OHNIR – Chapter 96
Chapter 96: The Journal
“Ding. Gloria’s affection +30. Current total affection: 93 points.”
“According to the system’s calculations, the fifth stage mission has been successfully completed. Distributing reward: 【Clara's Journal】… Confirmed. Reward successfully distributed. Does the temporary host wish for the next stage mission to be issued now?”
“…Ugh, go ahead…”
“Instruction received. Issuing the sixth stage mission…”
“Ding. Congratulations to the temporary host for successfully unlocking the final chapter mission of the 【Secret of the Gods】 True Ending: 【Liberate the Holy Force Source】.”
“Completion Method: Prevent the Goddess of Deceit from obtaining the Holy Force Source and successfully liberate it from Seaside Town.”
“Mission Reward: 【Secret of the Gods】 cleared. The game ending will be permanently saved.”
“The final chapter is imminent. Please continue your efforts, temporary host, and strive for continued success.”
As the system spoke, Kelusta was sprawled across her bed, hugging a pillow. Not only was her voice thick with sleep as she replied, but she couldn't even be bothered to open her eyes.
Last night, after the king arrived and announced the start of the ball, Kelusta had given it her all, using every step and technique she had learned while cramming for her dance lessons for this particularly meaningful ball.
The two girls had only just confirmed their relationship, their hearts overflowing with an excitement that had nowhere to go. They could only pour all the joy of their long-held wish coming true into one dance after another, their joined hands never once letting go.
Even though Starangui, standing beside the king, wore a grim expression and nearly pierced her into a sieve with her gaze… Kelusta remained steadfastly captivated by Gloria’s beauty, not even sparing the esteemed princess a glance from the corner of her eye.
Gloria was exactly the same. Not only did she have eyes only for Kelusta, but she also indulged Kelusta’s every willful demand, like “I want to dance with you all night.”
The two danced until they were utterly exhausted, their feet as heavy as lead. Only then were they led home by their respective elders, who had been waiting for a long time.
—Because of this, Kelusta had expressed considerable dissatisfaction that she couldn't spend the night with Gloria.
Her fragrant, warm girlfriend was finally in her arms, and they had to be separated? Couldn't she even take a single bite?
Of course not.
The first reason was that Gloria had to start dealing with the Charles family’s affairs the next day. The second was that they were both truly too tired after the ball… Therefore, no matter how much Kelusta schemed in her mind, in reality, she had no energy left to do anything else.
Oh well. She was her girlfriend now, and even their engagement was on the agenda. There was no need to rush.
There was plenty of time ahead.
And so, consoling herself with this thought, Kelusta slept until nearly noon. Even after being woken by the system, she still had a sleepy, languid look of blissful love on her face, almost making one think she had actually done something she shouldn't have the night before.
But sleep was sleep; the basic qualities of a model host could not be abandoned. The moment the system delivered the reward to her bedside, Kelusta rubbed her eyes, sat halfway up, and snatched the brown leather-bound book into her hands.
“Is this already the final chapter mission?” She had sat up too quickly and felt a little dizzy. She asked groggily while yawning, “When the mission is over, are you going to leave…”
The system hesitated for a moment before answering truthfully, “Yes. But if you require it, I can leave behind a communication tool within the scope of headquarters’ regulations, so that you may communicate with me when needed.”
“Huh,” Kelusta tapped her forehead, her eyes blinking in pleasant surprise. “You can do that?”
“It’s a new regulation from recent years… because some hosts complained to headquarters, wanting to continue seeing their systems.”
“Well, thank you, headquarters,” Kelusta said with a grin. “After spending so much time together, I really can’t bear to part with you, my dear Old Sy.”
The system fell into an uncomfortable silence, letting out a couple of short-circuiting “zzt” sounds.
But the mission wasn't over yet, so it was too early to talk about such things. Kelusta didn't dwell on these distant matters and instead refocused her attention on the journal.
Due to centuries of development in the center of the continent, the written language from the era of the gods was now vastly different, bearing almost no resemblance to the modern script.
As a standard modern citizen of Nobili, Kelusta had to shamelessly activate her cheat and use the system’s built-in smart translator.
—However, unlike the human race, which had largely disconnected from the era of the gods, the demons, due to their long residence on the continent's edge and years of stagnant development, had actually maintained the closest ties to that ancient age.
Whether it was their writing, customs, or even the authenticity of their records… they left the Nobili Kingdom far behind.
