Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Elves and Lifespan
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A space that looked like an ordinary family home. A man moved leisurely through it. With his refined features and the flowing robe draped softly around him, he resembled some kind of immortal sage. He stared intently at the crystal orb on the desk for a moment, then placed his hand on it.
Swaaa──────
A strange sensation washed over him, and his vision flipped. The place where the man opened his eyes again was a vast conference room. A hazy figure seated in a chair clicked their tongue.
“You’re here awfully quick.”
“Had some business.”
It wasn’t much of an explanation, but no one complained. There were hardly any in this gathering who could complain to him.
“So, what’s this about? A sudden summons.”
“What, you didn’t hear?”
Even as a hazy figure, the woman’s distinct curves were eye-catching as she giggled.
“Adolf and Grey got killed. By the Sword Empress’s disciple.”
“Hoo.”
The man’s eyes gleamed.
“I’ll take it.”
“You’re volunteering without even hearing the details?”
“No need to hear about something so obvious.”
It was obviously a trivial matter. And he was interested. That was enough.
“Seems like a waste. Do we really need a dragon-slaying blade to kill a chicken? No, not even a cow—a dragon?”
“I’ve always wanted to cross swords with the Sword Empress at least once.”
“Not the Sword Empress—her disciple.”
At the woman’s words, the man toyed with the sword at his waist. His beloved blade, his companion for half a lifetime. Could his sword even reach that old monster?
“If I kill the Sword Empress’s disciple, she’ll come out for sure. Especially after that declaration.”
Sword Shatterer of Heaven and Earth. A vow that had torn the skies and echoed across the continent. Opportunities to clash with a swordsman of that caliber didn’t come often.
“Well… if that’s the case.”
With that, the woman leaned back in her chair. This rare assembly had ended in mere minutes.
The man, who hadn’t even sat down, ignored her reaction and turned away coldly. His emotionless voice flowed out from beneath his fluttering robe.
“Got it, then. Report back as soon as you pinpoint their location.”
The man opened his eyes. The ordinary family home filled his vision once more. He stepped outside, shoving aside the corpse at his feet with one push. After a few steps, he looked up at the sky—blood-red as always, greeting him.
“Been a while since I’ll step out of the Demon Realm.”
Towering corpses piled up around the proud-standing man. All monster carcasses, half of them Master-class. He’d been growing bored of these things anyway. Perfect timing.
“The Sword Empress, huh…”
The man’s lips curled slightly as he leaped lightly into the air.
Haken Wert, Rank 2—the Sword Demon Nameless. He had emerged into the world for the first time in decades.
*
Enoch and Yonia left the magic tower where they’d stayed for nearly a month. He glanced back at the gleaming white tower visible beyond the city gates, then finally tore his feet away.
“You sure this is okay? Feels dangerous.”
Yonia grumbled as she followed behind Enoch. He rolled a plasma orb—still not fully under his control—across his palm while checking the map.
“It’s fine.”
Enoch was more concerned about something else than Haken Wert. Sharnak Majishion, otherwise known as the God of Life and Death. An elf driven mad by love for humans, and according to Iris, regarded as some kind of disaster god.
A mad god wandering endless deserts at the head of tens of millions of specters. For some reason, he wanted to meet it at least once.
“Around here?”
Enoch pointed to a spot on the map.
“The desert? Oh, the God of Life and Death? Yeah. Pretty far from the Elf Union.”
“Too bad.”
Enoch smacked his lips, and Yonia glared fiercely.
“Don’t even think about meeting it while your reason’s still asleep. You’ll end up part of its spectral horde before you get close.”
“Yeah.”
Not worth the detour.
Enoch and Yonia traveled by map for several days. Nothing special happened. They ran into monsters now and then? Yonia tilted her head slightly.
“Why are there so many monsters?”
No way to know, so they just kept going. Alternating between camping and staying in nearby cities, they finally reached a massive metropolis.
[Whoa…! The city’s huge!]
Eri zipped around in awe. Enoch headed to the market to restock their dwindling food and supplies.
“Oh.”
As expected of a big city. After wandering a bit, he found a fully independent commercial district.
While buying necessities and stuffing them into his bundle, Yonia let out a small giggle.
“Look at that. The kids are having fun.”
He looked where she pointed. A few children wielded wooden sticks, shouting something. Sounded like make-believe play.
“…….”
