Chapter 237: Reunion (1)
K6udAVThe gaze I feel around me is sharp.yLC1A
DsN3Jager, who was drinking liquor from a leather canteen alone, closed the cap as he felt the stares of the headless figures beside him.jeiSLl
fg9“Why not offer them a drink?”dMAZ7v9
kH1Although it was a warm spring day, the area where the headless knights stood seemed covered in frost.RPEC
kxrm5However, Jager, indifferent to the cold atmosphere, merely mocked the chilly looks surrounding him.3mM
JO6Pfx“Ah, right, you don’t have mouths to drink with. I hadn’t noticed.”6gmfegG
9KcQ7XGJager was the only warm being among the dead.tPTpHFg
IRoOhHis presence, so out of place in this landscape, seemed like a painting with a different texture, but he didn’t retreat even a step while standing among the dead.jL7
eAb“Jager.”mpXw
FEAAs the atmosphere grew increasingly hostile, a hand gesture carefully called Jager over.ZKeNhD
6gXY1WtIt was a gesture from Joseph, who had just finished speaking with Count Vitskaya.sOsd
n90Bm“How did it go?”a7s
qtZMBx“He agreed to cooperate. It seems the count sees Ausurin as his last hope.”bhmh5I
ZrqC1Count Vitskaya’s obsession with Ausurin was already burning with rage and desire.WZSxi2a
jdI5JJoseph, who had come to confirm the Count’s obsession under Ramashthu’s orders, looked at the scene before him and continued speaking cautiously.feZnsL
yE12v1B“We will move along with the count’s soldiers. After all, it’s only right that the living move with the living.”RBp
vcr1mzAThe place Joseph was looking at was filled with sinister things.Uf9Uq
4a5There were headless people resurrected from the dead.nmFC3
VEWXhZYEven cursed beings with all their limbs twisted.CQnaPa
NAN8GCursed spirits floating like shadows and even large corpse bodies with limbs everywhere.7F7L
jt2Z2BQAll these beings were evil creatures created by dark sorcerers drawn to the great darkness of Ramashthu.PpiQB
tRz“…Looking at all this, it really is an impressive sight. How did all these beings manage to stay hidden for so long?”4QLG
T6fHIgEven Joseph, usually unshaken, couldn’t help but frown at the infernal camp that seemed to recreate hell on earth.2NYV
OuQE0Usually, these were beings you couldn’t find no matter how hard you searched, but now they were everywhere you looked, making it difficult even for Joseph to remain calm.SQ8
JITIc“Who could possibly clean up all of this?”wVHp
4aSIt was too much darkness to take in with just one glance.P6eLex
zhV4MmiThese were shadows that even he, prepared to face them, could hardly bear to see.eeHd
qOzmKHowever, all those cursed beings now on display had been ignored for too long by those who should have fulfilled their duties. Now, someone would have to face the poison they produced.MqLa2S
AyW“Let’s go. If we stay here any longer, I’ll suffocate.”h5L1
hOA“Understood.”Qildpcj
w6MTyjCJoseph, making an effort to turn his head, began crossing the death-filled field, heading toward Vitskaya’s garrison.mhE2LL
4xIAll of this was, ultimately, the result of accumulated sins.01P
ZArXNobles should have duties instead of just power, and people should have responsibilities instead of just faith, but those in power today weren’t doing that.kGe
tdOThat’s why Joseph was convinced that the wounds they had created would eventually erupt in their generation.hzciT
ivRBLw***VPl
laKF4UIt was a dense forest.Q1zM
0BYSeen from above, it looked like a green sea, so thick that trees filled every corner.dXZx
VUbUKIn the middle of the forest, a young World Tree stood tall, peeking above the green sea.xLKkfZ
kBi“…What’s the current status of Count Vitskaya’s troops?”0iYS
y6YIp0YHowever, even in this peaceful scene, Baradis’s face was completely frozen.FwFJi
NOG0AnSince it was spring, the outside landscape was quite realistic, but it seemed difficult to find any sign of relaxation on Baradis’s face.2F21
WfOp“They number about a thousand soldiers. It seems Count Vitskaya is putting everything on the line with this gamble.”wKs
jtv“They are fully prepared. According to scouts’ reports, they could advance at any moment.”8MMfL
5I9After the serious question, came hurried answers.4Lman
