"I understand," George replied quietly, clutching the passbook bearing the sword of judgment and royal seals.
No amount of regret could change the past. Time couldn't flow backward to moments when different choices were possible.
After storing the "Harvest Priest's" Beyonder characteristic in his independent space, Nimrod looked at George. "Tell me, what kind of coffin would you like for them? There are various options available."
He gestured expansively. "For instance, coffins primarily made of ebony wood with gold and silver plating—these are relatively common. Additionally, there are coffins carved with totems, made of pure gold, specifically for Balam royal descendants. Which would you choose for them?"
George opened his mouth, momentarily speechless. Then, after consideration, he asked, "I want a coffin with flower patterns carved on the surface. Winona loved flowers most of all..."
"Pain, too painful," Nimrod muttered, shaking his head as Buddha King's anguished moaning echoed in his mind.
Adjusting his monocle, Nimrod connected to the prayer light point symbolizingShaman King Klarman...
In the Southern Continent, at the border between East and West Balam, within a city in the northern Pas River Valley where colonial conflicts between Loen and Intis were most severe,Shaman King Klarman knelt in the filthy sewers beside a corpse, waiting for Beyonder characteristics to precipitate.
Suddenly, he raised his head, hearing the voice of a great existence—the Red Moon's Son born by his worshipped Lord! A true angel! In Klarman's eyes, this Red Moon's Son was no less significant than the Rose School's current leader, that "Son of God" Sia who also claimed divine offspring status.
Ignoring the flowing blood around him, Klarman pressed his hands together, knelt straight, and began praying, listening to teachings from the Son of God.
Ten seconds later, he stood with confusion on his aged face, murmuring barely audibly, "Why does the Son of God want coffins with flower patterns, and why must they be sacrificed within ten minutes? Could the Son of God have contacted Spirit Order members?"
In rapid thought, Klarman sighed. His eyes brightened as pale crimson moonlight scattered from his body, floating over the corpse. Within twenty seconds, an iron-gray, block-shaped gemstone rose from the remains.
"Finally, the Lucky One's Beyonder characteristic," he noted with satisfaction. "Combined with the previous Audience characteristic, I still need Clown and Artisan characteristics. Life School members are unusually elusive. Without internal defectors providing information, I still wouldn't grasp their movements. Pity they all joined the Rose School and now worship the Mother Tree of Desire."
After sealing the Lucky One's characteristic in a tin box with a spiritual wall and placing it in his bosom, Klarman contemplated how to obtain Clown and Artisan characteristics in the Southern Continent.
His personal involvement in hunting a Sequence 7, despite being a demigod, stemmed partly from respect for the Son of God and partly from personnel shortages. In the Southern Continent, their entire Primordial Moon faith community consisted of three leading demigods and fewer than twenty Beyonders, with less than half having entered mid-sequences.
Excluding resistance army priests they supported and members on missions, only two or three low-sequence Beyonders remained at headquarters. Sending them out risked uncertain outcomes, and he dared not employ Rose School personnel, resulting in a demigod like himself lacking usable mid-sequence subordinates.
Southern Continental Beyonder forces roughly divided into three factions: Northern Continental representatives including major churches and colonial kingdoms; remnants of the former Balam Empire, led by Death bloodline organizations like the Eggers family, Spirit Order, and restoration societies; and the Rose School, once rooted in the Highland Kingdom with influence spanning the entire Southern Continent.
Under pressure from these three sides, the Primordial Moon faith—this Outer Deity pillar incarnation of the Fallen Mother Goddess—spread only among indigenous tribes. Even he, this faithfulShaman King, had joined the Rose School.
Regarding the Son of God's arrival, Klarman felt excited, finally seeing an opportunity to spread Primordial Moon faith worldwide. But unexpectedly, after one meeting, the Son of God had departed...
"Intis's colonial forces are increasing, even deploying a 'Lightless One' and 'Iron-blooded Knight'—specifically targeting me and Dean. They want to completely eliminate the resistance forces we've supported on the Star Plateau. Greedy bunch—aren't those spices and minerals enough? Additionally, we must guard against Rose School's other angel, Palanca, who's always wanted to devour our years-supported resistance force."
"No matter. Once the Son of God returns, everything will improve. After repelling Intis's colonial forces, I'll need to purchase another batch of military supplies in Feysac."
Back in Loen Kingdom at Tingen City's suburban cemetery, Nimrod crouched on the ground, bored, watching ants relocate their home when his spirituality suddenly stirred. He waved open a sacrificial gate.
With a resounding clang, a black heavy coffin carved with flower patterns flew through the gate, landing before the collapsed George with a muffled thud.
Snapping his fingers to close the sacrificial gate, Nimrod examined the ornate coffin and smiled. "One of the Pas River Valley specialties from the Southern Continent—everyone who's used it speaks highly of it!"
George, collapsed on the ground, stared in stunned silence, unable to process the situation immediately.
Ignoring George's bewilderment, Nimrod adjusted his monocle and used invisible hands to transfer the two corpses from the damaged coffin into the new one. As the coffin lid closed, rivets automatically flew up and secured themselves.
The black heavy coffin rose, settling into the grave pit. As it reached the bottom, soil from both sides seemed pushed by invisible force, quickly backfilling until the grave was level again.
Clapping his hands, Nimrod helped the still-dazed George to his feet and smiled. "Finished. Problem solved. You won't experience nightmares anymore."
He then pulled George back into the spirit world. After using his "Roaming" ability for positioning, Nimrod brought George out, appearing in a public restroom stall of the Loen Royal Bank in Tingen's city center.
"Damn, how unlucky," he frowned. "I clearly positioned for the private meeting hall on the second floor. How did we end up in the restroom?"
Opening the stall door, Nimrod and George emerged under the strange gazes of other restroom occupants, leaving this embarrassing location behind.