Chapter 196 |
The tree branch trembled, and the leaf at the end split in half and began to move like lips.
— Who… is this?
“Is that you, Chlor? It’s me, Cheon Seong-Hwi. You still remember me, right?”
— Cheon… Seong-Hwi?!
The leaf flinched as if surprised.
— Cheon Seong-Hwi, the human? Oh, my God! You’re in front of Elvenheim right now?
“Yup. You told me I could come any time, right?”
Chlor remained silent, lost for words at Seong-Hwi’s nonchalance as if he had come over to a friend’s house without notice.
— Don’t you know that Elvenheim is on lockdown right now?! The Lumber the World Tree quest—
— Because of the quest?
“Yeah. More importantly, do you know an elf named Radix?”
Chlor thought for a moment.
— I don’t. Which bloodline are they a member of?
“He’s a grey elf.”
— If he’s a grey elf… He’d either be in the outer village or Qetseb. That’s their floor, after all.
Seong-Hwi kept the two areas in mind and asked again, “Do you know Lee Kang-San?”
— The Tortoise Emperor? Of course, I do. He’s eighty-eighth in the world ranking… and he’s currently a wanted criminal of Sefirot. The official statement is being spread throughout all the floors.
I knew it! Lee Kang-San could never be captured so easily! Seong-Hwi thought.
Seong-Hwi had become certain of Kang-San’s survival. The burden in his heart from the possibility that Kang-San might have been captured because of him had been lifted.
I’ve confirmed Lee Kang-San’s survival. If he’s a wanted criminal, that means he’s on the run. In that case, I should—
— The other races aren’t being treated well in Sefirot right now, Seong-Hwi. They’ve all been detained when Elvenheim was put on lockdown, including Tigrinus, who came to visit me.
“Tigrinus?” Seong-Hwi asked, recalling the tiger beastfolk with orange, black, and white stripes.
— Tigrinus came to visit me with his friend. He was a human, like you.
Tigrinus brought a human with him? Seong-Hwi wondered.
From what he remembered, Tigrinus did not seem to like humans very much. Seong-Hwi was perplexed by the unexpected information.
— Tigrinus’s friend seemed to be fighting vampires. He wanted my help since I have the Veritas Oculus Imperfectum, but he was also detained. You’d better get out of here now if you don’t want to have the same thing happen to you.
“Do you remember that human’s name?”
Chlor took a moment to skim through his memories.
— Hmm… Park… Tae-Jin, I think?
Seong-Hwi’s eyes widened, having heard an unexpected name in an unexpected place. He felt like he could hear a man’s high-spirited laughter.
“Wahaha! The enemies will only see my front, and my allies will only see my back!”
“Why… is he here?”
***
Chlor was a slender but toned, beautiful male elf. He was 185 centimeters tall, had pale skin, pointy ears, and green hair and eyes. His stiff expression gave away his mental state.
If I’m caught… Not even my bloodline would save me, he thought.
He then whispered, “You’re following me, right?”
“Of course,” a voice said from behind him, but nothing was there.
It was no dream. Seong-Hwi, his human benefactor, was following him from behind under concealment.
I did say I’d repay the favor, but… isn’t he asking way too much of me?
“If a pure-blooded high elf looks at you through the Veritas Oculus, not even the greatest stealth skill will fool them,” Chlor remarked.
“You said high elves are rare in the outer village, didn’t you? Don’t worry, and just lead the way. If it comes to that, I’ll figure something out.”
“Figure something out, he says,” Chlor mumbled in disbelief, but immediately shut up once he saw a group of elves approaching them.
They were all grey elves, armed with bows and arrows.
“Halt! State your identity and business in the outer village!” shouted the grey elf at the front of the group.
Chlor answered stiffly as if reciting a line, “I am Chlor, a resident of floor Tereph, and a Quarter of House Chesed. I am on my way to meet a friend in the detainment zone.”
The grey elves whispered among each other. Although they were whispering, it was clearly for Chlor to hear.
“Chesed…”
“A Quarter of Tereph…”
“Ptooey, a half-blood from a bloodline that’s going to shit alongside Hod… Oh, my mistake. A quarter-blood.”
“Kekekek!”
However, Chlor’s expression did not change in the slightest.
