Episode 398 – Counterasures (1)
From a naless assassin to the leader of the World Tree Alliance, Arthur had faced countless crises.
In overcoming those crises, he ford nurous relationships, both good and bad, and before he knew it, there were comrades by his side.
Now, he was acting with those comrades to protect the World Tree, but when Nella asked him the simple question of "Why?", he couldn’t offer a clear answer.
At his response, Nella let out a soft sigh. It seed she hadn’t expected the mood to beco like this.
“Arthur, do you rember the first ti we t?”
“At the Blue Rose, you an?”
“That ti, Fenry told this. That so fool had appeared, burning through ten thousand gold every ten minutes just to escort so roses to Nelitori Gorge.”
“When I heard about that request, I thought you were truly absurd.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because there had to be safer and better ways. I just couldn’t understand what kind of certainty soone would need to spend their entire fortune on such a reckless job, even risking their life. An absurd person. That was my first impression of you.”
Arthur knew he must have seed reckless in Nella’s eyes back then, but he was convinced that choice had been the best one.
“And I think that impression hasn’t changed much, even after I obtained my Divine Power.”
Still the sa, huh…Arthur felt like he finally understood where the things invisible to Nella’s eyes had originated.
“Is it the reader’s perspective?”
He knew the story, so there were choices he could make with certainty.
Nella’s ability stemd from her eyes, which evoked empathy in others. But could those eyes truly understand a heart shaped by the reader’s perspective?
His decisions and actions weren’t grounded in this world’s logic.
“Then, do you still see as an absurd person, Lady Nella?”
At Arthur’s question, Nella gently swept aside her long golden hair.
Clear, flawless skin.
Sharp, defined features.
She was undoubtedly beautiful.
Having once handled intelligence at the Blue Rose, she was a woman who knew how to make use of even her beauty.
Everyone hailed her as a saint, but she was by no ans a naïve elf.
Absurd, huh…
Nella had observed Arthur’s journey more closely than anyone else.
From his disappearance at Nelitori Gorge, he reappeared as the benefactor of the elf Sharbadin, and then, with the connection he ford at that ti, helped Dorneth rescue Beneta.
And after that, he dealt with Tobaron and saved the Ordor Forest.
More recently, he occupied Aintrier, transforming the alliance into the core force at the center of Hell Gri.
Many lives had changed course within Arthur’s footsteps.
Nella herself was among them. She let out a faint chuckle.
“I don’t think you’re absurd anymore. Every action you take seems to have a reason. You’re soone who moves with conviction. That’s why it’s just…”
To her eyes, Arthur was like a great wind. A being that brought dramatic change to every place it touched.
“It’s just that, for now, I think you’re soone I can’t yet understand.”
And so she wanted to ask:
“What lies at the end of that conviction you follow, Arthur?
Do you act because you know what’s at the end?”
Once again, Arthur couldn’t answer. What awaited him at the end of his fate—only ti would tell. Even Arthur hadn’t seen the end of this story.
But still—
“I’m simply doing my best for the Alliance.”
Unsurprisingly, Nella let out another quiet sigh. It was a frustrating non-answer. Since he hadn’t addressed the root of her question at all. There was only one thing Arthur could say to her now.
“However, once the festival is over, I’ll be able to give you a proper answer to at least one question.”
“And that is…?”
“The reason I’m protecting the World Tree.”
Or rather, the exact reason it must be protected.
Arthur smiled and turned away. When that ti cos…
He thought he might finally gain a reason beyond re survival.
Since she had thrown a stone at sothing he hadn’t yet realized, now it was ti to contemplate it seriously.
Nella silently watched Arthur’s retreating back. For so reason, it looked unusually heavy.
Before heading to the spatial portal, Arthur briefly stopped by his quarters. Elton was lying as if dead—he didn’t look in any condition to move. After checking on him for a mont, Arthur left a small note beside the bed and exited.
I needed soone to keep an eye on Pri Root…
Once he confird Elton had reached 5-star rank, he’d planned to ask him to monitor the ‘Black Star’s movents.
Specifically, the Spider Queen, Azolett.
As long as she was alive in Pri Root, she would never give up her claim to Cricket’s Nest.
There’s still ti.
For now, it would be better to ask for help preparing for the festival. This festival was a major event for the entire Alliance.
Leaving the note behind, Arthur headed for the spatial portal.
As he exited the village and turned his head, the World Tree ca into view, standing tall as always. After gazing at it for a brief mont, Arthur entered the portal and moved to Aintrier.
“Pwah!”
Bursting through the portal and landing in the Aintrier warehouse, Samuel flopped to the ground. A mont later, Arthur erged from the portal, and Samuel let out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes.
Zzzzz…
The crimson portal shifted to blue, then scattered like dust and disappeared. Arthur watched until the portal fully vanished before his eyes.
Then Samuel lay back down and looked relieved to be alive.
“Good work.”
“Don’t even think about portals for a while. I need a break.”
