Chapter 75

### I was in a good mood:

Malcolm said the building had been acquired, and the equipment would arrive in a week. A couple of days would be spent hiring and processing staff. In ten days, a request for my transfer would be submitted, and in two weeks, I’d be sitting in a shuttle bound for Arpa. We’d already finalized the list.

### Story Segment

I reached Ymir deep in the night. Players bustled around—many newbies killing poor rabbits and stronger players covering their backs. The leveling process here was top-notch. This was the starting zone, and the gates were always open, so life thrived around the clock.

I wore the Cloak of Death, hiding my face. Sprinting through the night city, I glanced at the square. The damned main Temple of Theurus still stood. I had no business here, so I ran where my heart led—home, where my parents were.

The path that once took an hour to run now took me ten minutes. And then I stood… at the house.

But it wasn’t there—just charred ruins. Burned walls, shattered windows, a scorched fence. Nothing remained inside. Everything had perished in the fire. There was my room, my burned bed. The table where Father and I ate Mother’s fish soup. And on the facade, near the foundation, red paint screamed: "Murderer! Death to killers!"

They… no, this can’t be… Someone must have answers.

The blacksmith’s house wasn’t far. Rachel… you’re not here, but your father will tell me everything.

Sneaking in was easy. Telekinesis slid the bolt aside, and under stealth, I entered. I came for answers—and I’d kill for them. The Death Suit cloaked me; all I lacked was a scythe.

"Wake up, blacksmith. Your time has come."

Nothing was sweeter than hearing this scum’s terrified scream.

"Aaaaaah!" The Veil of Darkness wrapped around him as skeletal fingers touched his face.

"Want me to take your wife too?"

"Can you take her instead?" Typical—sacrificing others.

"No. Only together. For your sins, a pit of boiling blood awaits. Get up." I extended a bony hand.

His wife woke, screaming, and fled. The blacksmith trembled.

"Two years ago, you had a daughter—Rachel—and a neighbor, the fisherman. What happened to them?"

Sobbing, the blacksmith told the part of the story I didn’t know.

"The fisherman had a son, Saji. He killed a priest of Theurus and fled. They never found him. By law, parents answer for their children’s crimes. They were arrested—that’s all I know, I swear!" He began praying in bed.

"Where’s your daughter?"

Rage burned in me. I was a hair’s breadth from killing him—but I needed information.

"She vanished around the same time. She was wild—we thought she ran off with that brat."

"Why wasn’t she suspected of killing the priest?"

He hesitated, realizing that if she was guilty, they’d take him instead.

"They found a wooden dagger in the blood by the priest’s body. When they searched the slums, two drifters said Saji had bragged about stealing from the temple. Thieves confirmed they’d seen him there. When the guards came to his house, only Kamelia was there. They showed her the dagger—she said it was his. Armand was fishing. They took her immediately; they caught him later."

He stopped crying. I seethed, barely restraining myself from unleashing fury on him. Father wouldn’t have forgiven me—Rachel was the real culprit.

"Where were they taken? Where are they now?"

Eleven flames ignited in the darkness, revealing my skeletal hands and the void beneath my hood. The blacksmith looked like he’d been tortured with hot iron.

"Aaaaah! I don’t know! They were taken, then fanatics burned their house. The new priest said they were destroyed!"

"Destroyed?"

"Y-yes!" He wept again. "But I don’t believe it. Armand was strong—he broke my arm once in a fight. He went willingly for Kamelia. They couldn’t have killed him."

"Speak!" If there was even a chance…

The flames merged into one, hovering between us. The void under my hood terrified him.

"He’d have killed them if he wanted. They told him Kamelia was taken, that his son would stand trial. That’s why he surrendered. When the priest said the killers were destroyed, I didn’t believe it. Armand could’ve slaughtered them all—but the explanation was vague."

"...You’ll live. But why call your daughter ‘wild’? She was only fifteen!"

He peered into the darkness, assessing my height and voice.

"You… you’re Saji?"

Hmph. He figured it out. Whatever. I lowered my hood, but the Veil of Darkness and gloves remained.

"I am Death. Anji is in Hell for his sins. This is just his shell. Do you know what happens to those who peek under my hood?"

He shook his head violently, as if it might fall off.

"ANSWER ME!"

"She was almost eighteen! She was a drifter—I’m sure of it! We thought she just ran off with some man."

"Where is she now?"

"I don’t know. She was only my daughter by blood. Never called me ‘Father,’ always disappeared into the city."

"I’ll spare you."

He was useless now. The Temple of Theurus and its priest were my new targets. Dawn was near… I’d wait.

Exiting the house, I activated stealth and ran back to the city.

I greeted sunrise at the temple doors. Now, I’d kill anyone in my way. I’d waited two years—a few more hours wouldn’t matter. I must’ve radiated something, because the guards ignored the strange boy standing before the temple. People avoided me; even birds stayed on rooftops, afraid to descend.

The city awoke. Shopkeepers swept their storefronts. Once, I locked eyes with a mother and child—the boy saw me and cried. The mother looked at me, snatched him up, and fled. Death in a black cloak had come to Ymir.

The temple doors opened, and I strode inside. Adjusting my cloak, I heard a woman scream nearby.

The priest reached the altar, expecting worshippers—but only I came.

"Greetings. You must be the new high priest."

"Yes, my son. What brings you here?"

"I knew Nikon, the former high priest. What happened to him?"

"Ah. Two years ago, he was murdered in his cell."

"How? He was strong, blessed by the gods."

"A thief slit his throat at night, stealing the key to the evidence vault."

"Was he caught?"

The priest grimaced.

"No. His parents answered for his sins."

"What did you do to them?" My heart froze—I both craved and dreaded the answer.

"Why not ask why the parents paid? Ah… you’re Saji, aren’t you?" He smirked arrogantly.

I didn’t care if he recognized me. One strike forced him to his knees as I choked him. The priest saw the skeletal hands gripping his throat.

"The gods won’t allow—"

"Your god isn’t here. I’ll kill you before he intervenes."

The void under my hood crushed his psyche. He saw only darkness.

I tightened my grip.

"They—" I loosened slightly. "—escaped, I swear! Your father broke free, picked the lock, and fled. Your mother was to be executed first—she was here!" I lost control, activating enhancement. "STOP!"

"What should I expect? You killed my mother and think I’ll let you go? I’ll devour you, drink your soul, and make it suffer!"

The priest slapped my arm, desperate to speak.

"She said she hadn’t seen you—didn’t believe you’d kill anyone. The congregation demanded blood for Nikon’s death. When they tried to hang her, Armand slaughtered the guards and escaped with her."

"WHERE ARE THEY?!"

"I don’t know!" I released him. Coughing, he continued, "They were seen heading south, toward no-man’s-land. That’s all I know. The gods didn’t aid us in pursuing them."

"If they’ve suffered, I’ll return for your soul—and your god."

I threw him aside and ran from the city. Tears streamed down my face. Everything I loved, cherished—crushed. Father, Mother… I’ll avenge you. Just stay alive.