Chapter 7 - My Own
When I opened my eyes, I was in a bed with hard cushions.
Compared to the cave floor, it was as soft as a feather.
I felt like I had slept for a very long time.
My head was fuzzy, and my thoughts weren't coming together.
What was I doing?
I had to escape from here.
From the cave.
But where was the cave?
"Cave... Ah."
In an instant, everything came to mind.
The enemy's surprise attack.
Father's death.
The family's destruction.
Kidnapping.
All the events that unfolded in the poison cave afterward.
And up until the very last moment.
"Ugh..."
To be honest, I don't remember the very last moment clearly because I was unconscious then.
But it vaguely comes back to me.
I was powerless.
But everyone within me gave their all to protect me.
My brother, my sister, and even Tiber.
Everyone's memories remained inside me.
Up until the moment everyone left my body.
That's how I knew.
If they had wanted to, they could have pushed the Poison King out and taken over my body instead.
They all had many things they wanted to do and desired.
But no one did.
No one.
Instead, they all left my body together.
Thanks to that, I was able to remain the master of this body.
"Ah..."
I clutched my head with both hands.
It's empty.
Only traces remain.
The traces everyone left behind are there as if they were real.
But in reality, I am alone.
Tears flowed.
I kept crying and crying.
What should I do with this?
My precious people who have already died and disappeared?
What on earth should I do?
What do I have to do to repay all that has been done to us?
Who on earth do I need to catch and tear apart to relieve this suffering?
Will it really resolve anything?
I don't know.
But there's no choice but to try.
"Young Master Ray!"
Suddenly, people from outside burst through the door.
"You're awake! Rest assured! It's safe here!"
"Don't worry. You're safe. No one will harm you. We are agents of the Sword King family's Inspectorate."
"Oh... Don't cry, Young Master Ray. You're making me cry too..."
"Here! Send someone! Young Master Ray has woken up after ten days!"
"Healers first!"
"You can rest assured now. The terrible ordeal is over. This is the Sword King family's Inspectorate branch in Crest. We will protect you no matter what happens..."
Why were these people so kind to me?
The answer was simple: I was the sole survivor of that horrific incident.
I should have died, but I survived.
That was by no means a good thing.
My mind had already reached its conclusion, but their understanding was just beginning.
Some would be happy, some would be sad.
And some might even hate me.
The place I woke up in after ten days was the administrative city of Crest.
It's the second largest city in the north, located about a two-day journey southwest of Granvelle village and approximately four days from the border.
"Exactly two weeks ago, Granvelle village and the mansion were utterly destroyed by an enemy surprise attack."
As the commotion from the people subsided, one of the Inspectorate agents explained what had happened.
First, the Sword King family's headquarters reportedly became aware of the incident a day after it occurred.
The reason for the slight delay in awareness was that Granvelle village was literally wiped out.
They said news spread late because there were no survivors.
The Sword King family then received intelligence that the retreating enemy was taking prisoners near the border, and dispatched a pursuit team and a rescue team to try and contain the situation.
What followed was a continuous series of battles.
Those who broke through the ambush and crossed the border continued to push the frontline upwards, enduring sacrifices.
About seven days after the incident, the first search party discovered the infamous poison cave.
It was said that the internal state of the cave at that time was so horrific it was impossible to look at with open eyes.
It was so terrible that no one expected any survivors...
"But Young Master Ray was alive at that time."
The agent who was present at the scene was so overcome with emotion that he even shed tears.
"It truly must be heaven's protection. The entire country is in turmoil due to this incident, and the public is anxious. At least Young Master's survival allowed us to breathe a sigh of relief. It was the worst-case scenario, but at least there was some positive outcome. Everyone was praying for Young Master to wake up safely."
That's right.
All these events ultimately culminated in my story.
The sole survivor of a tragic situation.
The last hope of the fallen Granvelle family.
But some of them might think this way:
Why Ray Granvelle, of all people?
If someone was going to survive, wouldn't it have been better for the eldest son, Rajiks Granvelle, or the second daughter, Lily Granvelle?
Both are brilliant students attending the academy with excellent grades.
And who is Ray Granvelle in the first place?
Ah, the shame of the Sword King family who can't even use Aura?
Later.
I couldn't help but fall into a state of highly probable delusion.
Meanwhile, a new healer entered the room and examined my body, giving me warnings.
"Young Master Ray, you must remain calm for now."
"Is something wrong with my body?"
"Your physical body is relatively fine. However, mental issues require a long-term perspective. It would be best to avoid stimulating things for a while, rest quietly, and observe your progress."
"Yes. Understood."
But surprisingly, my mind was quite sound.
Because I no longer heard auditory hallucinations or saw illusions, like in the poison cave.
Suddenly, the events that happened there felt like a dream from the distant past.
It's funny to think of the distant past when you're only fourteen years old.
But at this age, I've already experienced a nightmare that will never fade.
Nightmares, literally dream-like, unrealistic events.
There were many things difficult to explain in words, but in the end, the fact that the people I loved had died remained unchanged.
All of them, by the hands of the Poison King family.
Just how large a group is the Poison King family?