XmxHa8WThe current situation was so urgent that even the seasoned rangers were nervous, and they could be certain that the start was not far off.sxjXYP
rFHz“I see.”oeyLj
CSnc1L0After hearing the report, Baradis sighed softly.getxJ8
lAlEtyIn addition to the nearly thousand human soldiers, those who are resurrected continue to join even now.NO8
lRwyTw8Even if it was a human army, the existence of the resurrected who had invaded right in front of the World Tree was slowly gnawing away at Baradis’s nerves.dqa
H6w“When do they say the barrier will be restored?”LhIlH9
YkYzL“They say it will take at least a month, even if they speed up the process.”z84
eSbllhAfter hearing the report, Baradis slightly turned his head and looked out the window.mWsFrK
zeh“A month.”HLCjl
Y6hBBelow the young World Tree visible beyond the window, it was still full of elders who were writing something while bowing with difficulty.rOpA
bpNSince elves are long-lived, the elders of the Council of Elders have lived longer lives than the trees in the forest.aACDa
P0j55DFBut now, regardless of their aging bodies, they were trying to restore the forest’s protective barrier that had been previously destroyed.vyxG5
LDlqaM‘The situation is anything but easy.’wasY
PyUb8sThe current situation demands that all capable people move quickly, regardless of their age or position.z6vibe
xaMGThe situation was perhaps even more severe than when Nidhogg, the most cunning dragon, attacked, but the reality the elves now faced was that they had no one to turn to for help.8KSX7ie
corbLKnock, knock, knock.PD1Psj
8V93FHI“Hmm?”aGlqr
iuC7FalSuddenly, a knock was heard at the door of the office where Baradis was with the rangers.bv1
tY25Baradis, knowing that no one would come to visit at that moment, looked at the elf who opened the door and entered with puzzled eyes.MV1
H9bWyso“What’s happening?”BmFw
2wjn“…Well.”9mt6R2i
aK0IThe elf who now entered through the door was someone who shouldn’t have been there.OPoBy4
JOLijtBecause he was an elf who had to guard the World Tree at all times.Gt7nc4
OKcCBut now he was standing here with a pale complexion, looking at Baradis.UhvR2
W07“I’m sorry. Lord Baradis.”SdrO7J
beXjWPU“Why?”hleDZ
1QD6GoHe was one of the elves who guarded the World Tree.szLdc
HEwzfvMore precisely, he protected both the World Tree and the priestess, Baradis’s younger sister.FTcbkn
uHYfXThe elf was now standing in front of Baradis, shaking his head and speaking as if he was ashamed.opSk
b5x“The priestess has left.”F7MUz
SyLq4V“…”cJYjTp
CIYan6It was a moment when security was more important than ever.UaQhkUA
YAtutW7But hearing that the priestess, who was supposed to be protected along with the World Tree, had left, the faces of the elves in the office quickly changed.iS9aU
nn7“Why? She must have had a reason.”0f0VmF
HzqXRj“I don’t know. She said she had to receive a guest and left without listening to reason.”CJU
7BYP“A guest?”SC7siBh
D7VDVDThe priestess of the World Tree, who had never left, now did so, saying that a guest had arrived.6nvpK
afvhn9Baradis felt a strange sense of déjà vu as he left dangerously with the mysterious words that a guest had arrived.f9XV9AC
A3byLPt“A guest…?”Rc0
lqKrBThough she was a priestess who had never been outside in her life, there had been times when she stubbornly tried to leave the forest, like today.CZCC
2LCisWith the news that an important guest was coming, one that had to be greeted personally.w19kMi
QeXydwBaradis remembered that it was probably the first time he had met a human knight named Vlad.NIsg3
jWITwsq“Send the rangers immediately. Protect the priestess.”iyGdbCe
pLtbIEWith those words, Baradis stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the young World Tree outside.66r
hZmThe green leaves seemed to tremble even more today.Fek6tA
w7AThough there was no wind, among the moving leaves were small spirits jumping with joy.ISi
XRZi***OG5DK
kyQuEven though the Elven forest was densely populated with trees, there were occasional clearings where the sunlight shone brightly.Zoi4
bFERNHIn one such clearing, covered with green clovers, something suddenly poked through.e5Nvl5
qzXqAYOBoing-!o9H21K
NG3In a place where only butterflies fluttered in search of flowers, a boy’s head suddenly appeared.TFsFF8Q
