Chapter 417 – Choice (1)
"What will you do after you've accomplished your revenge?"
Beyond revenge.
Even hearing it brings a vague unease.
Even if they managed to deal with Rayshen without anyone knowing, the future still remained unclear.
Could they truly kill a Transcendent?
Could they truly topple the might that the magic tower of Bohemirn had built up?
And even if they somehow succeeded, a wretched sacrifice would surely follow. It might be himself, or it might be the companion standing right beside him.
Of course, those were the optimistic outcomes.
Objectively speaking, if one judged by their current power including the Society, the possibility of ultimate defeat and being annihilated together was overwhelmingly high.
The air was quiet.
Adrian spoke first.
"...My master always told me I would become the greatest swordsman in the central continent. But I no longer intend to be satisfied with that."
A swordsman who sought to cut the heavens fixed his eyes on Verden.
"I will become a Transcendent and be the greatest in the continent. With your sword, Verden. That is the future I've chosen, and my wish."
It was conviction.
Isabella, stirred by the short but powerful declaration, followed next.
"I want to leave the names of the Argyle family… those who once belonged to it, in this world. So they will never be forgotten."
As a Melodist of Fortune, Isabella had left her audiences with golden coins of luck.
It was her desperate struggle against oblivion.
For if she someday died, and the world failed to remember, even the traces of family lingering within herself would vanish forever.
"And also..."
Her golden eyes flickered.
Though she had not long been with them, Isabella had glimpsed some of Verden's memories during Defying the Heavens, and so she understood more deeply than anyone else what resolve he had carried as he shattered the wall of talent.
That was why.
"I want to see with my own eyes, Verden, just how far you intend to go."
A goal at once vague and yet clear.
The two of them were already beginning to shape a future beyond revenge.
At that moment, Alpha tugged at the hem of Verden's robe.
[Your Majesty Verden is correct.]
An unwavering trust.
They were all of the same mind, but it was not blind devotion. They would follow him anywhere, yet never withhold their counsel.
It was enough.
No further words were needed.
"Alpha, from now on, go with Adrian and Isabella in my stead. For the time being, it will be difficult to recharge, so conserve your energy by refraining from using [Scan] unless absolutely necessary."
[Where are you going?]
"I intend to take a brief journey alone. I'm sick of lingering in this half-baked realm."
There was certainty in his voice.
The two who understood him widened their eyes. Their bodies stiffened without realizing it.
Isabella spoke.
"Wait...! But something could still happen on the way. At least leave us some means to find you."
"I think the same, my lord."
It was a natural concern for them.
Verden had not failed to anticipate this.
He had already prepared.
Verden handed them the [Compass of the Black Hour].
"I placed a magic stone infused with my magic power inside. If something unforeseen occurs, use it to find me."
There were range limits, of course.
But he would not be going that far, so it would not matter.
It was time now to leave the Great Forest.
"It won't take long."
Verden gave his assurance.
***
Adrian, Isabella, and Alpha, heading north toward the Ownerless Land, left the inner depths of the Great Forest as before, following Merquien.
Verden, who took a different path, set his destination to the west.
His guide was Karans.
"Judging by how bright your expression has grown, brother, I take it you were pleased with Lysandro's Fruit? It's been nearly seventy years since such a verdant fruit appeared, so it was fortunate I could give it to you."
The conversation with the World Tree had played a large role in changing Verden's mindset.
If he had to compare, that was so.
But since Lysandro's Fruit was itself a magical mystery, it was no less satisfying that Isabella, by studying it continuously, might one day achieve great results.
The days-long journey continued.
And yet, no awkwardness lingered between them.
They had spent months together in the Kingdom of Estiria, and sparred dozens of times, so it was only natural.
"Now that I think of it."
In mid-conversation, the image of the one-armed blacksmith came to mind—whom he had boarded the marquisate of Esperanza's airship with, alongside Karans.
"What became of Linus Voltimoog?"
"Linus... ah, you mean the human called Oesu? I did not see to the end, as I disembarked from the airship midway, but if no mishap occurred he should have gone to the land of the dwarves."
The race of creation and metal.
The volcanic region in the southwest of the western continent, where the clans of dwarves resided.
'I've never once met a dwarf before... but someday I must.'
After all, without the magic tower or the power of a great nation, only the dwarves could handle dragon materials on their own.
Strengthening his power.
That was the top priority in the force Verden sought to build.
Before long, they reached the boundary of the forest's inner depths.
It was once again time to part ways.
Though a year's parting was short for elves, five days were even shorter.
Karans looked despondent.
"...So it is time for you to depart. Unless you are invited again to the Great Forest, this may be our last meeting."
Because of the difference in lifespan.
Karans saw Verden as an elf, but he had not forgotten the human traits and limits Verden still carried.
"Couldn't you simply come out yourself? I heard some elves do live outside the forest."
Like the Federated States of Iderat, where elves, humans, beastmen, and dwarves lived together.
"Humans say collectivism demands sacrifices of the individual for the group, but elves are different. The individual exists for the group, and the group exists for the individual. If an elf so wishes, with the consent of the Administrators, they may dwell in a place outside the Great Forest."
Karans looked down at his own body, clad in his special light armor.
"But Guardian Elves are different. My life's duty is to protect the Administrator of the World Tree, Sister Serendia. That is what I wish for, and why I cannot leave the forest."
Chirp, chirp, chirp.
Small birds chirped as they flitted freely through the dense woods.
"Of course, who knows how things may turn out. I once tried to deal with threats beyond the inner forest and ended up captured by humans. Haha, so I may again be sent outside against my will. But no more abductions, if I can help it."
Karans scratched his cheek and laughed.
