Chapter 127: Thank Goodness
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 127: Thank Goodness
Aside from myself, who had set foot in Rumianabrixi’s domain for the first time today, there was apparently one other person who had visited.
According to Rumianabrixi, this was some kind of transcendent being who had lived for a staggering three hundred years. It seemed this person was a bit different from what I had expected.
“Wait a second.”
A right leg, led by a snow-white high heel, suddenly poked out from thin air. Before the other leg could follow, a person’s pelvis and crotch should have emerged.
She’s quite clean. Does she get professional maintenance?
Her skin was as white as a blank sheet of paper, and for some reason, she wasn't wearing a single stitch of clothing. Next, her navel, her solar plexus, and the twin mounds that served as evidence of her bountiful maternal instincts slid out in sequence. Finally, her face emerged, framed by long, voluminous hair.
“Oh?”
“Um, hello there.”
She wore something resembling a mage’s or witch’s hat on her head and held a long staff in one hand. She was incredibly tall. Even accounting for the high heels, she looked to be nearly 180 centimeters.
“How did you get in here?”
“A Wisp friend told me about it.”
—I told him!
Fortunately, she didn't seem particularly embarrassed. Perhaps after living for three hundred long years, she had reached an enlightenment that transcended shame. Or maybe she just enjoyed being naked.
Still, that wide-brimmed witch’s hat looked unique and fancy. High heels and a hat on a naked body—quite the look.
“Hmm, should I use a memory erasure spell?”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because no one knows that my areolas are wider than average.”
“Do you go around observing other people’s areolas?”
This woman was quite the nutcase. They said she was three hundred years old, and as expected, no one could stay sane for that long.
“It’s a complex of mine.”
“I guess you’re fine with them being inverted, then.”
“I’m actually proud of that.”
“Ah, I see.”
She certainly had charm.
—It has been a long time, Aurora.
“Long time no see, Rumi. I didn't expect there to be another human here besides me.”
—He is the first new guest in three hundred years. I could hardly turn him away at the door.
“I see. Is it because I couldn't be of any help?”
—A little bit, yes.
The woman Rumianabrixi called "Aurora" naturally took off her shoes and sat down next to the brilliantly colored flowers, pulling Rumianabrixi into a hug.
Seeing how casual they were with each other, they must be close. Well, if you’ve known someone for three hundred years, you’d probably become friends even with an enemy.
Was her name Aurora? Or was her surname Oh and her name Rora? She didn't look Korean.
Yeah, definitely doesn't look it.
For starters, her physical specs weren't those of a Korean. A faint rainbow sheen shimmered over her hair, which was so white it almost hurt the eyes. To put it into words, it felt like oil floating on milk. But it was also sparkly and beautiful.
“So, what about you? What are you doing here?”
“A Wisp told me to follow it. Said there might be a reward if I did a favor for Rumianabrixi.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure if you can handle Rumi’s request.”
“So, Ms. Rumi, what is this request?”
Rumianabrixi, sitting atop the rainbow-colored flowers, slowly fluttered her wings as she answered.
—Nameless human. What is your name?
“Yoo Eon. Or you can call me Aven.”
—Aven is a bit easier to say. Unfortunately, I know that my old friend Aurora is a truly outstanding mage among humans.
“Ms. Aurora, is that true?”
“Is what true?”
“That you’re good at magic?”
“Of course. Obviously.”
Certainly, the fact that she made sure to wear her staff and witch’s hat despite not wearing any clothes suggested she wasn't an ordinary eccentric. She was likely a very powerful eccentric.
“But why aren't you wearing any clothes?”
“There were never any people here, and I like the sense of freedom.”
“Well, I’m here now.”
“Silence is golden. Or perhaps the only way to stay alive.”
As Aurora placed her index finger over her lips, mana particles gathered around her and drew an 'X'.
“You must be strong.”
“You don't know who I am? Are you not from Roanmarie? It’s not easy to not know me.”
