Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Ritual of Proof (1)
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“What is this…….”
The moment we disembarked from the ship, elf soldiers surrounded us. It was absolutely, definitely not a friendly atmosphere. What the hell? Before I could even grasp the situation, Darion shouted in a voice thick with irritation.
“How dare you block the path of Darion Sylvannus? What is the meaning of this?”
Sylvannus. Darion wielded his family name like a weapon. Thanks to that, the elf soldiers—who seemed like they wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed—flinched back a step.
“……Lord Darion, we are here on orders from the Elder Council.”
Elder Council.
Lyset’s highest authority rested with the queen, but she didn’t rule the nation alone.
The seven elders, who commanded just as much respect as the queen.
They too wielded immense power.
‘……This isn’t some routine inspection, it’s the Elder Council?’
What on earth for? They couldn’t possibly know about me.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the elf soldier explained the reason.
“We know there’s someone here practicing impure shamanism.”
Darion and all the elves who had sailed with us turned to look at me. They knew I had summoned the kraken, after all. Damn it, I never imagined things would turn out like this……
For now, staying silent wouldn’t get me anywhere. I had to mount some kind of defense.
“……Impure shamanism? That’s outrageous. I’m just an ordinary druid. Lord Darion will vouch for my identity.”
I subtly inserted Darion’s name into my plea. Fortunately, he nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Indeed. I vouch for Theodore’s identity. I don’t know where this vile accusation originated, but I believe he is truly pure-hearted.”
Phew. I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Thanks to Darion’s firm words, the elf soldiers hesitated once more.
“……The Elder Council’s orders are absolute. The truth will be determined there.”
They wouldn’t back down. I glanced at Darion, and when our eyes met, he nodded. He knew as well as I did that defying the Elder Council was impossible. With no choice, I obediently raised my hands.
“Understood. I just need to go with you?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Darion stepped forward, but I stopped him. If he interfered any further, rumors might spread that ‘the druid used shamanism to bewitch Darion Sylvannus.’
“It’s fine, Lord Darion. I’m innocent.”
I had to be careful not to use informal speech with him here, or who knows what I’d hear. I bowed politely to Darion.
“But…….”
“In the meantime, please look after the others.”
“……Very well. Don’t worry about your servants.”
“Thank you.”
Thanks to Darion, I was able to have a brief word with Lloyd, El, and Ayla as well.
Lloyd whispered to me in a lowered voice.
“If you wish, we can escape this place right now.”
“……Doing that would mean I could never return to Lyset. I have business here. I appreciate the offer, but…… I’ll be back soon, so please wait just a little. Take good care of El.”
“Consider it done.”
“El, you behave and listen to Mr. Lloyd. While I’m gone, he’s your guardian.”
“……Okay. I’ll take good care of Ayla too.”
“Good, thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
I ruffled El’s hair once, gathered my things—which were just a bag and a bow, really. Even that was confiscated; the elf soldiers took the bow and arrows.
It was a stroke of luck that I’d moved the scroll sealing Dimakushel to the Dimensional Garden beforehand. They could search my interspatial ring, but they couldn’t touch my Dimensional Garden.
‘The real problem is something else, though…….’
Who the hell reported me for using ‘shamanism,’ and how long would I be locked up under the guise of ‘investigation’? The thought alone made my body tremble with rage. I barely suppressed the urge to grab the beautiful hair of the elf soldier leading the way and yank it all out, pretending to be calm, docile—serener than anyone here—as I followed behind.
“This place is…….”
Fortunately, what awaited me wasn’t a dank underground cell or a torture chamber. Contrary to my fears, I’d been brought to a clean building. It was a solitary room, but it felt more like a prayer room than a prison, so it wasn’t uncomfortable for body or mind. After all, light streamed in nicely, and there was a table, chairs, warm tea, and refreshments……
“Then, please rest comfortably.”
The elf soldier, having confiscated my bag and all my possessions, gave a stiff bow and left. I heard the door lock from the outside. Only then did it sink in. Ah, it looks like an ordinary prayer room, but in reality, it’s no different from a cell. With this bracelet restricting my mana use, I was being treated like a prisoner, no doubt.
‘But there’s nothing I can do right now, so whatever.’
