A Horror Novel’s Supporting Character Wants to Live as a Human

Chapter 309

Chapter 309

[Hello, my respected sleepyhead. It's Yesung's Eibon. Did you sleep well in the meantime?

If you're reading this letter, I hope you'll first understand that I no longer remain in this world.

I hope the Lord of the Extreme Realm will guide you precisely, but I also think it would be better not to trust him too much.]

The first thought that came to him upon seeing the letter was that Eibon seemed to have understood Aphoom-Zhah well.

Well, how long had the two of them traveled together?

He became newly curious about whether Aphoom-Zhah had played pranks on Eibon too.

[I'll get straight to the point and deliver the news Yesung wanted most first.

While wandering the continent, I recorded everything I saw and encountered in the book Yesung entrusted to me. Some of these can be met in other dimensions, and some still remain in Acheron.

I've also briefly described methods for commanding them, but keep in mind that such methods don't always work. I nearly lost one of my feet because of it.]He was sure he had asked her to do it without harming her body.

What exactly had Eibon done?

Looking at the red book, he could see ink had spilled on one side and smudged slightly.

But Eibon's words weren't finished yet.

[About the 'magic' cast on the book. As you said, I couldn't figure out the magic that 'changes reality as written' at all.

However, the Lord said that this book is an existence that crosses between the reality we exist in and the world of consciousness, and that completely understanding it would be impossible.]

His shoulders sagged slightly.

That made sense. Though he had asked Eibon, he hadn't expected her to be able to greatly interfere with Hastur's authority.

Even so, facing these results was inevitably somewhat disappointing.

[So I tried to replicate this book, but it was nearly impossible. The principles of magic contained in the book are so deep and complex that even I couldn't understand them. I couldn't fully comprehend this book even if I devoted my entire life to it. My failed attempts are stuck in the bookshelf next to you, so please take them if they seem valuable, Yesung. It might be a bit dangerous if they fall into others' hands besides Yesung.

Instead, I've put at least some of the secrets I interpreted into the pages of the book. I hope it helps Yesung. I've also prepared other gifts. I don't know if you'll like them though.]

Interpretation. Good. Anyway, since Eibon had solved some parts, that alone seemed like a great harvest.

But what books was she talking about? When he turned his head to look at the bookshelf attached to the desk,

About ten obviously suspicious books were stuck there.

She was telling him to take all of those. Eibon, what had she made?

He stared at the books suspiciously then turned his head back to the letter. Her warm words continued.

[Yesung, how many years has it been since we parted? The time we spent together feels distant. The Lord of the Extreme Realm is beside me, but even so, he can't completely fill your absence. I still remember the moment when you asked me to come with you when we first met. From the moment I met Yesung then, my life completely changed.

You'd be surprised to hear about what I did after coming to the Acheron Empire. Of course, Yesung would be surprised if you knew. There was a reason I joined hands with the Emperor. Please don't be too angry.]

His head suddenly ached again.

He didn't understand how Eibon had become close enough with Yurik to make homunculi for him.

Surely the two of them hadn't made some secret pact saying they would find or rescue him.

He wasn't angry. Of course, partly because Eibon wasn't here even if he wanted to be angry.

[Yesung. I can't remember your face well now. But I do know that you had pretty hair color.

The Lord of the Extreme Realm you introduced me to, my foolish and unique disciples, the fragments of the universe I could glimpse by planting my feet on the ground of this planet. Each one was a privilege for me, and I wanted to tell you thank you for letting me spend such wonderful time. Actually seeing your face and speaking with sincerity. But you're not here now.]

He began to feel guilty.

It wasn't like he had willingly rushed at Shub-Niggurath either.

It was entirely because he was the weakest and most useless. In comparison, Eibon could somehow seal even gods when she was with Aphoom-Zhah.

...No, no matter how much he thought about it, it was just an excuse.

[My other teacher. The one who helped me mix with people rather than magic. Yesung, whom I loved as a human. The Lord of the Extreme Realm made me exist as a mage, but because you were there, I could live as a person.

My life is coming to an end. It's not because I dislike this world. It's not because of my darkened eyes or trembling hands either. I'm just saying farewell to you because the time to go has come.

I've always imagined moments like this. Since I was young, I never felt sad even when thinking about the moment of death. But now I'm sad that I won't see you one last time. Still, I'm going to take this sadness with me as mine alone. Though I disappear and my body returns to earth.

My spirit will swim freely in one corner of this vast universe and listen to the chorus of stars.

Now the stars are calling, Yesung.

Farewell.]

Eibon had begun walking the path of a mage because she could hear the sounds of stars,

And now she would be swimming among the stars as she had wished for all her life.

What remained in this world now were only anecdotes and achievements about her.

But nothing could become the complete Eibon, nor should it.

He carefully folded Eibon's final fragment and trace and pushed it into his inner coat pocket.

He took out the heavy books from the bookshelf and gathered them in his arms, and also took her large staff that had been left leaning against the wall.

