“Alright, can you guys give me any more information about what is going on here?” I asked, moving on from our previous conversation.
The Guild Master and Ruby glanced at each other and then at me.
“We were hoping you knew what happened,” Ruby admitted. “It started shortly after your death was announced. A request came out to suppress and control the dungeon. Since you no longer were there to control it, it needed to be contained like the other dungeons. We were just getting a team of Priests and Adventurers together when a massive barrier came over the city and miasma started seeping out from the entrance.”
“It reminded me of Chalm from back then. We were expecting some kind of dungeon flood, but the miasma just kept getting thicker and thicker, and then things started getting foggy.” The Guild Master continued. “I lost my sense of time... and it wasn’t until not too long ago that I regained my mind with you.”
“So, you can’t remember anything while you were under the influence of the dungeon?” I asked.
The two shook their heads. That was unfortunate, but perhaps it was also a blessing. It meant that the citizens here wouldn’t experience any particular trauma. I had been worrying there would be some long-lasting damage. However, I had carefully observed Ruby and the Guild Master, and they both seemed fine. They weren’t even starved or dehydrated.
“What do you think we should do next?” Ruby asked. “Are you going to move on the dungeon?”
I shut my eyes for a moment and rubbed my forehead. “That had been my original plan, but I’m not so certain anymore. I don’t know what Elaya and Xin were planning, and I don’t know how they’ll react to me. It seems like going after the dungeon’s miasma provoked them. Since that is the case, I’m inclined to provoke them a little more and see what happens.
“Master, you should be careful. Don’t forget what happened to Astria.” Alysia warned.n(-OvelBIn
“Don’t worry. I won’t be going after them.” I declared. “At least, not for now.”
“You won’t?” The Guild Master asked. “Then what do you plan to do?”
“They turned Chalm into one giant miasma generator,” I explained. “I believe that the shield containing miasma is only part of it. The people are another part. They had somehow managed to carry out a widespread soul attack, infecting your bodies with a karmic infection. Karmic infections are slightly different from miasma. It’s the difference between the soul and mana. You can damage or fortify the soul with mana, but the soul and mana are fundamentally two different things.
“Basically, with a karmic infection, a small piece of your soul has become karmic, or become miasma-based, and it manages to hijack and take over your entire mind, forcing you to fulfill a role designated by the karma’s original owner, if that makes sense. I cannot remove it from anyone’s soul. I believe that Miki can do this, and I’ve sent someone to get her, but in the meantime, I can’t get rid of the karmic infection.”
Ruby frowned. “Wait, but you got rid of our infections!”
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do that,” I admitted helplessly. “However, I have a job called Mimic, and an ability called Karmic Control, which allows me to alter Karma. Simply put, I altered the Karmic infection in your bodies, severing your link to the dungeon, and attaching it to me. Then, I programmed your karma to have you act normally.”
“Wh-what are you saying?” The Guild Master asked.
“Ahh... what’s the best way to show this... um... raise your hand.”
The Guild Master’s hand shot up. He frowned at me, but then as he looked at his hand, he let out a shout. Yet, he still kept it raised.
“You can stop now.” I shrugged, allowing him to lower his hand with a flush. “In short, if I will it, I have direct control of your souls.”
