Chapter 87

“You can enter through this gate.”

“Try making it bigger.”

“That’s impossible, Mother-Body.”

“No, why?!”

“The Dark Realm’s gate itself is a bit small.”

The gate that opened before my eyes wasn’t much different from what I had imagined. You know, that oval shape shimmering, giving off the vibe of a portal to another world.

The only problem is, it’s ridiculously small. Keru can fit through just fine, but there’s no way I can walk through it standing up. I’d have to crawl, and honestly, I don’t even know what kind of nonsense this is.

“Oh, looks like the Dark Realm’s financial status is poor? The size of the gate is ridiculous.”

Even Eve, who was watching from the side, seemed dumbfounded.

“How big is the Light Realm’s gate?”

At my question, Eve thought for a moment, then spread her arms wide.

“About this big.”

What the heck? This difference…

“That’s just how it is, Mother-Body.”

“What is?”

“Never mind… Let’s explain later. We don’t have much time, so let’s go in.”

With that, Keru casually walked inside. But for me to go in… well, I’d have to…

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming in?”

Even with Eve urging me, I hesitated for a reason. I’d have to crawl in. Isn’t that a bit… awkward?

“Sigh…”

Meanwhile, time kept ticking.

“No choice.”

I pushed my travel bag, which had some basic toiletries and clothes, in first, then slowly got on my knees and started crawling.

“Look at that pose. You’re like a walking pervert.”

Halfway through, I heard Eve’s voice, and someone smacked my butt.

“Eve! You’re dead, seriously!”

Even if I yelled here, my upper body was already inside the gate, so no one would hear me. But I made a mental note. When I get back to the surface, I’m definitely teasing her about her small chest.

—

“It’s a bit different from what I expected.”

After crawling through the gate and looking around, it felt very much like a train station. But it had this old-fashioned vibe, like from the days of steam locomotives. To put it nicely, it’s quaint. To put it bluntly, it’s just run-down.

My first impression was like a scene from an old myth. Buildings made of carved stone blocks, giving off a temple-like feel, and everything was just… gloomy.

“Is this the Dark Realm?”

“Yes.”

The Dark Realm does have that kind of vibe. A place where the dead go, always shrouded in mist, and just… gloomy.

It’s definitely that kind of place. A city of the dead would be an accurate description.

“The Dark Realm is a place that judges the dead, so the atmosphere is a bit gloomy.”

Not just a bit, but very much so.

“So, what’s the schedule now?”

The reason we’re here is, well, to meet those Bureau of Administration guys or whatever.

“The Bureau of Administration meeting is scheduled for tomorrow… Let’s head to the hotel first. I’ve made a reservation, so we can check in right away.”

“There’s a hotel too?”

“Yes.”

At my question, Keru looked at me like I had asked something obvious.

What? Did I ask something weird?

“Even though the Dark Realm is the world of the dead, it’s not a world without interaction with the Light Realm or the Divine Realm, Mother-Body. There are gods and messengers coming and going, so of course there’s a hotel.”

That makes sense.

“Alright, got it. Let’s go.”

—

A carriage, huh. A carriage in this day and age. Though, instead of horses, there’s this six-legged… dog-like creature tied to the front, which is a bit surprising. But still, having a carriage as transportation is pretty fascinating.

And oddly enough, there was no one in the driver’s seat. Normally, there’d be a coachman, but I didn’t see one. Just a box-shaped carriage with a driver’s seat in front, and that… thing tied to it.

“Mother-Body, hurry up and get on. It’s an unmanned cart. No need to be so amazed.”

As Keru stepped onto the footboard, the carriage door slid open as if it recognized him. An unmanned cart, huh.

This place is strangely advanced, I see.

Once I got in and sat down, the door slid shut.

“To Kraminon Hotel.”

I don’t know who he was talking to, but as soon as Keru muttered that, the carriage started moving.

“Phew. Now then, oops.”

As Keru sat on the seat and raised his front paw, a small magic circle began to form. Golden lines ran through it, followed by a sequence of letters I couldn’t understand.

– Flash!

There wasn’t any actual flash of light, but I felt something. If you saw the silver-haired youth sitting in front of me, you’d probably feel the same.

“Ke, Keru…?”

A black-furred leopard. The guy I always beat up and swung by the tail, calling him useless. The Keru I knew was gone, and in his place was a handsome youth who looked about my age.

“This is a bit livable now. Mother-Body, this is the first time I’ve shown my true form.”

The youth smiled at me.

Silver hair, closer to white than Eve’s. Sapphire-like blue eyes. A sharp jawline. Cherry-red lips and a straight nose…

“Wow, you look like a pretty boy.”

