Chapter 81: Celestial’s Mausoleum

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I devoted my time to sleeping through the majority of the day, waiting for nightfall when everyone else was asleep. We mostly spent the day chilling and sleeping. Everyone was exhausted. My brother must be still snuggling with Henrietta on the couch.

Honestly, I didn't expect them to kiss as fast as they did. I guess I can't just think of my brother as completely the same character my previous life read about in that novel. He had changed a lot from all these events, and the novel only portrayed his superficial self, as it was only narrated in the third person.

We never really knew what was happening inside of his mind, and most would simply assume he only thought about killing monsters, getting stronger, then finding treasures, and repeating that endlessly. But behind that rather generic character, there's actually a frail human being.

I love him deeply, and all I want is the best for him, honestly. For the sake of my own mental health, I'll choose to view the novel as a "prophecy of the future" and nothing more for now. The thought that this entire life is fictional makes me feel uneasy.

But every time I talk with everyone and remember my memories before waking up, I remember that everyone is real and alive. I want to use this novel's knowledge to my advantage, so I can further protect everyone I love.

I have already changed the lives of two villains who died tragically and who didn't deserve the end that happened to them. However, this was at the cost of Sara's death, a character that never died in the novel and was a recurring side character that helped the main cast a few times.

I didn't know her well, but she was a brave woman with a rather sad past. I feel bad for her death, but it isn't as if I was able to do something this time. I regret it, but I can't simply let it make me unable to move on.

Whatever changes her death brings, I'll have to deal with them as I continue on this path. Because things from now on might only get worse.

I need strength, or else I will only get swallowed by the endless waves of terrific and dangerous events that are to come.

Now that the night had come, I decided it was finally time to do that Job Change Trial.

"Access the Job Change Trial."

[Do you wish to enter the Special Dungeon where you can take your Job Change Trial?]

[Yes] [No]

[Note 1: Once you enter, you'll have to complete the Trial within 24 hours. If you cannot complete it within this time frame, you will be automatically expelled, but you can try again after a few days.]

[Note 2: Time goes several times faster inside this Dungeon than in the outside world.]

"Yes."

FLASH!

Suddenly, my entire body was covered with particles of light, as if I were being turned into pixels, or data. And then I was transferred into the system window itself.

I felt as if every bit of me was compressed into pure data and then traveled across a gigantic wormhole of information.

In these brief seconds, I was able to see constant images that I couldn't recognize: surfaces, buildings, people, monsters...

What was this?

BAAM!

Before I could even make any sense of that, I landed on a cold and hard floor, my butt hitting the floor rather hard. Ouch.

"Ugh… So here I am…" I slowly stood up, glancing around.

I found myself inside some sort of abandoned, old temple. The architecture resembled ancient Christian temples, with large, white pillars sustaining the enormously tall ceiling.

There were also several broken statues of angels; some were missing their heads, others had whole torsos and arms, and some were wingless.

There was a single door in front of me, sealed shut.

This is a special thing about the "System Wielder," like my brother. From what I remember, each time he reached max level, he would get to go to a dungeon to test his might, defeat monsters, and get a new class.

Usually, they were themed after Fenrir, the powers he had, and the experiences he had, sometimes even including the gods he devoured.

But I had no such sponsor, didn't I? Well, there's Sepa, but she just became my heart recently. I doubt this place is related to her anyway.

[Welcome to the [Trial Dungeon: Celestial's Mausoleum]]

[In this Dungeon, you'll face three different rooms, filled with different types of monsters.]

[After the three rooms, you'll face a last, fourth room where a special Dungeon Boss will be awaiting you.]

[Depending on your performance in defeating them all, a special Job Class will be given.]

"Seems pretty basic, alright," I nodded, walking into the gates.

"A… human?"

However, before I could take any further steps, I heard the faint voice of someone behind me.

I quickly looked into the end of the hall, looking for the origin of that voice.

Until I found it.

"What is a human doing here?"

It was someone wearing a gray coat, sitting on the floor. I couldn't see their face, but I could see their wrinkled, scarred legs and arms extending out of it.

"There's a person here? Who are you?"

Is this not just generated by the System?

"I am… a mere rat. A scavenger…" The man slowly stood up, barely walking with an old stick. "Ugh… These old, tired bones can barely move a few steps. But why are you here? Have the Constellations' cruelty reached new bounds? Are they finding amusement in sending a young child here? To see… a ruined world…"

He suddenly glanced at a nearby statue, caressing it with a feeling of reminiscence.

"Are you… someone who's living in this Ruined World?" I asked.

"I… am, yes," he sighed. "Why are you here, young one?"

"A trial… I need to destroy whatever is in here to gain more strength," I decided to be honest.

"You plan… to go to that accursed temple alone?" he asked, surprised. "You're not as weak as you look, are you?"

Suddenly, I noticed his back. He had two wings—or, well, what remained of them. They looked terrible, as if they had been cut down and only small parts of them remained, with barely a few white feathers on them.

