she says she is in pain herself, it means she was really in severe pain.
Water flowed down under Erna's chin. Her feverish hand could not hold the cup properly. Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, Callion held the cup for her, and Erna managed to drink the water without spilling.
Who knew that handing me water when I collapsed from exhaustion after sex would be helpful at a time like this?
After finishing her water, Erna lay weakly on the bed and curled up. Seeing her like that, Callion felt upset for no reason.
'Shall I go check out the next room?'
If it were a grand castle, the adjacent room would have been his. Of course, he does not know who the owner of this ruin is, but in any case, it is an important room located in the center.
'There was a sign saying not to enter the bedroom, but it wasn't the room next door, so I thought it should be fine.'
Besides, to get out of here, he needed to obtain a clue, anything at all. Callion picked up Erna. He wanted to let her rest a little longer, but leaving her behind would cause a huge fuss.
Even in her half-asleep state, Erna hugged his neck. Feeling somehow proud that Erna trusted and relied on him right now, Callion held her even tighter.
Callion went back out into the hallway and pushed the stone door with all his might using his back.
“Ugh!”
Contrary to expectations that it would be difficult to open due to its weight, the stone door opened lightly, as if it had been waiting. Because of this, Callion staggered significantly. Fortunately, he did not fall and looked around the room.
"Just as he expected."
This place, too, looked similar to when he first received a room in the Grand Duke's castle. No, it was almost exactly the same as back then.
Similar furniture, similar layout, similar decorations. It looked exactly the same, making him wonder if he had gone back 10 years, and he felt a sense of déjà vu despite it being his first time visiting the ruins.
'I'll have to look into it properly when I get out.'
Given this, there must surely be records in the Grand Duke's castle as well. It seemed he should start by looking for the records of the furniture that had been sent elsewhere at that time. Of course, that is assuming they made it out safely.
Callion found the bed and laid Erna down. He was even more worried about her limp body. He wanted to return to the Grand Duke's castle immediately, wash her, and let her sleep comfortably in a clean room.
"Wait a moment."
“...”
As if she no longer had the strength to answer, Erna looked at him and closed her eyes. Callion urgently scanned the room. Desk. Chair. Writing instruments. Books on the bookshelf.
Looking at the books on the bookshelf, half were readable, and half were unreadable. Just as he was about to pick up a book that seemed to be related to the ruins...
Pop!
The magical lights attached to the wall went out at the same time.
“Callion!”
As darkness enveloped everything, Erna called his name like a scream. Callion fumbled and approached Erna immediately. Erna's body, burning with fever, burrowed into his arms.
“Oh, the light...”
The darkness can simply be restored by creating light again. Just as Erna was about to draw a magic formula with her hand, Callion grabbed her hand and covered her mouth with his other hand.
As Erna looked up in surprise at his sudden action, she heard Callion's voice from the darkness saying 'Shh!' briefly, as if telling her to be quiet.
What's going on? Erna stopped moving and slowly turned her head.
"Gasp...!"
If Callion hadn't covered her mouth, she would have screamed at the top of her lungs. In the middle of the darkened room, a hazy, ghost-like figure appeared.
It was the first time in her life she had seen a ghost that looked this vivid. The ghost wandered around the room in the darkness. Even though it was a ghost, it didn't feel like the melting sensation she usually imagined.
It was a ghost so vivid that, had it not been for the hazy light, one would have believed a person was simply standing there. He looked to be around forty years old. He was a slender man with a rather handsome appearance.
One would expect a ghost to notice the two of them, but he walked slowly around the room without giving Callion and Erna a single glance. Then, he took something out of the desk drawer and put it in his pocket. Watching this, Callion narrowed his eyes.
At first, even he wondered if it was a ghost. But as he watched, he realized something was different. The scene he was seeing felt less like a ghost and more like peeking into someone's memories.
Callion was engulfed in a strange feeling, as if someone were showing him what had happened in this very spot in the past. The moment he examined the ghost, Callion realized that its face was familiar.
'Who was it?'
As Callion pondered where he had seen that person before, feeling as though he had encountered them a few times at the Grand Duke's castle, the ghost began to move.
He walked out slowly and down the hallway. He wondered if he should just let the ghost disappear, but his instincts whispered that he had to follow it now.
Carillon stood up and walked while holding onto Erna. Fortunately, Erna seemed to hesitate for a moment, then held onto him and walked with him.
The hallway, too, had turned dark with all the light gone. Thanks to this, the ghost's back was seen even more clearly.
It’s not just a slow pace.
The ghost was staggering like a person who was extremely exhausted. Its weary gait, appearing as if it might collapse at any moment, was enough to make one momentarily forget their fear and feel pity for the ghost. The ghost slowly walked down the central staircase.
“Ugh!”
Callion, who was walking behind, stumbled at the end of the stairs and let out a loud cry, but the ghost did not turn around. As if it could not hear.
At that sight, Callion snapped his fingers. But the ghost still did not turn around. As Erna tugged at his clothes as if asking what he was doing, Callion straightened his shoulders, which had been hunched with tension, and spoke.
"They can't hear us."
"...But."
Erna, who had been startled and tried to stop him the moment Callion spoke, cautiously spoke after confirming that the ghost was indeed continuing to move without paying attention to the two of them.
“But that person...”
“Do you know who that person is? The face looks familiar, but I absolutely cannot remember who it is.”
“Don’t you remember? You’ve seen it many times.”
Erna asked back as if to say, "How could you not know?"
"Richard Hessengaard."
As soon as he heard the name Erna mentioned, Callion stopped in his tracks. He remembered where he had seen him. The last portrait hanging in the corridor of the Grand Duke's castle.
The 17th Grand Duke, who took his own life.
Richard Hessengard.
The ghost walking in front of them was clearly him.
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