Episode 514 It’s not a pleasant thing (3)
Really.
‘I didn’t even think about it?’
I never thought my quest goal was Granfell when I was young.
‘No, is it worth it?’
Maybe it’s not that strange. Certainly, if it is Granfell in my setting… he is an important figure who can change the history of the Arcana Continent since childhood.
Thanks to you, I figured it out.
‘Maxima’s golden elite.’
I don’t even know who the guy is who got involved with Maxima’s matriarch.
‘Is Pride you too?’
Did you want to exclude Granfell from the competition for the Cloudy family successor from this point on? Suddenly, the current head of the Maxima family, Ignite Maxima, came to mind.
Yugrik in the forest.
Cansul of bravery.
Trembling Amond.
‘I hate to say these things with my mouth, but…’
Unlike the other family heads who repented and swore loyalty to me, Ignite, the head of the Golden Maxima, was still in a state of not coming to his senses.
‘Not metaphorically, but literally.’
It means that you are unable to fulfill your role because you have lost your senses.
Of course I am, Velier, a senior mage of the Healing School. And the priests of the Goddess Church who came to see if they could provide any help could not guess the reason…
‘I understand if it was all in return for that day.’
Because oaths are heavy in Arcana.
‘To the extent that even dragons and high-level demon lords cannot be free.’
Perhaps Ignite, as the head of Maxima’s family, may be belatedly paying for Maxima’s sins. So, if I change the past, can Ignite’s spirit become intact?
‘Well, it might be possible depending on the case.’
But I think it probably won’t work.
‘No matter what, you’ve crossed the line, Maxima.’
I guess it’s because I watched my only nephew, Arang, be born, crawl, and grow. I had a rough idea of the age of the quest target, little Granfell.
About 5 or 6 years old at most.
I was at an age when I had a runny nose. Little Granfell could already feel the formality. But even that just looked cute because he was a little kid.
Okay.
He breaks through the bushes with his small hands and sticks his head out. Then he frowns and shakes his hands off. Checking to see if there are any dirt on your clothes…
‘That damn meliophobia has still been there since then, huh?’
But what was certain was that little Granfell’s eyes showed life. It’s definitely a human maze that can’t be found in today’s Granfell.
‘You are what you are now because you pretend to know everything about the world.’
A question suddenly occurred to me.
It must be because of the feelings of an uncle who has a nephew of the same age.
How on earth did young Granfell become exposed to such a threat?
‘Of course, before you think about it.’
Sssss.
“…?!!”
I demonstrate the footwork of an elf.
Secretly approached Maxima’s golden elite soldiers.
His face and entire body were covered with a flowing Akshan cloak.
Still, you look a bit surprised.
‘They are definitely the best of Maxima, one of the four families.’
Because you only see what you know.
Papat.
He must have sensed something unusual in the moment of movement. However, I have no intention of praising that insight. At this moment, I didn’t need a weapon as grandiose as Gwicheol.
‘First walk.’
After all, isn’t the first start important, Granfell?
‘I have no intention of instilling trauma from the beginning.’
Whilick.
Cooperative attacks pouring in that penetrate the blind spot of vision.
It was a high-level joint attack aimed at taking my breath away.
But I’m sorry.
‘I’ve competed with swords that were more brutal than this.’
In the sacred place of the Shadow Mercenaries, the worst criminal group on the Arcana continent.
‘Slow.’
Compared to the dagger thrown by the Shadow God’s Apostle, the golden elite’s attack was dull. In short, there was a lack of killing intent. So much so that not even the fluttering Akshan cloak could brush against it.
Then it’s my turn.
I searched for the magic particles that had been emitted since I discovered the Golden Elite. It goes without saying, but compared to those golden elites, my [Strength] and [Agility] numbers are probably still poor.
‘Anyway, you just have to be secretive.’
However, there are tricks added during the interference process.
Kuuk.
The destructive power of bare-handed fighting, propelled by magic particles, was truly ‘uncanny’. I took out two golden elites in an instant without a sound.
…dump.
There is only one guy left.
Did you feel a distant gap?
The last elite soldier to kneel and beg me.
“Five years old…?!”
I just put my finger to my mouth.
[The status ailment ‘Silence’ occurs on the Maxima Golden Elite.]
I told you not to disturb that little boy.