DHMKABLThe creature, who had been wandering underground just a moment ago, squinted his eyes and waved his short arms as if the sunlight shining down on him was too bright.KW6
mjFV“Are we here? Can I come out now?”752GIz
9RRKyu kyu-!Xl29
4SnuP“If we’ve arrived, get off my head. How long are you going to stay up there?”SIVKI
ES2It was the voice of a man who seemed to be containing his anger.7YUGQqz
LRDk7The butterflies hovering around the flower petals were startled by the eerie voice coming from beneath the ground and began floating up into the sky.gIkQ
411“…”Ah3
IWClPMA human head cautiously emerged from beneath the mole that had stuck its head out.mE4V
HozThough he was dirty from all the soil, the man had impressive blond hair that gleamed under the sunlight.uqyqsVR
fiE7NiX“Where are we?”VnLiGDU
FxhQVlad, who had just stuck his head out of the ground, tensed at the sight of the lush green landscape.JVK
pbxLWJust a few days ago, Vlad had been in the middle of a wasteland, so he couldn’t quite adjust to the scene now before him.QO7q9
HalGKyu kyu-!OEdW
zxUhlo“How far have you brought us, huh?”a3RiOsY
FgDDespite Vlad’s question, the mole, who seemed to have completed its task, simply flopped down, exhausted.RjgiH
gGGXWXsThe mole, which had dug a tunnel from underground to bring the group here, collapsed and started to stick out its tongue, worn out.8lCs
QS4zPBc“…It’s fine, rest. Anywhere is better than back there.”JhIf
SWf0glVlad, looking at the exhausted mole, carefully placed it on the ground and began to crawl out of the hole.PKby
cMxZWrVlad’s cautious posture, as he sharpened his senses, was reminiscent of a wolf emerging from its den.lMDC
eWO6“It’s a forest.”UMXLbV
s7cUsing his heightened senses to confirm that no one was around, Vlad could tell he was now standing in the middle of a forest.Rtb
Q54ggxqHe was in the middle of a field of flowers full of vibrant colors.7p5C
5Sbjhu8“Was there a forest of this size a few days away?”SlD8FS
y4HoVlad murmured to himself, puzzled by the landscape around him.ORT2lj
I5zSeveral days had passed since they walked through the tunnel dug by the glowing mole, guiding the refugees from the Ruga tribe.VdplQT
OblzmaHowever, no matter how unfamiliar Vlad was with the geography of the central region, he knew there wasn’t a forest like this just a few days away.gsb
pwm“It’s because you followed the path shown to you by a spirit.”RgL4
rL16U“…!”yQt
2s8pSRSuddenly, a voice sounded next to Vlad, who was still disoriented.WKNo
CLbPBVlad, who had just confirmed there was nothing nearby, was startled by the voice coming from right beside him.JAzut
yfRM“…Who are you?”MRfJH
MZY“It’s a pleasure to see you again.”x4Txo
uensHowever, the person who surprised Vlad simply waved cheerfully as if nothing had happened.kzCZv
HEJe“Did the images I sent you help?”0c6P9o6
vJsThere was a girl looking at Vlad, standing in front of a field of flowers swaying in the wind.mq8H
piGShe wore a wide-brimmed hat and stood in front of the flower field.JDgj
U0ptQrThe image of the girl, who looked as natural as the flowers around her, didn’t seem out of place at all.gxlV
6Tz“Why are you here?”CvVJYL
Ti8With Vlad’s surprised question, the refugees from the Ruga tribe began to emerge one by one from the underground cave.We3v
23ctnEveryone, from children to the elderly, was initially blinded by the bright light and covered their eyes with their hands. Soon, their mouths opened in amazement at the sight before them.pjPVe
pCwWRyf“…Where are we?”ThBYn
dCuoAlNot in a dirty alley or a desolate wasteland, but in an Elven forest full of green waves.uOWnRV
Wa92The children of the Ruga family, who had finally regained their sight, let out loud shouts of wonder upon seeing the great tree in the distance.VaT1sz
4ebbNWU“A tree!”0Yh
LVLjszN“Wow, that tree is huge!”f4PlzA2
bdN5XRThey had arrived in the forest on the eastern edge, Ausurin, following the path shown to them by a spirit.KFF13
iVHThe young World Tree, which looked out over the forest, shook its leaves as if happy to see the young beastmen who were awestruck at the sight of it.AyF
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