Chapter 322: The Crow and the Man
Chapter 322: The Crow and the Man
Is there a problem? Of course, there's a problem!
Although it wasn't the real Third Generation Bureau Chief, but merely the lingering obsession of the Third Generation Bureau Chief who failed to become the strongest Forge Master, it looked no different from a living person. And not only was the Bureau Chief digging up graves, but he even wanted to steal the old man's coffin. It felt awkward no matter how he thought about it.
But... compared to this minor moral flaw, it was obviously more important to treat Emma's injuries first. So, he could only apologize to the little old Bureau Chief for now.
Feeling slightly guilty, Lyon mentally apologized to the Third Generation Bureau Chief before carrying his coffin out of the cemetery and running towards an abandoned lakeside cottage... Before the Bureau Chief took him to dig up graves, he had temporarily placed Emma here.
"Keep an eye on the cemetery! Call me if there's any movement!"
After instructing the little crocodile lying at the door, Lyon carried the Third Generation Bureau Chief's coffin into the cottage. Just as he was about to follow the Bureau Chief's method to help restore Emma's damaged body, he suddenly realized that the cottage was empty. Emma, who was originally lying on an old wooden bed, had disappeared without a trace.
What?!
Where is she? Wasn't the crocodile always guarding the door? How did she disappear?
Startled by Emma's sudden disappearance, Lyon quickly dropped the Third Generation Bureau Chief's coffin and hurried out of the door. He wanted to ask the Crocodile Deity what had happened, but at the lake near the cottage, he saw a familiar silhouette.
"Lyon?"
Seemingly noticing the commotion, the graceful lady sitting by the lake slightly turned her body. Her light chestnut-colored hair gently fell over her slender, fair neck, and a gentle smile adorned her soft, beautiful face.
Even though the background behind her wasn't the blue sky and sea, but the ink-black Lake of the Dead and the lifeless hazy gray sky, Emma's mature and graceful smile still made Lyon's heart suddenly calm.
"You're awake..."
After saying something completely pointless, Lyon put down the struggling little crocodile wriggling in his hand and walked towards Emma, who was sitting on a round stone by the lake.
"Emma."
After reaching Emma's side, Lyon spoke with a hint of urgency:
"The Bureau Chief found an Anomaly that can heal your physical injuries. Just sit inside for a while and you'll be fine. I just brought it back. You should..."
"Look at the crows above the lake."
Interrupting Lyon, Emma turned her head back and quietly gazed at the Death Crows circling above the black lake, her expression calm as she said:
"Lyon, do you know what they represent?"
...
Are you... feeling sentimental after seeing the Death Crows and want to have a heart-to-heart with me?
Well... I don't mind listening to you pour your heart out, and I'm even willing to be a quiet listener. But is the timing a bit off?
The Bureau Chief is still struggling with the Third Generation Bureau Chief, and we need to return the coffin after we're done with it. Is it a little inappropriate for us to start chatting here?
"It seems the Bureau Chief has already told you."
Looking at Lyon's face filled with unspoken words, Emma smiled again and then spoke with a hint of loneliness:
"These Death Crows don't belong to me. They belonged to my clan members who died six years ago. On that day, as I inherited their lives, I also inherited these Death Crows that belonged to them.
Although I've never been to such a deep location, I've secretly visited the Dead Realm many times and observed them on numerous occasions. After coming here frequently, I could even vaguely recognize who these Death Crows belonged to."
"..."
"The one flying at the very top, refusing to descend, seems to be desperately trying to distance itself from me. It should be my grandfather's Death Crow... These birds inherit some fragments of the living's consciousness, and it's like my grandfather, who, until the very end, refused to turn and look at me."
"The one perched on the shore should be my mother's Death Crow. It often watches me silently like this, but it only watches me. Once I walk over, it immediately flies away, unwilling to have any contact with me."
"The only one that approaches me should be my sister's Death Crow. She's a few years younger than your sister, and she's always been a mischievous child. Before, she always liked to cling to me..."
"..."
Although reason told Leon that he should immediately interrupt Emma's narration and have her quickly lie down in the Third Generation Bureau Chief's coffin to restore her body.
But as he listened to Emma describing each Death Crow and the relatives they represented, the words that had already risen to his lips seemed to be blocked by something, and no matter what, he couldn't get them out. It wasn't until he heard the low "gurgle" from the Little Crocodile behind him.
No more delays! Turning back to look in the direction of the cemetery, Leon saw the signal that the Red-Haired Bureau Chief had agreed upon with him earlier. Amid Emma's surprised gaze, Leon abruptly stood up and returned to the half-collapsed lakefront cottage, carrying the Third Generation's coffin.
"Senior Emma, I don't mind listening to you, but this thing... I stole it... I mean, I borrowed it with the Bureau Chief from the Third Generation. And we didn't tell him when we borrowed it."
"So we can't use this thing continuously; we can only use it for a short period. After using it, we have to quickly and quietly return it... Otherwise, you can lie down first, and after I close the lid, we can continue chatting."
"..."
If you close the lid, I won't be able to see anything. What's the point of chatting then?
After giving Leon a slightly reproachful glance, knowing that he was too embarrassed to interrupt her, Emma shook her head and softly hummed in agreement. She then rose from the round stone by the lake and laid down in the empty coffin.
"Leon, don't close the lid, okay?"
Gently pressing down on Leon's hand, she stopped his action of closing the coffin lid. Emma stared absentmindedly at the flock of crows circling in the sky, her voice soft and gentle as she negotiated, "When we were on the outskirts of the Dead Realm, these Death Crows would fly especially high, and sometimes we could only see a tiny black dot. I want to watch them a little longer."
"But if we don't close the lid, won't it affect the restoration process? And after returning the item, we can still come back..."
"It's fine. As long as we can solve most of the problems, the remaining small part can be slowly healed by me."
"Alright then..."
In Emma's clear eyes, Leon saw a hint of pleading. Softening his heart, he didn't insist further but lifted one side of the coffin, finding an angle where he could see both the lake surface and the flock of crows, leaning it against his chest.
"..."
"..."
(End of Chapter)
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