It took a while for him to realize that it was a white tombstone peeking through the grass.

“What gravestone is this?”

Set against the backdrop of the forest, six tombstones surrounded by a white fence came into view.

Drawn by an unknown force, Nikolai crossed the fence.

They were tombstones covered with the traces of time.

There was no moss or dust, but the letters were worn by the wind.

Had he not stared persistently, he wouldn’t have discovered the birth and death dates engraved on the white stones.

Born and died on different days, but their names were the same.

Thirteenth Substitute.

In their communal graveyard, Nikolai found one unfamiliar point.

“This substitute lived to be 100. This one, 95? All the substitutes here lived over 90 years old?”

The average lifespan of a Hartman Empire citizen did not exceed 60.

The nobles who enjoyed all kinds of wealth were slightly higher.

For the poor, dying before the age of 50 was not uncommon.

Yet every substitute here had lived beyond 90.

How could such a thing happen?

Did the god of healing bestow a special lifespan upon the priests?

Or did they create false tombstones to boast about the grandeur of the temple?

In the silent place where time seemed to stop, Nikolai suddenly looked up.

A faint tremor could be felt underground.

The faint fragrance brushing his nose was undoubtedly Elizabeth’s scent.

“Elizabeth?”

Nikolai’s voice scattered into the air.

At that moment, Elizabeth was experiencing an unwanted mystery with her whole body.

“What nonsense is this about a divine revelation coming?”

A gust of wind seemed to blow from somewhere.

Large droplets fell from the ceiling, wrapping around like a storm.

Crimson hair fluttered in all directions, and wet clothes clung to the skin.

An unbearable chill penetrated into the bone.

“Holy Maiden!”

Arkanso hurriedly removed the priest’s robe.

He covered my shoulders with it, as if protecting them with one arm.

“When the divine revelation comes down, something like this sometimes happens. The wind blows or rain falls.”

“But this is the underground cellar!”

“I’ve never seen anything like this happening here either.”

“Why did you bring me down here? Did you know this would happen?”

Due to the sudden cold, my teeth clashed.

Arkanso, who was tense, turned his head sideways.

“The second relic is here. I must show it to you.”

“But the substitutes seem to know nothing about it?”

“I also only learned recently through the divine revelation.”

There was no chance to verify the truth.

A beam of light seeped into the underground stairs where the typhoon was raging.

And a familiar voice echoed.

“A righteous deceased has discovered Morasinia’s ice. Special rewards will be given. Will you accept?”
It was a voice that evoked both nostalgia and loneliness, like an old popular song flowing from the radio. Along with the sound that permeated not the ears but the chest, the field of view was dyed in a white light. The wind subsided, and the droplets evaporated. The cold retreated, and uneasiness faded away. Eyelashes fluttered as if caught in the illusion of being embraced by a fluffy, dried quilt.

“The ice of the Healing Goddess Moracynthia can stop the progression of the disease. When the relic is activated, Moracynthia’s ice will be triggered.”

Is this the covenant Arkanso mentioned?

I didn’t even get to see the second relic, so what did I discover?

Swallowing the confusion filling my head, I asked the white light.

“Are you Moracynthia? Why are you doing this to me?”

Once again, the white light only poured out the words it wanted to say.

“Will you accept it? Or will you refuse?”

Again, in this manner!

When I first discovered the relic, I was scared. It was because I thought I didn’t have the qualifications to be called a righteous deceased, nor did I deserve the special reward. The relic wasn’t just a sweet cheat code. It was more like a shackle tightening around my neck. However, I had come too far. There were only two things I could choose: accept or refuse.

“Let’s see it through to the end, okay? Fine, I accept it! Okay!”

I shouted fueled by anger.

Arkanso looked at me with a bewildered expression.

To him, it seemed he couldn’t hear the mysterious voice.

“A righteous deceased has accepted the second relic. If you don’t find the third relic, all special rewards will disappear.”

Why wouldn’t they?

I knew this would happen again!

“If the special rewards disappear, the soul of the righteous deceased will be returned to the previous world.”

Without asking, the white light responded.

I sarcastically clenched my fist.

“I know it all. If the soul is returned to the previous world, it means the soul will be extinguished.”

“If you don’t want to return to Nothingness, gather three relics and uproot the Reverse Horse.”

This time, I couldn’t be nonchalant either.

“Isn’t collecting relics over? What’s this nonsense about uprooting the Reverse Horse?”

I shouted so loudly that my throat felt dry.

But the white light did not respond.