Ending Maker Chapter 96
Ending Maker Chapter 96
Chapter 33 - Phoenix #3
While Cordelia watched Red Wind train, Yuder went to meet Red Gale and Rough Avalanche.
He wanted to discuss the Golden Dragon King’s condition and their plan to capture the phoenix.
"Indeed......."
After hearing the whole story, Red Gale slowly nodded.
Perhaps thanks to Solari's necklace, he looked much healthier than when they had last seen him.
"To think the Golden Dragon King was in such a state. And those demon worshippers have already taken the west..."
Rough Avalanche, crouched on the ground, clutched his head and groaned.
If every Dragon Vein in the west had already been corrupted, it effectively meant that every Wild God in the west had become their enemy.
"He said that if we detonate the Dragon Veins in the west, the situation will improve."
Yuder offered the words as consolation. Rough Avalanche flinched and pulled a very complicated face.
"R-right."
He was probably remembering the sight of his entire rocky mountain being blown away.
Red Gale spoke again.
"Yuder, you mean to capture the phoenix and give it to Red Wind?"
"Yes, I believe that is the best option for now."
The ancient spirit phoenix, sealed long ago by a nameless spirit warrior.
Red Gale had never imagined that the phoenix had been sealed near their village, but he did not doubt Yuder’s story.
Yuder was Red Wind’s benefactor, and more importantly, he was a guardian of the Wild Lands who had personally met the Golden Dragon King and earned his recognition.
"Hmm...... I think I heard a similar story when I was young."
A savage and wicked bird of flame.
Rough Avalanche scratched his chin and chimed in. Yuder looked around at everyone and continued.
"Red Wind has the qualities of a spirit warrior. If she obtains the phoenix, she will be able to win the Karaval against Sun Song."
It was practically the only option.
Red Gale closed his eyes and suppressed a groan, but only briefly. He soon nodded in agreement with Yuder.
"Understood. It is as you say. In her current state, Red Wind cannot defeat Sun Song. She needs the phoenix's power."
They would be breaking the seal on a violent ancient spirit. If anything went wrong, they could create yet another disaster, but Red Gale chose to trust Yuder.
"Thank you."
"I should be thanking you. If you need anything, say the word. I will do everything in my power to help."
If the Fairy Queen had been there, she would probably have grabbed Red Gale and stopped him from making such an open-ended offer.
But the Fairy Queen and Red Gale were in different situations.
Instead of grinning with his eyes gleaming, Yuder told them what support he actually needed for the plan.
"Indeed...... I see. Understood. I will prepare it."
Once Red Gale agreed, relief crossed Yuder’s face. Then he turned to Rough Avalanche.
"Rough Avalanche, you'll help too, won't you?"
"Huh? Me too?"
"Yes, you too, Rough Avalanche."
"Uh... fine! Since this is for the Wild Lands, I’ll help however I can."
"Thank you."
Rough Avalanche somehow felt even more uneasy when a bright smile spread across Yuder’s face, but it was too late to take back what he had said.
He managed an awkward smile and thumped his chest in a show of bravado.
"I’m planning to set out for the phoenix tomorrow... Can everything be ready by then?"
"It will be possible. I will have the preparations finished by tomorrow morning."
"I will do the same."
Red Gale answered confidently, and Rough Avalanche rose to his feet and agreed.
Support from the Great Storm Tribe and a Wild God.
With that much help, they could use a strategy that had been impossible in the original game.
"Understood. I will see you tomorrow."
There were 7 days left until the Karaval.
Yuder left Red Gale's dwelling.
* * *
"So it's tomorrow after all?"
"There isn’t much time before the Karaval. Even after Red Wind gets the phoenix, she’ll need time to get used to its power."
Inside Yuder and Cordelia's lodging.
The two of them had spread a heap of magic items across the bed and were deciding how to configure Red Wind’s gear.
Yuder watched Cordelia from the side as she sat with her arms crossed, groaning and thinking seriously. Then he picked up a cold-attribute ring and asked,
"How's Red Wind doing?"
"She’s gotten much more comfortable with it. She’s talented, as you’d expect from a playable character. She can already fight with Haste and Strength double-stacked."
Cordelia stretched out her hand and lightly lifted a tiara that granted a cold attribute.
"Hmm, will I have to take off the headband to wear this?"
The rabbit set Cordelia had worn ever since their first visit to the Great Storm Tribe village.
