Chapter 373: The Reason They Seek Temar’s Tomb (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 373: The Reason They Seek Temar’s Tomb (5)
*
The trees and plants of the Wantaramo Forest were screaming. Trunks twisted as if being wrung dry, weeping sap, while plants shed their leaves and released a foul stench.
Ever since Shilla had lost her authority, the Wantaramo Forest had been linked to Maila’s physical body.
[Kaaaaah!]
Jin and Aria winced at the scream that scraped against their eardrums. Shilla and the catfolk emerged from their hiding places, revealing themselves.
[Sister! Ah! Help me, please!]
Without a shred of shame or pride, Maila began to beg for her life the moment she saw Shilla. Even as she writhed in the horrific pain consuming her body, she prostrated herself, pleading.
Shilla’s eyes shone with a desolate light as she looked down at her.
[I was your sister, your friend, and your parent. I was also the queen to you and our kin.]
[I was wrong…!]
[I was always generous to you. I did not resent you, even when you decided to betray me. Even after you incited our people to strip me of my authority, I never once hated you.]
[Sister! Sister!]
In that moment, Maila seemed to glimpse a ray of hope from Shilla—the image of a dependable older sister who would, as always, forgive her foolish younger sibling.
[I—I’ll give control of the forest back to you! Please, if you just let me live…]
[I will forgive you for trying to harm me.]
Maila lifted her head and met Shilla’s eyes, her expression drenched with emotion, like a creature seeing light for the first time.
However, after meeting that gaze for a long moment, Shilla spoke.
[But I cannot forgive you for endangering the forest and our kin.]
[Sister…?]
[Farewell, my beloved sister.]
As she finished speaking, Shilla’s appearance began to change.
Her lovely, glowing wings vanished like melting snow, and her small body, characteristic of the fairy race, swelled and suffused with a red light. Soon, she took on a human-like form, radiating a crimson aura.
Then, with both hands, she slowly lifted Maila, who was rolling on the ground in despair.
[No, please!]
Maila struggled, but she could not escape Shilla’s grasp.
Whoosh…
Shilla blew a light breath toward Maila, as if scattering dandelion seeds. As the breath touched her, Maila’s body began to crumble like snowflakes.
“Aaaaaah—!”
Maila’s final scream scattered on the wind. The glowing red particles that had once been Maila left trails as they dispersed in every direction.
Only when Shilla’s hands were empty did the forest finally stop crying.
The twisted trees returned to their original forms, and the plants once again emitted a fragrant scent. The dark, sodden sky cleared, revealing a pale yellow dawn moon.
The corpses strewn across the ground were swallowed by the earth, vanishing without a trace. In less than a minute, the landscape became so pristine it was hard to believe a battle had ever taken place.
Shilla stared at her empty palms for a long time, silent.
Through the dead Maila, she was catching a glimpse of her past self.
[Jin Runcandel.]
Shilla turned to look at Jin.
“Yes.”
[The name written on this King’s Liquor was originally mine.]
Jin took the King’s Liquor and checked the name once more.
(King’s Liquor – Shil Damiro)
The name of the person who had brewed this alcohol to leave behind a story. It was the old name of Shilla, the Queen of the Fairy Descendants.
Jin did not answer, silently staring at the bottle. He recalled a conversation he’d had with Shilla earlier.
—Maila. It seems that child hated that I was keeping my promise to Solderet. The other children, too. They all believe that we, the descendants of the fairy race, are making a useless sacrifice. Or that we are clinging to a meaningless hope.
—Is that why you were effectively ousted from the throne, and Maila took control of the forest?
—Indeed. Waiting for you was far too uncertain, and the reward was unclear… whereas there are those who said they would give us everything we desired if we provided just a little bit of information. In some ways, betrayal was only natural.
—What is it that the fairy descendants want?
—To regain our original forms.
Their original forms.
The beings of the Wantaramo Forest were not originally ‘descendants,’ but fairies themselves.
[I hope that within the story contained in this liquor, there is something that will be of help to you.]
Pop…!
Shilla opened the cap.
She then used the cap as a cup, filled it to the brim, and held it out to Jin. An indescribably fragrant scent spread through the air, and shimmering spirit energy was visible within the cup.
Jin and Valeria took turns drinking, one cup at a time.
Unlike the King’s Liquor they drank when they met the Red Jade Cat Shuri, no singing could be heard.
Instead, they heard the sound of someone sobbing sorrowfully. It was the sound of Shilla weeping as she brewed the liquor, back before she had lost her name.
A moment later, they were pulled into the story contained within Temar’s fourth tomb.
*
The Primeval Forest.
A mystical space where fairies were said to have lived.
