Power of Runes

"So… how did you kill it?"

Hearing Ash's question, the old man slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the white marble railing of the gazebo. His fingertips brushed against its polished surface, tracing the delicate curves as if grounding himself in the present before answering.

His voice came out low, carrying the weight of an old memory. "I… do not know."

Ash tilted his head slightly, certain that his ears had deceived him. "I think… I missed what you just said. Can you repeat it?"

The old man let out a slow, rueful sigh, his gaze drifting toward the grey clouds above.

"I do not know how to kill it. It was not me who destroyed that horrifying abomination. Someone else did… someone far stronger than I was back then. I do not know the exact nature of the power he used, but the creature died… instantly."

He paused for a moment, his voice growing heavier as he spoke again. "He killed that thing using some form of dark mana. Even now, I can still recall the feeling of that energy. It was chilling to say the least… something that felt entirely opposed to Life. Being near it was like standing in the shadow of Death itself."

"Speaking of Life," he continued, "Life mana was also effective against the Hollow Mother. At that time, the Elven King came close to killing it. I am certain he could have succeeded, but the creature managed to escape… and the Elven King chose not to pursue it."

"Wait, wait… why are you changing the topic?" Ash leaned forward, his tone pressing. "Who was the one who killed the Hollow Mother? I mean, what was his power level, what was his name?"

It's… Death affinity. It has to be Death affinity… but how can that be possible…? Having Death affinity would mean that person somehow came into contact with the Rune of Death… one way or another…

But the Rune of Death is a hidden rune… or is it not? If it truly is hidden… then how could another person have accessed it… when not even the Ancient Civilization was able to discover it…

No, no… the Rune of Death cannot come into contact with another person so easily… there were countless restrictions just to absorb it… I do not think it is something like that…

Does this mean there was someone naturally born with Death affinity in ancient times…?

It was entirely possible. If Fate affinity could exist—a rarity so extreme that it appeared only once in billions, if not trillions—then the existence of a natural Death affinity or even a pure Life affinity was not beyond reason.

"I don't know who that person was. He wore a white mask at the time, so I could not see his face, and shortly after killing that abomination, he vanished without leaving even a trace behind. He even took the corpse with him, so, regretfully, we were never able to study The Hollow Mother in detail…"

"That person's nickname was…" the old man hesitated for a heartbeat, as though speaking the name carried its own weight.

"Grim Reaper"

"After all he came, took life and went away just like a real Grim Reaper, that was what the people called him at least."

Ash fell silent after hearing that, his mind filled with countless thoughts running endlessly in circles.

At last, he exhaled slowly, letting out a quiet sigh.

"Does that mean… I will have to ask the Elf Queen for help in killing that creature?" Ash asked, his tone calm but carrying a hint of reluctance.

"Yes," the old man replied without any delay. "After all, she is the only one capable of using Life Mana."

..... I can also use it… hmmm, let's not tell him that right now…

As Ash was mulling over his own thoughts, the old man began muttering under his breath, but his voice was still loud enough for Ash to hear every word.

"I cannot be certain whether that creature is directly tied to the demons or not… but after discovering that all the blacksmiths have gathered in the central city to forge something, I cannot shake the feeling that the Hollow Mother is somehow connected to the demons' inner ranks. Otherwise, it would make no sense for it to act in such a systematic, coordinated way."

He paused for a moment, his brows furrowed, as if turning the problem over in his mind again and again. "But what is their purpose? What exactly are they creating that would require them to go as far as controlling an entire race? I cannot understand it… not even a little."

Ash heard him clearly, but chose not to respond. Even he could not say for certain what the demons truly wanted. He knew the Demon King's ultimate aim was to gather more runes… yet the way things were unfolding hinted at something else, something different.

What Ash did not yet know was that it was not the Demon King behind this particular scheme, but the Demon Prince.

"Old man, can you go over the abilities of The Hollow Mother and the Hollowborns again?" Ash asked, his voice steady but focused.

After that, they spoke for a long time, revisiting every piece of knowledge the old man could remember—its methods of reproduction, the speed of its spread, the ways it could hide, its strong points, its weaknesses, and every dangerous trait it possessed. The conversation flowed without pause, both of them weighing each possibility carefully.

By the time they were done, nearly an hour and a half had passed.

"…But remember this, Ash," the old man said gravely, "Even back then, The Hollow Mother died without being able to put up much of a fight against that great man. This means there may still be abilities it possesses that I do not know of, abilities it never had the chance to reveal."

He's right… I should not be overly dependent on this information. There is a high chance that it could be incomplete, or even wrong…

"I will remember it," Ash replied quietly. With that, he rose from his seat, ready to leave.

"And I would like to tell you something else as well. It was another reason I called you here…" The old man's voice was calm, but there was a weight to it, as though every word had been chosen with care.

"You know the Demon King is trying to invade this world, right? But because of the vast spatial distance and the differences between realms, crossing from one world to another is far from easy. The very fabric of space resists such travel."

His tone grew heavier, his gaze fixed on a far-off point as if recalling ancient knowledge that most could never imagine. "However… recently, the number of dungeons belonging to the demons has risen sharply. And it is not only them. Even the rate at which ordinary dungeons appear has increased alarmingly. The change is too sudden to be natural. As their numbers swell, the higher-ranking gates are being handled directly by the Saints, who must also remain on constant guard against dungeon breaks."

He took in a slow breath, letting it out in a weary exhale. "So… it will not be possible to send you any help in such a situation. After all—"

Before the old man could finish, Ash gave a faint smile, his eyes holding a flicker of understanding. "I understand. Even if they came, there is a high chance they would be infected. Do not worry, I will ask the Elf Queen for help instead."

Inside, however, Ash's thoughts were anything but calm.

The number of dungeons is increasing… and it is happening fast. Much too fast. The timing is drawing closer… Could it be that my interference is causing the events of this world to accelerate? Possibly. The changes are undeniable. Still, even if that is the case, I still have some time left… but not enough to relax. I need to move faster.

I must grow stronger as well. After I return from the Dwarven Continent, I will train without pause… mostly focusing on my sword. Being a magic swordsman, it is almost shameful that I cannot even wield a sword like a true master, nor have I managed to awaken my aura…

"I will be going then," Ash said, bowing lightly, though there was a quiet resolve in his movements.

"Yes, off you go… and take care of your health," the old man replied. His voice softened slightly at the end, almost betraying a touch of concern.

The next instant, Ash vanished, his presence slipping away like a ripple fading across still water.

The old man remained like that for a long moment, staring at the spot where Ash had stood.

The surrounding breeze stirred the grass, carrying with it the faint fragrance of flowers, but none of it reached him. A sigh escaped his lips, deep and tired, the kind that spoke of years weighed down by duty.

"What days I am living to see… It should be me standing on the battlefield, fighting the monsters, protecting everyone. Yet here I am… forced to watch helplessly while the younger generation shoulders the burden meant for my hands."

His gaze lowered to the polished surface of the table, and his voice dropped to a whisper meant for no one but himself. "I truly am beginning to hate fate… and its cruel causality."

Knowledge really is a curse. Damn it… I wish I had never learned any heavenly or cosmic secrets. If I had not, perhaps I could have been free to act however I wished…

***