Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Gravel and Leaves (7)
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- The secret about the Queen.
“…….”
A secret about the Queen?
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t intrigued. I was. Extremely so. The more ‘secrets’ of this world I uncovered, the higher my chances of completing the Origin God quest and returning to my original world.
But this was more likely just this guy’s trick.
‘If I had to choose between the revered Elf Queen and a mad black mage Dark Elf, obviously the Elf Queen.’
Yet he hadn’t even intended to hear my answer from the start.
- I already know that Dianta told you to find me.
“……!”
- You seem surprised. Why? Did you not expect a mere Dark Elf to dare enter that grand ‘Dream Maze’?
Could it be that the ‘darkness’ that attacked the Queen in the Dream Maze back then was this very creature?
But Dark Elves didn’t undergo the ‘coming-of-age ceremony’ and weren’t granted branches from the Guardian Tree. So there shouldn’t have been any way for them to enter the ‘Dream Maze.’
- If there hadn’t been a ‘prison’ in the ‘Dream Maze’ that trapped the souls of Dark Elves, then yes, even I couldn’t have infiltrated it.
The Dream Maze was a repository of the elves’ memories. A storage of knowledge and memories organized by families into forms like ‘rooms.’
And in that place, there was a ‘prison’ holding the souls of Dark Elves……?
‘……It’s not impossible.’
Dark Elves were elves too, so their memories and knowledge could certainly have been stored in the Dream Maze.
Of course, their value wouldn’t have been the same as those of regular elves.
- The Queen locked away our joys and sorrows—even our pains—there.
“…….”
- I was able to infiltrate the ‘Dream Maze’ through that very prison.
Just as I, a non-elf, had entered the ‘Dream Maze’ through a special method, it seemed Grisel had done the same.
But for that to be possible, a medium like the Guardian Tree would be needed……
- As the World Tree withered, the first place affected was right here, the Dark Forest.
- The monsters grew even stronger, and the famines grew even worse.
- We did anything to survive. Anything, really.
- Right up to the point of devouring each other.
- We pleaded for the Queen’s help.
- To survive.
- But Dianta, she……
A chilling sound echoed out, impossible to tell if it was laughter or sobbing.
- The Queen tried to use us as stepping stones to escape the ‘catastrophe’!
- Isn’t that a fantastic story?
- She abandoned us!
“……!”
The Elf Queen abandoned the Dark Elves?
Though the Dark Elves were ostracized within Lüset, they were still legitimate elves of Lüset. The Elf Queen had a duty to protect them.
- So I made up my mind. No matter what……
- ……I would survive.
- And I obtained ‘power.’
Power.
That word rang especially ominously, and I tensed every nerve, glaring into the darkness.
- With this ‘power,’ we can survive without the Queen.
- We can achieve the Dark Elves’ long-cherished dream, the ‘Black Lüset’!
- Slay the rotten elves and build a new paradise……!
A mad cackle reverberated through the air.
“……Cut the crazy talk.”
The laughter stopped abruptly.
“What’s this ‘Black Lüset’ and ‘new paradise’ nonsense?”
- ……
“What you’re saying now—how’s it any different from the Queen’s logic? In the end, you’re just using them as stepping stones too.”
- It’s different.
“Doesn’t look different to me. The outcome’s exactly the same. You and the Queen are no different.”
I felt the surrounding darkness bubbling and boiling, creeping up my ankles. He was getting heated, huh? I didn’t stop, prodding the creature further.
“No, yours might be even worse. You’re the one who burns your own kin, slaughters them, won’t even let them die peacefully, and throws them into an underground prison under the guise of ‘education.’”
The pain from the darkness seeping into my skin grew worse. I gritted my teeth against it, then suddenly grinned.
“What? Did you think you weren’t the ‘bad guy’?”
The air around me sharpened. The darkness was condensing to slice my throat. In that instant, I activated [Sun Light]. Pouring in nearly all my mana, a tire-sized disk began emitting light.
Now.
“Kusukusu!”
I shouted loudly to summon Dimakushel, then dashed toward Lloyd while squeezing out the last of my mana for the [Forest Protection] skill. Trees, vines, bushes, grass, flowers, and more sprang up in an instant, forming a sturdy hemispherical barrier around us. This sanctuary wasn’t just a simple structure. It blocked not only physical attacks but also most magic from penetrating. The moment this sanctuary formed—one impervious to darkness, light, or any other force—a massive roar exploded.
- Kwarung!!!!!
- Roarrrrr!!!!!
