Episode 587
“What does that mean?”
Denier asked back with a calm look in his eyes.
“What do you mean? “I’m saying this to you.”
Aris laughed and leaned back against the wall.
“Karun is a greedy person who would rather destroy a treasure he cannot have. “If I don’t become the head of the family, I might burn Sieghart down.”
“….”
Denier said nothing and looked at Aris intently.
“Balder is a simple yet foolish loyalist. “Family is important, so if Sieghart grows up from now on, he will be able to accept whoever becomes the head of the family.”
Aris continued speaking, brushing back her hair that was blowing in the wind.
“Sylvia is a courageous coward. Because I made a choice that even I couldn’t make. “I still think it’s amazing.”
She even brought up Sylvia’s name and then looked at Denier.
“Finally, you are a bystander. I don’t get involved in anything and I don’t waste my emotions on any situation. To be honest, I still don’t know what you’re thinking.”
“Just be a bystander…”
Denier drew a thin smile at the corner of his mouth.
“no?”
“no. I think it is an appropriate title. “You were watching us better than we thought.”
“But they are younger brothers.”
Aris let out a voice that seemed to come from far away.
“So you’re saying it’s strange for a bystander to take care of children?”
“Exactly.”
“People change. “You know that better than anyone else.”
“that’s right. People change. “I thought so when you took Martha as your adoptive daughter.”
She nodded calmly.
“But even after taking Martha as your adopted daughter, you almost ignored her. “It seemed like he was helping me with something, but it wasn’t really noticeable.”
Aris frowned as she looked at Denier’s neat hands.
“How many times have you taught Martha yourself?”
“The excuse that you didn’t have time won’t work, will it?”
“of course.”
She furrowed her brows to stop talking nonsense.
“It’s amazing. “I thought you were concentrating on playing pirates.”
“Because this isn’t the only thing I have eyes for.”
Aris pointed to her eyes with her finger.
“Well, from a long time ago, you were different from what you seemed.”
“It’s noisy. What are you thinking? “Why are you suddenly abandoning your position as a bystander and coming forward?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I’m changing a little too. “I heard that those kids started training as soon as they returned from their mission, so I just wanted to help them.”
Denier waved his hands, saying don’t misunderstand.
“If you get caught doing something useless, you will die.”
Aris grabbed Denier’s leash with a chilling voice. The feeling of becoming a completely different person from before weighed down the space.
“You’re being harsh with your younger brother.”
“Do you think you can’t do it?”
“no. My sister would do it. However…”
Denier gave a thin laugh as he effortlessly accepted Aris’ heavy momentum.
“Please trust me a little. Even though it looks like this, it doesn’t do anything to harm Sieghart. “It was I who found all of the family’s treasures.”
“That’s why I’m not throwing this punch right now.”
Aris clicked her tongue briefly and shook out her right fist.
“It reminds me of the old days. “I got hit a lot.”
Denier smiled softly as he looked at Aris’ fist.
“Aris!”
“Preparations are complete.”
Marta and Buren, who were fully equipped, called Aris.
“It’s my aunt!”
“aunt!”
This time too, Runan was the first to call her aunt.
“I don’t know if that kid is bright or crazy.”
Aris shook her head and turned her back from the wall.
“This is your final warning. “Don’t mess with the kids and don’t do anything unnecessary.”
“I don’t understand.”
Denier sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
“joy.”
“sister.”
As Aris snorted and walked towards Buren and Marta Runan, Denier called her name softly from behind.
“Didn’t you evaluate us earlier? “My brother is a tyrant, Balder is a loyalist, and Silvia is a coward.”
“however?”
“What are you doing there, sister?”
“me? “I’m a crazy bitch.”
Aris pointed at herself with her thumb and raised her voice.
“If I were stronger than my father, I would have taken the position of head of the family.”
“I think so. “It’s perfect.”
Denier smiled coolly and nodded.
“Is that an insult? “Is this a compliment?”
