Guardian Wifilud (2)
The wind drifted through, soft and unhurried, carrying a clean chill that wasn't the least bit stale. Even here in the blighted zone, the early morning air could still stir with something refreshing. I woke with a clear head because of it.
I stood, rolled my neck, and stretched my back long and slow. The last of the drowsiness slipped away. I was ready to start the day.
Maybe it was because I'd thoroughly enjoyed the rich flavor of defeat yesterday. My body felt light enough to take flight, and the afterglow was still with me even now.
Joy is an emotion that doubles when shared. There was someone I wanted to share it with, so I closed my eyes and folded my hands.
I stayed still for a moment, then opened my eyes.
"The morning sun is warm."
Eluke offered her morning greeting, sitting atop the obsidian horse that lay sprawled on the ground, sipping tea.
"Did you sleep well?"
"I was out the second I closed my eyes."
A sweet, deep sleep. Deeper than anything I'd gotten in the guest rooms at the Magic Tower branch.
"That's impressive. My back was killing me. I couldn't sleep at all."
We'd spent last night outdoors. Too many members of the Crimson Bandits were terrified of me for us to simply walk into their stronghold, so we decided not to force our way in and to stay outside for the time being. I'd blown their boss's lower half clean off, after all. Of course they were scared.
"Do you have some secret to sleeping well out here?"
"Just spend enough nights outdoors."
The hand bringing her teacup to her lips paused.
"Just how long have you been sleeping outside?"
"Ever since I finished my training under my master and came down the mountain."
I'd been living no differently from a wild hermit. It hadn't been that hard, though. My constitution had changed so that eating actually made me feel worse, which meant I didn't need to worry about meals, and thanks to Sun-bask's automatic cleaning function I didn't need to bathe either. All in all, it was pretty convenient.
"Clitia."
I was lost in those memories — now just nostalgia — when Eluke called my name in a tight voice.
"What."
"I'm sorry."
The sudden apology left me briefly bewildered.
"Sorry for what?"
"While you were suffering, I was the only one living in peace."
I'd actually been pretty satisfied with my life. She was feeling guilty all on her own, for no reason.
"What did you even do wrong that you need to apologize?"
Unlike me, she'd found a way to defeat the Demon King, and that was how she'd earned her happy life. Even if I turned back time, I wouldn't try to copy her.
"You were cursed too. It's not like you've had it easy."
"It just doesn't sit right with me."
Excessive compassion.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I hope that from now on, you'll live a smooth and comfortable life."
Was it just me? It sounded strangely wistful. It didn't seem unrelated to that affectionate attitude she'd shown before fighting Dwain. I considered pressing her about it, then let it go. She'd tell me when she was ready. I didn't want to live my life suspecting even another version of myself.
"Please come up. Allow me to pour you a cup."
"Sounds good."
I hopped up onto the body of the obsidian horse, which was snoring softly.
"Here you are."
"This is the one I used to drink all the time."
The tea's fragrance — one I'd encountered many times at the Purple Magic Tower — seeped into my nose.
"Where'd you get the teacup and the tea, though?"
"Riella gave me a magical tool."
Eluke gave a little tap to her earlobe. A round red gem set in an earring sparkled there.
"You're really too much. Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you to ask?"
Should I tell her it looks pretty? It wasn't that big a deal, but my head was getting complicated over it.
"Never mind that. Just drink already."
Thankfully, she let it go.
"I'll enjoy it."
My tongue was insisting it wanted to taste the aroma too, so I quickly took a sip.
"I've been getting this feeling lately that it just clings to my mouth."
"You're starting to get addicted. The same thing happened to me."
Having someone who was the same being as me nearby was its own kind of fun. I kept discovering tastes and talents I never knew I had.
"We may have diverged in small ways, but our essence is the same."
Neither of us had changed all the way down to the depths of our hearts. Which raised a question.
"But you said you don't want to lose."
I genuinely couldn't figure it out. If it were just a difference in environment — well, I hadn't known about it either until I suddenly realized it myself.
"Whether or not we love defeat is the only difference in temperament between us."
"There's one more."
"Two, then."
Come to think of it, there was something neither of us could quite accept about the other.
"Let's just do what we said before and respect each other."
"Let us do so."
A reasonable conclusion. I nodded and drank more tea.
"I really want to keep drinking this."
"I brought a great deal in the magical tool, so please just say the word anytime."
And so we enjoyed the leisure of morning. The cool weather, and the fragrance dancing across our tongues. Whatever happened from here on out, I felt like I had the energy to handle it just fine.
"Shall we begin reviewing the plan?"
"We should."
Break time was over. After finishing the tea, we took time to check the road ahead — reconfirming our direction and clearing the obstacles in our path. There were still a lot of steps left before we could meet the Lich Remiraen.
"While you were celebrating yesterday, I had a deeper conversation with the Guardian. I'll tell you what I learned."
Eluke sank into thought for a moment, then continued.
"The Guardian sees things that others cannot."
"Spiritually?"
"That's right. She has the spiritual eye."
This was no ordinary story. I shifted my posture to focus.
"According to the Guardian, the world is filled with wandering souls that scream as they roam."
"Like ghosts that never found peace, roughly?"
"Something like that. She says they exist for every living thing, regardless of species."
Then there wouldn't be just one or two of them. There were probably more wandering souls out there than anyone could count.
