Chapter 9: Proof of Time
Although it was called “Master of the Tomb” to claim the tomb.
However, Jessica herself was also bewildered.
“I, was I buried in such a place… Princess Elus, I remember that I wasn’t buried with everyone else in the Wei State Public Cemetery?”
“Yes, that’s what I remember too. I personally buried them then—well, in any case, you should all be sleeping in the Wei State Public Cemetery, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to take you to the Land of Eternity.”
Elus spread her hands and said so.
“However, it is indeed written here, ‘In memory of the amiable reception officer of the political hall, Miss Jessica.’ It is indeed my job title, so there shouldn’t be any other Jessica with the same name?”
“That’s why it’s strange, isn’t it, Jessica? Although disturbing the peace of the ancestors is immoral, as long as I get your permission, it should be fine—can you please open it and see what’s inside the coffin?”
“Mmm, let’s open it. Otherwise, if I keep thinking about this, I’ll feel uneasy.”
…
Although she decided to open the tombstone, Jessica was hesitant, not knowing what would happen.
What if she saw a hideous skeleton?
Or what if the coffin had already been infested with countless insects, making it a completely disgusting sight?
In the Land of Eternity, Jessica had always been brave and fearless, never backing down even in the face of swarms of beasts.
But at this moment, Jessica felt fear and was somewhat afraid to step forward.
However…
…
“Jessica, it’s okay.”
“Huh, Your Highness the Hero…”
“After fighting Castor, I realized… Death is not our enemy, but merely a return. Because of death, life becomes all the more precious. And if one dies contentedly and without regrets, then to sleep eternally is also a very happy thing.”
“Ah… yes, I understand.”
…
In fact, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all natural cycles.
After a creature dies, its body automatically decomposes and becomes part of this world, circulating between heaven and earth…
The saying “the fall of a whale gives life to all things” speaks of such a scene.
So, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Jessica took a deep breath and, along with Su Ling and Lonis, opened the coffin.
And what met their eyes…
…
“This, this is a time capsule?!”
“Mmm, it should be a cenotaph… because these things are very representative.”
…
The girls were surprised because the coffin contained not bodies, but various objects.
There was a cute big bear plush toy.
There was a second-class medal of honor.
There was a medal representing Jessica’s work.
Of course, there were also some daily clothes, small decorations, and small furniture.
Some of these things Jessica had even forgotten, and she only remembered many things when they appeared before her:
“Ah… ah, I remember this! This medal was awarded to me by General Tas…”
“Oh…”
“Ah… this thing! Yes, this gift was given to me by the Princess! Do you remember, the Princess issued a small commission at that time, but no one could complete it, so she gave the reward to me in the end.”
“Ah, I think something like that happened? Was it about collecting recipes for new cookies…”
…
Memory is like this.
Even for many things that you thought were deeply ingrained, when you actually recall them, you find that you have almost forgotten them.
It is often only by finding those discarded objects in the corner that one accidentally remembers that one had such an experience in the past.
So…
Unconsciously, Jessica was almost “in tears of joy” (of course, robots don’t cry), immersed in the happiness of remembrance, seemingly quite satisfied.
And seeing Jessica like this, Lonis and her other companions also felt genuine happiness.
Indeed, no matter what, memory is the most precious wealth we have in this world, isn’t it?
…
…
However…
While feeling warmth, a question surfaced in Lonis’s mind.
Since this coffin was not arranged by Elus and Jessica, who arranged it here?
Could it be that someone else had been here?
…
Lonis looked at Elus, only to find that she was also looking at her.
“Lonis, the Snow Kingdom was not completely destroyed at that time, was it? Although many people have died, most of the civilians and commoners have escaped.”
“Ah?”
“To buy time for ordinary people, most of the soldiers sacrificed themselves here… However, even so, some soldiers should have survived.”
“Then, those people…”
“Mmm, because they are still alive, Lonis probably wouldn’t have seen them in the Land of Eternity. It’s just that a long time has passed, and I don’t remember which ones are still alive.”
…
Elus rubbed her forehead. Although she had erected gravestones for the deceased, she had not deliberately remembered the living.
“Then this coffin…”
“Mmm, perhaps it was arranged by a soldier who returned? Perhaps they couldn’t forget those things, so they returned to the city to sort out the relics… As for why it wasn’t sent to a dedicated cemetery, perhaps it’s because I set up a restriction.”
“!”
“To ensure that everything here is not desecrated, I borrowed some power from Master Tsukimi Shimo. It was also for this reason that Cru was sealed in prison by me and could not escape from that space.”
“I see…”
Actually, hearing Elus say this, Lonis felt a little more hatred towards Castor and the Trickster Demon.
But…
If you consider the need to save the world, this is unavoidable. So Lonis could only hold her wife’s wrist and say:
“Elus, is it okay? If you still resent Castor, I will also demand an explanation from him and ask him to apologize to you!”
“Mmm, it’s okay. Because I am also royalty and have received education in war since childhood—Castor was an enemy from the start, and he has always been the one we have to fight. Not resisting his power is also due to our insufficient training, because in this world, backwardness leads to being beaten?”
“!”
“However, I cannot forgive Cru. Because he was originally a general of our kingdom… I cannot forgive him for betraying his oath, so he must die.”
“Indeed. Traitors are more hateful than enemies, aren’t they?”
…
With just a little thought, Lonis realized.
In this world, due to differing standpoints, wars between countries are very normal.
And after peace, it is also normal for ethnic groups to resolve their animosity. But no matter what, traitors who act for their own selfish desires are despicable.
…
Elus smiled slightly and said:
“Mmm, let’s not talk about these depressing things. Actually, I faintly heard the sound of flowing water nearby just now?”
“Huh? Is it… is it a hot spring?”
“It should be. Su Ling and the Eight-tailed Fox seem to be close. Little idiot, let’s dig too?”
Holding Lonis’s wrist, Elus happily walked forward.
…
…