“I know you now. You’re Ms. Aurora.”
“And my surname?”
“Surname Oh, name Rora.”
“Who would name their child in such a stupid way...?”
“My mother.”
“Ah. I see.”
Aurora reached out toward the staff she had carelessly left beside her. The staff rattled before flying into her grasp. She then pointed the tip of the staff at me.
“Anyway... I’m curious how you entered this space, but I won't ask. Instead, you must remain silent about the information regarding this place, Rumianabrixi’s existence, and the relationship between the Wisps and the Wigana.”
“Including the width of your areolas?”
“That’s optional.”
“I’ll keep that one to myself.”
So that was it. Aurora, Rumianabrixi’s old friend, was supposedly an outstanding mage among humans, though I wouldn't know. The point was: how could I solve a problem that even she couldn't?
It was a valid point, so I couldn't really argue. Even if I had grown a bit stronger, I was still just a Gold Grade. This Aurora person probably possessed at least that much power. When I checked her through the Direwolf Alpha’s vision, she seemed to be holding back, but her mana fluctuations were incredible. It was a more intense aura than any mage I had seen so far.
“Well, let’s hear it anyway. If it looks too hard, I’ll just stand on the sidelines and cheer you on.”
—This body has only about ten years left. Five hundred years is the limit for a Brixi’s lifespan.
“You’ve lived a long time. Does Brixi mean Wisp?”
If so, Rumiana probably meant something like King or Queen.
“In the human tongue, yes. Anyway, Rumi doesn't have much longer to live.”
“Then what’s the favor? In the end, you’re saying you want to live a bit longer?”
—Yes. It might seem a bit pathetic, but I want to live a little longer.
“What needs to be done for you to live longer?”
“Her old, cracked mana core needs to be replaced with a new one.”
“I’m not even sure what a mana core is.”
I was told that for mana-based lifeforms like Wisps, Poison Mushrooms, Ents, and others, the mana core was equivalent to a heart. It was the organ that generated mana under specific conditions and distributed it throughout the body, allowing it to function as a living being.
“So you’re saying she needs a heart transplant.”
“Well, Rumi is a precious existence to the other Brixi as well. If I asked if anyone would give their heart for Rumi, many Brixi would come running.”
“The problem is that you don't have the ability to perform the transplant?”
“Exactly. Even as an outstanding mage, I don't have the ability to perform such a high-difficulty replacement surgery... swapping the mana cores of Brixi, who are almost complete spirit bodies. Do you understand now?”
Hmm.
“I’ll give it a try.”
“Aven. I’ll say it again, even I—”
“No, I heard you. But for some reason, I feel like I can do it.”
“How?”
“Would you even believe me if I explained it in words?”
Aurora looked at me with narrowed, suspicious eyes. It was understandable. The life of a monster she had been friends with for three hundred years was coming to an end.
She, a brilliant mage, couldn't do anything about her friend’s lifespan and was spending each day in regret, only for a stranger she just met to suddenly claim he could do it.
That aside, could she please put some clothes on before getting angry? Her face was scary, so I lowered my gaze slightly, only to lock eyes with another pair of 'eyes.' But these ones were the 'squinty-eyed' type.
“How are you going to do it?”
—I am curious, Aven.
“Um... what’s the reward, by the way?”
I had to make sure the reward was solid. I didn't come here just to look at Ms. Aurora’s naked body. Though it did have its value.
“What do you want? I can give you anything.”
“Then can I receive things like monsters that appear in deep labyrinths?”
“Monsters? I don't know what you’re planning, but that’s certainly possible.”
“Good to hear. By the way, do you consider your honor to be like toilet paper? Or do you break promises as easily as you eat meals?”
Since it was a verbal contract, I honestly didn't trust it much.
“What do you take me for? I always keep my word.”
Still, she was Aurora, an outstanding mage recognized by Rumianabrixi. The part about living for three hundred years sounded like a lie, honestly. But whatever, let’s assume it’s true.
