Chapter 586

“What are you saying?” Denier asked, completely calm.

“What else? I’m talking about you.”

Aries chuckled and leaned her back against a wall.

“Karoon is a greedy bastard who’d rather destroy a treasure that he can’t have. He might even set fire to Zieghart if he can’t become the head of house.”

“......”

Denier stared at Aries without saying anything.

“Balder is a loyal man who is simple and stupid. He cherishes the house, and he can accept anyone as the head of house as long as Zieghart can further develop,” Aries continued while tossing her hair over her shoulder.

“Sylvia is a courageous coward. I still think that she’s amazing for making a decision that even I couldn’t make.”

She even brought up Sylvia’s name, and then she looked at Denier.

“Lastly, you are a bystander. You don’t get involved in anything, and you never waste your feelings in any situation. To be honest, I’m still not sure what you are thinking.”

“A bystander…”

Denier’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“Are you not?”

“Yes, I think it’s an appropriate title for me. You’ve unexpectedly been watching us properly.”

“Because you are my younger siblings, after all.”

Aries’s voice sounded like it was coming from far away for some reason.

“Is that why you find it strange that a bystander is taking care of the youngsters?”

“Correct.”

“People are bound to change. You should know that better than anyone else.”

“Yes, people do change. That’s what I thought when you took Martha in as your stepdaughter.”

She calmly nodded.

“But you’ve pretty much neglected Martha after making her your stepdaughter. You seemed to be helping her somehow from the shadows, but it wasn’t exactly visible.”

Aries furrowed his brow while looking at Denier’s clean hand.

“You didn’t even teach Martha that often, did you?”

“If I said I didn’t have the time, it wouldn’t be convincing, right?”

“Of course not.”

She furrowed her brow, saying that it was such nonsense.

“I’m rather surprised. I thought you were focused on playing pirate.”

“Because these aren’t the only eyes I have.”

Aries pointed at her eyes.

“Well, I guess you’ve always been different from how you looked.”

“Stop that. What are you thinking? Why are you acting up now, abandoning your position as a bystander?”

“I already told you. I’m also changing a little. I just wanted to help them when I heard that they were training right after they returned from a mission.”

Denier shook his hands, telling her not to misunderstand his intentions.

“You are going to die if I find you doing something strange, understood?”

Aries took Denier’s leash with her cold and frightening voice. Her pressure was crushing the space, making her seem like she’d become a completely different person from a moment ago.

“That’s such a mean thing to say to your younger brother.”

“Do you think I won’t do it?”

“No, you will. However…”

Denier casually shrugged off the heavy pressure from Aries and threw a faint smile at her.

“I’d like you to trust me a little. Despite how I may seem, I never do anything that can be harmful to Zieghart. I was even the one who found all the spies inside the house.”

“That’s why this fist isn’t punching you right now.”

Aries briefly clicked her tongue and shook her right fist.

“This reminds me of the old days. I was beaten so many times back then.”

Denier smiled faintly while looking at Aries’s fist.

“Lady Aries!”

“We’re ready!”

Martha and Burren were calling out to Aries after they got all their equipment.

“Say auntie!”

“Auntie!”

Runaan was the first one to call her auntie once again.

“I can’t tell if she’s just cheerful or insane.”

Aries shook her head and parted her back from the wall.

“This is my last warning. Don’t harm the youngsters, and don’t cause any unnecessary issues.”

“This conversation is going nowhere.”

Denier sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

“Hmph.”

“Aries.”

Aries snorted and started to walk towards Burren, Martha, and Runaan when Denier quietly called out to her from behind.

“You know how you evaluated us just now? Karoon is a tyrant, Balder is loyal, and Sylvia is a coward.”

“And?”

“Then what about you?”

“Me? I’m a crazy bitch.”

Aries raised her voice while pointing at herself with her thumb.

“If I was stronger than our father, I would’ve taken away his position as the head of house.”

“I thought you would. That’s perfect.”

Denier smiled cheerfully and nodded his head.

“Is that an insult or a compliment?”

“It’s a compliment.”

