SHC64_ARCHIVE_Chapter 64: Invitation to the Abyss

 

 

C64

Chapter 64: Invitation to the Abyss

 

The season gradually shifted from late autumn into winter.

The trees, once dressed in fiery reds and brilliant yellows, had shed their leaves and quietly fallen into slumber, waiting for spring’s return.

I couldn't get out of bed the morning we learned the Kihou Empire's northern region had its first snow. My nose was stuffed, and I was sniffling miserably.

“…It’s a cold, isn’t it?”

“I’b fide… kehf!”

Yeah, no. I wasn’t fine.

I’d had a vague feeling that something was off for a while.

It had been a few days since I finished crafting the Sisi no Hoshihana (“Sisi’s Starflower”), and in that time, I had managed to get in touch with Lord Igor and the younger prince, and through Maria, I had formally requested an audience with Her Highness.

And wouldn’t you know it—today was the day of that audience.

Today, I lay flat on my back, experiencing chills, a pounding head, aching joints, and a rising fever.

When I called for Rottenmeier-san, she took one look at my face and immediately knew something was wrong.

She summoned Dr. Romanov, who in turn called over Lara. After some checking and poking around…

“Yup. Classic cold,” Lara confirmed.

“You’re going to have to skip the audience today,” she added flatly.

“But… cough… I have to…”

“We’ll go on your behalf,” Romanov said firmly. “Vicha and I can act as your representatives. Our status should be more than sufficient for the role.”

“Yeah, yeah. If you’ve got two Imperial-certified heroes, that should cover it,” Lara added casually.

… Excuse me?

My mouth fell open in shock. Apparently, they noticed.

“Huh? You didn’t know?” Lara tilted her head.

“Ah… now that you mention it, I suppose I never actually told him,” Romanov mused.

“Wait, seriously? The Three Elven Heroes of the Empire are famous!” Vicha chimed in.

“Yeah, well,” Romanov shrugged, “our little butterfly here has absolutely no interest in those kinds of stories. He’s much more into embroidery patterns than heroic tales.”

“Ahhh, so that’s why when I told him my name, he just looked at me like I’d suggested exercise was too much trouble.”

“Exactly,” said the expression on Vicha’s face.

I mean… what was I supposed to say? “Wow, cool, you killed a dragon?”

I’ve never even seen a dragon.

Okay—maybe the scales. Genzo once said dragon scales made great gauntlets and sword decorations. Elise said you could crush them into sparkling beads with magic. They’re super expensive.

“Dr-gon scales… snf… s-such good mat’riels…”

“Even with a stuffy nose, his passion for crafting doesn’t waver!”

“Forget slaying dragons—he’s more interested in how to repurpose them!”

“To him, the real hero is someone who can turn a dragon into raw materials,” Romanov sighed.

Let’s face it: with my nonexistent athletic ability, I’d last about two seconds in any dragon battle.

Even imagining it feels like watching my own game over.

I sighed. The breath that left me was hot.

“More importantly than dragons, we need to deal with this cold,” Lara said, resting a hand on her hip. “I’m technically responsible for your health, so I’ll stay and look after you. Let these two handle the audience.”

She left the room to retrieve an ice pack from Rottenmeier-san.

As Romanov and Vicha followed her out, I managed to call out, “Thank you… please take care of everything.”

They both smiled warmly.

That alone eased my mind, and I sank back into the bed.

But then—a chill crept into the room.

Not the normal kind of winter cold, but something deeper… colder.

My fingers started to go numb.

The sun hadn’t gone behind a cloud, yet the room somehow felt dimmer.

“…Forgive me.”

“No, I… sniff… It’s my fault for staying up la—achoo!—late…”

From the darkest corner of the room—one that remained in shadow even with the sun’s rays—something shimmered faintly, and a figure emerged.

Hair so dark it seemed black, yet with a tint of blood-red under the light, like moonlit silk.

Eyes like gemstones, flickering between sapphire, ruby, and silver.

He wore a stately military uniform adorned with three aiguillettes that trailed from his epaulets.

His tall, slender frame was draped in a long cape embroidered with butterfly-wing patterns that almost brushed the floor.

I hoped Utsunomiya-san wouldn’t be too upset if it got dusty.

“Let me lower your fever a little.”

“Th-thank you… sniff… but if it drops too fast, it might seem suspicious…”

“Hmm… humans are such complicated creatures.”

His sharp eyes narrowed, giving the impression of a man hard to please—but not angry.

I was beginning to understand that much, at least.

His fingers brushed my throat, and the soreness and congestion eased slightly.

“Still… your perception of me is rather unstable.”

“Well, that’s because, depending on who plays the role, even the same character can look completely different.”

“Acting… such a profound art.”

“Isn’t it, though?”

He let out a soft chuckle, like he was trying not to laugh.