“Pfft.”

At my jab, Keru laughed with an incredulous expression.

“Even if I’m a mascot, calling me a pretty boy is a bit much, Mother-Body.”

“What’s going on?”

Mascot or pretty boy, that’s not the point. The Keru I knew was definitely a leopard, so seeing him in human form is a first for me.

“This is my true form. In the human world… it’s hard to maintain this form. To conserve energy, I took on the form of the leopard you saw.”

“Only here?”

That’s fascinating. But the reason isn’t entirely incomprehensible. It makes sense.

“Yes. To conserve energy… and also, living as a leopard became comfortable. People just accept it if I sleep anywhere.”

Hehe.

Keru’s smile was straight out of a shoujo manga prince, and it’s kind of cringy.

“But why didn’t you tell me? I thought you were just a leopard. No, not even a leopard, just a mascot.”

“A, a mascot…”

Seemingly a bit shocked, Keru chuckled after mulling over my words.

“If I told you I looked like this, would you have believed me?”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Exactly.”

“Alright, I get it.”

“And my real name is Aivis Crown. Crown is the family name, Aivis is the given name.”

“Okay, Aivis.”

This name sticks. Aivis, it sounds familiar.

“Anyway, welcome to the Dark Realm, Mother-Body. Since it’s your first visit, I’m sure you have many questions. Feel free to ask.”

“Hmm.”

But thinking about it, I’m not really sure what to ask. The reason I wanted to come to the Dark Realm was to learn more about my past life, meet the Bureau of Administration folks, and figure out what this engraving on me is and why I can’t use magic.

That’s pretty much it. It’s not like I came here to learn about the Dark Realm itself, as Aivis said… Wait, not Aivis, but Aivis. Anyway, as he said.

“I want to visit Mitran’s Garden.”

“Mitran’s Garden, huh.”

In the carriage, Aivis rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. He looked like a masterpiece, so handsome.

Even though he’s a leopard.

“Mitran’s Garden is currently closed. Didn’t I mention that?”

I know. But according to Vesprede Amory, I can enter there.

“I’ve tried many times to reopen Mitran’s Garden, but I couldn’t. After the master of the Dark Realm disappeared, no one could enter.”

“Is that so?”

“Thanks to that, it’s now unintentionally closed. But we can at least go to the entrance. It’s shrouded in mist, so there’s not much to see, but do you have a reason to go, Mother-Body?”

I do. If I’m really Vesprede, I should be able to enter. But there’s also a chance I’m wrong, so it’s a bit awkward to say now…

“Uh, sightseeing… I guess.”

“Hmm, that’s a reasonable reason. Alright, after the Bureau of Administration meeting tomorrow, we’ll go together.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

At my words, Aivis smiled faintly again.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Mother-Body. We can only see the entrance. There’s not much to see.”

“Well, that’s up to me, isn’t it?”

—

About ten minutes later, the carriage came to a smooth stop.

“We’ve arrived. The only 5-star hotel in the Dark Realm, Kraminon Hotel.”

The carriage door slid open, and Aivis grabbed my travel bag and got out first.

“Watch your step.”

“Yeah, got it. Whoa?!”

As soon as I answered, I missed my step. The slight heel on my shoes made it hard to balance since I’m not used to it yet.

“Are you okay?”

I almost fell, but Aivis quickly grabbed my arm to steady me.

“You don’t seem to have fully adapted to your body as a woman yet, Mother-Body.”

“Says the one who changed me?”

“Fair enough.”

Aivis chuckled lightly and let go of my arm after helping me. At the same time, the sensation on my waist disappeared.

Did he grab both my arm and waist? His reflexes are insane. Must be because he’s a leopard.

“Here’s the key.”

He handed me a small card key, which I took. A carriage as transportation, but the key is a card key? I don’t get how things work here.

“Breakfast and dinner are included, so feel free to relax. We’ll have lunch together, so that’s not included.”

“You’re oddly considerate at times like this.”

“Come on, you must be tired. Go up and rest. Oh, and this.”

Aivis took out a small stone tablet from his pocket and handed it to me. About the size of a smartphone, and just as thin.

“This is a communication stone. Squeeze it, and you’ll be connected to me. If there’s any trouble, call me. I’ve marked you, so no one will bother you, but try not to go out alone at night.”

“Uh… okay, got it.”

—

After parting ways with Aivis in the lobby, I took the old-fashioned elevator to the 7th floor and entered my room. I turned on the light and flopped onto the bed.

If I’m really Vesprede, the Dark Realm should feel like home. But ever since I got here, it doesn’t feel like home at all.

It feels like I’ve been deceived.

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