“Even the way you smile is unpleasant.”

“Aries.”

“What now?”

“You’d better not be solely focused on me.”

Denier shook his head with a voice that was devoid of emotion.

“What do you mean?”

“......”

He quietly stared at Aries without responding.

“Tsk.”

Aries glared at Denier for a while, then clicked her tongue and turned around. Her steps were wavering slightly as she approached the Light Wind division’s team leaders.

“I really don’t like him.”

* * *

“She needs to become a musician!”

The elf was pointing at Yua with her eyes shaking uncontrollably, as if she were possessed by a ghost. Her previous appearance, with that heavy gaze that even the world’s destruction wouldn’t be able to shake, was nowhere to be found.

“Her hearing, voice, and technique—she is a natural in every aspect! It was decided from the moment of her birth that she had to become a musician!”

She shook her head, saying that Yua’s path was that of a musician instead of a warrior.

“Your name is Lady Saira, right?”

Raon called her name while shaking his hand to calm her down.

“Yes!”

Saira raised her voice with a big nod.

“I’m also aware of Yua’s talents.”

He was of course aware that Yua had special talents since she was good enough to be targeted by Eden as the siren’s vessel.

However, he didn’t expect that a musician who was outstanding even among the elves would praise her so much.

“No, you aren’t aware.”

Saira firmly shook her head.

“Let alone humans, she is unmatched even among the elves.”

“Even you, Lady Saira?”

“I’m even worse than the dirt under her toenail!”

“Ah…”

She bit her lip, saying that it would be rude to compare.

“Ahem!”

Yua’s nose raised and she cleared her throat. She was apparently happy about the compliment despite how excessive it was. It was cute how she scratched her head, seeming to be slightly embarrassed.

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“She needs to be taught here. I want to pass down everything to her.”

Saira clenched her fist, saying that she wanted to raise Yua as the best musician.

“Hmm…”

Raon licked his lips while looking at Saira’s fist, which was close enough to punch his chin.

‘I’m glad that she’s complimenting Yua’s talent, but… Leaving her here would be too sudden.’

Since he was replacing Yua’s grandfather as her guardian, it wasn’t an easy decision to make.

“Yua, what’s your opinion?”

“Hmm, I’m not too sure. I like swordsmanship, but I also like singing and playing instruments.”

Yua shook her head, saying that she wanted to do all of them.

“Let’s decide later, since we will be staying here for a bit longer.”

“Uhh, what a waste of time…”

Saira’s shoulders trembled, showing that she wanted to just keep teaching her all night long.

“Then can I keep her with me during her stay, at least?”

She lowered her head, begging for permission. Raon was surprised because she looked far different from their first encounter.

“That’s up to you.”

“Then sure!”

Yua raised her hand, saying that she wanted to learn more about how to play the grass pipe.

“Then let’s go right now! I’ll even make your food!”

Saira took Yua and ran towards her home before Raon could even stop her.

“She looks just like me.”

Rimmer came out from the kitchen with a tray on his hand and smiled faintly while looking at Saira and Yua’s backs.

“What?”

“I also worked pretty hard to get you.”

Rimmer raised his eyebrows slightly while placing the food on the table.

“…Did you?”

Raon couldn’t remember anything about Rimmer’s hard work, but he didn’t bother to comment.

“What about me?”

Dorian raised his finger, asking how it was with him.

“Y-you too. You were also an important recruit. The Light Wind division wouldn’t be the way it is right now without you as the quartermaster!”

Rimmer forced a smile upon himself while spouting an obvious lie.

“I knew it!”

However, Dorian was glad to hear that and nodded vigorously. Raon started to think that he shouldn’t become a merchant even though he was the Sephia company’s successor.

Hueh!

Wrath darted his tongue out while looking at the dishes laid out on the table.

F-food! And all of the dishes are new!

He gulped loudly, showing that he liked the elven dishes.

‘They are new indeed.’

There was a pie containing fruits, but it didn’t look like flour was used to make it, judging from the color and fragrance.

Rather than using bread, it looked more like the fruit was puffed up.

Pick up your fork already! Start by taking a bite of that pie!

