Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Whispers of the Inverted Sword
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"So, you've come to us, Gadena?"
Master Meltas welcomed the unexpected guest on behalf of the Gray Tower.
It was Gadena, the elf scholar of ancient books residing in Bondales.
Gadena's specialty encompassed ancient books and all related knowledge in general, but as an elf by origin, he naturally possessed some proficiency in nature magic and spirits as well.
From Gadena's perspective, the naturalization phenomena occurring throughout Bondales at present appeared entirely different.
"Indeed. I'm not sure if you are aware, but the simultaneous outbreaks of naturalization across Bondales cannot be fully explained merely by an increase in spontaneous plant growth. The sudden proliferation of spirit distributions and habitats serves as proof."
"Heh heh, I suspected it wasn't simply ordinary plants, but to draw spirits into a city saturated with human influence? Most intriguing. So, Gadena. As you yourself noted, the Gray Tower lacks the depth of expertise in spirits and nature magic that you green mages command. Then why seek the cause of this naturalization from us?"
"...Isn't it that man's doing?"
That man.
Meltas instantly grasped what Gadena meant.
"You're referring to Rishir. To be clear, Rishir has temporarily stepped away not only from the Gray Tower but from Bondales itself."
"So?"
"Hm?"
"Does that signify he has no connection to this incident?"
"...But how could a man not even present in the city wield such influence?"
"I don't know."
"Hm?"
"He must have some method. If it's that man."
"..."
"I am aware. Of just how irrational my assertion is."
The bewildered Gadena.
The gray-haired old mage gazed upon the elf with sympathy.
"Well, it's fortunate that you recognize it. However!"
"?"
Yet soon, he formed a pleased smile.
"To waver under the voice of reason yet never lose your bearings! That is the first path to understanding Rishir."
"?"
"Congratulations, Gadena. You have passed the test."
"What in the world are you saying, Meltas?"
"You have proven yourself worthy of knowing the truth! Your eyes are open! Follow me to the Gray Tower!"
"?"
Has he lost his mind?
Gadena could not contain his confusion at the transformation of the once-wise old mage.
"So, that man is currently at the Night of the Forest's abode, receiving instruction in nature magic from her...?"
"Precisely! What do you make of it!"
"...What do I make of what?"
"No! Don't ask for my thoughts! Simply speak as your heart and mind direct you now!"
"That him learning nature magic is influencing Bondales?"
"Heh! Gadena! Splendid! Utterly splendid! As expected of you!? To have your thoughts extend that far already! You're no normal one either! Far from normal indeed! Of course!"
Gadena began to grow genuinely fearful of the old mage before him.
In his long life of longevity, it was the first time he had heard distance from normalcy framed in such a positive light.
"That aside, Gadena. Do you take my words at face value? This implausible tale of Rishir encountering the Night of the Forest from the distant past?"
"How many times has that man been embroiled in incidents? Now I simply accept it."
"Whew, splendid!!! A truly splendid approach!"
"Ugh. Why on earth is he like this?"
The old mage was now so excited he was panting for breath.
Gadena distanced himself, half-expecting the man to latch on and beg him to become his apprentice.
In that instant, the instinctive wariness elves held toward humans was overlaid with a far more intense layer of disdain.
"Well, enough jesting. Gadena, a question for you. Why do you believe the plants sprouting across Bondales are linked to Rishir's nature magic?"
"...To state the conclusion first. Even if this naturalization stems from that man, the likelihood it originates from his nature magic is low."
"Heh. Quite the bold declaration. How can you assert it so confidently?"
"The fact that he has only now begun learning nature magic proves he had no prior involvement with it. Meltas. Nature magic differs from conventional magic. Handling its power requires a somewhat intricate process."
"What sort of intricate process?"
"To put it simply, one must visit Ilratten, the city of elves. There, obtain recognition from the green mages and make contact with the great elf ancestors."
"..."
Comprehension and bafflement surfaced simultaneously on Meltas's face.
Nature magic, now an exclusive privilege of the green mages in modern times.
He hadn't imagined a human learning it would be easy, but never this convoluted.
"Even with the Night of the Forest's aid?"
"If I am not mistaken, the Night of the Forest herself would have followed the same procedures and path to master nature magic."
"...That Night of the Forest?"
Master Meltas could not conceal his shock this time.
Even she, reputed to have reached the pinnacle of nature magic, had her foundations in the green mages?
