Elf's Forest (4)

A particularly clear night sky stretched overhead. Darkness had settled over the elves' nest. A full moon nearly at its peak was pushing back the shadows.

"Nice night air."

Kim Jehyun murmured as he gazed up at the night sky. He was lying on a tree branch attached to a colossal tree as tall ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as a skyscraper. From there, staring at the heavens felt profoundly poetic.

It was a sweet moment of respite for Jehyun, who had been charging forward single-mindedly since his regression.

He'd been lost in the stars for quite a while when...

"Jehyun-nim."

A clear, resonant voice rang in his ears, like jade rolling across silk. Jehyun turned his head to see Shin Yerim gazing at him with a serene expression.

"……?"

Still lying down, he tilted his head back slightly to look at her. Shin Yerim had returned to that cool, aloof demeanor from their first meeting. Just moments ago, her face had been filled with confusion.

She adapted quickly. Even so, after sharing so many intense experiences in a single day, the gaze she directed at Jehyun carried a subtle warmth that hadn't been there before.

"The night sky looks especially beautiful tonight."

Shin Yerim sat down beside him and spoke.

"Right? Not a cloud in sight—it's exceptionally clear."

Jehyun flashed a grin and played along.

For a moment, they silently admired the stars together.

"My mother devoted her entire life to studying and training with spirits."

After a long stretch of stargazing, Shin Yerim opened up.

"She had innate talent, but it was her unmatched effort that let her command the highest-grade spirits as a grand spirit master. She even founded the massive Nature ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Clan guild."

"……."

It came out of nowhere, but Jehyun listened quietly.

"She was truly remarkable. As a child, watching her, I thought there was no such thing as impossible for her."

"……."

"But eventually, she hit a wall. A wall so immense that even someone as extraordinary as her couldn't overcome it."

"And that wall is a contract with the Spirit King, right?"

"Yes, the Spirit King. She grasped a clue to its existence, but that was it. No progress for years. Then she found a lead through the elves."

Jehyun nodded at her words. Elves were the pinnacle in spirit arts. Even among humans, rumors swirled that high elves could command Spirit Kings.

―You found a solid lead.

Jehyun nodded at Alkasha's words. High elves possessed spirit arts capable of contracting Spirit Kings. But even for them, it wasn't easy. A Spirit King's power rivaled that of a newly ascended holy dragon. Borrowing that strength meant wielding enough force to annihilate a nation single-handedly.

―Even high elves can't claim such power lightly.

In the end, contracting a Spirit King depended on one's own talent.

'Still, having the potential is worlds apart from having none at all.'

Jehyun continued listening patiently to Shin Yerim's ramblings. He understood now why a Spirit King contract was the Nature Clan's long-standing obsession.

"Anyway... thank you. If it weren't for you, Jehyun-nim, we never would've gotten this chance."

Shin Yerim looked at him with eyes sparkling like starlight, brimming with sincere gratitude. Thanks to Jehyun, she'd get help from Haidel with spirit arts tomorrow.

'Damn, she's stunning.'

Bathed in moonlight pouring from the sky, Shin Yerim was breathtaking. Even by the aesthetic standards of Dragon Eye, she was perfection—Jehyun could only imagine how others saw her.

As he inwardly nodded at her beauty, Shin Yerim hesitantly asked,

"Um... but what exactly do you mean by 'dragon'? You're... human, right, Jehyun-nim?"

She glanced at him cautiously as she spoke. She'd promised not to tell others what she'd seen and heard in the elf village, but Jehyun's true nature gnawed at her curiosity. She'd never been this intrigued by anyone before, so she finally broached it, gauging his reaction.

'Hmm.'

Jehyun chuckled softly at her tentative probing. For her, his identity must seem utterly beyond comprehension.

'How to handle this...'

After some thought, he decided. He could brush it off, but giving her a plausible explanation would help build rapport.

―Is that girl stirring rational feelings in you?

'Not at all.'

Jehyun's firm denial to Alkasha stemmed not from attraction, but calculation. Her genius made her worth keeping close. In his eyes, she had the qualities to surpass even Jo Heegyung. That positioned her as a prime candidate for Nature Clan's next guild master.

For Jehyun, lacking social foundations, forging ties with rising stars like her promised future gains.

'Might even get her help exploring that ruin later.'

