Crownless Reincarnation: New World? Nah I'd win-Chapter 20: Cradle of Regret.

The monster retreated when morning arrived.

The things that happened last night had left a deep scar in the hearts of the townsfolk.

Most refused to even step outside, afraid the monster might return.

The church had already announced that help would arrive soon, but it didn't seem to calm them.

'It's a miracle that they didn't blame us for it.'

Akamir thought, walking on the wet forest grounds.

The place turned haunted after they came into the town.

Akamir wouldn't blame them if they decided to push the blame onto him.

'Though, it might really be because of me.'

He let out a sigh, staring up at the sky still dark and heavy with clouds.

He once again started to navigate through the forest...

...But, this time he wasn't alone.

Maria and Inara followed closely behind him, their footsteps barely making a sound on the damp soil.

The heavy air of the forest seemed to press down on them.

Even the birds had gone silent.

"Why are you roaming in the forest?" Inara asked, trying to start a conversation. "Is there something you are trying to—."

"None of your business, Princess." Akamir replied, without looking at her.

Inara pressed her lips, glaring at him.

'Does she think I will respect her because she is older?'

Akamir wondered, glancing back at her.

Even though Asher was obsessed with her, Akamir was different.

He wasn't the type to bow just because someone had a title or a pretty face.

Especially not now, not after everything he had seen.

Respect had to be earned, not demanded.

Though, he wasn't sure how long Asher's feelings would affect him.

'This world is really different than mine.'

Akamir mused, walking deeper into the woods as he had marked a trail.

There was no monster or whatever thing he faced yesterday in his old world.

'Inara said they were fairies.'

Akamir thought, glancing back at the princess.

"Are those things really fairies?" He asked, making way for them. "And what actually even happened to Nayomi?"

Inara blinked, caught off guard by his sudden question.

She pushed a branch aside, her expression darkening.

"They're fairies," she said in a low voice. "Well, once they were but not anymore."

Akamir raised an eyebrow but stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

Inara hesitated, then sighed as if realizing there was no point in hiding it anymore.

"Long ago, there was a spirit world and fairies lived there," she said.

"Guardians of the forest. Spirits of light and life. But they were corrupted by what everyone calls the 'Hollowed Ones.'"

"And Nayomi?" Akamir pressed.

"She was corrupted as well." Inara replied, her voice low. "I can't say much because it's forbidden."

"...I see."

Akamir mumbled, nodding his head.

'What is with Nayomi anyway?'

The more he heard about her, the more he got curious.

She is seen like a curse, a witch who was an evil incarnate but...is it really true?

'I really want to know what actually happened.'

"Hmm?"

Akamir halted, as he smelled something.

He suddenly took a sharp turn, confusing both the girls behind him.

"What happened?" Inara asked but Akamir just gestured them to follow.

The more they moved closer, the more their faces turned grim.

A terrible smell hit their noses.

The smell of rot, blood, and death.

Akamir's steps slowed instinctively as they reached the clearing.

Maira tightened her grip on her blade as they drew closer.

"You might not like the view, princess." Akamir mumbled, glancing back at her.

Inara said nothing but kept on walking.

Finally, when they moved closer, the scene fully came into view.

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Dead bodies.

Strewn across the forest floor like discarded dolls, limbs twisted in unnatural angles.

Blood soaked into the dirt, still fresh enough to reflect the rising sunlight.

Armor torn like paper into pieces and faces frozen in terror.

And hovering around the edges of the clearing.... shattered remnants of the Lamp of Morana, the only thing that might have saved them.

Maria knelt down beside the closest body, her fingers gentle as she checked for any signs of life, even though it was obvious.

She shook her head grimly. "No survivors."

Akamir's brows furrowed deeply as he moved among the corpses.

Their bodies were ripped apart.

Mauled with their guts half eaten out.

Akamir sighed while Inara moved towards the carriages.

Surprisingly, it didn't even have a scratch on its surface.

Inara touched the carriage and to Akamir's surprise it vanished in an instant.

'...A space ring?'

Akamir wondered, staring at the ring that glowed gently on her finger.

'Is this world really backwards or not?'

Taking whatever was left of the lamp, Inara quieted down.

She took in a deep breath as she turned around. "We will be returning back, now."

"What about the dead bodies?" Maria asked, standing back to her feet.

"Leave them be." Inara said coldly. "They don't deserve a burial after disappointing their Kingdom."

"...."

Akamir narrowed his eyes as he looked at her.

'She is heartless but.....it's understandable.'

Inara turned to look at him.

"I will keep my promise." She said, looking into his eyes. "I will make sure things will go as you say."

Akamir gave her a gentle nod. "Let me lead you out of the forest."

He started to walk forward but just as he passed her he stopped.

"Don't trust Darvin." Akamir said, staring into her eyes. "He would take away everything from you."

A look of surprise passed her eyes but she only nodded in response.

"I will."

He nodded back as he led them out of the forest.

***

"Huff...."

Akamir took in a deep breath as the old palace loomed over him once again.

Slowly, he started walking inside the place, unsheathing his sword in the process.

The first two halls were empty as before where he had already taken the two trials.

'....Priest of Doubt and Martyr of Obsession.'

Akamir began to wonder if there was any type of pattern that he was missing.

As soon as he crossed the second trial room a voice echoed.

"Trial of the faithless has been initiated."

"Trial Three: The Cradle of Fear."

Akamir didn't flinch, he only tightened his grip on the sword and kept moving forward.

The place led him into a vast, cavernous room unlike the previous ones, this space felt cold in a different way.

Faint weeping filled the air.

Soft, childlike.... yet hollow, without warmth.

In the center of the room stood a massive, broken crib large enough to fit a grown adult.

Rotting vines slithered up its sides, binding it to the cracked stone floor.

Inside it, something stirred.

As he drew closer, he realized the thing in the cradle was not a baby.

...It was a mass of twisted limbs and melted faces, sobbing endlessly.

His stomach turned, but he didn't look away.

Akamir blinked and the vines burst towards him in an instant.

He quickly flipped himself back out of the range.

The mass of mess began to transform in an instant, turning into three separate beings.

...Cockroaches.

As the three giant cockroaches, each one clad in armor, let out a series of chittering hisses.

'Wait, what the hell—.'

One hulking, armored form skittered toward him, cutting his thoughts short.

Despite the cockroach's large frame, it moved incredibly fast.

Akamir moved back as the other two began to flank his side.

He quickly assessed the situation.

'One mistake and they'll tear me apart.'

He lowered his center of gravity, sliding his foot back across the slick stone floor.

The first cockroach lunged again, its razor-sharp mandibles flashing in the faint light.

Akamir side-stepped, narrowly avoiding the snapping jaws, and retaliated with a swift slash at its underbelly.

The blade scraped against the armor with a shrill screech, barely leaving a scratch.

'Their shells are thick...'

Before he could rethink his strategy, the second one struck from the left, a spear-like leg aiming straight for his ribs.

Akamir ducked low, feeling the air slice above his head.

He used the momentum to roll forward, positioning himself behind the first cockroach.

'What if I—?'

Akamir quickly ducked past the first cockroach as he raised his blade to attack the Cradle.

But it moved back on its own.

Only the vines were cut a little and a mist of posion brust out of it.

"Trial of the faithless has been initiated."

'Wait what—?'

Before he could even wrap his mind around what was happening—.

"Trial Four: The Twin of Hypocrisy."

Another gate opened up in the place.