Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Chapter 39 - Night
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The Plains of the Wind were home to many different races.
Centaurs, known as the rulers of the Plains of the Wind.
Satyrs, who coexisted with the centaurs and sustained their lives.
Harpies, positioned at the boundary between the Plains of the Wind and the wasteland.
Crimson Dwarves, who had been exiled from the Hainsha Mountains long ago and forced to begin their lives on the plains.
And finally, the Wild Elves, the last ones and the ones who had guarded the Plains of the Wind for the longest time.
[You sure know a lot about these settings, don't you?]
‘Like I said before, when you're playing through the Eastern arc, you end up memorizing all of it.’
It was the Eastern arc where you had to watch in real-time as every race in the East got swept up in the largest-ever Wild Hunt, the ‘Great Wild Hunt’.
[The Dragon Hunter Origin story makes me question your tastes every time I hear it.]
‘No, the game itself is fun, I swear?’
[Yes, yes, I understand. I can embrace whatever tastes you have, so don't worry. Right?]
Luther found himself at a loss for words at Integra's usual cute delivery, complete with a wink.
Integra approached him and whispered in a sly tone.
[But... you know too extreme is no good, right?]
‘What are you even talking about?’
[Who knows? Integra has no idea.]
Her giggling was downright mischievous.
‘Fine, if that's how you want to play it...’
[Ah, Master! Looks like we've arrived at the village!]
Just as Luther was about to launch into some mindless flattery, Integra hurriedly shouted and pointed straight ahead.
The village itself wasn't visible due to the hill, but the white smoke rising faintly indicated that it was there.
Instead of pressing the attack on Integra, Luther took a deep breath to calm himself.
“Whew...”
The Wild Elves' village.
The place where Radian, the protagonist of the Eastern arc, had suffered immensely.
[Master, is it that scary of a place?]
‘...You saw the video from the Northern Black Tortoise last night too.’
Integra bit her lip to stifle a laugh at Luther's words.
Recalling the video from the Northern Black Tortoise that she had watched with Luther the night before made her want to burst out laughing.
Last night.
More precisely, while en route to the Plains of the Wind, when Luther had stopped Schwarz to catch a nap and set up camp.
Leaning against Schwarz, who was curled up, Luther pulled out the red orb he had received from the Northern Black Tortoise before leaving the Crystal Palace.
‘Watch it once you arrive at the Plains of the Wind.’
The Northern Black Tortoise had given it to him while avoiding Luther's gaze, face flushed for some reason.
[You're watching it now?]
“Yeah, might as well.”
As Luther held up the orb, Integra quickly settled beside him and peered at it together.
“So... Rakunda.”
As Luther murmured the activation word softly, the orb glowed red, and soon the figure of the Northern Black Tortoise appeared in the air above it like a hologram.
[Doesn't seem like real-time communication.]
[It's a pre-recorded video, right?]
Nodding in response, Luther looked at the neatly composed Northern Black Tortoise.
“Luther, in the Plains of the Wind, there is a mystical mirror called the Illusion Mirror. It's an item you must obtain to reach the Land of the Yellow Dragon.”
As the Northern Black Tortoise spoke calmly and raised both hands, the image of a round mirror appeared between them.
[It looks similar to the mirror that Doju had.]
“Yeah.”
But it was a bit larger, and the material was different.
Unlike Doju's proper glass mirror, the Illusion Mirror was a metal mirror with a metallic surface.
“If you shine moonlight on the Illusion Mirror, it will show you the way to the Land of the Yellow Dragon.”
It was a rather abstract explanation, but Luther nodded anyway.
He figured it would either display a map on the mirror or generate a portal outright.
“Luther, the Illusion Mirror is kept by the plains' races in turn. So, once you're in the Plains of the Wind, seek out the Wild Elves first. And tell them...”
The Northern Black Tortoise trailed off mid-explanation, groaning in distress and clutching his chest as he took deep breaths.
[What's suddenly wrong with him? Is he hurt?]
Luther grew worried again, recalling the Northern Black Tortoise's injury, but fortunately—or unfortunately—it wasn't due to that.
“Uh... Luther, so... that is... when you win over the Wild Elves' hearts, go to the village chief. And tell the chief that you were sent by the... dancing descent of the black harbinger of fate... ugh...”
He groaned again mid-sentence, turned away for deep breaths, and muttered under his breath.
“I can do this. I can do this. I can do it.”
What on earth was going on?
Luther and Integra furrowed their brows in unison, and the groaning Northern Black Tortoise finally turned back and continued.
“The dancing descent of the black harbinger of fate... sent you!”
“Huh?”
Luther blurted out involuntarily, and Integra's eyes widened briefly.
[Dancing descent lololol black lol harbinger of fate lololol]
No one knew what had happened between the Northern Black Tortoise and the Wild Elves, but one thing was clear.
