◈ Episode 180. Everything Comes to a Head (3)
Elf.
Elsidore did not move.
To be precise, he could not move. [Blessing Hierarchy]
could not be defied.
Elsidore unleashed his killing intent as if venting his anger.
"Uu, uuaaaaah!!"
He wanted to slaughter the two trembling worms with all his heart, but his body wouldn't listen. He had no choice but to watch them whimper and back away.
"We, we'll never show our faces again!!"
"P-please show us mercy just this once......!!"
"......."
"Hiiiiik!!"
Silence only arrived after quite some time. After shedding tears and snot, they eventually crawled away on all fours.
Only after the two worms disappeared did the surroundings grow quiet.
Even so, Elsidore couldn't easily withdraw his killing intent.
Why must I, an elf,
be controlled by humans and suffer such humiliation? '......
Me, grow such flowers?' I will definitely kill you, Lee Hoyeol.
Elsidore muttered complaints, surpassing mere grumbling to hurl curses inwardly.
However, contrary to his resolve, mana flowed from his body.
A quantity of mana surpassing human limits, for he was no human. Flash─ The medicinal herbs that absorbed Elsidore's mana boasted a vibrant presence even in the darkness.
Elsidore recalled Hoyeol's voice.
-"There is a saying in this world."
-"......?"
-"He who does not work, neither shall he eat."
-"......!"
Ever since the day Elsidore fell into reality.
He couldn't leave the separate chamber of the Golden Palace.
Had he received terrible treatment? If someone asked, he couldn't simply nod his head.
-"I shall grant you limited freedom."
Anywhere in the Yusra Kingdom, he could wander.
However, causing harm to others was strictly forbidden.
Of course, it was a freedom that was practically meaningless to Elsidore.
Even if he wandered outside, all he saw were trash-like humans.
The fact that he couldn't kill them only left his chest frustrated.
-"Your meal."
Locked in the separate chamber, Elsidore racked his brain.
How could he escape this situation, the [Blessing Hierarchy]
?
But no matter how hard he racked his brain, no method came to mind.
"......
My damnable Mother."
Because the World Tree's blessing that had granted them the power of eternal life was such a thing.
Furthermore, Elsidore had come to realize.
"Surely even favoritism has its limits."
That even that great Mother's blessing dwelled in only one human.
That it resided in Hoyeol.
Since he was caught by such a man, it wouldn't be wrong to say the option to escape had vanished.
But.
"......
Who said anything about running?"
Until he reclaimed his blessing.
Elsidore had no intention of lowering his tail.
Therefore, he couldn't simply ignore Hoyeol's words.
He had clearly said it, after all.
-"Why don't you try taking it if you want it?"
Try taking it if you can.
-"It means you must prove your Pride before the World Tree as well."
Elsidore's worries could only turn toward 'Pride'.
Amidst that, Hoyeol had come to find him.
And that brought him to now.
"......
He who does not work, neither shall he eat?"
That's right.
Elsidore was earning his keep right now.
No one in the Golden Palace ate for free, and Elsidore was no exception.
Elsidore looked at the flowers in the garden.
Beautiful flowers and grasses filled the land of the elves, Sisli, to a degree incomparable to such things.
To think he was painstakingly growing such measly flowers.
"Hmph."
They were so trifling, so laughable that he snorted.
For the first time, he felt like he had won against Hoyeol.
Soon, Elsidore muttered with grim resolve.
"But this humiliation too shall end when I reclaim my Pride."
A grim declaration.
Thanks to that, Elsidore imbued the garden with mana with a lighter heart.
A shining magic circle, recovery magic, shone upon the medicinal herb garden throughout the night.......
*Even a slug has its talent for rolling.
I had entrusted the garden management to Elsidore.
Honestly, in my heart, I, Lee Hoyeol,
had wanted to work Elsidore even harder.
While someone was working themselves to death, it annoyed me that he was loafing around.
Should I just put him in the Demon King Contest?
I had seriously considered it.
After all, as long as the [Blessing Hierarchy]
existed, Elsidore couldn't act recklessly.
'The strongest fighting force.'
Including me.