"Then, what on earth was the Night of the Forest thinking, offering to impart nature magic to Rishir?"
"..."
This time, Gadena fell into confusion.
A being of her caliber would not recklessly step forward to teach nature magic without reason.
There must surely be a method—
"...When did that man come under the Night of the Forest?"
"About a fortnight ago."
"Then it was foolish to worry. A fortnight is scarcely enough time to even establish the foundations of nature magic. For a human, simply reaching Ilratten and completing the entry rites would take months at least."
"Hm... Then what exactly is the source of this city's naturalization..."
"As for my personal speculation, I believed spirits drawn to his constitution had settled across Bondales."
"Hm... No! That's not it!"
"I considered it a reasonable line of thought."
"And that's precisely the problem!"
"?"
"Matters concerning Rishir demand an even more radical viewpoint!"
"Have you truly gone senile, Meltas?"
It was at that moment, as the elf was about to voice genuine concern toward the old mage.
"Master Meltas. Lord Palrag has arrived. Accompanied by those two young ladies, acquaintances of young Rishir."
"Oh, could you be that elf said to reside in the city—the ancient tome expert, Gadena?"
"I behold the great mage Frostbreath."
"Perfect timing! I was seeking you! Precisely, I intended to request Master Meltas's aid in tracking you down!"
"Me, you say?"
"Indeed! If it suits you, would you join us now!? There's something I'd like to show you!"
Former lord of the Blue Tower.
The renown of Frostbreath Palrag retained its formidable presence even within elven society.
Gadena was not one to readily consort with strangers—
But if it was Frostbreath, the story changed.
However.
Gadena hesitated somewhat now.
"Ooh, Lord Palrag!!! Is it related to Rishir!?"
"Indeed! A most Rishir-esque situation, so steel yourself against surprise!"
An aura both familiar and disconcerting emanated from the great archmage.
'That man. What on earth has he done to these mages...'
Gadena began to worry in earnest whether deep involvement with them was wise.
It occurred shortly after the two old mages and the elf set off together.
"..."
At some point, the characteristically arrogant elven smile had surfaced on Gadena's face.
"You should prepare your heart. Even an elf like you has likely never beheld a tree such as this!"
Palrag's words had properly pricked the elf's pride.
'No matter that it's Frostbreath himself, as a human, such ignorance of elven botany is inevitable.'
Nature—
That is, elves' comprehension of flora permitted no rivals.
Any random elf strolling the streets of Ilratten possessed greater insight than revered human botanists.
And yet.
A plant even he, originating from the Green Tower, had never encountered.
Gadena found the notion ridiculous but refrained from correcting the humans' blunder.
The moment he personally examined and opined on the tree beyond their ken, they would realize their own parochialism.
"This is it."
The instant they arrived at the destination.
Gadena immediately confirmed his correctness.
The young tree that Palrag had declared unseen even by elves fell squarely within the scope of his erudition.
"..."
However.
Irrespective of that, Gadena plunged into profound turmoil.
"Wh-why is this here..."
"Ooh!!! So you know this tree!? As expected of an elf—might you share your wisdom? Tell us of this tree!"
"...Impossible."
"Hm?"
"I cannot say anything about this tree."
"What—whatever do you mean?"
"...Because I know nothing of this tree."
A lie.
All present discerned it at once.
For the rational elf was visibly shaken to a marked degree.
Yet his expression was so gravely serious that none dared press the falsehood.
"Uh..."
At that moment.
Gadena's eyes flew wide.
Every onlooker of the young tree mirrored the expression.
The young tree abruptly began to glow, emanating a far denser aura.
And then.
Beside the young tree, a turquoise girl materialized.
"Wh-what in the...!"
Gadena dropped to his knees before the turquoise girl.
His anguished visage and gestures conveyed both awe and utter bafflement.
The humans' curiosity intensified at the elf's reaction.
What manner of tree, what spirit could elicit such from an elf?
"Spirit..."
Palrag addressed the spirit without hesitation.
Gadena recoiled in horror, but Palrag and the others paid it no mind.
Incidents around Rishir were hardly singular.
Whatever the spirit's nature or deeds—
They stood ready to accept without astonishment.
"By chance, do you know anything of Rishir?"
Rishir.
At the name's utterance, the turquoise girl brightened and hopped in place.
"As expected. One of Rishir's new spirits, it seems."
As Fienne let out a chuckle, Gadena beside her let out a shriek.
"Th-that man's spirit!? Impossible!"