It was… a scam. No one that beautiful had the right to smirk like that.

I gave him a long, flat look.

That night, I first noticed the out-of-season firefly.

Just as I had settled into bed, the moonlight dimmed—and he appeared.

Before I could even make a sound, his form shimmered into being.

He was a man of breathtaking beauty.

I recognized him immediately.

The Yomi no Teiou—the Emperor of the Underworld.

A tormented soul who loved the Empress wearing the Sisi no Hoshihana, plagued by the wound of “love” that should not exist in a being like him.

“The… To—mph!”

“That is not my name. Do not speak it.”

He pressed a cool hand to my mouth, and I froze.

But listen—I’m weak to good-looking people.

As I stared, his hair shifted from crimson-black to silver, his eyes cycling through red, gold, and silver-blue, always with those slitted irises.

“Hmm… still unstable. What image do you associate with Death?”

“Death…?”

“Yes. The end that visits all life. That is what I govern.”

No no no—this isn’t some grand philosophical truth.

The character of Death, the ruler of the underworld, was just a role from a musical that had seared itself into my memory.

And because it was a role, it changed based on the actor playing it. That’s the whole magic of theater.

“So for you, the face of Death… is that of those beautiful actors?”

“Well… um… My eyes are very grateful, thank you.”

“What a peculiar child you are.”

His voice felt both near and impossibly far.

He seemed to be both present in the room and a world apart.

“Death is like that. Distant, yet always close.”

“I see… Say, can I ask something? Are you a god?”

“Sharp of you. Yes—humans have called me that.”

So… this was the Hyourin Princess, wasn’t it?

When I asked, he seemed amused and gave a simple nod.

“Why did you think that?”

“You said you govern Death. But, well… there’s still something that bothers me.”

“Even after I confirmed it?”

“It’s just… You’re clearly a male deity, but your title includes Princess. That doesn’t add up.”

“Ah, that. It’s a long story—but if you’re willing to listen, I shall explain.”

Hyourin-sama gave a faint, cynical smile, and I couldn’t help but be entranced by the beauty of it. Please forgive this infatuated fool.

As Hyourin-sama sat at the edge of my bed, they elegantly began to speak.

They explained that, just as the moon changes its shape each night, Hyourin-sama does not have a fixed form. Instead, the image of "death" that a person holds within them is projected and takes shape.

Therefore, in truth, Hyourin-sama is neither male nor female.

However, it is commonly known as a female, because whenever Hyourin-sama manifests before a human, it is usually at the moment of that person’s death.

"Mm? Why is that?"

‘When I appear, most humans die. But occasionally, there are those who see me without dying. Where do you think that happens?’

"Where, you mean? Not why?"

‘Where, yes. To give you a hint, it’s a place where men die more often than women.’

"A place where more men than women die..."

What’s that supposed to mean?

I can’t think of any place where men overwhelmingly die more than women.

Plagues and disasters don’t discriminate based on the gender of the victims, so it’s hard to say whether one group is more affected than the other.

The only way I could say it’s definitely men who die more is if humans themselves are adjusting things.

Religious sacrifices... well, based on the vibe of the god I’m talking to, I don’t think that’s it.

As I pondered, it occurred to me that a man-made event that could cause the deaths of many people might be what I’m looking for.

"War...?"

‘Ah, so you’ve arrived at it.’

"In war, soldiers—men—die in far greater numbers than women and children."

‘Exactly. The battlefield is a place where the presence of "death" is particularly strong. In such places, there are rare instances where someone sees me without dying. And when a soldier dies on the battlefield, in their final moments, they often wish to return to their loved ones left behind. That wish is projected onto me, and I take the form of the soldier’s wife, lover, or mother. Occasionally, a soldier who wasn’t supposed to die shares this vision, and as a result, they come to believe I am a woman.’

"So, the image of "death" is essentially the desire for someone to come for you, to see the people you want to meet one last time."

‘Correct. But it seems you are different.’

That’s because I love The Garden of Violets, and I adore the musical based on it.

Hyourin-sama’s appearance here piqued their curiosity when they overheard me discussing the musical, which tells the story of the personification of "death" and the King of the Underworld falling in love with a human woman.

So, over the past few days, I found myself singing and explaining it to Hyourin-sama, performing the entire musical on my own, as best I could recall.

By the time I realized it, several days had passed, and it was already the witching hour.

Of course, I changed the performance every day. Since Hyourin-sama seemed so interested in theater, I thought this might be the perfect opportunity for them to fall deeper into the world of drama.

And the result? I caught a cold!

What a fool I am.

_____________

EUN: Third god! y'all....Ageha's harem is growing stronger than ever 😂 /j I'd really love to see the faces of his yucky parents if they know how three legendary level elves and literal gods always seems to visit him. 

AGEHA AND HYOURIN-SAMA

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