#270. We Need a Far Greater Mage Right Now.
Aila had no intention of heeding Tarabik's urging. Having read her thoughts, he firmly tried to dissuade her.
"Even if you were my superior, Tarabik, I wouldn't run away."
"I know that the fact you're warning me this strongly means something incredibly dangerous is about to happen. Most of those cases involved unknown entities. This one might too. You know how threatening they are, so I won't belabor the point. Instead, we need to remember our duty."
"How can we protect it without risking our lives?"
Tarabik fell silent, and Aila continued.
"My kin and I didn't agree to form the Federation and join just to protect ourselves. It was to safeguard Earth, our new home. Losing the Mother Tree and becoming dimension wanderers who ended up here taught me something profound."
"If we don't protect it now, we won't later. I've seen a world perish once before—I know it well. This world's fate could be decided in an instant. Maybe right now."
"If I disappear, a new leader will come. There are many kin who can do better than me. And they'll make the same choice I did."
Tarabik couldn't change her mind.
He had foreseen in his prophecy that she would make this decision, but he still had to try.
Since she had already decided as she had foreseen, he now had to make another choice. And that choice was already in motion.
"Sorry for what?"
The answer to Aila's question didn't come from the receiver—it came from behind her.
"We'll escort you."
"Robert Owen, LA Director……."
Robert, the head of the Federation's LA branch, and his key personnel surrounded Aila.
The existence of the elf race was top-secret even within the Federation, so there weren't many deployed, but each was an elite.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Aila's eyes flashed sharply as she shot back. This time, the answer came from the receiver.
"Tarabik. I'm not asking because I don't know. If you push like this, I can't stay the gracious elf forever. You don't think this will stop me, do you? People will get hurt."
"We've prepared for that. Better we die than expose you to danger."
The hunters, led by Robert, placed hands on their weapons. It was a clear intent to subdue her by force if needed. They couldn't guarantee success, but they stood firm hoping their resolve would reach her.
Aila was troubled. There was no malice in these people—only concern for her. She couldn't hurt them.
Yet she drew upon her power anyway.
For the elf's peace, purity, and mercy offered no help in protecting the world.
Not a hunter's awakening, but the innate power of an elf enveloped her.
"Ariel……."
Robert murmured the name of the power—or rather, the entity—Aila had invoked.
A spirit power that hunters couldn't wield. Among them, Ariel, the spirit of wind, was slowly manifesting.
"I'm breaking through."
"Y-you're serious?"
"If you don't want to fight me, step aside."
The hunters looked to Robert, uncertain. They hadn't expected Aila to actually fight them. They thought their resolve would make her back down.
Noticing their hesitation, Aila spoke again.
"Don't draw swords to protect one person like me. Use your strength to save this world. As a fellow Round Table member, I revoke Tarabik's order. I stake everything on promising you bear no responsibility."
"It's not about responsibility. You're really putting us in a tough spot, Aila."
Robert's grumbling didn't reach Aila's ears. She spoke into the receiver.
"I'll submit a motion to dismiss Tarabik from the Round Table and impeach all his positions. Stay suspended until I return."
Aila immediately understood Tarabik's meaning.
"That's why they say don't cross prophets. You've taken some measure, haven't you?"
"True, we've known each other a while…. So, what is it?"
Aila's curiosity was soon satisfied. A familiar voice rang in her ears.
"Making this old man move personally. Tarabik and you, Aila—you're both such troublemakers."
"Chairman……."
It was Ekhisar, chairman of the World Hunter Federation's supreme Round Table council.
Ekhisar got straight to the point without further ado.
"A message from the Mother Tree Council."
"From the Mother Tree Council?"
Aila realized Ekhisar had come fully prepared. Knowing the Round Table's authority wouldn't sway her, he had surely enlisted her clan's highest council.
"Our numbers are few after great sacrifices. Preserve your life."
"Is that all?"
"One more thing. If you defy even this, prepare to have your name erased from the tree."
For an elf, erasing a name from the tree was tantamount to exile. An exiled elf had to renounce immortality. It was akin to a death sentence for a human.
"In case you'd forgotten: if Aila ceases to be part of the elf clan, you'll lose your Round Table seat and be expelled from the Federation."
Ekhisar warned repeatedly, aiming to break the stubbornness of Aila, who had a more resolute spirit than most elves.
My life is no great loss. But…….
If she left the Federation now, she'd lose support for finding the unknown entity. She wouldn't be able to draw on its power later when needed.
Aila let out a heavy sigh. Ariel, the spirit, vanished. It was a declaration of surrender.
Ekhisar inwardly sighed in relief.
"Wise choice. We can't be sure what will happen here, but if there's even a speck of chance we lose you, and no spare forces to deploy the Federation's full might, we must avoid it. Think long-term and broadly. Our battle's end is unknown."
Aila nodded in understanding, then added to Ekhisar's words.
"But on one condition."
Kang Moo-hyuk was puzzled by Aila's sudden visit. Seeing the grim expressions of the hunters following her, he sensed something serious.
"I'd like to speak with Leader Kang privately."
At Aila's words, Robert and his escorts stepped back.
She gave Kang Moo-hyuk a faint smile.
"Nice to have no one around here. No magical means needed—I can show my face freely."
