Chapter 99: - Lost Legacy

༺ Lost Legacy ༻

"Watch out."

Her right hand burned, blood flowing down her sleeve. Callis couldn't even breathe right—a razor-sharp blade had impaled her hand, halting halfway to her neck. Even the slightest tremble in her hand would drive its edge deeper.

It was fortunate that Callis was part of the magic corps. Thanks to acquiring a sense for magic, she managed to detect the malevolent surge of mana in her bio-receptor. Though she couldn't completely nullify it, she managed to block it in time.

It also somehow felt like she owed her survival to a certain somebody's warning... But in any case, the blade would have run through her throat if she failed.

A standoff between blade and palm ensued. Callis mustered strength in her right hand, trembling in pain, to push the blade away, blood spilling from the hole in her neck. As she kept trying, the blade eventually snapped with a dull thud.

The blade was designed as a single-use device to instantly penetrate the neck, sacrificing durability for sharpness. It was a failure as a weapon, however, a suicidal tool didn't require repeated use.

Callis removed the broken blade embedded in her palm, and her blood dripped along its glass-thin edge. The bleeding from her neck trickled down, dampening her front. She had barely saved herself, but this wasn't even a reprieve from death; perhaps she had refused the chance for a painless end.

'They considered me disposable... from the start...'

Callis had received several packages, and among them, the comforting presence of the escape package had played a big part in her undertaking this mission. It was a way to get out even if things went awry, after all. Yet... the package she had considered her sole escape turned out to be despair, waiting to consume her at the end of hope.

Thoughts faded away, overwritten by the despair of betrayal, solitude, and the fear of impending death. Her heart was going to crumble before her body. Only two questions lingered in Callis' mind.

'Where did it all go wrong? What did I do wrong...?'

She was pushed to her limits, consciousness blurring... when she heard a whisper in her ear.

"Such a terrible situation, Major Callis Kritz. The country suspects you, and the organization has abandoned you. And now, even your life is at risk."

The voice carried tenderness, yet also held a trace of amusement, almost as if it were an innocent child's curious query.

"Did level 3 citizenship bring satisfaction? How does level 4 seem to you? Was it worth pursuing at the cost of everything?"

"Ah..."

Amidst her faint vision, Major Callis recalled long-buried memories.

It was the story of her childhood, where she played the leading role, and the countless moments of nostalgia that made her shine. Before illness took her mother and cold reality intruded on her fairy tale, she was the center of the world.

When reality found its way to her home, she was pushed to the outskirts of the world, but at least her father's heart still revolved around her. After finishing secondary school, she'd return home every weekend, finding her father waiting by the front gate. On the rare occasions he wasn't there, she'd check the mailbox out of habit. Inside, she'd find a letter warmly written on crisp paper, awaiting her in her father's place.

But then one day, oddly enough, neither her father nor a letter was waiting. Instead, two military officers dressed in full regalia were standing at the door.

It was a casualty notification.

The courtyard house, the aged yet classy automaton carriage, the gilded sword, and the special combat suit—all cherished belongings—became part of an inheritance. And she was informed that if she failed to obtain the right to inherit, everything would be escheated by the Military State.

Despite all the sorrow and confusion, one thing remained crystal clear: she had to reach level 3 to reclaim it all. Nothing more.

Loss turned into an obsession. Having lost one thing after another until she was all alone, the inheritance became Callis' last lifeline.

Fortunately, she possessed talent, and upon graduating secondary second with outstanding grades, she entered the advanced military academy. During her time there, she somehow made it through and became a level 3 citizen, inheriting her father's legacy.

Nothing could compare to the joy and relief she felt at the time.

But human greed knows no bounds, and people are bound to fear loss more than gain. The inheritance belonged to Callis, but she couldn't fully possess it; she lacked the right to bequeath. To obtain all the rights, she had to reach level 4 citizenship.

Greed and obsession drove Callis to make a dangerous choice. To join a secret society she only heard rumors of... the Human Regime.

Arming herself with false patriotism and feigning hatred toward animals and beastkin under the Regime's pretext, Callis steadily climbed the ranks. However, every action she took was fueled by her obsession for what remained. Callis was an ordinary person. Someone without any grand cause or great loyalty.

"...I don't... want to die..."

She never thought of dying from the start. She had no goal to achieve at the cost of her life. Callis had simply believed she could do it. Since even a level 0 laborer could survive, she, a level 3 citizen, should have also been capable.

Perhaps, survival itself might not have been a challenge... but not anymore.

"Do you want to live?"

Callis nodded. She had to live. Because she was ordinary.

