Since Lajal is a [lv: 12] she has the right to access the dungeon.

Normally I would escort her with [Dungeon path] directly to the resting place.

In this case, I take a little detour.

Since her cause of death is unknown, I can accompany her to the [core] of the dungeon. Like every dungeon, the Underwasteland has its own [core].

Every planet, every star, every galaxy. They are all dungeons of dungeons. Each of them has its own [core]. Usually, the latter is placed in the middle of the structure and the same is true for the Underwasteland.

With [Dungeon path] I accompany Lajal to the [core] room.

The obsidian tree.

Part of the cosmic tree.

It is a black tree as vast as a planet, dominating a space of walkways and piers and stone stairs. It is an imprisoned tree, radiating its energies throughout the dungeon.

In this area, it is easier to see.

The bark of obsidian emits a black light that turns purple. On certain planets, they have a name for this light, but not on that of Lajal.

She turns around in fear.

With her big hand, she squeezes mine. It hurts a little but I pretend nothing happens.

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After walking for a while between the stairs and the piers, here we are in front of the simulacrum of the tree.

It is a simple black plate, viscous to the touch.

“Press with your hand, the tree records everything. Maybe it knows everything. It will give you the answer you are looking for.”

Lajal blinks and stands still. I try to accompany her delicately with my hand.

Finally, she sticks her palm and fingers into the black substance.

“Don't ask to go back. It's forbidden.” I put my hands forward. It would have been better to think about it first.

Lajal nods. Then, without mincing words: “How did I die?”

The black mass pushes the ogre's hand away.

“AH!”

“So?”

“I can hardly believe it, but do you think so? They infected me during my sleep.”

I let out a smile.

“Well, with the lifestyle you've been living, that's no surprise.”

“Hey, hey, I've never killed anyone and…”

“You don't need to justify yourself, sorry. That's not what I meant.”

“But yes, after all, that's how it happened now.”

After that exchange, I used [Dungeon path] to take her to her rest area.

Being low-level, Lajal will rest in the crypt beneath the desert. There is the stone and the obols. Some also have some sarcophagus, but they are exceptions.

“Well.”

I use [Judgment].

Lajal doesn't understand and looks at me with a puzzled look.

[Judgment: Dream]

Huh?

What?

This is the second time this has happened! I and the result do not agree. What criteria does the System use!?

“There is something wrong?”

“No-no, I'm just very surprised…”

“For what? You made a strange gesture and then a funeral face. Haha, I like the joke as a funeral! Hahaha”

Looking at it like this, I like Lajal and I don't find her a bad person.

However…

If I think back to Ilnerio, the damned [Hero]. Why? What kind of joke is this? Why did my father never tell me anything about the subject? How come situations like this never happened to me before I was twenty-one?

Hmm, maybe they happened and I didn't give it any thought. After all, I didn't see the results of my father's judgments. To evaluate I based myself on his ways, on talking about him…

“Lajal. It was nice and educational to meet you.”

Ci-cin.

She can't reply. Her body turns to dust and scatters to the ground.

An eternity of beautiful dreams awaits her, she will no longer need to steal.