Chapter 137
The thought that I might have been stepping on the remains of someone I didn’t know sent a chill down my spine.
Clinging to the man’s back as if to hold on for dear life, I carefully moved forward.
Could it be that the cemetery was the entrance to this place?
Was this so-called “catacomb” also an underground cemetery?
“The reason the cemetery was chosen as the entrance isn’t really what you think,” the man said.
“Huh?”
“There’s another reason why it was chosen as the entrance.”
Wait, did I just say that out loud?
Startled, I covered my mouth with my palm, and the man burst out laughing.
“Didn’t your father teach you that you have to learn how to hide your expressions to survive in this world?”
“I did learn it,” I muttered, pouting because his teasing was so annoying.
Of course, my father must have said that a lot.
But do you think it’s that easy to actually do?
Even my mom and dad aren’t perfect at it!
“Then have you learned this?”
The man turned toward me, speaking in a teasing tone.
“That you shouldn’t take people’s words at face value.”
“……?”
“The story that there are people buried under this path is a lie. No matter what, no one would bury people in the middle of a road.”
“Hey! That’s…!”
I had been completely panicking without even knowing that!
Only then did I pull myself off him and let out a sigh of relief.
The man looked at me and continued, still smiling.
“That’s how information works. Among the endless waves of truth and lies, you have to decide for yourself what’s real.”
“Truth and lies…”
“Do you know what happens if you fail at walking this tightrope?”
The man stared straight into my eyes as he asked.
This time, I could easily guess the answer he expected and swallowed hard.
‘I’d die.’
Especially for someone living like me.
The moment I misjudge information, and the moment I’m caught by the imperial palace, the underground he walks in will no longer be his domain.
“……Then.”
I rolled my eyes for a moment before speaking carefully.
“So then, what’s the real reason the cemetery is the entrance?”
I don’t want to get caught up in this war of information.
All I want is information about the people trying to kill my mother, that’s all.
“Haha, well, at least you’ve learned to deflect a conversation a little,” the man said with a sly smile before giving an answer.
“I told you earlier, didn’t I? This is where people who will never see sunlight again gather to live.”
“I see.”
“In other words, they are already dead in the eyes of the living.”
“…….”
“Entering this catacomb carries that meaning, so isn’t it the perfect starting point?”
Ah, that makes sense.
“Did you just think it was a little creepy?”
I nodded slowly, and he winked at me.
I couldn’t help but answer honestly.
“A little.”
Actually, a little too much.
Even though everyone else is alive, thinking of yourself as already dead and coming to a cemetery…
‘Isn’t that a bit much?’
If you think of it as living a new life, it’s not so bad, right?
“You’re honest,” he said, patting my head briefly with a smile.
“You strangely remind me of that kid.”
That “kid” must be referring to Kyle’s father, right?
‘Everyone seems to claim that I resemble their child.’
If everyone were to gather in one place someday, it would be a huge debate.
Of course, that will never happen since we shouldn’t meet.
“Anyway, Cici.”
After walking for a while, the man finally stopped, turned around, and spoke.
“This is my home. It’s near the entrance, so it’s convenient to come and go.”
“Wow.”
Even after such a long walk, it’s still just the entrance?
‘It really is huge…’
I now understand why getting caught meant instant underground imprisonment.
It’s like he built a tiny country of his own.
Though his “palace” is quite small by comparison.
“Come in.”
Perr and I followed the man inside.
The space was so small that it could hardly be called a house—it was more like a single room.
“A bit cramped, isn’t it?”
As if reading my thoughts, the man shrugged.
“But it’s much better than a uselessly large space. You can handle affairs here, receive guests, and if you get tired, it becomes a bedroom immediately.”
“Our home was like that too,” I said.
After spending quite some time in the imperial palace, I realized I prefer smaller spaces.
The palace is too big, making it hard to go see my mom and dad.
Though today, that very fact allowed me to go on this sort of runaway trip.
“Sit here, Cici.”
The man gestured to the sofa, speaking naturally.
Perr and I sat down on the worn sofa…
‘Wait a minute.’
I haven’t even told him my name.
How does he so casually call me by my nickname?
‘Well, now that I think about it… it makes sense.’
If he knows about the devices on the tomb of the first emperor, finding out my name would be easy.
“I bought some snacks in advance because I knew you’d come.”
He took cookies from a cupboard and placed them on the table.
I stared at the cookies for a moment before speaking.
“Mister—”
“Call me grandfather.”
“Uh, I actually have more than one grandfather…”
You know, there’s the emperor grandfather on the surface too.
Maybe even more.
“Oh, right.”
He raised his eyebrows slightly, nodding.
“I’m not entirely happy about it, but it’s better to distinguish.”
“……”
“My name is Aaron. As you can see, I rule as the king of the underground.”
“King of the underground…”
If the emperor or Grandma Mago heard that, they’d probably arrest him for blasphemy immediately!
But like I said before, I want to stay out of that fight.
‘Stay neutral!’
Having made that decision quickly, I naturally changed the topic.
“Did you know I was coming here, Grandfather Aaron?”
“Hmm.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow and replied.
“It was half a gamble.”
He handed tea to Perr and me, murmuring as he spoke.
“Based on your past actions, I thought you’d probably come, but with your parents together, you rarely get a chance to act alone.”
“My past actions?”
He’s seen all that?
How?
“Haha.”
Aaron laughed as if my reaction amused him greatly.
“No matter how strong a magical barrier is, it can’t reach underground.”
“……”
“And it’s safe to say we have a tight hold over the underground of this empire.”
“But the imperial palace has underground prisons and various other things, right?”
From what I observed, the palace wouldn’t be careless about security.
“No matter what, tunnels always find a way.”
Aaron stopped there, smiling softly.
It was clear he wouldn’t say more.
‘It probably isn’t everything,’ I thought.
Since I’m deeply connected with the palace people, he probably can’t tell me more.
“Now, let’s move on from my story.”
This time, Aaron leaned forward slightly and changed the subject.
“Shall we talk about why you had to avoid your parents’ eyes to find me?”
“……If you know everything I’ve done so far, then you probably already know, Grandfather.”
I swallowed hard and got to the point.
“Do you know about the people trying to kill my mother?”
