Chapter 73
After parting ways with Alfie, I returned to my room around the afternoon, but before I knew it, it was already evening.
I spent the time lost in thought, rereading the books I had borrowed from the library on the Leviathan, simulating every possible scenario and preparing for each one. There was so little information available that I couldn’t make detailed preparations, but I knew one thing for sure.
The only way I could survive was to run away.
After all, my goal wasn’t to fight; it was to retrieve the mermaid’s horn. The horn, being submerged underwater, would be retrieved using the air bubble magic I had learned in the deep-sea monster class.
If I managed to retrieve it safely, the Leviathan would appear… but the Leviathan was just a byproduct of the horn. There was no need to fight it. The real problem was that escaping wouldn’t be easy.
The most feasible plan I had at the moment was to transform into a pigeon right before Leviathan charged at me and fly toward its blind spot, aiming for the back of its head. The easiest method would be teleportation, but considering my failure with Hicks during the previous incident, I had a feeling this time wouldn’t be much different.
“It’s too much of a close call…”
I had been splashing my face with cold water absentmindedly when I heard a knock. But it wasn’t at the door. It was coming from the window. I pulled back the curtains, and a huge eagle came into view.
‘…Hmm?’
I quickly shut the curtains again.
“Hey!”
The eagle started knocking frantically at the window. It wasn’t just any eagle, of course. It was Ventus, looking as anxious as a puppy that needed to go potty. Unlike usual, he wasn’t angry or playful, but rather agitated, pacing around the room for a while.
I was the first one to speak up.
“I’m a bit tired, so could you leave for now…?”
“Are you going to the sea tomorrow?”
Ventus unexpectedly asked. How did he know?
“Well, that’s true, but that’s my personal business…”
“Don’t go.”
Ventus said, with an unusually serious expression. What was that? Could he have heard about my plans and come rushing here out of concern for me…? I didn’t think he was that type, but could the eagle have developed feelings for me? What a strange thought. However, it wasn’t like I could back out of this now just because he told me not to go.
As ridiculous as it was, I felt a bit smug, and was about to reply in a haughty tone when Ventus cut me off.
“If you go, Keisha will die.”
Ventus spoke with a tone that seemed resigned. I was stunned for a moment, but after a short pause, I began to piece things together.
The eagle somehow knew that I might die tomorrow from the Leviathan. If I died, Keisha’s body would die as well. He must have come to stop me for that reason. As expected, my deductive skills…
“I don’t know how you found out, but you’re worried I might die, huh? Don’t worry, I’ve made preparations. I won’t die that easily.”
With a confident tone, I spoke to Ventus, but he responded in a calm, subdued voice.
“No. It’s not you who will die… it’s Keisha’s soul.”
“What?”
I turned my face away, shocked, as Ventus covered his eyes with his hand and continued.
“By the command of the Monarch… I awakened Keisha’s soul, which was asleep inside the Leviathan.”
“Inside the Leviathan…? What do you mean by that?”
‘The beast I’m going to meet tomorrow? Her soul is inside it…?’
I couldn’t immediately grasp what Ventus was saying. How could that even be possible?
Ventus hesitated for a moment, then continued.
“It’s exactly as I said. Keisha’s soul, after leaving her body, fell asleep inside the Leviathan.”
“How could her soul end up inside such a creature…?”
“I don’t know why. The Monarch didn’t explain that part. The only possibility I can think of is that there’s someone who could control the Leviathan… someone who has been able to do that for a long time…”
Ventus trailed off.
“…I can’t say more. It’s an internal matter amongst the elves. What matters now is that Keisha’s soul is in pain inside the Leviathan. I awoke her myself, so I know for sure. By now, she must be…”
He pressed his forehead, visibly tormented.
‘What the hell is this? Why would they…? Why would they do that to Keisha’s soul, someone of their own kind?’
“Why? Why would they do that?”
“…It’s just a guess, but I think the Monarch wants to help you. When Keisha’s soul, through the Leviathan’s eyes, sees you — no, sees her own body — it will momentarily drive her into a frenzy… and the Leviathan will retreat back into the sea, even if just for a little while.”
Ventus clenched his eyes shut, clearly in pain. Then, in a strained voice, he begged me not to go to the sea tomorrow, saying he was telling me all this at the risk of committing treason.
It didn’t add up.
First, how did the Monarch even know the details of my side quest?
Second, why would he try to help?
There was no reason for him to go that far, especially not at the cost of sacrificing a soul from his own kind. It didn’t make sense.
“Is there no way to save Keisha’s soul?”
In response to my question, Ventus shook his head.
“There’s practically no way… The only possibility is for Keisha’s soul to overpower Leviathan’s from within and take control of the body… but that’s just absurd. The opponent is an ancient beast. A soul like that is deep and heavy.”
Then what would happen to Kiesha’s soul if I didn’t go to the sea tomorrow?
“Then what happens to Keisha’s soul?”
When I asked, Ventus averted his gaze.
“She’ll be gradually crushed under Leviathan’s soul and slowly lose her sense of self. That’s why you mustn’t go to the sea until I find a way…”
‘So basically, she’s going to die slowly anyway. Damn it.’
With that, Ventus flew off, unusually dispirited.
After sending him off, I agonized over it all night, but I couldn’t come to a clear decision. Still, there was one thing I was sure of.
I couldn’t just let Keisha’s soul perish like this.
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