Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 384

Chapter 384

Those who followed my gaze also discovered it and gasped. The darker the color, the more the water escaped my control. Even trying to hold onto it felt like it was slipping through my fingers. I could feel it changing into a completely different substance. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to hold out for long. And, as expected, the sphere began to fall apart, and black liquid began to drip. From the fallen areas, I could hear the sound of the floor burning.

“Serium! Are you still far?”

At my cry, Serium’s chanting speed increased. The rate at which the black things poured out accelerated. Soon, among the things that had almost all poured out, a grotesque form revealed itself. The reason I called it a lump was because it was impossible to see it as a human form. If I had to describe it, it looked like an anatomical model with all the skin peeled off. The shape was all melting and flowing, but only the bright red glow of its core was clear. Everyone wore a disgusted expression at the gruesome appearance. However, the lump itself, Karian, seemed to be in a very good mood.

“Kuh…kukuku.”

A gloomy laughter flowed out. Every time he staggered forward, black lumps poured out in droves.

“It’s truly unbelievable. To meet a Rune [a being of immense magical power, often associated with deities] here. Fortune must be on my side.”

He seemed completely absorbed in something. His gleaming eyes persistently scanned Sibelius. His gaze, which lingered on the dazzling wings and horns surrounding him, was filled with a thick greed.

“Rune. Rune, is it. I remember. A priest of Rusef [likely a deity or religious figure within the story’s universe] and an agent of the gods. His body is a sacred vessel prepared for the gods. Also, the most perfect hiding place to escape all restrictions, or so they say.”

Karian, who was muttering, opened his mouth wide. His face was seething with joy.

“I’ve found the perfect vessel to enter.”

In the end, it seems he’s going for the worst possible outcome. The most perfect tool has been placed in front of the guy who was looking for a suitable body. There was no way he would miss this opportunity. The thought of Karian entering Sibelius’s body was terrifying just to imagine.

“You crazy bastard. Who said I’d give you my body?”

Sibelius also cursed with a disgusted face. However, Karian only laughed.

“If you were an ordinary unicorn, it would have been difficult. But you are a Rune. Can’t you feel it? I am close to God. No, I am already a god.”

“So?”

“It means I’m qualified.”

“What nonsense…”

The door opens.

A chill ran down my spine at the strange sound coming from his mouth. I intuitively realized that it was some kind of command. I hurriedly turned to Sibelius.

“Sibel, run away! Now!”

“It’s done! Everyone, come here!”

Just in time, Serium shouted. As light began to emanate from the magic circle he had created, everyone quickly jumped into it. But Sibelius, who should have been the most hurried, didn’t move at all.

“Sir Sibel!”

“Sibel? What’s wrong! Sibelius!”

No matter how much I shouted, Sibelius didn’t respond. He had a blank face as if he were possessed by something. Rather, he slowly closed his eyes as if trying to block himself from all the noise. Serium’s complexion, who was holding on and postponing the last incantation, gradually turned pale. At this rate, everything would be ruined.

“Damn it, at least you guys go!”

The moment I shouted, Serium, who was struggling, completed the final spell. As the magic circle activated, everyone disappeared. After staring at the empty space, I turned back to Sibelius. He was still standing like a doll with his eyes closed. Even grabbing and shaking him didn’t work.

“Sibel? Sibel! Wake up! Can’t you hear me?”

“Khehehe, it’s no use. The door is already open. The empty vessel has responded to the god who wants it.”

“……!”

Karian’s voice was full of excitement. He licked his non-existent lips with his long tongue. In other words, the strange command from earlier must have been like a keyword needed for divine possession. I was mortified because I didn’t expect it to open so defenselessly, even unilaterally. Was this what Troel was trying to warn me about? I could see Karian’s soul slowly crawling out of his current body as if shedding its skin. It was pitch black, as black as ink. Long hair drooped down, and a stench began to fill the air. I felt like I was suffocating from the rotten, bloody smell engraved on the soul. At the same time, a black mass rushed in at the speed of light.

“That body is mine now!”

‘No way!’

