Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Behemoth (1)
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The Valkyries were a fairy race ruled by a single queen.
Though they shared the same forest as the elves, they differed in many ways.
The elves were governed by a council centered around the high elves, but the Valkyries maintained their society under the queen's absolute monarchy.
The queen was the strongest among all Valkyries.
This was because she inherited the most primordial bloodline, and any Valkyrie who bore that blood was destined to have red hair.
Just like Vena.
"But that girl's hair is pink?"
Han was also familiar with the Valkyrie race.
The Frontier was a coalition of diverse races. Though Valkyries weren't members, he had a general knowledge of them through interspecies networks.
They were an incredibly belligerent race, composed solely of women—unlike the elves, who were fellow forest fairies.
And their queen was famous for hair even deeper red than blood, yet Vena's locks weren't quite that shade, making her seem more like a princess than the queen herself.
"No, that's not it."
Alex shook his head.
"She's not channeling her Valkyrie powers right now."
Her hair was pink at the moment, but when she used her strength, a clear red glow enveloped Vena's tresses.
"So she's the real princess? The one who vanished ten years ago?"
At the mention of "ten years ago," Vena's eyes widened in shock as she stared at Han.
"Ten years ago... I, I vanished?"
"Yeah. I only heard about it, but the Valkyrie society was thrown into chaos back then."
Braha recalled the events as he spoke.
"The queen mobilized every Valkyrie to search for her princess, but they never found her."
"And now she just shows up in front of us like this. What a twist of fate..."
Han let out a disbelieving chuckle.
Braha grasped Vena's hand tightly with both of his, beaming with joy.
"This is wonderful. After the princess went missing, the already reclusive Valkyries sealed themselves off even tighter—or so I'd heard. To think we'd find her like this."
"Oh... I see."
"Aren't you happy? You can return to your people. Valkyries can't survive easily in the human world. They need the forest's vital essence... Agh!"
"That's enough."
Braha cried out as a vice-like grip twisted his wrist.
Jamie had appeared at some point, glaring coldly. He shoved Braha away from Vena.
"Wh-what the!"
"What do you think you're doing to my subordinate?"
"...Subordinate?"
Everyone's expressions shifted subtly at Jamie's word "subordinate."
They glanced back and forth between Jamie and Vena. Anyone could see they looked like an older sister out for a stroll with her little brother.
Jamie cleared his throat, catching their pointed looks.
"She's the one I took in. Keep your eyes off her."
"I don't know what you mean, but Valkyries weaken drastically if they leave the forest. Jamie Welton. Don't be greedy."
"She's different. She's a Valkyrie, sure, but she's been living in the human world for over ten years, so she's adapted. Besides..."
Jamie unleashed a faint killing intent.
Han slung his bell staff over his shoulder in response, while Siegfried drew his staff, glaring at Han.
As the mood grew tense, Izaya and Alex placed hands on their weapons.
But Jamie ignored the surroundings and continued.
"Like I said, she's mine. Don't overstep, elf."
"The one overstepping is you, Jamie Welton. The Valkyrie queen has spent ten years searching for her daughter. If you consider a mother's heart, you should send her back. Without her, the entire Valkyrie race will face problems."
If Vena truly was the Valkyrie queen's daughter, she would become the next queen.
The Valkyries were ruled by their queen—she was the core holding the race together. What would happen if that lineage ended?
"There's no guarantee a new princess will be born."
Valkyries didn't propagate like most creatures through sexual reproduction.
They planted their Valkyrie factors into trees, sprouting buds. When those buds bloomed fully, a Valkyrie was born from within.
The queen's factors were different, however. While regular Valkyries came from flowers, the queen's grew into trees. Thus, it took at least a decade for the next queen to emerge.
Each queen typically produced only one child, as the process drained massive amounts of factors, making a second nearly impossible.
"She's probably waiting anxiously even now."
Jamie turned at Braha's words.
Vena stood there with a gloomy expression. She'd learned the secret of her birth—something she'd wondered about for so long—but she didn't look happy at all.
Jamie sighed and patted the head of Vena, who towered over him.
"Don't worry."
"...Yes, Master."
Vena forced the brightest smile she could.
Jamie smirked at the sight, then turned back to Braha.
"I need time to think it over."
"...Take this."
Braha handed over a small orb infused with faint mana.
"If you change your mind, contact us with that."
Jamie stared at the orb before clenching it in his fist.
Han lowered his bell staff from his shoulder.
"Alright, now that things have settled somewhat, let's get back to our goal."
He tilted his head toward Jamie and Siegfried.
"You're coming too, right?"
