Chapter 129
“Whoa. Uncle Jed, you're pretty popular, huh?”
“Aigoo, Lady Heungmi. What can I say? I can't compare to you, of course, but even I have given Lord Rune advice on women's hearts.”
“Oh? So the successor to the Black Dragon Elder once took an interest in a woman?”
Perdikion seemed utterly uninterested in joining the conversation, quietly sipping his water.
Heungmi tossed out occasional questions but kept getting persuaded otherwise.
That damn Jed.
Belianus looked noticeably intrigued.
Even Rand gazed down at Rune with a peculiar expression.
Deciding he needed to shut Jed up first, Rune deliberately made his presence known.
“I'm here.”
“Ah! It's Lord Rune and Lord Rand!”
“Peep!”
Clank!
The group welcomed Rand and Rune with unanimous delight.
Rand, whose self-deprecating air from moments ago had largely faded, nodded to those greeting him.
He lingered a bit longer on the ego weapon Paralium—Jed.
Rune could vaguely guess his thoughts.
He's wondering if there's even a slim chance to bring his wife back that way.
It was only natural to hope for another encounter with those cherished, beloved moments.
“Sorry I'm late. You must be starving.”
“Heehee. It's fine! We were just listening to Uncle Jed's stories while we waited!”
Heungmi answered Rune brightly.
Rand, snapped from his reverie, sat down beside Rune.
“Welcome.”
Belianus, seated at the head table, bowed his head politely.
Rune noticed the shift to a far more formal tone and met his gaze steadily.
The elf responded with a gentle smile.
“Having received such immense grace, this is only proper. What you two have accomplished is tantamount to saving all elves.”
Dwarves judged respect by how much they acknowledged an opponent.
Elves, by how much grace and favor they'd earned.
He's acknowledging us in his own way.
Rune hadn't aimed for it, but it didn't hurt to have the favor noted.
Belianus offered a brief blessing, then signaled the start of the meal they'd all been waiting for.
“I am grateful to host such esteemed guests. May the forest's grace linger in all we eat and drink.”
“Thanks for the meal!”
“Peep!”
The clatter of utensils and sounds of eating and drinking filled the air.
The tidy space quickly grew lively.
“Come to think of it, this is actually my first time visiting the Elf King in ages.”
“How long has it been?”
Belianus paused thoughtfully at the questioning tone.
“Let's see... about fifty years, by calendar reckoning.”
“Fifty years?”
It had nothing to do with elves' longevity.
Rune hadn't imagined the kingdom's second-in-command going that long without seeing the king, so his tone carried subtle dismay.
“After the war, the noble elves who worked to restore the kingdom took turns entering rest periods. It was also a measure for those elves who'd endured harsh trials against the demonkin.”
Melancholy from his middle years seeped into his words.
“My body had worn down with age, so I expressed my intent to retire to an honorary position. Instead, they granted me indefinite leave. They weren't revoking my rights as High Chancellor—just telling me to rest well and return. But as I healed the scars of war in my homeland, time slipped away like that.”
Unlike humans, elf nobles held only honor.
Their positions offered no wealth, glory, or personal gain.
In short, a palace noble elf's life was this:
Elite talent living a slave's existence with no vacations or rest guarantees—until they finally escaped. Even back home, they hadn't fully let go of duty.
Elves lived over a millennium, not a mere century like humans.
That meant nearly a thousand years as laborers, by simple math.
Perdikion nodded in satisfaction.
“Impressive. Competent ones fill key roles and fulfill their duties properly.”
Rune agreed, but other thoughts surfaced too.
Only possible because they're elves. Mental strain aside, blind self-interest would ruin it. One prioritizing gain over honor muddies the waters.
Elves were called a noble race for good reason.
It felt stifling at times, yet it sparked fresh admiration for the species.
Is this incorruptibility? Living cloistered without greed for wealth or trade makes sense now.
They were famously pure yet rigid and inflexible.
Dwarves were stubborn too, but in a different way.
Belianus chuckled wryly and continued.
“But while resting in my homeland, demonic corruption suddenly struck. It started with the plague. I tried to use the communication orb to alert the palace and request return, but... the king forbade it.”
“Why? It was an emergency.”