“Very well. The pink sheen on your pale skin is more than enough proof of your bloodline,” said the grey elf at the front as he smirked and passed Chlor.
His subordinates also smiled mockingly and walked past him. Once they were out of sight, Chlor also began to walk.
Seong-Hwi asked, “Who were they?”
“They are guards of the outer village. I would imagine they follow House Yod’s orders.”
“House Yod?”
“One of the twenty-two superior bloodlines. They specialize in debuff skills.” Chlor outstretched his hand and pointed at a large area with its ground covered by tree vines, and the various clusters of wooden houses. “They also manage the detainment zone, where we are going right now. A debuff skill covers that entire area, so bear that in mind.”
“They seemed to have a problem with your bloodline.”
Chlor remained silent momentarily. She sighed and said, “The former Sefirah of House Chesed and House Hod left Sefirot. That’s why many of the superior bloodlines are aiming for their spot.”
The former Chesed is… Floriana, a consul of the Sēmen, Seong-Hwi thought. He had already met her twice.
“Even so, they wouldn’t dare act that way before a high elf. They only have that attitude because I’m a Quarter. Right, enough chatting. We’re almost there,” Chlor changed the subject as he quickened his steps toward the detainment zone.
***
An unsettling aura rose from the bumpy floor made of tree vines inside a small, wooden building.
“Grrr…Roar! Damn you, elves! It’s so goddamn stifling in here!”
Tigrinus, a tiger beastfolk with orange, black, and white stripes on his fur and feline muscles, complained as he repeatedly smashed his tail on the ground.
He continued, “That damn rabbit would laugh at me for getting caught again if he saw me like this! Growl! I’m so mad!”
“Waha! Inner peace, Tig. Be more optimistic. Think about the positives of being stuck here… Yes! It’s the perfect place to work out!”
Tigrinus stared at the man going up and down beside him and shouted, “Don’t be so goddamn carefree, Tae-Jin! What are you even doing?”
“L sit to handstand push-ups! I still have eight reps left. Hup! Huuu!”
Beside Tigrinus was a man in shorts with messily tied, long, black hair, alternating between an L position with his torso and legs, while his arms supported his body weight, and a handstand. He was almost as big as Tigrinus and had highly defined muscles. However, he looked quite agile for his size.
“Growl! Dammit! How do you have the mind to do that right now?”
“Hup! It’s exactly because we’re in this situation! Huuu! That I’m doing this! Hup! This debuff! Huuu! Sure is nice!”
[Reducing all stats as per the effect of Modesty of Yod.]
[Health A(99) → B(15)]
[Strength A(87) → C(91)]
…
They were in the detainment zone, located in Elvenheim’s outer village. The bumpy tree vine floor was the debuff skill, Modesty of Yod.
“Growl! I can’t believe you like this awful sensation!” Tigrinus shouted.
“Hup! I can’t believe I can do weighted calisthenics! Huuu! With no weights! Hup! This is! Huuu! A dreamlike skill!” Tae-Jin said, his body covered in sweat.
He tumbled from a handstand to a normal standing position. His sculpted jawline and energetic laughter were what stood out the most about him.
He laughed as he kissed his arm, saying, “Wahaha! Man, that was a great workout!”
“Growl… I can’t believe this crazy human is my friend,” Tigrinus mumbled as he shook his head.
Tae-Jin slapped Tigrinus’s back and laughed. “Haha! Turn that frown upside down, Tig. We may not be free, but it’s not like we’re being harmed.”
The detainment zone, which had been hastily created in the outer village, was for those who had a relationship with Elvenheim’s elves but were of other races. The Lumber the World Tree quest appeared while they had been in Elvenheim, and the elves quickly detained them soon after.
“Grrr! Why do I have to go through this just because I wanted to meet Chlor?!” Tigrinus complained as he licked his thick front paws.
Tae-Jin scratched his head and said, “Sorry about that. It’s my fault we’re in this mess.”
“Hmph, forget it! I was the one who said I’d introduce you to Chlor.”
“Wahaha! That’s my best friend for you! You’re so generous, Tig!”
Tae-Jin slapped Tigrinus’s back like playing a drum. Tigrinus did his best to hide his smile, showing his sharp teeth.
“That aside… We can’t afford to be stuck here forever,” Tae-Jin remarked.