They’d taken my bag, interspatial ring, and even the ‘tattered book.’ Of course, I wasn’t too worried. There was nothing suspicious in the interspatial ring, and no elf—no matter how clever—could decipher the contents of the ‘tattered book.’ If they’re so wronged, why not learn Hangul? Haha, long live Korea! Long live King Sejong!
……Anyway, that’s how it is. In the end, all I hadn’t lost were the clothes on my back. Oh, and Ppippi hadn’t been taken either. To others, the little guy just looked like a fat sparrow.
-Ppii?
It waddled around on the table. I broke off a piece of the nut cookie from the refreshments—something like a peanut chunk—and fed it to him.
“Tasty?”
Ppippi flapped its wings happily in succession. We couldn’t communicate, but having this guy around lifted my spirits. I watched for a while as it gobbled up the peanut pieces and preened its feathers.
How much time passed?
It felt like hours, but sunlight still poured in through the small window. What? Was I going crazy from boredom? Why hadn’t the sun set yet?
I approached the light-streaming window to look outside.
“Ha, unbelievable…….”
I let out an exasperated sigh.
What I’d thought was a window wasn’t one at all. It was just glowing glass.
‘That’s why time felt like it wasn’t passing.’
A nasty trick. No matter how pristine it looked, this was a solitary confinement cell no different from a prison.
Losing track of time like this would fog the mind as well. I rummaged in my pocket and pulled out a seed. A clock flower seed. Clock flowers shed one petal every four hours, making them perfect for gauging time. I’d used them well in the deep-sea dungeon too.
Even with my mana restricted, I could use low-mana skills like [Breath of the Forest]. A sprout emerged from the seed, blooming into a flower in an instant. I placed the clock flower on the table.
With the clock flower’s petals to mark time, and Ppippi keeping me company so I didn’t feel alone, plus checking my skills in the spare moments, I wasn’t too bored.
‘So, my current level is…….’
Finally level 40. I’d escaped apprentice status and become a ‘Proficient’ druid at last.
I’d also acquired the [Sun Light] skill available at level 40. It borrows nature’s power to create a powerful energy—namely, ‘light.’ It’s different from mages’ light magic. This ‘light’ is infused with nature’s power, or ‘energy.’ The light from [Sun Light] is the same kind as sunlight, capable of nurturing plants.
Of course, its greatest feature is something else.
As sunlight, it has tremendous effects on demons and undead monsters.
With proper training, it could incinerate most undead monsters cleanly, leaving no trace.
‘Nothing to do, so maybe I’ll train the skill here.’
I sat cross-legged, focused my mind, and began meditating. Ppippi stopped flapping and settled quietly on my head. It felt like my mind was clearing somehow.
Come to think of it, back in my original world, I’d sometimes listened to meditation ASMR. I’d fall asleep every time, though.
In the utter silence, only my own breathing echoed.
-Hwaaaa…….
Mana drawn up from my dantian gathered at my fingertips, one by one. This warmth…… it really feels like sunlight.
I opened my eyes and slowly merged the light in both hands. A fist-sized orb of light spun, casting bright illumination everywhere.
With undead monsters overflowing across the continent more than ever, this skill alone would make me welcome anywhere. I needed to train it whenever I could.
‘Of course, that’s only after I get out of here.’
With steady practice, maybe even white night was possible.
I continued training until two more petals fell from the clock flower. Bathed in the warm light, I grew drowsy and took a nap.
-Creak.
Whether fortunate or not, the door opened before another petal fell. I sat up from where I’d sprawled on the floor and looked at the door. Thanks to the light orb still spinning in the air, scattering brightness, I could clearly see the newcomer’s face.
‘That’s……!’
A familiar face.
Because I’d met him quite a few times in the game.
Elder elf, Blanche.
The man who led the Elder Council—the queen’s right-hand man, not exaggeration to say.
‘An elf of that caliber came to see me personally?’
Why?
Before I could question it, Blanche spoke first.
“Are you the rumored druid?”
……Rumored? What rumor? [Saint of Purification] or [Adversary of Evil]? Or was it about conquering the deep-sea dungeon? I couldn’t get a read and asked back.
“What rumor do you mean?”
Blanche’s expression twisted for a moment. This was a bad feeling.
“The wicked druid who practices impure shamanism.”
“……Pardon?”
“The con artist who spews lies about being a descendant of ancient elves.”
“……Pardon?”
“Is that you?”
“Pardooooon?????”