Gail was continuing his way when suddenly he heard a voice. The system was activated in front of him:
[System Reactivated]
[You killed one of your kind!]
[Keep going]
Beneath the Ancient Oak
Gail, continuing on his path with a glimmer of hope, was once again shocked by an unexpected message. He shouted in frustration, his voice echoing through the silent forest:
"What the hell! This damned system! You were out of order all this time, and now you activate with this message that I killed one of my kind? What kind of nightmare is this? What sin am I paying for?"
Overwhelmed with distress, Gail fell to his knees. For a moment, he imagined that he had been a terrible person in his previous world and was now suffering for it in this one. Lost in these dark thoughts, he suddenly remembered that Enki had mentioned the system was down due to an attack by the Serpent Race. Maybe the system was malfunctioning. Desperate, he tried to communicate with the system but received no response. Determined to find answers, he decided to turn back towards the oak tree, where he had killed the wolf-like monster.
As he retraced his steps, Gail's mind was a storm of emotions. He was nervous and upset, torn between checking the corpse and continuing his quest. He recalled the urgent warnings from both the system and Enki, who had urged him to return to the tribal chief immediately. However, the guilt of possibly killing one of his kind gnawed at him, compelling him to go back.
The forest was eerily quiet as Gail made his way back to the oak tree. Doubt plagued his thoughts. Had he indeed fought a monster, or was he hallucinating again, like the time he had reached the temple through the thick fog? Yet, he was certain he had killed a wolf-like creature.
After what felt like an eternity, Gail finally reached the oak tree. He searched around, and then his heart stopped at the sight before him. There was no sign of the monster's body. Instead, a human lay on the ground, his chest split open and his side wounded, exactly where Gail had struck the monster to kill it.
Gail collapsed to the ground in despair, thinking he had gone mad. In total hopelessness, he tried one more time to communicate with the system. Using his stored mana, he pleaded with a trembling voice, "Hey system, I want to use my mana to get an answer. Please respond. Am I insane? How did I not realize I was fighting one of my kind instead of a monster?"
The system responded:
[One mana consumed.]
[The system is preparing your answer.]
Then, with a voice eerily similar to Enki's hologram in the temple, it answered:
"You are not insane. He was an Earthborn, like you. The system was trying to guide him to the temple, but he got lost in the forest. His punishment was to become a wolf-like monster."
[Response time expired]
Gail didn't know whether to feel relief or sorrow. Every day and every minute in this land were full of tormenting surprises. Caught in a logical dilemma, he couldn't decide if he had killed one of his kind or someone who had become a monster. Was there a way to cure the wolf-like creature, or was it doomed? The system's punishment seemed unbearably cruel, but then he remembered his conversations with Enki's hologram and his last dream of Enki. He realized that the system's punishments were likely the result of the Serpent Race's sabotage. Accepting this bitter truth, there was nothing he could do for now.
Gail picked up his sword, its blade glinting dully in the fading light. With a deep sigh, he turned the weapon around and began to dig with the hilt. Each stroke was a painful reminder of his confusion and guilt. The soil was tough and unyielding, resisting his efforts as if it, too, mourned the life lost. Sweat dripped from his brow, mingling with the dirt on his face, but he pressed on, driven by a sense of duty and a desire for redemption.
He worked tirelessly, his muscles aching and his hands blistering, until he had dug a grave large enough to accommodate the body. The process felt like an eternity, each moment stretching out as he pondered the tragic fate of the other Earthborn. The forest around him seemed to hold its breath, the usual sounds of wildlife muted in solemn respect for the task he was undertaking.
Finally, the grave was complete. Gail stood up, wiping his brow with the back of his hand, and took a moment to steady his breathing. He looked down at the lifeless form before him, a fellow Earthborn who had failed his mission and died by Gail's hand. A deep sadness washed over him as he realized the harsh reality of their shared existence in this unforgiving world.
With reverence, Gail approached the body. He knelt, placing his hands gently under the fallen man's shoulders and legs, and lifted him with care. The weight was significant, but it was more than just the physical burden that pressed down on Gail; it was the weight of his actions and the haunting question of what might have been.
He placed the body gently in the grave he had dug near the ancient oak tree, its roots spreading out like silent witnesses to the burial. Gail paused, his hands lingering for a moment on the cold, lifeless form, as if hoping to offer some final comfort or solace. He then began to cover the body with soil, each handful feeling like a token of respect for the life that had been lost.
As he worked, he silently wished for peace for the fallen. "May you find rest," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "May your soul find the peace that eluded you in this life."
Exhausted, Gail finally rose to his feet. He stood by the freshly filled grave for a moment, his head bowed in silent prayer. The past week's challenges had drained him physically and emotionally, leaving him feeling hollow and weary. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the forest and creating long, dark shadows that seemed to reach out and envelop him.
He longed to return to his own time and his city, Neo Eden, where the familiar sights and sounds offered a semblance of normalcy. Yet, the oppression of the city's rulers was also unacceptable to him. The thought of returning to a place where freedom was stifled by authoritarian control filled him with a sense of dread. According to Enki, the city was likely controlled by the secret group Illumination, a shadowy organization pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
Gail knew that his journey was far from over. There were still mysteries to unravel, injustices to confront, and battles to fight. With a heavy heart but a renewed sense of purpose, he sheathed his sword and continued on his path. The forest around him seemed to come alive once more as if acknowledging his resolve. The road ahead was uncertain and fraught with danger, but Gail was determined to face whatever challenges lay in wait.
As the first stars began to twinkle in the twilight sky, Gail felt a faint glimmer of hope. He had buried the past, but his mission was not yet complete. The future awaited, and with it, the promise of answers and the possibility of redemption.
As Gail continued on his path, the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Suddenly, a sound came from behind the trees. Gail instinctively reached for his magic sword, prepared to face another possible threat. The sound grew closer until a human-like shadow emerged from the darkness, calling out his name.
A middle-aged man, breathless and urgent, shouted, "Gail! Where are you? We need your help. The tribe is in chaos!"
Gail, now entangled in another crisis, quickly responded, "Who are you? What happened?"
The man replied, "I am Edward, one of the chief's trusted men. Since you left the tribe, things have not gone well. A war has broken out between the followers of Gamesh and the followers of the chief and you. The chief has been killed. The tribe is in complete chaos. We need your help."
Stunned and bewildered, Gail didn't know what to say. Suddenly, the system appeared before him:
[Quest to return to the tribal chief failed]
[Your punishment: Misery]