Before I could make a judgment, my body moved first. I jumped straight in front of Sibelius. Even I thought that I shouldn’t touch ‘that,’ but this wasn’t the time to worry about that. It would be more of a nightmare if Sibelius were to be taken over like this. If he were to obtain a conditionally perfect body, Karian’s soul, which had been unstable because he had been wandering around in bodies that didn’t suit him, would stabilize in an instant. He might even awaken as an evil god immediately. No, more than that, Sibelius’s soul couldn’t possibly be safe if that soul entered. It would disappear at the same time as the taker took control. I had to stop that at all costs.

But then. Just as I felt a presence behind me, a warm presence gently embraced me. Even before I could be flustered by the unexpected sensation, I saw an arm stretching out from the side. The sight of Karian, who had come right in front of me, widening his eyes followed.

Kwaaaang!

When I came to my senses, Karian was sprawled far away. Dumbfounded, I turned around and Sibelius, who met my gaze, smiled. I was slightly shocked by the fact that he was the one who had embraced me. If I wasn’t mistaken, Sibelius had clearly ‘flicked’ his finger right before this happened and blew Karian away with the pressure.

“Sibel…?”

“Yeah, El. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, but… are you okay?”

“I’m as you can see?”

He shrugged his shoulders and smiled again. He looked so fine that I couldn’t even imagine him being like a doll just a moment ago. Is it because the change is so extreme? I should feel relieved to see him safe, but instead my face hardened.

“Oh my, you surprised me. Why are you blocking the way like that? You must have already felt that his power is almost poison now. If you had been hit wrong, you would have been annihilated as it is, not just reverse summoned. You are a spirit who hasn’t been born for long, so you have to be careful. Don’t ever do this again. Got it?”

The way he affectionately urged me was definitely Sibelius, but I felt a strange sense of incongruity somewhere. I slowly moved away from him and created some distance. Surprisingly, Sibelius let me go willingly.

“Why are you so wary of me, El? I’m disappointed.”

“…Is it really Sibelius?”

“Doesn’t it seem like it?”

Without even thinking, I nodded my head right away. Sibelius smiled with a troubled face.

“That’s too much. You’re going to affirm it right away?”

As expected, it’s strange. The Sibelius I know doesn’t speak in such a gentle tone or use ambiguous language. Rather, if someone were to speak like that…

“Kanos?”

At the name I blurted out without realizing it, Sibelius blinked. He had a slightly bewildered expression. I was starting to feel embarrassed, thinking that this was too much of an overthinking, even for me.

“Wow, the son of Elquines is indeed a son. You’re very quick-witted. You can recognize me right away?”

“……”

For a moment, my head didn’t work well. It was as if my brain had hardened, and all the thought circuits in my head had stopped. What did I just do? Ah, right. I looked at Sibelius and called him Kanos. Honestly, it was just a name I blurted out without thinking. The suddenly changed atmosphere seemed a bit similar to him. I swear I didn’t really think it was him. But the answer that came back was, ‘You can recognize me?’ What is that? So, is it really Kanos? So now… Kanos has possessed Sibelius’s body? Is that it?

As I was gaping in disbelief, Sibelius tilted his head playfully. Then, the atmosphere completely changed from before. Whereas Sibelius usually has a slightly shy feeling when he smiles, he now looked languid and somehow dangerous. It was like the feeling of a born ruler. The appearance was very unfamiliar, but it also suited him incredibly well, so I was dumbfounded. I hadn’t felt it well because he was always so gentle, but seeing him like this, Sibelius was indeed royalty.

“That’s a cute expression. Sorry, I want to watch more because it’s fun, but this isn’t the time for that.”

“…What? Ah, no, what?”

“Wait here for a moment.”

The hand that grabbed my shoulder put a heavy force as if giving a warning. When I raised my head in embarrassment, Sibelius, or rather Kanos, had already passed by in an instant. I was dumbfounded, but that feeling didn’t last long. That’s because the direction he was heading was where Karian had crashed. Come to think of it, this really wasn’t the time for this. It’s a situation that I can’t forget even if I try, but I was completely erasing it from my mind. Kanos’s appearance must have been really shocking.

Kanos stopped at one point and stood still for a while. Watching him silently staring down with a blank face made me anxious. What happened to Karian? At the last moment, his soul was almost out, but he was blown away with it before he was completely separated. So, I didn’t know if what was crashed was simply the Emperor’s body or Karian himself. Besides, it was strange that there had been no reaction so far, either way.

