Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Guide
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“Long time no see, Veronica.”
Kaden brushed the dust off his robes as he stood, facing the culprit who had hurled him into this mountain valley.
He casually greeted the dragon standing before him.
“I’m not exactly thrilled to see you.”
Veronica crossed her arms and tilted her chin up, glaring at him.
“I didn’t say I was thrilled, either.”
Kaden shrugged, the corner of his mouth quirking up lightly.
That smile clearly irritated her, as Veronica furrowed her brow.
“You’re still as rude as ever.”
Thud.
Kaden plopped down on a nearby large rock.
He crossed his legs casually, picked up a dry twig from the ground, and twirled it between his fingers.
“Veronica, you’re still wandering around with your morals shoved in some forgotten corner.”
Pat pat.
He dusted off his robe with his palm, sending dirt crumbling down.
“Snatching someone out of nowhere and tossing them into a ravine—what country’s that a greeting from?”
“My way.”
“Your country must be doomed.”
“What did you just say, you bastard?”
Veronica’s face twisted even more.
Whatever.
Before she could continue, Kaden rubbed his long, pointed ear with a finger.
“Were you cursing just now? My hearing’s been off lately.”
“Drop dead already, you old fart.”
A response bordering on a curse.
But it only backfired.
“Well, if we’re going by age, you’d go first without anyone batting an eye.”
Twitch.
A thick vein bulged on Veronica’s forehead.
“This won’t do. You’re dying today.”
Whoosh whoosh.
Kaden raised both hands to the sides and flailed them in panic.
“Calm down. I’m a peace-loving elf.”
“Shut that mouth. The only thing you love is flapping your gums.”
Veronica’s sharp tongue lashed out without mercy.
Kaden stared at her for a moment…
Then casually rubbed his ear again.
“Strange. Now I’m hearing ringing in my ears too. Ah, must be age…”
“Yeah, you’re dying today.”
“No mercy?”
“Nope. Mercy’s not a thing when you’re killing someone.”
“As expected of Veronica. Your jokes are as chilling as ever, past or present.”
“Joke?”
“Yeah.”
“…….”
Veronica glared at him with narrowed, axe-like eyes.
And then…
She clamped her lips shut tight and trudged off toward the mountain path as if nothing had happened.
“Hey.”
“What?”
Kaden leisurely followed behind her.
“Let’s go to the Great Forest together.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
Atop the ridgeline.
The two…
No, one elf and one dragon.
These legendary beings now stood at the peak of one of the empire’s most formidable mountain ranges.
“I need to raise some students.”
The view below was nothing short of spectacular.
A blue carpet spread out beneath the clouds.
Hills stretching into the distance, visibility endless for miles.
Beyond the hazy horizon, the faint silhouette of a colossal tree piercing the heavens.
“So the rumors were true?”
“What?”
“I heard you started a school.”
“…How many centuries-old news are you dredging up now?”
Veronica sighed.
What kind of life had he lived to bring up centuries-old gossip only now…
But Kaden still looked at her with wide eyes, as if genuinely puzzled.
“Veronica teaching kids? Even if my grandfather came back from the dead, he wouldn’t believe it.”
“You don’t even have a grandfather, asshole.”
“True enough.”
Veronica stared at him silently for a while.
That smile had always rubbed her the wrong way.
Hiding his true feelings, always acting like something other than himself.
“So, what do you need from me?”
“…Simple. Open the path to the Great Forest.”
“You mean the World Tree?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s a tall order.”
“It’s not hard for you.”
The heart of the Great Forest, home to the World Tree that no one could approach.
But…
That was only the human perspective.
For the elves, the true masters of the Great Forest, who lived in harmony with the woods, it was different.
Their blood carried ancient memories, their ears caught the whispers of the leaves.
And that was precisely why Veronica had sought him out.
“And… you just need to give the students a simple trial.”
“A trial… Sounds fun.”
“I hope it’s not.”
“Dark tastes, Veronica.”
Kaden grinned and lifted his head…
Gazing at the World Tree, its silhouette faint in the distant haze.
A massive tree.
The place where he had once resided, where the memories of the day he lost himself lay dormant.
“…Alright. The final story is taking shape.”
“…Hey.”
Kaden muttered something incomprehensible.
Veronica glanced at him sidelong.
“You… hiding something from me?”
“Oh? Hiding? Me?”
Kaden smiled nonchalantly.
But that smile revealed nothing.
No sincerity, just the mask of a smile he still wore.
“Nothing to hide from you.”
***
“Carnel.”
“What?”
Student council room.
With vacation just around the corner, the members bustled about, hands never resting.
“Hey.”
Amid it all, Violet unpacked her bag, stowing items one by one.
She rummaged through a drawer, pulled something out, and tilted her head.
“Isn’t this… your little brother?”
“…….”
Swish.
A photo dangled before Carnel’s eyes.
The quality was blurry, lighting uneven, face not fully clear…
But it was the guy from the rumor that had rocked Yuram not long ago.
“…Why, why do you think that?”
“Why’re you stuttering?”
Violet tilted her head, lips curling up.
