Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Out-of-Spec Entity
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"Th-that's...!"
Rishir's group, having reached the end of the flower path, was struck by a horrifying sense of unreality at the sight before them.
Was it because of the garden, so vibrantly and ideally arranged like a gorgeous watercolor painting?
Or because of the mysterious aura surrounding the woman standing in that garden?
No.
"I-is that... the Night of the Forest...?"
It was because of the woman's true identity.
Several centuries ago, in an era of chaos teeming with countless heroes and villains.
Even in that tumultuous age, she had reigned as one of the seven most heinous evils—the one known as the Night of the Forest.
In today's world, where many legendary reputations have faded in the flow of history.
The renown of the Night of the Forest remained as potent as ever.
For the numerous legacies she left behind still exerted their presence across the continent.
For better or worse.
Such a historical figure was now greeting them right before their eyes.
Overwhelmed by that dreadful sense of unreality, Rishir's group hesitated to make any rash moves.
However—
As expected of one bearing the name of a star.
Amid it all, Carojen was not only unbowed by the Night of the Forest's reputation but was also gauging her stature with the clearest mind possible.
Having thus assessed the night's presence through his disciple's body, he reached a conclusion.
'Terrifying.'
Carojen realized that this vast forest itself existed centered around her.
'Lost ancient magic... the power known as nature magic.'
Nature magic.
Modern mages often wondered about that branch of ancient magic that had fallen into disuse.
According to the records, nature magic was supposed to be an utterly gentle and peaceful art—
Yet it had been branded taboo and forcibly eradicated.
'Now I see why it was forbidden.'
But now, Carojen thought.
He finally understood the reason.
No matter how much influence a mage wielded in their domain—
Her forest far exceeded any reasonable bounds.
The power to dye naturally existing, pure, independent lives with one's own energy.
What that power achieved when honed to its extreme.
That was now unfolding before the grand mage's eyes.
A force capable of painting a portion of the world in one's own color.
'For someone like the Night of the Forest to hole up in a place like this and exert her influence...'
Suddenly, Carojen felt infinite respect for his ancestors.
For having subjugated such a monster.
"...!"
At that moment.
Carojen urgently snapped out of his thoughts.
He had sensed the dark elf's gaze.
It was like a half-moon rising in the night sky.
Her mysterious silver eyes curved into a languid smile, capturing Carojen within them.
"I must say, you're quite extraordinary. Both you and Rishir. Are all the mages of today as exceptional as you?"
It sounded like praise at first glance—
But Carojen felt no small measure of humiliation from it.
As one who stood at the top himself, he well knew.
That superiors adopt such a tone when praising inferiors.
The adventurers and mages, sharing the same impression, fidgeted restlessly as they glanced at Carojen.
The current situation was far too humiliating for even one bearing a star's name to endure.
Moreover, the Night of the Forest was gazing at Carojen—who was gritting his teeth against the humiliation—with profound meaning.
As if.
Pleading for him to lose his reason and give her cause to treat him as an intruder.
Like prey laid before a beast.
Just like that.
As the intruders were thoroughly crushed by the night's presence.
"Hah!"
The yellow-robed mages gasped for breath.
The oppressive atmosphere in the area had suddenly lightened.
"Oh, right—"
The trigger was Rishir's remark.
The moment Rishir opened his mouth, the Night of the Forest withdrew all attention from the intruders and directed it fully toward him.
Her languid expression wasn't much different from when she regarded the intruders—
But her eyes were unmistakably dripping with honey.
"Yes, I'm listening, so speak."
She even urged him impatiently, as if she couldn't bear even that brief pause.
Emboldened by her encouragement, Rishir replied.
"In the rush of events, I haven't properly introduced myself yet. My apologies for the discourtesy."
"No need. It was truly due to the rush of events, wasn't it? No need to worry."
Oh right.
As if recalling something, she raised a finger.
"Come to think of it—I forgot something too, just like you, dear? Before hearing your greeting, I should say this first."
"You forgot something?"
"It's about your master, Pamon."
"Ah—"
"Before I explain. Dear, care to guess? What relation I have to your master Pamon."
"..."
Rishir gazed at her intently before cautiously saying.
"Could you be... Master Pamon's master—her grandmaster?"
A gentle smile.
Her languid features effortlessly formed a radiant grin.
"My, you guessed it right away? I thought Pamon hadn't told you about me?"
"I had a vague feeling. If Master Pamon had a teacher, it would be someone like you."
Hehehehehe.
She covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a tinkling laugh.
"Does that mean I resemble that child? I'm pleased, but it feels a bit strange too."
Rishir, fully grasping her meaning, smiled wryly.
"I wonder if someday I'll hear those words myself—I'm preparing my heart for it."
"Those words?"
"That I resemble my master."
Shhhrrrr.
Now her tinkling laughter echoed throughout the entire forest.
Soon after.
She gracefully clasped her hands and looked at Rishir.
"So—how about it, dear? Shall we have you greet me properly?"
Rishir immediately straightened his posture.
"Rishir, disciple of Pamon, greets the grandmaster."
He paid his respects with impeccably precise, refined movements.
By now.
The intimidating pressure emanating from the night had vanished without a trace.
What remained was simply—
A single woman who was so delighted she could hardly contain herself.
Creeeak.
The door of the cabin behind her opened.
"Come in. You must be hungry—let's eat first."
"Ah, um...!"
"Hm?"
"I still haven't heard your name, Grandmaster..."
"Oh dear, how absent-minded of me. I got ahead of myself."
Labela.
She murmured the name like a little tune.
"Pamon called me Bella."
"Then... may I call you Grandmaster Bella?"
"That's too long. And a bit stiff. Just call me Bella."
"Understood. Lady Bella."
She smiled brightly and turned back toward the cabin.
"Ah, Lady Bella! One more thing...!"
Rishir pointed to his companions.
"May my companions... enter your home as guests too?"
"..."
Labela pondered briefly—
But the deliberation didn't last long.
"What can I do? They're my dear's friends."
She sighed as if exasperated, then beckoned to them.
"I shall formally invite you all into my forest—and to the meal about to be served."
With those words, Labela entered the cabin.
Watching her retreating figure, Racheta let out a chuckle.
"Did I just... get invited to dinner by the Night of the Forest?"
Now.
The sense of unreality they felt had peaked higher than ever.
"How... is this even possible...?"
Master Meltas answered her mutter.
"How? It's because our Rishir is her precious grand-disciple."
Meltas and Didoa, speaking of Rishir, wore expressions similar to Labela's just moments ago.
"...How is that even possible?"
"...Beats me."
The Night of the Forest.
They had intruded into the domain of an ancient arch-fiend and survived.
Because one of their companions was an 'acquaintance' of hers.
Was such a sentence even conceivable?
They stared at Rishir with bewildered expressions.
He gestured to them from the cabin entrance.
"Come on in, everyone. Haven't we gone two days without eating?"
The table was already piled high with food.
The moment they entered the cabin, the meal began immediately.
How much time passed like that.
"Everyone. Aren't you going to eat?"
Rishir subtly asked his companions.
"Ah, how absent-minded of me! I got lost in thought for a moment. With such splendid cuisine right in front of us. You're all the same, right?"
Meltas hurriedly pulled himself together and spoke, and the others all nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Come on, everyone! Dig in!"
Their meal resumed.
But soon after—
They sat frozen, staring blankly at Rishir.
Rishir and Labela sat facing each other at a small table separate from the others.
A spot perfect for some one-on-one time, perhaps?
Meltas's group didn't mind that at all.
No, they welcomed it.
Sharing a table with the Night of the Forest would mean regurgitating everything stored in their stomachs after the meal.
Additionally.
The dishes served to them were clearly different from those given to Rishir.
Meltas's group didn't mind that either.
They hadn't expected equal treatment to begin with.
Therefore.
The reason they now silently watched Rishir wasn't to complain about discrimination.
Their mouths hung open again as their focus wavered.
They were purely aghast at Rishir's 'meal'.
"M-Master—is my vision working properly right now?"
The Golden Saint muttered in a daze.
The Golden Star replied in a similar tone.
"...Yeah. Unless my eyes are fooling me too."
Their gazes converged on one spot.
"Dear, how is it? Does the food suit your taste?"
"Oh come on. Is it just tasty? Somehow, as I eat, I feel energy surging through my body?"
"Hehehe. Is that so? Must be your youth—such vitality. Here, try this too. Say ahh~."
"Ah, thank you."
On the food Labela was feeding into Rishir's mouth.
"I didn't know you could stir-fry flowers like this and eat them."
"Indeed."
"Pardon?"
"Hm?"
"By the way, what did you say this flower is called?"
"It's called moon lily. Chew it thoroughly, just in case."
Chew it thoroughly, she says!
They screamed inwardly.
Moon lily.