After struggling to pack up like that, almost nothing remained in Eibon's house.

Though it had been sparse originally, the house with all traces completely erased was utterly desolate.

He struggled to open the door and was about to go out when he suddenly looked back.

Eibon. Acheron's great Grand Mage.

He couldn't fully grasp all the great achievements she had accomplished as a Grand Mage.

But he would be the only person who remembered her from before she was a Grand Mage.

He bid a belated farewell to his Eibon, not the Grand Mage.

"Farewell, Eibon."

Leaving behind only memories of the sparkling night sky they had looked up at together,

The door of the desolate and cold empty house closed silently.

* * *

Instead of following him into Eibon's house,

Yurik was kicking Aphoom-Zhah's head lightly while looking around the empty street outside.

Turning his head at the sound of him coming out, Yurik approached and helped carry some books.

"Did you bring all of Eibon's books?"

"I didn't steal them. Eibon told me to. They're all mine."

"Looking at the charred covers, they seem rather devious. They must be things Eibon devised alone. Throw them away."

"She made them herself, modeling them after my diary."

"Now that I look at them, they don't seem like they'd harm other humans. They must be heavy, so give me the rest too."

Yurik took away all of Eibon's books.

Wouldn't it be heavy going back like this? He wondered if he should say he'd carry three or four books.

While thinking this, as soon as he opened his red book, something fell to his feet.

What had fallen? When he picked up what was buried in the snow without much thought, a familiar-looking necklace was pulled out.

The chain was ordinary silver.

But what hung from it was black and a bit large for an ordinary ornament... a whistle.

He held it up high and examined it in natural light.

He felt like he had seen something like this somewhere before.

"What's that again? Something Eibon left?"

"The letter did say there was a gift, but I'm not sure."

"If it's her, she wouldn't leave you anything dangerous."

"That's probably true."

Was this the gift? After turning it around and examining it, when he bit the end and blew, a low sound came out.

At the same time as hearing a somewhat inaudible whistle sound,

Something beside him pushed his head lightly.

-Whinny.

"Oh."

It wasn't that his head was pushed to the side.

It wasn't because of the sound of something licking his hair then chewing busily.

He was sure something like this had happened before. But he couldn't remember it well.

When exactly was that? The first regression, no, the second? It could have been the third or fifth.

Yurik stood motionless and dazed, reminding him as his hair was being pulled by the black horse.

"Yesung. If you stay like that, the horse is going to eat all your hair."

"It's not... a horse."

"I know. It's Eibon's gift. It doesn't seem like an ordinary horse."

When he turned his head, ruby-like red eyes were looking at him.

The horse, so black in every strand of its mane that it seemed born from darkness, left not a single footprint despite standing on snow.

A creature that roamed freely through shadows,

And would leap across time and space to come whenever its owner wished.

This was not a life born on their planet.

It was surely a magical beast that had existed somewhere far away, near Hastur's star.

Yet encountering it here at this moment felt so... strange.

When he placed his hand on the horse's nose bridge, a sensation that was neither warmth nor cold was transmitted.

He thought that something had just put on the horse's hide, but the essence underneath was still the same.

"Have we met before? ...We must have. Otherwise, you wouldn't be this docile."

The gentle, kind red eyes blinked as if in agreement.

The horse fumbled and nibbled at his face with just its lips, as if acting cute.

What was this horse's name? Since its eye color resembled Yurik's, should he ask Yurik to name it?

At that moment, the horse pushed its head toward him.

-Whinny.

"Ah, its name is."

"Its name?"

"It says Sleipnir. I don't know what it means, but anyway, it says that's its name."

"You understand that?"

"Of course. I can hear it. Can't you hear it?"

Yurik was one of the people who could communicate with magical beasts, yet he was asking as if it was strange.

But Yurik opened his mouth with an odd expression then closed it again.

What was this, was he being shy? Why was he acting like he couldn't do it?

"...Everyone has their own personality."

"Sleipnir wants me to ride it. It says it'll take me where I want to go without using teleportation magic."

"That?"

Though Yurik cast suspicious glances, he was already climbing onto Sleipnir's back.

Looking down at Yurik from atop the horse's back without saddle or bridle, he realized that Sleipnir was larger than ordinary horses.

But Yurik was looking up at him while holding Eibon's books.

"You're going to ride that right away?"

"Yes. We're going to Aquilonia like this."

How far had Dardin, who had returned to Aquilonia, spread the rumors?

At least since he had returned with the mountain of gifts bestowed by Asgard's King,

It seemed only a matter of time before rumors about a 'powerful mage' circulated in the royal palace.

He extended his hand to Yurik.

"Let's go together. Let's go do some fun things."

Yurik looked at his hand as if he couldn't believe it, but eventually nodded.

Without dreaming of what kind of events this would bring to Aquilonia.

And exactly one hour later,

The tower that housed Aquilonia's political prisoners was completely destroyed by a red-haired 'mage.'