Hero's Coffin Chapter 93

Chapter 93

However, the answer was completely different from his desperate wish.

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Still a long way to go.

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"What? Why! How come!"

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Your soul was injured because you got hit by a curse while acting up.

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*while meddling.

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Stop cursing while pretending it's a typo.

After getting angry at the first message, he was dumbfounded when the status window corrected him. He looked at the cat with eyes that said he couldn't believe this, but the creature was staring at him even more intently.

They were eyes that looked extremely angry, as if about to bite him right away. Its ears were completely flattened to the sides, making him unconsciously loosen his grip and hold the cat's body more respectfully. If he mishandled a cat with such Mazinger-like ears, his hands would get holes in them.

Though he had reacted reflexively, he felt wronged again. Hey, are you in any position to glare at me? Throwing the player alone into a hard mode dungeon! Though admittedly the NPC had rarely helped directly before either...! Still! Still, after what happened to me!

"I, I just, that..."

His words tangled as all sorts of emotions surged. He had never particularly looked for the NPC before, so why was he like this now? Perhaps because the NPC was like proof that this was inside a game, he felt sad as he regained his sense of reality looking at the cat. Because only En knew he was the only outsider.

Or maybe he had become too immersed in this game. Though it was just a game, he had started pouring his emotions into it, and it felt ridiculous and unfair that he was running away startled by just one look.

Terrible game, f*cking terrible game.

"When will you give me freedom..."

Speaking in an almost crying tone, he slumped down on his knees. If it was a game, it should at least show quest progress, but it was frustratingly sad how it only gave vague guidance. The UI was crude, the status window was shoddy. Making it like this just made him keep forgetting it was a game.

Was the freedom promised for completing the quest certain? That freedom should be logging out. He didn't want the uninhabited island ending, the holy city stoning ending, or the imperial princess's palace imprisonment ending. Just let him get out of this game completely.

-...Myaa.

The cat's soft paw touched his head. Pat pat. The action continued hesitantly as if trying to comfort him.

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Congratulations on figuring out how to subjugate souls on your own.

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(Con)Skill Unlocked(grats)

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What kind of game gives status windows like this? Is it a banner? Though dumbfounded, he couldn't help but let out a dry laugh. He had always been weak to black cats after all.

"S-Saiph!"

"Are you not feeling well? Can you walk?"

Just then, Serena and Jade approached in panic. They seemed very startled as he had suddenly grabbed the cat, started muttering to himself, and then collapsed. Worried it might be an aftereffect of his collapse yesterday, he shook his head and stood up.

"No, my legs just gave out for a moment."

"Of course sealing dangerous power must use up a lot of energy...!"

While habitually letting Serena's fiction slide, he started walking again. He urged them to hurry, saying they shouldn't spend too much time outside.

Following the two, he quietly questioned En. He naturally held the cat in his arms, preventing it from escaping.

"Hey, En. I did get cursed by the demon, but that disappeared somehow. Still, was my soul badly injured? Enough to delay the curse resolution significantly?"

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Since your body is close to trash, the impact was severe.

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Even after patting him comfortingly, its words were still harsh. He looked down at the cat dully. Was it like how scars remain even after wounds heal? Besides, it's not like he wanted to enter this paper trash-like body, so why scold him?

Moreover, knowing how shoddy it was yet still connecting his soul with the hero's and making them share pain. Though he felt wronged, he had no time to argue. Because the cat's eyes gradually lost strength and started blinking. It looked quite tired.

Perhaps it had gotten exhausted avoiding the mad scientist imperial princess outside. Since Beatrice had kept looking around asking where his familiar was since joining the mercenary group, maybe that really was the reason.

After walking for a few minutes carrying the sleeping creature in his arms, he saw a uniquely shaped wooden sign.

[Lara Workshop]

The three-story wooden building was extraordinary from its exterior. Each floor looked different as if separate spaces, the window shapes were unusual, and even the various decorations hanging on the walls glowed mysteriously, drawing admiration. Was this what a witch's house imagined from fairy tales would feel like?

As his companions entered the building familiarly, he quickly followed. Ding- the bell sound wrapped sweetly around his ears. Somehow it felt like entering a completely new space, yet also gave him a sense of déjà vu as if stepping into a very familiar place.

Was this too one of the workshop's tricks? As soon as the door opened, a completely different scene from outside unfolded, and the scent filling the space was unique. Items were displayed abundantly not just on the walls but in every space where one could step.

"Welcomeee."

A staff member wearing a black pointed hat greeted them at the counter. The staff member with long hair tied in two braids reaching down to their legs had apparently been busy organizing items, but responded to Serena's shout.

"Susu!"

"Woww, it's Serenaa!"

Serena seemed to be a regular here. The two exchanged greetings and caught up for a while, then belatedly Serena let out an "Ah!" exclamation and asked.

"Right, Susu. You told me about Isolatedies before, remember? That was definitely true, right?!"

"Isola-what?"

"...Isolatedies."

"Ah, did I tell such a story?"

This proved that the Isola-whatever legend Serena had presented was fiction. Well, though he had expected it, her frozen expression as if a rock had hit her head was a bit pitiful. He reluctantly added a comment.

"They said it was a legend about God's spear."

"Aah, I think I might remembeer? The workshop owner told me..."

"That's right. I told you. My friend was looking for it quite intensely."

Just then, someone popped out from behind the counter. Her short hair, a mysterious mix of pink and sky blue like a sunset seen from the sea, particularly caught his eye. Her round eyes were also light pink, making them look like flower petals.

Just her appearance gave an extraordinary impression that was strangely similar to the workshop's first impression. And as if proving his intuition right, the staff member Susu exclaimed.

"Ah, Workshop Ownerr!"

The workshop owner, wearing a cape of brilliant colors on her shoulders, curled up the corners of her mouth in a smile. The smile that creased her eyes mischievously and created a dimple on one side particularly suited her. An impression overflowing with composure and playfulness.

Beside him, Jade murmured in admiration.

"Wow, it's my first time seeing Lara directly. I heard she rarely comes out of her research lab."

"...The workshop owner's name is Lara?"

The staff member was named Susu, and the workshop owner was Lara? Perhaps the condition for hiring staff at this workshop was their names. While having this frivolous thought, the workshop owner spoke.

"A treasure hidden on the sky island, the spear that was God's first ray of light, that's what they needed. My friend knows many interesting legends."

"...An archaeologist?"

"No, far from it. Just information gathered while wandering here and there! Since they're always roaming around."

With even the workshop owner appearing, the expectation stock that had risen with 'maybe?' instantly crashed to the lower limit. Whether or not major shareholder Serena was sad about the delisting news, he completely lost interest in the legend. After all, his purpose for coming here wasn't to verify legends but to obtain magical tools.

Click click, the workshop owner approached. Her low-heeled loafers hitting the wooden floor rang like a sweet melody.

"My, what a cute cat."

The workshop owner showed interest in En in his arms. From his position knowing the creature's identity, he couldn't completely agree, but he did concur with the black cat's cuteness. His feelings were split half and half, you could say. When he nodded, the workshop owner's smile deepened.

Chararing– As the sound of her dangling earrings shaking rang out, her face came close enough for their noses to almost touch. First the imperial princess, now the workshop owner, why was everyone he met recently like this? As he tried to hide his startled look, she said with interest.

"This is my first customer with eye color similar to mine."

Though he had worn his hood deep to cover them, they would be visible at this close distance. Moreover, the workshop owner had deliberately approached from below as if climbing up, fully exposing his eyes. As Jade and Serena exclaimed "Saiph's eyes are pink?" beside him in wonder, he hurriedly stepped back.