It was an ancient plant no longer obtainable—
A herb possessing such potent energy that even a single root commanded astronomical value as a premium elixir ingredient.
How many had now entered Rishir's mouth?
And in such barbarically 'cooked' form!
Their minds reeled, and they'd stopped counting midway.
"Oh my, dear. What's wrong?"
"My stomach's starting to feel full."
"Oh? Already? Then try this one."
"Oh, a drink—perfect, my throat was parched. Is it tea?"
"Yes. Tea brewed from azure grass. How is it?"
"I'm no tea expert, but one thing's for sure—it's refreshing. Makes my insides feel clean."
"Az-azure grass tea!?"
Master Didoa and the Yellow Tower alchemist's eyes flashed wide.
Azure grass.
Unlike moon lily, it still grew wild today, but remained incredibly rare—
A herb with the tremendous effect of regulating and aiding absorption of elixir energies.
Elixir stir-fry followed by elixir tea!
"Next, try this. I grilled an earth dragon's tail—"
"Next—"
"This time—"
Watching Labela's wondrous feast from nearby, they soon reached one conclusion.
The lavish spread Labela had prepared for Rishir.
It was a single elixir, meticulously combined.
An utterly inefficient, extravagantly luxurious elixir, crammed haphazardly with rare ingredients without regard for yield!
"Lady Bella, I'm really full now—no, is 'full' even the right word? My body feels strange—hot and cold..."
"Oh? Stomach full? Then how about this one?"
"M-my stomach's full, and I have to eat more?"
"Yes. My dear, you've got such a healthy constitution. It keeps going in no matter how much I feed you. Makes me think how nice it would be if Pamon had been this robust."
"Am I eating what Master was supposed to have too?"
"Something like that."
"Ugh... uuu—I'm... reaching my limit...!"
"Your limit? Then this time—"
Labela's gleeful banquet continued until Rishir lost consciousness.
The group at table two watched him, torn between envy and pity—
But that dilemma didn't last.
Labela placed her hand on Rishir's body and began aiding his 'digestion'.
The changes that occurred at that moment.
"...Is this for real?"
The Golden Star muttered unwittingly upon witnessing it.
The next dawn.
Thanks to Labela's lavish hospitality—which went beyond mere rest—Rishir awoke comparatively early compared to his companions.
"Oh? Up already?"
As Rishir stepped into the garden for some fresh air, Labela—who was already there admiring the flowerbeds—greeted him.
"Lady Bella?"
Rishir couldn't hide his surprise at the encounter.
That meaningful atmosphere.
As if she had foreseen and awaited his visit.
Labela turned, gazing at Rishir with her signature silver eyes.
In that instant.
Rishir felt as though he was contained within those pupils.
Tap tap.
Labela sat on the bench before the garden and patted the seat beside her.
"We've finally got the right atmosphere for a talk. Come sit. Ask whatever you're curious about freely."
Sitting beside Labela, Rishir began to deliberate.
What to bring up first.
What story would delight this transcendent being.
"Lady Bella—"
"Yes?"
"What do you do here?"
Labela turned to look at Rishir.
"Diving straight in deep, huh."
"Was it too abrupt?"
"It felt that way a little. I'd love to hear the reason right away, but that might kill the mood. I think I have a vague idea why you're asking."
Labela's kindly gaze seemed to caress Rishir's cheek.
"It's because you're thinking of Pamon, isn't it? Right?"
"..."
"Hehehe. Even now, your first thought is of your master. Who knew Pamon had such good fortune with people."
After a brief contemplation, she formed a mischievous smile.
"I'm researching ways to kill demons. Not seal them, but completely eradicate them."
"...!"
"How was that? Pretty abrupt too, right? My little counterattack."
Labela rose and gently tended to the flowerbeds.
Her half-lidded eyes took on a meaningful hue.
"Where should I start this story."
She gazed into the distance, organizing her thoughts, then slowly opened her mouth.
"Dear, do you know of a being called Verbandes?"
Answering that question wasn't Rishir.
"No way!"
"?"
Labela's head tilted downward.
"!!!"
The sand girl spirit was looking up at Labela with her characteristic energetic expression.
"I won't let Verbandes..."
Grrrr!
The sand spirit gathered all her strength and spirit, then thrust both hands upward in a fierce motion, unleashing it.
"...win!"
"..."
The Night of the Forest, who had been serenely observing from a higher vantage.
Her transcendent demeanor now bore an ordinary, purely bewildered expression.
An awkward silence settled over the garden in the dawn twilight.