‘Alright, wait a moment.’

Raon picked up the fork while calming down Wrath, who was even more impatient than usual. He poked the pie and brought it to his mouth when frightening energy ran down his spine.

“Hmm?”

Rimmer stood up with wide eyes, having felt the same thing.

“Huh? What’s the matter, you two?”

“Wait a moment.”

Raon couldn’t answer Dorian’s question and ran outside the lodgings with Rimmer.

Rip!

The night sky was opening up. Seipia’s barrier was protected by the world tree’s power, but it was torn apart like a piece of paper and scattered into the air.

However, it didn’t feel like someone had torn it apart. It looked more like the barrier disappeared naturally because a long time had passed.

“Dorian. Take care of Yua.”

Raon put on the Black Dragon Coat that he’d left aside and shook his hand at Dorian.

“Division leader, please go to the world tree right now. You need to protect the protector.”

“What about you?!”

“As for me…”

Raon bit his lip while looking at Seipia’s entrance, which was being clearly revealed as if the barrier had never existed.

“I should go over there.”

Merlin had told him to escape, but many elves were standing guard in the great forest at his request. He couldn’t just leave them behind and run away.

Thud!

Raon violently kicked the ground while looking at the great forest, where a fire was gradually spreading.

Damn it! Why does something happen every time the King of Essence tries to eat something?! You damned heavens! Stop with your unreasonable bullshit!

Raon dashed even faster into the great forest, fueled by Wrath’s cry of despair.

* * *

“I feel like dying from continuously standing guard without even resting.”

A blue-haired elf let out a sigh while looking at the forest, which was getting darker.

“Why does Sir Erian even trust that human so much?” a green-haired elf muttered, a small scar around his eye as he furrowed his brow.

“He’s supposed to be the spirit king’s contractor.”

“That’s not even possible. He would’ve summoned the spirit king the moment he saw the world tree if he was really the spirit king’s contractor.”

“I don’t believe it either. But what can we do when the head of the guardians claims it to be true?”

The blue-haired elf clicked his tongue and showed his frustration.

“Haa, doesn’t that human just dislike us?”

“What?”

“I’m saying that he probably just wanted to make us suffer. Why would enemies even appear right now?”

“Now that I think about it, he looked pretty close to Lady Siyan…”

“That’s it! He’s taking revenge because we made fun of Lady Si—”

“Are you supposed to be chatting right now?”

Leiran had returned from scouting the area and furrowed her brow while looking at the guardians standing at the entrance.

“L-Lady Leiran.”

“That’s not…”

“We were ordered to be here by Sir Erian, not by that human. Resign from being a guardian if you don’t want to obey.”

The elves broke out in cold sweat because of her coldhearted declaration.

“N-not at all!”

“We have no complaints!”

The elves shook their heads, straightened their backs, and looked ahead without being distracted.

Leiran sighed in her mind while looking at the elves.

‘It’s understandable.’

They normally should’ve rested for half a day at least, but they had to immediately return to guard duty because of Raon’s request. It was understandable that the guardians would complain.

‘Even I am angry.’

She could accept the guard duty, but the fact that a human caused it was making her angry.

However, she had to obey because Erian was the one who made the decision, just like she’d told the others.

‘Hmm?’

Leiran was shaking her head with her eyes closed when she suddenly sensed the presence of her kin on the passage in the great forest connected to Seipia.

‘Whose energy is this?’

The energy was definitely from her kin, but it was a dreary mana that she’d never felt before.

Moreover, the presence was coming from where she’d just scouted.

She couldn’t understand what was happening because there was definitely no one when she checked.

Just as Leiran started to carefully raise her bow, the barrier right next to her easily dissipated like a rubber band being snapped.

Whaaam!

It wasn’t only happening from the front. The first layer of the barrier surrounding Seipia was completely undone, revealing the world of the elves hidden inside the great forest.

“Wh-what…?”

“Why did the barrier just disappear?!”

The guarding elves’ lips trembled in surprise.

“Maintain your position here.”

“Leiran, you should stand by as well.”