To the Wild Elves, the Northern Black Tortoise was known as ‘the black harbinger of fate who descended dancing.’
“G-got it? I won't say it twice, so remember that.”
The Northern Black Tortoise said it with a face red as could be—no, a face on the verge of tears from shame—and Luther nodded.
Who knew the always composed and serious Northern Black Tortoise had such a side?
“Anyway, good luck.”
With that short farewell, the Northern Black Tortoise covered his face with both hands, and the video ended as if fleeing.
And now, back in the present.
Luther wasn't quite as bad as the Northern Black Tortoise, but he felt a similar sensation.
“Winds' brethren, allow me to introduce him. He is Yuno, the stranger guided by the restless winds.”
At the introduction from Elio, the Wind Watcher, the Wild Elves gathered in small groups looked at Luther with melancholic eyes, while Elio and Elisha gazed at him with faces full of eager anticipation.
Their expectations.
Luther knew them well.
So, after taking a deep breath, he matched their melancholic gaze and said.
“The winds of the plains... have led me here.”
[lololololololololololololol]
Integra rolled on the ground clutching her stomach, but the Wild Elves did not.
They looked at Luther with eyes full of fondness, clearly pleased with his self-introduction.
Elio and Elisha wore satisfied smiles as well.
[I-it's still better than the dancing descent lol black harbinger of fate... *pant* much, much better.]
Integra, panting from laughter, gave a thumbs-up like it was encouragement, but Luther's mood didn't improve.
‘Well, at least I gained their favor.’
In the original story, Radian had not only failed to accept the Wild Elves' quirks—no, their culture—but had criticized them, building enmity. Luther had no intention of doing that.
It was just... just a matter of letting go of a bit of his pride.
[Master, want to borrow my chest? If you feel like crying, come nestle in my arms.]
As Integra spread her arms invitingly, Luther flinched for a moment, but only briefly.
Instead of stepping on a landmine, he asked the approaching Elio, who seemed friendly, about the next step.
“Very well. I'll guide you to the village chief.”
“The chief will like you a lot too, Yuno.”
Elisha smiled warmly as she said it, Elio smiled as well, and the surrounding Wild Elves smiled too.
[They all seem thrilled to see an outsider after so long.]
[They appear deeply moved by your efforts, Master.]
‘Yes, that should be enough then...’
With a melancholic gaze in response, Luther followed Elio and Elisha.
True to their nomadic lifestyle wandering the northern Plains of the Wind, the Wild Elves lived in mobile tents, and the large one at the very back was the chief's home.
“O guide of the winds, here is Yuno, the wind's stranger who sought shelter, led by the restless winds.”
As Luther faced the middle-aged elf seated at the front amid Elio's introduction—which made his head spin—he took in the sight.
He was a strikingly stern-looking handsome man, but the anticipation in his eyes was no different from Elio's.
“I am Tanutra, guide of the winds. Can you tell me what call of the wind brought you to this land?”
He was probably asking how Luther had ended up here.
So, Luther took a big breath, mustered his courage, and said.
“I was sent by... the black harbinger of fate who descended dancing...”
It was embarrassing.
Incredibly embarrassing.
Even though it wasn't his own introduction but relaying the Northern Black Tortoise's, just saying ‘the black harbinger of fate who descended dancing’ made him cringe.
But the effect was clear.
Chief Tanutra's face lit up immediately.
“Oh! The black harbinger of fate who descended dancing!”
The chief exclaimed loudly, then gazed into the distance with a wistful expression as he continued.
“The black harbinger of fate who descended dancing... She truly knew style... Every word from her beautiful voice was like poetry.”
From the way he spoke, it seemed the Northern Black Tortoise's exploits(?) had been quite impressive.
[To defend him, it's probably like a black history from his youth?]
‘Yes, out of respect for the Northern Black Tortoise, let's not even imagine it.’
Truthfully, imagining it would just be painful.
In any case, revealing the Northern Black Tortoise's true name(?) smoothed things over with the Wild Elves considerably.
“The Illusion Mirror is currently in the centaurs' territory. However... I'm reluctant to guide you there right now.”
His tone didn't suggest Luther himself was the problem.
So Luther waited, and Chief Tanutra continued with a somewhat darkened expression.
“The centaurs are under attack from the Night right now.”
“The Night... you say?”
“Indeed. When the sun sets and night falls, the Night's assaults begin.”
What on earth did that mean?
Assaults from the Night?
[Maybe it means they get attacked at night?]
[They just phrased it dramatically as ‘Night's assault.’]
It was hard to accept normally, but given they were Wild Elves, Luther found himself nodding along.
“But Chief, I must obtain the Illusion Mirror.”