“It’s a compliment.”
“I don’t like the way you smile.”
“sister.”
“Why again!”
“You’d better not be the only one looking out for me.”
Denier shook his head in a voice that sounded like an empty sound.
“What do you mean?”
“….”
He looked at Aris quietly without answering.
“Tsk.”
Aris glared at Denier, then clicked his tongue and turned his back. Her steps trembled slightly as she approached the Gwangpungdae leaders.
“I really don’t like it.”
* * *
“This child needs to be made to play music!”
Where did the elf with heavy eyes that looked as if he wouldn’t move even if the world collapsed? The elf with open eyes as if possessed by a ghost pointed at the infant.
“You are gifted with pitch, voice, and technique! “A child has to do music from the moment he or she is born!”
She shook her head and said that Yua’s path was not to be a warrior, but to be a musician.
“You said you were Saira, right?”
Raon waved his hand to calm down and called the female elf’s name.
“yes!”
Saira nodded loudly and raised her voice.
“I know that Yua is talented.”
It was natural to know that Yua had a special talent, as she was targeted as the Siren’s vessel in Eden.
However, I had no idea that an outstanding musician among the elves would praise him so highly.
“no. “You don’t know.”
Saira shook her head resolutely.
“There is no one who can match it, not only among humans but also among elves.”
“Saira, too?”
“I can’t even handle this child’s claws!”
“Ah…”
She chewed her lip, thinking it was rude to compare.
“Ahem!”
Yua raised her nose and cleared her throat, as if she was happy to receive such praise. It was cute to see him scratching his head as if he was a little embarrassed.
“Then what do you want me to do?”
“You have to teach here. “I want to pass on everything I have.”
Saira clenched her fist, saying she wanted to make Yua the best musician.
“Hmm…”
Raon licked his lips as he looked at Saira’s fist, which was close to hitting his chin.
‘It’s nice to praise Yua’s talent, but…’
It’s abrupt to leave him here.
It was not an easy decision to make since he was acting as her guardian instead of Yua’s grandfather.
“It’s a baby. What do you think?”
“Well, I don’t know. “I like the sword, and I like singing and musical instruments.”
Yua shook her head, saying she wanted to do it all.
“Because there is still time to stay here. “We’ll decide that later.”
“Ugh, what a waste of time…”
Saira’s shoulders were shaking as if she wanted to stay up all night teaching.
“Then can I take you with me while you’re here?”
She bowed her head, asking permission. This was even more surprising because it was so different from my first impression.
“You decide.”
“That’s great!”
Yua raised her hand and said that she wanted to learn more about how to play the grass flute.
“Then let’s go right now! “I’ll even prepare a meal for you!”
Saira ran to her house with the infant without any time to stop her.
“It’s like you’re looking at me.”
Rimer came out from the kitchen carrying a tray and smiled slightly as he looked at the backs of Saira and Yua.
“yes?”
“I worked hard to catch you too.”
Rimmer slightly raised his eyebrows as he placed the food he had brought on the table.
“Did you…?”
I couldn’t remember him putting any effort into it at all, but it got annoying so I passed on it.
“Me?”
Dorian raised his finger, asking how he felt.
“You tried to catch me no matter what. “If it weren’t for you, the supply officer, there would be no Gwangpungdae!”
Rimer forced a smile along with a lie that anyone could tell.
“also!”
However, Dorian nodded happily at Rimmer’s words. Even though he was the successor to Sepia Company, it seemed like he shouldn’t be doing business.
-Sigh!
Lars stuck out his tongue as he looked at the food spread out on the table.
-It’s rice! It’s all food I’ve never seen before!
The guy seemed to like the elves’ cooking and swallowed so much that a gulping sound was heard.
‘It’s definitely all new.’
It was a fruit-filled pie, but the color and flavor did not seem to have been made with flour.
It felt more like puffed fruit than bread.
-Quickly pick up your fork! First, take a bite of that pie!