There was no one in the Yusra Kingdom or the Magic Tower combined who could confidently claim to be stronger than Elsidore. Well, perhaps the Tower Master floating inside the mana sphere.......
But Granfel's Pride would never approve of my sly trick.
"Unfortunately."
The Demon King Contest was also part of the Holy War (聖戰)
.
There was a condition to participate in the Holy War.
Namely, proving one's Pride.
"I have no intention of granting the glory of participating in the Holy War to one who has not realized Pride."......
To call a quest full of nothing but hardship like the Holy War glory!
Honestly.
I think I finally understand why I'm always suffering, Granfel.
[Oasis of the Yurihara Desert][Recommended Level: Lv.150][Collapse Rate: 0.7%]
Entering the portal.
My vision changed in an instant.
A rift created on the seaside.
Thanks to that, it looked like a sandy beach floating on the ocean.
What a spectacular sight.
Honestly, I felt like submitting a leave of absence.
I wanted to take off this damn jacket and shirt and enjoy sunbathing.
"Hiyel."
Like hell this is a vacation.
Despite appearing relaxed on the outside.
Inside I was creaking, no, clattering.
Soon, Hiyel revealed himself.
"Hiyel responds to your summons."
As elegantly excessive as ever, Hiyel.
I spoke with Hiyel, who lowered his head politely while holding the hem of his garment in both hands.
First, I should start with the situation on the Arcana Continent.
"No large-scale movements have been witnessed."
Of course.
The demons who participated in the Demon King Contest were those with forces capable of coveting the throne. Now that such powerful beings have cleanly vanished from the Arcana Continent.
The only remaining forces would be the existing Demon Kings.
"Have they finally realized their place?"
The reason even those Demon Kings' activities have quieted?
As fellow Demon Kings, wouldn't they know better than anyone.
What a high-ranking Demon King is.
An evil of a different caliber to the point where words cannot even reach it.
Gamigin of the Fourth Throne had been slammed into hell.
Because Gamigin's eyes had looked exactly like Demonic Eyes (魔眼).
Perhaps the Demon Kings shared that vision as well.
If so, it makes perfect sense.
-"Tremble in fear. Arkshan has returned."
Arkshan has returned.
Because I had declared it clearly before Gamigin.
......
Wait, I didn't think much of it back then.
But now that I think about it, good job, my big mouth.
'I suppose the bluff worked pretty well?'
Now that the gates of hell are closed.
Neither Arkshan nor demon hunters exist on the Arcana Continent.
But I'm the only one who knows that, right?
Moreover, being Demon Kings, they surely remember.
The fact that I died on the Arcana Continent.
Shall we put ourselves in their shoes? 'It must be truly terrifying for the demons.'
I, who died without even leaving a corpse.
Appearing to lead demon hunters annihilated in the Holy War.
Declaring that Arkshan had returned.
Hiyel lowered his head once more.
"I, Hiyel, am ashamed that I could not accompany you on that journey."
For Hiyel, who always overestimates me, to show such a reaction.
The Iron Castle.
There was no need to ask about the dwarves' reaction.
Watching the intimidated demons, it must be almost a festival atmosphere.
Of course, unlike my overwhelming inner feelings, I spoke as usual.
"Such things are neither a journey, nor hardship, nor a trial. They are merely passing gusts. So raise your head, Hiyel."
"!"
I should have just told the truth that I benefited from my seniors.
Passing gusts, my foot.
Your ability to wrap things up grandly improves by the day, Granfel.
You have nothing to be sorry for either, Hiyel.
"Because this is the moment when your ability is needed."
Even during his days as a nameless lesser spirit, Hiyel's {Nature} ability had been considerable. Now that his rank had risen to a unique spirit, the effect was such that even I could hardly guess.
It had been so even in London.
I thought it was just a flashy-looking Aquariu oak, but it had life recovery effects. So the idea of raising medicinal herbs into elixir......
'It might not be such a vain dream after all.'
If successful.
Wouldn't it be a greater achievement than turning stones into gold?
Considering the effects and rarity of elixirs recorded in books.......[Unique]
What is it, it would be at least [Epic] grade.
'It's mass-producing Epic grade items!'
