Chapter 82: And Finally
After about two days in the retreat, Ethen and the rest were thoroughly rested.
The place had brought a level of relaxation Ethen had never experienced before, not in this life nor the one before it. For the first time in what felt like forever, there were no monsters to hunt, no schemes to unravel, no constant fear that the next sunrise might also be his last. Every morning was greeted by crisp mountain air, every night by complete silence broken only by the gentle rustling of trees and the distant sound of flowing water.
It was peaceful.
Dangerously peaceful.
The retreat quietly cemented a dream he had never allowed himself to entertain before. One day, he would create a place like this for himself—a home hidden from the endless conflicts of the world, where neither greed nor ambition could find him. A sanctuary where he could simply exist without constantly calculating the next move needed to survive.
Unfortunately, dreams belonged to the strong.
For someone as weak as he currently was, someone who could barely protect himself let alone those around him, such thoughts were nothing more than fantasies. Until he possessed overwhelming strength, peace would always remain a luxury borrowed from others.
He understood that better than anyone.
On the morning of the second day, a firm knock echoed through their room.
Knock. Knock.
The door slowly opened as a line of maids entered one after another, each carrying polished silver trays laden with steaming dishes. The aroma of roasted meat, fresh bread, rich soup, grilled vegetables, and delicate desserts quickly filled the room, causing everyone to momentarily pause.
Even Fin’s eyes widened.
"This is a gift from an honored VIP member of the retreat. Please enjoy."
The lead receptionist bowed deeply, though the smile on her face carried an unmistakable hint of shame.
She had watched these young people scrape together nearly every coin they possessed simply to afford three days within the retreat. Secretly, she had looked down on them, assuming they were merely fortunate nobodies trying to experience luxury beyond their station.
Thirty minutes earlier, however, her entire perspective had been shattered.
Several figures whose names alone could shake entire cities had appeared at the front desk asking specifically about these four youths.
She hadn’t even been qualified to speak to them directly.
Instead, she had simply received their orders.
Only then had she realized just how blind her assumptions had been.
"Oh..."
Ethen frowned before slowly turning toward Fin.
"...It’s him again, isn’t it?"
Fin merely scratched the back of his head before sighing.
"For the past two days the old man hasn’t left us alone."
Whether they were eating, training, bathing, or simply trying to enjoy the retreat, Mister Mysteries somehow always found a reason to appear before vanishing just as abruptly. His behavior bordered on harassment.
Ethen had little doubt this extravagant meal was another one of his antics.
"May we ask who sent this?"
Hela asked politely.
Unlike Ethen and Fin, neither she nor her brother had actually met the mysterious old man despite hearing endless complaints about him.
"The first gentleman bears the insignia of Mysteries."
She hesitated briefly.
"The second... I’m afraid I do not know. Even the management wasn’t informed of his identity. We were only instructed to escort you to their suite after you’ve finished your meal."
Her tone remained exceptionally respectful.
Far more respectful than before.
Ethen noticed the change immediately but chose not to comment.
Instead, he quietly activated White Inspect.
His vision shifted.
One by one, every dish upon the table was carefully examined. Hidden poisons, strange enchantments, curses, lingering mana signatures—he searched for all of them.
Nothing.
Everything appeared perfectly normal.
Only then did he begin eating.
The meal itself far exceeded anything they had tasted since arriving in this world. Every ingredient seemed fresh beyond belief, while even the simplest soup possessed a richness impossible to describe.
For several minutes, conversation disappeared entirely.
Even Fin, normally incapable of keeping quiet, devoted himself wholeheartedly to the feast.
Eventually, after everyone had finished, the maids once again appeared to escort them.
Their path led deeper into the retreat, beyond the ordinary guest quarters and into an area none of them had previously been permitted to enter.
The buildings gradually became fewer.
The pathways narrower.
Eventually they arrived at one of the mountain peaks itself, where a solitary structure overlooked the surrounding valleys.