I wanted to go and check the situation with my own eyes right away, but I didn’t know if it was okay to ignore Kanos’s instructions to wait, so I couldn’t bring myself to step forward. Then, as if he felt me fidgeting, Kanos chuckled and gestured slightly. It was a signal that I could come. When I ran to him, he pulled my head into his arms with one arm and stroked it wildly.

“I told you to wait, and you really waited? Our El listens so well. You’re so cute I could die. Just be my son instead of Elquines. Huh?”

“Ugh, stop it. It feels weird to say that with Sibel’s face. And is this the time to joke around?”

“I’m serious?”

“So, this isn’t the time to say such things…!”

At that moment, I slowly closed my mouth at the sight that came into view. Black liquid was spread everywhere, as if a water balloon had burst. It was the very place where Karian had flown and crashed a little while ago. I quickly looked around, but there were no other traces besides that.

“…Did he run away?”

“Yeah, that’s right. I was expecting him to rush back, but he recognized me right away. That guy is quick-witted, so it’s really troublesome.”

Unlike his words, Kanos’s expression was calm as he muttered. “No, is it that my presence is that great? I am great, after all.” I just listened to the following self-praise and let it flow out of one ear. I bent down and lightly touched the black liquid with my finger. I felt various components in the unpleasant sensation. It was proteins, water, blood, and so on. I wondered if it was the trace of a human being completely dissolved. It meant that Karian had abandoned the Emperor’s body and ran away.

“Well, I guess it’s okay since I bought some time. Ah, but it’s a pity. This was a golden opportunity to catch him this time.”

“Did he return to his original body?”

“Maybe. Or maybe he went somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else?”

“There will be some more bodies that have been prepared in advance. A human body can’t last long, so he must have made spares.”

“Prepared…?”

At my bewildered question, Kanos smiled and pointed at himself.

“Why do you think Karian’s eyes were so fixated when he saw this guy? Transferring a soul isn’t something you can just do. You have to cast spells and prepare the groundwork beforehand. Even after that, it takes some time to completely take over. You can’t draw out the efficiency as much as your own body.”

“But Sibelius’s body isn’t like that?”

“That’s right, you can take over as soon as you enter. You can draw out your original abilities as they are, and it doesn’t break down easily like a human body. Runes are beings made for that purpose from the beginning. Of course, not just anyone can use it, but only God is permitted.”

The more I listened to the explanation, the more my mood sank. Kanos asked if it was showing on my face.

“Why do you have that face?”

“I think that’s a bit strange. It’s my body, but it was made for someone else to use. Then what about the person’s will? Even if you refuse, will you be helplessly pushed aside if you’re divinely possessed?”

“Ah, were you worried about that?”

“Of course. Just a moment ago… it seemed like it was starting forcibly regardless of Sibelius’s will.”

The situation at that time is still vividly recalled. Sibelius had no intention of accepting Karian into his body at all. He wasn’t just not responding, but he was intensely expressing revulsion. But when Karian recited something like a command, his body froze immediately. It’s too much to think that someone else can take over my body as they please. I’m the one just watching, but Sibelius’s feelings must be indescribable, so I’m feeling complicated. Just imagining that feeling makes my face harden involuntarily. Kanos, who was staring at me, chuckled.

“How did such an innocent soul get born in Elquines?”

“…I’m not in the mood to joke right now.”

“I’m not joking either. Well, don’t be too upset. This case is special. Usually, you can’t take over so easily.”

“Re, really?”

“Of course. If anyone could open the door so easily, this guy would have no time to be himself. Besides, possession is physically exhausting. Originally, containing two souls in one body goes against the order established by the chief god. Even if it’s a Rune, there’s a limit to the time it can withstand. But if God tries to enter all the time, it’s perfect for a short life.”

“Then…”

“For the most part, they go through the process of obtaining the person’s permission. Once negotiations aren’t successful, you can’t enter. Even after you enter, if the original owner refuses, you’ll be chased out again. Of course, there are gods who can possess unilaterally, but there aren’t that many. Rusef, the creator god of unicorns, or the highest gods, perhaps?”

“But Karian…”

The question of whether he seemed to be opening it at once didn’t come out. That’s because I realized the meaning in the middle. In other words, Karian is as powerful as the highest gods. Kanos smiled brightly at my hardened face instantly. It was an expression that said ‘exactly,’ so I had to swallow a long sigh.