“Why isn’t the quest completing?”
I tried to head towards the train platform holding the child’s hand tightly, but the child refused to move.
“Why?”
The child quietly pointed at a spot somewhere within the pile of garbage. Right. The kid is naked. And he would need a train ticket too.
I pulled out the Black Hand Gloves once more and thrust my arm into the heap of trash.
[System]: You have discovered ‘Child’s Coat.’
[System]: You have discovered ‘Torn Ticket Fragment (Child’s).’ Number of fragments required to complete the ticket: 1/3
“Haah… this damn thing.”
I thought I was finally done with this wretched garbage scavenging, but it was just more endless labor.
“How the hell did you die that your ticket ended up scattered here, there, and over there?”
Unlike the skull who always tilted its head innocently and pretended not to understand whenever I said something unfavorable, this child just drooped his head in defeat. Seeing him so dejected, I could not even bring myself to scold him.
After digging through four piles of trash, I finally found all the torn ticket fragments.
“Let’s go now.”
Ever since meeting the child, we had held hands the whole time. To be precise, the child had never let go of my hand.
On the way back to the castle, we sat side by side on the train, bought some snacks like eggs and soda sold on board, and waved to the skeletons around his age.
‘He’s so quiet…’
Having only dealt with loud, overbearing tyrant Lord Kessler, seeing this timid puppy-like kid still felt strange.
The child would stare straight ahead but occasionally roll his eyes sideways to glance at me.
“We’re almost there. Do you know where we’re going?”
Nod.
“You know what we’re going there for?”
Nod.
“…Alright.”
I said it as casually as I could, but it kept bothering me. This was a child who had grown to hate his world, who dreamed of eternal rest and ran away.
And now I was taking him back, intending to force him back to life and reinstatement.
I did not say I was sorry. Even if I apologized, nothing would change. It would only serve to slightly ease my own conscience. So I chose to carry this discomfort with me. In the end, this was all for my own benefit. I refused to show any half-baked sympathy.
At last, we arrived at Shadow Castle. When the train came to a stop, the attendant opened the door.
I stepped off the train first and lifted the child down. The sensation at my fingertips was that of dense, gelatinous shadow.
[System]: The master of Shadow Castle has returned.
And only then did the quest finally react.
Designated User Exclusive Quest, <Separate Collection> has been completed.
-Reward: Plant Growth Booster
I checked my inventory to find a small black bead had been added.
“You did well. Let’s go.”
Together, we climbed the stairs. The pace was slow, step by step. And finally, as we reached the top step, the full view of Shadow Castle unfolded before us.
Having spent nearly half a month staring only at piles of garbage, seeing these skeletons and ghosts living their leisurely lives almost made it feel like… people were actually living here… huh?
!!!
The first to react to the true owner of Shadow Castle’s appearance was the fashionista skeleton tattooing his ribcage. All the skeleton NPCs froze as if lagging, and exclamation marks popped up over their heads.
‘Are they thrown into chaos by the real master’s arrival?’
It was then that a notification appeared.
Joint Quest, <3-Person Shadow Atonement Tower Building> has been suspended.
(+ View More)
I clicked ‘More Info’ to display the detailed explanation.
The exact identity of ‘Kessler,’ the master of Shadow Castle who requires ‘Shadow Atonement,’ could not be verified.
The quest will resume once his identity is confirmed.
As soon as the final quest changed, the contractor skeletons, who had been hammering away atop the bell tower, rapidly descended along the ropes. Down below, Bori Noona and Kebab, who had been cheering while eating shaved ice, came running with syrup still smeared on their mouths.
“What the heck is going on?!”
“The quest is suspended?!”
This was a question I had pondered even before bringing the child back. If I brought the child, would Kessler immediately be recognized as a player? Then what would happen to the ongoing quest? Should it continue as is?
Now I had my answer. This entire quest originally began because ‘Lord Kessler’ threw a tantrum, not wanting to leave Shadow Castle. Therefore, once doubts arose regarding his identity, the quest was suspended immediately. There was no way they would continue expanding or damaging the castle for someone whose identity was not confirmed.
“If the quest’s suspended, does that mean we’re just chilling for now? Hey, real lord—sup!”
As Bori Noona grabbed the child’s empty hand and shook it, the startled child quickly slipped behind me and pulled his hand away.
“Ah… sorry…”
“He’s just a little shy. We’ll go check on Kessler for a bit.”
After a brief farewell with the two users, I climbed the castle stairs with the child.
[Relationship Panel]: A new feed has been added to the gallery.