"Obviously."
"Of course. It's a topic that's generating huge buzz in the magic world."
"Ugh. I'm not thrilled it's spread to the mages too..."
"Don't worry. I'll leave you two out of it."
Han eyed Siegfried skeptically.
"Believe it or not, I'm still taking you along."
"Fair enough. Anyway, Izaya. Give the orders."
"Got it. Braha and Alex, head back with the elves—and take her too. We don't know what might happen to them."
Braha and Alex acknowledged the command.
"You, go rest at the inn."
"Okay."
"Grab a bite on the way."
Jamie handed over a gold coin.
That was more than enough for a hearty meal, not just a snack.
Vena smiled faintly at her master's consideration and nodded.
"See you later."
"Tell me what happened on your end when you get back, Master. Got it?"
"I got it, so go already."
"Yes."
Vena bowed politely to Siegfried before scampering off.
Siegfried started to return the gesture, but she was already far away.
"What a polite girl."
"She's a good kid."
"She seems like it. You've got a fine subordinate there."
"She'll be my subordinate from here on out too."
Siegfried gazed warmly at Jamie and patted his head.
"Why are you petting me all of a sudden?"
"To, to comfort you."
"I don't need that. Get your hand off."
"Such a harsh young master."
Siegfried grumbled as he walked off elsewhere.
Jamie chuckled, watching his back before looking up at the sky.
The sun had set, revealing stars that twinkled brilliantly, previously hidden by daylight.
"First off, the moment we open the door, don't let your guard down. One slip, and you could get swallowed by flames and die."
Jamie, Siegfried, and Izaya nodded at Han's warning.
They were now in the Kelton Mountains, specifically at the great volcano that had turned this region into a hellscape a millennium ago.
It appeared as a massive rocky peak now, but beneath the vast, flat summit lay Behemoth—a monster from the mythic age—slumbering.
'Behemoth. How long have you slept down there?'
Jamie recalled its enormous bulk.
Truthfully, no seal this size could contain it. Behemoth was likely curled up as tightly as possible beneath the mountain range.
"Izaya. The key."
"Here."
Izaya's team had handled stealing the key from the Gehenna auction house, but unleashing and retrieving Behemoth fell to Han.
The key was still a small golden cube engraved with ancient script, but now a subtle glow emanated from the characters.
'Sleep in this place. Never to awaken again.'
Jamie reread the inscription mentally and noticed something off.
'Never to awaken again?'
He hadn't paid it much mind initially, not suspecting Frontier's involvement.
Now it was different. Braha's grandmother—who had sealed Behemoth—was one of Frontier's founders.
She'd sealed it away and inscribed the words hoping it would never rise.
'But Frontier plans to break the seal, ignoring her wish.'
There was clearly some reason, but they only called it a "promise" without elaborating.
'I'll find out by watching.'
Jamie had no reason to stop them from freeing it.
Behemoth. His loyal servant.
Soon, its massive form would grace the world once more.
Jamie barely suppressed the urge to let his eyes turn violet.
Han inserted the key into the ground.
Kieeeeng!!
Blue lines zigzagged from the insertion point, spreading across the entire volcano.
The ground lit up entirely.
Jamie sensed a colossal mana surging forth.
It was immense. Whatever sealing ritual had been used, few in the mythic age could have wielded such mana.
Truly, an elven archmage of legendary caliber.
"Such tremendous mana...!"
Siegfried gasped at the greatest mana he'd ever felt. His long golden hair fluttered upward in the mana breeze.
Han cautiously turned the key.
Click—
The lock disengaged.
He pulled out the key.
A blinding light engulfed them, shooting skyward so intensely they could barely keep their eyes open.
Beneath it, a terrifyingly potent power began to emerge. Scorching flames bubbled violently, as if ready to erupt in pursuit of the light.
Yet the volcano did not explode.
Someone was controlling the inferno that had nearly turned the Kelton Mountains into hell once more.
Jamie felt complex emotions toward that power.
Familiar yet distant, nostalgic yet alien after eons.
The sensations intertwined, pounding his heart fiercely.
'Even in your eternal seal, I longed for you.'
Diablo Volpir's retainer, who had fought the Twelve Gods to the bitter end.
The voice reverberated from head to toe, electric and profound.
The light faded.
A mythic monster of overwhelming presence, its body stretching to the heavens.
Behemoth returned to this world once more!
"Who awakened meee?!"
A cute little calf appeared.
"Ugh—the sunlight's so bright! Oh, wait, it's not sunlight!"
The dim-witted bull that couldn't distinguish sunlight from sealing light awoke at the size of a peanut.