Recalling a fragment of future memories, Jehyun organized his thoughts and spoke to her.

"Truth is, I just got my hands on a relic tied to dragons."

"……A relic?"

Shin Yerim's eyes widened. Relics—ancient artifacts from other dimensions. That explained it. Maybe even his exceptional magical talent stemmed from it.

"A stroke of fortune, then."

"Yeah, exactly."

She seemed convinced. Alkasha chimed in.

―You sure can spin a tale.

'It's not entirely wrong if you squint.'

Glancing at her, Jehyun saw gratitude in her eyes for his explanation. Seeing her take it at face value pricked his conscience a bit.

"Let's head in. The night air's getting chilly."

"Yes. Okay."

Shin Yerim smiled brightly, her gaze warming further.

* * *

"She has real talent."

Haidel ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spoke, his eyes on Shin Yerim, who sat cross-legged in meditation. At Jehyun's request, he'd taught her the basics of spirit arts for contacting the Spirit King.

Methods no ordinary human with low spirit affinity could replicate—yet she followed flawlessly. Now she was even channeling spirit power as instructed.

―Impressive, indeed.

Even Alkasha acknowledged it. Shin Yerim's talent shone brilliantly. She might truly become a grand spirit master contracting a Spirit King someday.

"By the way, Haidel."

"Yes, great one?"

Haidel replied deferentially.

"Drop the 'great one' bit. Just call me by name."

"Yes, Jehyun-nim."

He corrected himself instantly.

"What happened to Ariel?"

Ariel. The high elf who'd come to Earth on Arkanios's orders. By Arkanios's memories, she should be leader of this elf forest, not Haidel.

"Yes, Lady Ariel, after arriving on Earth..."

Haidel explained. In short, after settling here, she'd passed leadership to him and vanished.

Jehyun wanted to ask about the purple orb but shelved it and inquired instead,

"Then, do you know anything about that purple orb?"

"Well..."

Haidel, usually quick to answer, hesitated before continuing.

"Truthfully, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠don't know the details. She said only: 'If Arkanios-nim's heir ever comes asking about it, tell them they'll learn through his arrangements.'"

"……."

Jehyun pondered. Ariel had anticipated his arrival.

'Is this part of Arkanios's plan too?'

―Even I... have no words for that.

Alkasha seemed clueless as well. Doubts about the purple orb deepened.

'I need to claim all of Arkanios's legacy soon.'

Jehyun reaffirmed his resolve. Power from the legacy would unravel these mysteries naturally.

"Alright, moving on..."

He turned to Haidel.

"Mind teaching me some spirit arts too?"

He'd planned to learn via Nature Clan, but no need now. A grand spirit master far superior to Jo Heegyung stood before him—claiming him as kin, no less.

"I-I, how could I..."

Haidel paled. Even a hatchling was a dragon; teaching one was unthinkable.

Jehyun frowned. He hadn't expected such deep-seated dragon reverence.

"It's fine. I don't stand on ceremony. I'm asking because I respect you—teach me casually."

Haidel peeked up.

"Really... it's okay?"

"Yeah."

Amazement filled Haidel's eyes. Dragons never sought knowledge from inferiors, especially not their own vassals. That explained why dragons bothered little with spirit arts, handling spirits inefficiently instead.

'This one is different.'

Haidel gazed at Jehyun in admiration. Humility toward even vassals... He might surpass legendary primordial dragons.

'No, I shouldn't judge him.'

Haidel bowed deeper, more reverently.

"Then I shall teach you with all I have."

'Huh?'

Jehyun tilted his head at the sudden alert.

Just asking for spirit arts lessons, and loyalty went up?

'Whatever, good is good... but I don't get it.'

He eyed Haidel perplexedly. Haidel misinterpreted it.

'Such a serious gaze. He truly wants to learn.'

Not dabbling for fun—he meant it.

Jehyun chuckled at the new alert. What now? Anyway, if loyalty built itself, fine by him.

"First, the basics. You'll master it after seeing once."

Haidel spoke confidently, convinced a dragon—even a hatchling—would grasp it instantly.

'He might summon mid-to-high-grade spirits right away.'

Haidel watched Jehyun with sparkling eyes.

At that moment, an alert appeared before Jehyun.

'A quest?'

Jehyun's eyes widened at the details.