"Are you an angel? Is this... the Realm of the Celestials?" I asked, feeling rather surprised.

"You're rather smart." He sighed. "This used to be the Realm of the Celestials… The Constellations betrayed us. We fought for them; we destroyed the Demon Realm… We thought we would be able to live in peace. We thought we had secured the safety of our world…"

He suddenly sat on the floor again.

"But we were sorely mistaken," he cried. "The Higher Ups were not satisfied. Our champions betrayed us, utilizing their glory to become like them. And then... they abandoned us to our own demise... Cough…"

"That's… the Fate that all the Ruined Worlds share." I sighed.

"You come from a world that has yet to be ruined, young one?" he asked, slightly surprised.

"Yes," I nodded. "I am trying… for it to not end like that. However, the process has already begun."

"My… Well, nobody can save you other than yourself… Cough…" he coughed. "I don't know if you'll be able to face the horrors beyond that temple… The cursed temple of our King."

"King?" I asked.

"You'll meet him… If you're strong enough," he sighed.

"I'll be going then… I'm sorry, but I can't offer any help," I said, regretfully. "I lack the power…"

"I know," he looked into the sky through the shattered roof. "However, I have a favor… to ask you… Cough… I am already at my limit… It is something within your grasp if you can truly go through that place…"

"What is it?" I asked.

"In that temple… There is someone I want you to bring to me… Someone, I want to rest in peace," he looked at me with his disfigured, scarred face. He only had a single eye left, which was shining blue.

"Someone? Is it the King?" I asked.

"No… I do not care about that selfish man," he sighed. "But… my sister… You'll find her. The smallest of them all. She won't fight you, but she'll hide. Somewhere within those rooms. Please find her and end her suffering. And once you do, bring me her crystalized heart."

"…Her heart?" I wondered.

"Yes… I've been here, trying to brave this cursed temple for many years, trying to find her… Yet I always fail and barely escape with my life…" he groaned. "My sister… I need to save her heart and soul…"

[A New {Special Quest} has been generated: {An Angel's Last Wish}

[Rank: D]

[A Mysterious, nameless Angel has appeared in front of you, asking you to bring him the crystalized heart of his little sister, whose body and soul had been cursed for eternity within the interior of the temple.]

[By defeating her and obtaining her crystalized heart, you can bring it back to him, and he'll reward you handsomely.]

[Who knows? Maybe you could acquire something that could help you complete this Dungeon.]

[You can walk in and out of the temple's gates, so feel free to come back to him once you acquire what he asked you for.]

[Completion Rewards]: [???]

[Failure Penalty]: [Favorability With Angels -1000]

[Time Condition]: [24 Hours]

[If you cannot complete the quest within 24 Hours, it will be automatically shown as a Failure.]

"Alright… Fine," I accepted. "But only that."

"T-Thank you…" he lowered his head. "Thank you so much…"

"I-It's fine, you don't really need to kneel. Stand up and calm down. I'll be back once I find her," I said with a smile.

No matter how hard I tried through my Privileges or abilities, I couldn't detect an ounce of malice within this man's heart. He was only… really wounded and sad.

Honestly, he was really pitiful.

I can't believe the glorious and prideful Angels, the Celestials, would be reduced to people like him… Well, if any.

"Then I'll be going," I smiled, walking towards the gates.

"Wait!" he stopped me.

"Huh?"

"Please, be careful... The enemy you're about to face might look defenseless and easy to take down, but…" he muttered. "Never show your back to them."

"My back?" I wondered. "Okay, I got it."

"Be cautious…" he warned.

If I had Violet and Snow with me, things might have been easier, but I wasn't allowed to bring my Familiars with me, so I am alone on this… Well, Sepa's within my heart, but she's sleeping right now.

["I wonder who that old man was… I can't believe you can easily trust him. He looked sketchy!"]

Oh right, I do have this guy… Gram.

However, it seems Constellations cannot glance at me. No matter how hard I try, I can't get any notifications from them.

It's as if this place… is somehow a place they cannot watch.

It might not be included in the Star Streaming Services, the cosmic service that allows Constellations to watch Earth.

"I might as well buff myself before going in," I said to myself, quickly activating my Skills, as my body overflowed with an aura of golden light and Ki.

The gates opened as I stepped in.

"Hm?"

And the only thing I saw once I entered were statues. Similar to the ones outside, but these weren't broken or shattered. At most, they had cracks over their surface.

They all resembled angels of all appearances and sizes, most of them with expressions showing anguish and despair.

"Where are the monsters?" I wondered. "Wait… Don't tell me-"

Before I could even finish my words, several shadows covered my body from the light coming from the broken ceiling. Three statues moved lightning fast, pointing their stone hands towards me.

CLAAASH!

"Oooh?!"

"Aaaggh…"

"AARRGH!"

They screamed in anguish and despair as they realized I barely managed to intercept their attacks using Gram, which I had coated on a thin veil of Ki.

"I guess that's what he meant by not showing them my back…"

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Chapter end