‘He’s awake.’
I tapped the notification popup and saw that the updated photo only showed the ceiling of the Lord’s chamber.
‘That means he woke up.’
Since Kessler’s identity had become uncertain, all the deeds he had committed as ‘Lord’ were now likely nullified. That meant no more being forcibly put to sleep.
But even with all these changes, our images still adorned the corridor portraits. Kessler and the Baby Fox. Passing through the corridor, where the images wavered as though they might fade any moment, I saw Kessler’s back as he stared out the window.
“We’re here.”
“…”
He turned to face us. His gaze lingered on me briefly before dropping to the child still clutching my hand tightly.
[System]: Shadow Castle has fallen into chaos.
As Kessler approached, the child let go of his hand—the one he’d been clinging to so desperately.
As Kessler approached, the child nervously let go of my hand, which he had been gripping so tightly.
Seeing the two start their conversation, I walked over to the window and placed the Plant Growth Accelerator on the soil of the long-unattended Sprout Pot. The little sprout gathered it up and hugged it tightly. Then, the flower bud split open with a pop and bent down, sucking it in.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen a flower mukbang.”
Soon, the accelerator was reduced to a brittle shell that crumbled into dust. The fully bloomed flower quivered its petals as if burping.
[System]: A Fox Marble has ripened on the Sprout Pot. You can now harvest the fruit!
I carefully plucked the transparent, droplet-like orb.
Fox Marble
A crystal imbued with the Baby Arctic Fox’s innocence. Stores fox energy, which can be drawn on without limitation.
If consumed by another, they may become subjugated to the fox. Handle with care.
※ Fox Jewels can only be gifted while in fox form.
‘Perfect.’
Now all that was left was to feed this to Kessler.
Outside the window, the skeletons still spun in place like buffering icons, caught in chaos.
That would make them dizzy.
“Let’s wrap up the hierarchy fast. The others are struggling.”
At my earnest suggestion, both Lords who had been facing each other turned their gazes to me at the same time.
I held the Fox Orb lightly between my lips and approached Kessler, muttering inwardly.
‘Deactivate Human Form.’
Transforming back into the Baby Fox, I padded over to him. He lifted me up and kissed me. His free hand was covering the child’s eyes.
I extended my muzzle and passed the orb into his mouth. His left cheek puffed up.
Meow-meow!
It was a bark telling him to bite down and swallow, but Kessler took it differently.
“I missed you too.”
Here we go again with his delusions of mutual affection. No, this is not candy, just swallow it already.
“I think I dreamed of you while I was asleep.”
Meow-meow.
When the series of short and long kisses finally ended, the child crouched down and gently stroked my fur.
Stroke, stroke.
I licked the child’s shadow. Across the wallpaper, remnants of shadows that had once peeled off Kessler’s body clung like stains. They began jockeying for position, trying to decide whose body they would attach to.
[‘The ?? of Shadow Castle wishes to accept you as a pet.
Do you accept?’
Yes / No]
After melting the orb like candy, Kessler’s throat finally bobbed with a gulp, and the notification appeared. I quickly tapped ‘Yes’ with my paw.
You are now subjugated to the ?? of Shadow Castle.
※ Due to this subjugation, the Human Form skill can no longer be used.
Since it did not designate him as a player, it seemed their status had not yet been fully resolved.
Kessler grabbed a few of the swirling shadows like balloons, then sat at the child’s eye level.
This left me positioned between the two of them.
“Here. Take it.”
The child cautiously reached out and held the shadowy end.
“You came back, so I’m giving it back.”
…
The child stared wordlessly at the Seal of Ownership Kessler held out. He seemed both angry and sad. Yet even so, his small hand kept stroking my fur without pause.
[System]: The previous master of Shadow Castle refuses to reclaim the ‘Mark of Ownership.’
“Stubborn kid.”
But Kessler was equally firm. He shoved the rejected seal into the child’s coat pocket. As the child fiddled with it inside his pocket, Kessler spoke in a soothing voice.
“I get it. You’re mad because you ran so far just to be dragged back.”
Final Quest, <Last Shadow> , will begin shortly.
The child looked Kessler straight in the eye.
Final Quest: <Last Shadow>
There cannot be two Lords of Shadow Castle.
The player who understands Shadow Castle the best will also be able to recognize its true master.
The OX quiz to determine the rightful Lord will begin shortly.
All players must proceed to the designated gathering area.
※ Pet players must accompany their guardians.
Indeed, it was the season of retirement wishes.