After I covered the mouth of the golden elite.
I looked for signs of little Granfell.
‘Anyway, you’re sensitive.’
It was just a split second, but did I hear something?
Little Granfell was looking around with alert eyes.
I swallowed a sigh of relief inside.
‘Look, I did a good job of paying attention, didn’t I?’
If it was Dawn’s jacket, it would be 100% discovered now?
‘Then this one…’
If that Granfell lets his guard down even a little, then we’ll decide to interrogate him then.
That Pride might be involved.
Because it was always my guess.
‘It would be better to be sure.’
I conveyed my meaning telepathically.
…Nod.
I saw that he was so scared that he could barely shake his head.
You don’t have to worry about doing anything stupid.
It seemed like even the golden elites were following orders they were unwilling to follow.
‘Anyway, I was lucky.’
Why would Granfell return to the mansion of the Cloudy family after finishing his walk? I was able to clear the Cloudy family’s hidden quest and mythical level quest at the same time.
…however.
Is this a normal walking route?
The more I look at it, the more it doesn’t seem like it.
Originally, this forest was connected to the outside of Cloudy Territory.
So the golden elite of the Maxima family was also able to go into hiding.
…wait for a sec.
‘No way, this is my first walk.’
Were you going outside the Cloudy territory?!
‘No matter what, you’re not running away from home, are you?’
How could our Grandfell, who values discipline, commit such a deviation? Plus, consider your age. No matter how precocious he is, running away from home at my age is a bit…
“It’s hard to watch.”
Cubic Pavilion, which seemed to be quiet for some reason.
‘That’s you, Granfell.’
Are you merciless even to your younger self?
Granfell seemed to want to discipline his younger self right away.
I desperately closed my mouth.
No, it had to be that way.
‘It’s all different.’
Because my vision was blinking.
[Skill ‘Nemesis’ is activated.]
The presence of the devil.
As I said, demons were not common on the Arcana continent before the cataclysm. Needless to say, you can tell by looking at how Akshan was treated.
therefore.
‘…strange.’
I couldn’t help but be shocked.
Because there is little fear of the devil.
Negative emotions were also weak, so it was an environment where the devil could not be strong.
‘strong.’
Nevertheless.
A presence was felt that made the demon hunter’s senses tingle.
I was able to roughly guess its identity.
At first glance, it must be one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
‘Apparently, the Seven Deadly Sins called the demons of the Demon World hybrids.’
The reason was simple.
The Seven Deadly Sins considered the demons of the Demon World to be an annoyance. The total amount of negative emotions is fixed, but the demons of the Demon World run rampant and steal their share.
Since I think that the great evils had this kind of power before the cataclysm…
in a way, I feel fortunate.
Isn’t it scary to think that there were seven other high-ranking demon lords?
But at the same time, that was why I felt unfamiliar.
‘So who is it?’
Starting with greed.
Even the last of the Seven Deadly Sins, Oman, that I have yet to hunt.
I felt the presence of all the Seven Deadly Sins directly or indirectly.
But at this moment.
The presence of a great evil that intensely stimulated the senses was extremely unfamiliar.
So much so that I can’t be sure it’s anyone from the Seven Deadly Sins that I’ve encountered so far.
It was then.
“!”
A tremor came from the scattered magic particles.
I didn’t hesitate.
Interfering with the magic particles, ‘absolute zero’ was immediately manifested.
A situation where [natural enemy relationship] has been activated.
Now that combat power has increased significantly.
No matter how massive the magical power is.
I was able to manipulate things more secretly.
This time the battle ended without sound or rumor.
Damn it.
I turned my head and looked at the frozen figure.
It wasn’t the devil who froze like a statue.
Did you suddenly freeze while you were out of hiding?
Thanks to this, I was able to figure out its identity.
A shadow mercenary group from the past.
‘The day’ when Cloudy was exterminated.
Did your relationship with bad actors start at this time?
But questions still remained.
『There was a good reason why Granfell was chosen as the family’s successor at the age of only 7.』
According to my settings, there was at least one to two years left until Granfell was selected as the successor. In this timeline, there would be no reason for Granfell to be targeted with such blatant murderous intent.
‘If it’s not Pride’s doing.’
Who on earth is this?
As young Granfell gets closer to being outside Cloudy territory.