Suddenly, a vague feeling occurred to me.
Even though they were our main enemy, with whom we had fought for hundreds of years, I actually didn't know much about them.
I need to know to be able to fight.
I need to know to be able to kill them.
Even if it means hitting an egg against a rock, it doesn't matter.
I'm already in a position where I have no choice but to do it.
I can't learn without doing it.
I can't live without doing it.
Then, suddenly, an illusion appeared before my eyes.
"Ugh..."
"Hmm, are you alright, Young Master? Is there anything bothering you?"
"No. I just thought of that moment for a bit. I want to rest alone for a while..."
"Oh, of course. You must be tired, so I will leave you. Please rest comfortably."
The healer hastily left the room.
Only then was I able to look directly at the illusions floating before my eyes.
That was the future I wanted to see.
A future where he throws himself into death for revenge.
A future where he loses his human form and becomes a monster, tearing and killing all his enemies.
A future where he eventually succeeds in his revenge, but in the process, he abandons his human path and becomes everyone's enemy.
Countless futures flickered before my eyes in hazy shapes.
Nothing was clear; just fragmentary images and scenes passing by in turns.
Is this really the future?
Or is it just a possibility?
Of course, even if it's a possibility, it doesn't matter.
The problem is that it's not clear, just like the futures I saw in the poison cave, everything is blurry.
The exact process is unknown.
What on earth do I have to do to become like that?
What process does a 14-year-old kid who can only use a sword and can't handle Aura have to go through to reach such an unbelievable future?
I don't know.
A vague vision only offers clues at best.
Even that is only a part of the clue, not a complete one.
What needs to be done right now.
It was to enroll in the academy, first and foremost.
***
"This isn't it..."
Poison King Kainens frowned at the sight of his new body.
The new body was fundamentally excellent.
It possessed outstanding musculature and stably contained a high level of potent poison.
A well-trained, highly skilled talent for poison arts.
But the current Poison King could not be satisfied with that.
"Poison King, are you not pleased with the body that has been prepared?"
The hunched old man asked, bowing deeply.
The Poison King sighed as he wrapped himself in the cloak the old man handed him.
"No. It just means it's inferior compared to the first body."
"Of course. No body could ever compare to your original physical form, Lord Kainens."
"No, not that."
The Poison King glared at the old man.
"This is the second resurrection. Surely you wouldn't claim ignorance."
"What do you mean, my lord..."
The old man blinked his wrinkled eyes and gaped blankly.
"Are you saying you were resurrected from another poison cave before?"
"Yes. I was resurrected. Though I was forcibly ejected again."
"That cannot be..."
The old man looked around with a bewildered expression.
"To think this wasn't the first place... If so, it seems the first poison cave, where we lost contact, was the initial one."
"Number 1?"
"There were three prepared poison caves. This is poison cave number 3."
"I see. It was a body like the heavens."
The Poison King closed his eyes with a wistful expression.
"At first, that child's Heavenly Meridian was open. The path I had to take unfolded before my eyes. It was a truly beautiful sight... I can still see it clearly."
"Heavenly Meridian? Are you saying it's connected to the sky?"
"That's right. Only for a short while. But more importantly, you were called Vice-Cult Leader, weren't you?"
The Poison King frowned as he approached the old man.
The old man smiled and bowed his head.
"Yes. That is correct."
"Why are you the Vice-Cult Leader and not the Head of the family? Are you not a member of the Poison King family?"
"There's a reason for that."
The old man bowed his head and continued.
"The Poison King family has forgotten your teachings over the past 250 years and has succumbed to worldly affairs. To rectify this, I created a religious order that acts according to your will as the First Poison King. That is the current Poison King Cult."
"Poison King Cult. Does that mean a religion that worships me as a god?"
"Yes. You are the one and only true King."
The old man gazed at the boy before him with profound eyes.
"Do you remember the prophecy you left before you transformed into Life-Death Poison?"
"Prophecy?"
"Didn't you tell everyone around you that you would one day be resurrected to overthrow the Sword Kings? And the prophecy has now become reality..."
"That was just idle talk."
Kainens responded with a scoff.
"There was no way for me to be resurrected. I merely threw myself into the world with the sole intention of polluting the leylines. I had no certainty about the future whatsoever."
"I-Is that so?"
"Therefore, you are even greater than I am. Indeed, it was you who resurrected me."
"How dare someone like me..."
"What is your name?"
"I abandoned my name long ago. I would be grateful if you would simply call me Vice-Cult Leader, as I am now."
"Is that so?"
The Poison King nodded with a slight smile.
"Anyway, good. I truly didn't know there was a way to resurrect me. A remarkable descendant has been born among us. Which family are you from? Dakar? Shinri?"
"I am humbled, Poison King. I am not from a distinguished family worthy of being named."
"Is that so? Hmm... In any case, it seems the Poison King family has been split in two. Since I've been resurrected anyway, it doesn't really matter... Hmm? What is this?"
The Poison King frowned as he looked at the old man's forehead.
"It feels familiar. Very familiar."
"Why, Your Majesty?"
"Vice-Cult Leader. I can feel the Heavenly Meridian in your body."