‘i get it. Hang in there.’
I picked up a fork and calmed Lars, who was more irritable than usual. As I was about to take a bite of the pie and bring it to my mouth, a chill ran down my spine.
“hmm?”
Rimmer must have felt it too, as he stood up with his eyes wide open.
“uh? “Why are you two doing this?”
“wait for a sec.”
Raon couldn’t answer Dorian’s question and ran out of the dorm with Rimmer.
Jjijijijijik!
The night sky opens. Seifia’s barrier, protected by the power of the World Tree, split like a sheet of paper and flew away.
However, strangely enough, it didn’t feel like someone had forcefully broken the barrier. It seemed as if a lot of time had passed and Gyeong-gye had naturally disappeared.
“Dorian. “Take care of your toddler.”
Raon put on the black dragon robe he had taken off and gestured to Dorian.
“High Lord, please go straight to the World Tree. “I have to protect my guardian.”
“What are you going to do!”
“I…”
Raon chewed his lip as he looked at Seifia’s entrance, which was clearly visible as if there had been no barrier from the beginning.
“We should go there.”
Merlin told me to run away, but now there are many elves in the forest who are on guard because of my request. I couldn’t just run away and leave them behind.
Ugh!
Raon kicked the ground roughly, looking at the forest where flames were starting to spread little by little.
-Holy shit! Why does something happen every time the king tries to eat? Damn heaven! Just stop it!
Using Lars’ scream as a stepping stone, I ran faster and jumped into the forest.
* * *
“It feels like death to be on guard without even resting.”
The blue-haired elf sighed as he looked at the darkening forest.
“Why do you believe that human’s words so much, Erian?”
The green-haired elf with a small wound around his eye furrowed his brow.
“They say you’re the Spirit King’s contractor.”
“Does that make sense? If he was truly a contractor of the Spirit King, he would have summoned the Spirit King when he saw the World Tree.”
“I don’t believe it either. But what can you do when the head of the Guardian says so?”
The blue-haired elf clicked his tongue to show his irritation.
“Haha, maybe that person just doesn’t like us?”
“what?”
“Aren’t you doing this just to make people suffer? Why did the enemy suddenly attack me?”
“Now that I think about it. You seem close to Siyan…”
“Then that’s right! He’s taking revenge on us for making fun of Siyan…”
“Is now the time to chat?”
Rayran, who had returned from scouting, frowned as he looked at the guardians standing at the entrance.
“Le Rayran.”
“That’s not it….”
“This mission is not from that human, but from Master Erian. “If you don’t want to follow, quit being a Guardian.”
Cold sweat flowed from the elves’ foreheads at her cold words.
“Oh no!”
“No complaints!”
The elves shook their heads, straightened their backs, and looked straight ahead.
Rayran sighed inwardly as he looked at the elves.
‘It’s worth it.’
Normally, I should have rested for at least half a day, but because of Raon’s request, I had to immediately go to the guard, so it was understandable that the guardians reacted that way.
‘Because I’m angry too.’
I accept being on guard, but I was angry that it started with human words.
However, as I told the other elves, it was Erian who made the decision, so I had no choice but to follow.
‘hmm?’
As Rayran shook his head with his eyes closed, he felt the presence of his compatriots on the road leading from the Great Forest to Seifia.
‘Whose energy is it?’
It was definitely the energy of my compatriots, but it was a dark mana that felt like I had never felt it before.
Moreover, the place where I can feel the presence now is the place where I went to scout.
Obviously no one was there so I don’t know what happened.
It was time for Leiran to carefully lift the bow. The barrier installed right in front of me was released lightly, like a rubber band being torn.
Paaaaaa!
It’s not just the front line. The first barrier surrounding Seifia was completely lifted, and the world of elves in the forest began to be revealed as it was.
“What?…”
“Why is there a barrier all of a sudden?”
The elves standing guard trembled their lips as if they were embarrassed.
