HTWBB Chapter 32

"I have."

"The state at the time of eating is maintained, but what happens when the effect expires?"

Preservation magic was generally cast on places or objects for storage. Using food as an example, it would be used on plates or storage containers to maintain freshness for long periods.

If there happened to be a need to cast magic directly on food, very weak and short time limits were set. Strong magic could accidentally create a state like Nick's.

If the subject exposed to such magic was a plant, the cycle of blooming and withering would restart according to nature's providence, and if it was a different species, they could endure a few years without major problems with their lifespan.

However, for humans whose entire life was only 100 years, they couldn't be certain what side effects would occur. Abel answered in a calm tone.

"They'd have to endure all at once the time that passed while they were frozen."

"If it's time a human can't endure."

"They wouldn't last even a day before drying up and dying like an old tree."

The old man's youthful face and the tree that shed crimson maple leaves year-round would both meet their end someday. Rietta turned away from the warehouse and its crates bearing the weight of invisible years, stacked layer upon layer.

Abel, who had silently stood beside her, was empty-handed. Rietta moved her steps unhurriedly and looked up at the final door.

Confirming it was the indeed the captain's quarters, the snake-coiled-around-shield emblem hung at a slightly high spot, and a conspicuously golden handle was decorated inappropriately.

'That's strange.'

She narrowed her eyes, feeling oddly that the surroundings were bright.

"Abel. Remove the light."

"Very well."

In an instant, the magic illuminating both sides disappeared. However, light still slanted across Rietta's face as she looked forward.

She shifted her gaze to the side. Through a gap where the fit was misaligned, light leaked out. It was a deeply warm color. As if entranced, she raised her arm and brought her hand toward that spot, as though she could feel its warmth.

If she drew just a bit closer, it felt like she could touch it. And just as her hand was about to reach the handle, the floor roared like thunder. The tremor was strong enough to be felt through the soles of her feet that weren't even touching the floor.

"Did you do that?"

"Of course not."

Rietta immediately withdrew her hand. The surrounding water trembled, then from below came a crrrack sound of something twisting.

The strange noise that continued for a while suddenly ceased like a lie. She didn't let down her guard in the silence.

The fortunate thing was that even with this much shaking, there was no sign of the ship tilting. Abel, who had been calmly keeping his position, suddenly looked down.

"The magic moved."

Before the words even ended, the floor beneath their feet writhed and heaved. Rietta quickly pulled back her foot and crouched low. Something burst out from the floor that surged up like sand, breaking through the planks.

It was the arm of someone in white clothes. The thick hand that had been groping at the air found the floor and pressed down firmly, veins bulging on the half-exposed, thick forearm.

Its gradual reveal was grotesque, like a corpse digging through soil, emerging from a grave with ease.

"Well, this is something."

A cheerful voice muttered audibly. Next came shoulders that shoved the floor aside, and what slipped through the gap was dark blue hair.

The upper body with head bowed emerged completely from the swollen baseboard. The other hand, holding a long sword, pressed against the floor.

No, that was pure white bone with no flesh remaining.

"...What does that look like to you?"

"Half corpse, it seems."

Precisely, it looked like a skeleton. The man who completely pulled himself from the pit brushed off his clothes. Wearing a pure white tunic and dark navy trousers, he had a very tall stature and sturdy build.

However, the right arm adjusting his appearance wasn't a human body but bone. The man who finally finished tidying up raised his head. He greeted them with half a nose and mouth, his attractive bright blue eyes resembling the sky.

Rietta surveyed the man's entire body again. It wasn't that blood was flowing or skin was crushed. Rather, about half the flesh of his body was torn cleanly as if paper had been ripped, and except for the intact parts, bone with not a speck of impurity was exposed.

Even hidden by trousers, the right leg that looked particularly gaunt would be no different. When his eyes met Rietta's, he spread both arms as if surprised.

"Oh! How long has it been since we had visitors!"

He laughed heartily after giving an exaggeratedly welcoming greeting like a theater actor.

Rietta focused on his lower jaw without flesh attached. Inside his open mouth, a bright red magic stone glowed eerily.

The half-skeleton man strode straight toward Rietta without even glancing at Abel. It was a sudden approach, leaving no time to respond.

Placing the greatsword he was holding behind his waist, he extended his hand with an extremely natural motion.

"Lady, your hand."