For a moment, I swelled with golden dreams.
I erased the thought from my head before my big mouth could run wild.
Fine.
I know even without you saying it, Granfel.
That because of your damn integrity, I cannot pursue a materialistic life.
"I am glad that you still require my ability."
You don't need to be so happy about it, Hiyel.
Because I'll probably need to keep requiring it in the future.
Soon, Hiyel's blessing settled over the oasis. 'Great.'
It's not hard to move the blessed water outside the rift.
Because there is magic, not a skill.
Let's see, if I cast [Spatial Expansion] magic on a suitable water bottle like now.......
Sssss─ As you can see, water is endlessly sucked into the bottle.
By the way, calling this a 'suitable water bottle' is a bit of a stretch. '......
Anyway, at least for teatime.'
A teatime essential, a teapot.
After old-fashionedly scooping the oasis water into it. 'This should be enough.'
As I was putting the teapot into my inventory.
Hiyel handed me something.
"And I have reclaimed another Pride."......
Reclaimed Pride?
What is with that exhausting-sounding thing!
My heart clenched without me realizing it.
Upon closer inspection, it was the remains of the Kiernberg Mechanized Tower.
'Right, levels are important too of course.'
As could be seen from entering a rift with recommended level 150.
Currently, it was difficult for me to level up through ordinary rift raids.
'Unless there was an overflow of demon-type monsters.'
Now that demon activity had slowed.
It would be hard to expect leveling up even in the next regular update rift. In that sense, the experience stored in the Kiernberg Mechanized Tower was more than a timely rain during a drought.
"May you be at peace. My liege."
With those excessively loyal parting words, Hiyel returned to the Arcana Continent. I immediately escaped the rift and manifested a portal leading to the Yusra Kingdom.
Learning from experience.
The tower remnants had consumed quite a bit of mana for manifesting Reversal magic. With the shackle-like Circles filled, it was necessary to manifest Reversal magic in the most comfortable state possible.
Clack─ "Indeed, one can truly feel that the sun has set."
......
What a grand way to say the tea is good.
Anyway.
Nothing must give you as much mental peace as teabag green tea, Granfel.
I accepted it and slowly raised my mana.
Guoooo─ Once again, I was grateful to the title system.
[Transcendent]
If my Circles had not been sealed by its effect, I might never have been able to manifest magic like I do now.
I suppose this is why early learning is useless.
Clunk─ The gears began to interlock and turn.
The magic stones regained their light.
A vast energy surged from the mechanical device.
It was already the second time.
Yet it was a force not easily gotten used to......!
His hair whipped wildly, and the neatly organized desk scattered from the sheer force.
To put it in Granfel's style.
Yes.
The Pride of the Mechanized Tower began to seep into my body.
Messages popped up chaotically.
[Acquiring the experience accumulated in the Final Weapon Kiernberg Mechanized Tower.]
[Acquiring the fame accumulated in the Final Weapon Kiernberg Mechanized Tower.]
[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]
[Level Up.]
......
Could I aim for the limit, level 50, again this time?
I wouldn't know until I opened the status window. 'But before that.'
There was something I needed to check first.
That I must witness the end of the Kiernberg Mechanized Tower, as a member of Arkshan.
[Acquiring the memories accumulated in the Kiernberg Mechanized Tower.]
Soon, the memories of the Mechanized Tower unfolded before my eyes. "......!"
But it was strange.
The gap of ten and several years in my existence.
Just as Dredsen Village from the previous memory had been unfamiliar.
Most cities and villages of Arcana couldn't be familiar to me.
Yet at this moment, the scenery rising before my eyes was strangely familiar.
Magnificent castle walls.
The patterns on the fluttering flags.
Even atop the walls.
The face of the lonely man, too.
It was familiar to the point of déjà vu.
I soon realized the reason.
"I see, so you too were thirsty for the throne?"
So it was.
The contest was not a story that applied only to demons.
The Empire.
The capital, Antonium.
The lonely man atop the walls, the blade of rebellion aimed at the Emperor's neck.
At that moment, a message rose before my eyes. [Main Quest: Warring States (戰國時代)]
"......!"