"It's never about who you'll be,
That part we'll never know.
Don't try to be what they want to see,
You are the theatre,
You are the show."
I. (2 Days Left Before The Culling)
I placed the letter in my inventory so that I would never lose it. I felt so bad about all of it that the despair blessing even gave me enough experience points to level up three more times. But, like I said, I have no time to mourn. Right now, I need to do everything in my capability to capture King and to raise my rank. The other details can come later.
Actually, I have already thought of a way to catch up in the ranking system. It is something that sparked on my mind when I read Mystica's letter. But, for that to actually happen, I need to plan carefully with Sei.
"Subconscious."
"Yes master, what is it?" Sei spoke as soon as I activated the skill, knowing that I only use this skill to communicate with her. Either in public or when I'm running out of time. Right now, both things apply because I am walking towards Ptah's Inn and I don't have enough time to waste in raising my rank.
"Is there any way for me to increase the number of the fertility worms?" The fertility worm I resurrected is the reason why I was able to go on with my plan of having a garden and multiple farms. It helped cultivate the soil into a state that almost feels unreal. As soon as a plant is placed on the ground where it crawled, the plant absorbs the nutrients until enough is gathered to mature overnight.
"Answer."
"There is a way master. However, it is very inhumane."
"You used the word inhumane. Does that mean the method is something connected to defiling a human person?"
"Yes master. A hidden reason why fertility worms got extinct is because humankind has also chosen to eradicate them. This is because fertility worms feed on human flesh and, the more flesh they eat, the more they multiply."
"How long does it take for them the new ones to be born?"
"Two hours after the main host has started consuming human flesh."
"Okay Sei, that's all thank you."
"With pleasure master."
I will soon leave this town and everyone in it. But I don't want it to be a farewell of bad memories. This is the town where I started, the town I learned other methods of entertainment and, the town I found love.
While thinking about all these things, I have already reached Ptah's Inn. As soon as I went inside, and entered the trap door, I found King's men looking sickly. That's to be expected. They have, after all, spent a whole night with mutilated human corpses which have already started having a stomach twisting stench.
"Please let us go."
"We'll change our ways we promise."
"We'll do anything you want."
They pleaded one by one as I approached. But I have no compassion left for people like this. I will be cruel; I need to be, if I want to win against King.
"Shut up." I said as I tore off one ear. The rest of the men screamed in fear while the one who got his ear removed screamed in agony.
"I'm going to ask questions and you people will give me answers. That's all I need to hear. Your answers. No more. No less." Before continuing, I placed the fertility worm inside the corpse so that it can begin multiplying.
"First question." I snapped a finger from one of them.
"AHHHH!" I punched the man in the face as he screamed. Then grabbed him by the hair.
"I told you to shut up didn't I? Now be a good toy and shut the fuck up!" I said as I punched him again.
"Let me repeat. Where is King?"
"I-I don't know." Said the man who stopped screaming.
"W-we all don't" Said another.
"That's not good. You need to try harder guys." I held one of their feet examining the nails. I grabbed on to it and then, removed it one by one.
"AAAAAAAH!" The man screamed and started squirming, making his chair fall down. I stood back for some momentum and then made a quick dash, kicking him in the stomach and making him puke.
"Again. Where is King?"
"H-he left a day before you c-came." Said one of them who is yet to be tortured.
"Finally some answers." I said.
"He left. Where was he heading?"
"I-I don't know."
"I see." I made my way to his direction but then he made another remark.
"B-BUT! This is e-everything that he s-said b-before he l-left." I stopped and stood in front of him.
"I'm listening."
King's words:
"Boys I'm leaving town now. That guy juts died on me so I'm bored; dead toys are no fun. Plus, that woman still said '"Jean's alive, he'll come to save me.'" Even though I was kind enough to tell her that he's already dead. She going looney and her hole is too wide now. Fucking her is just not pleasurable anymore. You guys can have her. Mess her up as much as you want. Just dispose of her properly when you're done okay?"
I froze in place for a while. They have no idea that I'm the dead man they are talking about. They also have no idea how much anger I'm feeling at the moment.
"T-that's all I k-know I swear!" He said desperately.
"I know." Was my short response as I took the sword I used yesterday. It still has blood all over it but I like it that way.
"I'll release you now." I said.
"R-really? T-thank you si –" I sliced through his head in one swift swing.
"There, you're now released from this world." I said. There are sure to be various towns outside Ent. Without the skill analyze, King would wander aimlessly around the thick forest. But knowing him, he must have a way to navigate through it with ease. I need eyes to look for him, mine alone is not enough.
"P-please don't kill us!"
"Hey' I'm trying to think here." I said as I pointed my sword at another man's chest. Wait… I can use these guys.
"Inventory"
"Master what are you doing?" Sei said.
"I'm solving both my problems at once."
"How?" I smiled at Sei's question.
"I'm going to kill them." I said as I began slashing through them one by one, their voices mixed together as a multitude of screams.
"How?" Sei asked again with confusion in her voice. I'm glad that I can even make Athena's Blessing wonder how my brain works.
"Just watch. How many points do I need to reach level 3 in Necromancy?"
"Master are you planning to resurrect all of them?"
"Ding. Ding." I said but Sei didn't respond for a while.
"My master is finally turning into a normal Necromancer. I'm so proud."
"Hey what's that supposed to mean?" I asked irritated.
"I'll answer your first question master, but I'll leave the latter for you to guess."
