The Great Warrior Ruel (3)
The gentle breeze blew through the morning air.
Selen began preparing to move.
'I can take off the plate armor.'
Since there was no risk of being ambushed, what about changing into something more comfortable?
She took out the appropriate clothing from the magic tools provided by the Purple Magic Tower.
A light leather armor that wrapped around the upper body.
A stable skirt made from materials of monster fur.
It had both practicality and elegance.
Amidst that, a faint reddish tint matched her hair color.
It wasn't bad at all.
Her attire gave her a small sense of pride.
After finishing her outfit, Selen then pulled out her sword to inspect it.
Remarkably, it had an elegant sharpness.
Since it was cleaned every day, its condition was as good as new.
In fact, there was no need to inspect it, but she did so anyway, using it as an excuse.
'This sword has become like a child to me.'
She was always worried that it might break during battle.
'This should be enough.'
Her preparations were roughly complete.
Selen sheathed the sword and turned around.
“Are you ready?”
No answer came back.
One was flying around, and the other was busy chasing after it.
A fairy and a girl playing and running.
It was a heartwarming sight.
“You have to guide them well. The Hero party isn't just for kids' pranks.”
But recalling Clitia's sharp advice, she hardened her heart.
“I asked if you were ready.”
Only after approaching and lowering her voice sternly did the two react.
“I have nothing worth carrying.”
“Me too!”
…What to do in this situation.
Since it was her first experience, she hesitated and spoke.
“If I speak, please answer immediately. Wouldn't it just waste time?”
It was an inappropriate scolding.
She felt a bit uncomfortable saying it.
When she met Clitia again, she would have to learn the secret technique, right?
“I will remember it.”
“Sorry. From now on, I'll listen well.”
Her kind colleagues readily admitted their faults.
It was a gentle personality that made one feel guilty.
“I'm even more sorry.”
Eventually, the conversation ended with an apology.
It felt wrong, but she decided to just let it slide.
After all, they couldn't do well from the start, right?
If they showed steady improvement, no one would complain.
“Then, let's start.”
“Let's go!”
“Wait!”
Selen smiled faintly upon hearing her colleagues' bright answers.
“Great Warrior-nim, please lead the way.”
“Understood.”
She followed behind Ruel, who was flying ahead.
The destination was the village where the fairy community resided.
Fortunately, it wasn't far.
“While I'm gone, shall I make it so you don't get bored?”
Breny, who was walking lightly beside her, said something absurd.
“How do you mean?”
“Like this. 'Travel companion'.”
The subtle flow of mana.
A small magic circle was drawn in the air.
Then, golden notes appeared and were embedded in the corner of the leather armor.
It was a delicately adjusted placement that didn't visually disturb.
“Is this magic made by the Sage?”
“No. Riella taught me.”
She could immediately tell what kind of magic it was.
A melodious song began to flow from the notes.
It was the skill of a minstrel poet.
A song she had never heard before, yet she found herself singing along unconsciously.
“Haha! Wonderful!”
“Right? It's my favorite magic.”
“I should like it the most from now on too!”
A lively atmosphere for a moment.
They were like adventurers who had just set out on their first journey.
'Is the Hero party always like this?'
Selen thought this while humming a tune in her mouth.
The originally faint tension had completely disappeared.
If Clitia knew, she would have let out a big sigh.
“We're here!”
Ruel spun around vigorously and waved his hand.
It seemed they had already arrived.
“Here?”
“Yes.”
Thinking it was a mysterious and bustling village since it was where fairies lived.
It was just an ordinary forest like anywhere else.
“What do you think?”
It was a proud attitude.
Just as she was considering whether to lie, Breny covered her own eyes.
'Is it to gather mana?'
She gathered the faint mana with her two eyes.
Then, colorful colors entered the ordinary forest.
Trees sparkling with various hues of light.
Now it had become a village that could appear in a fairy tale.
“It's beautiful.”
“I knew you would say that!”
Ruel was happy, heading somewhere.
“The village is filled with traces of life everywhere. Especially, memories of playing with friends come to mind.”
“How are the fairies?”
“They were all doing interesting games!”
His small mouth curved into a smile, as if it was fun just to think about it.
“Make me fall alone. Stare at me quietly. Throw stones at me, etc.”
“……”
Even considering the cultural differences between races, it was clearly something wrong as a game.
“Is that a game?”
Breny whispered softly, as if she felt the same.
“No. You must never imitate it.”
It turned out fairies were a scary race.
After all, children were often crueler and harsher than adults.
Unprompted purity.
However, being clean didn't mean they had purely kind hearts.
Good and evil shouldn't be judged by simple dichotomy.
It was a realization she had to engrave deeply in her heart as a Hero.
“Great Warrior-nim, what kind of conversations did you have with your friends usually?”
“Um, just the usual conversations between close friends.”
It was nothing like that.
'Get lost.''You're not a fairy.''Weird Ruel.'
They were euphemisms, but clearly words of rejection.
“Not close?”
“Yes. Bad things.”
Sympathy rose.
