The Insatiable - Chapter 35
“What’s that Haru-chan?”
Nanako asked as she looked at the leather-bound notebook that Haruhiro is holding. The leather is already worn out and the design on it has already started to fade, nevertheless, Haruhiro and Nanako could still understand what it is.
“For something so old without a speck of dust on it, I guess the System is really something,” Haruhiro said as he noticed that even though the journal looks quite old it doesn’t have a foul odor nor are the pages starting to rot.
Nanako looked at him with confusion. She doesn’t understand what System he’s talking about but she guesses that maybe its part of his ability.
The design is of a tree, it has a few branches with lots of leaves while its roots are exposed. Over the tree is some sort of an arc, on this arc is a chain. The chain is wrapping two lotus flowers at each end of the arc. At the top of it, all is a lone star that is seemingly overlooking all things in this world.
In the middle of the journal, right at the center of the tree’s trunk is an embedded green gem. It has a circular shape and when the two of them looked at it, they could feel their tired bodies recover slightly.
“A journal,” Haruhiro replied. He checked the front and back of the journal, scrutinizing every inch of it. When he found nothing particularly interesting he opened it.
As soon as he opened the journal, he could see unfamiliar letters or rather scribbles in this case written on the pages. He frowned seeing this, “Nanako can you read this?”
Nanako scooted close to Haruhiro and looked at the writing in the journal. However, not even two seconds pass and she already gave up. “This isn’t any sort of language I know Haru-chan, I doubt that any country even uses something like this.”
She looked at what seems to be letters of this place and shook her head, she then remembered an issue.
“Why was the one written at the entrance of the temple something we could read?”
She remembered how they learned that this place is a temple and used for offering prayers and such. They learned it from the writing just outside the entrance of the temple. Now, however, what is this?
“This is confusing…”
[Suggesting to host to let Ava handle this matter.]
‘Huh!? Okay?’
Haruhiro didn’t think that Ava would volunteer to help him, from his past interactions with Ava he’s learned to never depend on this AI. However, now that he’s helpless with this matter, he can only try doing it Ava’s way.
[Scanning the “Clergyman’s Journal”…]
[Scan complete, translating…]
Shocked, Haruhiro didn’t know what to say. It seems that Ava really does have a way to handle it.
[Translation to different languages completed, Host please choose which language you’d like to read it in.]
‘Eh? The usual then?’
[Understood, Ava asks the Host whether the Host wants to read all of the entries or only a specific part.]
“Hmm…”
“Something wrong Haru-chan?”
He looked at her and said, “No nothing’s wrong. Just wondering, what do you expect from this journal? I mean what do you want to know from this journal?”
“Fumu, well it would be best if we can learn about what happened to this place and what the key is for.”
Haruhiro nodded in agreement, “That’s how it is.”
[Acknowledged, sorting through the contents. Complete.]
[Year XXXX of XXXX
Darkness once again covers these lands, demons, and monsters have started to reappear everywhere. What’s worst is that the Prince, who the dark forces have been fearful of has been wrongfully convicted of massacring millions. He’s now imprisoned in a place no one knows and could ever know.
However, no matter how bleak this situation may be -there will always be light in the dark.
The item entrusted to me by the Prince have been kept inside the temple’s basement, it will never be opened without the key.]
[Year XXXX of XXXX
Three years. It has been three years ever since the Prince has been wrongfully convicted. The situation has only deteriorated further. With the war between the Country of Mages and the Country of Dragons developing further, it can be said that the alliance to fight back against the demons and monsters is close to nil.
The temple has become a temporary refuge for those seeking safety from the war between countries. The Country of Beasts has given an aid to guard this place against the forces of darkness.
I fear that this is only a temporary solution. As matters stand, I will have to release that item that has been entrusted to me.]
[Year XXXX of XXX-XX
The demons and monsters have us surrounded. We’ve received news that reinforcements will arrive the day after tomorrow however, I fear that they will not arrive on time.
I will be one of the two last lines of defense for the upcoming battle. The other is Sir Lancer, the best spearman of the Country of Beasts. This may very well be the last entry in this journal, if it is then I shall break the oath I took during that day to the Prince. I am very afraid, not for myself but for all these people that we are in need to protect.
Once I fall in battle, only that item can protect us. Still, that will depend on our fate.]
[Ava has found three entries in the journal that has mentioned an item that could have changed the situation of the war back then. The key obtained by the host is possibly the one mentioned in the entry.]
Haruhiro breathed out. He somehow feels heavy in his heart. He then thought to himself, ‘Wasn’t this supposed to be just a dungeon? Why do I feel that a mission is on the way?’ Haruhiro doesn’t want to complicate things.
All he wanted to do in this dungeon is to kill everything in it but if such an amazing item like that appears… He’s sure going to be tempted and get sidetracked.
Shaking away these thoughts, he started to explain things to Nanako who’s been looking pretty confused. She listened intently and the more she listened the more her eyes shone brightly.
After Haruhiro completed his explanation she said to him, “That’s what we want! An item that could even change the situation in a war!”
“Or it could have been an exaggeration. Maybe it could have been just a part of a plot in this dungeon, a setting. So that we’ll have more fun completing the dungeon.”
Nanako nodded, however, her words are contrary to what she says, “What if it isn’t? What if there really is an item in this place that could allow us to destroy all zombies in one fell swoop!”
Haruhiro sighed. He knows that such an item doesn’t exist and even if it does it won’t appear in a D-rank dungeon. However, he won’t let Nanako lose hope but he also will not let her put her whole trust in it.
“How about this, let’s finish this Sir Lancer first then we’ll have a look at this item.”
“Nn. Okay.”
Seeing that bright smile on her face, Haruhiro almost wanted to believe in that item as well.
The two continued their journey onwards in this dungeon temple.