“Wait here.”
“Raylan. You too, wait.”
As Rayran swallowed dry saliva and put an arrow on the bowstring, Erian came forward.
He put his hand on his sword and looked at the bushes ahead.
Ssssssssssssssssssssssshh!
With a melancholy sound like a ghost grazing the ground, the bushes opened by themselves and people wearing black robes appeared.
“Who are you?”
Erian immediately drew his sword and glared at those wearing black robes.
“It hasn’t even been that long, but have you already forgotten?”
The slender figure in the center took off his robe. Unlike her brilliant blonde hair, the female elf with gray skin like a rain-soaked sky had pale yellow eyes.
The others also took off their robes, and although they were all elves with pointed ears and beautiful appearances, their skin color was strangely dark gray or black.
“Ka Cassandra…”
Erian’s lips trembled as he looked at the ashen-skinned elf, as if he had seen something he couldn’t see.
“Who is it?”
Erian looked away trembling at Rayran’s question.
“Leaver. These are the people who left Seifia. But…”
He swallowed dryly, saying that this was the first time he had seen his skin change like that.
“This defector…”
Rayran looked at Cassandra and his fingertips trembled.
‘Is that the defector….’
I heard that there were elves who left Seifia due to disagreements before he was born.
I heard that the guardian sent it to me graciously, but I don’t know why he suddenly appeared and lifted the barrier.
“What are you thinking when you suddenly appear?”
Erian chewed his lip while looking at Cassandra.
“You know that you survived thanks to the Guardian, so why did you come back and break the barrier!”
“I came to give thanks to him.”
Cassandra waved her hand lightly and nodded.
“He is too good to live in this difficult world. “I have to send it to you quickly.”
She blatantly revealed that she was targeting the Guardian.
“Do you think that’s possible? “The Guardian will be here soon!”
“Doing a purification ritual?”
Cassandri curled the corners of her mouth.
“I came here knowing everything. Erian. “Have you forgotten that I was your boss?”
“….”
Erian chewed his lip without answering. As initially expected, it was clear that they had come looking for an opportunity for the Guardian to perform a ritual.
“It’s different than before. “I will stop you!”
“That would be fun, but we don’t have time…”
Cassandra snapped her fingers, and the ashen-skinned elves standing behind her broke the round sphere.
Kyaaaaaaa!
The moment the flash of light from the sphere soared into the sky, a huge magic circle appeared on the floor where the barrier disappeared.
Kuwaaaaa!
The wave of red flames burning in the magic circle spread everywhere and began to burn the forest.
“Come out!”
Erian stretched his hand forward and summoned the highest level wind spirit. The spirit spread its wings as if flying and tried to suppress the flames using strong winds, but was instead pushed by the waves of flames and fell to the ground.
“How…”
Even if wind and fire are not compatible, it should be possible to suppress the flames for a while by controlling the atmosphere, but the red flames ignored the wind itself and spread.
The firepower was so strong that before we knew it, all the bushes and trees around Seifia were burning.
“Can a wind like that stop the prominence?”
With a voice mixed with ridicule, the rising flames began to form into a human shape.
Gooooooo!
A strong body, as tall as a mountain, with fists as big as rocks, is revealed.
Red-hot eyes flashed within the spiral horns that protruded from the center of the forehead and the helmet that looked like a lizard sculpture.
Coo coo coo coo!
At the terrifying wave of violence revealed by the lizard-helmeted monster, the Supreme Wind Spirit shrank and trembled its wings, as if it were facing Raon.
“Red flames…?”
Erian’s lips quivered as he looked at the helmet the man was wearing.
‘A lizard’s face, a horn, and a prominence…’
It might have been one of those three, but there was only one that was a mixture of all three.
“…Could it be Ifrit?”
“answer.”
Cassandra snapped her fingers and nodded.
“The Fire Spirit King you so desperately wanted has returned.”
“Why is Ifrit in Eden?”