Tigrinus agreed, “Growl, that’s what I’m saying! Why did they even detain us in the first place? They could’ve just forced us to leave!”
“I’m sure it’s for political reasons. It would cause diplomatic issues with several races if they killed us all, and they have no guarantee that we won’t participate in the Lumber the World Tree quest if they let us leave.”
“I don’t even have the slightest amount of interest in that kind of quest!”
Tae-Jin smiled and replied, “Really? I kind of do.”
“What?”
“You know Lee Kang-San, don’t you? The Tortoise Emperor. I heard he’s somewhere inside Elvenheim right now. I wonder if he’s here for the Lumber the World Tree quest? I wanna meet him.” Tae-Jin’s black eyes shone with respect for the hope of humanity—the light of the Union. “I heard he formed the Underground Confederation with Steel King Bafor. Haha! Isn’t he awesome? He’s not your average Joe!”
“Grrr. It’s suicide. Fortunately, everyone’s focus is on the two world quests right now, but once they’re over, Underground, or whatever it’s called, is done for,” Tigrinus replied skeptically.
Tae-Jin remained smiling and said, “Perhaps, but humans have grown much stronger as a whole. We can now aim to reach the inner zones as well! The one who saved you was also a human, right?”
Tigrinus put on a sour face and nodded. “Cheon Seong-Hwi… Grrr. He’s strong, but not very trustworthy since he’s not transparent, like you.”
“Well, sorry I’m all black on the inside,” someone said from outside.
The door to the wooden house opened, and Chlor entered.
“Grrr? Did you just say that, Chlor?” Tigrinus asked, tilting his head.
He was not surprised by Chlor’s appearance since he came to visit daily, but the voice he had just heard was not Chlor’s.
Chlor quickly closed the door and said, “No, it wasn’t me. It was—”
Just then, Seong-Hwi appeared as he canceled Shadowless Plum Blossom Branch and the embodiment of the Hermit’s Robe.
“You’re…” Tigrinus trailed off as he sniffed crazily, his eyes widened.
Seong-Hwi smiled and greeted, “It’s been a while, Tigrinus. And…”
His gaze shifted to the wide-jawed man, simply standing still, as he thought, You too, Park Tae-Jin.
However, his happiness at seeing him again was one-sided. He was forced to be stoic.
“It’s nice to see a fellow human in a place like this. My name is Cheon Seong-Hwi. And you are?”
***
The light emanating from the Spirit Stone, floating in the center of the Spirit Land, was dying down.
“Hm?” expressed Leo, who was on guard with Rhodes in shield form, as he watched the Spirit Land slowly changing.
The Spirit Land shrank, as if it were a miniature world. Territories filled with fire, water, wind, earth, light, darkness, lightning, and countless more were being made one after another.
“Wow!”
“How beautiful.”
“Look at that!”
The fairies, amazed by the changing Spirit Land, stared at the Spirit Stone. Water poured out from the stone and began to take the form of a woman with wavy hair, in an archaic dress, heels, and a beautiful tiara. Her eyes remained closed, replaying in her mind the kind-hearted voices of her comrades who had disappeared during the fusion process.
“I’m sorry for making you carry this heavy burden despite you being the most prone to be lonely, Ellaim…”
“Haha, we leave the future of the spirits to you, Ellaim. As the kindest of us, only you can do this.”
“Ellaim, my little sister. If it’s you, I can rest easy and leave it all to you. Sallion is too careless, Gnoass lacks zeal, and my thought processes are too stiff.”
“You’re all… so harsh… You’ve shoved me… into eternal solitude,” she mumbled, iridescently shining tears flowing down her cheeks.
“If it’s you…”
“Ellaim, I’m sure…”
“You will remember us forever.”
She opened her eyes once she took full form. Her eyes, resembling a colorful haze, shone brilliantly. She was Ellaim—no, Elementum. She looked down at the Spirit Land, which had become miniature, as she continued to cry. It looked like a condensed version of Animismus, their home dimension.
“You represent the spirits now.”
“You are our will.”
“You are our hearts.”
“Live on in this world.”
She turned to look toward the storm of dust in the distance, where she could hear the sounds of battle.
“INSECTUM—!”
She instantly vanished.
