Summer Sea
“Haah, this is rough.”
Confirming I was back in reality, I let out a small sigh and plopped down onto the floor.
‘Almost died there…’
Just imagining what would’ve happened if Rishar hadn’t shoved me out of the way back then sent shivers down my spine. I gulped dryly, my body trembling.
Then it hit me—Yu Seoyeon noona’s shift was almost over. I hurriedly kicked off my shoes, stripped out of my dirt-caked clothes, and jumped into the bathroom for a bath.
‘…I wonder if Rishar’s okay.’
Even though it was just a short time, seeing an elf for the first time felt strangely special. I pictured her for a moment, then shook my head and rushed to finish up. Once out, I changed into clean clothes and pulled out my smartphone.
Looked like messages had come in while I was washing—there was a notification badge on the screen. I checked them right away.
The messages from Yu Seoyeon noona had arrived exactly one minute apart.
‘Uh oh, she seems pissed.’
I gulped again and quickly typed back: ‘Was in the shower, didn’t see. Heading out now.’
A few seconds later, a reply pinged in.
Short and to the point. I finished getting ready in a flash and bolted out the door.
“What in the world…”
Irene couldn’t hide her bewilderment at the human man who had vanished right before her eyes.
‘No traces of mana, no presence at all.’
Her pointed ears twitched repeatedly as she searched for any sign of him, but the forest remained utterly silent.
“Lady Irene, shall we search the area?”
An elf approached and asked. Irene fell silent for a moment before turning to Rishar and speaking.
“Rishar, do you know something about him?”
Rishar quickly bowed her head in response.
“I don’t know much about him either. But… he commands races like goblins and orcs as if they were his own limbs.”
“Goblins and orcs…?”
“Yes. The twin-headed ogre you just saw, Lady Irene—he wielded it like a limb as well.”
“……”
Irene let out an involuntary gasp at Rishar’s explanation.
In this world, what human—no, what being—could command ferocious races like twin-headed ogres as mere extensions of themselves? Even if such a thing existed…
‘No, that’s impossible.’
Dismissing the fanciful thought, Irene shook her head. Regaining her composure, she addressed the elves around her.
“We’re heading back. Relay the order to those pursuing the ogre as well.”
“Yes!”
With that, Irene took off running first, and Rishar and the other elves shouted in unison before following behind her.
After running for a while, Irene finally entered the elf village.
“You’ve returned, Lady Irene.”
The elves guarding the village lit up with relief at the sight of Irene and the scouting party.
“What of the fallen?”
“After a massive explosion, they all returned to Mother’s side.”
“Good work.”
Hearing the report, Irene was reminded anew that the lump of corpses was the root of this incident. At the same time, the human man’s words echoed in her mind.
‘It’s dangerous.’
He was right. It was far too dangerous. That’s why she couldn’t hand it over to him so easily. What if giving it to that human sparked an even greater catastrophe?
Better to show it to Mother and seal it away.
‘…Mother would know.’
A sneer curled at Irene’s lips, as if mocking the human’s words, and she headed to the heart of the village—the thickest tree—alongside the elf carrying the sack with the corpse lump.
At once, a woman approached Irene and spoke.
“You’re safe, Lady Irene.”
“Shea, where’s Mother?”
“Waiting inside.”
“Understood.”
Nodding, Irene passed her and went deeper in. Pushing open the door, she entered a vast cavernous hall, where a woman sat upon a wooden throne carved from the tree itself.
“I’ve returned, Lady Unpilea.”
“Welcome back, Irene. I’ve heard the report. Did you defeat the undead?”
The woman’s voice was filled with profound benevolence, a mystical power that warmed the heart just to hear. Irene couldn’t help but smile faintly, but quickly remembered this was official business and bowed her head.
“Yes. Though it wasn’t I who felled them—it was a certain human.”
“A human?”
Unpilea, the elf woman, asked in genuine surprise. Irene nodded slightly and confirmed.
“Definitely a human.”
“Where is this human now?”
“Well…”
Irene trailed off briefly before answering honestly.
“…He vanished without a trace right before my eyes.”
“Even you couldn’t track him?”
“He didn’t flee. It was as if he used transfer magic… but there wasn’t the slightest trace of mana.”
“How intriguing. Not only did he enter this sanctuary, but he vanquished the culprit behind all this?”
Unpilea pressed with evident curiosity. Irene replied,
“That’s what I witnessed.”
“And what of the true culprit this time?”
“We’ve secured it.”
With that, Irene ordered the sack brought forward. An elf hurried up and dumped the corpse lump onto the floor.
“……”
Unpilea frowned involuntarily at the grotesque sight. But only for a moment—she rose slowly from her chair and approached it.
“…Is this what summoned the undead?”
“Yes. Rishar saw it herself. Would you like to hear from her?”
“No need. The child must be exhausted; we’ll hear it later.”
Unpilea examined the lump intently. Then, something sparkling inside caught her eye.
‘What’s that?’
A pitch-black darkness emanated an intensely alluring glow, as if drawing her in. Unpilea hesitated, then reached out toward it.
The squelching rotten flesh wrapped around her delicate hand and writhed.
“Lady Unpilea!”
Irene shouted in alarm, but Unpilea gestured calmly and gripped the shining object tight. With a mighty pull—rip! tear!—it came free, entrails trailing behind.
“Kieeeek!!!”
The corpse lump, robbed of its gem, let out a piercing shriek and thrashed wildly, as if desperate to reclaim it from Unpilea.
“Dangerous!”
Irene drew her sword in an instant and charged. Without hesitation, she slashed—the severed lump shrieked in agony and convulsed.
“Kiek!!”
The horrific scene drained the color from Irene and all the elves’ faces. But Irene swung again, cleaving it in two. It went limp, silent, utterly spent.
“Are you alright?”
Irene asked, turning to Unpilea, who smiled reassuringly.
“Just startled a bit. Burn that thing quickly. It’s for the best.”
“Yes, understood.”
Irene swiftly stuffed the remains back into the sack herself. As she and the other elves left the hall, Unpilea finally exhaled and lifted what she held.
“How beautiful…”
In her hand gleamed a Mana Stone Fragment, radiating black luster.