Just from showing one photo, Carnel’s mouth trembled.
“No, listen?”
“…….”
“Word is, your little bro charmed a bunch at the banquet.”
“Wh-what…!”
Heat rushed to Carnel’s face.
Violet, a commoner, hadn’t attended the banquet, so she hadn’t seen it herself…
But the rumors were already spreading far and wide.
“Hey~ It’s just a rumor. Rumor.”
“Y-yes… Just a rumor… yeah, a rumor.”
Carnel struggled to compose herself.
But then…
“Oh, right. Heard about this?”
“…What rumor now.”
“This one’s not a rumor.”
Swish.
Violet jabbed at the air with her finger.
“We’re… not going to the outer edges of the Great Forest. We’re heading deep inside.”
“……?”
“The heart of the Great Forest.”
“…Nonsense.”
“They say we’ll see the World Tree.”
“Liar.”
It didn’t make sense.
Even from mountaintops, glimpsing its silhouette was considered a miracle…
Seeing it up close?
“…….”
And…
Whoosh!
Carnel shot up from her seat.
Her grip tightened on the documents, and she yanked open the cabinet door.
Thud, thud, thud!
She shoved the organized papers in haphazardly.
“Get back to work! Stop spreading weird rumors!”
“Okie-dokie~”
Violet nodded with a playful grin.
Carnel sighed inwardly at the sight.
And right after.
Clunk.
The club room next to the student council.
The moment she opened the door…
“Nyaargh….”
The shocking scene before her.
Adel fishing for Tedkelruks using Chur as bait on a crude rod made of twigs.
And… next to her, Lev crouched, fiddling with Neru’s tail.
“Hmm.”
Even Delphin, poking at a glittering treasure chest.
“Nyaak!”
Neru bit the Chur and cried out…
Adel silently reeled in the line.
“…….”
Carnel felt like she was losing her mind.
***
‘Hmm.’
Back at the dorm, I stood before the table to pack.
And quickly realized.
‘Yeah.’
Empty table.
…Exactly.
Nothing to pack.
Pffft—
From the distant tank, Mikurebi pursed its lips and spat water.
The target was, as always, Bahamut.
In its crude nest of woven twigs, Bahamut silently endured the watery assault.
“Meeep—”
I picked up Mikurebi and placed it on my head.
I stepped out the door, and Bahamut wordlessly followed in my shadow.
Whirr…
I crossed the boundary between Yuram and the empire.
Beyond the barrier, several large carriages were already lined up.
“Top student~ You’re here!”
Seros’s voice called from afar.
Beside him, the gathered Class S students and student council members.
And…
Swish.
Lev sidled up and hoisted Bahamut into his arms.
Bahamut, accustomed to it, narrowed its eyes and bowed its head.
“Seems everyone’s here.”
“Professor! What’s with that treasure chest?”
“If you know, it’s yours.”
Delphin arrived right on cue, the treasure chest from the club room floating beside him.
“We’ll switch carriages once at the destination.”
As professor and leader, Delphin continued.
“Four per carriage. Board by groups.”
“Okie-dokie~”
With Seros’s voice, the students quickly boarded.
I scanned around for a bit, then headed to the last remaining carriage.
Its passengers…
Me, Lev, and Delphin.
“Well, I heard you raise fish, Adel… but seeing it up close is shocking.”
Delphin entered and glanced at my head.
At the end of his gaze, Mikurebi huddled silently, and I calmly lifted my whiteboard.
[When do we leave?]
“Hm… We’re waiting on one more.”
[?]
One more…
The students were all aboard, surely.
Or did I miss someone?
Or maybe… Veronica making a surprise appearance?
“They’ll be here soon enough.”
Delphin casually tossed the glittering chest into a corner.
That treasure chest… seemed just big enough for a small person to fit inside.
‘No way someone’s in there—’
The thought crossed my mind…
“Ah, looks like they’re here.”
Clunk.
The carriage door opened… and someone stepped over the threshold.
“Yo~ Nice to meet you.”
A bright, casual greeting.
But… the moment I saw him, my mind went blank.
───!!
My body moved on instinct.
Inventory open, 【Black Dragon】’s hilt snapped into my hand.
“Hm.”
Dull gray hair, as if drained of luster.
Emerald eyes like captured forest light.
Without a moment’s hesitation, pure reflex—I slashed at him with my dagger.
Slash────!
I cut.
Definitely, there was a sensation.
The feel in my hand clearly sliced something.
“Oh, thanks.”
But…
No blood.
“I needed something to cut, anyway.”
He folded the long baguette in his hand—snap—in half.
My dagger… hadn’t cut flesh, but the bread he held.
“Mmm~ Pretty average taste.”
As if nothing happened…
He popped the halved bread into his mouth and chewed.
“Anyway, nice to meet you.”
His face showed no concern over my dagger swing.
…He held the baguette in one hand, dusted his collar with the other, and looked up.
“Invited as your—”
The being before my eyes.
That appearance…
I remember it.
Clearly, distinctly.
“The name’s Kaden.”
「The Fool」 Mormot.
The Calamity of Greed… smiled before me.