"Pardon? What's that? Why such shock—"
"Ah, never mind! No, or rather, pretend it's not!"
"Now, now. Calm yourself, Gadena. With the very one present, we can simply verify directly, no?"
Meltas approached the spirit and inquired.
"Spirit. Are you acquainted with a human named Rishir?"
Whatever thrilled her so, the turquoise girl nodded her head vigorously.
With small hands, the girl pointed to herself repeatedly proclaiming.
Fienne and her companions wore expressions of complete understanding.
"?"
What sorcery is this?
Elf.
Human.
True Ancestor.
Succubus.
Sword.
All present plunged into indiscriminate chaos.
"Ah, ah, ah, u-understood, Ri-Rishir. Si-since even you know nothing, for n-now, return and rest... Ah, an-any inconveniences in residing at Ilratten!? If-if there are any, speak freely! I-I swear!!! The elder council will roll up sleeves and resolve them!!!"
Hmm.
What has become of the World Tree.
Tact...
Such was the elders' reaction following Rishir's reply.
The elders alternated glances between the flat earthen floor and Rishir before promptly growing restless and swarming him.
"N-no—nothing particular! No inconveniences!"
"Rishir!!! Now that I think, aren't you of marriageable age!?"
"This one!!! Spares no words unfit for the young!!!"
"Well, I am an adult, at least—"
"Oh, is that so!? Then how about my granddaughter!?"
"How about what, what do you mean...?"
"Rishir!!! Then what of me!?"
"Ratsil, please, just stay put for now—"
"Come to think, Rishir. Where are you lodging currently?"
"Ah, I'm borrowing one of the rooms used by Green Tower acolytes."
"Borrowing an acolyte's room!!! For one of your stature!? Unacceptable! Catastrophic!!! I'll procure a fitting residence in Ilratten at once!"
"Rather, why not reside in the Turquoise Pavilion while at it!?"
High elves, elders as guardians of the World Tree.
Amid the onslaught of handshake overtures, Rishir's senses reeled.
"Everyone, please calm down a bit. Can't you see Rishir is troubled."
"Ah, my thanks, Sir Karoer!"
Fortunately, Karoer's intervention allowed a safe extrication—
"..."
But Rishir knew.
The elf elders would not relent so easily!
'Am I to be collared like this? As protector of the World Tree?'
Rishir grew anxious over his inadvertent status as the World Tree spirit's mother.
However.
As time elapsed, Rishir realized it was mere apprehension.
Subsequent contacts with the World Tree guardians persisted, yet the elders' demeanor remained consistently cautious.
They treated Rishir with utmost courtesy and circumspection—
And Rishir detected no impure intentions therein.
Even so, his unease did not fully abate.
'As elf elders, they may well be sly foxes beyond my reckoning...!'
Out of caution, he sought Ratsil's counsel.
"Pardon? What do you mean? Paying homage to Rishir, chosen by the World Tree, is only natural for any elf, no?"
"Ah..."
Rishir once more appreciated the elves' singular mindset.
World Tree!
To elves, it was no throne to grasp or usurp through strife.
Having witnessed endless familial politicking and kin slaying kin, Rishir felt no small stir at their genuine bearing.
Accompanied by a touch of curiosity, that is.
'...What if I abruptly took the World Tree spirit back to Bondales? What would the elves do?'
Out of caution once more, he queried Ratsil anew.
"Well? Such occurrences are rare... no, beyond rare! Unprecedented in elven history!? Thus, venturing my opinion cautiously— um... um!!! Um!!! Likely, likely! Nothing of the sort would occur!? Some elves would follow Rishir! For the World Tree's embrace is precisely where elves belong! Ah! And me!? Rishir, what of me!? Shall I accompany you? Once I venture beyond the great forest, might you guide me then!?"
"Ughhhh."
Ratsil's response only deepened Rishir's apprehensions.
'Please, take root in Ilratten...!'
Rishir attempted discourse with the World Tree spirit of his inner realm on the matter—
But astonishingly, she was absent.
"...Home? What home?"
In the end.
All Rishir could manage was to pray for smooth resolutions and focus on his routine.
Thus passed a few more days beyond the fortnight.
Rishir devoted himself to diligently honing nature magic under Lunadien's tutelage.
"Lady Lunadien. One curiosity— at this pace, what would you say my progress in nature magic amounts to?"
"Hmm. What do you reckon?"
"I'm not certain... My sole frame of reference is Lady Lunadien herself—"
Night of the Forest.