"Resurrect one of them and you'll reach level 2. The level up will give you the ability to resurrect two more. After that, just invest all your bonus points on Necromancy and we'll be finished."
"Let's get things going then, shall we." I said.
"Rise."
One of them turned into a black haze at first. Then, the haze shaped itself to a person. I kinda expected something more skeletal but this also works. The undead's real body lay on the floor. The skill gave him a new form so I don't have to worry about people smelling a corpse when I bring him along.
"I'll need a ton of cloaks for you guys." I said as I looked at it.
*System Notice: Necromancy has leveled up. You may now summon more undead to follow you.*
"Gladly." I said.
"Rise." Two more corpses turned undead.
"System. Use all bonus points on Necromancy."
*System Notice: Points are now being allocated to Necromancy.*
*System Notice: Necromancy has leveled up. You may now share your skills with your followers.*
"This is a surprise." I said.
"Sei what does this mean?"
"Answer."
"The undead units you summon may also use your skills when you command them to. However, they cannot use advanced skills such as I and Necromancy because their level is too low."
That's good. I just need to learn a skill or two for stealth and power and my units will become beefy ass hell. But that's not what I need right now. I need to finish creating my squad of the undead.
"Rise."
II.
After resurrecting the last batch, I used my undead termites to demolish the whole building. I realized that burning it would cause a lot of unnecessary commotion. Plus, the people may end up killing the fire. With the termites, they can eat off all the wood in the building until it falls to the ground on its own.
I went on my way, leaving my termites to finish their work. In two hours, my worms will finish eating through flesh. In two hours, that building will also fall. I need to match this pace.
I went outside of town and started collecting the Harui seeds and various ornamental and fruit bearing trees. I plucked out some flat grass and also took flower pollens, stems, and leaves. There are various ways to grow a plant, it's not just the seeds which can be used like in those cliché shows.
"Master the sun is about to set, we should head back now." Sei informed me.
"Right, I just finished counting all the materials I took. Thank you Sei."
Inside town, there is a crowd piled up on the demolished Ptah's Inn. They didn't find any flesh because my worms have eaten up every joint, muscle, fat, and veins on those bodies. All they found are unrecognizable skeletons.
"That's one thing off my mind." I said as I made my way to Sina's Inn.
"Dear Residents of Sina,
Jean and I will be going on a long journey. We will leave our home in your care. We trust all of you like our own family, so please do your best in managing it. As a farewell gift, we will create something grand tomorrow before the sun rises. Go tell every person in town about this. Tell them to wake up early and go outside of their houses. After that happens, please change the name of this town to something better than Ent. Thank you for everything and we will always love you."
This is the content of the message I forged. I managed to copy Mystica's handwriting and delivered this letter in the guise of a messenger.
"Tell those lovebirds that we wish for their good health."
"Yeah, they don't have to worry about the Inn, we promise to make it better."
The residents all had something to say for both me and Mystica. I held back my tears as I heard all their heartfelt words.
"Mystica, you are really loved by these people." I told myself.
After this, I waited for night to come completely and started my mission.
"Rise."
III. (Third Person PoV – A Day Before The Culling)
Before the sun went up, the people got woken up by a knock on their doors. There is a banging sound on every doorstep which didn't halt until they got out of bed. There is a different reaction for every townlfolk.
"Hey what's with all that commotion?"
"Is there an earthquake?"
"Whu-adsh-zu?"
*SNOOORE*
Though they all had different responses to the sound, they all had the same thing going on in their minds:
"Isn't there supposed to be an event today?" They all thought.
The haze still had an effect on them but, as if Jean's prayers were answered, they have at least remembered this much. So they waited outside their homes, not remebering more than this but still, waited patiently for something to occur.
The ground made a rumbling sound, it moved as if it is a living being and everybody panicked for a while. That is, until the trees started sprouting from the ground. One by one, beautiful trees came out of the ground. Then, they smelled the same aroma that could only be found at Sina's Inn, that dreamy and relaxing fragrance.
Below them, grass started sprouting from the ground one by one, until almost all of the ground is covered by flat grass. Then the flowers soon came. The colors and the types of which varied but strangely, they compliment each other. It was as if, the placement of the flowers was planned carefully by someone.
Next came the plants, those that bore fruits and vegetables. Each had a couple of them growing in their yard. Nobody moved from where they stood. It's a wonder how they even remembered to breathe with what they saw. Forgetting the concept of time, they were all there; silently watching in bewilderment. Then, the ground rumbled even more.
A gigantic tree started appearing in front of the plaza. People got worried that their houses may get destroyed but it didn't. All their houses are still in tact when the tree halted in its growth. The vines of the tree then started tangling itself on every house, creating flower buds along the way.
Then, as if all of this was perfectly planned out, the sun started rising. It's orange morning glow painted the whole town. As its rays struck the flowers, they started blooming one by one, causing the people to be amazed all the more.
IV.
Soon after, people associated what happened to a single person. Even when their memories reset every day, their hearts still felt the amazement that came from that one single morning. They remembered one person and soon taught of how "Ent" is now an improper name for their town. They joined the residents of Sina's Inn in their petition to change the town's name.
V.
Months passed and people from around the continent started visiting this town. Following the giant tree that they could see in a distance. When the people of the town see these travelers, they would welcome them all with the same warmth of that Inkeeper who always had a warm smile on her face.
"Welcome to Mystica."