“Of course, I’ll grant you a vacation. But can I choose the destination?”
“You?”
Samuel peeked up at Arthur, who smiled awkwardly.
“I told you, didn’t I? We need your help if we want this festival to go smoothly.”
“Don’t tell you need another portal?”
“It is indeed a portal. Just one more for the vacation spot.”
Samuel slowly sat up.
His beloved hat, second only to his mustache, lay discarded on the ground, but he didn’t even think of picking it up.
Narrowing his eyes, he asked:
“I believe I ntioned I’m ntally exhausted from maintaining portals?”
“A ten-day rest should be enough. By the ti you arrive, you’ll be recovered.”
“Ten days?”
“To ensure your travel is comfortable, I’ll arrange VIP service from Aintrier. The lord’s personal carriage, dedicated servants, premium tea and wine sets. How about that?”
“Not interested.”
“Then how about 1 million gold as a bonus?”
“One million gold…?”
“I heard you had to spend all your savings treating the Curse of the Rift. Let’s bulk up your retirent funds with this.”
At the ntion of 1 million gold, Samuel’s expression changed. He’d always claid he had no savings, and now it seed that was true.
“So where is this vacation destination of yours?”
“Pri Root. Preferably as close to Reruze, where the Sword Demon resides, as possible.”
“You… You’re insane! You want to go on vacation in Pri Root’s backyard? You’re trying to kill .”
“I know full well you could escape even the Sword Demon if you really tried.”
“That’s not a vacation! I won’t even be able to sleep—”
“If the plan succeeds, I’ll give you an additional 2 million gold.”
“As the commander of Hunt, I’m making this request of a comrade.”
Samuel locked eyes with Arthur for a mont, then chuckled and grabbed his hat.
“Click, I really fell into the wrong crowd in my twilight years. How did I end up suffering like this with soone like you…”
“I doubt any other commander throws around 1 million gold like loose change.”
Grumbling, Samuel adjusted his hat and held out his hand.
Arthur smiled faintly and handed over a pouch filled with tea leaves.
Twilight Leaf Tea infused with Sacred Power.
More than enough to recover from the Rift’s curse during travel.
“Well, if it’s a request from the commander, I suppose I must comply. Do I look like the kind of man who moves for money?”
“Of course not.”
“Still, I’d prefer a promissory note to gold coins. I hate carrying heavy things.”
“I’ll guarantee it under my na.”
“Hmph. Just this once.”
“Co to the castle tomorrow morning. I’ll have a luxury carriage ready.”
Clearing his throat, Samuel brushed his hat and vanished into the air.
Arthur looked in the direction he disappeared and let out a soft sigh as he exited the warehouse.
He had thought it was a difficult request, but it seed he had managed to convince Samuel after all.
That should be all the preparation I need.
While the World Tree mbers were busy preparing for the large-scale festival, Arthur would begin the operation to counter Demtor and Pri Root.
As he surveyed the area near the castle walls, night had already fallen. A quiet, empty street under the late night sky.
Arthur walked calmly along the main road toward the castle.
He had left for the World Tree with noise and commotion,
but returned alone.
Reaching the tightly shut gates of the castle, Arthur paused and gazed up.
If he revealed his identity here, the soldiers would overreact and disturb all of Aintrier.
“No more noise, please.”
After a long day of being worn out at the World Tree, he didn’t need more hassle.
Arthur looked up at the torches lining the walls and took a deep breath, then, at the exact mont he held it—
Swoosh—
His form faded into the air.
Inside the castle, Arthur quietly walked down the first-floor corridor.
“What a long day it’s been.”
Especially the Rift of the Spirit Realm. That incident had thrown the World Tree into chaos, and in dealing with it, he had nearly lost his life.
If not for the spatial portal, he would’ve wanted to rest for days at the World Tree.
“Still, the matter was resolved well, and I gained critical information.”
The Demon of Fla—lkor.
The Branch of Illusion.
And the experience of Unification.
In fact, his visit to the World Tree during that ti had prevented an even greater disaster.
“There are things I need to investigate.”
Where the Branch of Illusion ended up. He needed to focus on Demtor for a while. Especially Grand Duke Clarke.
And for that, the Black Market needed to be completely dismantled first.
“Fenry had better hurry.”
Thinking of her gleefully tearing through the Black Market,
Arthur was climbing the stairs to the second floor when, for so reason, he suddenly paused and turned his head.
The room where Lochter and Lily were staying. Arthur stared beyond that door with a hardened expression and began walking toward it.
The closer he got to the door, the more his brow furrowed.
“No presence…?”
Beyond Lochter’s room, he couldn’t feel any presence. He had left multiple ghostly escorts behind as guards, but their auras had completely vanished.
There was no way Arthur would have missed their presence.
Had sothing happened?
He crouched down and quietly opened the closed door.
And then—
“…Huh?”
Standing in the middle of the room in a sword stance—
was a man.
Lochter Felice.
It seed he had regained consciousness.
Reviews
All reviews (0)