Such transcendent figures.
Rishir hastily swallowed the latter half.
"Lady Lunadien?"
"Ah, nothing at all. With you as my only comparison, objective assessment eludes me."
"Is that so? Then we'll defer that pleasure for later."
Unexpected, perhaps.
Lunadien guided him with diligent and gracious demeanor.
How long had this mentor-disciple bond—shallow if shallow, profound if profound—endured.
One day.
A sudden query arose in Rishir.
'The Green Tower Lord subjugated the Night of the Forest...'
He could scarce envision Lunadien, his instructor, vanquishing her own grandmaster.
To sate his curiosity, Rishir sought an elf once more.
This time, Karoer rather than Ratsil.
"I should dearly love to assuage your curiosity, yet it seems best heard directly from the principals. Lunadien herself, or that lady."
"..."
Come to think, what ties bound Sir Karoer and his grandmaster?
In seeking to resolve one curiosity, he had shouldered another.
"Ah yes, you. Nearly forgot to mention. A resolution on the World Tree spirit matter appears imminent."
"...!"
At last!
Rishir inwardly rejoiced.
Though his days learning nature magic from the Green Tower Lord brimmed with fulfillment—
His original aim in visiting Ilratten had been solely to acquire the 'seed of nature magic.'
'Apologies to Lady Lunadien, but once I master nature magic, to grandmaster and master...'
In that vein, Karoer's tidings proved quite heartening.
Per his words, departure from Ilratten loomed soon.
'Wonder how all are faring.'
Rishir recalled in sequence his grandmaster, master, and Bondales acquaintances.
And thereafter—
As ever.
Having passed his respite reminiscing companions, Rishir set forth to his designated locale to review nature magic.
Yet, owing to those recollections?
'Come to think, I've somewhat neglected demon swordsmanship practice of late.'
The clearing in the Green Tower that Lunadien had designated as Rishir's exclusive training ground.
Upon arrival, Rishir gripped his sword after a long interval.
'Fortunate to have realized even now.'
Such was Rishir's sentiment the instant he took hold.
He immediately sensed the toll of neglecting his honed basics and demon swordsmanship for over a fortnight.
'Damn it, tomfoolery. That's precisely what I'm learning now.'
Rishir rebutted Tangaleon's interjection yet inwardly concurred.
Nature magic was assuredly intricate and arcane, yet purely in terms of wielding the power, its difficulty paled against demon swordsmanship.
A matter of course, in retrospect.
For demon swordsmanship was a force that defied reason, taxing the body unto overload.
"Hmm..."
Moments later.
Rishir collected his thoughts.
"No matter the import of perpetuating master's legacy, I cannot afford to slack on demon swordsmanship."
It was, after all, his cherished personal technique and secret art.
Rishir thus devoted time to reviewing and refining demon swordsmanship after so long.
How much time passed in such immersion.
"Huu...~"
Having concluded his demon swordsmanship regimen, as Rishir blissfully bled from every facial orifice.
"...Hm?"
Rishir abruptly scanned his surroundings.
Eerie whispers emanated from somewhere.
Rishir initially surmised he had unconsciously lured yet another unidentified spirit—
"...No."
Before long, realization dawned.
These whispers diverged utterly from spirit voices.
Against his will, the hairs on his skin bristled erect.
His entire body tensed acutely.
A viscous malice clung tenaciously to his flesh.
Whispers and malice.
Ere long, Rishir pursued their origin.
"...!"
In an instant.
Rishir startled and surveyed about.
Suddenly the world inverted, darkness engulfing him whole.
'A barrier...?'
Rishir's gaze instinctively fixed upon one spot.
There, amid pitch blackness, something stood in haughty silhouette.
It was a sword thrust inverted into the earth.
Its dark blade gleamed distinctly even in shadow, evoking an uncanny foreboding.
The sword addressed Rishir.
"...Your strength?"
Demon swordsmanship.
The sword uttered the name.
"...!"
The blade confronted abruptly.
His own secret art proclaimed by said blade.
Rishir reeled in shock.
A brief plunge into contemplation—
"...For starters, might you demonstrate that demon swordsmanship?"
Rishir spoke with an air of epiphany.
He pondered.
"Perhaps what we each envision differs."
The sword's demon swordsmanship.
His demon swordsmanship.
A grave miscommunication might divide the two.
"..."
The dark sword silently emanated presence.
As though weighing the import of his words.