“Because this is where I need to be.”
The monster wearing Ifrit’s helmet stretched out his hand forward. A red flame that seemed to pierce through the grasp attacked Erian and the elves.
“Ugh!”
Erian chewed his lips as he watched the swirling swirl of flames.
‘If you avoid it, you can fight more.’
Although I wore Ifrit’s helmet, the momentum I felt did not seem to reach transcendence. If you avoid that attack and fight, you will be able to survive.
However, the moment you dodge, your brother and the elves will die, the entrance to Seifia will be blocked, and it will become a fiery hell. It has to be stopped somehow.
Piaaaaaaa!
Erian planted his trembling legs into the ground and thrust his sword forward.
“Wake up!”
I stretched out my hand to the highest level spirit of wind, who was weighed down by the force. The desperate cry seemed to have worked, as the spirit, which had been dispirited, stood up struggling and created a strong wind.
Quaaaaaaa!
An enormous storm of flames stopped in front of the Wind Sword. It was the power of will to endure the worst situations.
“Kwaaaaaak!”
“Uuuuuu…”
But the fire was so strong that the two elves standing next to it melted in the flames.
“Leyran…”
Erian called out Leylan’s name as if he was coughing up blood.
“Now, call the elder and Raon and evacuate everyone…”
“Oh oppa…”
“It’s okay, come on!”
He showed a firm look in his eyes, as if he had already prepared for death.
“Everyone retreat!”
Rayran turned his back, ordering the guardians to retreat. She forced her wobbly legs and ran to Seifia.
‘I…’
I killed my brother.
If I had listened to Raon’s advice properly, if I had observed the entire situation until the end, if I had scouted out to the great forest, there was no need for my brother to block the way like that.
I regretted ignoring Raon as a human being to the point where I wanted to kill myself a few hours ago.
Hwaaaaa!
As Raylan ran towards Seifia with blurred vision, a clear and warm wind blew from the other side.
The wind that passed by her continued without losing its scent even in the burning heat everywhere.
Leiran looked at the wind’s back and put his hands together.
‘Please…’
* * *
Erian trembled with the hand that was blocking the flames.
‘It’s terrible…’
The burns on both arms had already spread to the point where I was trying to block the red flames, and the flesh was starting to turn to mush.
My head was so dizzy that it wouldn’t have been surprising if I collapsed immediately due to the excruciating pain.
But I couldn’t fall like this. We had to take some time so that others could prepare.
“sorry. “Hold on.”
Kiyi.
I made eye contact with the increasingly shrinking spirit and forced a smile. The spirit let out a low cry as if it was okay.
Whoa whoa!
As I was holding on with all my strength, arrows flew from the left and right and passed through both arms.
“Keuuuuuuu!”
Erian lost his balance and bent his back. I guess there was paralyzing poison in it, but my arms couldn’t move.
“It takes up too much time.”
Cassandra shook her head, curling the corners of her mouth.
“We are busy.”
She gestured to Ifrit’s helmet as if to call for an end.
“joy. “I didn’t need your help.”
When the monster wearing Ifrit’s helmet snapped his grip, Erian’s wind and sword strike were broken and flames enveloped him.
“Ha…”
Erian laughed as he looked at the prison of fire that was blocked on all sides.
‘Is this the way to go…’
But it’s okay.
Because he will save Seifia.
Raon, the Spirit King’s contractor, would definitely be able to save Seifia.
‘Please…’
It was when Erian trusted Raon and looked into the only open space.
A very different light from the flames that enveloped the great forest. A silver-white brilliance, as if the moon had melted, covered the sky.
Quaaaaaaa!
In a world where the blackened trees, the gray smoke that filled the night sky, and even the once proud red flames were frozen, a black long sleeve with a dragon engraved on it fluttered elegantly.
“You held on well. From here on out…”
The red eyes that had been examining Erian turned forward with a shimmering light.
“I’ll take care of it.”