In response, the voice laughed delightedly and began to grow distant, like an echo in the dark.

"If it matters so much, then protect it, even if it takes your heart and soul. Harness all the resources at your disposal, and be prepared to forsake everything but your life, which you must hold onto above all else. But it won't be easy. Others don't know, or care, about your desperate circumstances."

Before leaving, the voice added one last remark.

"Except for ordinary folks like me who are moved by trivial stories."

Callis looked up, urgently scanning her surroundings, but the owner of the voice was nowhere to be seen. With a confused face, she wondered if a ghost had beguiled her, but the answer concealed itself, as it is so prone to do.

So Callis forgot about the voice. It didn't matter at the moment. To survive, she had to let go of everything. Everything. No matter how miserable or pathetic that might seem.

Death didn't allow even a moment of leisure. The regressor thudded up the stairs, making a beeline for her. Callis let her bleeding right hand fall limp as she confronted her demise. Chilling, murderous intent pricked her body.

"Any last words?"

Let us rewind in time. Why had Callis managed to survive thus far?

Well, the answer was simple —because she did nothing. In particular, while ruffled by her presence, the abyssal denizens hadn't shown any hostility before she tried to lay a hand on the Beast King or the laborer. And this led Callis to a realization...

"...Human Regime has abandoned me."

These people knew about the Human Regime. She couldn't fathom how mere prisoners had knowledge of the most secretive organization in the Military State, but that wasn't important. Survival was what truly mattered, even if it meant betraying the Human Regime.

"The means of escape they provided was a suicide packet."

She couldn't appeal to emotions as it wouldn't help in any way. She deemed the other party would have little interest in such behavior. Instead, Callis uttered the truth impassively and released her clothing packet. As it became unsummoned, the medal adorning her chest fell to the floor. Once a symbol of pride, it rolled away on the ground like a pebble on the street.

Now wearing a shirt, she immediately knelt down.

"Spare me... please."

And bowed her head. The gesture clearly caught the regressor's attention; otherwise, she wouldn't have bothered to speak.

"A Human Regime member, begging for mercy. Why don't you shut up and die with dignity instead? Isn't that the human nobility your lot claim?"

Callis had been about to say she was just a pawn and was willing to confess everything to save her life... But suddenly, she was struck with the conviction that the regressor wouldn't be interested.

She switched to a different topic.

"I received an order from my 'patron' to bring the Dog King. I was informed there would be no hindrances, and that the task was as simple as fetching an obedient pup."

Information regarding the Human Regime was her sole weapon, so Callis kept her head down and concisely revealed what she knew.

"But due to unexpected obstacles, I required a different approach. I chained the Dog King because it was the advised means to control her."

It was fortunate that she had her head down, as a powerful slash of the sword had brushed over her head just moments ago. Chun-aeng's trajectory had swerved at the last, barest instant. The regressor initially aimed for a swift kill, but she had a change of heart upon hearing unexpected information.

"Funny. As if mere chains could control the Dog King. All that'll do is foster disappointment in humans... while not even knowing what that'll result in."

"There are ways to control even a Beast King. Of them, I was taught how to handle the Dog King."

"Sounds like nonsense but..."

The regressor scratched her head irritably, then continued in a voice full of discontent.

"Ugh, why does it seem real? Considering these lunatics would put a nose ring on the Bison King... They might've come up with another way..."

Callis had drawn interest, delaying her fate. The hope of living thrilled her. It was time to seal her survival.

During this short while, she had frantically churned a hypothesis in her mind, perhaps the most fatal secret to the Human Regime. This would be her bargaining chip.

"I'm a disposable pawn, yet the Human Regime readily handed me a world tree leaf. Also, it is impossible to keep their flow of funds covered while operating the organization secretly in the Military State. They have a different source of income, and it's most likely..."

"Oh, I know that. They're secretly cultivating a world tree."

Callis closed her mouth in astonishment. The most she had speculated was the Human Regime having some association with the world tree guardians. Cultivating a world tree privately? This was massive news that could turn the world upside down.

But more importantly, she wanted to know who this person was to be so nonchalantly sharing such shocking information.

The person in question coolly swept back her hair, asking a question.

"Well, never mind. That aside, who's this patron of yours?"

"... As all contact was made anonymously and through metaphors, I have no way of telling."

"Meaning, you don't know?"

"That's... correct. My guess is that they hold a rank at least two tiers above mine. This is because before that 'patron' was to be appointed as warden of Tantalus, I came here to confirm the safety level... as a litmus."

"A warden, huh. A real warden."