“Then go bring a Brixi who’s willing to sacrifice their heart.”
With a suspicious expression, Aurora stood up, her bountiful maternal assets swaying. As she waved her staff in the air, a significant number of Wisps flew over and settled near her.
“Rumianabrixi is in critical condition. You all know this, right?”
—We know!
—It’s so sad! I want to help if I can!
—To think we’ll never see her again, it’s unfair!
—I’m sad! I feel like I’m going to cry!
As expected of the Wisp boss, the ordinary Wisps huddled together and expressed their concern for Rumianabrixi’s health.
“Is there anyone among you who wants to offer a new mana core to Rumi?”
—Our mana core...?
—If we give that, what happens to us?
—Do we become sprouts like the dead Brixi?
—And become one with Rumianabrixi...?
After a moment of buzzing voices from here and there, countless Wisps stepped forward, volunteering. This was quite something; unlike my expectation that only a few would show up, almost all of them were willing to sacrifice their hearts.
Rumianabrixi must have been a good ruler.
“Thank you, everyone. Then... you, the youngest Brixi. Can I ask this of you?”
—Okay! I’ll give my mana core!
“Now, Aven. What are you going to do? You have a mana core now.”
“Great. You, cute little Brixi, come over here.”
A tiny Wisp with a faint violet hue flew over and sat in my palm. It looked very small; was it really a young Wisp?
“Is it okay to take the mana core of such a young Wisp?”
—It is fine. A mana core is an organ that constantly ages from birth; it is not an organ that grows.
So the fresher, the better.
“Now then... Ms. Aurora?”
“Speak.”
“You mustn't question what I’m about to do from now on. Understood?”
“Why?”
“It might look a bit strange. But just trust me and wait. The result will be good.”
“Fine. But what if the result is bad?”
“At worst, I’ll just return everything to how it was.”
I would store both the young Wisp and Rumianabrixi, and when I summoned them again, I would move the young Wisp’s mana core into Rumianabrixi’s body.
If it failed, I’d just consume them again and restore them. If it succeeded, then great.
“...Alright.”
“Now, everyone, please be quiet.”
The surroundings, which had been noisy with the chirping of Wisps, instantly fell silent.
“Don't be shocked. I’m not actually doing anything bad.”
“I get it, so just do it already.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
First, I tossed the Wisp on my palm into my mouth and swallowed it.
Gulp.
“What do you think you’re—?!”
“Quiet.”
Then, I swallowed Rumianabrixi, who was sitting on the multicolored flowers, in one bite using the Colossal Croco’s massive maw.
“Gasp...!!”
“Shh.”
Aurora, looking more shocked than ever before, clenched her fists and glared at me. It was distracting, but this was a task that required focus to succeed.
This is it, the mana core.
Inside Rumianabrixi’s body, there was something small pulsing very weakly. It looked incredibly pathetic compared to her body size.
And inside the young Wisp’s body, I could see a mana core moving very intensely despite its small stature.
After completely swapping the two, I just had to manifest them on my palm again.
Flutter—
Rumianabrixi, seeing the light of the world again from my palm, fluttered her wings and looked around. As I slowly placed her back on the multicolored flowers, she soon spoke.
—Unbelievable.
“Rumi! Are you okay?!”
Her face looked like a butterfly’s, so I couldn't quite read her gaze or expression, but she seemed to be looking at me in shock.
—I thought I was in darkness for a moment... and now it feels as if I have gained a new body.
“See? Ms. Aurora.”
“R-really...?”
And the young Wisp too. Though it had unfairly received an old-timer’s heart, it was an honorable sacrifice.
—Oh? How am I back here...?
“Young Wisp. You’ve received Rumianabrixi’s mana core, so be happy.”
—Whoa...! This is amazing!
Aurora, who had been staring at me with a dazed expression, slumped down onto the grass.
“Thank goodness...!”
“Indeed.”