Along with the thought to treat her well as a colleague and friend.
“That's my house!”
Ruel, who was the only one excited, quickly approached a tree.
A withered sapling that glowed blue-green.
There was no grass around, making it look desolate.
“Even if it's small, it doesn't hinder living there.”
“…Is that so?”
“Actually, I've liked hunting monsters since the past, so I don't come into the house much.”
It seemed she understood why he was alone fighting corpse locusts.
A different species from other fairies.
Perhaps because he liked fighting, he wasn't left behind.
“Poor…”
“From now on, play more fun things with the Great Warrior-nim.”
“Okay!”
Meanwhile, Ruel, with a satisfied expression, lightly landed on Selen's shoulder.
“It's over now.”
“Yes. Then, let's go to the Purple Magic Tower.”
Finally, it was time to return.
Now, the remaining colleagues were only the Guardian and the Saintess.
They must be anxiously waiting, so they had to hurry.
“Hero-nim, please wait a moment.”
But at that moment, the Purple Magic Tower Master appeared from between the trees.
“Did you happen to discover us by chance again?”
“No. This time, I came because of a request.”
“What is it?”
“A dungeon has appeared.”
Selen's indifferent heart was stirred.
“Since it's in an uninhabited place, no big problem will occur, but just in case?”
If a dungeon appears, you have to clear it quickly.
If left alone, it will gradually grow in size or monsters will come out from inside.
“Understood. Will you guide us?”
“I'll escort you comfortably with spatial movement.”
The Purple Magic Tower Master clapped her hands lightly.
A quiet and peaceful lakeside.
The waves sparkled brightly in the sunlight.
Next to the lake stood a solemn temple.
A building that makes even fairy who knows nothing about theology feel reverence.
'So this place existed.'
There was a strange feeling somewhere.
Ruel tilted his head.
It hadn't taken long to get here.
It meant it wasn't far from the village.
But this was the first time coming here.
Why?
Curiosity spread in her mind.
'It must be because it's not well known!'
But she didn't proceed with suspicion.
There was no reason for an old human to lie.
“This is it, Hero-nim. It was originally a temple turned dungeon within the empire.”
“But why in the west…”
“It is a transfer phenomenon of a cleared dungeon.”
Is such a thing possible?
Suspicion rose again.
The cause of dungeon appearance is abnormal concentration of mana.
Once created, it stays in place.
There was no reason to move to another place.
“Do such things happen often?”
“It doesn't happen often, but it's a phenomenon occasionally reported.”
“I see.”
However, it was impossible for the innocent fairy to suspect something.
'What a knowledgeable human.'
Her colleagues also seemed to believe the explanation as is.
Could they be trying to deceive the Hero party that exists for everyone?
“What kind of monsters live there?”
“It's not monsters, but a challenge-type dungeon where trials suitable for each person are given.”
“Thank you for the explanation.”
Selen bowed her head politely and drew her sword beautifully.
“Then, let's go in. Please be safe, everyone.”
Ruel sat on Breny's head and entered the temple.
At that moment, a bright light caught her eyes.
She closed her eyes because they were dazzling and opened them, and arrived at an entirely different place.
A gazebo built in a place overlooking the vast sea of clouds spread out.
Was it the peak of some high mountain?
It was a place she didn't remember.
But somehow, a peaceful feeling entered, so Ruel slowly flew around to look around.
'…Strange.'
When she carefully observed up close, it was weird somewhere.
The mana was flowing unnaturally.
The environment and mana were not in harmony.
That is, it was a place made with magic.
Not a real dungeon, but an illusion.
No matter how fairy, she couldn't help but have doubts at this point.
“What brings you here?”
An unexpected voice.
She turned her head, and there stood a familiar elf with arms crossed, standing straight.
“……”
Disheveled hair like tangled bushes.
A black robe that was tattered.
Skin full of scars.
“It's been a while.”
It was her teacher.
At least in appearance.
“Don't just stand there, act like a disciple and bow your head.”
Ruel stood blankly and opened her mouth.
“Master, what are you doing?”
The elf hesitated for a moment.
“I don't understand what you're saying.”
“Since you know it's me, stop it.”
“……”
After a while of silence, she opened her mouth again.
“How did you know?”
It was a voice that seemed to carry some irritation.
“If you observe carefully, you can quickly see through magic too.”
The Great Warrior didn't change her expression and made her feel embarrassed.
“Do all fairies do that?”
Magic is different from aura made only of mana.
It just uses mana as a material to create something else.
Therefore, she thought fairies couldn't distinguish it either.
“Not all, but only those with bright eyes among them.”
She was unlucky.
It was unexpected, but she had to do the task.
“But how did you know my teacher's appearance?”
Before answering, she raised her aura upwards.
Violently as if reaching the sky.
“I just knew. I am your senior.”
I am the second disciple.
The Great Warrior is probably the third disciple.
We are fellow disciples.
“You're a woman, so you're not my senior, right?”
“…Anyway.”
She wrapped the rising aura around her hand.
“Let's fight.”
It was time for mental education and mock battle among fellow disciples.