“He said other capable elves remained, the palace was safe under the Seal of the Forest, and I should aid my struggling homeland instead. Besides, this is our largest freshwater source. If it fell, the elves' water and food supply would suffer.”
It made sense.
That was likely how they'd endured nearly fifty years.
Perdikion had crossed his arms, tapping his bicep slowly with an index finger, listening intently.
“So I heeded the king's words and strove to protect the water... but my son contracted the illness trying to stop the reservoir's corruption to the end. Because of my request.”
His voice was somber, yet relief mingled in it—his son was recovering.
He let out a long, dry breath and offered a bitter smile.
“I nearly regretted it for life. I'll never forget the Dragon Clan's kindness.”
“If you know that, put everything into resolving this crisis. Such fortune won't come twice.”
Perdikion replied as Rune swallowed a cheese-topped bread bite whole.
“One thing I'm curious about. If you can communicate with the palace via orb, did you already report securing clean water from the reservoir last night?”
“That's what's odd... I activated the orb this morning, but no connection. It never failed before... It feels ominous.”
Perdikion and Rune's eyes met simultaneously.
The same thought?
Yeah. You too, brother?
Rand seemed to share it as well.
Rune asked.
“...When's the messenger due?”
“Around lunchtime, I heard.”
Rand, who'd been silent, nodded and murmured.
“We can check then. We need time to prepare anyway... right, little ones?”
Rand's green eyes turned to Rune.
Rune nodded and spoke.
“If no messenger by lunch, we head straight to the palace.”
“No messenger—what do you mean?”
Rune, already decided, answered Belianus's question.
“Someone who's faced demonkin firsthand told me. Demons grow stronger with negative, soul-corrupting forces. Fear, depression, despair—they amplify demon power. Among all magics, the most effective yet bizarre often tie to demon black magic.”
Rand took over with cold eyes.
“That's why demons favor plagues. The slow creep of death breeds despair. Blame when it spreads. Grief upon learning it's incurable. It wrings every negative emotion until the end... the most effective tool.”
Rand, with his history battling demons, made it vivid—like witnessing the scene.
“The corrupted become demons, fueled by those impure emotions. If the corruption started at the World Tree, it would've spread from there, deepest near the sacred tree... to here.”
Rand leaned back loosely, tilting his head and tapping the table with fingertips.
“The Elf King, deeply linked to the World Tree via the Seal of the Forest, has likely been exposed longer and deeper than anyone.”
“W-what?”
Belianus paled.
Elves had fallen to demons in direct combat.
Not this—he hadn't considered it.
“Then... the Elf King could be demonizing right in the palace heart?”
“Prepare for it.”
Perdikion's words rang with certainty.
“Th-then. Right now—! If the king corrupts, all elves are at risk!”
“Rushing won't fix it.”
“But.”
“That includes you, elf. Belianus.”
Belianus faltered, meeting Rune's eyes, unable to press further.
He who'd normally stake his life on honor couldn't push back.
“Value your life, Bel Bel Bel Belianus. We're not skipping out. Just wait till the messenger's time. We need a bit for countermeasures and amulets too.”
Belianus, half-risen, plopped back down.
The meal ended in tense silence, each lost in thought.
“Uwoong. What should Heungmi do here?”
The group minus Rand arrived at the reservoir Rune had purified last night.
Heungmi, wearing the black pearl and white pearl bracelets Rune made on her wrists, looked up at him.
Perdikion scowled deeply, arms crossed.
Dullahan had received a pearl necklace too.
It ended up looking like prayer beads, but oh well.
Heungmi's at least suited a girl as pearl bracelets.
Dullahan's long, heavy one doubled around his neck was pure monk beads.
It'd suit him in robes—odd sight, but no time to redo.
“Now I'll teach you how to absorb demon power. Not too hard, so watch and follow.”
“Ah, is this the second favor?”
“Yeah.”
Heungmi grinned “heehet” and clenched her tiny fists tight.
“Great! Heungmi will work super hard!”
“Peep!”
Clank!
Dullahan nodded firmly.
The white bird atop Heungmi's head for protection chirped along.
Full of enthusiasm.
“Okay, watch.”
Rune held the black pearl and approached the reservoir.