It was impeccable etiquette. Rietta too, following what her body knew, placed her hand without putting weight on it. Hearing a clatter from somewhere, she looked ahead to see the man smiling. It was the sound of his jawbone moving.

He bent at the waist with a very elegant gesture, then made a motion of lightly kissing the back of Rietta's hand before narrowing his eyes.

"So. What brings you here, Guardian?"

Those words were clearly directed at Rietta.

"Guardian?"

Abel muttered in puzzlement and stepped forward. Thunk! The long greatsword plunged down where it would've pierced his foot had he been even slightly off. The honed blade shone a vivid blue. The man spat out coldly.

"Don't interfere. The conversation isn't finished."

Abel stared at the sword embedded precariously in the front of his shoe with an odd expression. His attitude suggested he hadn't anticipated this at all.

Rietta signaled Abel to wait with her eyes, then quickly withdrew her caught hand. As expected of one not living, the skin that had touched held no warmth.

"Do you know me?"

"Of course not. It's the first time I'm seeing you."

"Then why are you spouting that nonsense?"

"I'm merely speaking what I see. One's essence cannot be hidden."

The man who answered matter-of-factly easily retrieved the sword that had threatened Abel. He stood the sword upright on the floor, dangling it in front of his chest.

Then, propping up the handle like a support, he spoke again. He looked like a gatekeeper.

"I ask again. What business brings you to these depths?"

"I have something to find. You're the captain of this ship?"

"That's right. Tell me what you seek."

"Something I lost. I'm not certain, but it might be here."

Bone fingers lightly tapped the sword handle. He made a nasal sound and briefly fell into thought. Even in that moment there were no openings, suggesting he might have made quite a name for himself with the sword in the past.

The sense of déjà vu from just before entering the ship coursed through Rietta's body once more. It wasn't a feeling from the half-skeleton captain himself.

Rather... Rietta took half a step toward the man whose contemplation was growing long.

"When did you die?"

"About a week after this ship wrecked. There was a place where air remained."

"And when you were able to move again."

The man laughed aloud. The laughter mixed with the sound of clacking bones was disturbingly noisy.

"So you're not a Guardian for nothing. Yes, I don't remember well, but it was long enough for me to end up looking like this. Must have been a few years at least. The parts already gone unfortunately can't be restored, or so I was told."

"By whom."

"The woman who asked me to guard what lies ahead in exchange for granting my request."

The man who introduced himself as Theodore had been the captain of the merchant company ship.

As guessed from its scale, the merchant company 'Carus' that made a name in that era belonged to a certain margrave.

Theodore, who had served as naval commander for quite a long period, volunteered as captain of a ship heading on a long dangerous route to obtain medicine for his wife's incurable disease. However, before he could deliver the medicine, he unluckily encountered a storm and sank into the sea.

"They said my wife could survive a few more years. Though in pain, I hoped it wasn't too late. The woman said she'd deliver the medicine to my wife, so in exchange, if someone unauthorized came here, I should prevent them from entering."

"What's inside?"

"I don't know. It happened after I died."

"Is that medicine the rainbow whale's heart?"

Theodore shook his head.

"No. That wasn't my share. The medicine was nymph pollen obtained in Clémora."

Rietta recalled another box besides the jewelry box that had contained the heart. At least that promise seemed to have been properly kept.

Though she didn't know if his wife's illness was cured, Theodore's choice of a path where he couldn't die even after death must have been worthwhile.

"...It seems the medicine was properly delivered."

Theodore's eyes curved with pleased expression.

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Do you know who that woman who made the request was?"

"Before answering, let me ask first. Did the Guardian look around the lower floor first before coming?"

"Yes. The medicine you mentioned was there too."

He muttered something about how it was noisy, then grasped the sword he'd been supporting on the floor. Then he spun it half a rotation effortlessly.

He gripped the handle of the sword that returned to its proper position with familiarity. Though he looked relaxed, a tension hung as if he would immediately respond if any aggressive action was taken.

"Seeing you're unharmed, those ugly fish must have disappeared."

"Whoever released them, we had quite a struggle."

Abel, who had been quietly observing, suddenly interjected. Theodore's piercing eyes slid toward him.

It was a gaze completely opposite from when dealing with Rietta, filled with hostility.

"I don't want to exchange words with an unpleasant fellow."

"I don't find conversation with corpses pleasant either."

"Have you been exposed to dark magic? You're rather revolting."