Even more blatant acts of murder were poured out towards young Granfell.
Like the whole world hates that kid.
‘Damn, my head is spinning.’
The devil from earlier was strangely stimulating my nerves.
In reality, this guy wasn’t reaching out with any magical power towards little Granfell, but rather, beings that weren’t demons were truly aiming for little Granfell’s life.
‘I don’t know what the story is.’
But one thing is clear.
‘It’s hard to watch as an adult.’
Aside from the quest, if that little boy does something wrong, I wonder what he did wrong to be put under such threat. For me, Lee Ho-yeol, it was a situation I could not understand.
Goooooh.
There was no hesitation for me. I wanted to deal with it without the quick-witted little Granfell noticing, but considering the number of enemies in the forest, that was impossible.
‘In that spirit, let me ask you one favor, young Granfell.’
Don’t be too surprised by the noise.
*
Granfell made up his mind.
I decided to leave the Cloudy family.
It wasn’t an impulse or curiosity.
For a five-year-old, it’s unbelievable.
It was a decision made after careful consideration.
“…done.”
Everything went smoothly.
In the forest leading outside of Cloudy Territory.
Until he faced ‘someone’ who blocked his path.
Granfell swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
…The magical power overflowing around me was unusual.
It was different from the magic the family had encountered before.
A magic that is so complicated that it cannot be imitated even by looking at it, and is a mixture of high-level interference. Someone whose face was covered with a black, flowing cloak, who was clearly the person manifesting the magic.
someone said
“Remember, boy.”
The man’s words sent ripples through young Granfell’s heart.
“There is no paradise where you run away.”
“…!”
It was probably from then on.
To Granfell, who has had a refined aesthetic since childhood.
One particularly unusual taste began to sprout.
Fluttering—
repulsion of magical power.
As a result, Granfell’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the fluttering cloak. There is no paradise where you run away. Granfell clenched his small fists and turned away again.
Toward the Cloudy spirit he had run away from.
*
…Hey, Granfell.
Is it really necessary to say that?
Anyway, Granfell style speaking method.
‘How come he’s the strictest with himself?’
How curious is a kid at that age?
You might be curious about the outside world.
In that sense, I, Lee Ho-yeol, honestly felt a little disappointed.
‘I was curious.’
I wonder what kind of deviation little Granfell will do after escaping from Cloudy’s spirit. But thanks to the nagging by our old man, Granfell, who is the most adult among adults.
‘Maybe it’s because I’m not yet an ugly seven-year-old.’
Little Granfell calmly turned to Cloudy Spirit.
At that point, the flashing of the quest also weakened.
I could intuit it.
‘It will be over when little Granfell returns home.’
The quest will be successful and I will be thrown out of this past.
If so, let’s hurry up.
Why is there another quest?
-Witness the complete Cloudy family. (In progress)
The presence of an unfamiliar demon still bothered me, but I was purely curious.
What on earth would a complete Cloudy family look like?
Let’s see, if I can use what I just witnessed as inspiration to manifest a reversal magic…
While I’m thinking about it.
Young Granfell’s steps stopped.
After leaving the forest, we reached a meadow where we could see a mansion.
At the same time, my vision blinked.
[You have met the conditions.]
Vision is rapidly becoming blurred.
With blurred vision, I quickly caught the sight of Cloudy.
and.
I regretted it.
‘What is that…?’
Nod.
The little Granfell politely bows towards the forest where I am. Behind Gran Fell, a flower field spread out. Yes, it was a familiar flower to me.
Red.
It was a blood-red flower.
It grows only from blood filled with deep resentment.
It was [Sang Sanghwa that grew from blood].
In the vast plains of Cloudy Spirit, the silkworms growing from blood were blooming with no end in sight. It was only later that I realized what Granfell had done to himself, little Granfell.
You shouldn’t have sent it back, Granfell.
Why did you say it so harshly?
Even if I didn’t know, you shouldn’t have said that…?
‘why…?’
But by the time I realized it, it was already too late.
.
.
.
[You have succeeded in the quest.]
[You have met the conditions.]
[Rewards are paid.]
Always.
For the first time, I felt angry at my upright posture as always.
I told you everything about me, starting with my dark history.
Why are you telling me….
‘Are you still hiding your past, Granfell?’