"Her reason for wanting to end discrimination against vampires isn't unrelated to the spiritual eye. She said countless souls of those who died unjustly have come to her."
The Guardian's ideology had been shaped by her surroundings — a stance that cherished every life. I understood it, but there were still some sticking points that wouldn't go down easy.
"Even so, the idea that vampires are living beings too is pretty hard to swallow."
"She even said you shouldn't kill mosquitoes."
"You've got to be kidding me."
At this rate she'd start saying monsters and demons were living beings too. She might even argue that we shouldn't kill the Demon King.
"We've got to change the way she thinks, one way or another."
We needed a plan. If we left her like this, the Guardian of Nature would end up protecting our enemies.
"Are you planning to put her through that 'mental education' of yours again?"
"I was going to do it anyway, but this time it's especially essential."
At the very least, I had to make sure she didn't do anything as stupid as protecting the Demon King's army. For the sake of my future, and the Hero party's.
"We have to do it within three days, so we'll need to hurry."
"Right."
Pureblood vampires made periodic contact with the Crimson Bandits. The next meeting was just a few days away, and we planned to wait and capture one when they showed up. It was the only way to find the Vampire Lord's location. Until then, we'd set the Guardian straight.
"Do you have a good approach in mind?"
"First, I need an accomplice."
"You mean that one?"
"That's right."
Eluke immediately fired a sphere of Holy Power forward. The ground burst white — a suitable attack for dragging a hidden spirit out into the open.
"You could've just called."
A sand mole grumbled as it took form.
"For someone who was eavesdropping like a little rat."
"You're the worse ones, pretending you didn't know we were listening."
"We were going to bring you onto our side anyway."
This spirit seemed to have the closest relationship with the Guardian, so it would be a big help.
"Cooperate."
"Why should I?"
A snappish response. This wasn't going to be an easy sell.
"Do you agree with the Guardian's ideology?"
I asked its true feelings outright.
"I support it wholeheartedly. I've lived a long time, and I'm sick of nature's injustices."
The mole approached slowly, laying out its thoughts.
"The strong always oppress and trample the weak. Intelligent beings, animals, monsters — all of them. I despise a world that only favors those with power."
Force started creeping into its tone, accompanied by the rustle of sand.
"If the strong protected the weak, everyone would be happy. So why does one side have to suffer?"
The spirit and the spirit mage were cut from exactly the same cloth. An elf with high affinity for nature, plus the spiritual eye — of course the spirit would have been watching her closely all this time.
"Do you know how moved I was when Wifilud became the Guardian? The Goddess gave her a chance to set a broken reality right."
She probably did have a clear intention. Whether it matched the mole's opinion was another question.
"Vampires are just the beginning. Wifilud intends to tear down every injustice in this world and rebuild it."
"Think she can?"
"Of course. She'll become the guardian of all life, beyond just nature."
A declaration full of conviction. True to being an earth spirit, it was incredibly firm.
"No one can change Wifilud's ideology."
"Got it."
I nodded. I wasn't particularly moved, but denying it would just drag the conversation out.
"Then let's each give a little."
"Why?"
"Because the fight between your boss and me ended in a draw. I believe the Guardian was the one who proposed that."
An argument it couldn't refute. The mole's fierce momentum shrank a little.
"Just cooperate until we take down the Demon King. Killing that thing would save countless lives of the weak, wouldn't it?"
"Huh? You're right."
For all that passionate speech a moment ago, it seemed pretty easily swayed.
"But Wifilud has no interest in Hero party activities. I don't know how to change her mind either."
"I do."
I'd already educated three members of the Hero party. I was a veteran with techniques to spare.
"First, go to Serda and bring someone back."
I had just the right person in mind for the mental education.
The Evergreen Mercenary Group office in Serda.
Mercenary Captain Lepith absently toyed with his spear. A companion braver than any weapon — and unfortunately, one that hadn't been able to fulfill its role lately.
This is driving me insane.
Not a single request was coming in. The Serda Adventurers' Guild had been slowly eating away at the mercenary group's work, and now they'd completely monopolized the clients. How could they leave combat-specialist mercenaries sitting idle and hand even escort jobs over to adventurers? At this rate, they'd have to taste the humiliation of withdrawing from Serda entirely.
It's that orc's fault...
The root of it all was Giph, the adventurer newly appointed as vice guildmaster. Riding the reputation he'd built up, he'd gathered talent and rapidly expanded the Adventurers' Guild.
"That's why I said we should recruit Giph."
Lepith pouted at his adjutant's words and slung the spear over his shoulder.
"Don't worry, just rest. A client who believes in our skills will show up soon enough."
"I'm here."
A deep voice suddenly rose from the floor. Then sand surged up and formed the shape of a mole.
"You'll take a request, right?"
"......"
Lepith calmed his startled heart and recovered his composure.
"Of course. What can I do for you?"
"Hmm, I'll just pass along exactly what the person who sent me said."
The mole shook sand from its body and spat the words out in one breath.
"They need a battle maniac with a personality filthy enough that a quiet elf who can't even kill a single mosquito would think, 'I really want to kill this person.'"
"......"
A brief silence. Then Lepith broke into a wide, professional smile.
"That would be me. Let's go."
It was the specialty he was more confident in than anyone.