“I know. If the black harbinger of fate who descended dancing sent you, then this must be fate as well. The winds will guide you.”
It made his head spin again, but since it meant they'd guide him, Luther decided to be satisfied for now.
Chief Tanutra continued.
“But with night approaching soon, it can't be now. Shall we depart tomorrow morning?”
“Understood.”
As Luther accepted readily, Chief Tanutra smiled warmly and turned to Elio.
“Elio, this is a new bond guided by the black harbinger of fate who descended dancing. Prepare a fine meal and a room.”
“Yes, Chief.”
Elio bowed and led Luther to a tent on one side of the village.
Upon arrival, Elisha had already set a hearty dinner table.
“I hope it suits your taste.”
“It will. Thank you for the hospitality.”
Luther grinned amiably, and smiles returned to Elio and Elisha's faces.
In the original, all you saw were furious Wild Elves after things soured with Radian, but as expected of those living innocently(?), their nature seemed kind and pure.
[Master, ask about the Night while eating.]
‘Yes.’
Luther ate the porridge and roasted lamb Elisha had prepared and inquired about the ‘Night’ the chief mentioned, but there wasn't much useful information.
Elio and Elisha had been ordered by Chief Tanutra to guard against the Night and patrolled the village, but they had never actually seen the ‘Night’ themselves.
[For now, it's best to assume it's some nocturnal flying dragon or monster active at night.]
[From the conversation flow, even Chief Tanutra doesn't seem to know much.]
Luther agreed.
No matter how chuunibyou the Wild Elves were, they wouldn't dramatize something as crucial as village defense.
Chief Tanutra probably didn't know much himself and thus hadn't given Elio and Elisha detailed info.
[Anyway, to sum up: Two days ago, an injured centaur appeared, said ‘The Night comes’ and ‘It's the Night's assault,’ then died. The Wild Elves are tightening village defenses and planning to scout south.]
[And that's when you showed up, Master.]
After the meal, once Elio and Elisha left and Luther was alone in the tent, Integra crossed her arms and continued.
[Master, there was no related event in the original, right?]
“For starters, no. But as I mentioned before, the Eastern arc is supposed to begin at least a month from now. Meaning Radian's clash with the Wild Elves happens at least a month later.”
[So, no Night assaults in the Plains of the Wind a month from now?]
“Exactly. But if there are Night assaults now... there are two possibilities.”
One, the Night assaults would resolve on their own by a month later.
Two, the Night assaults were a new event created by the butterfly effect.
[Both are possible, but... personally, I think the latter is more likely.]
Luther thought so too.
If so, what was the cause?
The Hecatoncheires' involvement? Or something else?
[If it's the Hecatoncheires, there might be conflict when securing the Illusion Mirror. We need to prepare thoroughly.]
Clenching her fists determinedly, Integra used a drone to retrieve the scroll book from Schwarz's back.
[We got plenty from the High Priest, so I'll make a ton of Magic Missiles.]
Martriel, High Priest of the Malkuth Kingdom.
To earn forgiveness for daring to attack Luther, he had handed over several expensive scroll books.
‘Well... the attack itself was the subordinates' doing, not the High Priest's.’
Overzealous loyalty, perhaps?
Luther recalled Aru and Integra pressuring the High Priest.
At least then, those two had matched perfectly.
‘Anyway.’
They had made contact with the Wild Elves, and tomorrow morning they'd head to centaur territory for the Illusion Mirror.
For the Night assaults, which he couldn't figure out by worrying now, he'd set it aside and rest.
Having decided, Luther lay down early.
Integra lay beside him and said.
[Master, simulation again tonight?]
“Of course. Have it against Kaliot, please.”
[Got it. Do your best tonight too.]
Whispering affectionately, Integra slowly raised her hand, and Luther closed his eyes.
It was to activate the combat simulation now possible since Integra's upgrade.
In a virtual space manifested in his mind, he fought realistic battles to gain experience and boost his combat prowess.
But just as Luther was about to enter the virtual space.
[Master! I hear people's screams!]
At Integra's shout, Luther snapped his eyes open and jumped up.
Sure enough, screams rang out.
“The Night! The Night has come!”
“Run!”
“Kyaa!”
It seemed the real assault had begun.
But at that moment, Integra grabbed Luther's arm.
[Master! Something's wrong! No life signs from the enemies!]
“What?”
Instead of answering, Integra displayed the life sign distribution around them on the HUD.
It was filled only with blue dots representing allies—the Wild Elves—no red dots for enemies.
What was going on?
Had Integra misread the scans?
Luther stopped thinking and stood up.
Better to confirm with his own eyes than waste time pondering.
“Yuno! Run!”
At that instant, Elio burst into the tent.
And through the open tent flap, Luther could see.
Beyond Elio's back—
The Night was pouring down.