Chapter 69 – Preparation and Review
(Seker, Seker, Seker…)
Before going to sleep, Menew wrapped himself in a blanket and chanted Seker’s name.
His consciousness was pulled away, and when he opened his eyes, he was in that space…the field of reeds.
As always, the gentleman was sitting on a sofa and drinking tea. Seker waved towards him.
“Hello, Mr. Menew. It seems like you are continuing to live a civilized life.”
“Thanks to you. I live very healthily now.”
That had been the first promise that he made with Seker. The other was that he should not tell anyone that he was reincarnated.
Menew sat down on the sofa and told Seker that he had a lot of questions. And since there was little time, he went straight to the point.
“What is this Book of the Dead? Is there something that I am supposed to do?”
“…”
Seker smiled.
Then he sighed at Menew’s serious expression. It was clear that Menew was desperate to know.
“As you know, I am the god of the underworld and of art.”
“Yes. And you allowed me to be reincarnated, because I raised your popularity.”
And gave him status and skills as well. But what if that was not merely from the kindness of his heart?
“When explaining that, I did tell you. That I wanted you to be fine, even if you were attacked. Or if the Demon King appeared.”
Menew was puzzled.
Seker had said that. But surely it was just an example, and not something that was likely to happen.
“You don’t mean…”
“Twenty-three years before you were reincarnated, I secretly made your body in that other world. And I took my time, slowly making you grow. That is your body. But it takes time for the soul to move. The soul arrives in this field, after going back through the time that it lived.”
In other words, Menew was a test tube baby, and twenty-three years or more had passed since his death.
“Twenty three years ago, when I opened a hole to drop your information into the current world, an evil god that was imprisoned in the underworld also escaped. …I had lowered my guard too much.”
“So then…”
“That evil god has enough power to drag you back to your old world. When we gods appear in the world, limitations are placed on our abilities. Because each world has its own rules, and the flesh understands that. ….The evil god took your body’s information, and created an appropriate body.”
Seker paused here and took a sip of his tea.
Menew tried to organize his thoughts.
A god that was imprisoned in the underworld was now in the other world, with Menew’s body.
And there was nothing Seker or the others could do about it.
Menew felt like he was going to faint.
“…The evil god’s name is Apep. Born before there was order. The god of chaos. He acts based on his instinct to destroy order. And while he was once sealed in the underworld with the Book of the Dead, he is now working in the human world. In a place where we gods cannot reach. Because…”
After hearing that much, they were out of time. Menew felt himself being pulled away.
“Listen, Mr. Menew. You must come again. And I will tell you everything.”
“Yes. …I definitely will.”
Menew said as he fell into the dark hole.
When he awoke, Menew stretched his limbs under a sky that was still glowing with the color of sunrise.
The morning air was chilly. His breath was white.
Kanon moved towards his feet.
There was a small flash of light, and then a semi-transparent, large Kanon was sitting next to him. He looked a little sad.
“Brother, so you did not know anything. I am sorry.”
“It’s something I would learn eventually. And it’s not like I was told to do anything. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Still, you are thinking about something. Aren’t you?”
“Yes… Even though I didn’t know, I have some responsibility. I intend to hear more, and help if I can.”
Kanon pressed his nose against Menew, and then turned into the usual, smaller Kanon.
“So that will be on hold until I speak with Seker again. …Well, where should we go now!”
Since it was on hold, he switched gears.
And as he thought about their next destination, Mr. Wal came out of a fancy wooden box.
“Master. The next town is a little far away. If you don’t mind, I want you to take back my old home first.”
The low voice came from the mouth of a stuffed dragon.
Well, he had promised Waldung that he would do it. And it was the perfect time.
He was grateful for the suggestion, as they had not even been able to acquire any maps.
“I see. So it is close to where we are?”
“We can reach it if we walk for one day. Between the borders. The unexplored Vara forest. That is where I lived.”
It was unexplored by humans. Was it really a good idea to casually enter such a place?
He would have to consult Totto and Ralph first. Menew decided as he stretched again.
The rays of sunlight shone in the distance. It was a new morning.
Thanks for the chapter!