Volume 1 - CH 47

I am Percelis.

The Green Shrine Maiden of the Holy Nation.

“This brother, to think that you can enter this place? What a surprise~”

“……”

The man is walking down the stone steps leading towards the underground garden.

He is a blonde man in a sharp military uniform.

He stops on the floor where the myths of this land are depicted in murals.

I stand next to him, staring at his face.

He is [1] beautiful to look at but his eyes are somewhat hollow. [1] Like, like, he is not sure what he is looking at?

“Have you come to look at the murals?”

The section of the mural that he has stopped in front of depicts the final chapter of the myth.

“The Battle with the Giants.”

The man mutters this [1] to himself, looking very conflicted. I, too, take a closer look at the mural he is staring at.

“…”

A gigantic black creature with wings extended was depicted in mid-flight.

The world below it is in chaos with tall towers [1] and burning flying ships. It is a scene of the gods fighting against flying giant monsters.

After looking at it for a little longer, the man continued down the stairs once again.

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The darkness ends and suddenly, we are surrounded by fresh sweet air.

This is a sacred place. My favourite location in the whole world, the ‘Tomb of Truth’.

The man walks to the base of the tree in the centre, carelessly stepping on the moss.

I also walk forward, the water splitting itself away from my feet.

The man stops before the several water caskets inside the tomb that is the heart of this sanctuary and looks down.

“…”

He is looking at the casket of a little boy that I like to cuddle close to.

“Elder brother, you know this child?”

“…”

“He was here even before I became the Green Shrine Maiden. I wonder how he died…”

“…”

“The truth is, I know nothing about this child, and yet, I somehow feel like I know him. Did you know him when he was alive?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Oh, he replied for the first time.

However, his expression at that time is… I’m not sure how to explain it. I find myself at a loss for words.

I wonder why…

Sadness trickles through me again.

“Apologies, I am the reason that this child is here.”

“…?”

After dropping this shocking news, the man turns his back to the centre of the Sanctuary and makes to leave this place.

[1] Even as I stand there, looking at him, he never looks back.

However, him saying that he had known this child made me feel a sense of intimacy with him.

“What’s your name? I’m Percelis.”

“…”

It is the only thing I could think of to say. I asked for his name but he did not reply.

Just like that, he left this place.

“… what just happened?”

I tilt my head a little, [1] thinking for a bit. Then, I crouch next to the boy’s casket and look at his face again.

“… Hey, who are you?”

Who is that man?

Who are you?

I reach to touch the child that has been submerged underwater all this while, but my hand ends up blocked by the glass lid of the casket, unable to reach him…

[Gumihou: …at this point, I’m not sure who is creepier.]

[1] Added some details