"Cleared it with Hunter Crime Division help. Since we're about to tackle something dangerous."
"Shall we walk?"
Kang Moo-hyuk glanced back at Thomas, who was adjusting the priest concentration behind him.
"I'm fine, Leader. Go ahead."
Thomas waved off his worry, so Kang Moo-hyuk led Aila along the walking path in Kenneth Ann State Recreation Area.
As Aila moved away, Robert fidgeted anxiously.
But he didn't follow. Having agreed to withdraw per the Round Table's will, he doubted she'd change her mind.
It wasn't about elf trust—it was respect for Aila.
Though they opposed her will, it was to protect her, not disrespect.
On the quiet path, Kang Moo-hyuk spoke first.
"The Federation folks seem different. They seemed ready to yield before. Odd timing too. Something specific to say?"
"I was forcibly summoned by the Federation."
"And?"
"Warned that LA is dangerous. I advise Leader Kang to withdraw too."
"Dangerous? Carnivorous wasps are obviously dangerous. But mentioning it separately means something else? Or new info on the wasps? What's the basis?"
"A warning from Thousand Eyes."
A question mark practically floated over Kang Moo-hyuk's head. He knew what Thousand Eyes was. He'd borrowed its intel and reputation in Russia before.
The Federation's top intel system—under certain conditions, it can uncover anything, anywhere in the world.
That was Kang Moo-hyuk's pieced-together definition from fragments. Most Federation members thought the same.
No way the world would leave something that powerful alone.
That suspicion let him spot oddities in Aila's words.
"A warning with no other threats found besides wasps…. Even if about wasps, they wouldn't advise city evacuation without on-site dispatch—especially deep underground real-time. Emphasizing Thousand Eyes over any official means it's some ability user. One that sees 'what will happen,' not 'what happened.'"
"No comment on that."
"Fine, seems you meant for me to figure it. Anyway, not the point. What did Thousand Eyes say?"
Aila relayed Tarabik's prophesied verse verbatim.
"Golden throne? Light of death? Vague. What is this, Nostradamus?"
"Prophecies are like that."
"Prophecy. Out in the open now."
"Call it a slip. Survive this, and you'll earn the right to know about Thousand Eyes."
"The right?"
"No third test. This one will get you into the Federation. High security clearance too—enough to meet Thousand Eyes."
"Any idea why the third test vanished?"
"Just say it's a deal between me and the Round Table."
"The tradeoff for you leaving LA, I suppose."
Kang Moo-hyuk met Aila's gaze with impassive eyes—a silent protest. He was calling the Federation cowardly. At least, that's how Aila felt.
She offered not quite an excuse.
"The side with more to protect has to play conservative. Honestly, I thought I had nothing to lose. But roaming as a Federation member, I unknowingly gained much to protect. Fell to following the conservatives' decisions. Hate this about myself."
"Power brings responsibility. It's heavy. Only the burdened can't move freely. Me too—the heavier it gets, the harder to act recklessly."
"Wish Leader Kang Moo-hyuk stayed unburdened. The world needs that now."
"Me too."
Conversation paused. They faced each other but not truly seeing.
After a moment, Aila spoke first.
"Enough lamenting. You won't leave LA anyway?"
"Guild master's underground. Members too. Plenty of hunters guarding this city. Who runs?"
"Stings my conscience."
"Not intentional."
"Can't leave your conscience stinging. Gotta give gifts to ease it."
"Didn't mean to sting, but for your peace, I'll accept."
Aila smiled confidently, as if sure to meet his expectations.
"First, about the unique items loaned temporarily for this incident. Following the Poison Well precedent."
"Can keep using them?"
"Yes. Just don't lose them."
"Good, but not the end?"
"Can't end with just uniques for a greedy man like Leader Kang."
"Not that greedy. Two uniques would suffice……."
"Better than that. Originally post-incident, you'd join Federation with high clearance. Just in case, advancing it now. From this moment, I appoint Leader Kang Moo-hyuk full member of the World Hunter Federation—and one of only three Commanders. You'd be the fourth."
"Commander?"
He vaguely recalled the term.
"Honorary. No immediate power, but you'll use it well. Info emailed ahead. Read and put to good use."
With that, Aila turned away. Kang Moo-hyuk had questions but couldn't hold her. Her body language rejected it.
"Gratefully accepted."
"Then, pray we meet safely again."
As soon as Aila left, Kang Moo-hyuk sought Thomas.
Thousand Eyes' warning nagged him.
"Pick up the pace from now."
"Faster? Then more priest injections. Not just piercing underground—moving fast without alerting hunters below isn't easy. Something happen?"
"Source unknown but trustworthy. Something's brewing below."
Thomas didn't pry. Short time together, but he'd seen Kang Moo-hyuk handle LA. His words and actions always had reason.
Watching thoughtful Thomas, Kang Moo-hyuk asked worriedly.
"Will it strain Hunter Thomas's body?"
"Hunters risk life by trade—strain's not the issue. Key is how well I control that power."
"Counting on you there."
"Sounds like prove my worth."
"No need. Family now, right? Means save our family."
"Family…. You're the mage, Leader. Using that magical word forcing overexertion."
"Now we need a far greater mage than me. Please, Hunter Thomas."