Yuder had quietly removed his when he changed into the Holy Battle Robe, but Cordelia had kept the rabbit ears and tail equipped the entire time.
"Hmm...... I think I could wear them together if I tried."
Since this was reality rather than a game, it was possible to wear more than one item on the same part of the body.
"First, take it off and try it on......."
Cordelia was muttering to herself as she reached up to remove the rabbit ears, but her voice trailed off when she felt Yuder staring at her.
"What?"
"No, well......."
Cordelia tilted her head when Yuder unexpectedly trailed off. Then her eyes lit up and she gave a mischievous chuckle.
"What's wrong? Are you sad because I said I won't wear the rabbit ears? Do you want me to keep wearing them? Do you want to see them?"
Surely this would make Yuder flustered and leave him stammering.
Cordelia smiled inwardly in triumph and deliberately turned on the charm. Yuder reacted immediately.
"Yeah, I want to keep seeing them."
"If you say you want to see them, I'll keep wearing...... huh?"
"I want to keep seeing them."
Yuder looked straight into Cordelia’s blue eyes and answered seriously. Cordelia blinked at him blankly, then began to stammer instead.
"N-no. That...... well......."
"You're cute, Cordelia."
Yuder spoke again, and Cordelia's face flushed bright red.
No, what was he saying right now?
Had he taken some weird drug or something?
Cordelia was too flustered to know what to do. Yuder watched her seriously for a moment, then flashed a bright smile and said,
"I said the rabbit ears are cute. The rabbit ears. Ah, the rabbit tail is cute too."
"Yah!"
Cordelia smacked Yuder across the back for his teasing, but the gap between them in physical ability had already grown quite large.
Yuder grinned and pretended it hurt, so Cordelia hit him even harder.
And the next morning.
"Wow, Cordelia is cute."
Red Wind, fully equipped in fire-attribute gear, exclaimed in admiration while staring at Cordelia’s head.
A silver tiara set with a blue gem, positioned as if embracing the rabbit ears.
Cordelia answered with a hum, as befitted the second daughter of Count Chase.
"Because a certain someone begged me to keep wearing them."
"I never went as far as begging?"
"Then should I take it off?"
"No, my lady. You look absolutely adorable."
When Yuder spoke slyly, Cordelia let out a "hmph" and turned her gaze away, but she did not touch the headband.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed too.
And at the sight of these two, Rough Avalanche said.
"Ugh, that’s sickeningly sweet."
What an exasperating couple.
They really did drive everyone around them crazy.
"Still, she's cute."
Red Wind giggled as she said it. Cordelia’s face reddened further, and after pursing her lips a few times, she hurriedly changed the subject.
"Anyway, we're going now. Are you all ready?"
"All ready."
Red Wind answered spiritedly first, and Rough Avalanche nodded with a reluctant face.
"The Great Storm tribe looks ready too."
When Yuder pointed to the distance and spoke, Cordelia nodded as well.
The shamans of the Great Storm Tribe were approaching, fully prepared for the expedition.
"Alright, let’s go. Yuder Wiki, lead the way."
"Yes, my lady. I will take the lead."
Yuder answered politely and took the lead. Cordelia followed directly behind him, then Red Wind, Rough Avalanche, and the Great Storm Tribe’s shamans.
About an hour later.
Yuder, who had been heading west, suddenly looked to the side and spoke.
"By the way, Cordelia."
"Hm?"
"Shouldn't we start practicing soon?"
"Practicing what?"
"Practice for dealing with Adelia."
Cordelia stared at him blankly for a moment before she realized what he meant. She gave a huff and said,
"I’m not practicing. I’ll just do it when my sister gets here."
"No, you should still practice. This is Adelia we’re talking about. My brother Gale would probably let it slide even if you winged it, but Adelia won’t."
"Ugh."
Yuder was right. Adelia was suspicious by nature, and anything involving Cordelia made her even more wary.
"Shouldn't you at least be able to say it naturally?"
It was a sound argument.
But Cordelia was not an idiot either. Practice might be necessary, but there was no reason to do it right now—especially when Yuder was so obviously looking for an excuse to tease her.
"I don't know, I'm not doing it now. No, come to think of it, I'm not the only one who has to practice. I'm not the only one who likes you...... no, what am I saying. Anyway, the world already knows that we like each other, right?"
"Then shall I go first?"
"Huh?"
