Memory (3)

"Plum Locus… I guess this place is the Plum Locus."

A reasonable deduction. There were plum trees everywhere and a smell that made your mind and heart as calm as the sea. Furthermore, it is surrounded by a forest, the Forest of Death.

"Sabertooth Tiger…"

The pain and the terror I felt from that dream were too vivid. It was as if it was a memory. I couldn't rule out the possibility that that dream was a memory of the previous owner of this body.

'But this body is too young as compared to the dream.'

I couldn't wrap my head around it. What was I missing?

"Haa…"

No, there was no point in wrecking my brain over something I can't make heads or tails of. Let's just sort out my objectives first.

First of all, I had to look into the Crimson Eyes.

'If I remember correctly, the Crimson Eyes were the eyes of the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal.'

I had read about him during my time on Earth. The Great Sage, Heaven's Equal refers to the monkey that wreaked havoc in heaven and was confined under a mountain with a mystical seal for five centuries.

"...!"

'If the dream was true, then…'

After watching Musashi train endlessly in seclusion and hearing his story about the Tower, I learned that strength is needed to climb the Tower. An absolute power that tramples on everything and everyone. An unstoppable force that could overcome anything the Tower throws… or at least that's what I heard from Musashi.

If what he said was true, then the Crimson Eyes… I had to have it.

'But before that, I have to find where it is.'

It was a cave in the dream, a cave filled with Sabertooth Tigers. Maybe it was their den? Figuring out their territory was the best shot I had.

'Let's ask him.'

For now, I should sleep.

***

"..."

The sun's rays fell on me gently, as if I was being embraced warmly by someone. It felt comfortable.

Chirp chirp—

Despite being surrounded by a forest named the Forest of Death, this place was tranquil, away from any dangers of the world.

'I wonder if this is because of the Sword Saint.'

"You are awake?"

Musashi was standing beside me, staring at me with the same never-changing icy gaze.

"Yes, I am up."

I got up and returned the gaze. But I was like an ant compared to him, so I averted my eyes soon. I'd not like to provoke him.

"Eat."

"Right…"

I walked out of the small hut and washed my face and mouth and changed into the clothes Musashi had ready for me. Honestly, it felt weird to wear those. A black hanfu… wasn't Musashi from Japan?

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

We sat together on the opposite side of the table that stayed in the middle and the food was served.

It was bland. Everything tasted bland to me. Even in my previous life, I had no sense of taste. It was lost in the flow of time before I knew it. The reason? I had no idea. The torments continued relentlessly, and I continued to fall deeper into the depths of despair and had many things taken away from me. One of them was the sense of taste.

This body probably went through something like this too. I couldn't taste anything even now. And given that this body tried to give up on his own life…

"Haa…"

I sighed aloud, causing the Sword Saint in front of me to raise an eyebrow.

"What's the matter?"

This was my chance.

"Do you know anything about the Sabertooth Tigers?"

"...yes."

"Do they have some kind of den?"

"Yes."

His look changed. It was anger.

"Tell me about them."

"Why?"

Why… I couldn't just say that I had a dream about someone dying to Sabertooth Tiger. That seemed way too suspicious.

"... I have my reasons. And I don't think you are the kind of person to pry any further."

"Hmm… you are correct. But that doesn't mean you are allowed to know about them."

"Why?"

That was unexpected.

"You are planning something, aren't you?"

I froze. A cold fury seeped out of him, enough to make me shiver.

I tried my best to put up a poker face but this guy was more than I expected. But I had to keep it together.

"Haa… yes, I am."

Well, it was not like I could do anything even if I got my hands on where the Eyes were. I was powerless. Utterly powerless. I needed some kind of backup, something, or someone that could cover me.

My eyes fell on the cold Musashi.

If I could…

"Hmm… why do you live here?"

"Don't change the subject."

"I am not changing anything. Just answer and I will answer yours."

"...I am searching for something."

"And that is?"

"..."

'His look changed again.'

There was something about his look. It was as if he was… reminiscing something.

What if I could get that thing for him?

'Hehe… I think I found a way.'

"That something is in their den, right?"

"...!"

'He is shocked. His facial expressions are a bit too easy to read for some reason…'

Unnaturally easy.

Tring!

{Reading} (Grade-1)

-You can see others' status screens.

'What? Perception? Reading? Status screens?'

From what I figured out in these few days, the game-like thing that appeared before me was the status screen, or maybe, a part of that. Status screens were screens that showed the stats and other things of the character. But no matter how much I tried, I couldn't see my own status screen.

But now I could read others' status screens? How high was this body's perception?

"Yes, and I have been stuck here because of that."

Oh, I forgot about him for a moment.

"Huh…?"

He seemed... sad?

***