Chapter 59: Coast of the Dead (3)
Kill a god.
Could there be a more absurd, outrageous claim?
I’d faced beings metaphorically called gods.
But Gaiard wasn’t speaking figuratively—he meant a literal god.
“Seriously? Killing a god is the only way out? Why?”
“Because that god guards the gate to the Coast of the Dead.”
It didn’t seem necessary to kill the god.
Couldn’t we just slip through the gate?
“If that’s the case, can’t we sneak past? No need to kill…”
But there was a reason Gaiard insisted on killing the god.
“Do you really think that’s possible? It’s a divine being. It won’t be distracted by your tricks.”
“…….”
Gaiard began explaining Hel, the god of the dead.
“Hel, the ruler of this realm, sits on a throne, overseeing everything. Its unblinking eyes pierce the soul’s essence. So don’t try anything foolish. Didn’t you see the sludges swarming the coast, yet you’re clueless?”
“Sludges? Those black humans?”
The black figures dragging monsters were called sludges.
“Yes. Sludges are worthless souls punished by Hel. Corpses trapped in the black sea, stripped of self for eons.”
“And Hel controls them?”
Gaiard nodded.
“Hel seeks order through perfect control. It tolerates no discord. So it’s using sludges to cleanse us.”
The explanation alone felt stifling.
And it was the opposite of my nature.
“Think about it. Are we part of this place’s order? Our existence, alive here, is disorder.”
“I get the ruler’s nature. Any detours or routes? You talk like you’ve been here before.”
Gaiard knew the environment and its workings well, as if he’d visited.
“As I said, this is a realm for souls. Only the dead come here. What does that mean?”
“Only the dead?”
“Exactly. I’ve experienced death multiple times. My kind is tenacious, but not immortal.”
“I know. You revive.”
“Yes. So I’ve been here.”
Vampires could escape the Coast via revival.
Knowing the method, I wondered if I, a human, could use it.
But that was a luxury.
Even Gaiard couldn’t apply it now.
“But that requires a body in the other world. If it’s here, revival is useless. We haven’t died, so we’re not revival candidates.”
―Boom!!
As we spoke despairingly, the dungeon shook.
“The Hydra’s here.”
We fell silent, unprompted.
―Boom!!!
The ceiling trembled, and stone fragments fell.
Fortunately, the Hydra wasn’t passing directly over.
―Boom!
In the silence, I picked up a fallen stone and flicked it at Gaiard.
―Tick.
Gaiard frowned.
I feigned innocence.
I threw another, and he mouthed:
―Throw one more, and I’ll rip your wrist off.
I shrugged.
…
As things quieted, Gaiard snapped.
“You’re never serious. Even now, you play pranks?”
“Your reactions are fun, Count. The milk’s spilled—what’s worrying gonna do?”
“Madman.”
As we bickered, the tremors weakened.
The Hydra was likely moving to the island’s center.
We resumed our talk.
“You’re not planning to stay here forever, right? Got any solid plans? We have to go through the gate.”
“I don’t want to end my life here. But I’ve never seen a soul escape through the gate.”
“That’s because I wasn’t here.”
I pointed at myself confidently.
“Crazy bastard, what’s your plan…”
“Simple. Instead of rotting here, let’s check it out. Better than being dragged by those creeps, right?”
“You’ve got a point. The Hydra’s keeping sludges at bay, but it’s only a matter of time.”
Gaiard had said sludges were swarming to eliminate living beings.
The overpowered Hydra was slaughtering them, preventing deeper incursion.
“Let’s try it. Where’s the gate?”
“It’s in a massive citadel somewhere in this black sea. I don’t know exactly. This crash-landing is a first.”
“Citadel?”
“Yes. Souls here call it the Citadel.”
“Like a zone for the dead?”
Gaiard nodded at my guess.
“Yes. Souls face reincarnation or punishment in the black sea. The latter’s forced, but not the former. Some settle here. That’s the Citadel.”
“Like a human city?”
“That’s how I saw it. Though they don’t feel hunger or sleep, so it’s different.”
“Wait. Then…”
Gaiard’s mention of a place for the dead stirred a buried memory.
“Could I meet someone long dead at the Citadel?”
“If they haven’t sunk below or reincarnated, maybe. Why? Got someone in mind?”
“…Maybe.”
I thought of the soldiers who died with me.
“Gate or not, I need to visit the Citadel.”
“Your call. But you’re mistaken about something.”
“Hm?”
“I can manage, but how will you cross that vast sea?”
“Build a raft?”
Gaiard clutched his forehead.
“To think I was played by this dimwit.”
“A bit much?”
“That sea is warped. Only specially crafted ships float. A raft would sink. Try it if you’re curious.”
“First time here, didn’t know. I’ll think about it.”
I said, but no solution came to mind.
“Plenty of time anyway.”
I leaned back, arms crossed.
“Not leaving? The Hydra’s gone.”
“What?”
“You seemed to hate breathing the same air as me. I know enough—if you don’t want to stay, go.”
Urging him to leave sparked defiance.
Was he someone who left when told?
“I’ll stay. Nowhere to go.”
“Great. Let’s brainstorm how to get there.”
“Why? I can fly. I’m just reluctant.”
“Cheapskate. Drop me off and come back.”
“Didn’t you hear? I’m not ready for the Citadel. And I’m not carrying your heavy ass.”
Unlike me, ready to leave if I found a way, Gaiard seemed unmotivated.
Perhaps, unlike me, he shied from uncertainty.
“You don’t seem eager to leave. Thought you were hell-bent on revenge.”
The word “revenge” made Gaiard bristle.
“Do you know how much I hate the kingdom?”
“How would I? It was centuries ago. So, why the hatred?”
I was curious.
What fueled such deep-seated resentment?
“Because I was betrayed. By the kingdom.”
“Betrayal’s part of life. These days, not betraying is rarer.”
Trying to lighten the mood, I joked.
Gaiard gave a bitter smile.
“Can you so easily speak of betraying one who saved a nation?”
My attempt to jest faltered.
It felt like the story of someone who’d lived a life like mine.
“Saved a nation?”
“Yes. Despite saving a crumbling kingdom, I got death and eternal exile through sealing.”
“That’s infuriating. I get it.”
I shook my head.
“Want to hear more?”
“Doesn’t sound pleasant for you.”
“Probably. You lot are the culprits.”
“Leave me out. I didn’t do it. Unless the Lafard Family…?”
“No. That obscure house couldn’t harm me.”
“Right, Count. This lowly house got ahead of itself.”
Listening, a question arose.
“But why betray a hero, and someone as strong as you? The cost would’ve been immense.”
I recalled the Emperor’s purge of me and my unit.
They succeeded, but the Empire lost half of Robern’s Knight Order and a division.
It was like waging war against a nation.
Fighting a centuries-old vampire would’ve required massive sacrifice.
Why would a war-torn kingdom take such a risk?
“Because I caught the queen’s eye.”
There was a reason worth the cost.
“You called me crazy, but you’re the maddest.”
I stood.
“What’re you doing?”
“Wait a sec.”
Leaving the dungeon, I returned with jerky and liquor—supplies servants left behind.
“Can’t hear this story sober.”
I set them on the table.
Pouring a glass, I handed it to Gaiard.
“Using my story as a snack?”
“The snack’s here. I’m just being a drinking buddy.”
I filled my glass too.