"My beloved Cordelia. You look beautiful today as well. No... lovely."
The moment Yuder spoke with a bright smile, Cordelia felt her brain short-circuit.
Her face went blank. Then she started hitting Yuder over and over.
"Stop it! Stop!"
"No, but we have to practice! Ow! That hurts! Hey! It really hurts!"
"I know it doesn't hurt?!"
"No! If you hit me like that, it hurts even for me?!"
Cordelia switched from solid blows to snapping slaps that struck his skin like a whip.
Truly a genius of combat.
Of course Cordelia would find some way to make the attacks hurt.
And while Yuder and Cordelia continued bickering on the road,
"Look at you two, all lovey-dovey."
"Cordelia is cute. Hehe."
Rough Avalanche clicked his tongue, and Red Wind's eyes sparkled.
And about ten more minutes later.
"Stop, stop hitting me. We're here."
"Huff, huff, we still have a long way... wait, you’re right."
A massive rock tomb piled in layers.
A hidden path beneath it led to the underground ruins where the phoenix had been sealed.
"Alright, let's get started."
This was supposed to be a phoenix capture operation—no, an extermination operation. Since the phoenix would revive even if they killed it, there was no need to hold back.
Yuder and Cordelia looked at each other, and Rough Avalanche offered a silent prayer for the phoenix he had never even seen.
* * *
In the original story, a natural disaster collapsed the rock tomb and exposed the entrance, but that did not happen until the Wild Lands had already descended into utter chaos.
So Yuder and Cordelia decided to use a different method.
"Is there a Dragon Vein around here?"
"There isn't, you demon."
"Aw, why not? It's legal."
Cordelia gave a playful chuckle as she tried to act cute, but Yuder only shook his head before turning to Rough Avalanche.
"Please help."
"Ugh... I’m not in my true body, so I don’t have much power."
"Still, it's better than nothing."
They had brought Rough Avalanche along for help with something other than raw strength, but a Wild God was still a Wild God.
"Alright! Let's use some strength!"
Rough Avalanche spread his arms and let out a mighty roar. The rock tomb began to shift.
He had used telekinesis to lift the rock tomb slightly, making the stones easier to move.
"Then me too."
Cordelia also transformed into her witch form and exerted telekinesis.
Each time her blue eyes flashed, another huge rock slid neatly aside.
"Yuder, what should we do?"
"We don’t have telekinesis, so we can just watch."
Unfortunately, there was no popcorn.
Yuder patted Red Wind’s head and waited. About five minutes later, the rock tomb had been completely cleared away, revealing a round entrance.
"I see. Ancient spellcraft. There are traces of the High Elves too."
Yuder nodded at Rough Avalanche's words.
Given the circumstances, the unnamed spirit warrior was very likely a High Elf from the Magic Kingdom of Magellan.
"The route through the sealed area is short, but you could still call it a dungeon. It has a defense system protecting the phoenix’s seal."
"Hmm, I know. I read what you wrote down yesterday several times."
"I read it several times too. It was written in our language, so it was easy to read."
Red Wind raised her hand as she spoke. Yuder looked pleased and turned to the group.
"Only Cordelia, Red Wind, Rough Avalanche, and I will enter the sealed area. But the real battle with the phoenix will take place outside the ruins, so please be ready."
"Understood, Guardian."
The Grand Shaman Frostwind spoke on behalf of the Great Storm tribe's shamans.
He was a close friend of Red Gale and a powerful wind shaman.
"Alright, are you ready?"
"Ready."
Cordelia gulped down a potion and wiped her lips as she spoke. Yuder stepped up to the seal.
He drew an unlocking formation over the magic circle blocking the entrance and released the seal.
"Unlock."
The moment he uttered the activation word, the ground cracked, and with a rumbling sound, the floor where the sealing formation was drawn collapsed.
The diameter of the hole that opened up was about 2 meters.
Yuder glanced down into the hole and nodded. As in the original work, it seemed to be roughly 10 meters high.
"Cordelia."
"Hmph."
Cordelia let out a pointless little hum and approached Yuder, and Yuder picked her up in his arms.
"Red Wind, please take care of Rough Avalanche."
"Leave it to me."
Red Wind grinned and raised her thumb, then took Rough Avalanche, who was in baby bear form, into her arms.
"Please take care of the preparations."
"Leave it to us."
After giving his final instructions to Frostwind, Yuder leaped lightly into the hole.