Under the effect of the translator, Kelusta’s eyes began to glow with a faint, mechanical blue light. When she looked down and opened the title page again, a virtual shadow floated up from the ornate characters, forming letters and rearranging themselves. Familiar sentences immediately appeared before her eyes.
“…Good night, my little moon.”
She slowly read the dedication printed alone on the first page, stunned for a moment. “Who is ‘little moon’?” she asked, bewildered.
The system said, “Unclear… According to the database, there doesn't seem to have been a deity known as the ‘Moon God’ in the era of the gods.”
Kelusta traced the sentence with her fingertip, as if feeling the immensely precious and gentle touch the Goddess of Light had used when writing it.
Little moon…
After a moment of contemplation, the brown-haired girl seemed to realize something. She frowned, let out a deep sigh, and said in a low voice, “Perhaps it was someone… very important to Clara.”
The system was completely baffled, but the temporary host clearly had no intention of enlightening it. Her slender fingers gently lifted the pale green page, which felt like a fresh, tender leaf, and turned it over. As expected, she was once again greeted by a page full of elegant, vine-like script.
“To my little moon:
I apologize that my previous actions hurt you. This was indeed my mistake, caused by my failure to notice your feelings in time while I was busy with the construction of the Holy Light Magic Academy…
Therefore, after Gosna’s reminder, I believe I must formally apologize to you in person—I hope you can return soon.
…Today is the third day since you left for the northern lands. Although Hebgard is protecting you, and I know you will be safe, I still miss you very much. Furthermore, the development of the human race has reached a critical moment, and I very much hope you will join me in cherishing these lovely creatures and creating the best conditions for their growth.
…Also, Persedoro told me not long ago that you seem to have been practicing the ‘Dark Mark’ on some animals? That is an evil curse magic that acts directly upon the soul. I do not wish for you to have too much contact with it.
My dear, if you like potions, then I can supply you with all the materials you need. But if you still insist on continuing to research this evil magic behind my back, then I regret to say that I may have to use certain forceful means to restrict your freedom.
Finally, please tell Hebgard to bring you back immediately once you find the polar red fruit. Do not be delayed by anything, and please take care of your safety.
Written by Clara.”
Kelusta slowly finished reading the text, somewhat surprised. “This is actually a collection of letters?”
“This is a data compilation retrieved from the highest-level database at headquarters… The original data was likely these letters, compiled into a journal for easier viewing,” the system replied.
“Alright, it looks like this was the starting point of the falling out between the Light and Dark Goddess sisters.”
Kelusta clicked her tongue, musing, “Speaking of which, I always thought the Goddess of Light was a gentle, easygoing, and perhaps even overly soft woman… but now it seems her personality is the complete opposite of what I guessed—she seems quite forceful.”
“Indeed,” the system said. “But to become the leader of a faction, or even a race… being a bit strong-willed is probably within the normal range, wouldn’t you say?”
“Hmm, that’s true.” Kelusta nodded, reaching for a quill from her bedside table and drawing a large circle around a key phrase in the letter.
“Dark Mark,” she said, tapping the words with the tip of her pen. “According to legend, the Goddess of Darkness used this black magic to curse the soul of the Goddess of Deceit before her suicide…”
The system continued her thought, “And not only did this magic fail to kill the Goddess of Deceit, but it instead made her soul immortal and granted her a portion of dark magic’s power.”
“In that case… my initial hypothesis is that to successfully ‘kill’ the Goddess of Deceit’s soul, we must find a way to break this curse.”
Kelusta briefly summarized the key point, frowned, and then turned to the next page of the journal.
“To Lysasa:
I have never been able to properly thank you for the portion of your life magic that you ceded to me. Without it, I could not have created such a beautiful and bright race, nor would I have had the chance to condense divine power and use your flowers to sustain life on the continent.
You need not apologize to me for Talebris’s matter. —In my view, her ability to create a vibrant race like the ‘demons’ is also a manifestation of her own talent.
All this time, I have been too rigid, forcibly shackling her gift for so long… If she wants to be angry with me now, then let her be. But there is one thing to be mindful of: have Hebgard keep a closer watch on Persedoro. If there are any unusual movements, report to me immediately.
Frankly, I do not trust that silver-tongued goddess of deceit from the south at all.
…Also, I hope you don’t mind my urging—how is the progress on Gosna’s magic array research? Have you reached the west coast of the continent yet? I will attach the spell I have developed to the back of this letter. It can affix scattered divine power to the magic array, allowing you to more conveniently collect the power within the ocean and bring it back to me for the continued development of the human race.
I wish you good luck.
Written by Clara.”
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