Within this crowded hospital—Seoul District Five Awakener Medicine—Lucian's eyes carefully and thoroughly wandered; he's sitting at one of the waiting areas filled with different kinds of people donning a variety of expressions such as sorrow and strangely, subtle joy.
If there's one thing noticeable apart from these human emotions that either depicted one's compassion, gratitude, or greed, it's that everywhere his eyes landed, wandering souls were here and there, all aimless and confused.
With the exception of those looking dejected even after death, some hovering souls in white enigma seemed to desire something malicious, a revenge of sorts. After all, even in the world of awakeners, things such as inheritance and insurance were still and would always remain a part of the society's economic structure.
— 'That's how much I would receive? How about his Awakener Assets?'
Awakener Assets—anything financial and material related to being an awakener such as magical equipment and skill books owned by the awakener himself, whether the said individual in question was still alive or now deceased.
Lucian glanced at this particular woman in her early thirties talking on the phone, her expression showed nothing but a face filled with anticipation, with her lips in a constant arc. Meanwhile, a man in his late thirties was standing beside this woman, looking down at her with solemn eyes.
But only he could see the other.
The woman's words continued to reach Lucian's ears; such murmurs seemed to penetrate the heart of the soul, who, by the reaction, was the husband.
— 'No, no. We don't have a child. Ah, okay. I will request for my late husband's death certificate then I'll send it over.'
After some time, the phone call ended.
Lucian continued to observe the woman's reaction, as well as the man's. Just a few seconds after the call with presumably an agent of an insurance agency for awakeners, the husband whose presence couldn't be felt or seen let out a tranquil smile.
Perking up his ears, Lucian listened to the whisper that came out of this soul's mouth amidst the surrounding cacophonous sounds, an affirmation of his concern of untimely leaving the woman alone so early after he perished in this very hospital due to a peculiar, left untreated curse.
"Honey... Use my assets to have a better life."
However, what followed were soul-crushing words that escaped the woman's lips, with a mocking smirk.
— 'I should call my baby... Ugh, I miss him already.'
That's troublesome.
It was Lucian's abrupt conclusion, hearing the romantic tone that subtly hinted that this baby person was anyone other than this deceased awakener.
The chilling wind blew past Lucian's skin. Even without confirming it, the expression of this very soul perhaps had already distorted—malice has been born.
Lucian stood up from his seat, stretched his arms wide, involuntarily yawned for a second or two, and then proceeded to the windy rooftop of the hospital bathed with the morning glow, which fortunately, was available for public use.
Traversing these floors, he received several gazes from the wandering souls. It was as though they subconsciously sensed his uniqueness as an awakener, which even prompted some others to follow him.
***
Unlike the moonlit evening of the Black Rose Guild Rowan's father's demise, the spacious rooftop was currently filled with a few people—both civilians and workers in this very hospital alike.
Some were puffing out smoke on this slightly foggy morning. Some were crouching, hugging their knees on the corner. Some were perhaps contemplating how they could pay their medical bills. Whatever reason they were here, Lucian surmised that it was to generally relieve their succumbing stress.
Finding a seat in one of the corners, Lucian reached out to the void, calmly retrieving something from his dimensional storage—thankfully, every awakener was granted the privilege to possess one.
"Oh, oh! Mister's an Awakener!"
"B-But what's that? A-a flute?!"
"Is he going to play?"
Surprisingly, whether they possessed human bodies as fleeting shells or now were lost souls, children of various ages retained their innocent curiosity before the challenging and harsh reality of the world dawned on them.
Lucian raised the wooden flute on his mouth, and with his fingers moving to the tone holes, before blowing the head joint. A serene, lasting sound echoed, even garnering the attention of living humans in the area, albeit momentarily.
Woo... Woo...
As a gamer locked in his bedroom for a long time, Lucian was also self-taught regarding a variety of skills, whether practical or for his mere leisure.
He had nothing to do, after all.
After a while, the souls gathered, and color returned to their complexion.
Some adults eventually arrived, now standing in front of him, scrutinizing his expression of music and the wafting melodic sounds coming out of the refined flute; it was not some sort of composed music with definite lyrics, only comforting and harmonious melodies.
In this deafening silence, Lucian thought.
Doing the daily quest by escorting one soul a day would leave these other lost souls hanging.
I want them to find rest, all at the same time.
He was not aware of how much time had passed, and as if the [ Cosmic Fall System ] felt his desire, a message of consideration timely arrived.
[ Ding! ]
[ Your heart echoed, your soul reached the boundless reaches of eternity. ]
[ The heavens could not be found, yet you declared a sanctuary for the lost. ]
[ May your comfort reverberate to the unseen world. ]
[ Ding! ]
[ You have unlocked a Hidden Quest. ]
[ Hidden Quest ]
Quest Title: [ The Comforter of Souls ]
Description: [ Your genuine desire paved the way for the lost to find rest. Guide them to your unrefined heaven on earth. Be like a shepherd who would sacrifice everything for his sheep. ]
Objective: [ Fulfill the ultimate desire of and guide every wandering soul in this hospital to eternal rest. Understanding your role would bring you various benefits. ]
Completion Rewards: [ Abolition of the Daily Quest; Passive Daily Death Points (DPs); Death Wheel; Massive Skills Upgrade; Massive amount of Unallocated Stats; and Unique Stat. ]
Failure Penalty: [ None ]
Duration: [ 30 days ]
System Reminder:
[ Throughout the duration of the Hidden Quest, the daily quest will be temporarily halted. And by completing this special quest born from your desire, every trace about the Main Quest will be revealed at once. ]
***
Lucian swallowed at the unexpected yet welcoming variable.
Just as he pondered on what to do next, something... Or someone burst through the rooftop's door.
At that moment, a familiar face screened his vision, his purple eyes dilated.
"I can't believe you return to this place, young man."
It's this man...
Who Lucian thought to have already been captured by the Mist Squad of the Phantasm Clan.
The one who speared him off this very rooftop.