Watching quietly, a man and woman—likely the parents of one child—came to fetch him. The kid waved his arms wildly, explaining his game, while the parents smiled warmly and nodded along.
Thud, thud. Enoch, tapping the sword at his waist, turned away.
“Let’s go.”
Somehow, the odd mood made Yonia follow silently. But only for a moment. Enoch stopped abruptly, and Yonia jerked her head back.
“Hey! What the hell? Almost crashed into you!”
Enoch focused on one spot. A boy about his age. Blond hair. Blue eyes. Looked like nobility. But that wasn’t important.
“What is it?”
A strange sensation. Something tugged at him, but he couldn’t place it.
The boy seemed to feel it too, staring right at Enoch.
“What? Know him?”
Enoch shook his head at Yonia’s question.
“Nah, just my imagination. Let’s go.”
Enoch didn’t think much of it. Didn’t want to bother. The boy, however, was different. Narrowing his eyes at Enoch’s retreating back.
‘Heavenly Slaughter Star….’
Born under the Star of Heavenly Slaughter. The boy sensed it instinctively. Sure, they didn’t reject Heavenly Slaughter Stars anymore since the current emperor, but it still grated.
And well it might—the boy was born under the Purple Forbidden Star, counterpart to the Heavenly Slaughter Star. The greatest star, bearer of the emperor’s fate, destined to rule above all.
Proving it, he’d reached Expert Upper at an age not yet twenty.
So the boy was confident. No matter that his opponent bore a talent akin to the Purple Forbidden Star as a Heavenly Slaughter Star bearer—no one could match him.
“Young master?”
The boy whispered quietly to his accompanying knight.
“Follow him.”
“Huh? No, you can’t cause another incident.”
“Shut it!”
Look at that Heavenly Slaughter Star. Black hood, white mask—suspicious as hell! Trouble was inevitable.
The boy strode confidently after the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
*
“Enoch, someone’s following us.”
Enoch nodded at Yonia’s words. He’d known from the start.
“Ignore them.”
“Well… if you say so.”
Whatever his personality, Yonia trusted Enoch’s skills. That level at his age—if not for Lionne’s word, she’d swear he was lying about it.
‘Huh…?’
Yonia’s eyebrows shot up. Master realm at under twenty. And not freshly ascended either—he handled his power with impressive skill.
Was that miracle all raw talent? No blood, sweat, and tears behind it?
Thinking that way, his reckless disregard for his own life suddenly made sense. Without that intensity, he’d never have reached it.
‘All for Lionne…?’
The perilous stunts he pulled without a second thought. His interest in the God of Life and Death. His reactions when they discussed the lifespan gap between elves and humans.
She was starting to get it. Yonia was convinced. To become Lionne’s mate, to avoid saddening her—that’s why he was so desperate.
For Lionne, who’d lived nearly a millennium, a human lifespan was a mere blink. Enoch knew that.
To form a proper bond with her, he needed at least Grand Master. But that lofty realm wasn’t reachable by will alone. So what difference between dying old or failing to ascend? Half-assed bonding would just scar Lionne irreparably if he aged and died.
That’s what he must’ve thought. Even his answer to whether he loved Lionne—countering with a question—made sense now.
‘What’s love?’
That short query was his lament: he didn’t yet deserve to call his feelings love! Until the day he ascended and could stand tall, he couldn’t name it as such.
“You… you’re actually a decent guy, huh?”
“What? What nonsense is this? Caught something from Iris?”
Enoch couldn’t fathom Yonia’s sudden weird reaction. He’d always thought she was a bit off as an elf, and now he was sure.
Best to ignore it. Putting enlightenment into practice, Enoch walked on silently.
*
Enoch stopped by the mercenary guild to check requests heading near the Elf Union. Just in case for pocket money, but there actually was one, so he snatched it up.
Escort for a caravan to Silver Lake. Money while traveling? Great deal.
“Won’t it be inconvenient?”
Yonia tugged her hood down self-consciously over her ears. Yeah, hiding constantly would suck. But Enoch had it figured.
“No need to hide.”
“Huh?”
“Once we’re out of the city, forget about it.”
Not a huge caravan anyway. Anyone pesky gets taught a physical lesson.
“How?”
“Physically.”
Shing-. Enoch drew his sword after ages. Yonia, getting it, furrowed her brow.
“…Crazy brat.”
Decent guy or not, he was definitely unhinged.