Though he had endured such agonizing experiments, he showed no sign of being troubled.
It was not his personal strength, but the strength that came from being an elf among his people.
"Karans, let me borrow that for a moment."
"Yes? Ah, yes."
Verden received the bag hanging from Karans's belt.
The spatial bag Verden had given him as a farewell gift back in the Kingdom of Estiria.
Verden reached inside, opened a subspace, and in an instant filled the bag to capacity before handing it back.
"These are snacks I bought from Gargant, the great city. I brought them because I didn't want to come empty-handed... but with everything that happened, I'm only giving them to you now."
It was nothing but the truth.
Around the second or third day I had meant to give it, but after returning from the Demon King's dwelling together with Serendia, I had no mental room to spare.
"Among the elves we met on the first day, there was some talk about food. There won't be any problem with bringing in human food, will there?"
"Of course not. Food, apart from humans, is never bad. My kin will surely like it very much.... Thank you."
Karans extended his hand.
"Though I cannot know how you will live from now on, nor what you will achieve, whatever path you take, here in this place I will always be cheering for you."
"The same for me, Karans."
Verden grasped that hand and exchanged a handshake.
"I pray we shall meet again one day, brother."
It was a farewell promising reunion.
Thus Verden left Karans behind, and before long, he stepped beyond the domain of the Great Forest.
'Where should I go.'
A journey racing through the skies.
Though he had left his companions and was alone, it was not as though he had had a clear destination from the beginning.
Now he intended to find one.
A place far away from the world, where he could face himself.
***
The highlands of the Great Forest.
Atop the greatest tree in the continent, one of the roots of the World Tree.
Without chair or table, the Administrators of the World Tree sat in their respective places.
"Administrator Serendia, the memory."
"Yes, Administrator Restorien."
The natural magic power resonated.
Memories triggered by Serendia brushed through the minds of the Administrators.
Asher.
The figure of the ash-haired man in the Demon King's dwelling was conveyed through Serendia.
"That one, called by the Great Mother. Surely he is tied to the flow of the world."
"Is he merely a special seed, or a seed that will bring calamity... what do you say, Administrator Ailnason."
"I still cannot see. Not even with the insight granted by the Great Mother."
The Administrators, sharing the same vision, let out deep sighs.
It was rarely so unsettled.
That alone proved how exceptional Asher was to them.
"To think his very existence cannot be read. Has such a thing ever happened? Even Oldarc, as I recall, only hid parts of his inner self deliberately."
"Could it be that by some method, he is concealing the essence of his existence?"
"Who knows. At least, I feel nothing interfering with authority. Still, since he is the successor of Oldarc, we cannot be careless."
"Hmmm... Administrator Serendia. What kind of being was Asher?"
All eyes gathered upon her.
Serendia pondered, then gave a calm reply.
"Asher is Oldarc's predecessor, yet... he was different from the Oldarc we have always seen and heard in memory."
"Is that all? You know well that the surface means nothing if the inside cannot be known."
"It is simply my opinion."
"Then for us, there is a limit. Administrator Odiel, what do you think?"
Administrator Odiel, who had remained silent until now.
The only one among them called the Old Administrator, the aged elf, slowly opened his narrow eyes.
"Even if he was called by the Great Mother, even if we cannot pierce his being, it matters not. He has no bearing upon our present duty."
"...."
"Whether the world falls into unprecedented chaos, or is ruined outright, until it poses a tangible threat to the elves, we shall watch and do nothing."
Tok.
Odiel tapped the floor with his worn staff.
"As we always have."
***
The Blue Mountains.
The second highest mountain across the continents, a land of bitter cold where blizzards raged from waist to peak all year round.
The merciless chill froze everything that entered its domain.
Neither animals nor plants could endure.
Thus it was a barren land, and one of the most dangerous regions of the central continent where none dared to tread.
"Hoo...."
A hut from which light leaked.
Exactly on the border between life and death in the Blue Mountains, an aging man lived alone in this house.
The heat of the fireplace warmed the tea, which in turn heated his body. The chill he could not ward off was blocked by a thin blanket.
The man sat in his chair, lost in thought.
It was an ordinary day. A life without company was lonely, and quiet.
"Hmm?"
By chance he looked beyond the small window... and saw something moving beneath the descending darkness and the blinding snowstorm.
It was not some small animal like a rabbit fleeing a predator. It was taller, with long limbs.
Which meant it was—
"...A person?"
Realizing it was human, the man rose.
He hurriedly donned a thick fur coat hanging on the crude rack.
Pulling his hat low to cover his ears, he grasped a lantern and stepped outside.
Fwooosh───!
The snowstorm howled.
In moments, his eyebrows and beard were crusted with frozen snow.
He pushed through drifts up to his thighs, shouting with all his strength to the stranger.
"Hey! Can you hear me! You mustn't go any further!"
As he drew closer, the shadow became clearer.
The stranger wore a dazzling platinum robe that caught the eye without intent.
His face was hidden, unseen.
At last reaching close, the man panted as he spoke to the stranger.
"Huff, huff. There's not a soul living nearby, what brings you to such a desolate place?"
"I..."
Whoooosh!
A blade-like gust of wind tore through.
The man's face flushed instantly, his body shrank. His ears rang.
"This season the weather is especially harsh. If you stay out here, you'll suffer severe frostbite or freeze to death. I don't know your circumstances, but come with me! I'll at least give you some hot tea!"
Taking the lead, the man strode toward his hut, gesturing for the other to follow.
An unexpected meeting.
Though he felt no cold at all, the uninvited guest in the Blue Mountains did not refuse.
"...This too is a choice."
The stranger, Verden, followed after the man.
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