Upon drinking the King’s Liquor, Jin and Valeria clearly perceived that the space they had entered was that very land. They had never been there, nor had they ever seen a painting depicting it.
However, the power of the record contained in the King’s Liquor made them feel as if they had known the Primeval Forest from the very beginning.
Their feet left no prints on the lush ground. Even if they spoke, those existing within the record could not hear them.
Jin and Valeria were observing the forest as detached ‘observers.’
And for some reason…
The moment she entered this place, Valeria was struck by a longing so sharp it felt as if her heart were being carved out.
Just as when she had lost her brothers in the Grey Owl Mercenaries, an unbearable sorrow clawed at her chest. She had to crouch for a moment to catch her ragged breath.
“Valeria.”
“I’m okay.”
Valeria soon stood, and the two moved forward together.
As they walked, information about the Primeval Forest flowed into their minds from the record.
This forest was currently ruled by the Fairy Queen, Ruet Damiro Yul.
“Is that Ruet Damiro Yul?” Valeria asked, looking at a fairy standing in the depths of the forest.
She had red hair and a cold, furious expression. Jin and Valeria took their places right beside her.
Jin examined her closely and shook his head.
“No, she isn’t the person I saw in the recording device of the third tomb. She seems to be a different fairy.”
Before long, they learned the fairy’s name.
Shil.
Another fairy appeared in the depths of the forest and called her name.
It was Ruet Damiro Yul. She had come here, filled with anger, to meet her younger sister, Shil Damiro, who had sought her out.
“My Queen.”
As Shil knelt on one knee, Ruet shook her head.
“There is no need for such formalities, Shil.”
At Ruet’s words, Shil stood.
“Sister.”
“Speak, my sister.”
Ruet and Shil stared at each other in silence for a long time.
This was the first deep conflict the two sisters, born of the same blood, had ever experienced. Ruet’s expression seemed to say she understood, while Shil’s gaze said she could not understand her sister at all.
“Do you truly intend to involve yourself in the affairs of humans?”
When Shil finally spoke, Ruet nodded.
“Yes.”
Shil bit her lower lip. She could not comprehend her sister’s choice. The other fairies who followed Shil felt the same.
“Must you really do this? If we don’t step forward, Zipple will not attack us.”
“Shil, from the moment they began to manipulate history, they have already attacked us.”
“No, that is merely your opinion, Sister. Zipple wants us to stay out of it and let humans resolve their own problems.”
“How can you be so certain?”
Shil did not answer.
“…Sister, think carefully. Even if we help, do you think Runcandel can defeat Zipple? Do you think they will even feel grateful?”
“That is not important.”
“No, there is no matter more important than this! The lives of our entire race are at stake. Your mistaken judgment could kill all of our kin!”
As Shil screamed in a rage, Ruet closed her eyes.
“Sister, you are the one putting our kin in danger right now. More than half of our people are against this. Don’t you see why?”
“I know.”
“If you know, then make a different decision, even now.”
“Shil.”
Ruet opened her eyes again and looked at her sister.
“An individual can choose the wrong path. But a King must always make the right choice.”
“Sister.”
“You, too, will understand one day when you become Queen. Why I have no choice but to make this decision…”
Shil could not accept those words.
“Be honest, Sister. You’re in love with the leader of Runcandel. That is why you are endangering our entire race—to help Temar Runcandel, to look good in his eyes.”
“Do you truly think so?”
“I can no longer trust you, Sister.”
Ruet let out a sigh.
“…So. Because you can no longer trust me, you have brought so many of our kin to intimidate me.”
As Ruet finished speaking, other fairies emerged from the shadows of the forest. They were the ones who shared Shil’s thoughts.
Their gazes were full of hostility, and they held sharply honed daggers.
“Will you kill me and become the new Queen?”
“If you do not change your mind, Sister, I will have no choice.”
Shil replied, glaring at Ruet.
Ruet’s expression remained as calm as it had been at the start.
Shil thought her sister would eventually back down. The Ruet she knew was not someone who would remain stubborn when she and their kin went this far.
She had always hated her sister, who excelled at everything, who made her feel miserable, and who had ascended to the throne she so desperately desired.
Yet, there was still trust. She believed that her infuriating sister would always make the choice that was best for the fairy race.
That was why she could neither believe nor accept the decision Ruet had just made.
“Then it cannot be helped.”
“Will you change your decision?”
Ruet shook her head.
“No. If this is the end you desire… then kill me.”
Ruet began to walk toward Shil.
Shil pulled a dagger from her robes and held it to Ruet’s throat.
However, Ruet didn’t slow her pace even as the tip of the blade pricked her neck. Shil gritted her teeth, her mind going blank.
“Damn it…!”
Clang!
In the end, Shil hurled the dagger to the ground.