- Boom!!!
- Rumble rumble……
- Bang!!!
- Crackle, crackle……
Dimakushel, who had been melted into the shadows of the darkness, unleashed a gigantic explosion that shook the entire space. Lloyd and I held our breath, waiting for the horrific noise to subside.
“That thing was in the darkness. It probably didn’t die, but it took a serious hit from that.”
When I spoke to Lloyd, he asked back.
“If it didn’t die, how do we finish it off?”
I pondered for a moment. I still didn’t know the full extent of its power.
“Physical attacks won’t work. Using my purification power would be best, but with no moon tonight, I can’t guarantee its effectiveness.”
“…….”
“For now, the Dark Elves in the village must have noticed the commotion. They’re quite strong here. Lloyd, you’ll need to handle them. I’ll deal with Grisel somehow.”
“If you need help.”
“I’ll be fine. Look after Elle.”
Lloyd nodded. I pulled the Sage’s Water Bottle from my subspace ring and drank the potion inside. Only half left, but as expected of a top-grade mana potion, a substantial amount of mana filled me up.
Not quite enough…… but it’ll have to do.
After using [Wound Healing] to restore Lloyd, we cautiously stepped out of the sanctuary. The moment we did, my shadow burst into black flames.
“Kusukusu.”
- Don’t call me that.
“What about the guy?”
- I burned them all. Felt damn good!
“No, not your感想—where’s ‘the guy’? Grisel. He was in the darkness.”
- Why not see for yourself?
I looked around. The house was reduced to complete ashes, not even a trace left.
Even so, I knew Grisel hadn’t died.
No, I could feel it.
The Dark Elves of the village, alerted by the commotion, were rushing toward us. I glanced at Lloyd. He gave a light nod.
- Wheek!
Hearing the whistle, Ayla came bounding over. I climbed onto her back. Soon, Ayla leaped over the tall fence surrounding the village.
The endless darkness of the Dark Forest stretched out before us. It lived up to its name. Without [Owl’s Eye], I’d have been swallowed by the gloom, unable to do a thing. Thanks to the skill, I scanned the surroundings with eyes faintly glowing.
‘Footprints.’
Small footprints led deeper into the forest. I had Ayla sniff them, then drew my bow and arrow. Ayla pressed her nose to the ground, sniffing carefully as she advanced, while I heightened all my senses, peering into the darkness.
How far had we gone like that?
“…….”
A faint light glimmered in the distance. Instinctively, I knew.
‘Grisel.’
I shushed, and Ayla’s steps slowed. Like a hunting dog that had spotted prey. We crept slowly toward the light and hid behind a large bush. I parted the bush ever so slightly and peered through.
“Oh, origin of the world…….”
I saw Grisel’s back. He stood with arms spread toward something emitting an ominous glow, chanting a fervent prayer. Ancient words mixed in here and there, but I couldn’t make them out.
“&@$%…… though early, the time has finally come. @#!$&…… grant me permission to offer myself to you…….”
A flash of light burst forth. Short and sinister.
‘I have to stop it……!’
I pulled the bowstring with all my might. My hands trembled for some reason. Rare for me.
- Shweeeee!!!!
But the arrow flew straight and true. At tremendous speed……
- Thunk!!!!
“……!”
I froze, breath caught. The arrow, clearly aimed at Grisel’s heart……
“Druid.”
“…….”
“I knew you’d follow.”
……was caught in his hand.
He gripped the arrow with trembling fingers. The arrowhead had stopped just short of his heart. Grisel turned to me with a smile. An utterly pure-looking smile.
- Snap!
Then he snapped the arrow.
“Yes…….”
“…….”
“This is good. Very good.”
He began walking toward me, step by step.
- Grrrrrr……
Ayla growled in warning, but it fell on deaf ears. Snapped out of my daze by whatever was glowing behind him, I hastily nocked another arrow. Draw and release. Aiming for the heart again.
“Since you’ve come this far, I’ll show you too.”
Grisel smiled gently with his beautiful face and reached out toward me. Perhaps influenced by ‘something,’ his fingertips glowed faintly too.
“True power.”
“…….”
“True justice.”
“…….”
“True salvation…….”
- Grrrrr, yelp! Yelp!
Ayla lunged at him before I could. But with a wave of Grisel’s hand, Ayla flew off and crashed into a massive tree. As if an invisible giant hand had seized and hurled her.
“How is it?”
“What the hell did you…….”
Grisel’s finger tapped my forehead.
“Don’t you want to see?”