Leiran swallowed nervously and notched an arrow on her bowstring when Erian came forward.

He looked at the bushes in front of him with his hand placed on the hilt of his sword.

Shhh!

Along with a gloomy sound similar to a ghost brushing past the land, the bushes opened up by themselves and people covered in black robes appeared.

“Who are you?”

Erian immediately unsheathed his sword and glared at the black robed people.

“Did you already forget about us? It hasn’t even been that long.”

The one at the center with a slender body took off her robe and threw it away. She was a female elf, her eyes glowing yellow with radiant blonde hair that contrasted against her ashen skin, which looked like it had been dampened by rain.

The others also took off their robes. All of them were beautiful elves with pointy ears, but their skin was strangely dark gray or black.

“C-Cassandra…”

Erian’s lips trembled in disbelief as he looked at the elf with ashen skin.

“Wh-who is she?” Leiran asked, and Erian shifted his trembling gaze.

“The deserters. They are the ones who left Seipia. However…”

He swallowed nervously, saying that he’d never seen someone’s skin color change into that.

“D-deserters…”

Leiran’s fingers trembled as she looked at Cassandra.

‘Are they the deserters from that time…?’

She’d heard that some elves had left Seipia after a difference in opinion before she was born.

She couldn’t understand why they suddenly appeared and dispelled the barrier because she’d heard that the protector had let them go without harming them.

“What are you planning with your sudden appearance?”

Erian bit his lip while looking at Cassandra.

“You should be aware that you survived thanks to the protector. Why did you return and remove the barrier?”

“We came to express our gratitude to him.”

Cassandra casually swayed her hand and nodded her head.

“Because he is too good to live in this cruel world. We should send him off quickly.”

She blatantly revealed that the protector was their target.

“Do you even think that’s possible? The protector will be here at any moment!”

“While doing the purification ritual at the same time?”

Cassandra curled her lips into a broad smile.

“We already know everything. Erian, did you forget that I used to be your superior?”

“......”

Erian bit his lip without responding. Like he’d expected, they were targeting the moment when the protector was performing the purification ritual.

“I’m different from before. I’m going to stop you!”

“That sounds fun, but there’s no time to waste, so…”

Cassandra snapped her fingers, and elves with ashen skin standing behind her shattered a spherical object.

Clatter!

The ray of light emerging from the sphere soared to the sky, and a huge magic circle appeared on the ground that wasn’t protected by the barrier anymore.

Roaaar!

A wave of crimson flame burst from the magic circle, spread in all directions, and started to burn the forest.

“Come forth!”

Erian extended his hand to the front and summoned the highest-tier wind spirit. The spirit spread its wings like a soaring bird and tried to suppress the flame with a powerful wind, but it was pushed back by the wave of fire instead and slammed onto the ground.

“H-how…?”

Even though wind didn’t have a great affinity against fire, it still should’ve been possible to control the air to stop the fire from spreading for a moment. However, the crimson flame ignored the very concept of wind and kept spreading around.

It was so powerful that all the bushes and trees around Seipia was burning.

“Did you think you could stop the crimson flame with a weak wind like that?”

Along with a voice filled with mockery, the flame raging towards the sky started to form a human shape.

Whir!

A sturdy figure was formed, its body as massive as a mountain with fists as large as boulders.

A spiral horn grew from the center of its forehead and crimson light sparked from inside a helmet that looked like a lizard.

Rumble!

The wind spirit was completely intimidated with trembling wings, just like when it faced Raon, because of the tremendous wave of power displayed by the man wearing the lizard helmet.

“Crimson flame…?”

Erian’s lips trembled as he looked at the helmet covering his head.

‘The face of a lizard, a single horn and crimson flame…’

It would’ve been a different story if it only had one of those aspects, but there was only one existence in the world that had all those three characteristics.

“It can’t be… Ifrit?”

“Correct.”

Cassandra nodded while snapping her fingers.

“The fire spirit king that you’ve been missing so much has returned.”

“Why is Ifrit in Eden?!”

“Because this is where I belong.”

