Episodes 119. Ancient Believe

On a towering mountain where large trees line up like a border wall separating Ningru City and Podokerto City, at the very top of that mountain, stands a pole almost twice the height of an average adult.

This pole was once used for rituals by people from ancient times when technology had not yet been discovered. It served as the center point for dancers who would sit cross-legged around it.

The dancers would raise their hands while sitting cross-legged and rhythmically sway them from side to side, following the other dancers.

While doing this, they would continuously shout 'gak'.

At the pole that was their center, there was a corpse of a recently deceased person. The presence of the corpse was solely to be burned and offered as a sacrifice of an unused body to their god.

They hoped that with this offering, the god would protect them from all dangers and misfortunes.

But still...

That was something that happened in the past, not in the present.

Technology has destroyed their descendants, and their belief in such things has diminished.

.......

Point of View: Rasyid Londerik.

Dahlia and I soared rapidly through the sky, which still showed how young the sun was at this time.

Because our destination was to the east, we had to face the young sun directly.

"The sun... is very... bright..." Dahlia said, shielding her eyes with her hand.

Normal people, even I, cannot resist the power of light. Once exposed to excessive light, everyone reflexively covers or protects their eyes with something.

"Hold on a bit... We are almost there..." As I said that, the silhouette of the mountain, which was blue earlier, had now turned green. "... Look! We are close, just a little longer..."

Even though I asked Dahlia to hold on, I actually couldn't withstand the sun's power either.

I was even afraid that I might suddenly crash into something in the air, even though that sounded impossible. However, with the existence of blimps, drones, and hot air balloons in the sky, I wasn't sure and was rather worried about crashing into one of them.

Moreover...

I looked down, and there were many houses below.

This product is still in the testing phase, and Haran even said there was a possibility someone could fall because these shoes could malfunction at any time.

My eyes fixed on my fate, which could end here, I mean, in my normal soul, or easily put, my sanity.

Falling from such a height would traumatize anyone even if it didn't kill me.

Forget about death,

When I reopened my phone, the screen displayed a map showing a flashing red dot indicating Stevent's position.

"Dahlia, follow me!"

"Hmm (nodding)..."

With that, I led Dahlia to a part of the hill.

Upon arrival, I saw an old abandoned building.

If I had to describe it, this building was rectangular and had a glass door that would slide open when the sensor near the door detected someone's steps.

However, the sensor seemed broken. Well, what could you expect? This building was abandoned.

"Traditional Dance Studio..."

I read the sign above the automatic door.

"It seems this place was used by people in the past to prepare for the cegak dance..."

My eyes squinted sharply at the sign; this room looked quite modern for something ancient.

"Cegak dance? Is it the same dance we learned in elementary school?"

"More or less... But..."

The origin of that dance was somewhat obscured when taught at school.

No one knows for sure who introduced it, but the person is rumored to still be alive today.

Not only the origin but also the purpose of the dance.

Those who know the true purpose are mostly royal family members and important people; some elders also know but are forced to keep silent and let that generation disappear without anyone knowing the real meaning.

"But?"

"Nothing... We better go inside and check Stevent's condition!"

I tried to divert the conversation and focus on the goal for now.

When I did that, I accidentally caught Dahlia looking disappointed with her otherwise blank expression.

I felt guilty.

Creak!

I slid the old glass door, and the sound was quite grating on the ears.

Ugh... it hurts!

I couldn't stand the squeaking sound.

When I looked inside, there was only empty darkness; the room was completely void of any furniture.

Was it looted?

But that's not the issue...

I walked into the darkness with a nonchalant attitude.

However, as I stepped in, a slender hand touched mine, and a head rested its cheek against my chest.

"Are you scared?"

Dahlia nodded repeatedly without opening her mouth; she even held her breath to suppress her fear.

I explored the room, following the signal on my student's phone who had asked for help.

But it was all in vain.

When I found the phone, what I found was just a phone without its owner lying on the floor.

The screen was cracked as if it had been thrown.

.......

Point of View: Earl Stevent Xander.

"Kh---!"

I was tied to a fairly high pole, and now I couldn't do anything but groan and glare at the person below me.

Below me because I was tied at the highest point of this pole...

"Big bro! Why are you doing this?! You like different big bro I know! Why have you suddenly become this insane?!"

I yelled at my own brother.

If I did this on a regular day at home, people might think I was causing trouble again, but given the current situation, all that vanished.

Right in front of me, the person I called big bro had scary eyes, black circles under his eyes making it look like he hadn't slept for a week, his mouth grinning and chuckling like a madman, his eyeballs trembling as if terrified of something.

Has he gone insane?!

"Why won't you answer and just show your goddamn stupid smile?! Are you insane?!"

I tried to scold him, but no answer was given.

That crazy smile never faded from his face.

Why?!

Where?!

Why has my brother become like this?

Where is his dignified nature that even Mr. Rasyid respected?

It was all a mystery to me; maybe if Mr. Rasyid came, he might understand my brother's problem.

But...

Will that teacher come?

I only called him briefly and was then quickly captured by my brother.

If the teacher tracked my location through my phone, he might only detect it on that mountain, but he certainly wouldn't know the exact location.

Indeed, this place is at the peak, but if that teacher tries to run with all his might to reach the top without detecting my whereabouts, I'm not sure he can get here in a short time.

After all, reaching this place requires precision and keen observation. If someone's eyes wander for just a moment, they will get lost or be taken back to the starting point of their climb.

I know he is annoying, but when it comes to matters like this, he is usually the best at it.

So, I hope you can help me...

No matter how cowardly or ugly I look right now, I will keep holding on to the belief that the teacher will come to save me.