The regressor's voice turned instantly cold, causing Callis to shrink back instinctively. But lucky for her, she wasn't the target of the former's wrath this time.

The regressor sounded disgusted.

"Pawns, pawns, pawns... Don't they get sick of it?"

Silence fell then, as the scales of the regressor's calculations tilted. Was she to kill, or to spare? Tense moments passed. The weight of the air increased as Callis awaited the verdict. Now, she couldn't even think of daring to look up.

But suddenly, a disembodied right arm joined the situation, breaking the veil of silence.

"Hyaah! O Right Arm!"

The right arm flew over, latching onto the nearby window, its grip crushing the tin frame out of shape with a bizarre sound. Following that, the voice of the undying carried through the air.

"Pull me in!!"

The undying's huge form flew over to the suspended right arm. He broke through the window and landed with a roll, exclaiming.

"I have come!"

The undying raised his head and took in his surroundings. Callis was kneeling on his right, while on the other side, the regressor was fiddling with her invisible sword, immersed in thought and clearly feeling conflicted about something.

"Haha! I thought I was a little late, but it seems you had a change of heart! Well thought, lad!"

The undying laughed heartily as he slipped between them.

"Yes! The deaths of those who die easily should not come easily. It is the short-lived flowers that hold beauty. Even if they bloom for only one season, their value is not diminished! Observing until the right time to wither is what you call enduring virtues, no?!"

A pinch of annoyance was added to the tilting scale, and the calculation was concluded. Too bothered to continue fighting an undying who couldn't be killed, the regressor put Chun-aeng away and crossed her arms.

"...Your meddling is pointless. You think anyone will care about saving someone like this? I doubt even the gods have any interest in the death of a person."

"I care! I shall deeply admire your noble decision, and not speak of how you chopped my body into seventeen pieces! Though it is more accurate to say I have no way to hold you accountable! Hahaha!"

Ignoring his candid remark, the regressor issued a solemn warning regarding Callis.

"You keep an eye on her. If she does anything funny... No, if I even see her going around alone, I'll kill her without question."

"Of course! I will make sure to stick by her."

And so, Callis' death turned around and walked away. But even after the latter's footsteps were long gone, she couldn't get up. She had no strength left in her. Cold sweat was soaking her shirt. She was overwhelmed by the relief of having survived and the exhaustion from realizing that there was no going back.

"Is he gone? Has he gone? He has gone, yes?"

After a while of glancing in the direction where the regressor had left, the undying heaved a sigh and began to speak.

"Phew. That was one fierce kid! Strong as a brute he was, butchering my body with such serenity! If I were not undying, I would have died at least fifteen times over!"

"I..."

"No need for gratitude! This is what friends are for. But if you feel burdened nonetheless, think of it as having saved each other once!"

The undying was undoubtedly a kind soul. Without him, Callis would have lost her grip on life. She had to thank him, but the weight of her losses had left her too shaken to find the words.

She muttered weakly to him.

"...I threw away everything to survive."

Callis was suspended from duty. She would have to stand before a ruthless investigation unit that would scrutinize her every past action. They could potentially uncover a fault she couldn't remember herself, but even that would be still a relief. If the Human Regime discovered her betrayal, it wouldn't end with just a forced suicide.

She might end up dying a wretched, agonizing death in some unseen place.

"My dignity, status, mission, and even my father's legacy. All gone. Now I'm left with... nothing at all..."

So, Callis had lost everything. Every single thing she had painstakingly amassed over the years.

"But you saved your life!"

The undying patted Callis on the shoulder encouragingly. With a grin, he firmly held her trembling body.

"It is enough that you have survived! Even if you have lost everything, you can fill the void with the new. You are young, Major! And with time on your side, you can surely replace the old with far more valuable things!"

"But..."

Callis' feeble voice was drowned out by the undying's vigorous proclamation.

"Above all else, Major, you still possess the most crucial inheritance! For the most beautiful legacy left by your father must be none other than yourself!"

Callis couldn't say anything back. Instead, tears burst from her eyes, streaming down unbidden.

It was rumored that officers of the Military State became molded in the image of their country—cold, unfeeling, and incapable of shedding a single tear.

That being the case, Callis was no longer one of those officers... because she possessed both pulsating blood and hot tears within her.

This book wasn't over. Its end hadn't been prepared, leaving space for continuation, and it had drawn upon all its reserves to carry forth the story. As long as no unexpected mishaps occurred, a narrative far more beautiful than before would unfold.

As long as nothing happened.

* * *

The regressor suddenly looked up, her indigo eyes gleaming as she gazed at the profoundly distant darkness above the abyss.

'An intruder?'