Chapter 532: Buried
I walk across the grasslands, watched over by the horses.
“Hey, do you think that rock over there looks like a horse?”
“It might look like a horse, but it could also resemble something else, Master!”
I think so too.
“The rock that looks like a horse, the tree that looks like a horse, and the position of the stars—”
It’s broad daylight!!!!
Guided by the wind, I’m searching for the “King’s Branch” in the grasslands. The hints are so vague that I wonder if it’s even possible, yet here I am, wandering through the expansive fields.
By the way, this is the Forbidden Grounds that Kenta-kun trespassed.
“Master, shouldn’t we ask the spirits around here?”
“Will they even understand? Alright, let’s ask.”
Spirits gather around the “King’s Branch” and “Spirit’s Branch.” Especially the “King’s Branch,” which can even create spirits.
Wait, can the Ex-Staff also create spirits? Could it be that the Spirit Notes multiplying is influenced by the Ex-Staff?
A mystery has arisen with the staff that’s closer than the one I’m searching for. The Ex-Staff is fine as it is.
“Hey, spirits, is there another ‘King’s Branch’ around here besides the one I have? I heard it’s buried somewhere.”
“Probably.”
“Most likely.”
The spirits of the grass, swaying in the wind, respond to my call.
“Over there.”
“This way.”
Though their words differ, they point in the same direction.
“Thanks.”
It seems the grass spirits can’t stray too far from their main bodies, so they can’t guide me directly.
“That way.”
“This way.”
But there are many grass spirits here, along with wind spirits following me, taking turns to guide me.
The grass of the field sways like waves, indicating the direction to go. The rustling sounds blend with the voices of the spirits.
Now, we’ve arrived.
The grass bends against the wind, creating a swirling pattern at the center. A mystery circle? I already figured it out, so you can stand up now, you know?
I swiftly thrust the Ex-Staff into the ground.
“Do you think it’s here?”
“I think so, but it seems deep.”
The Ex-Staff wears a subtle expression.
Enter the round spade. A shovel has a flat blade on top for stepping on to dig, while a spade has a curved blade with a straight tip for moving soil. The round spade is a shovel, and its sharp blade is perfect for root cutting—it’s my favorite!
“Sorry, could you move aside for a moment?”
I peel the grass and soil away, setting it aside.
The grass in the fields of the House has fewer spirits, so I let the goats munch on it without worry, but here, the grass is teeming with spirits. Most of them are spirits that take the grass as their main body.
I feel a bit guilty, so I plan to return everything to normal after filling in the hole. If I cut it, it would probably turn into fire spirits, sleeping straw spirits, or horse grass spirits.
I plant the Ex-Staff beside me and dig into the ground, relying on my physical abilities. It’s fine to dig down to the tip of the Ex-Staff.
Once I’ve dug, I thrust the Ex-Staff into the bottom of the hole.
“How’s that?”
“Hmm… maybe two more times?”
After repeating this twice, I switch to manual labor. Using a small spade, I carefully search for the “King’s Branch,” sensing that the soil spirits are nearby, rustling about.
“Oh?”
I spot part of a whitish stone-like staff. I carefully dig it out while brushing off the mud.
“It’s dazzling.”
“Ah, sorry. Um, are you the ‘King’s Branch’ here?”
“Indeed, I am.”
It’s a staff resembling a wand. It has a texture like white stone, topped with a horse’s head reminiscent of a chess knight. The lower part is gray and decayed, making it hard to tell how long it originally was.
Could this be the result of Kenta merging with the Black Spirit…? No, it feels like Kenta alone wouldn’t be enough. Kenta was defeated multiple times, right? So, what happened?
“Are you human or spirit?”
“For now, I’m human.”
As long as I think I’m human, I am. I have a physical form after all.
“Then leave. This is the land of horses, a place where horses run free. Other oaths have been broken.”
“Why are you safe if the oaths have been broken?”
No, it’s more accurate to ask why it turned black when there are still unbroken oaths remaining.
“There are no humans to uphold the oaths, nor those who would break them. The remaining oaths were on the verge of breaking, but before that, they vanished.”
Oaths are wishes. Horses, or perhaps because horses are running free here? They’re currently watching me from a distance as a group!
“Even if humans disappear, as long as the oaths are upheld, the ‘King’s Branch’ remains safe.”
“There is also an oath stating that humans and horses are equal. And my ownership has been ceded to the horses.”
The initial wish still holds. I assume it has been passed down through generations, but it seems the love for horses has continued. However, it seems the king during Kenta’s time was not up to par? Ah, so that’s why all the oaths were on the verge of breaking.
“Why is it buried here?”
“Because the horses do not carry the branches.”
So it fell and got buried just like that. Well, it would be troublesome for the horses to carry it, wouldn’t it…?