A surging tide of the undead rushed forward, showing no interest in Jenkins whatsoever. Even when he stood directly in their path, the ghastly creatures simply flowed around him. Their target was singular: the ruined house. There, they collided with an ever-increasing thicket of vines erupting from a tear in space, locking them in a chaotic struggle.
The strange, unearthly noises grew in number, and the ground was soon slick with a grotesque mixture of vine ichor and the viscera of the undead, completely obscuring the earth beneath.
This was the first ti the hitherto undefeated [Blasphemous Creation] had t its match. Even Pomphey, clutching his Skull Sword, had lacked the courage to confront these ferocious tendrils head-on.
"That black-robed figure is a force to be reckoned with..."
With that thought in mind, Jenkins decided to find a way out of this place before the battle reached its conclusion. But as he turned, he was startled to find another person in a black robe standing behind him. This one, however, had their face exposed.
He was a young man, his hood pulled back to reveal his features. His skin was a deathly pale and his fra was gaunt, as if he were recovering from a long illness. But the scythe in his hand, wreathed in an ominous black aura, was undeniably real.
This was no stranger. On the contrary, Jenkins had a vivid mory of this person. After all, in a way, he owed his current asure of financial independence to a gift from the very man standing before him.
"Viscount Augustus?"
The na escaped Jenkins's lips in a stunned whisper. The young man in the black robe was undoubtedly Viscount Augustus, who had died the previous year.
Unlike Mason Pisco, who was now suspected of faking his death, Jenkins was certain that Viscount Augustus had truly passed away. After his death, his soul had traversed a bizarre gateway into so peculiar, unknown realm...
"The Augustus family are descendants of an ancient death god," Jenkins mused. "It would hardly be surprising for them to enter their sovereign's realm after death and be granted imnse power."
As the realization dawned on him, Jenkins instinctively took a step back. The vines he had summoned were, after all, still locked in mortal combat with the viscount's "compatriots."
"It's been a while, Baron Williatte."
The pale, black-robed young man greeted Jenkins with a casual air. Noticing his guarded expression, he smiled and asked:
"My friend, it's been so long. Don't you recognize ? No, I haven't co here to interfere. I rely sensed a change in my Lord's vestnts and ca to investigate. As for that one..."
He glanced at the tangled mass of vines and undead locked in mutual slaughter.
"I don't know him, and his fate is no concern of mine. Oh, Mr. Williatte, as long as you have no intention of defiling this land, I will stay out of it."
"Viscount Augustus, I still consider you a friend, but... what's happened to you? My apologies, I don't an any offense, but I was under the impression you had entered your eternal rest..."
Sensing no malice from the viscount, Jenkins allowed himself to relax, at least outwardly adopting a more amicable stance.
"My Lord has given a new purpose. You're right, Baron Williatte, I have indeed crossed into death. But is death not rely the beginning of another grand adventure?"
Jenkins rembered the viscount saying those very words before his death. It seed now that he hadn't been entirely ignorant of his family's legacy after all.
"If this is what you wished for, Viscount Augustus, then I congratulate you. Congratulations on finding a new purpose in existence, and on serving that great entity whose na I dare not speak aloud."
After a mont's hesitation, Jenkins extended his right hand. Viscount Augustus, clad in his black robes, offered a faint smile and took it.
"It is truly a pleasure to see you again, my friend,"
the viscount said.
"I am also very pleased to see you again."
Jenkins replied, quickly withdrawing his hand. He glanced down at his palm and saw that the skin had begun to fester slightly—the corrosive touch of a death spirit on a living body.
The rot, however, vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The damage wasn't severe.
"My apologies. It seems it is best for the living and the dead to avoid contact. My Lord teaches that mortals cannot cross the boundary between life and death—though of course, you are an exception."
He gave Jenkins a knowing wink, and Jenkins returned it with an understanding smile.
Seeing Viscount Augustus again was certainly an unexpected pleasure, yet Jenkins found he wasn't particularly surprised. It was as if so part of him had always been prepared for another eting with his friend from the mysterious family.
The viscount took the opportunity to thank Jenkins once more for faithfully managing his estate, revealing a keen awareness of events in the mortal world.
"No, in truth, I haven't done nearly enough."
It was the truth. While the execution of the will had gone smoothly, Jenkins had entrusted most of the managent to the Church. He had personally handled very little of it.
"Can you open a way out of here for ? I don't believe I belong in this place."
Once the pleasantries were concluded, Jenkins asked again, his tone cautious.
"Of course. Of course. There is indeed a gateway here. My Lord's vestnts were left in the mortal world rely to select suitable souls to deliver into death's embrace. My Lord takes no pleasure in forcing mortals to accept death, and since you have chosen the world of the living, I certainly won't compel you. As for that one..."
Viscount Augustus gestured toward the ruined house in the cetery, where the battle was reaching its conclusion. Jenkins's vines now clearly held the advantage.
"As for him, he was rely blinded by the sin of desire on his path. He has been tainted, and death will no longer accept him. Let him fall into an eternal slumber."
Jenkins finally let out a sigh of relief. From what he understood, these sovereigns weren't the sort of malevolent beings who would force soone to change their faith. Everything that had happened here was clearly the work of the black-robed figure in the ruined house.
"But I don't understand. Why is he so brazen? Does he not fear punishnt?"
"My Lord offered him a second path, but he failed to bear the weight of his sins and was instead consud by them. That is his punishnt. Even if you had not appeared, fate would have brought him to his end in due ti. Or perhaps, this very mont is the end that fate has ordained for him."
Viscount Augustus answered the question directly, a rare occurrence for Jenkins, who was accustod to evasiveness when it ca to supernatural matters. The viscount seed perfectly at ease, showing none of the usual hesitation that ca with revealing secrets. Perhaps it was due to the unique nature of this realm, or perhaps it was a privilege of his unique station.
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