The man wearing Ifrit’s helmet extended his hand to the front. The crimson flame looked like it broke out from his palm and attacked Erian and the elves.

“Kuh!”

Erian bit his lip while looking at the fire tornado rushing towards him.

‘I can keep fighting if I dodge this.’

Even though he was wearing Ifrit’s helmet, his pressure felt like he hadn't reached transcendence yet. Erian could tell that he would be able to hold him back if he dodged the attack.

However, his sister and the other elves were going to die the moment he dodged it, and Seipia’s entrance would be blocked, turning it into an inferno. The attack needed to be blocked no matter what.

Whaaam!

Erian slammed his trembling leg into the ground and thrust his sword to the front.

“Stand up!”

He extended his hand towards the highest-tier spirit that was being crushed by the enemy’s pressure. His desperate shout reached it, and the spirit stood up while struggling to unleash a powerful wind.

Swaaaa!

The tremendous storm of fire came to a halt in front of the blade of wind. Even though it was the worst situation, he was enduring it with the power of his determination.

“Kuaaah!”

“Ack…”

However, two elves who were further away to the side melted because the flame was too powerful.

“Leiran…”

Erian called Leiran’s name as if he was coughing out blood.

“C-call the elders and Raon, and evacuate everyone…”

“Er-Erian…”

“I’m fine, so hurry up!”

The determination in his gaze was telling her that he was prepared to die.

“R-retreat, everyone!”

Leiran ordered the guardians to retreat and turned around. She mustered her strength on her faltering legs and ran towards Seipia.

“I…”

‘I got my brother killed.’

If only she’d properly listened to Raon’s advice, if she’d examined everything until the very end, if she’d scouted all the way outside the great forest, her brother wouldn’t have needed to stop the enemies like that.

She regretted it so much that she wanted to kill her previous self from a few hours ago, who was looking down on Raon just because he was a human.

Whaap!

Leiran was running towards Seipia with her vision turning blurry as a clear and warm wind blew against her from the opposite direction.

The wind brushed past her and kept advancing without losing its fragrance in the midst of the heat burning the entire surrounding.

Leiran put her hands together while looking at the back of the wind.

‘Please…’

* * *

Erian’s hands trembled as he blocked the flame.

‘It’s so powerful…’

The burns had spread on his arms from blocking the crimson flame, so much so that his flesh had started to crumble.

He felt dizzy from the intense pain, to the point where he could collapse at any moment.

However, he couldn’t allow himself to collapse. He had to buy as much time as possible for the others to prepare.

“I’m sorry. Please hold out.”

Kieeh.

He forced a smile on his face while meeting the eyes of the spirit that was gradually shrinking. The spirit cried quietly, as if it was telling him that it was okay.

Whack!

He was holding out by mustering all his strength as arrows flew at him from left and right to pierce through both feet.

“Ack!”

Erian lost the balance and leaned forward. He couldn’t move his arm anymore, implying that the arrows were smeared with a paralyzing poison.

“You are taking too much time.”

Cassandra curled her lips into a smile and shook her head.

“We are busy, you know.”

She nodded her chin at the Ifrit, asking him to finish him off.

“Hmph. I never needed your help.”

The man wearing Ifrit's helmet snapped his fingers, shattering Erian's wind and blade and engulfing him in flames.

“Hah…”

Erian laughed bitterly while looking at the flame prison blocking him from all directions.

‘Is this how I die…?’

‘But it’s okay.’

‘He is going to save Seipia.’

Since Raon was the spirit king’s contractor, he was definitely going to save Seipia.

‘I leave it to you…’

Erian believed in Raon and looked at the sky, which was the only direction that wasn’t surrounded.

Silver-white radiance like the moon covered the sky, contrasting with the flame engulfing the great forest.

Whaaam!

A black coat fluttered elegantly in the air in the midst of the frozen world, where the scorched trees, gray smoke seeping into the sky, and even the enemy’s proud crimson flame were transformed into ice.

“You’ve done well to last this long. From here on…”

After those red eyes examined Erian, they turned to the front, covered in a frightening glow.

“I’ll take it from here.”

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