The receptionist stopped before an ornate wooden door.
With a respectful bow, she pushed it open.
Click.
The moment they stepped through, an overwhelming fragrance engulfed their senses.
It wasn’t unpleasant.
Quite the opposite.
It resembled fresh cedar mixed with herbs, flowers, and an indescribable sweetness that seemed capable of washing away exhaustion itself. For a brief instant Ethen even felt his mind becoming lighter.
Yet the sensation lasted only moments before his attention shifted elsewhere.
The interior before them bore almost no resemblance to what they had expected.
From outside the building appeared no larger than a modest suite.
Inside...
It resembled an expansive mountain cabin.
Warm wooden walls stretched outward beneath towering ceilings supported by enormous beams. A fireplace crackled softly near one corner while shelves filled with ancient books lined several walls. Large windows overlooked endless clouds drifting between neighboring peaks, making the room feel detached from the rest of the world entirely.
"You’re here!!"
The energetic voice could belong to only one person.
Mister Mysteries hurried toward them with surprising speed for someone of his age, his robes fluttering behind him as though he hadn’t a care in the world.
By this point, the maids had quietly disappeared through another doorway without anyone noticing exactly when.
One after another, the old man enthusiastically embraced each of them before ushering everyone toward a large circular table occupying the room’s center.
Scattered across its surface lay numerous strange instruments.
Some resembled ritual knives.
Others looked like polished crystals engraved with intricate symbols.
There were metallic rings, black candles that emitted no smoke, and a collection of silver spikes resting neatly upon dark velvet cloth.
"Before we begin..."
Mister Mysteries suddenly became uncharacteristically serious.
"...has anyone here ever sworn an oath of secrecy?"
His gaze swept across the four youths.
Silence answered him.
They had signed contracts with the White Tower before.
Magical contracts.
Employment contracts.
Training agreements.
But an actual oath?
None of them had ever experienced one.
"I see."
The old man nodded slowly before reaching toward the table and picking up one of the silver spikes.
"Then today shall be your first."
His usual playful smile softened.
"We won’t involve any external gods."
He casually twirled the spike between his fingers.
"Karth alone is sufficient to witness this oath. You remain free to refuse at any point before completion. This oath won’t compel your actions, alter your minds, or force loyalty upon you."
He paused long enough to ensure every word settled.
"It serves only one purpose."
"To ensure whatever you learn here never leaves this room without permission."
Naturally, refusing the oath also meant forfeiting whatever secret awaited them.
Despite Mister Mysteries’ bizarre personality, he remained the Leader of the White Tower. The very fact that he deemed an oath necessary spoke volumes about the importance of what they were about to witness.
"We’ll take it."
The twins answered almost simultaneously.
Neither displayed the slightest hesitation.
Very few people truly understood who Mister Mysteries was.
Their mother happened to be among that select group.
If she trusted him without reservation, then so would they.
Fin shrugged.
"I’m already in this deep."
Ethen remained quiet for several moments.
He disliked surrendering even the slightest measure of control, especially when supernatural forces became involved. Still, after carefully considering the conditions, he found no hidden trap within the old man’s explanation.
Finally...
"I’ll participate."
"Good."
Mister Mysteries smiled warmly.
"Now... repeat after me."
He gently pressed the silver spike against the center of his own palm. A tiny bead of crimson blood emerged before dissolving into faint strands of pale spiritual light that floated above the table.
The surrounding crystals began glowing.
The room itself grew unnaturally quiet.
Even the fire within the fireplace seemed to stop crackling.
An invisible pressure settled over everyone present.
The old man’s voice echoed calmly.
"Today, I swear upon my life. Before the Spirit World, I offer my soul as collateral. This secret shall remain forever sealed, and not a single word of it shall leave my lips unless permitted by the King above the Spirit World. By His parade of spirits, by His eternal river, and by my very soul, I bind myself to this oath..."
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